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Zune Desktop Theme

Zune Desktop Theme

Review Windows Live Messenger 2009 and how to record MSN webcam

Some days ago, Microsoft released the betas of the latest versions of its Windows Live Suite – dubbed “Wave 3”, which will also encompass a huge redesign of all the entire Windows Live product line, online and offline. In this update, all of the Windows Live family components have had a redesign, but the biggest has had to be Windows Live Messenger 2009.

Actually, the old versions of Windows Live Messenger or MSN, as most of us used to call it, has gained rich users through out the world. But, just like other software tools from Microsoft, they also bring much complaining. So how about the new Live Messenger? I just upgraded to the latest Windows Live Messenger today and I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised with the major changes they have made with the UI and the features.

This 14MB download took just a few minutes in my tests, though we had to proceed with care to prevent Windows Live Messenger from installing unwanted items, such as a desktop shortcut or Rhapsody music software. Once installed, Windows Live Messenger displays a drop-down menu of features along the top, contacts within the center pane, a search box on the bottom, and tabs for eBay, Rhapsody, and other services along the left. Microsoft fans will like the integration with MSN Spaces and the company’s other properties. However, we wish we could hide the animated panel of ads at the bottom.

Then I fantasized a while in the new features of Live Messenger 2009. Because I’ve been using Windows Live Messenger formerly MSN Messenger for over a more than 5 years, I found that now it really has developed into a fine messenger. After initial testing, I found very little to complain about; in fact, while I could spend an entire week talking about all the cool things, I decided to isolate my reviews on several to new cool features which make Windows Live Messenger 2009 better.

New Vista style look of the main UI
The main sign-in screen has a new clean look with warm colors. A clean and a well defined layout. Taking a page from Vista, Messenger 2009 features a brand new “glassy” look on all the client’s windows, helping it to mesh better with Microsoft’s latest OS. The crystal-cleanliness of the entire client gives the IM a sleeker look outside the original blue and green outfit.
The background is now customizable, like it has been in MSN v8.5; but this time, you can add a preset theme, or “scenes”, or create your own with an image of your choice. As well, you have also the choice to mix and match the colors, with one can be the color for the header, and another can be for the color of the bottom part of Messenger. We suggest you stick with the same color for both, but this feature is pretty interesting.

New contact organization and displaying
The biggest out of the redesign is the contact list (see left). The entire thing has gotten a massive redesign, but still has not departed from the original idea that there should not be any menu bars.
Before you start organizing your contacts into groups, be forewarned: the 2009 Messenger experience is a little different from version 8.5. Now, your friends will go into “categories.” Meanwhile, you can pair different folks into “Groups” which help facilitate Messenger 9.0’s powerful new group chat feature. The development illustrates a strong commitment to streamlining communications and the group chat feature is no exception.
We all have a small circle we talk to most on IM and now, Messenger 2009 makes it easier to find them on our contacts list with the “favorites” category. Organize this section at anytime; when your favorites sign-on, you’ll see them up top, front and center. Simple and effective.

Another brand new thing is “Favorites”, which allow you to make a list of “favorite” contacts. This, effectively, is not a new category, but just a section where you can drag and drop friends or family members that you like. As well, the Favorites section is given a different activity indicator setting, but you can change that as well.
Customizable chat window

Greatly improved video phone call
Windows Live Messenger video call quality is better than ever. With the most recent Messenger release and a quality webcam, you can now experience a clearer, sharper picture with full-screen VGA video. True VGA video (640×480) is up to four times better resolution then prior solutions when switched to full screen. To experience a true VGA video call, you will need the latest version of Windows Live Messenger, a webcam, a PC with a dual core processor and broadband Internet connection.
However, the evolution of Windows Live Messenger between 8.5 and 9.0 in terms of video call capabilities does not stop here. The instant messaging client now brings to the table superior connection time when users initiate a video call, as well as a video-centric interface available outside of full screen mode. Starting with version 9.0, Windows Live Messenger is now a part of Windows Live Essentials, a package designed to centralize all the components that have been separated from the Windows operating system.

