Get up to 25 percent off select Microsoft Certification exams

If you’re looking at catching up on your certifications, this is a deal you might not want to miss.  Until December 31st 2009, or while supplies last, you can get up to 25% off Microsoft certification exams.  For a full listing of exams that have 15%, 20% or 25% off click HERE or on the image above.

Good luck with your exams!!!

Free eBook Download: Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2

I just got word this MS Press book is available as a FREE eBook download.  If you want to see what’s new in Windows Server 2008 R2 then this book is for you!!!

Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2 will get you up to speed on the new features and capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2.  So come read about what’s new in Hyper-V, RDS virtualization, management, IIS and the new Web application platform and also see what functionality gives you a Better Together experience with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2!!!

The New Efficiency Launch: PowerPoint Slide Decks

Many of you have been asking where you can get a copy of the slide decks from the New Efficiency IT Pro Launch events.

Some of my DPE colleagues have already posted them at slideshare.net, see links below!!!!

Windows 7 Decks

Windows Server 2008 R2 Decks

Exchange 2010 Decks 

Before Installing Windows 7 run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Many of you have been coming to the Windows 7 IT Pro launch events around the country.  At the event you have been getting a free, not-for-resale version of Windows 7 Ultimate.  I strongly suggest before you install Windows 7, especially if its an older machine, run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to make get a report on any potential driver or application problems.  I’ve had a few emails where people have installed Windows 7 only to find the video driver for a really old card is not available.

Remember, if you have an old machine, the hardware vendor may have made the decision not to write a Windows 7 driver. 

Bottom-line - check BEFORE you install by running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

TechNet Events Presents “Microsoft Virtualization Tour” for IT Pros!

Windows 7 Launch House Party: Albany, GA

We had a great Windows 7 Launch House Party at the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Albany, GA.  On the drive down from Atlanta after I came off of I-75 I passed miles of cotton fields.  You can see from the couple of pictures I took they are quite expansive, imagine mile after mile of these.  Amazing!

Got to the church in Albany around 5:30PM. 

We had over 20 people attend, and had some interesting and fun food.  Windows 7 cup cakes, a “Windows 7 Its Here!!” cake, 7-grain bread sandwiches with pimento cheese (forgot to take a picture) and of course all of this was washed down with 7UP!!!  :-)

We had some local IT experts involved too, with Zach demoing Windows 7, assisted by James and Miles, all from Neovoxx Computers of Albany. 

All in all we had a very interactive audience with lots of questions.  Everyone seemed very excited and enjoyed the Windows 7 demonstration.  At the end of the evening we had raffle for the party giveaways with the $75 proceeds going to a local charity.

TechNet Radio: PASS Community Summit 2009 – SQL Server Heroes Unite

Here’s an interview I recorded with TechNet radio last month on the SQL PASS Community Summit:

“In this episode of TechNet Radio, we preview the upcoming SQL PASS Community Summit, the largest SQL Server / BI conference in the world. We’ll hear from industry experts Wayne Snyder, Buck Woody, and Michael Rys. Topics include state of the industry and PASS conference’s value to IT Pros, manageability features in SQL Server 2008, spatial data support in SQL Server 2008, and the advanced BI capabilities delivered with Excel 2010 & Project Gemini.”

"TechNet Radio: PASS Community Summit 2009 – SQL Server Heroes Unite" Interview

PowerPoint Decks for Alpharetta Firestarter Event

Many of the attendees at the event asked for the PowerPoint decks for the Firestarter event.  If you were on the webcast they were available in the Handout section, if not I have posted them all at the following Skydrive Location: PowerPoint Decks for Alpharetta Firestarter Event

There are still seats available for the Baltimore, MD and Washington DC New Efficiency Windows 7 Launch Events

Register today!!!!  Just click on the city you want to attend!!!!

Special TechNet Plus Subscription Promotion – 25%-OFF

That’s right!!  Save 25% ($87.25) off of a TechNet Plus Direct Subscription,

and even more on others!

