Hi all

just got off the phone with microsoft support and their sending me a new Dual Strike Gamepad free of charge! Nice

So keep those comments coming that's the only way Microsoft will do anything to fix this problem. what amazes me is that if you went to your local car dealer and he sold you a brand new car that had faulty brakes would you say thanks or would you take it back and tell them you want the problem fixed. which is only right so why do we let companies like Microsoft get away with it. well the design is good! crap build.

and on a side note you peeps out there with Intellimouse Explorer Optical/Wireless and Intellimouse Gold Mice products better watch out the Microsoft support person let it slip there getting lots of returns!LOL

The ODBC .NET Data Provider is an add-on component to the .NET Framework. It provides access to native ODBC drivers the same way the OLE DB .NET Data Provider provides access to native OLE DB providers. The ODBC .NET Data Provider is intended to work with all compliant ODBC drivers but only the following drivers have been tested with the ODBC .NET Data Provider:

· Microsoft SQL ODBC Driver
· Microsoft ODBC Driver for Oracle
· Microsoft Jet ODBC Driver

In this episode of The .NET Show, we talk with Lance Olson and Erik Olson, two of the developers that have spent a lot of time developing "Terrarium," a multiplayer ecosystem game developed using the .NET Framework. We discuss with them some of the challenges they faced building the peer-to-peer infrastructure. Since this application actually transmits code from one machine to another, we also discuss how to take full advantage of the security model of the .NET Framework.

January 2002 (Q311401)
The information in this article applies to:

Hi All

Well if anybody bothered to look@ about us on the site you will notice that I use a Microsoft Dual Strike USB Gamepad Now the problem I have is that the D button on this pad keeps breaking!LOL This is going to be my seventh pad when I ring Microsoft to return it , in 9 months

After the fourth time the D button broke I said F@@@ this and opened one up and after closer examination the D button is connected to a plastic shaft that is then glued too the bottom of the pad so after some frantic late nite ut game play the glue gives way and your pad is F''''!!

If there's anyone else having theses problem with this pad can u post your comments here then I will forward this page onto Microsoft support! telling me I have Fat fingers.LOL

neowin.net Customer research shows a frequently requested feature that users want from their PCs is fast system startup, whether from cold boot or when resuming from standby or hibernation. The Windows development team at Microsoft has taken bold steps in making fast startup PCs a reality with the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system.

The design goals for Windows XP on a typical consumer PC are:

Seems like Microsoft has some useful support site live. Unfortunately this site requires the use of a .NET passport and the error reporting services running... Anyway this might be useful for some of our readers. Microsoft is committed to making Windows the most reliable operating system available. New and enhanced features contribute to increased reliability, and additional resources, including Windows Online Crash Analysis, provide information to help you optimize your system. Read more...

According to german sites TecChannel.de and Golem.de Microsoft has now made drivers available to support USB 2.0 devices under Windows XP. USB 2.0 supports transfer rates up to 480 MBit/s and is downwards compatible to the older USB 1.1 interface. Apparently the new drivers are to download via WindowsUpdate. You will probably need to have USB devices installed for the driver update to be shown.

Well, since i'm a Dutchguy and many Dutch peeps visit this site... I can post this.
This first 17 MB big SP1 pack for Office XP Dutch contains many updates.
On the microsoft site, it is not known what bugs or functions were fixed or added.
Click on Read More... for the list of updated products and a direct download link.

neowin.net HFNetChk is a command-line tool that enables an administrator to assess patch status for computers that are running Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, as well as hotfixes for Internet Information Server 4.0 (IIS), Internet Information Services 5.0 (IIS), SQL Server 7.0, SQL Server 2000 (including Microsoft Data Engine [MSDE]), and Internet Explorer 5.01 or later. Version 3.31 is an updated version of 3.3 that will properly identify SQL Server 7.0 systems.

ibelite.com All of them who wanted to sign in as beta-testers for DirectX 9 now received a letter telling that they will be able to download the first beta release quite soon.

DirectX 9 first made headlines at Meltdown 2001 last summer and is expected to feature a higher-level programmable shader language for faster development, new pixel-shader instructions, as well as "higher color-depth support and architecture optimizations." The new version of the API is expected to debut this summer, while the first platform to support the features of DirectX 9.0 is supposed to make its first appearance at CeBit, next month.

When applying Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) on a debug version of Windows 2000 that has been upgraded to Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2), you may receive an error message. This problem occurs because a registry key that is set during the installation of Windows 2000 SP2 conflicts with the Update.exe install program. Microsoft has released a script that you can run before you apply Windows 2000 SP3 that removes the registry key. Download now to prevent this error from occuring.

Could this mean SP3 is not that Far away Now!!!!

Digital Oracle@ maxreboot.com sends word about Windows SP3 which is currently in beta Testing!

Since the initial SP3 beta release several security patches have been released, and a roll-up security fix for W2K was recently released to the beta Windows Update site before being pulled abruptly because of problems reported with it. I would expect that "roll-up" fix to go into SP3 and in fact maybe that's the delay right now. SP3 could be soon but it may take a month or so.

For more Info hit the link above

Microsoft has released a command-line tool that easily enumerates all of the installed fixes by Microsoft Knowledge Base article number. Customers can then confirm that they have installed the appropriate set of fixes before using a valuable support incident and potentially experiencing unplanned down time.

Microsoft have released MSN Instant Messenger for Pocket PC 2002 and Terminal Services Client for Pocket PC 2002.

NeoWin HFNetChk can be run from Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP systems, and will scan either the local system or remote ones for patches available for the following products: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Internet Information Server 4.0 and 5.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 (including Microsoft Data Engine), and Internet Explorer 5.01 and later.

First it seemed like M$ released a new version on the indonesian page but that was a false rumor. Status as of now: Probable new release on January 31st. Powertoys homepage

A new company directive was given out by Bill Gates to M$ employees on Wednesday stating that When we face a choice between adding features and resolving security issues, we need to choose security. Calling the new initiative "Trustworthy Computing," Gates billed it as the "highest priority" for the company. Source: CNet

ibelite.com Yet another privacy issue is plaguing Microsoft, with an expert warning users of the Windows Media Player that a feature in the software could be used maliciously to track users' whereabouts online? LOL hey boss stop going to that site your going to go blind!!!

Microsoft announced a new version for Friday! (January 11, 2001 update) The PowerToys download is currently unavailable. Please check back on Friday, January 18 for the updated version of this download. Powertoys home