The "Things I'd like Windows to be able to do!" thread
Spinner
Birmingham, UK
I thought it might be a good idea to have a place where people can post and talk about specific parts of the Windows operating system (namely XP, but not limited to) which people feel needs improving. Whether it's a specific part of the functionality you would like to see improved, or simply a feature you would like to see added, this is the place to talk about it. 'Longhorn' is a long way off yet, but hopefully by the time it does arrive, this thread will have helped us get down on paper (so to speak) exactly what we want it to be able to do.
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Outlook Express is now a cemented component of the modern Windows operating system, and even though it is my prefered e-mail client, there is one ability I would like it to have, which it currently does not.
I would like to be able to set the mail store folder location to a non-local address, i.e. a network folder (without having to map it, though I actually don't think that works either). Currently as far as I'm aware the mail store folder can only be a local address. This ability would in some situations, remove the need for mail synchronisation, as a store folder could be shared by a number of networked computers.
Windows Explorer could use an overhaul. I liked the way the old Norton Commander worked where you could change the view from files to directory tree on both sides.
Most of the XP powertoy addons would be great as regular features. Native virtual desktop support would be awesom, as would the ability to open command line from any folder via a right click (currently available as a powertoy).
Dont have services started up that we dont need.
Um, you can make an icon that does close to that-- essentially you want an icon with the command line "CMD.exe" in it. Then a double-click will open your command session. DRAG+CTRL COPIES an icon literally, with all properties carried with copy. Plain dragmakes a shortcut to icon, in many cases. SHIFT+DRAG moves what you are SHIFT-DRAGGING. Hold down ctrl to get a CTRL-DRAG, and release when it is where you want it. You now have an independent icon, a copy you can change (name, icon used, etc, even what command line is used by icon). Play.... If I wanted one, I could simply take any icon with a command line, rename it, make it do most anything windows will support.
You can also reduce the work some-- make a icon, click it once. Press CTRL-C. You want it, with its properies, in multiple places, then navigate to that folder, press CTRL-V. Navigate to next place, press CTRL-V again. Do that last sentence until it is in all the folders you want it in.
That process is basically how I got an icon that runs folding with all the switches I want on the desktop and in the startup folder(and a sfety copy in the Folding@Home folder. Eventually, that icon on the desktop will be made to vanish.
John D.
Um, it can be done without resorting to all that. Um, as I said, features that are available as powertoys would be good as standard features. Um, if you download the powertoy it adds the ability to open the command line via a right click while in explorer. Um, you're right though about copying shortcuts. I do the same thing for F@H on SM4. Um, I copied the shortcut into startup.
You could also create a logon script for NT/2000/XP that would start F@H when you log in. Untimately the best way to do it is as a service through something like Firedaemon.
You mean Windows Messenger. But yeah, I agree. Even after Microsoft made Messenger appear in the add/remove windows components list, it still doesn't go without a fight. It's the same with the whole 'Set program access to defaults' thing, most of the stuff that comes with XP, like IE, OE, WMM and WMP I love, but some of them can be hell to remove. Microsoft would argue, better integration comes at a price. I say, that's not an excuse.
FYI, there is a mean hack to have some of Outlook Express on a network drive but its really ugly and slow.
No unaccessable files. Or make some way that they can be accessed. Sure thats good for all the dumbasses but I want to know whats on my computer.
I think some of those may be limited more by hardware technology rather than software. Still always something to hope for. Windows XP : Lazy Ass Edition.
The stability of a BSD workstation,
and of course, the compatibility of a Microsoft product.
VB scripting support for every aspect of the OS installed by default.
Tabbed browing and popup blocking integrated into Internet Explorer. Ability to do Google Searches from a search bar without having to have google toolbar.
Replacing application entries in the Windows Registry with configuration files stored locally in the programs' directories.
Ability to easily designate swap file, Program Files, user directories, and iis root directories without having to do an unattended install of Windows.
Have *nix-style command-line features, that is to say global support for *, |, >, >>, etc.
Dump MSN Explorer, MSN Instant Messenger from Windows XP, or at the very least make MSN Instant Messenger an optional component for unattended installs.
De-integrate the Windows GUI Shell from Internet Explorer so I can dump IE like the bug-ridden sack of rotten code it is.
De-integrate Outlook Express from the Windows GUI so I can remove it at my preference.
.ISO creation and burning support from the Windows Shell instead of provided by a powertoy.
