The Old New Thing
Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.
Latest posts
Oct 30, 2026
Post comments count
0
Post likes count
0
The Microsoft building that was reportedly haunted
Lots of rumors, little confirmation.
Oct 29, 2026
Post comments count
9
Post likes count
3
The support case of a customer who said that all they could see was a black screen
Then again, that is what they asked for.
Oct 28, 2026
Post comments count
1
Post likes count
4
C++/WinRT overcorrection: Using make_self and immediately converting it to the projected interface
You are taking the scenic route.
Oct 27, 2026
Post comments count
10
Post likes count
5
Why don’t we run the taskbar and Task Manager at high priority, so they can remain responsive?
Hurry up and wait.
Oct 26, 2026
Post comments count
10
Post likes count
5
Puzzling out why a program doesn’t work when run from a batch file, but works when double-clicked from Explorer
Mimicking the operation more accurately.
Oct 23, 2026
Post comments count
3
Post likes count
3
Why didn’t we use the COM static store to clean up the unmarshalable delegate?
It cleans up at the wrong time.
Oct 22, 2026
Post comments count
0
Post likes count
3
Why didn’t we use CoRegisterInitializeSpy to clean up the unmarshalable delegate?
Looking more closely at the function's behavior and requirements.
Oct 21, 2026
Post comments count
0
Post likes count
3
Why didn’t we use RoRegisterForApartmentShutdown to clean up the unmarshalable delegate?
Too many requirements, some of which bring us full circle.
Oct 20, 2026
Post comments count
1
Post likes count
2
Microspeak: Drain the slide, back-up slides
PowerPoint presentation jargon.
