Welcome to EasyBCD 2.0!

Hello and welcome to EasyBCD 2.0!

It’s rather hard to believe, but EasyBCD 1.7.2 has been out for over 2 years now, and we’ve been working on Version 2.0 ever since. In that time, a lot has happened. Windows 7 has shipped, ext4fs is the new cool kid on the Linux block, GRUB2 is finally seeing some adoption, VHDs are the new wow, and everyone and their grandmother want a dual-boot between Windows 7 and Windows XP.

Worry not, we haven’t been sitting on our (not-so-proverbial) behinds this whole time. In fact, the entire NeoSmart team – developers, supporters, testers, and all – have been working around the clock to make EasyBCD 2.0 the biggest, coolest, greatest, and awesomest thing ever since the invention of the MBR. And now, over a 150 beta builds later and 2 years in the making, we’re super-pleased to introduce you to EasyBCD 2.0. It’s so incredibly overhauled and improved, so stuffed-to-the-brim with features, so much of a true one-click dual-boot experince, so customizable, so powerful, and so EASY that it took a lot of self-restraint to keep from calling it EasyBCD 10.0!

What’s new, you ask? We’ll get to it. But let’s just first give you the download link, because we know you just can’t wait to get your grubby, geeky paws on it ASAP:

Download EasyBCD 2.0.1 (1337 KiB)

(Yes, it really is 1337 kibibytes in size. And, no, we didn’t do it on purpose. We’re just übercool that way!)

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The Woes of Windows Vista/7 Mapped Network Drives

One of the biggest, bestest, and most-hyped features of Windows Vista (according to Microsoft, that is) was the brand spanking new TCP/IP networking stack. Ask us, it sucks. Network performance hasn’t improved any over the ancient stack used in XP (nor should it – it’s not like there’s anything new in IPv4) though it does add better IPv6 support out-of-the-box and ships with some even more functionality in Windows 7. But more importantly, Microsoft threw out decades of testing and quality assurance work on the existing Networking Stack and replaced it with something rather questionable.

We’ll be following up some more on this topic from a technical side later in another article, but for now, an example that most of you are sure to have come across if you’ve ever tried to map network drives before:

This popup is shown at system startup if you have any mapped network drives to UNC shares which are not protected with a username and password. If you map a network destination that does require authentication, Windows will map the drive OK. To further complicate matters: this message is shown only when you startup from a cold boot! If you restart your PC (vs shutdown and powerup), it won’t appear.

Resolving the issue is straight-forward enough: just double-click on the network drive in My Computer and it’ll automatically, instantly, and silently connect. Which makes one wonder why Windows couldn’t connect in the first place.

Good question.

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Windows 7 Recovery Disk and Repair Disc Download

Download our recovery and repair disk for Microsoft Windows 7 (also available for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions) that can be used to access system restore tools.

It comes with our exclusive Automated Repair feature, option to access System Restore, tools to backup and recover your most important files, a built-in antivirus scanner and a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Download recovery disk for Windows 7

Looking for recovery disks for other Windows versions?

Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows 7

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.

Easy Recovery Essentials (or EasyRE), is a 55 to 135 MiB ISO image ready to be downloaded.

You can burn this ISO image to any CDs, DVDs or USB drives and boot from it to recover or repair your broken computer. We provided instructions on how to do this below, see Burn to CD, DVD or USB.

With the Easy Recovery Essentials you can (see list of features here):

  • Automatically find and fix errors using Automated Repair
  • Recover your PC from infections using its built-in antivirus
  • Restore your PC to a working state
  • Access and backup your most important data (like documents, pictures, music, videos and so on)

Easy Recovery Essentials comes with powerful tools that computer technicians or IT experts can use straight away:

  • Fully-featured visual partition editor
  • Scriptable command line
  • Advanced recovery options
  • Web browser

You can read more about EasyRE for computer repair professionals here.

What is a recovery and repair disk

Windows 7 LogoMajor PC manufacturers no longer give customers a real Windows 7 installation DVD along with their purchase of a computer.

A Windows 7 installation DVD can be used to recover your PC, not just install a Windows 7 copy. The DVD has a “recovery center” that gives you options to Automated Recovery (attempts to fix automatically any errors found), System Restore (restores your computer to the last working state) or you can access a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Instead, customers are expected to create a recovery media themselves – on a CD, DVD or USB drive.

