Forum Feed http://eightforum.com/index.php Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:41:06 +0000 0 Windows 8 Should Virtualize Everything http://eightforum.com/topic/188-windows-8-should-virtualize-everything/

An operating system that runs everything as a virtualized machine could be one of the most significant and beneficial steps Microsoft has ever taken in the continuing development of the Windows platform. Plus, there is evidence, going all the way back to the early days of Windows 7, that this is the exact direction Microsoft has been going in all along.

When I met with Windows executives at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in October 2008, they told us about the newly componentized nature of the operating system. For Windows 7, this meant a peeling away of many things that had been intrinsic to the OS.

So, all of the apps that used to come with it—the movie and DVD creation tools, messaging, and even e-mail—would now be optional. Even before Microsoft took a hatchet to Windows 7, the company had to figure out how to disentangle Internet Explorer from the operating system's core. Now, at least in the European Union, you can choose to have other browsers pre-installed on your desktop.

While these are mostly minor changes that do not get to the true core of the OS, they do, in their small way, help clear the path for Windows 8 to become the first fully virtualized Windows. I also have a theory that Microsoft has been working to reduce the size of the core OS dramatically (though the company has gone on record, saying it hates to talk about the kernel) and, even as it adds features and functionality to the interface, make it smaller, too.

If you look at what's possible on 1MB Web pages, you can see that everything Microsoft is doing on Windows 7 is little more than calls to the core OS with some lightweight graphics work on the front end. Even flashier features, like see-through panes, are really off-loaded to powerful graphics CPUs.

My point is that Windows 8 can, essentially, be a lightweight core (or kernel) and even a lighter-weight interface. Everything else can be a virtual machine. Here are the benefits.

Full story: PC Mag]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:41:06 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/188-windows-8-should-virtualize-everything/ Download Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta http://eightforum.com/topic/187-download-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-service-pack-1-sp1-beta/ Please Note: This early release of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta is not available for home users. The SP1 Beta does not provide new end-user features, and installation is not supported by Microsoft.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta helps keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level, provides ongoing improvements to the Windows Operating System (OS), by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organizations to deploy a single set of updates.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta will help you:

  • Keep your PCs supported and up-to-date
  • Get ongoing updates to the Windows 7 platform
  • Easily deploy cumulative updates at a single time
  • Meet your users' demands for greater business mobility
  • Provide a comprehensive set of virtualization innovations
  • Provide an easier Service Pack deployment model for better IT efficiency
In order to download and install the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta you must currently have a Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 already installed.

To learn more about piloting, deploying and managing Windows 7, visit the Springboard Series on TechNet.

To learn more about SP1 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2, visit the SP1 Details Page.

Download Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 2008 R2 SP 1


]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:25:02 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/187-download-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-service-pack-1-sp1-beta/ Windows 8 Forum Updated and Converted http://eightforum.com/topic/184-windows-8-forum-updated-and-converted/
To highlight some of the new features we now have:

  • Blogs
  • Integrated Download Manager
  • Facebook and Twitter logins available
  • Twitter integration


There is much more so make sure to browse the site and check everything out.

If you find any bugs please take the time to post them in the Feedback forum.

Thanks.]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:09:05 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/184-windows-8-forum-updated-and-converted/ <![CDATA[Windows 8: What I'd Like to See]]> http://eightforum.com/topic/183-windows-8-what-id-like-to-see/
Among the features mentioned: A new technology for superfast startups (a perennial boast of new versions of Windows dating at least back to Windows 98), multiuser login via face recognition, an improved help system, and a tool for restoring Windows to its original settings without munging your data.

The company would apparently like to help PC makers build machines that have some of the "it just works" reliability associated with Macs. (It turns out that consumers are willing to pay for a better experience-apparently, the price premium that Apple commands is about more than unicorn tears.)

It would be a mistake to take the leaked slides as a definitive guide to the upcoming OS: Windows 8 is still early in the development process, and the details in the deck were prepared to address early questions from hardware types, not to serve as an overarching prospectus.

And Microsoft's early pitches for forthcoming versions of Windows usually haven't been a terribly reliable predictor of the products it's actually shipped-just ask anyone who took the initial scuttlebutt about Vista very seriously.

But thinking about Windows 8 left me mulling over what I'd like to see when the the OS (which may well be called something other than Windows 8) arrives. Here's my quick wish list-I'm assuming that Win 8 will still be recognizably Windowsesque rather than an utter reimagining for the Web era...

Full story: PC World]]> Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:54:05 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/183-windows-8-what-id-like-to-see/ Windows 8 Details Leak; App Store On The Way? http://eightforum.com/topic/182-windows-8-details-leak-app-store-on-the-way/ internal Microsoft slides that suggest Windows 8 will include faster startup times, 3-D graphics support, USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, and the ability for users to log in via facial recognition technology.

The blog Microsoft Kitchen published several additional slides Monday that are dated April 2010. The information in the slides is sparse, but there are plenty of revealing tidbits.

