Windows Home Server Team Blog

New SoHO focused offering from HP using the Windows Home Server OS

Kevin Beares — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:57:00 GMT

If you haven't seen or read the announcement that we just posted, read more here: HP Announces New Line of SoHo-Focused DataVault Product Line.

Harry Brelsford over at SMB Nation also chimed in on this announcement. SMB Debutante Ball: HP to “introduce” HP StorageWorks X500 Data Vault Series… The really cool part is HP will “debut” the HP StorageWorks X500 Data Vault at the SMB Nation Fall 2009 Conference (October 2-4, 2009, Las Vegas) which is coming up fast. I believe one of our SBS MVPs, Kevin Royalty will be jointly talking with HP about this exciting new offering at SMB Nation. So, if you want to go hit Las Vegas, there is still time to register. As an added perk, a number of our Home Server, Small Business Server, and Essential Business Server team members, Jonas Svensson, Becky Ochs, Chuck Archer, to name a few will be down there too. Please swing by the Microsoft booth at SMB Nation and talk to us. We would love to hear from you.

As you may know, we have talked about Windows Home Server in the SOHO space before, Windows Home Server – Can It Be a SOHO Solution?. You may also know that Kevin Royalty, has talked a lot about how he has been deploying Windows Home Server into his SBS customer's environments for some time now. Alex Kuretz one of our Home Server MVPs just did a story on this. Using Windows Home Server in a Small Business.

I can't wait to get my hands on this new server.

Have a great day!

Kevin Beares
Community Lead - WSSG

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 - PP3 Beta Update

Kevin Beares — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Hey everyone,

As some of you know, we have started blogging over on the Windows Team Blog back at the beginning of September with a new blog called the Windows Home Server Blog. So, if you haven't already added this blog to your feed, please do. For the moment we are planning on blogging from both our TechNet Blog as well as our new blog. As part of our efforts to reach out to a larger audience and our strong alignment with Windows we felt that it was important that we start communicating our message from the Windows Team Blog. In the near future, we may make a complete move from our TechNet location to the Windows Team Blog. Stay tuned...

So, back to Power Pack 3. We wanted to update everyone on where we are with the beta of PP3 and talk about the steps we are taking in this beta to inusre a smooth transition in supporting our newest OS, Windows 7. to read more, please go check out this article: Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 update.

Thanks again to all of our beta testers who are really running our PP3 beta and giving us some very valuable feedback. This is shaping up to be an amazing release for Windows Home Server.

Kevin Beares
Community Lead - WSSG

Windows Home Server Team is soliciting feedback in 2nd annual usage & satisfaction survey

sleonard — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:46:13 GMT

Did you know…

That most English language users found out about Windows Home Server through a blog or online product review, versus magazine or newspaper articles for German language users?

That product “features and specifications” was widely regarded as the most important factor, followed distantly by price, when it comes to Windows Home Server purchase?

That media sharing/streaming was the feature that could most help increase overall Windows Home Server customer satisfaction?

No? Neither did we until you told us in last year’s survey.

Customer feedback regarding usage and satisfaction of Windows Home Server is very important to our team. This feedback helps us improve how we promote the product, better understand how people are using the product, and determine what functionality we can build into future updates to increase satisfaction.

If you are a current Windows Home Server user, we want to hear from you!

English

German

Japanese

Windows Home Server category grows with the announcement of the Lenovo IdeaCentre D400

sleonard — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:55:42 GMT

As reported by COMPUTERWORLD and other sources (see below) earlier this week, Lenovo will be introducing the IdeaCentre D400 to the US next month. Previously launched in China, Lenovo’s offering will be a great addition to the category of home servers powered by Windows Home Server software.

Announced in conjunction with upcoming Q Series of compact home entertainment PCs, the IdeaCentre D400 home server has an aesthetic design that would suit the living room as well as the home office. (See Lenovo’s press release for details.)

Photo: Lenovo IdeaCentre D400 home server

Eugene Saburi, General Manager, Microsoft Solutions Marketing had this to say. "With the IdeaCentre D400 home server coinciding with the availability of Windows 7 on Lenovo laptops and netbooks, consumers will have affordable solution that enables them to unleash the power of their home network.”

With the Acer Aspire easystore and the lineup of HP MediaSmart Servers already on the market, the Lenovo IdeaCentre will provide even more choice for consumers. We are still waiting on confirmation of where the IdeaCentre D400 home server will be sold. Let’s hope pre-orders are offered soon!

