While there were many common elements among the reasons people hated Vista, at times it seemed like no matter what the feature, and no matter how it was implemented, someone hated it with the fire of a thousand suns.

So far, Windows 7 has enjoyed a much warmer reception. However, since it is built on top of the Windows Vista architecture, will you love Windows 7, or will you hate it like you hated Vista?

Windows 7 Is Better But … Is It Loveable?

Sure, Windows 7 is better than Windows Vista, how could it not be?

With all the feedback Microsoft received both through normal channels and from unimpressed technology analysts and journalists, just tweaking some of the most bitterly complained about features would have resulted in an operating system considered “better”.

However, businesses, manufacturers, and consumers all want more than just better than Vista.

Does Windows 7 deliver?

Let’s take a look at what Windows 7 has to offer and try to answer the question that’s on everyone’s mind: Why should you upgrade to Windows 7?

Windows 7 Drivers: Fixing What Was Wrong With Vista

It is obvious that, while externally maintaining the facade that Windows Vista was just fine and that users were just misinformed or overly influenced by the initial media coverage, internally, Microsoft was paying attention to what areas people were complaining about.

Number one on this list has to be compatibility, and, more specifically, the availability of fully compatible drivers for a very wide range of devices. In this area, Microsoft, and perhaps the industry in general, have learned some very valuable lessons.

While many office workers burn through scanners and printers as fast as they do through computers and monitors, a much larger number of users do not. For plenty of business users, and virtually all household users, peripherals like scanners and printers simply are not used often enough to justify upgrading hardware.

However, that does not mean that the tasks they are used for are not important to those users. Indeed, the once a month scanning of invoices, may be one of the most critical tasks performed by the computer. Such users were not only mad that their devices were unsupported; they were enraged when told that the solution was to buy a new one.

Worse yet, some users were subjected to the ultimate indignity when the new device they were forced to purchase STILL DIDN’T WORK properly thanks to poorly implement drivers.

This time around, things look different. Perhaps the most important factor is that being built around essentially the same driver technology and model as Vista was, manufacturers have already perfected their driver development processes and simply made the subtle changes required for Windows 7.

Microsoft did not take any chances this time around either. They developed additional compatibility testing tools and made them widely available, not just to key partners, long before the end of the Windows 7 development process.

Windows 7 Speed, Hardware Requirements & Start Up

When first released, Windows Vista’s hardware requirements were eye-popping. Windows 7 has the same minimum hardware requirements as Vista, but today, a gigabyte of RAM is no longer “a lot.” In fact, one issue beginning to become more common among users of the 32-bit Windows XP is that it only supports 4 GB of RAM, a much different concern than when Vista was released.

But, it isn’t just the minimum requirements that had so many users complaining about Vista being a resource hog. Users reported unacceptable speed with Vista. One particular complaint was about the interminable start-up time of Vista. At one point, the grumbling got so bad that some users were considering a class action lawsuit to recover lost wages for the time spent waiting for Vista to boot up.

So … is Windows 7 a speedy booter?

This area seems to get mixed reviews. On my home systems, my more powerful desktop computer seems about the same as booting XP. On the other hand, my older laptop is MUCH slower. Part of this difference can be attributed to the differences in hardware, particularly hard drive speed, which seems to make a big difference in how fast Win 7 loads.

Also with more and more software developers sneaking resource sucking vampire processes into the startup sequence (I’m looking at you Adobe), two users with the same hardware could experience widely different startup times based on what programs they have installed.

However, what is much better in Windows 7 is how it resumes from standby and hibernation. Both Vista and XP seemed to take a long time to resume from their low power states and if resuming meant reconnecting to a network, it was even worse. Some users had to wait so long to reconnect to the network that it would have been faster to reboot.

Windows 7 both resumes and reconnects in snappy fashion.

Windows 7 User Interface and Applications — Why Should I Upgrade?

While Vista’s initial problems were significant, many of them were corrected early on, and even more were eliminated with the release of Service Pack 1, yet Vista could never manage more than lukewarm contempt from users and the press.

One major reason was Microsoft’s decision to force Vista on the public by ending sales of Windows XP. Instead of users clamoring for the latest and greatest technology, major corporations, small businesses, and end-users alike wondered, “What’s in it for me?” For awhile Vista’s improvements in security and stability were significant; users looking at demos or model PCs in the store couldn’t SEE anything that was better enough than XP to make them go through the hassle of having to learn a bunch of new things.

When Microsoft pointed to Aero, consumers rolled their eyes. Themes had been around for a long time in Windows XP, and frankly, after playing with the new novelty for a while, most users had long since returned to the standard default, content to just change their wallpaper from time to time.

Many of the new things that reviewers are crowing about are still small changes. You get a pop-up window screenshot of the application when you mouse over its icon on the task bar which allows you to finally see which one of those all too numerous open apps is the one that you are looking for, for example, but, what about a killer app?

Does Windows 7 have a killer app? In a word, no. But, this time it will all come together for Win7 in a way that it never did for Vista.

1. Easy Migration

First, for companies struggling with budget cuts and a recessionary economy, there is no rush to upgrade to Windows 7. While mainstream support for XP ended in April, 2009, Microsoft will continue to release security updates for the foreseeable future. This is all businesses really want anyway.

Many companies have been removing or blocking any new XP features for some time now because, through various utilities and add-on products, they have gotten Windows XP right where they want it anyway.

That being said, Microsoft has already released numerous new tools and utilities that make migrating to Windows 7 easier in the enterprise. As companies begin to adopt Windows 7, those tools will be refined and improved, making the process less and less painful.

2. Server 2008 R2

Second, the release of Windows Server 2008 R2 marks the maturity of Microsoft’s latest server OS. Numerous features in Server 2008 are on many company’s wish lists. However, some of those features only work with Windows 7, or Vista, but most importantly, not with Windows XP.

Not only that, but some companies are so far behind in their technology update cycles after having cut back following the economy’s problems in the first part of the decade, and then again in order to skip Vista, will be sitting on some very old technology come 2010 and 2011.

3. Easy Home Networking

Finally, for home users, while there is nothing that will elicit oohs and ahhs the second it is turned on, Windows 7 has two aces up its sleeve that will begin to drive home users to actually want Windows 7 over XP. Most importantly, Win7 is much easier to use on home networks and on wireless home networks in particular.

Ever since the home network was first conceived, Windows users have struggled to adapt the corporate networking model built into Windows to work on their small home networks. Just getting those computers to attach to the network and then use the Internet was a big enough nightmare for many that they just stopped there.

However, Windows 7 comes built with the home network in mind. HomeGroup sharing finally gives home users without an MCSE a way to see photos, music, videos, and other files on each other’s computers easily. This will make users actually want to use all those files instead of just storing them.

When they do, they will find a much better Windows Media Player, free of all the junk Microsoft crammed into the last one. WMP 12 will be the media player that finally stops people from thinking that Macs, not PCs are not what you use for videos, music, and photos.

4. Better Media Compatibility

What will really start the ball rolling is WMP’s ability to push media to compatible devices like an Xbox 360 so that you can finally play all of those MP3 files on your computer through your home stereo without having to configure some elaborate technical workaround, buy some sort of media server or burn them all to CDs.

Of course, Macs can do more than just play their MP3 files to a home stereo. That is where what I have nicknamed “The Apple Suite” comes in. The reason many users like Macs is because they come with software to play with photos, movies, and music files built in. That makes it easier to do these fun tasks, and therefore makes Macs seem “easier to use.”

Microsoft has been gun-shy about adding new software to Windows after overplaying its hand with Internet Explorer and bullying innovator Netscape right off the map. Fortunately, it seems that Redmond has found a solution.

Windows Live Essentials provides an array of the same type of programs that come on those shiny Apple computers. Windows Movie Maker, Windows Photo Gallery and the like are available to everyone with a Windows 7 computer for free. They even come bundled for easy install.

Even better, you can bet that many computer manufacturers will go ahead and install those by default on most of the Windows 7 machines they ship, which means that a lot of Windows users are going to get new computers that come with the same media programs as an Apple already installed. The best part is that since none of it is required, not even the European Union can complain.

As Windows 7 ships, it may not be loved right away, and many users will still find no compelling reason to upgrade their existing computers. However, that was never the important thing.

All that really matters for Microsoft this time around is that nobody howls about getting Windows 7 instead of Windows XP when they buy a new computer. If that happens, everything else will take care of itself as the years pass by and Windows XP looks less and less like the stable OS smart computer users stuck with, and more and more like those old computers that Microsoft used to make.

Great! Today we’ll get our hands dirty with an actual Vista installation — which means that I want you to install Vista to get some practice.

I’ll review the high level details of performing a clean installation of Vista on a system that does not include a running operating system (this is sometimes called a bare metal installation.)

Here’s what we’ve covered so far:

• 70-620 exam details and the certification tracks that you can follow
• 70-620 exam prep focusing on identifying hardware requirements Vista installs

Installing Vista

The Perform a Clean Installation subsection of the 70-620 exam, focuses on:

• Installing Windows Vista
• Configuring a dual boot configuration of Windows Vista with Windows XP
• Configuring the default operating system in the boot manager

I’ll walk you through the installation steps below and in my next post I will show you how to do a dual boot configuration of Vista and XP.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – Many of the references that indicate exam details show that the Installing Windows Vista subsection is formally identified as “Installing Windows Vista Business Edition” and while this is technically correct, having a full understanding of any of the versions of Vista will help you on the exam.

Basic and generic steps to get started on your installation include:

• You need to review and confirm that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements
• Confirm that you have an installation source (DVD, network location, etc.)
• Verify that you have the 25-character product key
• Plan on a machine name for the completed installation (chose your own or allow for use of the default randomly generated name)
• Having access to a working Internet connection (for updates, product activation, etc.)

Some secondary considerations that you may need to consider include:

• Checking that system BIOS is up to date (before running the installation routine)
• Verifying the system will completely run through the POST routine (and fail properly when no operating system is found as a quick test to root out simple hardware issues that might be present)
• Verifying that the DVD drive is in the boot order (or otherwise selectable) before the system hard drive

Vista Installation Steps

Now we’re ready to do the installation.

The full details of a Vista install from a DVD complete with every screenshot that you can expect to see can be found at Petri: How can I install Windows Vista.

I will simply outline the steps and focus on what’s important to remember for the exam.

I will also suggest that since your exposure to this process is probably limited (I mean how often are you required to install an os at work) that you repeat test installs a few times to get used to the routine. I would also strongly recommend that you practice installing Vista on a bare metal system, and of course… do it more than once.

Also keep in mind that we’re doing a DVD installation, so you might notice some variance in the steps with other types of installs.

1. Booting from the DVD or a network installation point will start the installation routine (SETUP).
2. Press any key on the keyboard to boot from the DVD.
3. The setup routine will begin loading the pre-installation environment.
4. Once that completes the Install Windows dialog box will be shown.
5. On the Install Windows page choose any customization needed regarding language, time and currency format to be used and the keyboard layout / input method desired.

   

6. A second Install Windows dialog box appears next allowing you to review additional information if desired (What to Know Before Installing Windows).

   

7. Next is the Type Your Product Key for Activation page; you need to either enter a key you have for the version of Vista that you’re installing or you can opt to leave this field blank.
   
   Note: Leaving the 25 character field blank will not prevent you from installing Vista; it will allow the Vista installation to complete and you will be able to run the operating system for a limited number of days until you are forced to supply a key and activate the product.