With Windows 8, Microsoft is planning to launch an application store from which users will be able to buy apps for PCs and other devices that run Windows. One slide describes it as "Store as a Service" and notes that Microsoft sees its developer army as a significant advantage to getting up and running quickly.

"It's clear that the 'Windows Store' will be a software service Microsoft provides and hosts fully in the cloud," the Microsoft blog Neowin reported Monday. "The company will likely build the distribution model on Windows Azure to lure application developers."

Windows 8 will also give partners plenty of opportunities to differentiate their hardware and software through customization. In one slide titled "How Apple Does It", Microsoft notes how the user experience associated with Apple products helps quickly establish their value in the minds of consumers. While Apple fans will feel vindicated by this, Microsoft can legitimately say it's able to give customers want they want in a way that it wasn't able to prior to Windows 7.

Performance in Windows 8 is also earmarked for improvement. For slates and laptops, Microsoft is focusing on resume-from-sleep performance of less than one second, according to one slide. "Windows 8 PCs turn on fast, nearly instantly in some cases, and are ready to work without any long or unexpected delays," reads one of the purported Microsoft slides.

Microsoft is also planning to connect Windows accounts to the cloud so that users' settings and preferences can follow them to any device they use, according to one slide.

A Microsoft representative told CRN the company is still investigating the validity of the slides. However, given the company's unwavering refusal to comment on Windows 7-related rumors that surfaced prior to its launch, it's a good bet that "Microsoft doesn't comment on future versions of Windows" will be the official response.

Source: CRN]]> Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:52:39 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/182-windows-8-details-leak-app-store-on-the-way/ More Windows 8 hints, this time on the virtualization front http://eightforum.com/topic/181-more-windows-8-hints-this-time-on-the-virtualization-front/

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Microsoft watchers have combed through a leaked slide deck about Windows 8 over the past couple of weeks for clues about Microsoft?s next version of Windows. A French site, Ma-Config.com, this week unearthed some additional Windows 8 information, as well.

Granted, the new Windows 8 information is "old." It dates back to March 2009, when ITManager.com published the first part of an interview with Bernard Ourghanlian, Technical and Security Director with Microsoft France. Microsoft may have shifted its Windows plans and priorities considerably since then.

But the interview still contains some telling tidbits about Microsoft?s thinking, regarding desktop virtualization and system updates which may become part of Windows 8. And given the fact that Microsoft officials said last year that systems-management/updating technologies would be key to Windows 8, I?m inclined to think at least some of what Ourghanlian discussed still holds.
Source: All About Microsoft]]> Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:41:43 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/181-more-windows-8-hints-this-time-on-the-virtualization-front/ <![CDATA[Windows 8 and Server "Next" to Be Developed in Parallel]]> http://eightforum.com/topic/180-windows-8-and-server-next-to-be-developed-in-parallel/ Quote

The transition according to Microsoft for client and server operating systems are ? minor?then major?then minor?etc. That is how server and tools unit president Bob Muglia sees it. Basically, Microsoft is sticking to a schedule presented several years ago. It stated that the server and tools unit would put out alternating minor and major versions every two years. The most recent update of the server version of Windows 7, called Windows Server 2008 R2, was a minor update. This update was completed last year.


Source: Windows 8 News]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:42:57 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/180-windows-8-and-server-next-to-be-developed-in-parallel/ help http://eightforum.com/topic/179-help/
After checking the configuration of a local drive, I have to create a partition for the construction of the image. What tool I need to use to create partitions?
Can I use partition magic or not? Can someone help me about that?
Sorry for bad English...]]> Sun, 23 May 2010 12:32:30 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/179-help/ Hello http://eightforum.com/topic/178-hello/ Hello to all of you... I hope that I will find everything that interests me about Windows... Sun, 23 May 2010 12:25:12 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/178-hello/ Get on the Bus. Get a free copy of Windows 7 http://eightforum.com/topic/177-get-on-the-bus-get-a-free-copy-of-windows-7/
We are giving away 50 copies of Windows 7 Ultimate for the first 50 Get On the Bus event attendees through the door at EVERY STOP! Don’t miss your chance to win a copy of Microsoft’s newest software offering - register today at www.thebustour.com.]]> Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:16:06 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/177-get-on-the-bus-get-a-free-copy-of-windows-7/ Windows Home Server Version 2 Public Beta http://eightforum.com/topic/176-windows-home-server-version-2-public-beta/ Wanna Peek at the Next Version of Windows Home Server? Check out the new public beta for Windows Home Server, Code Name “Vail”


Many of you may already know that Microsoft has been hard at work on the next version of Windows Home Server. We are excited to announce today that the beta of this next version (code name “Vail”) is now available. We invite everyone to check it out by downloading the software from the Microsoft Connect site. (English language builds are available now). We are releasing this Vail beta with one express goal: to solicit your feedback!


