Kevin Remde's IT Pro Weblog
"Can I slipstream Windows Vista SP1 into an existing install image?"
Nope. Well, not directly, anyway.
"Um.. but when I get SP1, I want to upgrade my deployable .WIM images with the new bits. I can't do that in an offline way like I can with other updates?"
Sorry. No.
"Are you going to tell me why?"
Absolutely! You don't think I would have opened up this nasty can of worms without giving you a good explanation, did you?
"Well..."
Okay. So here's the deal**. And those of you who have experienced the SP1 installation have experienced this as well. When you do the SP1 installation, even if it's from Windows Update (when available), you're going to see your machine shutdown and restart on it's own several times. That's to be expected.
See, there's this important part of the OS known as the "servicing layer" in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This is the part of the OS that allows for easy update installation with minimal disruptions, allows for an update to be applied to an offline captured image that's within a .wim file, among other things.
Well.. let's say that that servicing layer ALSO needed to be updated? What then?
"Oh.. I get it. You can't update the thing that makes the updates happen smoothly, because the thing that makes updates go smoothly is itself being updated!"
Bingo. You got it. So hopefully the news that you can't just do an offline upgrade to an image .WIM file won't be too tragic.
"So.. what do I do instead?"
You are going to have to install your image to a machine. Install the Service Pack. Then re-capture the image.
"Simple!"
Not so simple. There are additional steps that involve some cleanup once you've sysprepped your newly updated SP1 machine. Detailed steps are available in the new WAIK documentation.
"Won't I lose a valuable re-arm to my image when I apply the service pack this way?"
No. SP1 grants you an additional re-arm. We don't want you to be penalized for having to generalize a system that additional time.
"Wait.. there's a new WAIK?"
If you're using the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit), you will definitely want to get the new version that has support for both the original Vista as well as the new servicing layer that's in both Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.
Of course, the easiest way to do this all would be to get a copy pre-slipstreamed SP1 version of Windows Vista from Microsoft when it becomes available, and start with that as your new installation base. If you're not doing any other custom image management, that's definitely the easiest solution. Just add it to your own Microsoft Deployment workbench or use it to build your new images from there.
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** I can never say "here's the deal" without thinking of former teammate-turned-security-guru, Kai "the Security Guy" Axford.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: This promotion and promotion code have expired.Please CLICK HERE for the most current promotion.
Whenever I present a live TechNet Event, I ask my audience to raise their hands if they are a TechNet subscriber. Usually about 1/3 of the audience raises their hand. Considering that this is typically a Microsoft-friendly audience, I'm a little shocked that there aren't more hands going up. The TechNet Subscription is such a great resource for IT Pros, for these reasons:
For all of those reasons (Heck, for any ONE of those reasons), a TechNet Plus subscription is worth the yearly investment.
"Cool, Kevin. But how do I save $$$s?"
For new subscriptions, from now until June 2009, you can save 15% on any version of a TechNet Plus subscription.
UPDATE: The discount offer has expired. I do hope you were able to take advantage of it.
Watch my blog for any new offers that may be coming.
UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: There is an even bigger discount from now 'til December 2009! Click HERE for details!
“Why new subscriptions only? Why not a discount renewals?”
Renewals are already automatically discounted. Besides.. we’re honestly trying to promote TechNet Subscriptions to those who haven’t yet benefited from it. We’re pretty confident that if you try it, you’ll see enough value in it to renew your subscription.
Write down or copy this promotion code to your clipboard: TMSAM08 (That's zero-eight. Not the letter O. Think of 2008.)
Then GOTO the TechNet Subscription Center (CLICK HERE), and use the code to get your savings.
From the “OOOoops!” department..
(click to show the full picture)
This apparently is a new wireless multimedia keyboard. See if you can spot the problem…
"Cool, Kevin. But how do I save $100?"
For new subscriptions, until May 31st June 30th!, 2008, you can save $100 on any version of a TechNet Plus subscription.
"New subscriptions only?"
Yes, unfortunately for right now it's only for new subscriptions, and only for people in the United States. The folks running this program are working on a way to include other areas, and perhaps do this for renewals as well, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon, I'm afraid. But hey.. a new subscription might still be worth the savings if you only have a few months left on your existing subscription.
...and that $100 will go a long way towards that Zune you've always wanted.
This week, as I mentioned in a previous post, I’m at the Microsoft “TechReady” conference in Seattle. We’re having some great technical training and informational sessions, as well as some inspiring keynote addresses.
