Computer Hardware and Software
Posts tagged NT
Explained: Garbage Collection
Jul 22nd
Garbage Collection is the concept of collecting useless “dereferenced” memory, and freeing it for re-use by the system. De-referenced resources are those objects that are no longer in use by the program but are still allocated for use by it.
Languages like C/C++ could allow programmers to directly interact and play with memory, a responsibility that is often so abused that it does more harm than good… Problems arise when people recklessly allocate large system resources and the due to some mis-management the allocated memory is never freed. This leaves large chunks of unreacheable memory locations that ultimately cause “Memory Leaks”. In comes the invention by John McCarthy, which shoulders the responsibility of memory management by de-allocating memory that is not in use by the program anymore. While the concept was initially developed for LISP only, now it has spread to a variety of High Level Languages, including updated versions of C\C++ themselves.
C++/CLI (Common Language Infrastructure), which is Microsoft’s language specification has provision for both manual and automated memory management.
Garbage collector is the term used to represent automatic memory management by the system. Garbage collector scans the runtime environment for objects that are accessible directly or indirectly via references. Then it proceeds to discard all remaining objects. Typically, an object’s memory is reclaimed when the number of references to it reaches zero. These scans are done in cycles, which are started automatically by the Garbage collector or when explicit calls are made to it.
Garbage collection does not guarantee immunity from memory leaks, and obviously requires a considerable percentage of system resources to run, but definitely helps programmers who have to deal with a lot of memory in their projects. Garbage collection is not commonly used in embedded projects due to their already small resource size but are available on certain platforms like .NET Micro Framework and Java-ME.
Windows Intune – PC management in the Cloud!
Jul 21st
Windows Intune, in a nutshell, is a Web-based console where IT administrators can manage the deployment of Microsoft updates and service packs to all PCs, keep track of hardware and software inventory, fix PC issues remotely, manage protection from malware threats and set security policies. Windows Intune can be accessed anywhere an Internet connection is available.
Microsoft is aiming the cloud-based Windows Intune squarely at companies with 25 to 500 PCs, as businesses of this size typically don’t have the resources to manage and configure servers in an on-premise desktop management environment.
For $11 per PC per month users will get the Windows Intune service plus integrated anti-malware (anti-virus and anti-spyware) and Windows 7 Enterprise upgrade rights. Volume discounts will also be available for purchases of 250 licenses or greater.
Windows Intune will be sold like other cloud services from Microsoft — through Microsoft partners and the Microsoft Online Services Web site.
You can find more in depth information in the PDF below or just visit windowsintune.com.
WPC 2010 Virtual Pressroom: Video Gallery
Jul 15th
Demo: The Personal Cloud
Corporate Vice President Brad Brooks shows off how Windows 7, Bing, Windows Live and other services connect to create a connected “personal cloud.”
[Video]
Have you made your decision to be a Mac or a PC?
May 31st
This is a video review of Mac versus Windows which shows both – the good and the bad – sides of PCs and Macs:
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Personally I made my decision to be a PC because I love to have control over every little part of the OS (using OpenBSD, Ubuntu Netbook Edition and various Windows).
What are you? (Mac, PC or both?) Please comment!
The Black Box Recorder
May 3rd
Every developer wishes there was a way that an end-users could quickly and simply record a repro for the problem that they’re running into that is unique to their machine.
Here a little tool from Windows 7 comes to the rescue!
The in-built diagnostic tool ”Problem Steps Recorder” provides a simple screen capture tool that enables you to record a series of actions. Once you hit “record”, it tracks your mouse and keyboard and captures screenshots with any comments you choose to associate alongside them. Once you stop recording, it saves the whole thing to a ZIP file, containing an HTML-based “slide show” of the steps.
It’s a really neat little tool and I can’t wait for it to become ubiquitous on every desktop! The program is called psr.exe; you can also search for it from Control Panel or the Start-Menu search under “Record steps to reproduce a problem”.
Access Skydrive with Windows Explorer
Apr 24th
Some of you may have noticed that I now prefer using Skydrive service from Microsoft if I want to share files. This free Service lets you use 25 GB of online space for free for storing anything you want for your personal use. You can use this to store your files and can be accessed anywhere anytime using your Windows live sign in username and password adding a considerable amount of security.
Normally You need a Browser to access it using a internet enabled system. Sometime this is not a great way to access your files. Skydrive Explorer is such a tool which can let you access 25 GB Skydrive with Windows Explorer without opening any browser.
SkyDrive Explorer is a free, easy-to-use, but very powerful extension for Windows Explorer. With SkyDrive Explorer you can make any every-day operations with your documents from Microsoft Live SkyDrive™ service (read more..) using Windows Explorer, as if they were on your computer.
Features:
- View the structure and contents of folders in SkyDrive™;
- View files information (type, size, creation date in GMT format);
- Create new root folders and subfolders;
- Copy files into the storage;
- Delete files and folders;
- Copy files from the storage to the computer;
- Copy folders and subfolders from the storage to the computer keeping their structure;
- Use Drag & Drop for files operations;
- Rename files and folders;
- Create links to SkyDrive™ folders on your computer;
- Copy URL of the selected object(s) to the Clipboard;
- Automatic check for the latest version;
- Bidirectional languages support;
- Selection of your preferred interface language;
Give it a try even if you are using other products like Microsoft Live Mesh or from other companies.
PS: The Free version of Skydrive Explorer should be fine for everyone. For rare cases where you would need the paid version, just use the Skydrive Website instead 
Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.04 EyeCandy
Mar 2nd
I just found this nice video in Youtube:
You think thats impressive? Me too Looks cool – but do you really need all this eyecandy stuff? I like Windows 7 because it is just the right amount of visual cool looking stuff so you are able to work as efficient as possible. But this varies between each person.
PS: I have UBUNTU 9.10 as second multiboot system and it is really helpfull to impress other people 
Peeking into Windows’s virtual store
Feb 22nd
In the user data area in Windows Vista, Server 2008 and Seven there is a folder called “VirtualStore” which you can find in C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\ .
It is worth having a peek now and again. Here’s part of mine:
image showing my VirtualStore folder
But what exactly is that folder for?
The Virtual Store is a feature of User Account Control, the centerpiece of Windows’ new enhanced security. Read the rest of this entry »
SuperFetch – What is this?
Feb 22nd
SuperFetch is a technology in Windows NT 6.0 (Vista) and onwards that is often misunderstood. I decided to delve into this technology to see what it is all about, and to dispel some of the myths surrounding this feature.
Very succinctly put, SuperFetch is a technology which allows Windows to manage the amount of random access memory in the machine it runs on more efficiently. SuperFetch is part of Windows’ memory manager; a less capable version, called PreFetcher, is included in Windows XP. SuperFetch tries to make sure often-accessed data can be read from the fast RAM instead of the slow hard drive.
SuperFetch’ goals:
SuperFetch has two goals: it decreases boot time, and makes sure applications that you use the most load more efficiently. SuperFetch also takes timing into account, in that it will adapt itself to your usage patterns.
Windows 7 in 7 Minutes
Feb 15th
You are a developer and you write /are going to write Software for Windows Seven?
If you can answer both Questions with yes, then take a look at these short but verry informative videos at: http://www.msdev.com/Directory/SeriesDescription.aspx?CourseId=151
Windows 7 in 7 Minutes!Get to know Windows 7, 7 minutes at a time! In this series of short, code-focused videos you’ll see how to take advantage of the great new [Business Decision Maker, Technical Decision Maker, Developer] features in Windows 7. Each video is under seven minutes long, so you can check out a new video in less time than it takes to check your mail or grab your morning cup of coffee!