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Windows 11: How to Install WSL2 and Linux Distros

I’m not going to lie. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a helpful technology. It’s supposed to have made getting a Linux environment on Windows easier. However, having just tried getting it up and running on the lone Windows box I own, I can confirm it’s a pain to install unless you’re a Windows system administrator or know what you’re doing. The hype for WSL2 appears to have overlooked the user experience....

August 18, 2022 · 4 min · Chris Short

Microsoft Has Come a Long Way

Microsoft has come a very long way in its fight back into the graces of all technologists. There will be some die hards that will never forgive Microsoft for what it attempted to do to open source software. Like there will be some die hards that won’t embrace PowerShell, WSL, and future Microsoft improvements. But, there is no denying that Microsoft has changed as a company in a way that is beneficial to the open source community and beyond....

April 16, 2018 · 7 min · Chris Short

Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac

On June 1, 2016, Microsoft released an update to it’s Remote Desktop client for Mac OS X via the Mac App Store. The update to version 8.0.32 broke some functionality for people. The most commonly reported error I have seen is “Connection reset to peer” before authentication. Sadly, unless you have a Time Machine backup to grab the old version from you are likely going to have to find an alternative....

June 9, 2016 · 1 min · Chris Short

What's Wrong with Microsoft's Windows 10 Marketing

I was reading through Wired magazine and saw a Windows 10 ad. If you’ve turned on a TV the past month you’ve seen the ad I’m referring to, this is just the print edition of the TV ad. She won’t have to remember passwords. Or obsess about security. To her, every screen is meant to be touched. And so on… (here’s the full ad if you really want to see it)....

October 6, 2015 · 2 min · Chris Short

Windows Vista: Upgrading Seems Like a Really Bad Idea

I’ve come to the conclusion that upgrading to Windows Vista would be a horrible decision; allow me to explain why. Cost: The main reason behind doing or not doing most things with PCs is cost. An upgrade to Windows Vista Ultimate will set you back $200 or more dollars. But that’s just the start! Chances are the hardware that runs at speed or soars with Windows XP will run dreadfully slow with Windows Vista....

February 1, 2007 · 3 min · Chris Short

IE Unsecure for Over 9 Months in 2006, Firefox, Nine Days

Most of us probably knew this already but Internet Explorer (IE) is one of the most unsecured browsers on the planet. Last year alone, it was unsecure for 284 according to a Washington Post article by Brian Krebs. Washington Post: “Internet Explorer unsafe for 284 days in 2006” (Ars Technica) Security Fix spent the past several weeks compiling statistics on how long it took some of the major software vendors to issue patches for security flaws in their products....

January 18, 2007 · 3 min · Chris Short

Windows XP and Big Hard Drives

After having issues with a Western Digital 200 GB hard drive and Windows XP I thought it would be beneficial to put my notes into some sort of guide for other people that might have a problem with Windows and drives that are bigger than 137 GB (128 GB binary). Windows XP Service Pack 1 eliminates the 137 GB (128 GB binary) barrier (Windows XP SP1 includes 48-bit LBA support for ATAPI disk drives)....

January 5, 2005 · 3 min · Chris Short