More articles on the Lenovo announcement:

Lenovo unveils Windows Home Server, tiny home theater PCs
Seattle Times
The company also rolled out several new tiny PCs with home theater capabilities -- a sample of its Windows 7 wave lineup, out in time for back-to-school ...

Lenovo Q100/Q700 nettops, D400 home server debut
Electronista
Lenovo this afternoon put an end to speculation and launched its IdeaCentre Q series of mini desktops as well as its first Windows Home Server. ..

Lenovo to Introduce IdeaCentre D400 Windows Home Server
Notebooks.com
By Xavier | August 17, 2009 Lenovo's getting ready to announce the IdeaCentre D400 Windows Home Server. The company posted a teaser image in a twitter post ...

Lenovo Reveal Their First Home Server – The IdeaCenter D400
By Terry Walsh
Lenovo release a teaser shot of their debut Windows Home Server, but we've uncovered a whole host of pics courtesy of the Interwebs. Check 'em out!

- Steven

Windows Home Server Software Development Kit (SDK) adds Japanese Language Support

sleonard — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:02:50 GMT

The momentum behind Windows Home Server add-ins continues to grow! The Windows Home Server team is very pleased to announce the availability of the Japanese Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK provides developers with guidance, for example application programming interface (API) information, on how to create programs that integrate with the Windows Home Server Console.

Japanese developers now have access to the localized version of the SDK on the Windows Home Server section of the MSDN website.

Coinciding with the release of the Japanese SDK, the Windows Home Server Japanese Evaluation software is now available for download.

For users who have not stayed abreast of the Windows Home Server add-ins community, you may want to visit Terry Walsh’s site www.whsplus.com. You’ll find a pretty comprehensive list of Windows Home Server add-ins, reviews of the latest add-ins, as well as a list of user-ranked top add-ins.

- Steven

Windows Home Server - Can It Be a SOHO Solution?

sleonard — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:04:00 GMT

Although the name of Windows Home Server may make you inclined to believe that it is only for consumer households, it can also be very functional in a small office/home office setting.

One article that was recently brought to our attention came from SMB PC Magazine (See page 7). The article provides an overview of Windows Home Server and discusses how it could be beneficial to SOHO customers. Research conducted by the author, Aaron Booker, includes contacting companies offering 3^rd party solutions, and value-added providers that are installing home servers in businesses today. From the information gathered, he has validated that backup of up to 10 computers is the most common use of a home server because of its unparalleled speed and convenience. He then goes on to compliment Windows Home Server restore capabilities. Booker states that “The restore function is what is really impressive. If a user deletes a file or overwrites a file- the time needed to recover is literally seconds”. He also discusses topics such as using Windows Home Server to remotely connect and log onto PCs (Remote Desktop) along with add-ins, that enhance Windows Home Server functionality, as key features for this market.

Another article that featured Windows Home Server can be found in Inc Magazine which is targeted at entrepreneurs and small business owners. Under “The Goods” section, the magazine introduces and writes about various aspects of the HP Media Smart LX 195. Some key items were noted about the HP Media Smart in this piece includes its small size, low cost, and how it can be used in both the home and small businesses. Once you begin using a home server, the article relays that you have the ability to listen to your music while you are out of the office and also share your pictures and videos on all popular social networking sites.

With these articles as a backdrop, the Windows Home Server Team is pleased to announce a new web page which is focused on the SOHO customer. http://www.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver/soho

The page opens with an overview of Windows Home Server’s features from a SOHO customer perspective. Five case studies were written which describe how an average SOHO has benefited from using Windows Home Server. Corresponding to the written case studies, there are video interviews where you have the opportunity to listen to business owners discussing their personal experiences when using their home servers. They talk about subjects including how Windows Home Server has helped advance their office by saving hundreds of hours, money, and data.

As always, there are links which allow you to view a demo of Windows Home Server and also download a FREE evaluation version.

- Steven

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 BETA – Includes enhancements for Windows 7-based computers

sleonard — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:00:08 GMT

We are pleased to announce the Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta which improves the Windows Home Server experience with Windows 7 and Windows Media Center by providing the following new features: Backup and restore of computers running Windows 7, Windows 7 Libraries integration, enhancements for Windows Media Center, and better support for netbook computers.