   

8. The next page is the EULA (End User License Agreement) where you will need to check the “I Accept the License Terms” checkbox in order to continue.

   

9. The next page allows you the option for an upgrade installation or custom (clean) installation.
   
   Because this list review is of a bare metal installation you should expect to see the UPGRADE option grayed out as there is no existing operating system present.

   

10. The next screen should show you all of your available hard drives / volumes / partitions that can be used for the installation; choose one to continue. If your computer has a new hard disk that hasn’t been formatted before, your only option will be to create a new partition.
11. The next few steps will include Copying Windows files, Expanding the files, Installing features and so forth. The system will need to reboot itself at least a couple of times during this part of the installation and will do so automatically.

    

12. Once the final part of this segment of the process completes you will be presented with the Set Up Windows screen where you will need to Choose a User Name (and the icon to be associated with your local user account). You’ll also need to provide a password for use with this account.

    

13. The next screen is where you’d either accept the auto-generated system name for the new installation of Vista or you can choose to enter in a name of your own choosing. You also get to choose a desktop background.

    

14. The next screen is a continuation of the Set Up Windows configuration where you’d select the settings for protecting the system in the future (Windows Update settings). By choosing the Use recommended settings option you’ll be configuring the system to download updates at the default time of day and install them automatically without user intervention.

    

15. The next screen is where you’d review the date and time settings and make any necessary changes including specifying the time zone to be used.

And that is really the last formal step; progress from here will be to log in once the setup routine commits all of the final settings from the installation.

Next time we’ll continue with a dual boot configuration of Vista with XP. See you then!

Continue Learning about Vista Exam 70-620:

• Certification Series: Exam 70-620 Configuring Vista Client
• 70-620 MCTS Exam Prep: How to Install and Upgrade Vista

We have already tackled the 70-622 certification requirements and taken a closer look at the first skill needed for the exam: Deploying Windows Vista.

I gave you detailed information on how to analyze the business environment and select an appropriate deployment method, so today we’ll move on to how to prepare a system for clean installations or upgrades.

In case you haven’t already, please review these two posts before moving on to the rest of this article.

• Part 1: Certification Series: Exam 70-622 Vista Support & Troubleshoot
• Part 2: 70-622 MCTS Exam Prep: Deploying Vista

MCTS 70-622 Skills Measured

As I mentioned before, exam 70-622 measures a number of different skills and the first section of topics for the exam, Deploying Windows Vista, encompasses the following:

• Analyze the business environment and select an appropriate deployment method
• Prepare a system for clean installation or upgrade
• Deploy Windows Vista from a custom image
• Perform post-installation tasks
• Troubleshoot deployment issues

With respect to Prepare a system for clean installation or upgrade subsection you’ll need to make sure that you understand some of the details around the following topics and tools that will help you in preparing a system for clean installation or upgrade.

Additionally, these tools can be used to assist in deploying Windows Vista from a custom image as well as performing post installation steps — all three of these items are part of the skills that are measured on exam 70-622.

The main topics and tools to review include:

• WIM files
• Windows PE 2.0 (Windows Pre-installation Environment)
• Additional tools that you can leverage in the WinPE from System32
  • Drvload
  • Wdscapture
  • Wpeutil
• Additional tools that are available through the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit)
  • Oscdimg
  • PEimg
  • BCDedit

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – Below I’ll be discussing WIM files and Windows PE 2.0 in more detail, but here’s where you can get more information on WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) and the AIK (Automated Installation Kit).

Additional tools to be aware of include:

• ImageX
• Windows System Image Manager (SIM)
• User State Migration Tool 3.0
• Application Compatibility Tool Kit
• Sysprep
• Business Desktop Deployment (BDD)
• Windows Deployment Services (WDS)

What You Need to Know About WIM Files

WIM files are a new part of the install for Windows Operating systems that was introduced with the release of Windows Vista.

The structure of WIM files generally contains six types of data:

• Header information
• file resource details
• metadata resource details
• lookup table information
• XML data
• integrity table

The WIM image format is file-based rather than sector-based which allows for many benefits:

• The WIM image format is hardware-agnostic — only a single imaged is needed for different hardware configurations.
• Using the WIM image format allows you to store multiple images within one actual file. One example is the multiple different versions of Windows available on the installation DVD – they are all there within the WIM file; you just need the correct key to complete the install and activate the product.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – You can find the install WIM file in the CD DRIVE:\Sources directory along with all the catalog (.clg) files for the different Editions of Windows. See Understanding Windows Image Files and Catalog Files for additional information.

• You can also leverage the WIM image format to store corporate / enterprise images with and without core applications in a single image file.
• You can start a computer from a disk image contained in a WIM file if the image has been marked as bootable.
• The WIM image format enables compression and single instancing which reduces the size of image files significantly. Windows PE 2.0 for Windows Vista Overview has some additional details regarding single instancing.
• Offline image servicing is available in the WIM image format. This allows you to add or delete some operating system components, software patches, updates and drivers without forcing you to create an entirely new image.
• Leveraging the WIM image format allows for installations of the image on partitions of any size. Sector-based imaging requires that deployments are set to a partition the same size or larger than the source disk.
• Deploying the WIM image format can be done non-destructively; you can leave data on the volume where the image will be installed because deploying the image will not overwrite the existing contents of the volume.

Windows PE 2.0 (Windows Pre-installation Environment)

The Windows PE 2.0 (Windows Pre-installation Environment) is a bootable tool that provides operating system features for installation, troubleshooting, and recovery.

Windows PE is the environment that is presented to you when you run the Windows Vista installation routine (basically any time you boot from the DVD – that is WinPE). The WinPE environment was built so that it can be customized — so that non-traditional deployment needs can be met.

Windows PE can also be used for troubleshooting systems when they no longer start correctly or for when repairs of a system build need to be attempted under the Windows Recovery Environment.

Complete system recovery is available under Windows PE either from the original installation environment (DVD or network share) or from images that are available on a recovery partition on the local hard drive.

A scenario like that allows end users to start their computers from the WinPE environment to automatically reformat their volume and re-install Vista with the original drivers, settings, and applications in an effort to “reset” or recover their system from the original configuration when it was first purchased. You might often find this as an available option from the larger ISVs that build consumer PCs like Dell, HP and others.

While WinPE does start from the DVD, once it is fully up and running it does so directly in memory in a portion of space leveraged as a RAM Disk (usually assigned a drive letter of X:\). Once it is going to no longer even need the disk in the DVD drive and it can be removed, if you need to supply additional disks for drivers and other installs or updates.

Additional tools that you can leverage in the WinPE from System32:

• Drvload – adds out-of-box drivers to a booted Windows PE image via driver.inf files as referenced.
• Wdscapture – allows you to capture an operating system that has been prepared with Sysprep into .wim file
• Wpeutil – command-line tool that enables you to run various commands in a Windows PE session.

Additional tools that are available through the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit):

• Oscdimg – used to create an image file (.iso) of a customized 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows PE. You can then burn that .iso file to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and it supports ISO 9660, Joliet, and Universal Disk Format (UDF) file systems.
• PEimg – used for creating and modifying Windows PE 2.0 images offline
• BCDedit – can be used to add, delete, edit, and modify data in the boot configuration data (BCD) store and replaces what used to be available in the Boot.ini file. Additional information on these changes can be found in the BCD Boot Options Reference where there is a table that reflects what was configurable before in the Boot.ini file and how you now do it under BCDedit.

You do need to make sure you have at least an understanding of these tools for the exam. If you follow each of the links above, the additional information there should help you with accomplishing that.

And always feel free to ask questions in the comments if you need further explanation on anything.

Best of luck in your studies.

I have already outlined the 70-622 exam in one of my previous articles, where I provided an overview of the skills needed for the exam and how to achieve the MCTS certification.

Today I’m going to focus on one area of the 70-622 exam — Deploying Windows Vista segment of the exam, specifically the section that covers analyzing the business environment and selecting an appropriate deployment method.

Deploying Windows Vista

The 70-622 Vista Desktop Support for Enterprise Technicians exam measures a number of different skills and the first section of topics for the exam encompasses the following:

• Analyze the business environment and select an appropriate deployment method
• Prepare a system for clean installation or upgrade
• Deploy Windows Vista from a custom image
• Perform post-installation tasks
• Troubleshoot deployment issues

How to Analyze the Business Environment and Select an Appropriate Deployment Method

First you’ll need to make sure that you understand the three phases of the deployment lifecycle:

• Plan — assess the needs of the organization and develop a deployment strategy to meet the needs
• Build — put the tools and plans that will be used to support the deployment plan into place
• Deploy — implement the deployment plan

Windows Vista: Common Deployment Questions Answered is a great additional resource you can use to review this topic in a little more detail.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – The entire write up goes beyond the scope of what is “only” needed for the exam but the additional details will be helpful for you to understand the concepts in general with respect to the topic.

When preparing for the exam, make sure you completely understand the deployment challenges of an enterprise. Things to consider are:

• Hardware — are upgrades needed; can some systems be upgraded in place, what systems will need to be retired and replaced outright.
• Application Compatibility — critical applications that are a “must” need to be identified; from there you can break them into other levels of requirement in the enterprise. You would then need to breakdown any issues that show up in the compatibility testing. The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) is a tool you can download and use to perform this work of evaluating and mitigating application compatibility issues before deploying many of the newer versions of Windows, including Vista and other application upgrades such as changing from one version of Internet Explorer to another.
• User State Migration — going from Windows XP to Vista has been made easier with a number of automated tools such as the Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT).
• Technical Subject Matter Experts (SME) — as part of the deployment planning you need to consider the technical knowledge level of your own staff to address the efforts of the deployment challenge and whether additional assistance may be needed.

Another crucial part that you’ll need to understand is the hardware requirements for a successful (and supported) installation of Vista on the systems once the deployment is completed.

Make sure to review the details on systems requirements that I included in my previous post. The article focuses on a different Vista exam, but the information about Vista requirements is valid for this exam as well.

In the post I talk about what you need to take into consideration when pairing up your hardware with the appropriate Vista edition. I also cover understanding the different available Vista editions and understanding the difference between minimum and recommended hardware requirements — all useful stuff.

More Information on Deploying Vista

So far we have covered just one of the skills required for the Deploying Windows Vista section of the 70-622 exam — analyzing the business environment and selecting an appropriate deployment method.

I’m not going to cover the rest of the skills in detail, but I will provide you with some useful resources to get you started on them:

• How to install Windows Vista and How to prepare to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista are both good sources to start exploring.
• Vista Deployment Step-by-Step Guide is very thorough and will help you practice deploying Vista in a lab environment
• Troubleshooting General Operating System Deployment Issues is also a good place to start learning basic troubleshooting issues when it comes to deployment

I would also suggest checking out Pail Thurrott’s 3 part Windows Vista Installation Super Guide to practice with:

• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: Using the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
• Part 3: Clean Install Windows Vista

Remember, the more you practice doing hands-on tasks, the easier it will be for you to remember the information and master content for the exam. I hope that the information in this and my previous articles will help you get a good start on the 70-622 and other Vista certification exams.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and I am looking forward to any feedback you have on it — feel free to leave me a comment below.

Best of luck in your studies.

Today we are going to review the Installing and Upgrading Windows Vista section of the 70-620 exam. More specifically, I’m going to focus on how to identify the hardware requirements needed for Vista.