Yesterday, during the Q&A session with Kevin Turner (COO) and Steve Balmer (CEO), my friend, coworker, and uber-blogger Rory Blyth asked Steve a very direct question about the state of the browser and upcoming versions.
Out of respect for Rory, I won’t tell you specifically what his question was or what Steve’s answer was. I’ll leave it to him (Rory OR Steve) to post it on his own blog if he chooses. (And I’ll let them link to MY blog.. because only in my wildest dreams could I maintain the readership that Rory’s blog enjoys.)
Here’s a picture of Rory,
and a picture of the Q&A panel.
Breaking Virtualization News
Now, like Virtual Server 2005 R2, you can download and use Virtual PC 2004 (SP1 version) for free.
“No way.”
Way. But I understand your disbelief. That’s what I said when I heard the news late yesterday. And by the time you read this it will be true.
[I see the VirtualPC home page is already announcing it prior to the official 9:00am PST launch time, so I will insert the Microsoft PressPass Link here when it’s live.]
“Awesome!”
And it gets better.
“There’s more?”
Yep. We’re announcing that the next version of Virtual PC (2007) will be free also. So now you folks looking to use Virtual PC Express (the limited version that was going to come as a part of Windows Vista Enterprise) will be able to use the full-blown Virtual PC product instead… and with an additional benefit. If you’ve purchased Windows Vista Enterprise, you are now allowed to run 4 additional copies of Windows Vista Enterprise guests on your Windows Vista Enterprise host. So whereas previously you would have had to buy those licenses for your guest machines; now they’re INCLUDED, as long as your host is Windows Vista Enterprise edition. And that’s also true if you’ve purchased Windows Vista Ultimate edition with SA (Software Assurance).
“But I suppose I can’t run those additional licenses if I’m using VMWare or some other product, right?”
Wrong. But I’m not surprised you would think that. This is a little confusing to a lot of people who assume Microsoft is trying to use this to push it’s own virtualization stack.
So here it is in a nutshell: The licensing benefit isn’t tied to the virtualization technology you’re using, but to the OS version you’ve purchased.
So that means that, yes, you will have the right to run 4 additional copies of Windows Vista Enterprise edition on top of your Windows Vista Enterprise desktop, laptop, or tablet, and you WILL NOT have to be using Virtual PC to do it.
“So – What happens to Virtual PC Express?”
It is gone. There’s now no longer any need for it. Virtual PC does all of what Express was going to do, and more. And did I mention that it’s free?
“When can I get Virtual PC 2007? And what will it do that 2004 doesn’t?”
It’ll be out in the first part of 2007, and include being able to run it on a 64–bit host machine. There are also said to be performance and virtualized memory-allocation improvements.
And it’s free.
—
Here’s the thing that I think is the most interesting about this change (other than it’s just very good news for virtualization as a whole): Microsoft is once again reacting to the great competition that is out there. One of the big value propositions of Windows Vista Enterprise was that it included the virtualization (VPC Express) needed for the sake of application compatibility scenarios, among others. But other virtualization products are out there now that are free and would do the same or more, so the “perceived value” of Windows Vista Enterprise took a big hit.
So now that we’re giving the full Virtual PC away for free, and we’re including the additional licensing perks for Windows Vista Enterprise, it again becomes a very valuable reason to go there in the enterprise.
What do you think? Are you heading off to download your free copy of Virtual PC 2004 now? I hope so!
Okay.. you're an IT Pro. (If you're not, you're still welcome to keep reading.) And you're tired of feeling alone in the world. But you know that there must be some others out there like you - dealing with the same issues and same technologies; just dying to show of some new script or tool or best-practice you've discovered or developed. So you're looking for a place to go for networking with others.
Look no further.
Aggreg8 is a site for IT Pros to mix-n-mingle. It's like a "MySpace" (or a Windows Live Spaces) for IT Pros, complete with working groups on various topics that IT Pros get excited about. You can setup a profile, join groups, enter posts, add favorites, share content, mix, mingle, and learn.
"How do I get started?"
Just go to http://aggreg8.net. If you don't have one already, you'll need a PassPort account to use for your authentication there, but once you're in, you can build your profile and upload your picture (or whatever Avatar you choose), and get networking!