If you are running Windows 7 on your home computer and are a current Windows Home Server user, we need your help!

Important: You will need to sign up as a beta participant of the Windows Home Server program on Microsoft Connect in order to download the Power Pack 3 Beta. https://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer

New in Power Pack 3 Beta

Windows 7 Backup & Recovery

Windows Home Server performs a full image-based backup of Windows 7-based computers, allowing for a complete computer recovery in the case of a hard drive failure, or restoration of a single file or folder in the event of accidental deletion or loss. After the Windows Home Server Connector software has been installed on a computer running Windows 7, Windows 7 Backup warnings will be suppressed and users will no longer receive a notification to back up their computer. Windows Home Server can back up Windows XP SP2 or later, Windows Vista and Windows 7-based computers.

Windows 7 – Backup
Windows Home Server completes an automatic image-based backup of Windows-based computers every day.

Windows 7 Libraries

Power Pack 3 Beta will add Music, Photos and Videos shared folders on the home server to Windows 7 Libraries making the content available for applications such as Windows Explorer, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player and other applications that use Windows 7 Libraries. This allows users to quickly access all their content in one organized place that is always available, searchable and expandable. Users can also search a specific library without having to know where the files are stored.

Windows 7 – Libraries – Pictures
Windows Home Server content is automatically added to Windows 7 Libraries after installing the Windows Media Center Connector software.

Windows 7 – Windows Explorer Jump List – Music Library
Users access the libraries through Jump Lists by simply selecting Music, Videos or Photos. All content is accessible from one organized location.

Windows Search

Windows Search 4 has been included with Power Pack 3 Beta to improve query search times, indexing times and reliability. If users are searching across multiple computers, extended remote discovery increases the efficiency of searching across all document libraries. Files encrypted with Encrypting File System (EFS) are now supported with search.

The image below is an example of searching across a music library where files are located in multiple places: the home computer Music folder, the home computer Public Music folder, and the home server Music shared folder. Users can add other locations to Windows 7 Libraries.

Windows 7 – Libraries – Music – Searching for Aerosmith music content on the home server
Searching for content in the library folder will not only search the home computer but also search the home server.

Power Pack 3 Beta makes Windows Home Server compatible with netbook computers that have small screen sizes and low resolution. A home server makes a great storage and backup solution for ultra-portable computers.

Windows Media Center Enhancements

Last March, Power Pack 2 added functionality that allowed Windows Media Center and Media Center Extenders to easily access the content on a home server. Power Pack 3 Beta builds on this functionality. When the Windows Home Server Connector software is installed or updated on a Windows Media Center computer, the next time a user starts Windows Media Center they will be prompted to install the Windows Media Center Connector. Users will notice a new Home Server selection in Windows Media Center menu.

Windows Media Center view – Home Server

TV Archiving

The TV Archive tile in Windows Media Center will give users the option to move recorded TV content to the home server in a variety of resolutions. The recorded TV shows are archived in the correct resolution for the type of device that will be used for playback. TV Archive is optimized for Windows Media Center computers, Windows Mobile-based phones, and the Zune player, however, any device capable of playing WMV files can take advantage of this feature.

· TV – Original Resolution

· Windows Mobile – 320 x 240, 500 Kbps, .WMV

· Zune – 640 x 480, 1500 Kbps, .WMV

Users can select individual TV shows, a series of shows, or all TV recordings to automatically be moved to the home server. Because Windows Home Server storage space can be easily expanded, users can keep all the TV shows that they want in their collection.

Windows Media Center view – Home Server – TV Archive view

Console Quick View

Console Quick View allows users to see statistics about the home server through Windows Media Center and Windows Media Center Extenders. This is a convenient way to view many aspects of the home server without needing to access the Windows Home Server Console. This feature allows users to view and monitor a number of home server indicators:

· Storage – Pie chart listing the percentage allocation of the home server storage

· Drives – List, size and health of hard drives installed on the home server

· Backup – List of computers being backed up and their current backup status

· Shared Folders – List of Shared Folders by name with health status and duplication status

· Media Counters – Count of music, photos, videos and recorded TV files on the home server

· Health – Health of the entire home network

· Home Server – System information of the home server’s hardware and manufacturer info

Windows Media Center view – Home Server – Console View

Timing of the Power Pack 3 final release has not been determined. With your help to test the Beta, we hope to release the update prior to the Windows 7 General Availability date of October 22. Power Pack 3 will be a free update to existing Windows Home Server users via Windows Update. Thanks for your support!

