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Windows SmartScreen Prevented An Unrecognized App From Running.

Description, information, manual, Tutorials, Windows 8 No Responses »

Oct 302012

Running This App Might Put Your PC At Risk

Windows 8 Guides

A lot of users who tried to download and run new software products got a problem because Windows 8 shows “Windows SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk message” while launching the program.

The SmartScreen protection feature in Windows 8 is responsible for the above message. Microsoft has extended the SmartScreen feature of Internet Explorer to Windows as well to protect users from malware. In general, SmartScreen Protection shows the above message when you try to run a newly released program or an application that has not yet established a reputation.

Even though one can easily disable the SmartScreen Protection feature in Windows 8, we don’t advise you turn off the protection.

If you have downloaded a program from a well-known developer or website, you can easily run the program by following the given below instructions:

Step 1: Double-click on the program that you want to run or install. When you receive the above mentioned message from SmartScreen, click on More info link to see publisher’s name and app file name.

Step 2: Now click on Run anyway button to run the application. That’s all!

Users who would like to disable SmartScreen feature can follow the following instructions and disable noizy Windows 8 SmartScreen protection.

Windows 8 SmartScreen protection guide

The latest Windows 8 OS includes a number of new features that help improve your overall experience when using Windows 8 computer. One such feature is Windows SmartScreen. Windows SmartScreen alerts users before running unrecognized programs downloaded from the Internet.

When you try to run certain type of programs or apps that are rarely downloaded, Windows warns with “Windows SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized program from starting. Running this program might put your PC at risk” message. If you are sure that the downloaded program is safe, you can continue by clicking Run Anyway button.

But Windows SmartScreen can be irritating at times. It actually blocks software that are safe to run. For instance, when I tried to run a program named PWBoot from a well known site, and it was blocked by SmartScreen.

Users who would like to get rid of SmartScreen protection can follow the instructions given below to disable it.

Step 1: Open Action Center. To do this, right-click on Action Center icon (the flag icon) in notification area (system tray) and select Action Center.

Step 2: In the left pane, click Change SmartScreen settings to open Windows SmartScreen dialog.

Step 3: Here, you will see three options:

a. Require approval from an administrator before running unrecognized programs from the Internet (recommended)

b. Give a warning before running unrecognized programs from the Internet, but don’t require administrator approval

c. Turn off Windows SmartScreen

To disable the feature, tick the last option named Turn off Windows SmartScreen and click OK button.

Microsoft discontinues use of Metro name

Icon design, Windows 8 No Responses »

Aug 062012

By: Matthew Humphries

If you’ve read any news coming out of Microsoft over the past year relating to Windows 8 or Windows Phone, you’ve heard the name “Metro” used quite heavily. Metro refers to the design language and overall style of the interface Microsoft is using for both its desktop/tablet and mobile operating systems.

As of today, Metro is no longer a word Microsoft will be using to describe anything to do with their product line-up. It has officially been killed off as a term Microsoft’s staff and marketing is allowed to use.

The specific reason for this sudden change remains unclear. It was first thought to be due to a trademark infringement Microsoft couldn’t settle with German company Metro AG. Microsoft has since sent around an internal memo stating Metro will no longer be used following “discussions with an important European partner.”

It’s unlikely we’ll hear any further explanation beyond that officially, but we can expect to hear a replacement term and phrases coming out of Microsoft before this week is over.

It’s definitely a blow to the Windows 8 marketing campaign as Metro as a term is instantly associated with the OS and interface. And it will be interesting to see how Microsoft decides to handle discussing the interface going forward. Will we simply get Windows 8 and Windows Phone interface terms from now on? Or will there be a totally new buzzword coming out of Redmond? For the moment expect to hear “Windows 8 style UI.”

Another question that needs to be asked: why did Microsoft decide to commercialize a name without first checking (and trademarking worldwide) it wouldn’t cause an issue big enough to see it killed 3 months before a major product launch?

Windows 8 has already gone RTM, and anyone with an MSDN or TechNet subscription will be getting the final ISO on August 15. Will that still happen? It depends on whether Microsoft has used the Metro name within the OS itself and how easily it can be patched out. There’s also a question mark over how much marketing material Microsoft will now have to dump, and whether any training materials need changing, too.

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