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This isn't Highlights magazine: Sort keys and why they change
Some time ago, Ry Jones gave some examples of Quotable Raymond, including the following: How to make a good doc bug report: 1. Don't embed pictures. ... This isn't Highlights magazine. What Ry didn't...
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Why doesn't the Maximize button maximize across all monitors?
Cheong wonders why there isn't a way for the Maximize button to maximize a window across multiple monitors. (Troll asks a similar question: Why doesn't Windows support spanned mode for multiple...
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Why does Explorer ignore seconds when sorting by Date Modified?
A customer reported that Explorer appears to be ignoring the seconds when sorting by Date Modified. The customer was kind enough to include detailed steps to reproduce the problem. Start with a folder...
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Why do program files go into the Program Files directory?
Some of Microsoft's software certification programs (such as the Windows Logo) require that applications set their default installation location to the Program Files directory. What is the reason for...
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Alt text for images are important in email, too
Apparently the IT department gave up on getting everybody to read email in plain text, and other service departments at Microsoft have moved beyond simply using HTML for markup and started adding...
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To some people, time zones are just a fancy way of sounding important
As I noted some time ago, there is a standard series of announcements that are sent out when a server is undergoing planned (or unplanned) maintenance. And since these are official announcements, the...
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If you have multiple versions of Windows installed, why do they all try to...
Commenter Martin notes that if you have multiple copies of Windows installed on your machine, then each one will try to adjust the clock when you enter or exit daylight saving time. "I cannot believe...
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Microspeak: Friction
In physics, friction is a force that resists motion. In Microspeak, friction is an obstacle which prevents somebody from doing something you want them to do. (The preferred verb phrase for getting...
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How do I get mouse messages faster than WM_MOUSEMOVE?
We saw some time ago that the rate at which you receive WM_MOUSEMOVE messages is entirely up to how fast your program calls GetMessage. But what if your program is calling GetMessage as fast as it...
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Why does the VerQueryValue function give me the wrong file version number?
A customer was writing a test to verify that their patching system was working properly, but they found that even after the patch was installed, a call to VerQueryValue reported that the file was...
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Memory allocation functions can give you more memory than you ask for, and...
Memory allocation functions like HeapAlloc, GlobalAlloc, LocalAlloc, and CoTaskMemAlloc all have the property that they can return more memory than you requested. For example, if you ask for 13...
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Why does holding the Ctrl key when selecting New Task from Task Manager open...
Commenter Adam S wonders why holding the Ctrl key when selecting New Task from Task Manager will open a command prompt. It's a rogue feature. Windows XP introduced visual styles, and one of the tricky...
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The most exciting part of my morning is catching my bus, specifically, making...
Note: Transit nerd content. You have been warned. I still rely on One Bus Away to tell me when my bus is coming. Recent changes in bus service means that there is no longer a direct bus from my...
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In 1993, Microsoft stole my colleague's car
I remember walking between buildings at Microsoft back in the 1990's and seeing a moss-covered, rusted-out jalopy in one of the parking spaces. It clearly hadn't moved in ages. The person I was with...
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Isn't there a race condition in GetFileVersionInfoSize?
In response to my explanation of what the lpdwHandle parameter in GetFileVersionInfoSize is used for, Steve Nuchia wonders if there's a race condition between the time you get the size and the...
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Why does my window style change when I call SetWindowText?
A customer observed some strange behavior with window styles: We ran some weird behavior: Calling the SetWindowText function causes a change in window styles. Specifically, calling SetWindowText...
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Why is the Heap32Next function incredibly slow on Windows 7?
A customer observed that the Heap32Function runs much slower on Windows 7 compared to previous versions of Windows. What happened? Set the wayback machine to 1992. The product is Windows 3.1. One of...
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Beverage Gas Division of Central Welding Supply
The other day, I saw a van which was labeled Beverage Gas Division of Central Welding Supply. This odd juxtaposition was created by the acquisition of Compressed Gas Western by Central Welding Supply...
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Why does a maximized window have the wrong window rectangle?
Commenter configurator wonders why the maximum size for a form is the screen size plus (12,12). Somebody else wonders why it's the screen size plus (16,16). Let's start by rewinding the clock to...
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Amusing message on a whiteboard in the hallway
It is common to see whiteboards mounted in hallways. Sometimes they have official purposes; other times they are just placed for the convenience of hallway conversations or impromptu meetings. One of...
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