Whenever I present a live TechNet Event, I ask my audience to raise their hands if they are a TechNet subscriber. Usually about 1/2 of the audience raises their hand. Considering that this is typically a Microsoft-friendly audience, I'm a little shocked that there aren't more hands going up. The TechNet Subscription is such a great resource for IT Pros, for these reasons:
For new subscriptions, from now until March 31, 2010, you can save 28% on the TechNet Plus Direct subscription. What would have cost you $349 will now only cost $251.28.
"That's nearly $100!"
Bingo!
"Is this worldwide, or U.S. only, or what?"
This is for residents of the U.S. only.
Renewals are already automatically discounted, even more than you get with this code. Besides.. we’re honestly trying to promote TechNet Subscriptions to those who haven’t yet benefited from it. We’re pretty confident that if you try it, you’ll see enough value in it to renew your subscription.
Write down or copy this promotion code to your clipboard: TNITE04 (That's zero-four. Not the letter O.)
“Hey Kevin, didn’t you have some other code we were using before?”
Yes. The “TMSAM08” code is no longer valid. You need to use this new TNITE04 code now.
I need to let you know some GREAT news I’ve heard. As many of you I’m sure experienced, the demand for the public Windows 7 beta was enormous. So much so that it overwhelmed the servers for many of our external sites. Of course, with such great demand, there’s a good chance we’ll quickly reach the 2.5 million download limit. In fact, it was probably the public knowledge of that limit that caused such a great rush of activity for trying to get the bits before it they were no longer available.
Good news: They’ve temporarily removed the limit. You can read about it here on the Windows Blog. Basically what we’re doing is allowing as many downloads as can happen between now and through the 24th of January, 2009. Then at that point, if we haven’t reached 2.5 million, we’ll continue to allow downloads until the limit is reached. However, the more likely scenario is that we will surpass 2.5 million downloads, and so the beta downloads will be stopped after the 24th.
“So what do you recommend, Kevin?”
It’s nice that I don’t have to tell you to hurry to get it, because you have two weeks to get it. But I do recommend you get it, try it out (on a machine that isn’t critical to your productivity), and give us feedback. (Hey.. if you’re running an edition of Vista that has the “Complete PC Backup” tool, you should USE IT. Get a big-enough USB drive and do the backup before you do the upgrade or install…,so you can restore the system if you need to. That’s what I’ve been doing. Fortunately I haven’t had to restore anything yet.)
“Should I wait for Windows 7 instead of deploying Vista?”
That’s the billion dollar question these days, isn’t it.
My opinion on that: Absolutely do not wait for Windows 7. Deploy Vista. (with Software Assurance) Sure, I’m loving Windows 7 and some of the new UI features, but the overwhelming step-up between XP and Vista is still such a huge advantage in productivity, reliability, performance, security, manageability, etc. If you really learn these benefits and how they save you time and frustration (and that means MONEY), you shouldn’t have much trouble cost-justifying the rollout. I sincerely believe** that.
So.. sure Windows 7 has some nice new navigation and a few less times UAC pops up.. but it’s just not the same big change. Windows Vista is the way to go, even if you only consider it the stepping stone to Windows 7. You are very unlikely to have any compatibility or hardware driver issues moving from Windows Vista to Windows 7.
“Are you going to install it on your day-to-day production laptop?”
My Lenovo T61p? I’m very tempted. Very very tempted. So far it’s working great on both my VPC hosting machine (as I blogged earlier) as well as my family’s main shared kitchen-table laptop. I may be installing it tonight on my Media Center computer; provided nobody in my family has any important TV recordings they don’t want me to interrupt, of course. And the next logical installation will indeed be my work machine here.
“What’s your hesitation?”
Same as anyone else’s when it comes to the slightest potential for lost productivity. It’s beta, after-all. I’m more willing to jump into the latest-and-greatest than most people, because I know I have the ability to jump back if I need to.. and also because it’s un-written duty as a Microsoft employee to “eat the dogfood”. And primarily because then I can speak and blog more intelligently about what I’ve experienced first-hand.
Soon. Very soon.
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**If you don’t believe me, then put a comment on this blog post. Seriously, I’ll answer your questions or give you suggestions on how to look at making the justifications to your boss (or to yourself).
Bill Steele says that prices are down to $2.33 where he lives. They’re actually down to around $2.21 near me, after hitting $3.00 only about 2 months ago.
We complain so much in the U.S., because to us, these are still very high prices compared to what they were earlier this year. But compared to the rest of the world, we’re still getting our gas really cheap.
Now someone please tell me why we have to deal with all of this up-and-down prices nonsense…. I have yet to hear a good, believable explanation.
