The Old New Thing

Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.

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What were the intended uses of those icons in <TT>moricons.dll</TT>?
May 5, 2025
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What were the intended uses of those icons in moricons.dll?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Icons for old MS-DOS apps.

Using type aliasing to avoid the ODR problem with conditional compilation, part 2
May 2, 2025
Post comments count 3
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Using type aliasing to avoid the ODR problem with conditional compilation, part 2

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Ensuring that you pick a side.

Using C++ type aliasing to avoid the ODR problem with conditional compilation, part 1
May 1, 2025
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Using C++ type aliasing to avoid the ODR problem with conditional compilation, part 1

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Still one definition, but two types.

Why does Windows have trouble finding my Win32 resource if it contains an accented character?
Apr 30, 2025
Post comments count 6
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Why does Windows have trouble finding my Win32 resource if it contains an accented character?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Disagreements over the fine print.

Protecting Windows users from Janet Jackson’s <I>Rhythm Nation</I>
Apr 29, 2025
Post comments count 9
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Protecting Windows users from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Granting an exception to a system policy.

Why did Windows 7, for a few months, log on slower if you have a solid color background?
Apr 28, 2025
Post comments count 14
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Why did Windows 7, for a few months, log on slower if you have a solid color background?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

It's waiting for Godot and eventually gives up.

If we can have <CODE>std::atomic<std::shared_ptr></CODE>, why not <CODE>std::atomic<com_ptr></CODE>?
Apr 25, 2025
Post comments count 10
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If we can have std::atomic<std::shared_ptr>, why not std::atomic<com_ptr>?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Controlling the reference count.

When I define a window class with no default cursor, what is the explanation for the cursors that appear in my client area?
Apr 24, 2025
Post comments count 5
Post likes count 3

When I define a window class with no default cursor, what is the explanation for the cursors that appear in my client area?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

You said you'd take care of it, but you didn't.

What resource ID should I give my application’s main icon?
Apr 23, 2025
Post comments count 7
Post likes count 2

What resource ID should I give my application’s main icon?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Applying what we know about how Explorer finds the "first" icon in a file.

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