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Archive for July, 2007

Defrag your system with freeware

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

Sysinternals’ PageDefrag is one freeware programs that you must have on your usb drive.

PageDefrag lets you defragment immovable system files.

It won’t defrag while the system is actually running, but at the next reboot it will defrag the system.

The utility defragments the page file, the event logs, the Registry hives and the hibernation files, all of which normally cannot be defragmented.

When first run, PageDefrag generates a report that describes the location of those files, how many clusters they occupy and how many fragments they’re in. You’re then presented with three options:

  1. Defragment once at the next reboot,
  2. Defragment at each boot time with a countdown delay, or
  3. Disable defragmentation.

 

If you choose either of the first two options, defragmentation will occur at the next reboot before the Windows GUI loads, and the program will provide real-time feedback on its progress. PageDefrag can also be invoked from the command line or in a script; you don’t need to use the GUI to trigger it.

Video: iPod Parody by Steve Balmer

Monday, July 30th, 2007

This week in Microsoft Downloads

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Microsoft Download Notifications is a weekly mailing that points you to the latest free downloads and download-related services from Microsoft. The following offerings are now available in your preferred categories. Register now if you are not already receiving this free mailing. To find more downloads, visit the Microsoft Download Center. For support with downloads, visit the Help and Support site.

Windows

Download Windows Media Player 11

Download Windows Media Player 11

Get the media player for all your digital entertainment needs.

No new downloads were published this week.

Microsoft Update

Visit Microsoft Update for the latest updates to Windows, Office, and other Microsoft applications. Also, learn how to have automatic security updates delivered to your computer.

All recently published Windows downloads

Office and home applications

Maps in 3D: Install for Free

Maps in 3D: Install for Free

Visit Live Search Maps and see locations in a new way with dramatic bird’s eye and 3D views.

Office Update

Scan your computer for updates that help improve the stability and security of the Office programs on your computer.

Office 2003 Service Pack 3 Administrative Template, OPAs, and Explain Text Update

The download includes updated Group Policy Administrative Template files, OPA files, and an updated Microsoft Excel workbook that lists the Administrative Template policy settings and OPA settings.

Access 2007 Download: Access Runtime

This download enables you to distribute Access 2007 applications to users who do not have the full version of Access 2007 installed on their computers.

All recently published Office and home downloads

Server applications

Windows Server 2003 R2, Service Pack 2

Windows Server 2003 R2, Service Pack 2

The SP2 update can be applied to all Windows Server 2003 products and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

Exchange Hosted Services Directory Synchronization Tool

This tool enables you to securely synchronize selected data between your Active Directory and Exchange Hosted Services.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SDK (July 2007)

This SDK provides new and updated documentation and samples for building applications that use Exchange 2007.

ISA Server Best Practices Analyzer Tool

This tool is designed for administrators who want to determine the overall health of their ISA Server computers and to diagnose current problems.

All recently published server application downloads

System management tools

Download Windows Server Update Services

Download Windows Server Update Services

Manage the distribution of updates released through Microsoft Update to computers in your network.

Exchange Hosted Services Directory Synchronization Tool

This tool enables you to securely synchronize selected data between your Active Directory and Exchange Hosted Services.

Office 2003 Service Pack 3 Administrative Template, OPAs, and Explain Text Update

The download includes updated Group Policy Administrative Template files, OPA files, and an updated Microsoft Excel workbook that lists the Administrative Template policy settings and OPA settings.

Systems Management Server 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update

This tool is an add-on to SMS 2003 Service Pack 1 that enables customers to use the SMS 2003 Software Update Management feature to update their Dell servers.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals Service Release 1

This service release adds support for cross-database references and improves support for files and filegroups.

All recently published system management tool downloads

JOIN THE MICROSOFT.COM ONLINE RESEARCH PANEL

Make an impact on Microsoft Web sites, products, and services by participating in this research panel, open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Experience Windows Server 2008

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Windows Server 2008 Beta Is Now Available for Download

The next generation of the Windows Server operating system gives you more control, greater flexibility, and increased protection for your server infrastructure while reducing time and costs. And when you download or order the beta software, you’re automatically registered to access valuable beta resources assembled in one convenient Beta Central location.

Windows Server 2008 Virtual Labs

Come experience the next major release of Windows Server. Test-drive new and improved features and functionality in the Windows Server 2008 release, including management, network protection, and improvements to Terminal Services. New labs will continue to be added and updated to the series so check back frequently.

Virtual Server 2005 Resources

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

Product Links

?Virtual Server Technical Resources


Webcasts and Videos

?Architectural Best Practices for Virtual Server

?How Microsoft IT Improved Efficiency Using Virtual Server 2005

?Automating a Test Lab Using Virtual Server


Whitepapers

?Virtual PC vs. Virtual Server: Comparing Features and Uses

?Installing the Virtual Server Administration Website on a Separate Computer

?Using iSCSI with Virtual Server 2005 R2

?Virtual Server 2005 Technical Reference


Case Studies

?See how companies use Virtual Server 2005 to develop solutions that are tailored to meet their business needs


Community

?Join Microsoft’s Virtualization Pro Community

Tip: View and copy document content without opening the document

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

If you are using Office 2007, don’t bother opening the file just to view it’s content.

