The Old New Thing

The Old New Thing

The Old New Thing

For one internal build, Windows 95 contained an evil message

For one internal build, Windows 95 contained an evil message

Raymond Chen October 31, 2019 Oct 31, 2019 10/31/19

Another prank from the user interface team.

The program “G” is preventing you from shutting down

The program “G” is preventing you from shutting down

Raymond Chen October 30, 2019 Oct 30, 2019 10/30/19

Minding your character set.

If you suppress GDI+ background thread, then you are expected to pump messages yourself

If you suppress GDI+ background thread, then you are expected to pump messages yourself

Raymond Chen October 29, 2019 Oct 29, 2019 10/29/19

That stuff is now happening on your thread.

Did you hear that story about Bill Gates?: A PR person’s view

Did you hear that story about Bill Gates?: A PR person’s view

Raymond Chen October 28, 2019 Oct 28, 2019 10/28/19

They've heard them all.

Why does <CODE>FormatMessage</CODE> say that <CODE>%0</CODE> terminates the message without a trailing newline? Is it secretly <I>adding</I> newlines?

Why does `FormatMessage` say that `%0` terminates the message without a trailing newline? Is it secretly adding newlines?

Raymond Chen October 25, 2019 Oct 25, 2019 10/25/19

Well, it's not FormatMessage that's adding the newline.

If you want to terminate on an unexpected exception, then don’t sniff at every exception; just let the process terminate

If you want to terminate on an unexpected exception, then don’t sniff at every exception; just let the process terminate

Raymond Chen October 24, 2019 Oct 24, 2019 10/24/19

Get the stack before it unwinds.

Why can’t I create a “Please wait” dialog from a background thread to inform the user that the main UI thread is busy?

Why can’t I create a “Please wait” dialog from a background thread to inform the user that the main UI thread is busy?

Raymond Chen October 23, 2019 Oct 23, 2019 10/23/19

Reversal of fortune.

What’s the difference between the hotkeys <KBD>F6</KBD> and <KBD>Alt</KBD>+<KBD>F6</KBD>?

What’s the difference between the hotkeys `F6` and `Alt`+`F6`?

Raymond Chen October 22, 2019 Oct 22, 2019 10/22/19

Switching between things, but different things.

When I tell the file or folder picker that I want only file system files and folders, why does it still show virtual folders?

When I tell the file or folder picker that I want only file system files and folders, why does it still show virtual folders?

Raymond Chen October 21, 2019 Oct 21, 2019 10/21/19

Because there might be a file hiding under it.

C++/WinRT implementation extension points: <CODE>abi_guard</CODE>, <CODE>abi_enter</CODE>, <CODE>abi_exit</CODE>, and <CODE>final_release</CODE>

C++/WinRT implementation extension points: `abi_guard`, `abi_enter`, `abi_exit`, and `final_release`

Raymond Chen October 18, 2019 Oct 18, 2019 10/18/19

Coming in, going out, and going away.