Installing and Upgrading Vista

The 70-620 Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client exam measures a number of different skills and the first section of topics for the exam encompasses the following:

• Identify hardware requirements
• Perform a clean installation
• Upgrade to Windows Vista from previous versions of Windows
• Upgrade from one edition of Windows Vista to another edition
• Troubleshoot Windows Vista installation issues
• Install and configure Windows Vista drivers

How to Identify Hardware Requirements

As part of the Identify hardware requirements section you will need to make sure you have the ability to assess the hardware requirements for a successful (and supported) installation of Vista.

This includes the details as provided on the system requirements page at Microsoft’s website.

Notice the differences between the minimum and recommended system requirements. While the minimum requirements are probably enough, you want to be as close to the recommended system requirements as possible.

Here are some more things to take into consideration when pairing up your hardware with the appropriate Vista edition:

• All of the editions of Vista provide support for multiple core processors.
• Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise can support dual processors (2 physical units which may or may not have multiple cores). Home Basic and Home Premium do not support more than one physical processor.
• The Home Premium and Ultimate editions support TV watching capabilities when a TV tuner card is present natively within the installed version of OS.
• Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate Editions offer Windows Tablet and Touch capabilities on Tablet PCs or when installed on systems that have a touch screen.
• The Ultimate and Enterprise editions offer Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption on systems equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 chip.

Part of the 70-620 exam is understanding the different available Vista editions. Here are some resources to get you started with this:

• The Compare Vista editions page provides a nice table with the four core versions shown.
• There is a separate page for Vista Enterprise os features and the Vista Starter edition.

Another thing you’ll need to know for the exam is which systems are Vista Capable and which are Vista Premium Ready.

And don’t forget about the Vista Upgrade Advisor — a tool that is available for download from Microsoft that will allow you to determine whether a system that is currently running XP meets all of the requirements for an upgrade to Vista.

The tool is nice but it only runs on the 32-bit version of XP and Vista and it will not run on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000 systems. Additionally it cannot run against the 64-bit edition of Windows XP.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – There’s definitely some memorization that is required for the 70-620 exam, especially when it comes to this section of the exam. You will need to know what the different versions are and the requirements for each.

You’ll also need to understand the differences between minimum supported system requirements and the recommended system requirements.

Installing & Upgrading Vista

As far as the rest of the topics in the Installing and Upgrading Vista section are concerned here are some resources to get you started:

How to install Windows Vista covers:

• How to perform a clean installation
• How to upgrade to Vista from an earlier version of Windows
• How to troubleshoot Vista installation issues

Information on upgrading from one edition of Vista to another can be found in here and basically what you need to understand here is when you need to perform a clean install and when you can upgrade. For example, if you currently have the Vista Business edition you can upgrade to Vista Ultimate, however you will have to perform a clean install if you want to move to the other editions. There is also information on upgrading from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version and upgrading a 64-bit version to another 64-bit version.

 
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and I am looking forward to any feedback you have on it — feel free to leave me a comment below.

Best of luck in your studies.

 

Continue Learning about Vista Exam 70-620:

Certification Series: Exam 70-620 Configuring Vista Client

70-620 MCTS Exam Prep: Mastering Vista OS Installation

As a follow up to my articles on setting up a small home network, let’s talk about sharing files between Leopard and Vista. Today we’ll discuss accessing shared files from the Mac, and from the PC.

Configuring Sharing in Vista

First we need to make sure file sharing is turned on in Vista. To check your settings click Start, type “network and sharing center” and press Enter.

You should now be at the Network and Sharing Center.

Make sure you have the File Sharing option turned on.

Now we need to figure out what folder we want to share or create a new shared folder. Open Computer and browse to where you would like your file share to be. Create a new folder and give it a name.

Right click on the new folder and select Share.

That will take you to the File Sharing window. Select the users you want to share with and click Share.

When you are finished, write down the path to your file share as you will need this so you can access your shared files. In my example the path is \\VISTA64\Windows File Share.

So now you have a shared folder setup on your PC. Let’s move on to configuring your sharing options in Leopard.

Configuring Sharing in Leopard

Believe it or not, Macs and PCs play together pretty well on the same network. There can be some issues from time to time but for the most part they work pretty well together. Our PC is setup and ready to go, so let’s get the Mac configured for file sharing.

From the Apple menu, click System Preferences

Then click Sharing

Check the box to turn on File Sharing. Also take note of the path that it gives to access the files. For this example the path is: afp://192.168.1.111 or browse for “Eric Mac”.

You can add folders to share by clicking the plus sign under Shared Folders. So let’s create a new folder for sharing. Open Finder, and browse to where you would like the share to be. Create a new folder and give it a name.

Let’s add the folder to be shared by clicking the plus sign under Shared Folders. Browse to your newly created folder and click Add.

Now we need to enable SMB for easier file sharing for Windows computers. Click the Options button, and then check the box Share files and folders using SMB. You might be prompted for your password. Close this window when you’re done.

You can set specific permissions for the folders and for each specific user, but it’s probably easier in a home environment to give the Everyone group read and write access. To do this, click the up and down arrows next to Everyone and select Read & Write.

Now your Mac should be configured for file sharing.

So what’s next? Let’s work on connecting to our Mac from Vista and vice versa — connecting to our PC from Leopard.

Connecting to a Mac Share from Vista

To connect to our new Mac shared folder we need to click Start → Computer.

In the address bar type the path to your Mac file share but instead of using afp:// just use \\. For example, my address is afp://192.168.1.111 but I type in: \\192.168.1.111.

Now you can access the shared folders on your Mac. So how do you access the shared folders on your PC from the Mac?

Connecting to a Windows Share from Leopard

You’re now be able to connect to your Mac share from your Windows PC, so let’s discuss how to access your Windows file shares from your Mac.

In this example I’m using Leopard but the steps should be fairly similar for earlier versions; both operating systems use SMB for file sharing.

From the Go menu click Connect to Server.

Now we need to refer back to the notes we made when creating the Windows file share. We need to use the path for the share we created earlier or to another shared folder you want to access. For this example the server address is smb://vista64/windows file share. Enter the path to your shared folder and click Connect.

Now you have successfully connected to your Windows file share from your Mac!

Other Options

There is another option you can use when sharing files between PCs and Macs. You can purchase a network storage device or NAS and set it up on your network for file sharing. Most of these devices are formatted in FAT32 straight out of the box. FAT32 is compatible with both PCs and Macs so that makes it a fairly quick setup.

What other ways can you share files between your PC and your Mac?

Vista sales since its first release date have never been what Microsoft anticipated.  Microsoft thought that this is going to be the most popular Operating System yet — with a new look, new features, awesome security, etc.  Unfortunately as soon as Vista came out problems started arising. We’re all pretty much aware of these issues so I won’t list them here.

Today, Vista sales are still quite low. Some people think that Vista is not being adopted due to the fact that there is an increase in sales of systems with base-level OS that boot into an online access (check out Brian Nelson’s article on skipping Vista).

In my opinion this isn’t the case.  I think that Vista is still just not that popular.

Even though most of the problems and issues have been fixed, many people still think of Vista as nothing but problems (I know I do).  It’s still a little slow, if you ask me, compared to XP.  So when someone is out shopping for a new system and sees that there is an option to get Windows XP, many go for it.  Check out Dell.com — I was able to pick a nice gaming system and have them install XP Pro on it.  There must be a reason for it. Microsoft knows that a lot of us still prefer XP over Vista.

Windows XP Problems

My good friend Dave posted a comment to one of my previous posts saying that Windows XP also had problems.  Of course it did.  And guess what Dave, Windows 7 is going to have lots of problems too. 

All Microsoft products have little kinks and smaller or bigger problems that need to be worked out before the products become decent. My point about Vista was that it was supposed to be this best thing ever — and unfortunately Microsoft fell flat on it.  Many people will agree with me.

Sure Vista is better now and a lot of people use it. But I am not going to buy it, just so I can buy Windows 7 again in few months. And by the way, I did learn Vista (my desktop has Vista on it) and I even passed Vista certification so that is just not the point.

The Future of Windows XP

I, as well as many other XP users, don’t need to worry about using XP until Windows 7 gets released.  Why?  Well, because Microsoft already confirmed that they do not plan on cutting the support anytime soon. In fact Microsoft stated: “We plan to provide support for Windows XP until 2014.” That’s plenty of time, if you ask me. You will have time for the Windows 7 to be released, fixed (we all know there will be bugs, right Microsoft? hehe), and tested before you move over to the new OS.

Who Should Upgrade to Vista Right Now?

If your company buys you a new system and it has Vista installed on it — you should start getting use to it.  Windows 7 is going to be quite similar to Vista (hopefully with fewer problems) so if you have no choice but to use Vista, then I think you should do it. Who knows, maybe I am going to be “forced” to use Vista too on my new laptop.

Skipping Vista: Is It a Good Idea?

There’s nothing wrong for some of us (hardcore XP users) to wait for Windows 7. XP still works fine, it is quite stable, and it is going to be supported for at least 4 more years. We need to understand that it may not be a good idea to move over to the new OS until second quarter of 2010, or later, but that’s only about 12 -16 months away.  That’s nothing, right?  That is just the right amount of time to plan for our new system, because you will more than likely need a new hard drive, video card, processor, etc.

One more thing to keep in mind if you are going to be buying a new system with XP on it — make sure it is “Vista ready” as the system requirements for Windows 7 will be very similar.

Good luck and hopefully I will see you on the other side in a year!

  •   Vista is So Slow

You install Vista, then you wait for it to boot up … and wait … and wait … you drink your coffee and wait some more — oh and finally it’s up! Now you try to open up Word and you wait… and wait… and wait…

What the heck is taking so long?

  •   UAC is Annoying

Now you’re ready to download and install a new program but before you can do that Vista needs to make sure that you know what you’re doing so you get the “Do you really want to install this?” message. Once you click yes, Vista says “Are you sure?” — yes! “Positive?” — YES!!!

How annoying.

  •   Everything is in the Wrong Place

I consider myself to be quite knowledgeable about my ways around XP. I’ve been using it for years and when I need to do something I know exactly where to go and how to do it.

But when I installed Vista I was lost! I found myself unproductive, annoyed, and at some point I thought I was losing my brain cells. Microsoft completely changed the location of every important thing.

Needless to say, after all the disappointments with Vista I went back to XP.

Damn you Vista!

And the fact that I’m not the only one who hates using Vista just proves my point. There are lots of people out there dedicated to pointing out the different Vista shortcomings. Like this (really funny) blog post: Who Gave You Permission to Restart?? from the Why Vista Sucks blog.

Why I can’t wait to start using Windows 7

I’m also not the only person out there who can’t wait to start using Windows 7. Don’t get me wrong, I love my XP but I’m ready for a new OS and Vista just doesn’t do it for me — so I’m getting ready for a Windows 7 upgrade.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

  •   Windows 7 is Faster

Microsoft has reduced the amount of data needed to boot and shut down the computer, and multiple tests have confirmed that Windows 7 is at least 20% faster than Vista. Applications and programs also seem to run faster and smoother in Windows 7.

  •   Windows 7 has Improved UAC

Windows 7 UAC will be improved in two major ways:

1. You will have more control over the UAC notifications — so as an administrator you can determine the range of notifications that you receive.
2. UAC notifications will be less annoying and more valuable — they will actually provide you with relevant information so that you can understand what the situation means so you can make an informed decision and not just a blind choice.

  •   Much Cooler Taskbar

This might not be a huge improvement for Vista users, but it’s definitely a huge step for those switching from XP to Windows 7.

