If you use volume licensing with Windows Vista then you need to be aware of the tools to manage them - it is not as simple as it used to be as you now need a management tool inside the business.  VAMT answers this as does Desktop Management.  Then we have some webcasts on slow networks, diagnosing crashes in Windows XP (although many of the techniques work for Vista too), backup and restore in Vista, using the ActiveX installer Service and Boot config parameters

VAMT 1.0 (x86)

The Volume Activation Management Tool enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK). VAMT v1.0 is only available as a US-EN (x86) release.

Best Practices on Managing Windows Vista Desktops

Get best practice guidance for managing Windows Vista desktop operations. Windows Vista Service Life-Cycle Management (WVSLM) provides concise guidance to help minimise the total cost of ownership of desktop infrastructure. Process guidance and document templates help make service management concepts from the IT Infrastructure Library and the Microsoft Operations Framework tangible and easily implementable by focusing on a single and common IT service.

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7137227

TechNet Webcast: "The Network is Slow": Identifying the Cause of Slow Network Communications (Level 200)

The Offline Crash Diagnostic tool for Windows XP is available  - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=923800

TechNet Magazine: The ActiveX Installer Service in Windows Vista

How do you secure the desktop against malicious ActiveX controls without limiting application compatibility? We'll take you on a tour of the ActiveX Installer Service (AxIS) in Windows Vista that addresses this issue with a new way to manage ActiveX controls.

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7137204

Discover How to Modify Boot Configuration Parameters

In the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) Editor FAQ, find out what the BCD store is, why it was created, where it's located in the registry, how to modify it and more.

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7137205

TechNet Webcast: Backup and Restore in Windows Vista (Level 300)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7138605

ttfn

David