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CSI-Windows Debugging Checklist Mousepad for Previous Students of DesktopEngineer.com

31 Mar 2010 14:22:34 GMT

If you've ever taken a class from DesktopEngineer.com or CSI-Windows.com and did not receive one of our cool Debugging Checklist mousepads, drop us a line to get yours. See below for a graphic of what it looks like.

The mousepad includes the Debugging Rules from David Agans book "Debugging" so that there are literally at your fingertips to remind you of what good debugging is all about. These rules are covered in our CSI-300 Foundations of Application Internals. It is 7" x 8" x 1/8" and the black color helps it keep looking good for longer that the average pad!

Drop us a line on our Contact Us form and let us know what course you took and approximately when - once we've check our records we'll email you for a shipping address.

Topic: Engineers Toolbox, Application Management, Windows Installer, Win7 / Vista, Training News, Scripting, Virtual Machines

Unnecessary Roadblocks in the Windows Software Logo Program

31 Mar 2010 14:17:36 GMT

Microsoft is running a survey about the Windows Software Logo Program to find out how it can be improved. For Windows 7 the program was streamlined for developers to make it easier for them to get on board. There is, however, one area that remains challenging for smaller development shops - you know, precisely the one's that IT admins would love to have focused on building platform compliant software? You can help by showing your vote...

Microsoft has wisely eliminated submission fees for the software logo program, but there is one place where some odd play of self-interest continues to create a challenge. When you submit your software for logo certification, you must code sign your software - which helps with the ever prevalent problem of code-injection into executables. You may sign your software with an Authenticode signing certificate from any recognized Root CA. If you do your home work you will find that there are inexpensive options as cheap as $99/year.

Many software developers start making headway toward the logo certification by obtaining one of these certificates only to run into a challenge when they go to submit their software for the logo program. It turns out that you must also signup for the "Winqual" website to be able to submit your software for logo certification. Part of this process is to sign an EXE and submit it. For this purpose, only a Verisign code signing certificate is acceptable. There are no technical or security reasons given for this and years of requests by software developers seem to fall on deaf ears.

For a software developer who has invested the time and energy into obtaining a certificate from a different CA, it is very disappointing to consider spending that time and energy again. The ongoing cost is much higher as well, although Microsoft has a discount that allows the Verisign certificate to be purchased for $99 for the first year, the yearly renewal is over $300/year.

If you feel relieving this requirement would help all of us with better quality software, please take the survey here before April 9th. At any time you can vote for this change on the Software Logo Program Feedback item here.

Topic: Application Management,Windows Installer, Win7 / Vista

Windows 7 MSI Update Course Scheduled

12 Jan 2010 15:20:16 GMT

This new course familiarizes participants with the new features from MSI 4.0 through 5.0 (Vista through Windows 7)...

User Admins background, tools and techniques are important whether your company is moving away from User Admins or keeping user admins with Admin Approval Mode. Exclusive CSI-Windows.com tools include: MSI 5 log analysis, shell interception and a special MSI group policy template (ADMX).

This two day course can be registered for individually on weeks where "TRK-51 Windows 7 Application Internals & Packaging Jumpstart" is offered. We have an offering in February and April.

For an outline and scheduled dates click here.

Topic: Training News, Windows Installer, Win7 / Vista

Exhaustive Documentation on Causing and Suppressing the UAC Prompt

12 Nov 2009 18:55:44 GMT

Check out the new post at CSI-Windows.com that shows all the ways to cause and suppress UAC prompts - we bet there is more than you thought!

How can I UAC Prompt thee? Let me count the ways...

Topic: Application Management, Win7 / Vista

New Class: MSI Packaging Update for Windows 7 in December

03 Nov 2009 18:38:55 GMT

This new course familiarizes participants with the new features from MSI 4.0 through 5.0 (Vista through Windows 7). A lot of time is spent on UAC and on packaging for User Admins (Non-IT Admins)...

For an outline and scheduled dates click here.

Topic: Training News, Windows Installer, Win7 / Vista