The Windows 7 taskbar is resizable providing you with the ability to rearrange the icons as you see fit. You can also roll your mouse over the icons to see a thumbnail of the applications you have open (see below).

  •   Better Device Management

Windows 7 specifies which device is which easily with the use of large photo-realistic icons to help make it easier to find and fix possible problems.

Are you planning on making the move from XP to Windows 7?

Last week I heard my coworkers raving about Windows 7 beta, and you know what? I think I’ll be ok with leaving my XP for a much improved version of Vista. Are you planning on doing the same?

If you’re like me and can’t wait for Windows 7 to be officially released see how you can Make XP Look Like Windows 7.

Here are the three new Windows 7 exam names:

• 70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring
• 70-685, MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
• 70-686, MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator

So with whispers in the air about these new exams you may have a decision to make:

Should I Get Vista Certified or Wait for the Windows 7 Certs?

I think you know the answer to this without me having to tell you. Get your Vista certification!  We all know that once a release happens there is no magic switch thrown that makes all legacy software obsolete. So that means your Vista cert. won’t be outdated right away either.

Also, once you have passed the Vista  exam, studying for a Windows 7 exam will be a piece of cake. There is only one reason to wait: you are a chronic procrastinator and the advent of a new exam gives you the perfect excuse to put off studying.

Even if you are focused on studying big bad Vista – news about Windows 7 certifications is still exciting. So here are some Questions and Answers, from what we know so far, for you procrastinators and non-procrastinators alike:

Windows 7 Certification Q & A

Q: What the heck is MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator?

A: A new category, for those responsible for managing an organization’s desktop environment on a large scale. That means planning and configuring the desktop infrastructure.

Q: Will a Windows 7 certification replace the Windows Vista requirement in the MCITP certifications?

A: The Windows 7 Technology Specialist certification will only become an alternative option to fulfill the desktop requirement for the applicable MCITP paths.

Q: Will there be an upgrade path from a Vista to a Windows 7 certification?

A: The official word is not out yet, but I personally assume there will be an upgrade path to the Technology Specialist cert. or maybe even the Enterprise Desktop Support Technician because there are comparable certifications to upgrade from.

Q: Will the beta exams be public or by invitation?

A: This decision hasn’t been made yet. If they do decide on the invitation route – The Born to Learn blog says the best way to get an invite is to check out the Microsoft Certification Beta Exams info page and then subscribe to the MCP Flash newsletter.

Q: Where can I find the latest updates about the beta exam?

A: Keep an eye out at the Beta Exam blog

Q: Are there objective guides available for any of the Windows 7 exams?

A: Nope. Come on… They just started developing the exams.

Do you have any other questions … any other answers?

If so please leave them in the comment section below.

Here are the main details of what was tested:

The experiment tested the following five operating systems:

• Windows XP SP3 32-bit
• Windows Vista SP1 32-bit
• Windows 7 beta 1 build  7000 32-bit
• Windows 7 beta 1 build  7000 64-bit
• Windows 7 build 7048 64-bit

There are 31 real world scenario tests. Here are some examples:

• Installing the operating system
• Booting up and shutting down
• Moving 100MB of JPEG files from one hard drive to another
• Opening a complex Excel document including formula and charts
• And even tests running video games like Call of Duty

Each test was done on two separate desktop systems:

• An AMD Phenom 9700 2.4GHz system fitted with an ATI Radeon 3850 and 4GB of RAM
• An Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2GHz fitted with an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS and 1GB of RAM

The result of each test is scored with a simple point system:

• 1 point for the fastest OS
• 2 points for second place
• 3 points for third
• 4 for forth
• 5 points for last place

Are you brimming with anticipation to know what he found? Here are the results:

• Windows 7 is, overall, better than both Vista and XP.
• As Windows 7 progresses, it’s getting better (or at least the 64-bit editions are).
• On a higher-spec system, 64-bit is best.
• On a lower-spec system, 32-bit is best.

I think it the analysis itself is super interesting and the results exciting! I can’t wait to see Adrian’s next version done with an actual Windows 7 release candidate.

You can see a full list of 31 tests, charts detailing the results of each test, and more about the experiment on Adrian Kingsley-Hughes’s blog.

Much of the hubbub about Windows Vista has quieted down since Microsoft largely abandoned the product to refocus the court of public opinion on its re-branded Windows 7 OS instead. But, what many users, and unbiased commentators, have been noticing is that SP1 for Vista was a significant help to the various issues that were plaguing the OS.

Now, Service Pack 2 Release Candidate is available from Microsoft with a planned release in Quarter 2 of 2009.

While Windows 7 may have grabbed the spotlight in the mainstream media and the so-called Web 2.0 arena, Windows Server is still where business gets done. So, systems administrators and IT managers will be taking a serious look at SP2’s arrival on the server platform. SP2 RC for Vista and SP2 RC for Windows Server 2008 are in the same package.

Fixed or Improved?

Many experienced IT administrators and managers have developed their own software product launch time-line based on years spent in the school of hard knocks.

In this time-line, there is the playing/toy phase which the vendors call beta. Then there is the phase where the product is actually installed on a very small number of carefully controlled and contained systems to see how it fares in their everyday business world. The vendors officially call this software, which comes with a pretty box and maybe even a product launch event, version 1.0. Then, finally, comes the production ready software.

At this stage, IS departments begin to seriously look at developing and implementing plans to roll out the new software into the production world. The vendors call this Service Pack 1.

When it comes to something as complicated as the enterprise’s server operating system, IT pros are doubly cautious, especially when budgets are tight like they are now. So, SP2 represents something more of a coming out party for Server 2008 than in times past.

The question on everyone’s mind then is what exactly is in SP2 and is it going to make my life easier, or cause me trouble?

The full stand-alone service pack currently weighs in at a hefty 390 MB for x86 servers and a whopping 622 MB for x64 (largely due to all of the language packs). For systems getting the service pack via update instead will see closer to 50 MB or 90 MB.

Fixed

As always, the newest service pack contains a rollup of previously released hotfixes and security updates. Additionally, Microsoft says that SP2 will focus on providing support for new types of hardware.

Music to admins’ ears in some places, SP2 has better compatibility for old Terminal Server license keys which smashed when the key length was increased to 2,048 byes. This fix means that environments unable to migrate for fear of losing their Citrix applications can breathe a little easier.

Service Pack 2 contains a feature which is designed to detect driver problems before installation and abort the service pack install. After the unpredictable nature of previous service packs, if this works as advertised, there will be much rejoicing.

And at long last, Microsoft will FINALLY provide the means to clean up their own mess. Users and administrators who have dutifully installed each and every update that flows from Redmond have historically been forced to wade through the mess and manually reclaim the wasted disk space filled by previous updates that were no longer necessary since they were included in the service pack.

The Service Pack Clean-up tool, compcln.exe, is supposed to go through and delete the pre-service pack versions of updated files.

Improved

SP2 makes Hyper-V fully integrated as a feature in Windows Server 2008 including a free daughter OS with Server Standard, four with Enterprise, and unlimited with Datacenter.

The other area of improvement is in deployment features. Service Pack 2 includes a new installer process that theoretically should make its own deployment a little easier.

Third-Party Application Improvements

Particularly interesting is Microsoft’s mention that in addition to using the various data and feedback they get to improve their own OS, that they were also able to share certain realizations with other vendors so that their software can be made better as well.

Microsoft in particular, notes that in SP2, both Spysweeper and ZoneAlarm will work with POP3 accounts.

Vista Service Pack 2 Improvements

The primary updates in Vista SP2 are in the realm of Vista’s much maligned abilities to work within the wireless network universe.

SP2 completes the integration of Bluetooth v2.1 support and also brings the promise of better resuming from sleep mode, though the bar for that improvement is set so low you have to rent digging equipment to find it.

And, for those who somehow come to the conclusion that burning fewer Blu-Ray discs than spanning a few more way cheaper regular DVD discs is the better option, SP2 even supports recording on Blu-Ray.

And, before anyone starts, I haven’t even looked at the specs, but I will bet you donuts to dollars that burning to a Blu-Ray disc comes standard with a truckload of ill-advised, bloated, convoluted, rights-management functions that would drive the Dali Lama to the brink of a tri-state revenge spree.

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Finally, no Microsoft release would be complete without some way to combat the perceived threat from Google.

Included in SP2 is “Microsoft Google Desktop” which for copyright, trademark, and face-saving reasons is rebranded as “Windows Search 4.0″.

Gee, you guys even changed the order of one of two of the words. Looks like you missed a comma though

Unfortunately, unlike Google Desktop, for those of us who do just fine with the regular Find utility and would actually prefer not to have our systems bogged down with yet another process keeping track of things for us, uninstalling this one isn’t really going to fly.

Microsoft is integrating it with MS Office as fast as it can so that it can pull out the “it’s an integrated piece of the operating system that can’t be removed,” argument when Google complains to the EU, so it’s pretty much here to stay.

Otherwise, SP2 looks like a nice boost to the stability and functionality of two important products.

Check Out the SP2 RC Yourself

Here’s where you can download Vista and Server 2008 SP2 RC.

Last week I posted an introduction to Exam 70-620 Configuring Vista Client where we looked at the details and skills needed for the exam and some certification information.

I’ll be posting more detailed information on the skills needed for that exam sometime in the near future, but today we’re switching gears by taking a close look at another Vista exam.

Exam 70-622 Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians was first released in June of 2007 and today we’ll take a look at:

• details of the 70-622 exam
• the profile of the skills you need to pass the exam (both practical and theory)
• the credit towards certification that is granted for passing the 70-622 exam

Please note that there will be some overlap between exam 70-622 and some other Vista exams (70-620 and 70-621) simply because the topics are similar. A skill such as “Prepare a system for clean installation or upgrade” is required for all three exams. Also note that this information is not a substitute for study before taking the exam.

Overview of Exam 70-622 Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians

If you’re interested in taking exam 70-622 you should have at least three to five years of experience as a tier 2 desktop support technician in a mid-sized corporate environment (and larger).

While hands on experience is always best, there is some wiggle room in the suggested guidelines based on your own learning capacity, training approach, and additional time you’ve worked with Vista in a lab, testing, and training environments. Your experience with Vista should include:

• deploying the operating system (clean installs, upgrades and migrations)
• managing security
• troubleshooting network-related issues
• understanding all of the different versions of Vista
• knowledge of the base operating system functionality and it’s configuration
• customization of the client OS
• problem troubleshooting (all types)
• dealing with customers (customer service)
• understanding business needs (enterprise readiness)

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] — I often get the question “Why do I need to know information pertaining to Windows XP Home, Windows Vista Home Premium, etc for Enterprise level exams? These desktop operating systems are generally not used in a corporate environment.”

The reason for the inclusion in the exams is due to the fact that you may very well run into these systems in the enterprise in rare instances. You might have a kiosk that was intentionally set up in a lobby on a guest network for customer use. You might have a situation where an executive is using their own laptop for work use and will need assistance getting into business resources.

The fact of the matter is, if it can be installed onto a work asset it is expected to be managed and you may need to know a few basic things about it.

Achieving Your MCITP Certification

When you pass exam 70-622 you earn credit toward the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Support Technician certification.

Here’s where you can get additional details on Exam 70-622 beyond what I’m going to supply in this overview.

To achieve the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician certification you must pass:

• Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
• Exam 70-622: PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians

Here’s where you can learn more about the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician credential.