An interesting MSN webcam recorder for you
The video call of Live Messenger has evolved to a new and higher level. But there is no recording function. It is really a pity, because so many users of MSN are eager to be able to record MSN webcam video and save on the PC. Here I would introduce a Third-Party software tool which could help you easily to achieve this objective.
Camersoft MSN Video Recorder is a professional recorder software for Windows Live Messenger. It could record MSN webcam during video call with your friends or family and save as AVI video files on your PC or laptop.
This MSN webcam recorder is very easy to use, only a few mouse clicks are needed to complete MSN recording work. In addition, the MSN video recorder is integrated with an advanced Video Converter component, which could be used to convert your videos, whether the recorded AVI or other videos like FLV, MP4, etc… to many formats and support rich portable players and mobile devices like: iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry, Zune and so on.
It is very useful feature and I could convert the recorded files to my iPod and share with others, really very interesting and joyful.

About the Author

kaspersky wont let me access desktop properties?

recently i download the Zune desktop theme, and right after the installation, i went to desktop properties (right click> properties) to change my theme, but that was when i got this message from my anti-virus (kaspersky 6.0.2.621). im not sure what it was asking, i just added it to ”trusted zone.” after dat , the properties thingy got stuck , and i restarted my pc. I then tried to access properties but it gave me an error message saying ”The application or DLL C:WINDOWSsystem32YHFQJTN.007 is not a valid Windows image(title is – rundll- Bad image).Please check this against your installation diskette.
also when i click ok, it never closes, i have to alt delete and close the process.

This file is in the Kaspersky Threat Expert library. Here is a link where you can scroll down the page to view the files included in the submission:

http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?uid=506a244e-8f48-4534-ae50-905634900c8a

From all I have read on this page this file doesn’t sound like a file from the Zune Desktop theme you downloaded, but actually some other type of file. It is possible that the installation of the Zune theme is a coincidence to the detection of this item.

I am unsure if that is the case, but it is a possibility.

Several things may have been added to your file system and at least one added to your registry:

* The newly created Registry Value is:
o [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun]
+ QJTN Agent = “%System%YHFQJTN.exe”

so that QJTN.exe runs every time Windows starts!

Now, I think a good starting place would be for you to check and see if this registry value has been added to your registry. It would explain why this issue occurs at each startup. If you are unsure how to open the registry editor and use it please follow these instructions *to the letter*:

*WARNING* Editing the registry wrong can seriously negatively affect your system causing system instability and even cause you to have to reinstall your OS, please proceed with great caution and follow steps to back up your registry and set a restore point.

To set a restore point open System Restore. I take it you have Windows XP? It would help if you told us at the very least the OS version you are running when asking for computer help. It would also help if you could give the basic hardware configuration such as processor, RAM, and manufacturer.

Click Start–All Programs–Accessories–System Tools–System Restore. Vista, type System Restore in the Start Panel Search box, click it when it appears in the list.

Now, on the first page (XP) select the second option, to set a manual restore point, (Vista) click the blue link on “To create a restore point, *open System Protection*. Click Open System Protection, and it will open.

(XP) Create a name for the restore point, such as registry work for QJTN.007, click Next and Finish. (Vista) At the bottom of the new dialog box there is a Create button, after the words, “You can create a restore point right now for the disks selected above. Click Create, and follow the prompts.

Both ways are quick and easy. If something goes wrong you can use this restore point to undo the damage.

Now, to open registry editor open the Run dialog box (both systems) by holding down the Windows Logo key while tapping R once. Type regedit in the box and hit Enter or click OK. The registry editor will open.

Using the registry key above, browse to that key and the values in that key. Click the + signs to open a segment and click the – sign to collapse (close) a segment. Click on the + in front of HKEY-LOCAL MACHINE, click the + sign in front of Software, then Microsoft, then Current Version, then Run. See if you can locate the key QTJN Agent in the right side of the screen under Name. If you can, you need to get rid of this.