- The Windows Home Server Team

Windows Home Server will be at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans

Moira Whidby — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:38:00 GMT

It’s summer, so it’s time for the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC). During this annual event, Microsoft and the Windows Server Solutions Group share strategies and visions for addressing the challenging economy, saving customers money, and helping partners and customers compete confidently. Senior leader keynotes include Steve Ballmer (Chief Executive Officer) , Stephen Elop (President, Microsoft Business Division), Kevin Turner (Chief Operating Officer), Allison Watson (Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group), Bob Muglia (President, Server & Tools Division), Bob Kelly (Corporate Vice President, Server & Tools) and many other executives who will share their vision for the company and its partners.

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference held July 13–16 in New Orleans, is an annual gathering where Microsoft Corp.’s partner community will network and build connections, share best practices, and learn new skills and techniques.

If you are attending WPC, this is your chance to learn about all the Windows Server options for Small & Medium Businesses by attending our session CI003 Windows Server Portfolio for SMB: Which Server Is Best for Your Customer (and You!) on Monday afternoon at 3:30-4:30 in Room 255-257.

Also come by our Exposition Hall booth # 621 and you can enter to win one of 6 HP MediaSmart Server EX485 (ERP $599) Windows Home Servers and attend one of our two booth theater sessions. The Windows Server for SMB booth theater sessions are Windows Essential Business Server 2008 and the free IT Network Health Scanner for SMB on July 16th from 12:30 – 12:50PM and the Windows SBS and Windows Home Server Client Backup on July 16th from 2:30 to 2:50PM. Simply drop your business card into the fishbowl on your way in the door or at the booth and we will choose one winner per day at the booth and one winner at each session. Sorry this Sweepstakes is only for event attendees, you must be present to enter.

Hopefully we'll get to see many of you at WPC this year. The best part of this conference is the time we spend with our partners and we are looking forward to meeting with as many of you as we can. Please use the WPC Connect to create a meeting request to request a specific meeting or simply drop by the booth to meet the Windows Server for SMB team including: Dean Paron, Eric Watson, Eric Kidd, Russ Madlener, Nick King, Leslie McGuire, Katharine Pike, Becky Lymberis, Vikram Ghosh, Cecile Charlot, Jonas Svensson, Kannan Iyer, Murali Sangubhatia, Sean Daniel, Lingan Satkunanathan, Cassie Hicks, Eduardo Melo, Brijesh Ramachandran, David Fabritius, Moira Whidby and Brent Reeser.

For those of you who are unable to join us in New Orleans next week, we’ve created new social networking assets so feel free to follow WPC virtually on our team blog, Facebook or Twitter.

Secure online photo sharing with Windows Home Server and Community Add-Ins

Moira Whidby — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:58:00 GMT

Don’t you love to share your photos with your friends and family? Those great shots of your little kids wearing their strained carrots or a picture of your daughter’s first formal dance; it’s through images that we graphically share the high’s and low’s of our most personal lives. With Windows Home Server you can easily create a private online photo sharing experience for only those individuals you permit while being accessible to the internet.

When you add a Windows Home Server to an online photo sharing site, like Flickr it gets even more interesting. We know that for many Windows Home Server users securely storing and sharing photo’s online is a main reason for them to purchase a server in the first place. Add to that the robust developer community add-ins such as Ed Holloway’s online photo sharing Photosync for Windows Home Server which automatically syncs the contents of your photo’s folder on the Windows Home Server to Flickr, Doug Barrett’s WebGuide which enables you to remotely access, listen, watch and stream your music, photos and videos stored on your home server while away from home and Andrew Grant's Whiist that allows you to create and manage web content on your Windows Home Server.

I’m a social networking geek these days, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and I blog about our cycling epics and Windows Home Server, yet I am very hesitant to share truly personal photos, especially group photos, using the current publically available online tools. I value my privacy and want to respect the privacy of my friends by not sharing photos or videos of them in a way that might make them uncomfortable, now or in the future.

It’s amazing how much information is shared across the web and photos are a means of visual sharing. These days social networking and online photo sharing sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and SmugMug to name a few, allow us to share our photos with our friends and potentially the world with a few clicks of a mouse. These sites do a great job and provide a community gathering place for those interested in visually exploring the world around them. For an in depth look at the online photo sharing ecosystem including analysis of the various services, check out Wikipedia, cnet Online digital photo printing & sharing and Lifehacker’s review of the Five Best Photo Sharing Sites.