Use Promotion Code TMSAM05 (that’s ZERO-5) at:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/subscription

Microsoft Security Essentials: FREE anti-virus Software Download From Microsoft

Some of you may have missed the announcement for Microsoft Security Essentials a few weeks ago, but now you know about it there is no excuse not to have anti-virus software on your home PC.

What is Microsoft Security Essentials?

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.  It is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

What About Business PCs?

If you need malware protection for business desktops, laptops, and server operating systems then look no further than Forefront Client Security.  Forefront Client Security provides unified malware protection that is easy to manage and control. By delivering simplified administration through central management and providing critical visibility into threats and vulnerabilities, Forefront Client Security helps you protect your business with great confidence and efficiency. Additionally, Forefront Client Security SP1 is now available and provides support for Windows Server 2008 roles. 

Where Can I get Forefront Client Security?

A 120-day trial version of Forefront Client Security can be download from here.  You're automatically registered to receive valuable resources delivered at strategic intervals throughout the software evaluation period.

*  Your PC must run genuine Windows

First Meeting for New User Group: Philadelphia Area Exchange Server User Group

Are you in Philadelphia and interested in Microsoft Exchange?  Then the LAUNCH of a new user group, the Philadelphia Exchange Server User Group is something you don’t want to miss.  Attend their FIRST meeting on November 10, 2009 at the Microsoft office in Malvern. 

Where is the Microsoft Office?

45 Liberty Blvd, Suite 201, Malvern, PA 19355  (See Bing Map below).

What Time Is the Meeting?

Meeting will start at 6:00 pm.

Where Do i Register?

If you are interested in attending the event in person, please Register for event here.

Windows 7 Firestarter in Alpharetta, GA Oct 17th, 2009 - Not in Atlanta? Then Join Us Online!!!!!

Mark October 17th on your calendar and sign up for the Firestarter event!!!    Whatif you’re not close to Alpharetta, GA?  Not a problem, we’ll be simulcasting the event LIVE, you’ll just have to supply yourself with coffee and donuts  :-)

Where?

At the Microsoft Alpharetta Office in the Centennial Park conference room.  Office is located at 1125 Sanctuary Pkwy, Suite 300 Alpharetta Georgia 30009

Event Overview

Windows® 7 introduces some fantastic new technologies to streamline your business, enhance security and save you money. We’ll start this Windows Firestarter event from the users point of view and have a fun and lively introduction to some of the new features in Windows 7.   Next we’ll move onto DirectAccess and show how remote users can connect seamlessly to the corporate network, giving them virtually the same experience as being in the office, all of this without VPN!  We’ll then move on and learn how to protect your drives and data with BitLocker™ and show how Windows 7 extends this protection to USB drives with BitLocker-To-Go™.  Finally we’ll round off the day with an in-depth look at how to automate your deployments of Windows 7 with System Center Configuration Manager.  This information packed, demo intensive day will kick-start your Windows 7 knowledge and get you well on the way to being prepared for deploying Windows 7!  

Click on link to register for the IN-PERSON event in Alpharetta.

Click on link to register for the live WEBCAST. 

How Do I Get Rid of Phantom or Hidden Devices?

I did a post recently about Extending Your Activation Grace Period on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. I had been working on some virtual machines I needed for a presentation I was doing and needed to get the machines up running without burning a product key and activating. Once I resolved my issue by extending the activation grace period the machines booted up fine. I was able to log on and get down to prepping my demos.

Not so fast. I found that my machine had a network adapter called Local Area Connection 2 and it was configured for DHCP, which was strange, where did the original Local Area Connection go that had the correct IP address in it? I looked in the Device Manager and didn’t see another network adapter, even when I select Show hidden devices in the view dropdown menu. That’s OK, I’ll just configure this new network adapter the way it should be, with IP address of 192.168.0.10. I get an error telling me that the address is already being used by another adapter in the machine, if I continue I could get address conflicts if the adapter gets enabled. I tell it to go ahead and configure it anyway.