Passing the 70-622 exam does not count towards credit for any other exams other than Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician.

If you are already a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), you can leverage the upgrade by completing only one exam — Exam 70-621: PRO: Upgrading Your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] — The MCDST credential is a prerequisite for taking the upgrade exam to earn the MCITP certification. If you are not an MCDST and you take the 70-621 exam your transcript will show that you passed the exam but you will not have earned the MCITP.

If you do have your MCDST and pass the 70-621 exam you will also earn your MCTS: Windows Vista – Configuration certification as well.

More information:

• Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Vista – Configuration

Additionally, exam 70-621 can be used as credit for any certification requiring exam 70-620 as a required or elective exam.

Exam 70-622 – Profile of Skills Needed

Every certification track, Microsoft or otherwise, has a body of knowledge that you must have a solid understanding of in order to have the best chance of passing the exam. These will often be termed as skills to be measured, prerequisite knowledge, profile of skills or something to that effect but it means the same thing — these topics are what’s needed to measure your ability to accomplish the technical tasks that are aligned with the exam and the certification.

Outlined below are the prerequisites for 70-622 as defined at Microsoft Learning:

Deploying Windows Vista

• Analyze the business environment and select an appropriate deployment method
• Prepare a system for clean installation or upgrade
• Deploy Windows Vista from a custom image
• Perform post-installation tasks
• Troubleshoot deployment issues

Managing Windows Vista Security

• Configure and troubleshoot security for Windows Internet Explorer 7
• Troubleshoot security configuration issues
• Troubleshoot Windows Firewall issues
• Troubleshoot Windows Defender issues
• Apply security updates
• Configure and troubleshoot access to resources
• Troubleshoot authentication issues
• Configure and troubleshoot User Account Control

Managing and Maintaining Systems That Run Windows Vista

• Troubleshoot policy settings
• Configure and manage the Task Scheduler
• Configure and troubleshoot Event Forwarding
• Apply and troubleshoot updates
• Troubleshoot performance and reliability issues

Configuring and Troubleshooting Networking

• Configure and troubleshoot network protocols
• Configure and troubleshoot network services at the client level
• Configure and troubleshoot remote access
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues
• Configure and troubleshoot wireless networking
• Configure network security
• Troubleshoot access to network resources

Supporting and Maintaining Desktop Applications

• Support deployed applications
• Troubleshoot software restrictions
• Maintain desktop applications

Next time we’ll get into some details regarding the skills that are needed for the exam which include analyzing the business environment and select an appropriate deployment method and preparing a system for clean installation or upgrade.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and I am looking forward to any feedback you have on it as I work on additional sections in this series and on other topics. I would like to try to continue to build out different series of articles on different technologies so your input would be welcomed. Please feel free to contact me and let me know your thoughts.

Best of luck in your studies.

Ever wish it had a way to backup your whole computer instead of just individual files? With Vista’s new Backup Utility you can make a complete PC backup, and/or backup individual files.

The old utility seemed incomplete and I always ended up purchasing something like Norton Ghost, Veritas, or Acronis to make a backup. Why wasn’t the built in backup utility a more robust program? After all, backing up your computer is essential.

In the new backup utility, Microsoft has simplified the interface and made backing up your computer much easier.

Today I’ll show you step-by-step how to:

• Setup automatic file backup on your computer
• Restore your files from an automatic backup
• Perform a complete PC backup
• Restore your complete PC backup

Setting up Automatic File Backup

1. To start Vista Backup Status and Configuration click Start, type “backup status” and press Enter.

Alternately you can navigate to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click Backup Status and Configuration.

The Backup Status and Configuration window will appear.

2. Click “Setup automatic file backup” and then click Continue when you receive the UAC prompt.

3. Now we need to specify where to backup your files. We can back them up to a portable hard drive, CD, DVD, or to your network.

In this example I will setup a backup to a network share. So click “On a network” and enter the path to the shared folder.

4. Next, we need to specify which types of files to backup. Note: the backup utility can only backup files on NTFS disks and doesn’t backup system files, executable files, and temporary files.

5. How often should this backup run? It depends on your scenario but for most people a weekly backup is sufficient.

If you are a musician, artist, or create tons of new documents daily, then a daily backup might be better suited for you. When you are done selecting the frequency of the backup, click “Save settings and start backup“.

6. The backup will start searching the computer for file types we specified, and then add them to the backup. Sit back and relax or grab a cup of coffee while the backup runs. When it is finished you will see this message.

Now your automatic backup is set and you have a fresh backup of your files.

Restoring Files from Automatic Backup

1. So now that you have a backup, how do you restore a file? With the Backup Status and Configuration window open, click Restore Files from the left pane.

Here you can choose to do an Advanced Restore which allows you to restore files from a backup created by a different computer or restore files for all users of your computer.

You can also do a regular restore from a backup made by your computer. We are going to do a basic restore for this example, so click Restore files.

2. Now we need to select which backup to restore from, the newest backup or an older backup. For this example we’re going to restore from the newest backup. Click Next.

3. This is where we select which files or folders to restore. Click Add files to see the list of files you can restore.

4. Highlight the files you want to add to the restore and click Add.

Note: You can also add folders to restore if you need to restore the entire Documents folder, for example. There is a built in search feature as well if you don’t remember where the file is.

When you are done selecting the files and folders you want to restore click Next.

5. Do you want to restore the files to their original location or to a different location? For this example we’re going to restore files to their original location.

Click Start restore to begin the restoration process.

6. Click Finish when the restore has completed.

How to Perform a Complete PC Backup

So you have a backup of your files, but what about all the programs you have installed? No one wants the arduous task of reinstalling all of their programs after a hard drive dies and you’ve reinstalled your operating system.

How can we backup everything including the operating system, programs, and files? Easy — with the new Complete PC Backup option. Here are the steps.

1. Plug in your backup drive or get your blank DVDs ready. Open Backup Status and Configuration by clicking Start, typing “backup status” and pressing Enter.

When the Backup Status and Configuration window appears, click Complete PC Backup.

2. The above window shows if your PC has been backed up using the Complete PC Backup. As you can see, my computer has not been backed up.

To start the Complete PC Backup, click “Create a backup now“.

And click Continue when you receive the UAC prompt.

3. Now we need to select where to save the backup. A USB hard drive or another internal hard drive is preferable, but if you don’t have any extra hard drives you can use DVDs.

Select where you want to save your backup and click Next.

4. Double check the backup settings to make sure they are correct. If everything looks correct, click Start Backup.

Your PC will start the backup and you can sit back and relax.

Restoring Your Complete PC Backup

Now that you have your Complete PC Backup, you have a copy of your entire computer with all of your programs and settings. So what do you do if your hard drive crashes and you need to restore this Complete PC Backup?

1. After you replace the bad hard drive get your original Vista media disks. Boot from your Vista CD/DVD and wait for the first menu. Select your language and click Next. Now click Repair your computer.

2. In the System Recovery Options window we don’t have an Operating System installed at the moment so just click Next.

3. Now click Windows Complete PC Restore. It will search for your computer for a backup drive with a complete backup.

4. When it finds the backup verify it is the correct backup that you want to restore; you can also choose to restore a different backup. After you have the correct backup selected click Next.

5. There is one last prompt to verify all settings and once you’ve done that click Finish.

6. This process will format the destination drive so make sure you are restoring to the correct drive. Confirm that it is okay to format your disks and click Ok.

Now the restore process will start. Go grab some dinner and come back later while it restores your computer.

Backing Up Your Computer

Always make sure to backup your computer to an external source when possible to prevent data loss. Vista now has the capability to backup your whole PC so why not take advantage of it.

If you recently had to rebuild your Vista computer and just installed all of your programs, make a complete PC backup and store it as a “recovery disk”. That way you can restore your PC to the way it was just after you installed your operating system and programs.

Make backups a regular thing so you can be ready just in case the worst happens.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting articles pertaining to some of the new certification exams that are available from Microsoft and the newer certifications that have released as part of the Vista and Windows Server 2008 learning tracks.

I’ll provide you with a mainstream overview of the exams, the audience profile and an overview to the topics and the skills being tested (at a really high level).

I’ll also be outlining the certifications that particular exams give direct credit for, and in the situation where the exam counts toward another credential, I’ll offer that information as well.

Today we’ll focus on 70-620 Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client which was first released in January of 2007. Here’s what we’ll be looking at:

• The details of the 70-620:Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client exam
• The profile of the skills you need to pass the exam (both practical and theory)
• The credit towards certification that is granted for passing the 70-620 exam

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] -– We’ll go beyond the 100,000 foot level of information that is generally out there — but this is not a substitute for study before taking the exam.

When I deliver technical training and a student asks “how much should I study” or “how will I know when I’ve reviewed enough” or “how can I be sure I’ve reviewed the correct material that will be on the exam” I will generally respond that every person is different.

Some people remember facts and figures and test well and others don’t. And there is no “silver bullet” of material to focus on as you never know what questions you might get on the official exam.

I usually say that if you learn the product and understand the technology (what does what and why) then you have a fair chance to pass the exam.

You might only need:

• to work with the product to get the needed level of understanding
• to read a study guide
• a professionally taught class
• or a combination of some or all

It really depends on the individual and their aptitude to learn.

The Overview of Exam 70-620: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client

If you’re looking to take the 70-620: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client exam you should have at least 1 year of experience in the IT field (or the equivalent) working directly with the different versions of Vista. Your experience should include:

• Base operating system functionality and configuration
• Customization of the client OS
• All types of problem troubleshooting
• Dealing with customers
• Understanding business needs (aka enterprise readiness)

This would generally include networked environments with at least a few machines that you’re directly responsible for, like a small professional office, or a larger environment such as a corporate enterprise where your responsibility is shared with other technology professionals.

You should also be skilled and experienced at offering both phone support (often referred to as tier 1) as well as remote session or desk side direct support (often referred to as tier 2).

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] — Note that having the suggested amount of practical experience “or the equivalent” is relative to the person.

I studied for my 70-073 Windows NT Workstation 4 exam while working in a Windows 95 shop. I studied for three months by reading two books and taking two different practice exams and passed without really using the operating system outside of my own lab environment.

Also, it may matter what type of work environment you’re employed in. If you’re working in a highly structured and/or in a specialized role, it may be that even over a couple of years you may not have had enough detailed exposure to all of the skills being measured in the exam.

Achieving Your MCTS Cert and Beyond

When you pass Exam 70-620: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client you meet the requirements for Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista – Configuration and earn the certification.

Here’s where you can get additional details on the MCTS: Vista Configuration Certification.

Passing the exam and earning this certification counts towards additional certification tracks as well:

 

  • MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician

Exam 70-620 counts as the prerequisite MCTS certification towards Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Support Technician. The additional exam you’ll need is 70-622 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians.

• More info and details on Exam 70-622

  • MCITP: Consumer Support Technician

Exam 70-620 counts as the prerequisite MCTS certification towards Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Consumer Support Technician. The additional exam you’ll need is 70-623 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians.

• More info and details on Exam 70-623

  • MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

Exam 70-620 counts as one of the required MCTS exams for the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Enterprise Administrator certification. You need either 70-620 TS: Windows Vista, Configuring or 70-624: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops.

In addition to either of these exams, you would also need to take and pass:

• Exam 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring which earns MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
• Exam 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring which earns MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
• Exam 70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring which earns MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration

You would also need to take and pass Exam 70-647 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator.