Hello all!
I’ve created a document containing useful links to related resources for our live-and-in-person TechNet Briefings this quarter. If you attended my event and want the document containing the LIVE links, or even if you’re just curious about resources relating to Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Microsoft SQL Server 2005, you’ll find this document useful.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Hope you find this helpful!
Kevin
Bozos…
I have never been one to go for conspiracy theories. I don’t think that there’s some central organization that is setting gasoline prices at artificially high levels, or running the world’s economy because they are under the direction of aliens who want to maintain the appearance of all of us being able to determine our own fates. However, recent events are causing me to suspect that certain industries may in fact LIE to their customers in order to save a few $’s.
Here’s my story. Monday, two days ago, found me traveling to Peoria, IL from Minneapolis. I have one stop in Chicago. I’m traveling on [Airline Name Deleted] Airlines.
Anyway, the flight from Minneapolis to Chicago was just fine. No concerns. So now I’m waiting my flight to Peoria. “Hmm… I don’t see a plane out there.”… not usually a good sign. But soon an announcement of my plane’s delayed arrival from somewhere else leads me to believe that there is hope.
However… many minutes later, after the plane has emptied, there is announcement that they are “working on a mechanical issue” and that they “would let [us] know in 30 minutes what the status is.” Uh oh…
30 minutes pass. True to her word, here’s the announcement. “We’re sorry, but the flight has been cancelled. The rest of our flights to Peoria are pretty full today. Come to the desk and we’ll give you some options.”
The options were: Risk standby on [Truly Aggravating] Airlines or some other airline, take a bus voucher for a 3–3/4 hour ride, or let them put me in a hotel for the evening and take a flight tomorrow.
Hmm… well, the flight tomorrow wasn’t an option. Tomorrow is why I’m going to Peoria. My briefing attendees won’t sit there waiting for me to arrive on the morning flight. And it was being said that the standby option probably wasn’t going to work because those flights had been sold full, too. So I guess that will be one bus voucher for me. Thanks.
“Oh, and sir… the next bus leaves in 10 minutes.. so I don’t think you’ll make it, but you can try. Go and collect your bag at carousel ten.”
Cool. Go get my bag. I walk briskly to carousel 10 (which is a LONG walk. Any walk in O’Hare is a long walk.) C’mon bag!
So I waited. And watched. And counted the minutes. And watched the 3:00pm bus departure time come and go… but still no bag. Frustrated, as you can imagine, I went to the luggage claim desk. The “friendly” woman there informed me that my bag is on it’s way to Peoria on one of the later, “full” flights, so I should get it from the Peoria airport when I get there.
Splendid. So my bag is getting better treatment than I am, apparently. It better, though. It’s got several hundred dollars worth of Microsoft Software inside it.
Anyway… I go to the bus terminal. Yes indeed, I missed the 3:00 bus by 10 minutes. And I found out that the next one departs at 7:00pm! <sigh> well… I got nothing but time (and a heavy laptop bag), so I head back to the terminal figuring, “I’ve got the bus ticket. There’s no harm in going to the [Stupid] Airlines ticket counter and asking if there were please-oh-please some other option.”
One the way to the ticket agent, I decided that I might just double-check the baggage-claim-carousel-from-hell to see if my bag might have suddenly appeared. Guess what?! A miracle! My bag was there, going ‘round in circles! Lesson learned: Never trust what [*@!*$#!] Airlines employees tell you – especially when their stories don’t match.
Somewhat relieved that I had at least claimed my week’s belongings, I head to the ticket counter and explain my exasperation. (I was really polite. Seriously. More polite than they deserved, which is ALWAYS a good thing.) Unfortunately my exasperation or even my most polite smile couldn’t coax all the clickety-clacking on her circa 1976 keyboard to find me a flight to Peoria this evening, on any airline. I said, “Well.. then can you get me a one-way rental car?”
“Nope. We don’t do rental cars.”
[smiling, mostly] “Can I have a second opinion?”
“I’ll get the supervisor.”
“Great. You to that.”
Several minutes pass… and finally an obviously overworked supervisor du jour comes over. “How can I be of assistance?”
<gasp> “Okaaaaay…. What do you recommend I do that won’t mean I have to sit around here for four hours and then another three-and-a-half hours on a bus?”
“I can give you this $5 voucher for a snack.”
