Where System Builders Talk Shop... : Victor Mux

Windows Vista ROI Calculator

BOBblog — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:06:00 GMT

Here is an excellent tool which helps companies determine the potential benefits and return on investment from implementing Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Enterprise developed by independent company called Alinean Inc.

http://www.alinean.com/microsoft/vistavalue/microsoft_Vista_Calculator.html

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2c Release

BOBblog — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:55:00 GMT

Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2c has released to manufacturing and will be available to system builders in September 2007.

Critical Action Item:
System builders who use imaging must create new Windows XP Professional images with Service Pack 2c when shipping Service Pack 2c product keys; otherwise end users will not be able to complete installation.

SP2c to Resolve Shortage of Windows XP Product Keys
Due to the longevity of Windows XP Professional, it has become necessary to produce more product keys for system builders in order to support the continued availability of Windows XP Professional through the scheduled system builder channel end-of-life (EOL) date of January 31, 2009.

See Windows Life-Cycle Web site for more information on Microsoft’s support policy.

Timeline and Versions for SP2c Release
SP2c will be released into the System Builder channel in September to provide system builders with a new, extended range of product keys that will ship with:

Windows XP Professional (except for Simplified Chinese, Russian and Korean languages)
Windows XP Professional N

This release does not impact the following versions:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition

SP2c Features and Requirements
There are no other features or fixes included in this service pack; it will only allow for the inclusion of additional product keys. When using SP2c product keys, system builders must:

Use the product keys with SP2c media.
Create new images from SP2c to accommodate the new product keys. A hotfix will not be provided.

Reminder to Update Images
System builders must update their images to Windows XP Professional SP2c. End users will not be able to successfully complete installation of Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2c if they do not have updated images.

Key Dates Summary

September, 2007	Windows XP SP2c will be available to system builders from their distributors.
January 31, 2008	End-of-Life for product availability of Windows XP for all channels except System Builder.
January 31, 2009	End-of-Life for product availability of Windows XP for the System Builder channel.

Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager

BOBblog — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:18:00 GMT

If you are using USB keys to boot WinPE, you should take a look at this tool. One thing that I have observed is that it boots the USB key much faster. It also has a lot of configurable settings and it works on a great deal more USB keys than formatufd.

Here's the link where you can download it:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=94991901-bfc4-485e-bcae-c9df0accdaae&displaylang=en

Using Windows Vista Computers in a Windows Small Business Server 2003 Network

BOBblog — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:33:00 GMT

A great question was asked during one of the SBS online study group which was "How do I join Vista systems to an SBS environment?" We decided to write a step by step article with screenshot on what you need to do to join a Vista system to an SBS network. This article includes patching the SBS server with updates and what steps you'll need to do on Vista.

You can find it on the home page at http://oem.microsoft.com/serversource

Windows Vista Deployment Center is Live!!

BOBblog — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:18:00 GMT

It’s been in the works for a while and now we are proud to present the Windows Vista Deployment Center. It may seem strange to think about it this way, but the OEM System Builder Technology Team has worked hard to make deployments simple, or at least simple for you to understand. And with the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (Windows OPK), the deployment itself is a snap.

The site starts out describing the benefits you get by using the Windows OPK to deploy Windows Vista, and moves on to describe what you should do before you begin. You will learn how to install the kit, and understand why you should use a network when installing Windows Vista (hint – it saves you time, and saving time means saving money), including a complete description of a typical network configuration. The details on network setup reveal just how easy it is to enable network based deployments.

Because getting ready for deployment is quick and easy, most of the site’s content focuses on the three deployment methods. The site helps you choose the method that matches your deployment needs, and provides in-depth, step-by-step instructions for each of the methods. The site walks you through every step of each procedure, with screen shots all along the way. And because you want to save as much deployment time as possible, the site describes simple automation procedures that you should follow to maximum your time savings.

The site does an excellent job describing typical preinstallation customization options, their benefits, and how (and why or when) you should add these options to your deployment method. These options include showing you how to do the following:

· Adding a custom OEM graphic so that your branding is displayed in prominent areas of the OS

· Enabling support for drivers not originally shipped with Windows Vista

· Increasing customer value by adding additional applications during Windows Setup

And finally, even though the site provides extensive descriptions of common deployment scenarios, the OEM System Builder Technology Team realizes that there are times when you just need a helping hand. For this reason, the site includes links to other support resources, as well as references to key deployment topics.

And because your customer relationship doesn’t end when you sell the PC, the site includes an end-to-end procedure that you can follow to enable Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). Windows RE is a remarkable self-healing feature of Windows Vista that you can take advantage of. When it is enabled, it adds the ability to recover from up to 80 % of common system issues. Fewer support calls to you means happier customers, and less money spent resolving those issues.

Whether you are a new or existing system builder, the Windows Vista Deployment Center will help you deploy Windows Vista easier and faster, with features that increase the value of every PC you sell.

To access the site go to: http://oem.microsoft.com/opk

Disaster Recovery in Small Business Server 2003

BOBblog — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:02:00 GMT

The SBS 2003 Backup Wizard is a great tool to be sure that all of your customer’s data gets backed up, including user data, SharePoint, the Exchange database, and more. Join Sterling Jones of the US System Builder Technology Team (aka BOB), and you’ll be armed and ready if and when disaster strikes.