 

  • MCSA & MCSE

Exam 70-620 also counts towards Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications on the Windows 2003 tracks.

It can be used as one of the core exams for the client operating systems prerequisites for Windows Server 2003, for both of the tracks.

• More info and details on MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Certification
• More info and details on MCSE on Windows Server 2003 Certification

Exam 70-620 — Profile of Skills Needed

Every certification track, Microsoft or otherwise, has a body of knowledge that you must have a solid understanding of in order to have the best chance of passing the exam.

These will often be termed as “skills to be measured,” “prerequisite knowledge,” “profile of skills” or something to that effect but it means the same thing — these topics are the needed knowledge to measure your ability to accomplish the technical tasks that are aligned with the exam and the certification.

Outlined below are the prerequisites for 70-620 as defined at Microsoft Learning:

Installing and upgrading Windows Vista

• Identify hardware requirements
• Perform a clean installation
• Upgrade to Windows Vista from previous versions of Windows
• Upgrade from one edition of Windows Vista to another edition
• Troubleshoot Windows Vista installation issues
• Install and configure Windows Vista drivers

Configuring and troubleshooting Post-installation system settings

• Troubleshoot post-installation configuration issues
• Configure and troubleshoot Windows Aero
• Configure and troubleshoot parental controls
• Configure Microsoft Internet Explorer

Configuring Windows security features

• Configure and troubleshoot User Account Control
• Configure Windows Defender
• Configure Dynamic Security for Microsoft Internet Explorer 7
• Configure security settings in Windows Firewall

Configuring network connectivity

• Configuring networking by using the Network and Sharing Center
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues
• Configure remote access

Configuring applications included with Windows Vista

• Configure and troubleshoot media applications
• Configure Windows Mail
• Configure Windows Meeting Space
• Configure Windows Calendar
• Configure Windows Fax and Scan
• Configure Windows Sidebar

Maintaining and optimizing systems that run Windows Vista

• Troubleshoot performance issues
• Troubleshoot reliability issues by using built-in diagnostic tools
• Configure Windows Update
• Configure data protection

Configuring and troubleshooting mobile computing

• Configure mobile display settings
• Configure mobile devices
• Configure Tablet PC software
• Configure power options

Next time we’ll take a look at some of the details regarding the first two subsections of skills that are needed for the exam which include identifying hardware requirements and performing a clean installation.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and I am looking forward to any feedback you have on it as I work on additional sections in this series and on other topics.

I would like to try to continue to build out different series of articles on different technologies so your input is welcomed. Please feel free to contact me and let me know your thoughts.

Best of luck in your studies.

 

Continue Learning about Vista Exam 70-620:

70-620 MCTS Exam Prep: How to Install & Upgrade Vista

70-620 MCTS Exam Prep: Mastering Vista OS Installation

The number one complaint I hear from users is the performance of Vista is very slow compared to XP. Most new PCs are well equipped to handle the large appetite of Vista, but for the users that upgraded to Vista, it’s a whole different story.

The video card might not be up to speed to handle the new Vista interface, or you might not have enough RAM installed. So what can you do to counteract the poor performance without losing all of the features of Vista?

I’ve experienced it myself when I upgraded my old laptop to Vista Business; I added a gig of RAM and then installed Vista Business. Immediately I found that it took considerably longer to boot up than it did previously with XP. I also noticed that multi-tasking was pretty much out of the question if I wanted to get anything done in a reasonable amount of time.

So I was like most Vista users, asking myself why I had upgraded in the first place. I just knew there had to be ways to help optimize performance and get my PC running better. After some research and testing, I’ve come up with a list of 7 ways that considerably increase Vista performance.

1. Disable Aero Theme and Adjust Visual Effects

The Aero theme is very nice to look at but if your video card isn’t up to snuff then it can cause some performance issues.

First, try disabling the Aero theme to see if that helps. Right click on your Desktop and select Personalize.

Then click on Theme and select Windows Classic from the drop down menu.

Click Apply, and then click Ok. Now the Aero interface is turned off.

The sidebar and other visual elements are not as pretty as they were but this can be a big performance boost if your video card isn’t quite up to par.

If that doesn’t seem to do the trick we can also turn off the other Visual Effects. Right click on Computer, and then click Properties.

Click Advanced System Settings in the left had column in the Tasks pane.

Click Allow when you receive the UAC prompt.

The System Properties window will appear. Click the Settings button under the Performance section.

Here you can pick and choose which Visual Effects you want to use. For this example we are going to select the option to Adjust for best performance. Next, click Apply and then Ok.

2. Use Readyboost

ReadyBoost is a new feature in Vista that allows you to use your USB hard drive, or flash drives as memory for your PC. It works in conjunction with SuperFetch to help launch programs faster and speed up boot times.

Most Vista users don’t even realize this feature exists nor do they have any idea how to use it, but it’s really simple.

All you need is a device with a minimum capacity of 256 MB and one that has at least 235 MB free. ReadyBoost can only use up to 4GB of space so there is no need for a huge flash drive just for this.

Let’s take a look at how to make it work for you.

Plug in your USB hard drive or your flash drive and wait for the AutoPlay menu. Select “Speed up my system using ReadyBoost”.

Click the button to “Use this Device” and select how much space you want it to use.

Make sure to leave the device plugged in. This can help decrease your boot time and launch programs faster.

3. Change Indexing Options

Indexing is great for finding files quickly during a search, but if your PC is indexing everything all the time you can see quite a performance hit. Try changing what folders are indexed, or turn indexing off all together.

Here’s how you can do that.

Click Start and type “indexing options” and press Enter. The Indexing Options window will appear.

Now click the Modify button. Then click Show All Locations.

Click Allow when you receive the UAC prompt.

Here you can check or uncheck which folders are indexed.

4. Remove Unnecessary Startup Programs

When you purchase a new computer from a retail shop you will most likely have some additional trial software installed that could be slowing down your boot times. So how do we change it?

There are a couple of ways to remove unnecessary startup programs. Let’s take a look.

You can use MSConfig to remove startup programs from your PC. Just click Start, and type “msconfig” and press Enter. Then click the Startup tab.

Uncheck the startup items you don’t think are necessary and click Ok. Use good judgment and try not to disable any Windows startup items if possible. Restart your PC to complete the process.

You can alternately check the Startup folder in your Start menu.

Click Start, All Programs, and then look for the Startup folder. Expand it to see if there are any startup items. If so, you can right click and delete it from the Startup folder to prevent it from starting.

5. Use the Built In Reliability and Performance Monitor to Find Performance Issues

Vista has a great way to identify performance issues built into the operating system; it’s called the Reliability and Performance Monitor.

Click Start, and type “performance monitor”. The Reliability and Performance Monitor window will appear. Expand Monitoring Tools, and click Performance Monitor.

This is a great tool to watch real-time stats on your PC to help troubleshoot slowdowns. You can also use the Reliability Monitor to check Application Failures, Hardware Failures, Windows Failures and other miscellaneous failures.

And if you’re interested in checking out the Performance Monitor for Server 2008, check out Jason Zandri’s Server 2008 Reliability and Performance Monitor.

6. Adjust Processor Scheduling and Virtual Memory

You can adjust the way your processor handles operations for programs or background services. Right click on Computer and select Properties.

Then click Advanced System Settings from the Tasks pane.

Click Continue or Allow when you receive the UAC prompt. Next click the Settings button under the Performance section.

Then click the Advanced tab. Here you can change your processor scheduling to adjust for best performance for programs or background services.

Here you can change your paging file size also known as Virtual Memory. Setting a correct paging file size is critical for performance. Click the Change button under the Virtual Memory section.

Check to see if you have enough space allocated. The recommended amount is listed at the bottom. Alternately, you can let Windows decide how big you paging file should be.

7. Run a Disk Cleanup and Defrag

Vista now has scheduled defrags and runs automatically, but my computer isn’t always running when the defrag is scheduled to run. So run it manually!

Click Start and type “defrag” and press Enter.

You can modify the defrag schedule to run when you know your PC will be running and preferably not in use. You can also click the Defrag Now button to start a manual defrag.

How about cleaning up all the temporary files on your computer? Click Start, and type “disk cleanup” and press Enter. Select either your files or files from all users.

Then select the drive you want to run the cleanup on.

Now select the type of files you want to cleanup.

Any Other Tips and Tricks?

These are just a few of the many ways to help improve the performance on your Vista computer.

The tools and utilities in Vista are more efficient and make it easier to keep you running like a champ. There are also 3rd party applications that can help with temp file cleanup and registry errors.

Are there any other ways to help maintain or keep your PC running at peak performance?

But, unlike XP’s eventual march onto the computers of businesses and home users everywhere, Vista’s fortunes have been crushed by a tsunami of disdain that first started online and continues throughout society today. Hardware compatibility problems, user education, and a poor user interface on the new UAC led to much gnashing of teeth in the blogosphere and user forums and even on personal websites.

But, what happens on the blogs and technology sites doesn’t always translate into the consciousness of mainstream America. Witness the untold hordes of users still running Internet Explorer 6 which keeps every web programming resource in the world continuously updating their “IE Hacks” to ensure that websites still display properly in the aged browser.

Indeed, Fortune magazine’s January review touted Vista as “the best operating system Microsoft has ever made.” Saying that Vista offered, “greater security and reliability,” and even, “backward compatibility with older programs…”

And yet, the venom targeted at Vista did indeed seep out of the technology sphere into the reality of every day Americans. It is a problem that Microsoft has yet to overcome.

What If You Actually Liked Vista and Didn’t Know It

Years ago, the freeze-dried coffee brand, Taster’s Choice, ran an ad campaign explicitly stating that its freeze dried coffee was every bit as good as other coffee, and suggesting that only drinker’s misconceptions regarded it as otherwise. Television commercials flooded the airwaves proclaiming, “We’ve secretly replaced the gourmet coffee this restaurant usually serves with Taster’s Choice…”. Sales figures suggest the campaign was effective, at least for a while.

The theory behind the commercials was that while it might be true that a coffee expert could tell the difference, ordinary coffee drinkers could not. But, because of false preconceived notions, the only way people would believe it was if you “tricked” them into trying it without letting them know what it was, hence the “secretly replaced.”

In the summer of 2007, Microsoft tried something similar. Microsoft pulled 120 people together and showed them a demo of a new operating system called Mojave. What those people didn’t know, was that Microsoft had secretly replaced their new operating system with a copy of Windows Vista.

The results were stunning. Virtually all of the subjects rated the Mojave operating system higher than they rated Vista prior to seeing the demos. In fact, most of them rated it much higher.

But, instead of legions of users getting the news that people really liked Vista if they only had a real chance to see it, attacks on the experiment itself sprang up. Many technology sites and publications wondered aloud if the videos shown on the Mojave site were “cherry picked.” Others pointed out that seeing demo is far different than using a system and that people were always impressed by demos.

Still, the fact remains, that all of those uses said they liked it. Or, more specifically, that they could like it. And therein, lies the opportunity and the challenge. People like the interface and they like the way the OS reacts to their needs. People can and do like Windows Vista if they actually use it for a while. All they need is some time with a fully functioning, error free, system and they’ll like it.

Of course, the point of the naysayers is that such systems are a rarity. Indeed, while Microsoft’s demo system wasn’t some loaded $10,000 behemoth, it still has double the “recommended” amount of memory. It also represents a fresh install and not an upgrade, and most importantly of all, at no time during the demo did any of the participants try and connect the computer to their scanner, printer, wireless network, or USB drive, nor did anyone try to run their favorite game or scrapbooking software.