<bigger gasp> “Um… (still smiling politely, but feel like I’m talking through gritted teeth..) Unless you know of a cab driver who will accept a $5 snack voucher in exchange for a trip to Peoria, this is not going to help much.”
“I’m sorry sir. That’s all I can do. Well… actually, I can also give you this $10 voucher for dinner. But that’s really all I can do.”
“ummm… <sigh> I guess I’m traveling by bus then. Thank you.” (See? I am way too polite. Thinking about it later, I’m kicking myself that I thanked them for so little.)
So off I go, big bag and heavy laptop bag and all, back over to the bus terminal. On the way I use my “$5” to buy $4.85 worth of coffee and bottled water at a Starbuck’s kiosk. (“Can’t give you change, Mr. Customer Sir. Not for a voucher.”) And then at the bus terminal I use my $10 to buy about $8.50 worth of Uno’s pizza and a Snapple. (“Can’t give you change, mack. Not for a voucher.”)
Well…to cut to the end of this Monday saga; I catch the bus. And because I’m going to the Peoria airport on a voucher, I have to be the very last stop. (“Gotta do the regular route first, buddy. You’ve only got a voucher.”) Rental car folks kept their word, though… they were there waiting for me to arrive, even after their closing time. Big points for Avis. They do “try harder” when it means some nice lady waits around an extra half hour late in the evening just for little ol’ me. Very nice!
Is that the end of my story? NO! Tuesday night I leave our event (Had a great time! Thanks again, Peoria!) and head to the airport. Check the bag. Head to the gate. Board says it’s still on time. Cool. Head to the wash room. And just as I’m washing my hands, I hear the announcement. “Flight #xyz from arriving from Chicago has been cancelled. Because of this, flight #abc, the flight that Kevin A. Remde is on, has been cancelled.”
I’m sure many people in the terminal heard the echoed “NOOOoooooooo!” emanating from the Men’s room.
Unbelievable. So… back to the ticket counter, where they put me on a later flight on yet-another-but-obviously-more-reliable airline. Fortunately, and thankfully, I actually SEE them hand my bag from one company to the other… and this new flight to Chicago goes just wonderfully – made better by the fact that one of my coworkers was also on the flight, so we each had someone to talk to.
So where does this leave me? I’m sitting here writing this, on Wednesday afternoon, at O’Hare gate G7 (oooh.. that may have given away the Airline. <heh>), having had two days prior of cancelled flights. I’m waiting for a plane to arrive at the gate that will take me to Madison, Wisconsin. It’s not here yet. Hmmm…
And as you can imagine, I’m wondering… will it happen again? Is it true that “bad things come in 3’s”, or will it be “the third time’s the charm”? And did [really frustrating] Airlines make money on Monday when they cancelled my flight, because it only cost them $45 for a $30 bus ticket and $15 (really $13.35)
So I’m also wondering: Maybe they lied. <gasp!> Conspiracy! Could it be?! Maybe “mechanical problems” sometimes is just code for “in this case we think we can save some big bucks by making you all make other arrangements and we’re willing to risk pissing you off because we know right now you have no other options so just shut up and take this voucher [forced smile]”.
There is something I’m not wondering, however. In fact, I’m absolutely certain… Unless I get some satisfaction from them in the form of at LEAST a letter of apology, I will NOT be traveling on [Poopy-Pants] Airlines ever again if I can help it.
According the The Register (“Biting the hand that feeds IT”… I like it.), there are already viruses being created that target the new scripting shell Microsoft is developing. If they're looking for a name for the virus, I propose "Shmista".
“Scripting Shell? Really? And it will be in Vista?”
Whether or not it’s in Vista remains to be seen. However, the command shell formerly code-named “Monad”, now called MSH, is what they’re referring to. Last I heard they are planning on shipping it along with and as a feature of the next version of Exchange Server (Exchange 12 coming in 2006). I saw it in action for the first time at the Microsoft Global Briefing in Atlanta last week, and… all I can say (or am allowed to say), is… WHOA BABY THAT’S COOL.
“The goal of Monad (now MSH) is to provide a powerful command-line management solution. It is both a language and a framework for easily creating commands to manage windows platform. So - it's more command-line oriented than WSH but has a lot of the scripting abilities of the WSH languages. It's somewhat of a higher level language than VBScript, etc. Another quite significant difference is that it's an interactive environment.”
