Well, it was a good experience at Capgemini, Mumbai last week. I got an opportunity deliver on IIS 7.5 Enhancements and Migration Tools and Techniques for Windows 7 in front of Capgemini experts. I am very much thankful to the Capgemini team for organizing the event.

Talking about the sessions, the Infrastructure track was interesting and most of them enjoyed every bit of it. I would like to share some of the resources for the sessions I delivered on IIS 7.5 and Windows 7 Migration.

Some resources for IIS 7.5 Enhancements and Web Platform Session.

http://www.iis.net/expand/all

This will help you download following Extensions that I demonstrated

• Web Platform Installer
• FTP 7.5
• WebDAV
• Web Deployment Tool
• Smooth Streaming
• URL Rewriter
• Search Engine Optimization Toolkit (SEO Toolkit)

Resources for Migration Tools and Techniques for Windows 7 Session

Boot From VHD Part I & II

http://blogs.technet.com/aviraj/archive/2009/01/17/windows-7-boot-from-vhd-first-impression-part-1.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/aviraj/archive/2009/01/18/windows-7-boot-from-vhd-first-impression-part-2.aspx

What is Image X http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722145(WS.10).aspx

Download Windows Automated Installation Kit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en

Windows Easy Transfer http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-easy-transfer.aspx

USMT 4.0 (User State Migration Toolkit) User’s Guide http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd560801(WS.10).aspx

What’s new in USMT 4.0 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd560752(WS.10).aspx

Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3BD8561F-77AC-4400-A0C1-FE871C461A89&displaylang=en

I hope these tools will help you jump start your Windows 7 Migration. Feel free to reach out for any support.

There is an update available to the activation and validation components in Windows Activation Technologies for Windows 7.

Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features.

• Activation is an anti-piracy technology that verifies the product key for the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer. The product key is a 25-character code that is located on the Certificate of Authenticity label or on the proof of license label. These labels are included with each genuine copy of Windows. A genuine product key can only be used on the number of computers that are specified in a software license.
• Validation is an online process that enables you to verify that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is activated correctly and is genuine.

More information about this update

This update for Windows Activation Technologies helps detect validation errors and activation exploits. This update also detects any tampering attempts made to important Windows 7 system files. Be aware that some counterfeit copies of Windows include malware.
When this update is installed, it performs a validation process for the copy of Windows that is running on your computer. However, this validation process does not affect the functionality of Windows. The update process exits silently if it detects no validation errors, activation exploits, or tampered files.
Tampered Files
If the update discovers a tampered file, it tries to restore the file. This restore may require a restart. If this update cannot restore the tampered files, it will direct you more information on the Internet.
Validation Errors or Activation Exploits
Validation errors and activation exploits try to bypass the Windows activation process and are sometimes included with counterfeit copies of Windows. If a validation error or activation exploit is detected, you will be directed to more information on the Internet for resolution of the activation exploit or the validation error. When validation errors or activation exploits are removed, you may be asked to use a valid product key to activate the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer. If you decide not to resolve the validation error or the activation exploit at that time, you will be periodically notified that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is not genuine. Additionally, Windows will provide a link to more information online for resolution.

Read More here. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971033/en-us

Get it from Windows Update

http://update.microsoft.com

Get it from Microsoft Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows 7 for x86-based systems (KB971033)

Download the Update for Windows 7 for x86-based systems package now. (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=150841)

Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB971033)

Download the Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB971033) package now.

For enhanced convenience, Windows® 7 enables administrators and users to use fingerprint biometric devices to log on to computers, grant elevation privileges through User Account Control (UAC), and perform basic management of the fingerprint devices. Administrators can manage fingerprint biometric devices in Group Policy settings by enabling, limiting, or blocking their use.

What's new in biometrics?

A growing number of computers, particularly portable computers, include embedded fingerprint readers. Fingerprint readers can be used for identification and authentication of users in Windows. Until now, there has been no standard support for biometric devices or for biometric-enabled applications in Windows. Computer manufacturers had to provide software to support biometric devices in their products. This made it more difficult for users to use the devices and administrators to manage the use of biometric devices.

Windows 7 includes the Windows Biometric Framework that exposes fingerprint readers and other biometric devices to higher-level applications in a uniform way, and offers a consistent user experience for discovering and launching fingerprint applications. It does this by providing the following:

• A Biometric Devices Control Panel item that allows users to control the availability of biometric devices and whether they can be used to log on to a local computer or domain.
• Device Manager support for managing drivers for biometric devices.
• Credential provider support to enable and configure the use of biometric data to log on to a local computer and perform UAC elevation.
• Group Policy settings to enable, disable, or limit the use of biometric data for a local computer or domain. Group Policy settings can also prevent installation of biometric device driver software or force the biometric device driver software to be uninstalled.
• Biometric device driver software available from Windows Update.

Who will want to use biometric devices?

Fingerprint biometric devices offer a convenient way for users to log on to computers and grant elevation through UAC.

What are the benefits of the new biometric features?

The new biometric features provide a consistent way to implement fingerprint biometric–enabled applications and manage fingerprint biometric devices on stand-alone computers or on a network. The Windows Biometric Framework makes biometric devices easier for users and for administrators to configure and control on a local computer or in a domain.

What's the impact of these changes on biometrics?

The introduction of the Windows Biometric Framework allows the integration of fingerprint biometric devices in Windows. It offers a consistent user experience for logging on to Windows and performing UAC elevation. In addition, it provides a common set of discovery and integration points that offers a more consistent user experience across devices and applications. The Windows Biometric Framework also includes management functions that allow administrators to control the deployment of biometric fingerprint devices in the enterprise.

Fig. Control Panel option for configuring Biometric devices

More to read at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd367857(WS.10).aspx

I am sharing some of the resources that I had demonstrated during my session in Green-Hyper Virtualization session.

Green-Hyper: Server energy savings calculator from
http://www.hyper-green.com

Microsoft Assessment and Planning toolkit for energy efficient computing
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solutionaccelerators/dd537569.aspx

Visio add-in for virtualization
http://visiotoolbox.com/downloads/gogreen/How-To-Analyze-Rack-Server-Virtualization.pdf

Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool
https://roianalyst.alinean.com/microsoft/virtualization/

Performance and Resource Optimization (PRO) in SCVMM 2008
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc764283.aspx

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Every year, GIDS is a game changer for several thousands of IT professionals, providing them with a competitive edge over their peers, enlightening them with bleeding-edge information most useful in their daily jobs, helping them network with world-class experts and visionaries, and providing them with a much needed thrust in their careers. Attend Great Indian Developer Summit to gain the information, education and solutions you seek. From post-conference workshops, breakout sessions by expert instructors, keynotes by industry heavyweights, enhanced networking opportunities, and more.

At GIDS you'll participate in hundreds of sessions encompassing the full range of Microsoft computing, Java, Agile, RIA, Rich Web, open source/standards, languages, frameworks and platforms, practical tutorials that deep dive into technical skill and best practices, inspirational keynote presentations, an Expo Hall featuring dozens of the latest projects and products activities, engaging networking events, and the interact with the best and brightest of speakers from around the world.

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