How Creating ZIPFolders for Windows almost got me FIRED from Microsoft!

"The guy went straight to HR" <-- that's what we call a "bitch move".

Dave makes these stories seem like they happen in single afternoon. "I put in a roll cage, a super charger and fuel injection system...."

My brother wrote a tool for Windows decades ago that paid his bills nicely for several years. One day he got a call from Microsoft saying "we want to buy your product--we will pay you $xxxxx." Brother explained that was about 2 months income, so, no. MSFT person explained "there's no negotiating, this is take it or leave it, and if you leave it we will write it ourselves and put you out of business". Bro repeated "two months income--HELL NO". And that was that. And yeah, in a couple years his sales dropped to zero. But that was better than two months income.

It never ceases to amaze or astound just how petty envious people can be. Glad you were able to not only keep your job, but find your side hustle improving your main hustle!

I have found the BigGak-Sample. It's a part of the Visual C++ 6.0 Samples. The Folder is called VC98. The Sample is in the folder: VC98\SDK\WINUI\SHELL\SHELLEXT\

Had a very similar experience when I was working for NCR in the early 90's. Even when you do all the right things the behemoth decides your being too successful. For me I left and continued my journey elsewhere, and NCR lost the business they were targeting.. I still smile seeing one of the seven dwarfs, become a dwarf of its former self. Please keep the stories coming they are great reminders of how things were.

I just love hearing about your time with MS. Every video you release is informative and entertaining. Keep up the awesome work!

Of course you bought a sick car. That guy who objected must have been utterlu fuming about it. Sweet success.

No joke, I got a bathroom renovation banner ad below this video on iOS. YT's adsense here in Sweden took your intro "Dave Plumber, my shop" to heart :D

There were a lot of perhaps overly sensitive people in the early 1990s. I interviewed there in 1991, and one interviewer asked me to write some code on his board. I tried to ask a couple of clarifying questions about the problem - does it matter what language (no), what type are the input and output (it doesn't matter), and everything else I tried to ask I was told did not matter. Okay... I wrote a solution. He didn't like it and wrote up what he had in mind. "See this is better." So I proceeded to point out allowed inputs that would have led to an infinite loop and other problems with his approach. He told me it didn't matter. Okay... I didn't get the job. Yet working for a different large company I spent many years working with code that shipped with Windows, and even at times had remote source access to Windows. Good times. Even though I didn't get those wonderful stock options!

Thank you for adding in .ZIP file support. So many people benefit from files meant to hold entire directories, but cabinets just weren't appealing enough, sadly. It's sad AES-256 password support was never implemented on Vista and later versions, either.

With each reveal I am convinced more and more that Dave was the hidden heart and brain trust behind everything about MS I used to know and love.

It took until September 14, 2000 before Windows could natively unzip zip files and that was Windows Millennium. I thought this feature was long overdue. I really liked that feature of WinMe. So thank you, Dave, for reaching an agreement with Microsoft and giving Windows the ability to natively unzip ZIP files. I hope they paid you well.

Love the stories, Dave. I never found myself much interested in computer history, but you have a way of sharing these stories that make them so enjoyable to hear about from your perspective and makes me want to learn more. Very cool and look forward to more in the future!

Great story - knife edge outcome with a reply memo from a VP who isn't out for scalps.

You pulled MS forward kicking and screaming Dave. You're a legend

I believe that ZIP folders ("Compressed Folders") was introduced with Windows Plus! 98 (rather than 95). I recall that this feature was one of the main motivations for me buying it. Then it was mainlined in Windows ME. Either way, thank you for your work!

I absolutely love hearing your stories! One of these days I'll get around to checking out your book because it very well could help me with my issues. I'm 40 years old and didn't realize all the symptoms of being on the spectrum as much as I am until last fall. I was this close to losing my job because of my obsessions and emotional outbursts.. but I got the tiniest bit of help in the form of medication and now my boss See's me as a very strong asset and I work my ass off to keep it that way.

Thank you for making zip bombs possible lol

The reveal of what you did with the money put a smile on my face. Excellent storytelling. :D