Back to the Register… I wouldn’t be surprised that people are already trying to break it. That makes sense. It was true with IE 1.0, is true today, and will be always: When Microsoft makes available functionality that makes coding or administration simpler, there is always someone ready to exploit it. And with MSH, well.. BRING IT ON. I’m sure the team would rather find the vulnerabilities sooner rather than later.
What do you think?
This question was asked recently of our team, and it was just interesting enough of a question to see if someone reading this blog might like to play with this scenario on their own.
Yes.. you are finally being encouraged to “try this at home”.
Here’s the question: Can you create a virtual machine Windows Server 2003 guest being hosted in a Windows XP Virtual PC installation, and make the host XP machine a member of a domain running on the Windows 2003 Server?
Hint: Some have suggested to use a loopback adapter installed on the XP machine as the common link between them… although I don’t see why the physical adapter on on the XP machine wouldn’t work just as well.
It was discussed by a few people who said it couldn’t be done, but I’m not so sure. And before I tried it I thought I’d toss it out here and see if someone wants to give it a whirl and share their experience with us.
Now.. before you kill the messenger, you really need to read and understand this post from the “Engineering Windows 7” blog in its entirety:
Don’t want to read it all? Okay.. If you really want the summary instead, here are important bits:
“HUH?! I wanna take my beta and just upgrade! Are you saying I can’t?”
I want to do that, too. And no, I’m not saying you can’t. (Actually, you can’t, unless you do a tweak to an installation file – more about that below.) But it’s not a scenario that Microsoft is building Windows 7 to support. Think about it.. Do we really want to spend the extra effort (and days or weeks delay in releasing the product) to fully test a scenario, with all of the smallest details of every file and every setting and potential configuration, that once the product is released, nobody will need? The real world isn’t full of people upgrading from Beta to RC. The purpose of betas and RCs is to completely test the real-world kinds of upgrades and deployments. It doesn’t help anyone to have to report, track down, and fix a bug relating to the Beta-to-RC path.
“So… what is Microsoft recommending?”
As the post says, the recommend paths – the ones that will help all of us best to improve the product - is to either restore your previous XP, Vista or Vista SP1 installation and then upgrade to RC, or to do a fresh installation of the RC.
The good news is this: If you really really really need to keep your beta configuration and want to do an upgrade to RC, you’ll be able to do it with a documented tweak to the cversion.ini file on the source installation disk. (See the blog post for the full details on what needs to be done.)
Believe me. Many people at Microsoft have been debating this issue passionately. This is what we wanted to hear, and know that you’d prefer a supported upgrade path. We’re all in this together. I did an upgrade of not only my day-to-day production machine that I’m on now, but also my family’s laptop and my family Media Center. Am I happy about this? Absolutely not. But like I said.. if you think about it, it does make sense. (And anyway, a fresh install on my Media Center may get rid of one particularly annoying issue I’ve got with my Zune software not seeing the new TV files they way it should. I’ll just have to make sure DRM on my recorded TV files will not be lost. Got any hints on how I’ll do that?)
“So what are you going to do, Kevin?”
For the RC, I’m going to be relying on backups (Windows Easy Transfer) and doing re-configuration on top of a fresh install for my family laptop. And I’ll investigate the Media Center options I have and get back to you.
Okay.. let ‘er rip. Tell me what you think. Don’t hold back. If your complaints are well-thought-out and constructive, I’ll share them with the product team. But in any case, feel free to comment/rant/complain/yell/etc.
Happy Friday!
I thought I’d just take this opportunity to again share my three-part screencast series with you; this time all in one place.
The topic: System Center 2012 Unified Installer
The goal: Help you prepare for and use the Unified Installer to build your lab for testing and trying the System Center 2012 components out
The added benefit: You get to see my pretty metro-style (I like to call them “metrofied!”) PowerPoint slides.
Enjoy. And enjoy even more in full-screen, and 1280x768 if you can…
Here is Part 1:
Here is Part 2:
And here is Part 3:
This is great… Today Microsoft announced that there will be three (count ‘em.. 3) editions of Windows 8 when it goes on sale – presumably later this year.
“Wait a sec…only three? Didn’t Windows 7 come in 6.. or more?”
Yep. Three. Brandon LeBlanc writes on the Windows Team Blog that Windows 8 will be delivered as:
The first two editions on the list are for PCs/Desktops/Laptops that have the Intel and AMD CPUs. They will still come as 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. Plain “Windows 8” is the consumer edition. “Windows 8 Pro” is the edition for business and for tech enthusiasts.
