The steps I followed to add the sidebar to Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta (R2Beta) desktop as shown below are very similar to those documented in Adding Vista Sidebar and Aero to Windows Server 2008 Desktop. There were however some changes needed.
On step 1, the document has Vista x64 code copied into Windows Server 2008. Here I copied Windows 7 x64 code into R2Beta. This should be obvious.
On step 5, running sidebar.exe in R2Beta did not bring up the sidebar. And unlike Windows 7 Beta, right-clicking the mouse on R2Beta desktop does not offer a Gadgets option to lead to the sidebar. To bring up the sidebar on R2Beta desktop at this time, one can install a saved gadget file if it is readily available. If not, first go to online Vista Gadget Gallery, download a gadget, not to install since that will fail with the error message below, but to save it to a local folder.
I simply downloaded a few gadgets and saved them in C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Shared Gadgets. I then double-clicked the saved files to install the gadgets. This loaded the sidebar to the desktop. Once the sidebar was brought up, I then customized the installed gadgets like how it’s done in Vista.
There was still some loose end. After a reboot, the sidebar would not show up on the R2Beta desktop. I rebooted a few times and the sidebar simply would not show up. I realized reloading a gadget would refresh the sidebar. So using the Task Manager I set up a task as shown on the right to run at logon time to reload a gadget, this should then bring up the sidebar every time I log on. And it worked as expected.
My objective was simple, to get the sidebar to show up on R2Beta desktop. I am not sure this is the optimal way to add the sidebar to R2Beta, and I prefer not to run a task at logon time to bring up the sidebar automatically, nevertheless it gets the job done. If anyone out there knows a better way to do this, I would really love to hear it.
is an enterprise-class server solution with a focus on the IT needs and priced to yield substantial cost savings over stand-alone products. For instance, the solution simplifies the licensing with a single server license and Client Access for all included products. To reduce complexity and improve productivity, EBS 2008 provides a unified administration console to manage an integrated IT infrastructure with the latest versions of management, messaging, and security server technologies.
With EBS 2008, basically a mid-size business can have the strength of enterprise IT on system management, security, and messaging without paying and maintaining like enterprise IT. A very interesting concept with a very practical approach, it is indeed. Here are some additional resources to learn more:
The TechNet live events of this quarter are just about to start. For IT Pro track, a team of IT Evangelists will be making a contact and delivering content to various IT Pro communities in cities throughout the U.S. starting late January:
These terms: Cloud Computing, Software as a Service (SaaS), Software-plus-Services (S+S), Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft Azure Service platform, Microsoft Business Productivity Office Suite (BPOS) can be sometimes confusing. Exactly what is Cloud Computing? Is apps accessible through clouds Cloud Computing? What do SaaS and S+S really mean to IT Pros? Session 1 will bring clarity to you in a 30-minute discussion on how these concepts complement one another, and demo how the architectural components integrate and work together to give a user an integrated experience on "connect, communicate, and collaborate with anywhere access."
Recently virtualization has been coming with a big wave and bringing IT with much momentum and excitements. Some virtualization solutions provide not only the ability to run applications, but also with deployment mechanisms. And as an IT Pro, one must recognize it is so critical now to have a system management solution in place. And any IT infrastructure projects going forward should include considerations on how to manage and integrate newly introduced resources, physical and virtualized, with existing ones in a transparent and systematic way. System management is an area that IT Pros must keep their skill up to date and not to overlook.
Session 2 offers an operational aspect on System Center Configuration Manager 2007 on deploying and managing resources as well as Network Access Protection (NAP). In 90 minutes, the scenario-based demos will give you a realistic view with insights of enterprise configuration management. Get your pen and a notebook ready, there is so much included in this session.
With the employment of virtualization, deploying and managing virtual machines is a topic with much visibility. To increase ROI and reduce TCO of a virtualization solution, in addition to virtualizing resources, the management of a virtualization solutions (such as requesting, configuring, deploying, patching, and revoking virtual machines) must be implemented with minimal impact upon and maximal integration with and applicability to IT resources already put in place. This is also why Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2008 has become such an essential component to realize the benefits of a virtualization solution. Session 3 is 90 minutes packed with demos of SCVMM 2008 and walks through various scenarios on managing Microsoft and non-Microsoft virtual machines with a consistent user experience and your already developed Windows skills.
Notice the slide decks are soon to be released, then they can be downloaded from TechNet Event resource page.
So are you ready to be a rock, and not to roll? Come, join us.
This series was delivered by a team of IT Pro Evangelists including: Kevin Remde, Matt Hester, Chris Avis, Chris Henley, and Yung Chou a while ago. Still the information is relevant to get yourself well informed on the technologies, the solutions, and how to get your IT environment strategically aligned and integrated with virtualization. To facilitate learning Microsoft virtualization technologies, I have also made a number of free eBooks and posters available including Windows Server 2008 R2, Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions, Active Directory and Hyper-V. Additionally, there are also free trainings of virtualization technologies and software evaluation copies of System Center 2012 available.
Session List
Regardless your role and responsibilities, session 1 TechNet Webcast: Virtualization in a Nutshell is the one you absolutely do not want to miss. This session gives you an overview of all Microsoft virtualization solutions, so you get the big picture and know the context of a solution. You will know “Why virtualize?” and “Why Microsoft?” This session is to advance and facilitate your understanding on virtualization in general, and help you recognizing a virtualization opportunity when it presents itself.
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(This is a reposting with validated links of a previously published post at http://aka.ms/yungchou)
There are 4 levels of UAC warning form “Always notify” to “Never notify” configurable in a Windows 7 client. A set level determines when UAC will warn the current user on a change made by a program or by the user oneself while an elevated privilege is required for making the change. The Windows 7 client UI is very user friendly and informative. Linked help file as well as recommendations highlighted with the icon, , and relevant to each level are readily available. This new UI makes it easier to understand and configure UAC, and improve the user experience. The following screen captures showing the user experience of configuring UAC were taken from Windows 7 Client Build 7000, i.e. the Beta code. Notice the user experience of UAC settings in Windows Server 2008 R2 is identical with that in Windows 7 client.
For those who are interested in Windows 7, Steve Ballmer’s announcement of the availability of Windows 7 Beta and Windows Live, and a Windows 7 demo delivered in Consumer Electronics Show 2009 are great to review.
The default setting is to warn only when programs try to make changes to the computer.
January, 2009 - Yung Chou on Hybrid Cloud - Site Home - TechNet Blogs