Your computer’s hard drive might have a recovery partition added by the manufacturer, but what happens when your PC or Windows isn’t working or you’ve lost the disks you had?

If you can’t boot into Windows or your PC isn’t working, only a bootable recovery and repair CD/DVD/USB can save you.

Download recovery disk for Windows 7

Easy Recovery Essentials, our recovery and repair disk, uses a non-destructive repair process that can recover your PC without formatting your hard drive or reinstalling Windows.

It comes with our powerful Automated Repair feature, an antivirus scanner built-in, the ability to access System Restore, tools to browse the Internet (a web browser) and back-up your most important files (documents, videos, pictures, music and so on), memory diagnostics and a command-line tools for advanced options.

Some of its features include (see list of features here):

  • One-click Windows repair
  • System Restore
  • Web browser
  • File backup
  • Antivirus scanner
  • Partition editor

Update: Please note that this disk is no longer free, due to licensing restrictions imposed upon us.

Download Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows 7

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions:

  • Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Professional (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Home Basic (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Starter (32-bit edition) (Starter is available only in 32-bit)

It works with any Windows 7 that has Service Packs installed:

  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The disk is in ISO image format that you can burn to any CDs, DVDs or USB sticks and then use it as a bootable recovery CD/DVD/USB. We provided step-by-step instructions how to burn the ISO image below.

It’s a 120 MiB download file.

You cannot use a recovery or repair disk to install or reinstall Windows 7.

Burn to CD, DVD or USB

NeoSmart Technologies has published a guide on how to burn an ISO image to CD or DVD. This ISO image can be burnt to any CDs or DVDs and even USB drives.

You can burn the ISO with your favorite burning program. We published step-by-step instructions and guides on how to do this:

If you prefer to have a recovery USB instead, follow our guide on how to make a EasyRE recovery USB drive here.

Compatible with PC manufacturers

Our recovery and repair disk works with any desktop computers, workstations, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, netbooks or servers computers from all major PC manufacturers, Dell, Asus, IBM and more.

It works with older or no longer on the market PC brands, such as Gateway Computers or eMachines PCs.

Dell, HP

Dell recovery disk

This disk is compatible with Dell PCs and its manufactured series:

  • Adamo
  • Inspiron
  • Studio
  • Vostro
  • XPS
  • Latitude

Do you have a Dell computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Dell.

HP recovery disk

Easy Recovery Essentials works with your HP computer, including any of these series and models:

  • ENVY
  • EliteBook
  • Essential Home
  • Pavilion
  • x2 models

Do you have a HP computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for HP.

Asus, Acer

Asus recovery disk

It works with any Asus computer model that runs any of the following Windows versions:

  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012

Do you have an Asus computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Asus.

Acer recovery disk

Acer users can download our disk. It’s compatible with all Acer models:

  • Desktops models: Aspire M and T, Aspire X and Predator G
  • Notebooks models: Aspire R, Aspire V3 and Aspire E
  • Netbooks and ultra-thin computer models: Aspire S7, Aspire S5, Aspire S3, Aspire P, Aspire M, Aspire V7, Aspire V5
  • Netbooks models: Aspire One

Do you have an Acer computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Acer.

Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung

Lenovo

Lenovo computers are supported by our disk, including any of the following series:

  • Laptops models: ThinkPad and IdeaPad
  • Desktops models: Thinkcentre and Ideacentre

Essentials series for laptops and desktop PCs are also supported.

Do you have a Lenovo computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Lenovo.

Toshiba

The disk is compatible with any Toshiba computer model: Satellite, Qosmio, Portege, Tecra, Kira family series and All-in-One desktop series.

Do you have a Toshiba computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Toshiba.

Samsung

Samsung users can download our disk. It is compatible with any Samsung laptops or desktops:

  • ATIV Book, Gaming and Business PC series for laptops
  • ATIV One for All-in-One desktops

IBM, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines

IBM

Lenovo acquired IBM’s personal computer division in 2005. You can download Easy Recovery Essentials if you own a IBM computer.

It is compatible with IBM desktops and laptops models, like the ThinkPad series.

Compaq

The Compaq company was acquired by HP in 2002.

It is compatible with Compaq notebooks and desktops, including the Compaq Presario series.

