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Beta Invite – TruckFullOfNinjas

Sally Jones, my name is Haru. I believe you are looking for a beta invite, no? Tucked away in a hidden location inside the FunCave (can’t tellya, hafta killya) is a new project code named:
“TruckFullOfNinjas”

TFON (I call dibs on the acronym, Chris) has been tasked with resolving an issue known simply as; “The Biggest Problem With Windows“. 

“Sounds like hype” you say? Well, don’t be too quick to judge. After all, have I ever steered you wrong, gentle reader?  And before you say anything, “The Cave” was so a good movie, as was “Stealth“. Eh, well, there was that time I recommended “Sabrina” and I never lived that one down (I blame the Shiraz). But that was before your time, so it doesn’t count. 

Anyway, I digress.

To find out more about TruckFullOfNinjas, you *definitely* want to surf over and follow the instructions to get on the early list to get a beta invite when it’s announced.

Seating = limited. You + late = sad. You get the idea.

You can thank me later.  Dr. Codec

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Crazy Screenshots – 29 Network Icons in System Tray

Ping me if you’ve seen this one before.

29 network icons in the system tray. Machine is Windows XP, SP2, fully patched, AV & AS up to date, and is only 2 weeks old:

image

All icons point to the same NIC, and they all work (not screen artifacts).

Only client applications running are:

  • QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2008 Trial Version
  • Outlook 2003 SP3 with BCM 2003 (patches up to date)
  • Lacerte updater & the other icons in the system tray.

Event logs are clean. Wow. That’s all I can say. 🙂

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More News on SBS Cougar

cougarToday Microsoft TS2 presenter
Charles Van Heusen tips Microsoft’s hand a bit to show a little more information about Windows Small Business Server
(Codename “Cougar”), a.k.a. SBS 2008.

What’s to know?

  • No direct upgrades
  • Migration paths
  • Details about Standard and Premium editions (big change in Premium)

Check out Charles ‘Are You Ready for SBS Cougar‘ post for the details:
Click here

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Adding Macs to a Windows Vista Workgroup

Back in January at the EVO Launch in Louisville I met a ton of new people.  One of them was Erik Eckel from Computer Troubleshooters (super-nice guy!) 

Erik recently had an article published on TechRepublic (April 6, 2007) that I’d like to share with everyone who works in smaller Windows networks that include Macs.

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to add Macs to a Windows Vista Workgroup.    This article is a great reference with screen shots, and it’s well worth reading and bookmarking.  Saving it as a PDF is probably a good idea too, and you can do that right from the TechRepublic site.

When I met Erik, I had no idea just how prolific a writer he really is.  You can check out Erik’s bio and other articles (over 300 of them) on TechRepublic here.

Nicely done Erik!

P.S.  He’s also got an article on how to add Windows Vista machines into a Mac network.

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How to Fix Time Synchronization Errors

Handy Andy [SBS-MVP] posted this helpful time sync info to the SBS Group Leaders mailing list and on his blog today, and I thought I’d pass it along.

If your servers are not able to time sync lately, check out the batch of commands below.  This set of instructions is for servers that have been synching fine, and all of a sudden just stopped.  (If your server has never been able to time sync, see the M&M’s article on synching time on SBS. )

Here are the commands;

w32tm /configure /manualpeerlist:time-a.nist.gov,0x8 /syncfromflags:MANUAL
net stop w32time
net start w32time
w32tm /resync
pause

Copy and paste those commands into notepad, save the file as timefix.cmd on the desktop of your server.  Then just double-click it to run the batch of commands.  Be sure to watch the last command and make sure it says the sync was successful.

Note: you may want to change the time source to one local to you (here is a list of time servers), but time-a.nist.gov works fine for me (GMT -5 Eastern USA).

Source:  Handy Andy [SBS-MVP] & SmallBizServer.net

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Windows Vista Software Compatibility List

How many times in the last 2 months has a customer asked you, “Does XYZ software work with Windows Vista?” 

Personally, I lost count.  And obtaining the answer typically involves googling or surfing the manufacturer’s website.

Fortunately, the good folks over at IeXwiki have a nice wiki that lists software compatibility with Windows Vista.  The three compatibility categories are:

  • Works
  • Has problems, but they can be solved / minor unsolved
  • Heavy problems, currently incompatible

Since this is a wiki, anyone can add to or correct the list as needed.  And you also have to take the wiki with a grain of salt, because anyone can add to or correct the list as needed.  So use this site is a reference only, not a benchmark set in stone. 

