Tag: Windows Server 2008
Just as it did for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has released a tool designed to fix issues in the next iteration of the Windows client and server platforms in order for future installations on top of the operating system to work smoothly. In this regard, the Redmond company made available for download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 client Release Candidate and Windows Server 2008 R2 RC. The tool has the same purpose as the version aimed at Windows 7 precursors, Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.
“This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software,” Microsoft informed. However, the Redmond company failed to pinpoint the specific inconsistencies that can prevent installations on top of its next version of the Windows operating system, even as the platform is in Release Candidate stage. Read More»
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Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RTM is just around the corner. Microsoft won’t say just when the SP2 downloads will go live, but the Redmond company is providing an early notification to users to gear up for the general availability of the second service pack for Vista. It looks like the wait is almost over for both Vista SP2 RTM and for Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM, with just a few weeks separating customers from the bits. “Just a heads up to prepare for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2. It will be available in the coming weeks on the Download Center (DLC) and also through Windows Update and WSUS,” revealed a member of the Microsoft Update team.
Just as was the case with the first service pack for Windows Vista, the RTM and GA dates failed to coincide for SP2 as well. Microsoft released Vista SP2 to manufacturing at the end of April 2009, but it looks like general availability will come by the end of May. “On April 28th, we announced the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. SP2 includes all updates that were released since SP1. It also includes support for new types of hardware and other technology improvements,” the MU team representative added. Read More»
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Microsoft is delivering a complete package of tools around the Release Candidates of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Downloads such as the WAIK or Windows XP Mode are accompanying Windows 7 RC and Windows Server 2008 R2 RC, but Microsoft has even more. The Redmond company is also offering the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC). The solution is designed to bridge Windows 7 clients with server operating systems including Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2003. Remote Server Administration Tools allow administrators to manage both features and roles on machines running the server operating systems enumerated above from a remote computer with Windows 7.
“It includes support for remote management of computers that are running either the Server Core or full installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2, and for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008. Some roles and features on Windows Server 2003 can be managed remotely by using Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 RC, although the Server Core installation option is not available with the Windows Server 2003 operating system,” Microsoft informed. Read More»
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The Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 RC has accompanied the Release Candidate development milestones of Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2. The latest release of the Windows AIK is specifically tailored to the next iterations of the Windows client and server operating systems. Microsoft is offering the kit in an effort to streamline deployment of both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. According to the Redmond company, the Windows Automated Installation Kit allows for the customization and deployment of the successors of Windows Vista and Windows server 2008.
“The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool (USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK),” Microsoft informed. Read More»
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Windows 7 Release Candidate Build 7100 is now available for public download straight from Microsoft. In parallel, users can also access Windows Server 2008 R2 RC, which went live concomitantly with the client flavor of Windows 7. Together with the actual bits for Windows 7, Microsoft is also providing product keys designed to activate the operating system. The Redmond company is offering a fixed set of keys that can be used to activate an unlimited number of Windows 7 Release Candidate installations. You will be able to find the complete collection of Windows 7 activation product keys at the bottom of this article.
If you’re up for the task, you can also grab them yourselves. Just visit the official Windows 7 RC download page, scroll down, select to download the Build 7100 bits in a specific language, sign in with your Windows Live ID and get one product key. Repeat the process to grab additional items. Or simply leverage the keys offered bellow, as you can use them to activate both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7. Windows Server 2008 R2 RC is available for download here, along with the product keys. Read More»
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Just like their precursors Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2 do not feature Windows Help by default. Windows Help is a program designed to allow end users to access Help files. Microsoft has discontinued the integration of WinHlp32.exe into Windows after the release of Windows XP. Instead, the application is available via the Microsoft Download Center as a standalone download. At this point in time, the Redmond company has informed that Windows Help will come to Windows 7 only after the next iteration of Windows will be released to manufacturing.
“There is currently no WinHlp32.exe download available for Windows 7. However, a download will be available after the RTM version of Windows 7 is released,” the software giant stated. Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 users are now able to grab the Windows Help bits in order to access .HLP files. Windows Help is only offered as a standalone program from Microsoft, and is no longer available to third-party developers to be included and distributed with their software products. But this is only valid for Vista and Windows Server 2008. Windows 7 users will have to wait after the operating system’s RTM in order to grab a copy of Windows Help tailored to the operating system. Read More»
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The Security Compliance Management Toolkit series builds on previous Solution Accelerators to provide you with expanded best practices and additional automation tools to help configure and deploy security settings for the following operating systems and applications: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3, and 2007 Microsoft Office SP1.
After deploying the security settings, you can verify the accuracy of the setting policies and monitor policy changes by applying one or more of 26 Configuration Packs using the desired configuration management (DCM) feature of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1. This series includes the following toolkits:
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On March 3, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 went live on the Microsoft Download Center. A day later, Microsoft was confirming officially that the second service pack for Vista and Windows Server 2008 had indeed been made available to the public, after the bits were initially released to MSDN and TechNet subscribers the past week. SP2 for Vista is packaged both as an .EXE file, and as a standalone DVD ISO, but can additionally be accessed through Windows Update. Users who want to test the WU download and deployment process for SP2 will be able to do so with the Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Release Candidate and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Release Candidate – Windows Update Experience Kit.
“This kit contains 1) A Word document that has instructions and “things to know” before you install; 2) A command script that will set a registry key on your computer that will enable Windows Update to offer you the Service Pack. This installation option is available to computers that have any of the 36 supported Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista languages. Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for installing Service Pack 2. Please make sure that your system is running Service Pack 1 before you install Service Pack 2,” Microsoft informed. Read More»
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February 27, 2009 by
Jason
Microsoft is not only serving Critical security updates designed to patch vulnerabilities in pre-release versions of Windows 7, but also refreshes meant to boost the operating system’s compatibility level. With Win 7, the Redmond company placed a strong focus on delivering backwards compatibility with Vista-tailored software and hardware products, and even went as far as labeling the next iteration of the Windows client with version 6.1, while its precursor was just 6.0. Still, compatibility, just as security, is an ongoing effort, and Microsoft is ready to start improving Windows 7 as early as Beta Build 7000.
In this regard, the software giant made available for download the first compatibility update for Windows 7 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta. “Install this update to resolve issues with non-compatible applications for Windows 7 Beta,” Microsoft informed, indicating that the bits were also delivered through Windows Update, even if also available via the Download Center. It is important to note that in Windows 7 refreshes aimed to improve compatibility will be delivered under the same model as in Windows Vista. Read More»
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January 21, 2009 by
Jason
Microsoft is offering as a free download the Resource Kit content already made available on TechNet for the Office 2007 System. Packaged in Compiled Help format, the 2007 Office Resource Kit Technical Library weighs in at just 3.7 MB, and end-users will need an operating system capable of dealing with compiled help files, namely Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. According to Microsoft, the downloadable Office 2007 Resource Kit CHM offers nothing more than the 2007 Office Resource Kit technical library, which can be accessed on the company’s portal for IT professionals.
Essentially, the 2007 Office Resource Kit is designed as a resource centralizing a range of information, guides, walkthroughs, troubleshooting techniques etc. related to Office 2007. In this sense, the kit is set up to streamline the deployment of the Redmond company’s productivity suite in the context of corporate IT infrastructures.
“The primary administrative tools for deploying the 2007 Microsoft Office system are included with the product and are no longer available as a download as in previous Read More»
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