Gateway and eMachines

Gateway Computers was acquired by Acer in 2007. If you happen to have a Gateway computer, you can download our disk. It is compatible with its manufactured series:

  • Series SX, DX and One ZX for desktop systems
  • NE and NV series for notebooks
  • LT series for netbooks

Do you have a Gateway computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Gateway.

eMachines computers were available on sale until 2004 when Gateway Computers (above) brought the company. Gateway was acquired in 2007, but the eMachines brand was used until 2012.

If you own a computer from eMachines, you can download our disk as it is compatible with eMachines PCs.

Disk for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions

Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with other Windows versions, not just 7.

Windows 8

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows 8. It supports Windows 8 and its update, Windows 8.1.

Download for Windows 8.

Windows Vista

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows Vista. Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Vista editions, from Vista Starter to Vista Ultimate, and the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Download for Windows Vista.

Windows XP and Server 2003, 2008 and 2012

Windows XP is supported by Easy Recovery Essentials. This includes Service Packs of XP too: SP1, SP2, SP3.

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Server editions, such as Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012 and the updated versions: Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2.

Support

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Service Packs (SP) of your Windows:

  • Windows XP SP1, XP SP2, XP SP3
  • Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2
  • Windows 7 SP1, 7 SP2
  • Windows 8, 8.1
  • Windows Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2

Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here.

Please don’t ask for help below, it’ll get real cluttered real soon!

Open a support thread at https://neosmart.net/forums/ and we’ll help you resolve your problem ASAP.

Windows 7 Discontinues Ultimate Extras

Users attempting to upgrade from Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to Windows 7 Build 7100 (the unofficial RC1 release leak), are greeted with the following "compatibility warning" dialog:

Windows 7 has discontinued Vista's "Ultimate Extras"

Windows Vista Ultimate Edition’s "Ultimate Extras" have been a constant source of derision and anger from Vista users ever since its release 3 years ago. If the blog posts are to be believed, millions of users purchased Windows Vista Ultimate Edition in the hope that the added-value "Ultimate Extras" package – which was left un-described and of unknown worth at the time – would turn out to be a good investment.

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Windows 7 Wallpapers Now Available for Download

NeoSmart Technologies’ gallery of Windows Vista wallpapers has been a huge hit over the past several years – despite what anyone might say about Vista itself, its collection of wallpapers and fonts is top-notch. And now it seems that Windows 7 isn’t going to be any different – from what we’ve seen, the wallpapers shipping with Windows 7 are pretty darn good.

The Official Windows 7 Wallpapers are now available for download from the NeoSmart Image Gallery. Only several wallpapers have been released accompanying various Windows 7 builds thus far, but we’ll keep adding new ones to the gallery as they’re shipped.

Here are some of our favorite new wallpapers:

 

  

You can see these and more at the gallery here, along with the old Windows Vista ones here and here.

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Shipping Seven is a Fraud.

A blog titled Shipping Seven has gotten a lot of traffic recently for their article about Windows 7 and the MinWin kernel – namely, how they’re actually one and the same. The argument offered by “Soma” is that Windows Vista’s kernel (which is what Windows 7 will be built on) is MinWin ad that it’s already on every Vista desktop out there.

Whether or not MinWin is the very same kernel that went into Vista or not is officially unknown at the moment; but what we do know is that Shipping Seven is either one huge fake, or else that the Windows core programmers at Microsoft are so stupid that they don’t know the first thing about coding, kernels, operating systems and compilers.

The post at Shipping Seven is littered from beginning to end with fallacies, lies, and incorrect deductions that anyone with even the most basic coding skills would know better than to ever post, especially not when attempting to pass it off as the work of some of the more talented coders out there.

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Windows 7 FactsCentral

As a first-step in our coverage of Windows 7, we’ve created the Windows 7 FactsCentral site, accessible either via our wiki or through the following direct link:
http://win7.neosmart.net/

The Windows 7 FactsCentral site is intended to be a one-stop information center, where info about available builds, verified facts regarding Windows 7, etc. are available in encyclopedia format (verses the chronological article-nature of posts here on The NeoSmart Files).

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Introducing NeoSmart Coverage of Windows 7

Press Notice: NeoSmart Technologies will by providing blow-by-blow reports regarding the next version of Windows, as the facts come in.

As always, NeoSmart Technologies remains committed to providing accurate and verifiable information from trustworthy sources. We’re also dedicated to providing reports/articles regarding content that our readers deem important and newsworthy; so you’ll always be able to find the latest accurate information regarding the Microsoft’s next OS at The NeoSmart Files.