The issue all along has not been that people did not try Windows Vista, but rather that they have been unwilling to stick with it long enough for all of their issues to be worked out. The users cannot be blamed here, computers are no longer toys, but often vitally important parts of people’s work and lives. One cannot expect them to suffer through a lesser experience for weeks or months in order to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Does Microsoft Even Care If Anyone Likes Vista Anymore?

The experiment did achieve a very important objective, just not the one Microsoft was hoping for. Or at least not the one it publicly stated it was hoping for. Many have accused Microsoft of duping its customers through the Mojave Experiment. But, did Microsoft actually dupe everyone else?

What the Mojave Experiment lays bare for all to see is that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the Vista operating system. And yet, Microsoft has done precious little to push that notion. Instead, every other sentence out of the mouths of senior executives is about Windows 7.

Perhaps, Microsoft’s motivation with the Mojave Experiment was never to change the perception of Vista at all.

Consider that while the Mojave Experiment provoked plenty of Did-Not, Did-To, within the blogosphere and certain technical publications, it never left that tiny section of the universe.

Consider that Microsoft did nothing to move it into the common awareness, no flood of network TV commercials, no print ads in every publication, nothing other than a website that you would only find if you were looking for it already.

Consider that the Mojave Experiment demonstrates not that people love Vista, but rather how people would react to a similar but differently branded operating system.

Consider that the vast majority of Vista bashers are still Windows XP users and while they have no intention of upgrading to Vista, it is also true that almost none of them intend to change to Unix or Mac either. In other words, if Windows XP users were given the opportunity to upgrade to something Vista-like but with a more favorable name, say like, Windows 7 would they be willing to take the plunge? The answer is an overwhelming yes.

Indeed, numerous publications and websites have already started singing the praises of Windows 7 which is built entirely upon the Vista operating system. In fact, some of the functionality is virtually the same. So, it would seem that Vista – just a little bit better and with a new name – could actually win over computer users and businesses everywhere. Windows 7 may just end up being the actual result of the Mojave Experiment.

Maybe that is what Microsoft wanted all along.

We discussed the main reasons people hate Windows Vista earlier and it is true that many of Vista’s issues stem from user misunderstandings or other training issues.

It is certainly true that Vista’s compatibility problems have been greatly reduced with the recent service pack and the continuing release of newer and better drivers from manufacturers for their products. Still, Microsoft knows all too well that fear and uncertainty can cause people to make just as many decisions as facts and testing.

Windows Vista Small Business Assurance

For larger companies, something like upgrading operating systems is just part of the job. The IT department systematically tests the new products and then develops a logical migration plan including a pilot migration and various milestones and verifications along the way.

For a small business, that is a luxury they cannot afford. For them, their computers just have to work. So, when they hear news reports or read articles suggesting that a migration to Windows Vista might cause them more trouble than it is worth, they balk.

Microsoft knows this is true and so to help win over the small business owner, they launched the Windows Vista Small Business Assurance program.

Smaller sized businesses don’t have large IT departments, if any IT professionals at all.

The thought of something as complex as migrating to a new operating system conjures up nightmares of three hour hold times for technical support, hours staring at a computer screen hoping to “figure it out,” and expensive visits from computer consultants.

The Vista Small Business Assurance (VSBA) program helps eliminate these fears.

The VSBA program is for all businesses with less than 50 employees or less than 25 computers.

Which means that even larger businesses whose companies do not provide office based services, like construction companies, restaurants, medical offices, and delivery services, to name a few, can still qualify based on having a low PC count.

Companies are eligible if they bought a new PC and Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate between July 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009. The operating system does NOT have to come installed on the system. As long as there was both a new computer purchase and a new OS purchase, then the eligibility requirements have been met.

The program runs through June 30, 2009.

What Kind of ‘Assurance’ Do You Get?

The main value of the VSBA program is free phone-based technical support. That means that if the business can’t get a printer to connect or the computer won’t “see” the network, there is no need to pay for expensive support visits or consultants. Instead, a dedicated Vista support team is available for free on the other end of the phone. This support is valid for both compatibility issues like drivers and firmware, as well as configuration issues like getting the network settings right.

In addition, the VSBA program provides “one-on-one” coaching for small businesses. In a nutshell, the business owner tells the Vista representative about their business, and the rep points out Vista features that might be of value.

Why Upgrade to Vista Now?

While Microsoft has continued to extend “downgrade” rights to Windows XP, software vendors and other technology partners have probably shipped their last XP versions of their products. And, unlike the bigger companies that probably have various Windows XP discs "laying around somewhere", smaller businesses are likely to start bumping up against the XP trailing edge in the near future.

By upgrading now and taking advantage of the Vista Small Business Assurance program, you can get all of your setups migrated, your software packages installed and your peripherals and accessories hooked up and running smoothly, all with free technical support.

By the time the program ends in mid-2009, your small business will already be up and running. Waiting until later in 2009 doesn’t mean the migration will be any easier, but it does mean that you’ll be getting support on your own nickel.

Waiting for Windows 7.0

Thinking about just waiting for Microsoft to ship Windows 7?

While various pundits have suggested simply waiting for Windows 7.0 to upgrade, that route may be starting to look less and less appealing. Consider that Microsoft plans to ship Vista SP2 sometime in the first half of 2009 (that is Microsoft code-speak for June 30, 2009).

If SP2 provides the kind of stability and compatibility that users want and vendors go along with ending their XP shipments, then Microsoft has no reason to rush Windows 7 out the door. And, to be blunt, Microsoft has a longer track record of being late to ship software than they do of being on time.

With the problems Microsoft had with the launch of Vista, it is probably safe to assume that Microsoft will err on the side of shipping Windows 7 later and getting everything just right, than err on the side of shipping during 2009 and having another sloppy launch. And by mid-2009, vendors will be getting tired of building “both” systems, that is systems that are built and installed such that they can run both Vista or XP without any customer issues. Just maintaining both sets of drivers is likely to be the kick in the pant that hardware vendors need to give up the XP ghost during 2009.

This all adds up to the unpleasant scenario where a small business needs a couple of new computers toward the end of 2009 and the choice of XP systems is getting lean. Then they have to choose between installing a few Vista computers and dealing with the issues of running XP and Vista together, just to upgrade those systems to Windows 7 sometime in the next year, or limping along without new computers.

Neither option sounds like a winner. And, if you follow the age-old advice to wait for Service Pack 1, then that choice is actually one you have to live with until 2011.

For small business owners, the choice is clear -- start moving to Vista now and take the free VSBA with you.

]]> http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/windows-vista-small-business-assurance/feed 0 http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/master-the-new-and-improved-msconfig-in-vista http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/master-the-new-and-improved-msconfig-in-vista#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:00:13 +0000 Eric English /?p=2960 The System Configuration Utility – MSConfig – is a favorite of most pc users for a number of reasons. You can disable startup items and services, change boot options, and launch troubleshooting and configuration tools.

Microsoft didn’t disappoint us with the newest version of MSConfig in Vista. They have made it simpler and more concise, and also added a few new tools.

At First Glance

To launch the System Configuration Utility, click Start and type msconfig. When you first look at the new MSConfig you will notice there are fewer tabs than in XP.

The System.ini and Win.ini tabs are missing from the new version and the Boot.ini tab has been renamed to “Boot”. Vista uses a new boot architecture that is more secure than the System.ini, Win.ini, and Boot.ini files that just about any virus can modify fairly easily. System.ini and Win.ini were used for 16-bit programs which are mostly non-existent these days.

The General Tab in MSConfig

Most of the options on the General tab have stayed the same. Normal Startup, Diagnostic Startup, and Selective startup are all still present. There is no Boot.ini in Vista so your options for Selective Startup are slightly different.

Selective startup has changed from the previous version of MSConfig as it no longer has the option to Process System.ini, Process Win.ini, and Use Modified Boot.ini. Your new options are Load System Services, Load Startup Items, and Use Original Boot Configuration.

There are also two buttons missing, the Launch System Restore and Expand File. You can still find System Restore in Vista and can get to it by clicking Start, and type restore. The Expand File option was used to expand .cab files but this is no longer needed with Vista, as this functionality is built in.

Boot, Services, and Startup Tabs

The Boot tab has been very slightly modified from the previous version. You will notice you no longer have the option to Check All Boot Paths. The tab has been renamed to Boot from its original Boot.ini. There is also a new checkbox option to Make all boot settings permanent.

XP still uses Boot.ini, System.ini, and Win.ini files but Vista no longer needs these. Microsoft has replaced these files with the Windows Boot Manager which reads the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) to boot your computer. The new Windows Boot Manager is a storage system and is independent of firmware.

You can find out more about the new Windows Boot Manager in this Microsoft article.

Advanced options got a slight facelift in the new version of MSConfig while also adding the ability to “Detect HAL”.

Detect HAL can be used when there are multiple operating systems installed, usually in a dual boot scenario. The Detect HAL option will search for the different versions of the HAL that are on your computer, and then add a prompt in your boot menu so you can pick which operating system to boot. Most of us won’t use this option unless we have multiple operating systems installed.

You can make even more advanced changes to your boot options using the new bcdedit.exe command line utility. Read more about the bcdedit.exe utility here.

Unfortunately there is nothing special to report about the Services and Startup tabs. They are both pretty straight forward and didn’t need much modification.

The MSConfig. Tools Tab

I like what Microsoft did with the Tools tab in the new version of MSConfig. Seven new items have been added to help make the MSConfig utility more useful and give you all of the tools you need at a glance.

The new additions include:

1. Remote Assistance
2. System Restore
3. Computer Management
4. Security Center
5. Performance Monitor
6. Enable UAC
7. Disable UAC

Being able to launch System Restore, Command Prompt, or any other utility from MSConfig can be useful in the event you get a virus or Trojan that prevents you from accessing your Start Menu or Desktop. I know I can’t remember all of the executable names to run (from the “Run” box) like “rstrui.exe” for System Restore, so being able to launch these tools from one place can be very handy.

All of the old-school tools like Registry Editor, Command Prompt, and Task Manager are still there too. The only tool that has been removed from the new version of MSConfig is Network Diagnostics which was used to gather information about your computer and your network connections. UAC is the new User Account Control in Windows Vista and can now be disabled from the Tools tab.

You can read about disabling UAC in Dave’s latest article on disabling UAC.

Room for Improvements?

Overall Microsoft did a good job with the new MSConfig utility in my opinion. They have cleaned it up and made it easier to look at while giving it better functionality. It makes me wonder if there is anything else that can be added to make it even better.

Are there any tools or options you would like to see Microsoft add to MSConfig?

]]> http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/master-the-new-and-improved-msconfig-in-vista/feed 1 http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/top-10-reasons-people-hate-windows-vista http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/top-10-reasons-people-hate-windows-vista#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:00:48 +0000 Brian Nelson /?p=2371 Recently, I wrote an article regarding the idea of Skipping Windows Vista.

Since then, what was once one of many possible ideas has built momentum toward becoming the plan dictated by conventional wisdom.

While this bandwagon may have already gained too many passengers and too much speed to stop now, one can’t help but wonder exactly what the problem is with Vista. Ask around and you will get the same answer over and over.

"People hate Vista."

