Tag: Windows 7

Restore Windows XP/2003 Backups To Windows 7/Server 2008 R2

Many people will be (or have already done it) making the jump from Windows XP or Windows 2003 to Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.  Home users and small businesses will have been using NTBackup and will now face a new Backup and Restore tool that uses VHD instead of .BAK files.  So how do they restore an old backup?

Microsoft released an x64 and x86 update on Monday to allow you to restore old .BAK files.

“Utility for restoring backups made on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to computers that are running Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2”.

Credit: Bink

Windows User Group Event: Windows 7 Application Compatibility

This is the latest Irish Windows User Group event that we have organised.

One of the challenges of migrating to a new desktop operating system is getting those legacy applications to work. This can seem so daunting that many organisations choose not to take advantage of new technology solutions to resolve business issues because the perceived cost and time requirements to get those applications working is too much.

Good news! Migrating to Windows 7 is a whole lot easier thanks to the solutions provided by Microsoft. These vary from technology built into the operating system, a free suite of tools provided by Microsoft and tools that are included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP).

The available solutions were briefly talked about and demonstrated at the community launch events for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

In this session Vikas Sahni is going to walk you through using some of the solution available from Microsoft to get your legacy applications working on Windows 7. The agenda includes:

Session I – The Changes

  • Windows 7 Goals
  • Operating System Version – Compatibility Tab, Shims and Layers
  • UAC changes
  • IE changes
  • Depreciated Apps – Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker

Session II – The Tools

  • Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.5
  • LUA Tools and Solutions
  • Sysinternals Tools
  • IE Compatibility Test Tool

The Speaker

Vikas Sahni will be presenting this session. He is the CEO of Softedge Systems. Vikas is a software expert and has a history as a technical trainer.

Softedge Systems, the first European Microsoft IP Venture Partner, is a Dublin based software company. We focus on providing unique solutions for our clients and help distinguish them from their competition. We also develop and market software products that are differentiated by their ease of use. Softedge with its R&D and project management teams in Ireland and coding team in India is able to offer high quality, cost-effective software development for third parties.

Webcast

Please DO NOT REGISTER if you are going to join the webcast.

You can join the web cast by:

1) Installing the free Live Meeting Client
2) Clicking on this link

Where and When

Microsoft Ireland Building 1, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland

February 5th.  Welcome at 09:30am, starting at 10:00am sharp.

Registration

Please DO NOT REGISTER if you are going to join the webcast.

You can register here.

Join The Windows User Group

You do not need to join the Irish Windows User Group to attend this event. However, the free membership will mean that you’ll be alerted about future event.

God Mode: Windows Vista and Windows 7

This one got some serious re-tweeting yesterday.  It’s an easter egg in Windows 7 and Vista.  Create a folder on your hard drive and rename it to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.  It suddenly gets renamed to “Godmode” and the icon changes to a control panel icon.  Navigate into it and you get short cuts to all sorts of admin and configuration functions.  No more nested navigation; you quickly just do what you want to do.

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This won’t be supported by MS so don’t go making it a standard.

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Worldwide PC Shipments Increase

Siliconrepublic is reporting that the worldwide sales numbers of PC’s has grown in the 3rd quarter of 2009.  Consumer laptops and netbooks have driven the growth numbers.  The “back to school” factor has probably played a big role.  College students have needed laptops for some time now and it’s becoming a necessary piece of equipment for school kids too.  There are predictions of good sales in 2010.  How reliable that is, I don’t know.  It’s hard to see much positivity when you live in a country on the precipice of an economic black hole and it’s managed by rejects from the Muppet show.  However, the news has me believing that much of the rest of the world is starting to recover.

I wonder how much Windows 7 has played a role in these new sales.  I think it will have had some importance in people’s decisions to purchase.  There is genuine excitement out there and I think the normal TV advertising that MS has done will raise consumer awareness.  When they asked their neighbourhood/family IT experts for opinions then the feedback was probably quite positive.

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Controlling Windows 7 and W2008 R2 Internet Communications

Microsoft has released a paper called “Using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 – Controlling Communication with the Internet”.

“Provides steps that administrators can take to limit, control, or prevent the communication that flows between the features in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and sites on the Internet.

This document provides information about the communication that flows between the features in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and sites on the Internet. It describes steps to take to limit, control, or prevent that communication in an organization with many users. This document is designed to assist administrators in planning strategies for deploying and maintaining Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 in a way that helps provide an appropriate level of security and privacy for an organization’s networked assets”.