I mentioned my cycling epics earlier; this past year I spent 2 weeks riding our tandem down the pacific coast with 28 other folks from all over North America to raise funds for the American Lung Association. Before the trip I knew only one individual, afterwards we are all fast friends who now keep in touch regularly over Facebook and email. Over the course of the trip as the miles passed we all unwound and the ensuing antics of the trip were dutifully recorded by multiple cameras including some video footage of the best dances, camping mornings and late night cribbage games.

After the trip we all wanted to check out the photos from the other riders, especially the dancing, however as many of the riders are in the legal profession it was important to ensure security for many of the pictures, especially the really good stuff; yet we wanted to make it possible for all of the riders to access the photo’s online. The answer to our dilemma was the Windows Home Server and its remote access and shared folder features.

Specifically what we did is to create one photo album (folder) and it’s link and password was sent out to the participants. This enabled them to use the web to link into the remote Windows Home Server to access the one online photo album while still keeping the rest of the information on the server private. We also leveraged the add-in Photosync to share specific photos with the masses on Flickr.

With Windows Home Server we were able to collect hundreds of photos of the trip in a private password protected online location. By allowing each rider to upload their photos, sharing became a breeze. Each of the photos is available online to anyone using web browsers who have the proper permissions. Permissions are simple to set and can be revised at any time by the Windows Home Server administrator (probably youJ). This enabled our entire cycling crew to share the experience all over again whenever they want. In addition with the add-ins like Whiist & WebGuide we were able to create a more robust viewing experience.

For families, hobby organizations, sports teams, vacation buddies, or conference attendees, anytime when privacy matters Windows Home Server is your online photo sharing solution. It provides a secure location to allow private online photo sharing in addition to robust image based backup software technology. There are alternatives to public websites, why take the chance with a public solution when Windows Home Server can create a private community where you can share photos, videos and files with your friends and family?

Moira

Windows Home Server - Report from Computex 2009

Qblogger — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:34:59 GMT

For those of you that have been reading this blog for a while, you may remember Dispatch from Computex Taipei (Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2008). Last year was the Windows Home Server team's first time attending Computex.

Fast forward one year. Microsoft had a major presence at Computex last week which included a large booth, broad marketing & PR activities, and a June 3 keynote in the main convention auditorium. One of the significant announcements was the October 22nd General Availability date for Windows 7.

For the Windows Home Server team, Computex was an important opportunity to meet with existing and prospective hardware manufacturers. We also strove to increase industry awareness. Over 14,000 international buyers and attendees visited the Microsoft booth!

Our team in Taipei organized a terrific event presence. In the Microsoft booth, there was a section dedicated to Windows Home Server. On the main stage there was a 25-minute demonstration that featured: Easy setup, protecting PCs and files, easy storage expansion, smart storage management, media streaming, and home surveillance.

We were really pleased to unveil the D-Link ViewCam add-in for Windows Home Server, which allows control of a wide range of D-Link’s IP cameras from the Windows Home Server Console. Also notable, each scenario was demonstrated using a netbook as the interface and playback device for Windows Home Server.

Of course no booth would be complete without a "muscle beach" of cool hardware. Acer, Foxconn, Lenovo, and VIA hardware designs were showcased in the booth. For those of you seeing the Lenovo model for the first time, it is currently only available in China.


Acer Aspire easyStore H340	Lenovo IdeaCentre Q500	VIA NSD 7800

-Steven

Update improves Windows Home Server Console display on some Netbooks

Qblogger — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:25:00 GMT

There is good news if you are one of the many people that purchased a netbook computer over the past while. A home server and a netbook can be a complementary solution. In addition to the image-based backup software included in Windows Home Server, the ability to augment the netbook storage space with a home server is a no-brainer. Shad Larsen commented on this solution in a post, “Making your Netbook functional using Windows 7 and Windows Home Server.”

Photo: Acer Aspire One A150

One of the benefits of a netbook is the small size and portability of the device. However, that size means a smaller screen and less visual real estate for applications. As a result, the Windows Home Server Console may not have displayed correctly on some netbook computers. The latest update, described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 963032, enables the Windows Home Server Console to support a resolution of 1024 x 600.