The third one, “Windows RT”, is the new version that will ship pre-installed on ARM-based PCs and tablets. It’s the version that was formerly referred to as Windows-on-ARM or WOA.
“This all sounds great. It’s certainly much less confusing. But what features or applications are available in these? How do they compare?”
Read the full post for the full details – including a chart that compares the versions.
Oh.. one more thing. Now it’s official: The product is called “Windows 8”. Go figure.
Also -
“NOTE: As with previous versions of Windows, we will also have an edition of Windows 8 specifically for those enterprise customers with Software Assurance agreements. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.”
So I guess if you count Windows 8 Enterprise edition, there are actually 4 SKUs. But who's counting?
What do you think? Do you like this move? Does it make sense? Share your rants in the comments, please.
Only 35% left to go on my download of Windows 7 from the TechNet Plus Subscription site. Yes indeed… as expected, SteveB let loose the availability of the first public beta of Windows 7 during his keynote address at CES.
And almost to the moment he announced it, the PressPass article went live, and the download showed up on the TechNet site. As TechNet Subscribers, we have this benefit of being able to download the beta right now. The rest of the world will have to wait.
“Awww! Really?”
Yep. Sorry.
“How long?”
January 9.
“This year?”
<sigh> Yes.. exactly two days from now.
“Oh! Cool!”
I think so.
I’m looking forward to reading (and writing) a lot of reviews of Windows 7 in the coming weeks and months.
Yeah… I’ve been rather delinquent in my blog postings of late. I really enjoyed some scaled-back work-time over the holidays. No… I didn’t take vacation. But I did spend more time with my family. I spent my working hours working on content for this new quarter of TechNet Events, and what time I may have given to blogging was spent playing with kids and assembling their new toys.
“Why the XBOX logo? Did you break down and get your kids the Xbox 360?”
Well… I said I wasn’t going to – mainly because I didn’t think they wanted one so bad until the day before they went on sale. So I was resigned to the fact that it would be nearly impossible to find one, and I told the kids that they shouldn’t expect one because of that. However… thanks to a spouse’s cousin’s eldest son who happens to work at a major electronics merchandiser across town, I was able to get one of a shipment of five that happened to arrive the week before Christmas. (Thanks again, Terry!)
“So what are you doing now?”
Well.. we’ve got some great content coming to you in our live events, so I’m excited about that. And I’ll be doing a couple of webcasts on Securing your Exchange Servers in a couple of weeks. But tomorrow I get on a plane and head to Seattle for a week of “TechReady”, which is an employee-only training conference for technical people like me “in the field” for Microsoft. I’m excited to get in-depth with what’s coming in Exchange 12, Office 12, Vista, and who knows what other new stuff coming even farther into the future.
By the way… do you like my new interactive photo on the left? Yep. Kevin’s been getting fancy with the HTML!
After I do a live TechNet Event, Microsoft Campus Connection Event, or TechNet Webcast, and the content has contained something about the new products coming out, the one question I’m asked the most is, “How do I get the beta?”
“Okay.. so how do I get the beta?”
Well, the best way of course is a TechNet Plus subscription. That will include having betas sent directly to you. But another way to keep tabs on what is new and available is to subscribe to the TechNet Flash e-mail newsletter. This page here gives you the details and steps to take for signing up, so you’ll get the word when a new beta or CTP (Community Technology Preview) is available for you.
And.. I don’t think I will get in trouble telling you this - but I’m running an “escrow build” – a build that is in it’s final stages of being tested for beta release – of Windows Vista Beta 2. It’s “flippin’ sweeet!”
I just learned about a feature that is coming in Microsoft Word 2007 (part of the 2007 Office System) that has me pretty excited. And I asked permission to post this to my blog today. The feature will be seen for the first time (although incomplete) in the soon-to-be-released “beta 2” of 2007 Office.
Would you like to post to your blog right from Word? Well… who wouldn’t?
That’s what you can do now. In fact, I’m recording a screencast even as I make this post, showing exactly how it’s done.
Check back here for a link to view the recording of my quick-and-dirty-demo.
UPDATE: Here is the video containing my quick-and-dirty demo.
Oh my… the gauntlet has been thrown down!
I love it. Chris Avis (friend and fellow IT Pro Champion on the TechNet team) has a “Karaoke Challenge” that he’s promoting to his audiences. You can read his excellent post about it if you wish, but in a nutshell, he is challenging any and all of his live event attendees to a sing-off. The evening after an event, he and the challenger will go to any local club that’s hosting Karaoke. And if the audience likes the challenger’s song better than Chris’, Chris will provide the challenger with a full retail copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition.
