Showing tag results for History

Aug 25, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count1

Windows brings out the Rorschach test in everyone

Raymond Chen

It seems that no matter what you do, somebody will get offended. Every Windows 95 box has an anti-piracy hologram on the side. The photographer chose his infant son as his model, since the human face is very hard to copy accurately. The baby sits next to a computer, and as you turn the hologram, his ...

History
Aug 22, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count5

Why isn't my time zone highlighted on the world map?

Raymond Chen

In the original release of Windows 95, you could change your time zone by clicking on the map, and the time zone you selected would highlight. Similarly, you could change your Region Settings by clicking on the world map. This was one of those little touches that made Windows 95 that much more fun to use. ...

HistoryTime
Aug 20, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count2

What is in the "Windows 95 Special Edition" box?

Raymond Chen

At the Windows 95 Launch and at various other marketing events, guests were given a copy of "Windows 95 Special Edition". What is so special about the box? Answer: The box. The contents of the box are exactly the same as a regular copy of Windows 95. The only thing special about it...

History
Aug 18, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count3

Why does Windows 95 have functions called BEAR, BUNNY and PIGLET?

Raymond Chen

If you dig back into your Windows 95 files, you'll find that some internal system functions are given names like , and . Surely there is a story behind these silly names, isn't there? Of course there is. "Bear" is the name of the Windows 3.1 mascot, a stuffed teddy bear seemingly-obsessively ...

History
Aug 12, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count1

Why can't I remove "for test/evaluation purposes only"?

Raymond Chen

"Why can't I remove 'for test/evaluation purposes only'? I know I'm running an evaluation edition, I don't need it rubbed in my face." This prevents unscrupulous OEMs from selling machines with the evaluation edition of the product instead of the retail version. (Yes, this has happened before. Many ...

History
Aug 8, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count4

Why is a registry file called a "hive"?

Raymond Chen

Useless trivia day. Why is a registry file called a "hive"? Because one of the original developers of Windows NT hated bees.  So the developer who was responsible for the registry snuck in as many bee references as he could.  A registry file is called a "hive", and registry...

History
Aug 7, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count0

Limitations on DLL resources in Windows 95

Raymond Chen

Ancient history lesson. When Win9x loads a 32-bit DLL, it creates a shadow 16-bit DLL so 16-bit code (like USER) can access resources in it. The shadow DLL is effectively a resource-only 16-bit DLL, created by taking the 32-bit resources and converting them to 16-bit format. If the...

History
Aug 5, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count2

Changing the Windows boot logo

Raymond Chen

This is the answer I give to IT people when they ask if it's okay to customize the Windows boot logo. DO NOT DO THIS ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE OR YOU WILL REGRET IT. If you hack the bitmap everything will seem fine until six months down the road when you decide to install the latest ...

History
Jul 30, 2003
Post comments count0
Post likes count0

Why doesn't the new Start menu use Intellimenus in the All Programs list?

Raymond Chen

Common request: I want to be able to turn on personalized menus (Intellimenus) when in XP Start Menu mode. Imagine if Intellimenus were enabled with the XP Start Menu. You use 5 apps; the rest are not used much. (Studies show that 5 is the typical number of unique applications us...

History