As someone who continues to analyze the question of Vista in the context of the value of doing a workstation OS migration along with a server OS migration (XP to Vista and Server 03 to 08), I know that the success of any project is often determined by the reactions of users. So, what is it exactly, that people hate about Vista. Here are the Top 10 things people hate about Microsoft’s Windows Vista.

Top 10 Things People Hate About Vista

1. We Fear Change

A great deal of the griping about Vista comes from the simple fact that it is different. Users complained bitterly about “losing” files which were simply placed in a different location. Let’s face it, putting anything and everything inside My Documents was starting to wear out its welcome, and while power users may have been well aware that My Documents was under the Documents and Settings folder, not everyone really ever grasped that. The new file locations make sense once you are willing to learn something new.

2. User Account Control (UAC)

The biggest single problem with the image of Vista has been the User Account Control. It may also cause the greatest leap forward in computer security and software quality since the invention of the PC. The truth is that for years now, some vendors have thrown together drivers and programs without much thought to writing good software. The theory was to just get something working and then ship it out the door.

For better or worse, Microsoft had gotten Windows XP to the point where virtually worthless code could still function without adversely affecting too many users or systems. However, there were significant security issues with this model. Virtually every program or driver required Admin privileges to be installed, and with various hooks and processes reaching deep into the core of the OS, stability and security issues were constantly arising.

Unfortunately, the UAC carried the design flaw of asking “Are You Sure,” over and over to the user who eventually gave up reading any of the boxes. Even worse, the UAC grabbed full control of the computer and forced users to interact with it. Users never like to be forced to do anything, even if it is for their own good.

3. Slower Not Faster

Chalk this one up to a corporate blunder. Microsoft was trying to be the good guy to the vendors and companies it works with. Unfortunately, this made it the bad guy to the users of the Vista OS. Systems running anything near the minimum specifications for Vista did see a pretty big performance hit. Still users with more powerful systems complain that XP is faster. Sure it is. It does less. That isn’t rocket science.

However, I think everyone agrees that it is time for Microsoft to spend a little more time optimizing its code, and a little less time “integrating” every new technology into the OS so it can’t be required to remove it.

4. Hogs Memory

When Vista first came out, it was common practice among IT savvy people of all levels to monitor a system’s memory usage. If memory usage spiked up with the installation of a new program, one could assume that program was not well coded and wasted system resources.

However, Vista had a new memory management paradigm. The idea was, why not use all of the memory that is there. Free memory is wasted memory — was the mantra. In fact, this is a great idea and can substantially improve performance. The problem is that people didn’t understand that there was a new memory model in effect, so it looked like Vista was “hogging” all of that memory. This plus #4 equaled more than a few people screaming about bloat and inefficiency.

5. Constant Hard Drive Activity

Whether it’s the constantly blinking hard drive light, or actually being able to hear a high speed drive spin up, it doesn’t take long to notice that Vista is constantly accessing your hard disk. It takes even less time to jump to the conclusion that Vista is too big and inefficient to load itself and run programs without making tremendous use of the swap file and other disk based storage.

In reality, this activity is a byproduct of the new memory model which attempts to always take advantage of all available memory. In order to do this, the OS has to load something into memory to fill the space. It also has to take something out of memory and put it back on the hard drive when a new program or process starts that needs to use some of that “full” memory. If you aren’t aware of what is going on, it does seem like the hard drive is being used too often.

6. Drivers, Drivers, Drivers

If anything did more damage to Vista in user’s minds than the UAC, it was the seemingly nightmarish lack of drivers for various hardware. Microsoft took the blame for this one, when in reality the hardware vendors were to blame.

Vista was never a secret, nor was its new, improved, more stable driver model. Vendors literally had years to build drivers for Vista, but drivers don’t make money, or buzz, or press, so they were ignored until it was too late. The vendors, of course, quickly took to blaming Vista for “breaking” their drivers.

7. Games

There can be debate among reasonable men, the extent to which Microsoft should be held accountable for its operating system’s ability to play video games. With a half-dozen gaming consoles, including Microsoft’s own Xbox, one might consider that it isn’t Vista’s job to play high-end games. The Gamers of the world politely (and not so politely) disagree.

Any true power gamer has long since replaced several components of any computer system from the vendor, even so-called gaming systems. Spend five minutes on any gaming forum and you’ll see posts ranging from over-clocking hardware, to upgrades that require a soldering iron. Over the years, these communities have learned to stretch their gaming power to the limits without breaking XP. That experience, of course, is missing on Vista. Tricks that once produced additional power, now produce crashes.

8. Can’t See The Improvements

Many of Vista’s improvements are under the hood. Better security, improved stability, tighter driver models, better memory usage, automatic hard drive defragmenting, an I/O model that allows for lower priorities for “behind the scenes” tasks — are all leaps forward in OS architecture. But, none of them are really visible to Joe User who has to wonder what they paid extra for when their PC came loaded with Vista.

9. Forced Upgrade

No manufacturer can be expected to sell last year’s model forever, but when Microsoft announced that it would no longer allow people to purchase Windows XP, it seemed like the company was bullying users into using a product that they didn’t want. The problem was exacerbated when Microsoft let loose Service Pack 3 which solidified the idea in many user’s head that XP was still a “current” operating system and the only reason Microsoft wouldn’t let them buy it was dollars.

What many people fail to understand is just how long after a product stops selling that Microsoft must support it. The cut-off for XP was more about starting the clock ticking down on XP support, than about forcing users to buy Vista.

10. Windows XP Was a Really Good OS

Much of Vista’s criticism comes in the form of “XP is better. Whether this is true or not, it shows that users have come to both understand, and respect Windows XP. Over the years, various patches, updates and three service packs have turned it into a solid workhorse that can be counted on by home users and corporations alike who with millions of installed systems, are not surprisingly reluctant to undertake the huge task of replacing that systems.

Windows XP was not universally loved when it was first released either. As a computer consultant at the time, I can remember the multitude of complaints and criticisms then as well. The difference was that Windows XP replaced Windows 95/98 which was never a very good operating system. The migration to XP came with the idea that at least it wasn’t Windows 95. This time, it’s different. People look at Windows XP and see a perfectly good if dated operating system.

Windows 7 is apparently coming as fast as Microsoft can get it here, but as early looks have shown, Windows 7 is the next version of Vista, not the next version of XP. In the end, it seems Vista will be Microsoft’s OS of the future, it just might have a new name.

]]> http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/top-10-reasons-people-hate-windows-vista/feed 42 http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/a-free-easy-way-to-improve-your-vistas-performance http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/a-free-easy-way-to-improve-your-vistas-performance#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:28 +0000 Eric English /?p=2635 Did you recently upgrade your desktop or laptop to Vista and you aren’t getting the performance you expected? Or maybe you just bought a new computer and it’s just not as fast as you thought it would be.

Want to help boost your performance without purchasing any extra hardware? Don’t worry, there is still hope!

Vista has a ton of new services that run in the background, but the majority of us either don’t know what they do, or don’t use them. These services can use a portion of your memory, so disabling them can help boost performance.

A hardware upgrade would be the best thing to boost your performance, but if that isn’t an option, you can try disabling some of these services — it’s easy and, best of all, free!

Improving Vista’s Performance by Disabling Unnecessary Services

Depending on the version of Vista you have, you might not see all of the services listed. Use good judgment and caution when disabling services and always make a backup before doing anything.

To view all of the Services on your computer click Start, type “services.msc”, and press Enter. The Services window will appear.

Now you’re ready to start disabling some unnecessary services and start freeing up some memory. Make sure to change the Startup Type to “Disabled” when changing these services.

Also, don’t forget to write down the Services you decide to disable, just in case you need to revert back to the previous settings. And when you’re done disabling the services remember to restart your computer.

10 Unnecessary Services that Can Be Safely Disabled

1. ReadyBoost

ReadyBoost is a great idea from Microsoft. Unfortunately most of us don’t use it, don’t know how to use it, or don’t even know what it does.

ReadyBoost is a new feature in Vista that allows users to use a USB flash drive, SD card, or any other type of portable memory as disk cache. It is also used in conjunction with Superfetch (the beefed up version of Prefetch from XP) which stores cache of boot up programs to help speed boot times.

If you are like me and don’t use ReadyBoost you can safely disable this service and free up any memory it is using. So locate ReadyBoost in your Services list and double click on it:

Now under Startup type change Automatic to Disabled and click OK:

2. Windows Defender

If you are like me you already have 3rd party software running for spyware and virus protection. Plus, Microsoft has a built in utility called the Malicious Software Removal Tool. So why do you need Windows Defender running too?

Disabling this service also requires removing it from startup so you don’t get an error every time you log in. To do this, click Start and type “msconfig” and press Enter. The System Configuration Utility will appear.

Click on the Startup Tab and uncheck Windows Defender.

Then you can disable the Service from the Services console, just like you did with ReadyBoost.

3. Tablet PC Input Service

Wait a minute?!?! I don’t have a Tablet PC! Why in the world is this running in the background? This service is used for the touch screen and pen functions of a Tablet PC.

This should automatically disable itself if you don’t have a Tablet PC, but unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. If you don’t have a Tablet PC then you can safely disable this service.

4. Secondary Logon

Are you the only person that uses your computer? If so then you don’t need the Secondary Logon service running. If you have multiple people logging into the same computer then you should not disable this service.

Secondary Logon allows processes to run under alternate credentials. In other words, you can run programs under 2 different user accounts, at the same time. If you are the only one using your computer then you can safely disable this service.

5. IPsec Policy Agent

Do you use a VPN? If not, then you can safely disable this service. IPsec is used when connecting to a VPN most of the time. There are other situations where IPsec can be used but not likely for the average user.

Note: This also disables remote management of the Windows Firewall.

6. IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules

Going with the same VPN theme — this is another service that can be safely disabled as long as you are not using a VPN. This service is used for Authentication and key exchange in IPsec. If you’re an average user the you’re probably not using this service.

7. Offline Files

Offline Files are used in network environments for mobile users that need access to files when they are outside of the network. Using Offline Files allows a mobile user to store a local copy of company documents. The documents will synchronize when the mobile user reconnects to the company network. If you don’t fit into this scenario then you can safely disable this service.

8. Windows Error Reporting Service

This service is used to send specific error reports to Microsoft for analysis. Sending the error reports will sometimes yield good results for fixing different issues.

If you are a novice pc user then you might consider leaving this service running. You will also see a message to "Send Error Report" when this service is enabled. Those messages can get annoying sometimes and I don’t really want to be prompted every time I close a non-responsive program.

If you don’t want to report errors to Microsoft, then you can safely disable this service.

9. Telephony

Do you still have a modem? If you use a dial-up connection of any kind, or a fax server, then you will need to keep this service running. The majority of us don’t use a modem for any reason nowadays. Fax servers are fairly common in offices, but hopefully people will start using email instead of faxing in the future.

If you don’t use dial-up or a fax server, then you can safely disable this service.

10. Windows DFS Replication Service

This is another service most basic users won’t use. DFS, or Distributed File System, is used for synchronizing files and folders, usually between servers. This could be used in some office environments as a means of backing up documents from a workstation to the server. This could also use a considerable amount of bandwidth if you have a large number of computers synchronizing with your servers using DFS.

For most of us DFS is not something we will use regularly, so you can safely disable this service.

There Might Be Others …

There might be other services that you can disable that are unnecessarily running and taking up memory.

The 10 listed above will help improve your Vista’s performance but there could be a few more depending on your version of Vista, and your network environment.

When you are done disabling all of the services you want to restart your computer to free up any additional memory you can.

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