Once done I'm back looking at my network connections. I want to rename my connection from Local Area Connection 2 to Corpnet, but it says I can’t, again saying there’s a connection already called Corpnet. This is annoying me now!!  :-)

I find out that what I need to do is set a system variable that will actually enable me to see the hidden devices in Device Manager.

So How Did I Do it?

In order to work around this display phantom/hidden device when using the Show hidden devices in Device Manager I had to set the correct variable. See the following couple of steps:

1. Bring up a Command Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type the BOLDED lines, pressing ENTER after each line:
   1. set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
   2. start devmgmt.msc
3. Click on the View menu and select Show hidden devices.

Lo and behold there’s my phantom device!!! I deleted it with pleasure and was now able to rename my connection to Corpnet. All is well in the Baker demo world.   :-)

NOTE: When you quit Device Manager and close the Command Prompt window, the set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 variable is turned off so you cannot see the phantom devices.  If you want it to be there permanently configure it as a system variable on the computer.

“NEW Efficiency!” Launch Event - Windows 7 Resources

***********************************   Update 11/12/09 - Slidedecks links are at: ****************************************

http://blogs.technet.com/johnbaker/archive/2009/11/10/the-new-efficiency-launch-powerpoint-slide-decks.aspx

**********************************************************************************************************************************

Special TechNet Plus Subscription Promotion – 25%-OFF

That’s right!!  Save $87.25 off of a TechNet Plus Direct Subscription,
and even more on others!
Use Promotion Code TMSAM05 (that’s ZERO-5) at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/subscription

THRIVE: Me >> My Skills >> My Organization

http://www.microsoft.com/click/thrive/

General Windows 7 Resources

“the NEW efficiency” Web Site - www.thenewefficiency.com

Windows 7 Enterprise Edition 90-day Trial

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495.aspx

Welcome to Winodws 7 - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

TechNet Edge - Windows 7 Screencasts - http://edge.technet.com/Tags/Windows+7/

Windows 7 Springboard - http://www.microsoft.com/springboard

Training Offers (Specifically for you launch attendees!)

www.microsoft.com/learning/careeroffers

Talking About Windows - http://www.talkingaboutwindows.com

The Windows Team Blogs (includes the Window 7 Team Blog, among others)

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/

Windows 7 for the Optimized Desktop

MDOP – Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/products/mdop/default.aspx

The Official MDOP Blog - http://blogs.technet.com/mdop

Screencast: Using Windows PowerShell 2.0

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Using-Windows-PowerShell-20-Windows-7-Demo-Screencast-3-of-5/

Screencast: Troubleshooting in Windows 7

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Troubleshooting-Packs-Windows-7-Demo-Screencast-5-of-5/

Windows 7: Make People Productive Anywhere

Screencast: Install and Configure Hosted BranchCache for Web Services

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Install-and-Configure-Hosted-BranchCache-for-Web-Services-SRV311-Part-4-of-5/

Screencast: Install and Configure Distributed BranchCache for File Services

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Install-and-Configure-Distributed-BranchCache-for-File-Services-SRV311-Part-5-of-5/

Screencast: Configuring DirectAccess

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Configuring-DirectAccess-Windows-Server-2008-R2-Demo-Screencast-5-of-5/

Screencast: Using Search Federation

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Using-Search-Federation-Windows-7-Demo-Screencast-2-of-5/

Windows 7 Enhanced Security and Control

Screencast: Configuring AppLocker

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Configuring-AppLocker-Windows-7-Demo-Screencast-4-of-5/

Screencast: BitLocker To Go

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Windows-7-Screencast-BitLocker-To-Go/

Engineering Windows 7 Blog – User Account Control

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2008/10/08/user-account-control.aspx

Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements

Windows 7 Feature Walkthroughs - very usefulscreencasts...

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd320282.aspx

...such as the video "Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7"

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd671583.aspx

TechNet Edge - Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 with the
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Beta (USMT "Hardlink" feature)

http://edge.technet.com/Media/User-State-Migration-with-Windows-7/