Lisa Szpunar
Lisa Szpunar has a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Science in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. During her three years teaching in public schools she taught computer skills to students and peers, maintained the schools’ networks and hardware, ran the libraries, and helped to facilitate technology throughout the school district. At Train Signal Lisa manages the production of training videos, does video editing, and helps with technical support.
Lisa Szpunar has written 30 posts for TrainSignal Training
Adding Storage to a Hyper-V Machine !!Without Shutting it Down!!
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ September 18, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments
As you know, we are in the middle of creating Server 2008 R2 training. The more of Coach’s videos I watch the more and more fun stuff I find out. Did you know that in R2 you can actually add storage to a virtual machine on the fly? Sure, VMware can do it too, but [...]
Efficiency (and Laziness) with the AD Administrative Center’s Global Search in Server 2008 R2
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ September 11, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
Last week I broke the news that Train Signal is working on a training course covering Windows Server 2008 R2. Well, while reviewing one of Coach’s videos I learned about something super neat. The Active Directory Administrative Center is great by itself but my absolute favorite part is the Global Search bar. When we first [...]
Coming Soon: What’s New in Server 2008 R2 Training
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ September 7, 2009 ⋅ One comment
Right now Coach and I are working on a new course that’s all about Windows Server 2008 R2. I have to admit, Coach has me pumped about all the new goodies. But we’re not the only ones here at Train Signal who are digging R2. Did you read Gosia’s post on Recycle Bin in Active [...]
Pictures from the Train Signal Company Picnic
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ August 27, 2009 ⋅ 5 comments
Last weekend the Train Signal team and their families got together for a summer picnic. We gathered at a local country club for food, fun, and… marsupials. We started out the day with a few games of bags. I stink at this game!
Don’t Panic the 640 (Server 2008 Active Directory Configuring) Exam isn’t Dead
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ August 21, 2009 ⋅ 7 comments
It has actually evolved into something really neat. Microsoft has been developing and testing a new virtual lab test experience for a while now. At first it was piloted as the 70-113 exam and then started rolling out officially as the 83-640 exam. All of this might have flown under your radar until recently. We have [...]
My Journey from Windows XP to Windows 7
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ August 10, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments
How many computers does it take for Lisa to install Windows 7 on her one XP laptop? Find out! It was an unnecessarily long journey and I even survived to tell the tale. Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of [...]
Don’t Be Afraid of PowerShell
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ July 31, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments
A lot of admins are afraid for PowerShell, you’re not alone. The blank black screen can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know where to start. But PoweShell is a very powerful tool and can be extremely helpful to admins to master it. See how you can get started with PowerShell today!
W00T! Window 7 and Server 2008 R2 RTM
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ July 24, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments
I started gathering information for this article right after the Windows 7 and somewhat quieter Server 2008 R2 release to manufacturing (RTM) announcements on Wednesday. As the hours go by more and more people are starting to weigh in on what they think about the products. Predictions and opinions are mixed and some facts are still unknown. [...]
Windows 7 Certification Information Update
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ July 17, 2009 ⋅ 9 comments
I made a post way back in April when information about Windows 7 certifications had just started to trickle out. Back then, this is what was projected (Note* These exam titles are no longer quite accurate – see below): 70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring 70-685, MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 70-686, MCITP: Windows 7, [...]
Don’t Underestimate SBS 2008
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ July 10, 2009 ⋅ One comment
Don’t underestimate Small Business Server 2008’s power. Don’t underestimate its convoluted requirements either. For something that is targeted at companies with no dedicated IT person/department SBS 2008 sure is complicated. Here is the long list of hardware requirements and network design restrictions: Only one machine in the domain can be running SBS 2008 – there [...]
A Guide to Upgrading to SCCM 2007 R2
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ June 26, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments
Last time I walked you through installing System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1. However, there are some invaluable new features in SCCM R2 that you will miss out on unless you upgrade. After a quick overview of the new features I will show you the steps for upgrading to R2. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 [...]
A Guide to Installing SCCM 2007 SP1 in Mixed Mode
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ June 22, 2009 ⋅ 7 comments
Do you want or need to install Configuration Manager System Center 2007 SP1? Here is a guided tour: Here is an outline of the small lab environment that was used for this SCCM install. Pay special attention to the listed components that are either prerequisites for installing SCCM or are needed later to use the [...]
System Center Configuration Manager 70-401 Certification Guide
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ June 12, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
If your workplace uses System Center (or soon will) you may be thinking about taking a System Center certification exam such as 70-401: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring. Passing 70-40 will make you a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS). System Center exams including Configuration Manager are an option for the IT-Pro who already [...]
SCCM 2007 R2: Information, Training, Certification and Resources
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ June 5, 2009 ⋅ 7 comments
My new BFF is SCCM! Here at Train Signal I am working on a training course about Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2. As Gosia mentioned in a previous article, Configuration Manager is just one part of System Center. The knowledge that I sap up while polishing instructor Scott Lowe’s Configuration Manager videos has [...]
More Tech Ed 2009 Pictures
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ May 26, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
Last week, I posted photos of us setting up the Train Signal booth, chatting with Tech▪Ed attendees, and our jamboree with the Source Fource. Do check it out if you haven’t already. Here are some more photos of our Tech▪Ed adventures. Train Signal sure is a fun bunch. Here are a few pictures of us [...]
As Promised: Photos from TechEd 2009!
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ May 22, 2009 ⋅ One comment
Everything is back to normal back in Chicagoland, but I still want to share a few of my favorite pictures from Train Signal’s trip to Tech▪Ed 2009 in Los Angeles California last week. Here are some shots of us setting up the Train Signal booth. Gary and Zach putting together the podium.
Back from TechEd! Pictures to Follow
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ May 15, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments
Hey Windows Server HQ Readers! I just got home from California a few hours ago (and my puppy is really happy to see me). I just wanted to post a quick picture of Train Signal at our TechEd 2009 booth. We had a ton of fun in LA and I will post a bunch of [...]
Go Get Certified! – IT Certification Links
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ May 8, 2009 ⋅ One comment
Last week I posted about my favorite IT Learning websites. This week I have some web resources for when you are ready to take your learning one step further to certifications. Here are my fave certification sites for your perusal: Certification Sites to Visit Now and Again Certification Magazine A favorite of mine: Certification Magazine. [...]
Go Learn Something! – IT Learning Links
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ May 1, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
I want to share my favorite web resources for Microsoft learning. Perhaps you are thinking about starting a career in IT. Or, you already have one (for now) and just want to brush up on your skills or learn about the latest and greatest. So if you are interested in IT learning – which often [...]
Lisa’s Windows Server Newsey Notes
By Lisa Szpunar ⋅ April 24, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
Check out the latest Server 2008 family news complied by yours truly. The Windows 7 Release Candidate is Just Around the Corner Last week bloggers picked up on a page of the Microsoft’s Partner Program site that seemes to have gone live early. (Intentionally? Unintentionally? Who knows?) The information is currently gone from that page [...]