So what’s new and exciting in this next version? Although we’re still in the midst of development work (and things may change), we can say that Vail includes feature improvements in four key areas:

  • Extending media streaming outside the home or office
  • Multi-PC backup and restore
  • Simplified setup and user experience
  • Expanded development and customization tools for partners

[ame][/ame]

Source: Windows Team Blog

]]> Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:01:46 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/176-windows-home-server-version-2-public-beta/ 100 Million Windows 7 Licenses Sold http://eightforum.com/topic/175-100-million-windows-7-licenses-sold/

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"To put that in context, more 10% of all PCs worldwide are already running Windows 7 today," said Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's in-house Windows blogger, in a post. For the quarter, Windows sales were up 28% year-over-year, to $4.4 billion.
Still, Microsoft's Windows XP, now almost a decade old, remains the most popular OS. It's currently on 64.5% of PCs, according to data from market watcher Net Applications. Windows Vista holds a 10.2% share.

Overall, Microsoft said earnings per share for the period increased 36%, year-over-year, to 45 cents. Net income climbed 35%, to $4.01 billion, on record revenue of $14.5 billion, a 6% gain from the year ago quarter.

Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were, on average, expecting Microsoft to report quarterly EPS of 42 cents, and income of $4.8 billion on revenue of $14.4 billion.

Microsoft's results were mixed across its other product lines. Sales in its Server and Tools division increased 2.4%, to $3.6 billion.

Revenue from the company's Business unit was off 6%, to $4.2 billion, as customers remained on the sidelines in anticipation of the arrival of Office 2010, which is set for release in June. In addition to the standard versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, Office 2010 also includes free access to Web-based editions of the apps.

Sales in Microsoft's Online Services unit were up 12%, to $566 million, while revenue from the company's Entertainment & Devices group, which is home to the Xbox and Windows Games products, rose 2.2%, to $1.7 billion.

Microsoft shares were off 1.82%, to $30.82, in mid-afternoon trading Friday.

News source: InformationWeek]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:03:40 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/175-100-million-windows-7-licenses-sold/ Microsoft launches Windows Fix-It tool http://eightforum.com/topic/174-microsoft-launches-windows-fix-it-tool/ Fixit Center client is currently in beta, and can be downloaded free of charge.

"Irrespective of what versions people are running, and many aren't running Windows 7 today, we need to support those customers just as well," said Brownell, explaining Microsoft's decision.

Microsoft used the same technology that powers the scripted diagnostic feature within Windows 7, dubbed Action Center - in some cases, the same code - to craft the client software for Windows XP and Vista.

"It's not as seamless as in Windows 7," Brownell acknowledged, noting that the network troubleshooter in Windows 7 is integrated such that it pops up when users experience problems running Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). "But many of the troubleshooters are exactly the same." Although Microsoft wrote the troubleshooters to add to Windows 7, they were developed so that they would work on older versions of the operating system.

"The value you get with Windows 7 is integration," she said.

The Fixit Center client scans users' PCs on demand, looks for potential problems, then presents a list offering to automatically apply fixes or give the user control over possible solutions to implement. Unlike Windows 7's Action Center, the client must be manually launched in XP or Vista.

Users can link the client to a Windows Live ID account to allow the client to detect hardware and software configurations, then store that information, including any troubleshooting results, on Microsoft's severs. Microsoft technical support personnel can also remotely access the software's log to determine what troubleshooters, if any, were run, and the results - but only if the user explicitly approves that move.

Quote

"They can access a history of what troubleshooters have been run, as well as what drivers have been installed," Brownell said, "but they can't access any data files on your hard drive."


Source: PC Advisor]]> Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:39:02 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/174-microsoft-launches-windows-fix-it-tool/ The ultimate guide to Windows 7 security http://eightforum.com/topic/173-the-ultimate-guide-to-windows-7-security/ Learn how to put AppLocker, BitLocker to Go, security accounts, and other key Windows 7 security improvements to good use.

Quote

Windows 7 has been warmly received and swiftly adopted by businesses, with the result that many IT admins are now struggling with the platform's new security features. In addition to changes to User Account Control, BitLocker, and other features inherited from Windows Vista, Windows 7 introduces a slew of security capabilities that businesses will want to take advantage of.


Windows 7 improves on Vista with a friendlier UAC mechanism, the ability to encrypt removable media and hard drive volumes, broader support for strong cryptographic ciphers, hassle-free secure remote access, and sophisticated protection against Trojan malware in the form of AppLocker, to name just a few.


Source: InfoWorld]]> Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:35:24 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/173-the-ultimate-guide-to-windows-7-security/ Building a Technical Proof of Concept http://eightforum.com/topic/172-building-a-technical-proof-of-concept/ For the Joint Deployment of Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010.

Walk through the process of creating a technical proof of concept to help you see how Windows 7 and Office 2010—as part of the Microsoft Optimized Desktop—will work in your environment.


The Microsoft Optimized Desktop comprises Windows 7, Office 2010, Internet Explorer 8, and the Microsoft Destkop Optimization Pack.


Source: Microsoft Technet]]> Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:44:11 +0000 http://eightforum.com/topic/172-building-a-technical-proof-of-concept/