Category Archives: Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Symbol Server Configuration for WinDbg

Since I always forget how to configure a symbol cache on a new machine, here’s my configuration. Setting this environmental variable will download symbols from Microsoft’s servers and cache them at E:\symbols: _NT_SYMBOL_PATH=srv*E:\symbols*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

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It’s 2017 and Windows 10 Notification Sounds Are Still Obnoxiously Loud

Back in August of 2015, I wrote about how System Notifications in Windows 10 were deafening and ignored System Volume settings. It’s 2017, and the problem appears to still be there. In fact, it’s even worse, since Dropbox has to … Continue reading

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Windows 10 Bug: ‘System Sounds’ Volume Gets Loud on UAC and Notifications

Problem Running the retail/release version of Windows 10, every time I got a UAC prompt or ‘toast’ notification, the notification sound would be at full volume. I’d go into the Volume Mixer, run it down to around 5%, and sure … Continue reading

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How to Remap Windows Key on Kinesis Classic Keyboard

My Kinesis Classic doesn’t have a Windows key (well, technically it does, but it’s embedded in the ‘keypad’ map Print Screen). I like to remap the Insert key to the Windows key. Here’s how to do it: Press the Keypad … Continue reading

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WTF is a “Desktop Device App”

Apparently you now have to run the Windows App Certification Kit (WACK) on the software executables you publish in order to avoid a moderately scary warning from Windows SmartScreen. Upon running WACK, you’re presented with four options: Validate Windows Store … Continue reading

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Minimal Steps to Fake Authenticode Signature (Self-Signing)

Here are the minimum steps required to self-sign an executable for development and testing: makecert -sv mykey.pvk -n “CN=MyCompany” -len 2048 mycert.cer -r pvk2pfx -pvk mykey.pvk -spc mycert.cer -pfx mycert.pfx -po mypassword Note: You’ll be prompted to create a certificate … Continue reading

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Enabling uiAccess in Visual Studio C++ Projects

After spending too much time fiddling with my project’s Manifest Tool settings, trying to import an “Additional Manifest File”, I realized the solution was actually really simple. Under Project Settings | Linker | Manifest File, there is a simple dropdown … Continue reading

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Windows Console and Double/Multi Byte Character Set

The Windows Console doesn’t support Unicode. It does, however, support Double Byte Character Sets using Code Pages. By changing the system locale, the Console can display Japanese, Korean, and Chinese text: Terminology UTF-8 and UTF-16 are types of Unicode. However, … Continue reading

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Unicode and the Windows Console

Update: after several more hours of Googling and experimenting, I have found a way to display Japanese in the Console. For more information, check out my new post, “Windows Console and Double/Multi Byte Character Set”. The rest of this post … Continue reading

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Visual Studio Debugging – Accessibility Applications with uiAccess Attribute Set

Debugging the application from Visual Studio first resulted in a dialog telling me I needed to restart Visual Studio as Administrator. After doing so, trying to run in the debugger resulted in an error that read, “Unable to start program” … Continue reading

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