.RAR, .GZIP, .ARJ, .SIT, .HQX, .TAR, .TGZ support from the Windows Shell like they've got .ZIP support now.
Have the Internet Connection Firewall support groups of TCP and UDP address ranges and organize multiple groups under the heading of a single service (eg service named DirectX Netplay contains a set of TCP and UDP ranges). No limit to the number of services you can make this way.
Support for AppleTalk file and printer shares in Professional non-Server OS variants.
-drasnor
Copy /APPEND CON > "C:\concpt01.txt"
(copies console to text file of name used in command-- note the use of quotes)
CON | PRN
(redirects console interaction to default printer(usually local printer), this is a redirect and will leave nothing going to console, first command, the COPY, is prefered)
Note that copy is a CMD.exe parsed subcommand, ditto MOVE.
What I would like is true soft and hard symlink capability in Windows, though something like that can be done. Lots of the "piping" you see in *nix is actually symlinking.
These are legacies from DOS, most of them, except for the quotes used to pass paths to commands as versus passing to the copnsole for direct action as in CD C:\Windows (path does not need to be capitalized, has to follow "dossy" rules as to name length-- like Temporary Internet Files becomes Tempor~1).
So, you could write a batch that does this:
CMD
Copy CON |PRN
Move /svf "C:\Windows\*.*" "E:\Windows\*.*"
EXIT
And that batch would move the Windows tree to the E drive and report files moved to printer-- simpler printer is better, will be plain ASCII output. Substitute copy, you have a backup.
Different rules, functions are there. I deliberately roughed the command lines a bit, figure someone might try this just to see if it works, and would hate to see Windows destroyed, so see copy /? and move /? for syntax that will work as this is too rad a batch to run unless you write some confirmation logic in or KNOW you can deal with the registry issues involved. And know how to use FIXBOOT /SCAN and FIXMBR. I wanted a larger scale example that newer enthusiasts would have to learn to actually do, as you can trash a windows install easily as you can *nix (There is a 20-30 keystroke set that will wipe most of your file system in Linux also) as sysadmin privileged user or as "root."
John D.
For the last time, it's Windows Messenger! not MSN Messenger. MSN Messenger doesn't come with Windows XP.
Absolutely though, I think Microsoft, in an attempt to cut down on un-necessary user interventions when installing, decided not to include such things as optional component features in the OS's setup program. At least that's what they would probably say. But whether that's true or not, the addition of one simple menu giving the option of 'typical' or 'custom' install, would have worked wonders without sacrificing too much of the users time. But it does just boil down to the fact that Microsoft just doesn't want you to un-install the bundled IM programs and stuff they so generously include. Setup options or no setup options. Minimal installs or no minimal installs.
Sweet suggestion John. I tried to create hard symlinks the other day, since I wanted Counterstrike 1.6 to use all the maps from 1.5 without having to duplicate my cstrike folder. It didn't want to do it.
Really? I thought it went like this:
Windows Messenger -> Messenger Service -> Net Send Spam, so I disable.
MSN Instant Messenger -> integrated into Outlook, IE, and .NET -> I use Trillian, but it isn't removable.
-drasnor
kanzfan that makes 2 of us
Yea, Kanez' just about hit the mark.
Windows Messenger -> Comes with Windows XP (and exclusive to it), OE, IE etc integrated IM client. Currently at v5, v4.7 through Windows Update.
Messenger Service -> Net send and Alerter service
MSN Messenger -> All Windows OS (95,98,NT,2000,XP) compatible IM client, not bundled with XP, not as integrated when installed on XP, with less functionality but with better aesthetics. Currently at v6.1, not available through Windows Update.
I'll put this up in the 'Tweaks and Tricks Thread' so we've all got a solid reference. It can get confusing I know, took me years to figure out which one was which he he.
-drasnor
I prefered the old DOS days, when every program had all of it's own resource files and libraries in it's own diectory, and ONLY in it's own directory. Then you didn't have to worry about disableing one program when you deleted another program, and you didn't have to worry about accidentally leaving behind files that you didn't need anymore when you deleted an old program.
I despise the fact that we even need registries and 'uninstallers' for all of todays programs.
That's why I still use Eudora for mail. it doesn't have all of the cool features of some other mail clients, but it doesn't need to nbe installed, and it keeps all of it's resources in one folder... I can just copy the direcory onto a new computer, or onto my pen rive, and it works perfectly...
I second that!