Windows 7 includes a nearly-hidden feature called Guest Mode that is primarily aimed at shared consumer PCs that need to be returned to their original running state after being used by a child or guest. The feature can be enabled on individual user accounts; when user logs off or the PC reboots, those accounts are wiped clean and returned to their original configuration. Guest Mode is useful for small classrooms, libraries, and other shared computing scenarios, but is really designed for home use, where parents may want to configure the feature for their children.

Full Article – http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/ff_pcsafeguard.asp

In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of the Distributed File System (DFS) in Windows Server 2008, which offers users simplified access to a set of file shares and helps administrators easily maintain the file server infrastructure behind those file shares, including options for load sharing, replication and site awareness.

Many File Servers and File Shares

It’s a common scenario. Over time, a company ends up with a large number of file servers that were created at different times and by different teams. The users are left to figure out where their files are stored, mapping many drives to file shares and learning complex UNC paths like \\server23\ffiles and \\finance.asia.company.com\spreadsheets and even something like \\10.1.23.45\scratch. To complicate things further, when an old file server is replaced, paths are broken and mapped drives stop working. It can be challenging.

Full Article – http://blogs.technet.com/josebda/archive/2009/03/09/the-basics-of-the-windows-server-2008-distributed-file-system-dfs.aspx

Microsoft on Wednesday is offering up more details on its would-be rival to the iPhone’s app store.

The software maker said it will charge developers $99 a year, plus $99 for each application they submit to get an app into the Windows Marketplace store. Through the end of this year, though, developers who register will be able to submit five applications at no additional charge.

The software maker defended the charge: “Microsoft will run a rigorous certification process to ensure that the end user’s experience is optimal, and that the device and network resources aren’t used in a malicious way,” a Microsoft representative said in a statement. “This process has a significant cost and Microsoft believes $99 is an acceptable cost of doing business for (software developers) looking to get in front of millions of customers.”

Full Article – http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10193205-56.html

Like I’m sure many of you, I have a lab full of virtual machines.  I can’t imagine what would happen to my productivity if I had a system crash and all of those virtual systems vanished at the same time.  The answer?  backup those virtual systems.  How is the question.  It would be quite a manual process to power down and backup each system one by one.  With the introduction of Hyper-V as a core OS component I couldn’t help but believe there would be some way in the core OS to handle the backup job required.  Fortunately, my believe seems to be correct. 

Using the built in Windows backup it is fully possible to backup your Hyper-V systems – even if they are in the running state.  Windows backup will realize they are in the running state and take appropriate action before backing them up.  I’m still testing with this and I haven’t actually tried a restore (so I shouldn’t probably be writing this until I do!) but what I have so far looks like it’s doing the job. Here’s how to set it up.

Full Article – http://blogs.msdn.com/steverac/archive/2009/03/08/backing-up-hyper-v-virtual-machines.aspx

While NT-based versions of Windows have supported per-folder encryption functionality via the Encrypting File System (EFS) for years, Windows Vista was the first to introduce full-disk encryption in the form of BitLocker. Now, in Windows 7, Microsoft has enhanced BitLocker with the ability to protect removable storage devices, such as USB-based hard drives, flash devices, and other media. This functionality is called BitLocker To Go, and while the technology is aimed squarely at enterprises, it’s quite useful for almost any Windows 7 user.

Full Article – http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/ff_bltg.asp

Several weeks ago, some pundits were quick to dismiss Windows Mobile 6.5’s honeycomb menu as a “glorified grid”, an Engadget editorial put it – “a sign that Microsoft has gone out of its way to avoid a grid”, but that’s what happens when misinformed “journalists” try to appear smart. The truth is, the honeycomb from a usability perspective is superior than traditional square grids for a touch interface. Here’s why.

Contrary to popular belief, the tip of human fingers is not squared, but in fact circle-shaped when depressed against a hard surface like a touchscreen. When you’re space-constrained as you are in something like the applications menu – where there’s a fine balance between how many icons can be displayed at one time and how easy it is to hit the icons, large circular hitareas makes it easier for users to touch the desired icons and avoid accidentally hitting nearby icons.

Full Article – http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090302/windows-mobile-65-honeycomb-menu-simple-ingenuity/

Several weeks ago, some pundits were quick to dismiss Windows Mobile 6.5’s honeycomb menu as a “glorified grid”, an Engadget editorial put it – “a sign that Microsoft has gone out of its way to avoid a grid”, but that’s what happens when misinformed “journalists” try to appear smart. The truth is, the honeycomb from a usability perspective is superior than traditional square grids for a touch interface. Here’s why.

Contrary to popular belief, the tip of human fingers is not squared, but in fact circle-shaped when depressed against a hard surface like a touchscreen. When you’re space-constrained as you are in something like the applications menu – where there’s a fine balance between how many icons can be displayed at one time and how easy it is to hit the icons, large circular hitareas makes it easier for users to touch the desired icons and avoid accidentally hitting nearby icons.