The update will automatically install as part of Windows Update if Automatic Updates is enabled on the home server. (How to turn on automatic updates.) Users can also click Update Now on the Settings tab of the Windows Home Server Console.

- Steven

Windows Home Server - Imaginations are unleashed with the Add-in Idea Challenge

Qblogger — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:04:00 GMT

Earlier this month, Terry Walsh at We Got Served announced the launch of a new Windows Home Server add-in competition. Announcing the Windows Home Server Add-In Idea Challenge ‘09!

With an interesting format, this competition should attract the attention of a broad group of Windows Home Server enthusiasts. As opposed to actually developing the Windows Home Server add-ins, We Got Served is simply looking for the best ideas.

Excerpt from blog post... "You don’t have to be a developer or technically minded to enter. All you need is your creativity and imagination to come up with the best idea for a future Windows Home Server add-in, which will then be coded up and released to the community for all to share."

There is still some time left to submit your ideas! The entry period closes on May 31st, and voting will commence in June. Developer Felix Kollmann (author of Router Control) will turn your idea into reality.

The Windows Home Server team anticipates seeing some terrific ideas from this community-led challenge. The winners may be featured in stories on the Windows Home Server Community web page. We showcase some of the most popular add-ins every month on the Windows Home Server add-ins page and your idea for an add-in may join the ranks of over 100 Windows Home Server add-ins available. For a comprehensive list, visit Home Server plus.

Pictured: "Hall of Fame" winner of the Code2Fame contest, Andrew Grant's Whiist.

If you need any added encouragement, here it is! Microsoft was asked to contribute some prizes for the contest... and believe me, they are awesome!

- Steven

Windows Home Server - Acer Launches Aspire EasyStore Home Server in US

Qblogger — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:33:00 GMT

In case folks missed this, but today was an important milestone for the Windows Home Server category, with another major manufacturer – Acer – launching their product, the Acer Aspire EasyStore Home Server H.340 here in the United States. At $399 for a 2GB RAM with 1 TB HDD included (up to 4 HDDs supported), it’s a great value for all of you looking to add a Home Server to your repertoire.

Now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Still not convinced? Check out the good reviews for the product on CNET, Crunchgear, Gizmodo, and Engadget.

Congratulations Acer! Welcome to the Windows Home Server family!

- MP

Windows Home Server - Visit us at Microsoft Tech-Ed North America

Qblogger — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:18:03 GMT

IT Professionals and Developers will be descending upon the Los Angeles Convention Center next week to learn about a broad set of current and upcoming Microsoft technologies, tools, platforms, and services.


Photo: Tech-Ed 2008	Photo: HP MediaSmart LX195

Windows Home Server will have a booth presence in the Expo Hall. This is a chance for Tech-Ed attendees to get a hands-on experience with the latest Windows Home Server software and chat with members of the team. We'll be featuring the HP MediaSmart EX487 and, the newest addition to the family, the HP MediaSmart LX195.

If you know somebody who will be at the event, please send them our way. If you will be there yourself, please drop by the Windows Home Server booth.

-Steven

Windows Home Server - Windows 7 Release Candidate testers asked to revert to Windows Vista prior to upgrade

Qblogger — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:16:00 GMT

Yesterday marked the availability of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. On the Engineering Windows 7 Blog and Windows 7 Team Blog there were recent posts regarding this milestone.

"We want to encourage you to revert to a Vista image and upgrade or to do a clean install, rather than upgrade the existing Beta. We know that means reinstalling, recustomizing, reconfiguring, and so on."

In a prior post on the Windows Home Server Team Blog, Windows 7 and Windows Home Server, we recommended, "...before you update a PC to Windows 7, you should install the Connector software and backup your machine to your home server, so you have an image-based backup that you can return to for testing the upgrade scenario with future builds of Windows 7."

The restore task is as simple as dropping the Home Computer Restore CD in the computer and walking through the wizard. For detailed instructions, see the Restore home computer step by step.

For Windows 7 testers (and anyone else who is interested), we have made it even easier for users to try Windows Home Server! An evaluation version is available for download, as well as a kit that can be ordered for the cost of shipping and handling at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/eval.mspx. Windows Home Server is also available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

[Editors Note: Since the original post, I came across a terrific example by Keith Elder titled, "Ready to Run Windows 7 RC? Upgrade Advisor and Home Server Help" Check it out!]

- Steven