Listening to the Voices in My Head

I made a full system back up of my Sony Vaio laptop. When that was complete, I got my very low priced Windows 8 upgrade. It's installed easy enough, but I have to say the new desktop... it made my eyes want to cross. And why is it when Microsoft has something good, they get rid of it in the next incarnation of Windows? Right now, the boarders around program windows are right out of Win3x.

Stability seems to be ok, but it seems to take longer to load than Win7 did.

I find it funny that I get a new OS, and I move heaven and earth (or registry settings) to not make it look like it's 'new and improved' version. Yes, I am a creature of habit, and prefer to have a specific layout.

Now, if I can get the Aero/Glass theme back again, I'll be happy.

Ok, installing Quicktime Pro and iTunes. They both install perfectly and run just fine.. the first time they are launched. After that, I kept getting error after error after error (QTFC_CFUNiCharGetUnicodePropertyDataForPlane to be exact) and searching on Google and other info sites resulted in me wanting to tear my hair out. I decided just a few bad words would suffice. Uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted, and still the problem persisted.

Then, I tweaked something so I could get a more specific verbose error message. #2093. Ok, off I go in search of answers again.. and again, and again. (insert many more bad words here).

I happened to chance on the right combination of key words to find the solution.

Go "Start > Computer". In Computer, go "Tools > Folder Options". Click the "View tab". Make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is selected and that "Hide extensions for known filetypes" is unchecked. Okay out of the tab.

You next step depends on whether or not you've got a 32-bit or a 64-bit Vista.

If you're 32-bit: Open the C:\Windows\system32\ folder. Look for a QTCF.dll file. When you find the QTCF.dll, drag it out onto the desktop. If Quicktime/Itunes launches correctly, that was the problem.

-->If you're 64-bit:

First, open the C:\Windows\system32\ folder. Look for a QTCF.dll file. If you find a QTCF.dll, drag it out onto the desktop.

Second, open the C:\Windows\sysWOW64\ folder. Look for a QTCF.dll file. If you find a QTCF.dll, drag it out onto the desktop.

Once you've cleared System32 and SysWOW64 of any copies of QTCF.dl. If Quicktime/Itunes launched correctly, that was the problem.

Time for the next Win 7 64bit problem to be installed, I guess.

Smash forehead into keyboard to continue!