Windows Client (Vista and XP) - Active X installer service, Volume Activation Tool, Diagnosing XP crashes, modifying the boot configuration parameters

David Overton — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:32:00 GMT

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

Technorati Tags: Windows Vista, Windows XP, BCD Parameters, Backup and Restore, Vista, VAMT

How to copy files to a DVD / CD, Use the recycle bin, Use previous versions for files and Use the built in Vista backup tools - all in a Video presented with Silverlight

David Overton — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:46:00 GMT

The Video

I have delivered a number of Vista and Office demos over my time, so I decided to record a number of them for others to borrow, use, learn from or anything else they choose.

This video covers the following subjects in enough detail for people to hopefully understand what they need to know on how to use these tools:

Use of the recycle bin
Use of shadow copies to undo changes to a document
Use of the DVD writing tools to copy and update files on a DVD
Use of the built in Vista Backup tools

To see the Backup Video played using Silverlight (just try it) click here*. If you want to download it as a WMV file then head over to the new bCentral - the UK Small Business Center on MS.com - It should appear on this page soon.

* it will take a few moments to open if you have Silverlight installed and require you to download Silverlight if you don't, but it is a 1MB download

How I made it

I simply ran through part of my normal demo talking as I went. When presenting to an audience it is easy to correct anything you do without anyone caring, however I tried to fix up the videos so this was not a problem. This has one drawback which is that the sound is not that good (one of those things I want to fix, but have not yet got round to) due to editing & cutting of the videos. I find it really hard to talk and move the mouse to the right place at the same time without a fluff in either my words or my mouse movements.

Having captured the video is was simple to turn them into "Silverlight" Videos that were hosted on the Silverlight Streaming site for your pleasure - if you like them I can do more. Feel free to re-record the audio and play for your customers of make as a download for them.

I have cut 10 videos to date and will release them over the next 2 weeks. The videos cover:

For Vista - How to

copy files to a DVD / CD, Use the recycle bin, Use previous versions for files and Use the built in Vista backup to
check for Updates in Windows Vista
use the new Security features in Vista and Internet Explorer to stop malware (spyware and viruses) from infecting your computer
share files using Live Messenger

For Office 2007 - How to

find and use an Accounting template to use with Office Excel 2007 and then change it from US to UK currency, change the formatting of dates and drag lists (or Excel Tips and Tricks 1)
use Conditional Formatting in Office Excel 2007 to make numbers easier to read (or Excel Tips and Tricks 2)
remove hidden information from Office 2007 documents using the document inspector
use Office Outlook 2007 with any internet connection and how to access Outlook Web Access from any web browser
take an ordinary document and make it look even more professional with cover pages, table of contents, formatting of headings, titles and numbering, changing paragraph spacing, insert pictures and diagrams to have impact and using SmartArt to make processes easier to understand.

For Both - How to

take your files with you using Vista Offline folders and Office Outlook 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services V3