For Windows Vista hardware compatibility, check out the forum on Tom’s Hardware.

Of course, you can always use the trusty Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor (6.6 MB), but that assumes that you’re sitting at the machine to run it.

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Schoolhouse Rock Meets WGA

supergeekChris doesn’t call me Doctor Codec for nothing – I LOVE playing with video and audio, especially when it’s of the Geek flavor. 

Today I found this video (run time 5:00) on the Microsoft Software Piracy Protection website, and it just smacked of Schoolhouse Rock, sans music, so I had to share it with everyone. 

It’s quirky and a little bit ‘Hey Arnold’ but it’s also very memorable and does an excellent job of reinforcing that Microsoft Volume Licensing is for UPGRADES ONLY – not naked PCs or home-built systems.  I don’t know why people don’t understand that licensing limitation this day and age, but hopefully this will help spread the word.

 

There is also a new series of videos called “Genuine Fact Files“.  They’re well done in a comic book / Dick Tracy / Geek Noir format:

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January 2007 Action Pack Update

Update kits for the January 2007 Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) are scheduled to start shipping today (01/19/2007).  You should see yours before Jan 30.

Here’s what’s NEW in the Action Pack* this month:

(10 Licenses of each above, except for Sharepoint Server Enterprise)

And of course, we all know what’s MISSING IN ACTION:

  • Microsoft Office 2003 (all flavors) – shot down
  • Microsoft Windows XP Pro (full & upgrade) – shot down
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 – MIA

I’ll spare everyone a rehash of the Windows XP & Office 2003 Action Pack removal flame war – Eric Ligman’s blog has the official word on that.  But, this interesting little tidbit may have slipped under your radar:

“The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Version Software Software Offer in the Action Pack has Expired. The Microsoft OEM version software for internal use offer in the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription expired on December 31, 2006. Software for internal use is still available via the volume licensing offering included with your Action Pack Subscription. “

(Insert blank stare here…)

Source:   Microsoft Partner Website

*North American version of the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription

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Windows Vista Hands-On Lab for Partners

The SMS&P Heartland District Partner team at Microsoft announced Windows Vista Hands on Labs taking place in February & March 2007.

Windows Vista Agenda

Objectives:

This course will provide participants with an experience of Windows Vista from a deployment and implementation perspective along with some of the service opportunities around Windows Vista.

  • Windows Vista new features & functionality
  • Business Desktop Deployment (BDD)
  • Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT 5.0)
  • Built-in Diagnostics
  • Group Policy
  • Windows Vista Hardware Accelerator

Training Location, Date & Time:

  • Southfield – Feb. 7th Microsoft Southfield Office – 19th Floor MPR  Click HERE for directions.
  • Columbus – Feb. 19th Microsoft Columbus Office MPR Click HERE for directions.
  • Nashville – March 14th Microsoft Mason Office MPR Click HERE for directions.
  • Louisville – March 16th University Of Louisville, Shelby Campus iTRC Click HERE for directions

Course commences at 9:00 am sharp and closes at 5:00. Continental Breakfast and Box Lunch will be included.

Cost: FREE

Requirements to attend:

  • Must be a Microsoft Registered Partner or above
  • Must Provide Hardware capable of running Windows Vista & Virtual Server
  • Must print Hands on Lab materials used in course work
  • Must provide external USB drive for Virtual Server Images
  • Must provide for own travel and lodging if necessary
  • Must provide long Ethernet cable for connectivity

Registration Details:

Seats are limited and will be secured on a first come; first served basis.

Southfield – Click Here to Register!

Columbus – Click Here to Register!

Nashville – Click Here to Register!

Louisville – Click Here to Register!

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Whitepaper – Wireless Networking in Windows Vista

Whitepaper Title: Wireless Networking in Windows Vista – Security, usability, and manageability improvements for wireless clients
File Name: Wireless Networking In Windows Vista.doc
Version: 1.0
Date Published: 12/14/2006
Language: English
Download Size: 1.0 MB
Pages:  24
Download URL: Click here

Description:
This whitepaper discusses the key wireless networking improvemsnts in Windows Vista.  Impovements have been made in five key areas (see below).

Whitepaper Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Core Wireless Improvements
  • Security Improvements
  • Improvements to the End-User Experience
  • Troubleshooting Improvements
  • Manageability Improvements
  • Summary
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