To make a backup of this branch, go back to the HKEY LOCAL MAHINE and click to highlight. Click File button. Click Export. In the Export dialog box select Selected branch, create a name for it, like you did the manual restore point, finish up by clicking Save. You can leave it as a .reg file. If you ever need to restore, just double click on the file.

*WARNING* All .reg files will be merged with the registry at double click. Double Click does NOT open the file, it merges it back into the registry. If you need to look at the branch for edition, RIGHT CLICK and select Edit. Notepad will open and display the contents.

If you think you will need to edit this file, (doubtful but you never know) on the Save as type in the Export Registry File save box, click the drop down menu and select Text Files (.txt) instead of .reg. This can also help stop a mistaken double click action and accidentally merging it with the registry which will replace it in the registry.

Click Save. You can go into your Documents later, create a new folder for these types of registry backups, then drag and drop this file into that folder. If you like you can protect the folder from accidents by password protecting it. To password protect, after you create the folder and place this file into it, right click the folder, (You will need to close the folder in order to perform this action) select Properties. At the bottom of the General tab select Advanced.

Click on the option to encrypt the contents of the folder, when the password dialog opens enter whatever password you wish to use. Please note that if you forget your account password and somebody has to reset it your encrypted files will not be able to be unlocked because these files will not respond the the new account. So, just be sure you remember any encrypted password protected file, and your account password.

Now, you have two options for ridding your system of this file. You can right click on the bottom key under Run, QJTN Agent, then click Delete.

Or, Rename the key, put your first or last initial in front of or back of the key name QJTN Agent, like this nQJTN Agent. That causes the key and all its values to be unrecognizable to the application accessing the key. If you find it is a valid key and value, all you need to do is go back to this key in registry editor and remove the initial. You can also place it as a favorite for easy access. To do this simply highlight the key, click the Favorites menu, then click Add to Favorites. Give it a recognizable name. When you need to relocate the key simply click Favorites, then the key name.

OK, removing or hiding, (the initial in front of the key name hides the key) the key only stops the item from starting every time you start your system. It doesn’t get rid of whatever has been placed on your system which put this in the Run registry key in the first place. This action only stops it from starting up each time you start your system, which is a great way to get it to stop interferring in your Properties dialog options.

This is the best I can do at the moment in at the very least stopping this item (if it exists) from starting up each time you start your system.

I think your best bet would be to go to a HijackThis forum and request assistance in removing any malware in your system. There are numerous HijackThis forums on the net. Just do a Google search for HijackThis forums, check out a few, find one you feel comfortable with, register (free) read the Sticky Get started posts, and follow the instruction and then post a question for assistance. It can take a few days to clean up any infection in your system, but the forums are free as are the utilities used to remove malware. Just be cautious by not attempting to remove anything on your own after running the utilities. Many items on your system may register as malware but in reality are viable and necessary to running your system or other programs. Only delete items at the instruction of an expert in a HijackThis forum.

Create a log of everything you do on your system regarding this issue. It is easy to do so in Notepad. Just open Notepad, type a title, such as QJTN.007 errors, then date each day you do work, and type each action your perform and each step you take in completing that action. This way at any time you have at your finger tips a log of your work, and you can upload that log to anyone who needs to know what actions you have taken. You can also use the log to undo anything you have done if it proves not to work.

In addition be sure to always create a manual restore point before doing anything to your system. Restore points can save the day in my occassions when all heck has broken out. If you cannot boot your system you can attempt to go into Safe Mode and use System Restore there. The only problem with performing a system restore in safe mode is that you cannot undo these restores. This is due to the fact that in Safe Mode a restore point is not created which would allow you to undo the last one you did as in Normal mode.

Good luck and much success fixing your issue, please have a nice day.

ZUNE DESKTOP THEME (Where to download it)

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