Article: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=560998

Webcast: http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004449

Hey System Builders, the Windows Vista Deployment Center is here!

BOBblog — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:28:00 GMT

Hello everyone!

The Windows Vista Deployment Center is finally here. The comprehensive site, designed to save you money by showing you how to reduce the time to deploy Windows Vista, includes step by step procedures for deployment, customization, WinRE, and much more.

Here is the URL: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/ContentPage.aspx?pageid=77 or http://oem.microsoft.com/opk

Updated Windows Vista OPK Documentation

BOBblog — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This documentation release is an English-only update and includes revised content that addresses the following:

Known issues
Workarounds
Information from published addenda to the OPK

The update consists of the following files:

OPK.chm
Unattend.chm
Revisereadme file

The .chm files replace the English release-to-manufacturing (RTM) OPK.chm and Unattend.chm files. Instructions for replacing the RTM .chms with the new .chms are in the readme file.

http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?PageID=561740

Hotfix Resolves Windows Vista Sysprep Fatal Error

BOBblog — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:51:00 GMT

When running the System Preparation tool (Sysprep.exe) on a Windows Vista-based computer, a fatal error may occur. An update for Windows Vista resolves this issue. Available for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems, the update can be applied to all language versions of Windows Vista.

http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?PageID=562037

Windows Vista Hardware Compatibility

BOBblog — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:22:00 GMT

You can find a list of compatible hardware for Vista at http://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl. This link is a list of hardware that has past the Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing and are certified.

We also released the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool. This is an inventory, assessment, and reporting tool that will find computers on a network and determine if they are ready to run the Windows Vista™ operating system. Here is the URL: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/hardwareassessment/wv/default.mspx

Troubleshooting Windows Vista OPK Deployments

BOBblog — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:08:00 GMT

Many of you guys have been asking lots of great question on Windows Vista OPK. Because of this, I figured it would be a great idea to do a troubleshooting webcast on Windows Vista OPK deployments. If you are having issues or want great insights on Windows Vista OPK then you'll want to attend this webcast.

Visit http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15005358 to register. See you guys there!

SB: Deploying Windows Vista in Business. How to navigate the implementation waters.

BOBblog — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 22:07:00 GMT

Hi everyone,

If you are installing Windows Vista in a business environment, then this webcast is for you. I strongly recommend you attending.

Here are the details:

Event Date:
3/15/2007

Presenter:
Doug Thompson

Event Time:
9:00 AM Pacific, USA & Canada (DST) = GMT - 08:00

Duration:
60 minutes

Course Level:
100

Description:
Windows Vista improved security and manageability over Windows XP.

This webcast will touch on Application compatibility, Local and Group Policies, as well as performance and reliability. There are several new tools built into Windows Vista to address these common challenges and what are the changes you need to know about to make deployment a breeze.

To register, visit:

http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15005316

Audit Mode locking you out when screensaver kicks in?

BOBblog — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:53:00 GMT

When you run Windows Vista in audit mode for a long time, the computer enters standby or hibernation. By default, you are then prompted to perform an administrator logon after the computer resumes. Because the administrator's account is disabled, your only option is too reboot. The following link will show you step on how you can resolve this.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928717/en-us

64 bit WinPE not showing up in WDS?

BOBblog — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:56:00 GMT

For the missing x64 WinPE image, see this article:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/9e197135-6711-4c20-bfad-fc80fc2151301033.mspx?mfr=true

You have to enable the x64 detection. From the article:

• x64-based client computers do not receive an x64 Windows PE boot image. This can occur if the PXE basic input/output system (BIOS) implementation of the network booting computer does not correctly identify itself as being capable of working with x64-based computers. To work around this issue, enable architecture detection in the boot programs. To do this, run this command on your WDS server:

WDSUTIL /set-server /architecturediscovery:yes

Windows Vista Network Deployment Scripts

BOBblog — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:13:00 GMT

These are the scripts used when creating a custom WinPE for network Vista deployment.

startnet.cmd - <Capture an Image>

@echo off

@echo Initializing network...

wpeinit

@echo Waiting for network services...

:StartMon

ping -n 1 wds > NUL

if not %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO StartMon

@echo Mapping network resource

net use g: \\wds\winbits /user:opk-wds\administrator dev

@echo Captureing image

imagex /capture fast /check /capture c: g:\install.wim “Vista Ultimate”

startnet.cmd - <Apply an Image>

@echo off

@echo Initializing network...

wpeinit

@echo Waiting for network services...

:StartMon

ping -n 1 wds > NUL

if not %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO StartMon

@echo Mapping network resource

net use g: \\wds\winbits /user:opk-wds\administrator dev

@echo Partitioning hard drive

diskpart /s diskpart.txt

@echo Applying image

imagex /apply g:\install.wim 1 c:\

To partition the hard disk use diskpart /s diskpart.txt

Diskpart.txt

select disk 0

clean

create partition primary

select partition 1

active

format FS=NTFS quick

exit