Full Article – http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090302/windows-mobile-65-honeycomb-menu-simple-ingenuity/

March 4, 2009 (Network World) Software that for the first time lets users run native copies of the Windows operating systems on a mainframe will be introduced Friday by data center automation vendor Mantissa.

The company’s z/VOS software is a CMS application that runs on IBM’s z/VM and creates a foundation for Intel-based operating systems.

Users only need a desktop appliance running Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client, which is the same technology used to attach to Windows running on Terminal Server or Citrix-based servers.

Users will be able to connect to their virtual and fully functional Windows environments without any knowledge that the operating system and the applications are executing on the mainframe and not the desktop.

Full Article – http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129024&source=rss_topic125

Shadow Copies is the informal term for Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), also known as “Previous Versions.” All three names point to the same feature: the automatic saving of copies of files. The purpose of the service is to allow you to restore these backups of files that you have lost for any reason—file corruption, for example. VSS works in conjunction with both System Restore and Windows Backup. If it’s properly set up, simply right-click a file name from within Windows Explorer and choose Restore Previous Versions to access this feature. Vista—or Windows 7, for those already using the beta of Microsoft’s new OS—will open the Properties dialog for the selected file or folder, and from there you’ll select the previous version you want to restore. Some users won’t have to set up VSS, but in case your system isn’t already configured to save versions of files, here’s how to get started.

Full Article – http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342534,00.asp

The Service Pack 2 Beta is currently available in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish. For more information about how to obtain the Service Pack 2 Beta visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites.

• TechNet Customer Preview Program for Windows Vista SP2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta

  http://technet.microsoft.com/windows/dd262148 (http://technet.microsoft.com/windows/dd262148)

• MSDN Customer Preview Program for Windows Vista 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/windows/dd262148

I’ve been working with Windows Server 2008 since pre-release betas hit the TechNet download world. Initially, my focus was work-oriented, getting my job done. I had to deploy a few servers, and I found the overall structure to be the same as 2003, so I wasn’t overly frustrated looking for new ways to do old things (like adding a simple user in Active Directory). Slowly, however, I became aware of some really nice enhancements within the latest Windows Server OS.

For example, there’s Server Core. It has a command-line interface, a lighter footprint, and a smaller attack surface (making it a welcome security choice). It has read-only domain controllers, not unlike the NT 4.0 BDC (Backup Domain Controller) concept, but with a solid purpose of remote branch office domain controller deployment and without the security risk that a writable domain controller poses.

Full Article – http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisewindows/archives/2009/03/win_server_2008.html

The DHCP server in Windows Server 2008 R2 has invested in the areas of security, reliability, manageability and usability. Similarly on the DHCP Client in Windows 7 has invested on certain optimization for obtaining IP Address.

The following changes are available in DHCP server in Windows Server 2008 R2:

· Supports MAC address based network access control mechanism, with the Link Layer based Filtering feature. With this feature DHCP Administrator can control issuance/denial of DHCP leases/IP addresses.

· Supports prevention of name squatting issues caused due to non-Windows OS machines, with the Name Protection feature. Using this feature one could prevent registration of non-Windows OS machine with a same name that is already registered for another machine in DNS Server.

Full Article – http://blogs.technet.com/teamdhcp/archive/2009/02/26/new-features-in-dhcp-for-windows-server-2008-r2-windows-7.aspx

The Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system includes changes to Windows Server® 2008 features and technologies that help improve the security of computers running Windows Server 2008 R2, increase productivity, and reduce administrative overhead. The following topics describe some of these features and technologies.

Full Article – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd391932.aspx

It’s been almost two years since I’ve looked at Apple’s Safari browser in any official capacity (see my overview of Safari 3), and for good reason: Safari simply isn’t a good option for Windows users. It never has been. And, I suspect, it never will be.

Well, kudos to Apple for keeping up the good fight. They’re back this week with a beta version of their upcoming Safari 4 browser, which appears to be Google Chrome with a few UI changes. As an Apple product, it’s immediately interesting of course. But as an Apple product, it’s also uniquely unsuitable for Windows users. And that’s too bad, because the underlying Web rendering technology utilized by Safari–WebKit–has a better than average chance of becoming the technology layer through which most of us access the Web and cloud-based services of the future. I just wish Apple could get the basics right on Windows. Safari 4, like its predecessors, is just a horrible Windows application.

Full Article – http://www.winsupersite.com/alt/safari4.asp

Windows 7 includes a nearly-hidden feature called PC Safeguard that is primarily aimed at shared consumer PCs that need to be returned to their original running state after being used by a child or guest. The feature can be enabled on individual user accounts; when user logs off or the PC reboots, those accounts are wiped clean and returned to their original configuration. PC Safeguard is useful for small classrooms, libraries, and other shared computing scenarios, but is really designed for home use, where parents may want to configure the feature for their children.

Full Article – http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/ff_pcsafeguard.asp