This gives me an idea… I’m going to do this, too!
Yes, that’s right. You heard me. I can sing. Better than you.
Kevin’s Karaoke Challenge
I challenge any and/or all of my live event attendees to a sing-off! You email me before the event, and let me know that we’ll be going out for some Karaoke. If the audience likes your singing/song/style better, you’re gonna get a copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard Ed. Retail copy – “no timeout crap”).
2008 UPDATE: That particular software package doesn't make sense these days. How 'bout I just surprise you? (Yes, it will be real software that would otherwise need to be purchased. I'll make it worth your while.)
(Heck.. I might even give a prize to anyone brave enough to take me on.)
So Chris – Are we going to get to challenge each other at the team meeting in October? And what can you afford to lose?
...and the world will beat a path to your door!
Okay - it's really "mouse-trap"... but today our family is going out to get a natural Christmas tree, and after searching for our old one we realized (and remembered) that last year our tree stand broke. So this year we have to buy a new one.
As I was putting up some lights outside our house (and as kids were decorating Christmas cookies inside), it got me to thinking... if someone were to ask me what I wanted in a tree stand, I would have to say, "A lot!".
I think the perfect stand could simply be placed on the bottom end of the tree, and it would automatically make a thin fresh cut, and latch itself into place. When you stood the tree on end, little sensors and gyros would send commands to the stand's CPU informing the processor of places currently out of balance, and the processor would send commands to mini servo motors driving hydrolic-powered lifts to re-align the tree. A triangulating lasor would be able to align the trunk as upright as possible, while coordinating with the other processes to find a happy medium in case the tree is somewhat naturally lopsided.
Once positioned the tree would be automatically fed nutrients, and water that is distilled right out of the surrounding air.
And that's just standard model, of course. The deluxe model would also have a plug for special lighting that would then be driven by the CPU for a lighting display of your choice... all the while slowly spinning your now "wireless" tree to the time of the music. Oh.. the music would of course be uploaded via the WiFi connection to your home network, or for a monthly charge you could add the XM Radio adapter.
Okay... I've designed it. Which of you will be brave enough to build it so we can make millions?! <chuckle>
Happy Holidays!
Lead by yours-truly…
And even more importantly – my teammates will be online answering Q&A during these.
RSS. Really Simple Syndication. “Feeds”. “” logos…
“What does it all mean, Kevin?”
Well.. Let me describe a very cool use of this technology as a way of introduction to you…
You want to know when there’s some new resource available of specific importance to you. For example, let’s say you are the SQL DBA or database server administrator for your company. You watch the Microsoft web sites, NNTP news groups, or perhaps you subscribe to some email lists. But you sure would like to be notified whenever there is a new KB article relating to the version of SQL you are managing. And you don’t want to subscribe to any more email lists. You would rather control exactly what you’re getting… only what you care about or need to know.
Enter RSS
Now, using news agreggator software, you can subscribe to and receive just the information you want or need.
Check out this article: RSS: Really Simple Syndication, for a great description of how this works. Also included here is a good list of links to news agreggator software available. (I happen to like the free SharpReader.)
“Why are you telling me this, Kevin?”
Many groups at Microsoft, including our TechNet team, are beginning to embrace this technology to allow you to control your own connection to us. We’ll make content and information available, and you can select and subscribe to just what you want to know about… so we aren’t invading your privacy by sending you unwanted emails, and you don’t have to keep checking the web sites manually for changes. You are in the driver’s seat!
Great examples of this might be to subscribe to all of or just categories of my blog (“I want to read everything Kevin has to say”, or, “I only care about Kevin’s TechNet Briefing postings.”), or subscribing to a site that has updates and event information for just when we’re coming to your area, just the speaker you want to see, or just on the topics that you specify. How cool is that?
In fact… If you right click on this orange picture and select “Copy Shortcut”, you can then paste the link into your news agreggator software and subscribe to all of my blog entries!
Another real world, very cool example is what is available now for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles. You can go HERE and select the RSS feeds to get updated lists of new KB articles for just the software you work with.
And another cool example is how sites can be built using agreggations of blog content shared from bloggers all over the place – as in the www.techedbloggers.com site.
So.. it’s time to understand and embrace RSS. It’s going to make it really simple to stay up-to-date and informed.
Questions or comments? Hit the feedback link below.