Webcast Recording: Deploying Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2

This morning I spoke at my first Microsoft Springboard STEP event.  The subject was “Deploying Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2” and featured WAIK/WSIM, Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010.  We had a nice turn out and apart from my XP VM acting a bit funny at the end, all went well.  It was very much a demo, demo, demo session.

I recorded the webcast.  You can see the entire thing, unedited, right here.  It will be available for 365 days from now.  And here is the slide deck:

Thanks again to the folks at Microsoft Ireland for organising the venue and for helping to spread the word and thanks too to all who came along or tuned in live.

Webcast Recording: Deploying Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2

This morning I spoke at my first Microsoft Springboard STEP event.  The subject was “Deploying Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2” and featured WAIK/WSIM, Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010.  We had a nice turn out and apart from my XP VM acting a bit funny at the end, all went well.  It was very much a demo, demo, demo session.

I recorded the webcast.  You can see the entire thing, unedited, right here.  It will be available for 365 days from now.

Thanks again to the folks at Microsoft Ireland for organising the venue and for helping to spread the word and thanks too to all who came along or tuned in live.

Irish Windows 7 and W2008 R2 Community Launch Videos

Microsoft Ireland has posted the video of the Dublin community launch of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010.  I was lucky enough to be a part of the presentations, talking about the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Windows 7, the Application Compatibility Toolkit and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010.  This was a demo intensive session and well worth checking out if you couldn’t make it on the day.  I’m in the “Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 Story Part I” video.

Lots Of Operations Manager Updates

Microsoft released lots of updates for Operations Manager over the last couple of weeks.  There are lots of updates to management packs, too many for me to go posting them at this time of night.  Have a look on the catalogue and you’ll see them.  Or check your console if you’re using OpsMgr 2007 R2.

Most importantly is KB971541, Update Rollup for Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1.

“The Update Rollup for Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) combines previous hotfix releases for SP1 with additional fixes and support of SP1 roles on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This update also provides database role and SQL Server Reporting Services upgrade support from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008.

The Update Rollup includes updates for the following Operations Manager Roles:

  • Root Management Server, Management Server, Gateway Server
  • Operations Console
  • Operations Management Web Console Server
  • Agent
  • Audit Collection Server (ACS Server)
  • Reporting Server

The following tools and updates are provided within this update which may be specific to a scenario:

  • Support Tools folder – Contains SRSUpgradeTool.exe and SRSUpgradeHelper.msi (Enables upgrade of a SQL Server 2005 Reporting Server used by Operations Manager Reporting to SQL Server 2008 Reporting Server)
  • Gateway folder – Contains a MSI transform and script to update MOMGateway.MSI for successful installation on Windows Server 2008 R2
  • ManagementPacks folder – Contains an updated Microsoft.SystemCenter.DataWarehouse.mp which requires manual import

For a list of fixes and tools addressed by this update rollup, see KB971541.

This update is supported for application on System Center Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 only.

Feature Summary

The System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Rollup 1 contains:

  • All binary hotfixes released since Service Pack 1 release
  • Support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Operational and DataWarehouse database support on Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Additional stability hotfixes”

Requirements

  • Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7; Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Vista; Windows XP
  • System Center Operations Manager 2007 Service Pack 1

Instructions

This update must be applied to each computer that meets the following criteria:

  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Root Management Server
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Management Server
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Operations Console
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Web Console Server
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Reporting Server
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager Manually installed Agent
  • Hosts a Microsoft Operations Manager ACS Server

Before applying this update it is strongly recommended that Operations Manager databases, Management Server, Report Server and Web Console roles be backed up.

To extract the files contained in this update and installation of the update on the Operations Manager roles above:

  1. Copy the file – SystemCenterOperationsManager2007-SP1-KB971541-X86-X64-IA64-locale.MSI – To either a local folder or accessible network shared folder.
  2. Run the file – SystemCenterOperationsManager2007-SP1-KB971541-X86-X64-IA64-locale.MSI – locally on each applicable computer that meets the predefined criteria.
    You can run SystemCenterOperationsManager2007-SP1-KB971541-X86-X64-IA64-locale.MSI from either Windows Explorer or from a command prompt.
  3. Select the appropriate role to update from the Operations Manager 2007 Software Update dialog.

NOTE: To run this file on Windows Server 2008 you must run this file from a command prompt which was executed with the Run as Administrator option. Failure to execute this Windows installer file under an elevated command prompt will not allow display of the System Center Operations Manager 2007 Software Update dialog to allow installation of the hotfix”.