Use the preview pane in Windows Vista to view all parts of your document, and even copy content, directly from Windows Explorer. Notice, for example, the data selected in the preview of a sample Excel workbook in the image that follows.

Preview pane in Windows Vista

To open the Preview pane, on the Start menu click Computer to open a Windows Explorer window, or press Windows+E. On the Windows Explorer toolbar, click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Preview. Note that once the Preview pane is open, you can drag the left edge of the pane to reduce or increase its size.

Vista Tips, Office 2007 tips, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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Microsoft Downloads: July 20 2007

Monday, July 23rd, 2007

Microsoft Download Notifications is a weekly mailing that points you to the latest free downloads and download-related services from Microsoft. The following offerings are now available in your preferred categories. Register now if you are not already receiving this free mailing. To find more downloads, visit the Microsoft Download Center. For support with downloads, visit the Help and Support site.

Windows

Get a free safety scan from OneCare

Free Safety Scan from Windows Live OneCare

Get a free scan to remove viruses, improve your computer’s performance, and more.

Microsoft Update

Visit Microsoft Update for the latest updates to Windows, Office, and other Microsoft applications. Also, learn how to have automatic security updates delivered to your computer.

No new downloads were published this week.

All recently published Windows downloads

Office and home applications

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007

Save time, get organized, and sell online.

Office Update

Scan your computer for updates that help improve the stability and security of the Office programs on your computer.

This download is available to users running genuine Microsoft Windows. Click the icon for more information.

Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta

With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts, for free.

Live Meeting Lotus Notes Add-In Pack

With this add-in, you can use IBM Lotus Notes to perform Live Meeting tasks, such as scheduling meetings, without logging into the Conference Center.

All recently published Office and home downloads

Server applications

Windows Server Update Services

Download Windows Server Update Services

Manage the distribution of updates that are released through Microsoft Update to computers in your network.

SharePoint Server 2007 SDK and Enterprise Content Management Starter Kit

This SDK contains conceptual overviews, programming tasks, code samples, references, and an Enterprise Content Management starter kit to help develop solutions based on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SDK

This SDK contains conceptual overviews, programming tasks, samples, and references to help develop solutions based on Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

TechReady 2007 Exchange Web Services Samples

The TechReady 2007 Exchange Web Services samples show how to integrate Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 data within line-of-business applications and third-party solutions by using the new Exchange Web Services feature.

All recently published server application downloads

System management tools

MBSA 2.0.1

Download Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0.1

Use MBSA to scan your Windows systems to identify common security misconfigurations.

Microsoft Premier Services Reporting Utility (PFE Version)

This download is a batch utility to automate the gathering of diagnostic information from Windows for troubleshooting.

All recently published system management tool downloads

JOIN THE MICROSOFT.COM ONLINE RESEARCH PANEL

Make an impact on Microsoft Web sites, products, and services by participating in this research panel, open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Microsoft Weekly, MBSA, Microsoft, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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links for 2007-07-23

Sunday, July 22nd, 2007

links for 2007-07-20

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

links for 2007-07-19

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007

Windows: Backup System State Data with Commands

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007

To back up System State data using a command line:

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. To backup the System State data, type: ntbackup backup systemstate

Value Description
systemstate specifies that you want to back up the System State data.

When you select this option, the backup type will be forced to copy.

For information about additional backup options, see the ntbackup command-line utility.

For example, to create a backup job named “Backup Job 1″ that backs up the System State data to the file C:backup.bkf, type:

ntbackup backup systemstate /J “Backup Job 1″ /F “C:backup.bkf”

All other options will default to those specified in the Backup program.

Notes:
To open command prompt, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

ntbackup /

If you do not specify the other backup options, ntbackup will use the backup program’s default values for the backup type, verification setting, logging level, hardware compression and any other settings.

 

Windows Backup, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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Windows: Administrator Password ends with S or L

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

You are in trouble!

Your monitor is blank, ideally because you are in power save mode. However the reality is that the console session may not be locked. You may still be logged in and it’s just the monitor.

Out of habit you inadvertently hit Ctrl+Alt+Del keys. Doomed!

Because in the above scenario, if you have a password that ends with the letter “S” or “L,” you’ll actually be sending the command to shut down or log off when you hit Enter. Once the monitor comes online, you’ll see your logged-on session will either be logging off or shutting down the server on you.

To recreate this issue, log onto a server using its console (aka the keyboard and monitor connected directly to the server). When you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, the Windows Security dialog box appears. Now hit either the “S” or “L” key. It will activate the appropriate button. Then a final corresponding “Are you sure you want to do this action?” window appears. If you hit Enter, that action is applied.

VIA: TechTarget

Windows Admin, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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Windows: View Services from Command Line

Monday, July 16th, 2007

What services are running in Windows? Why go through the hassles of task manager?

View them from command line!

C:\>NET START

These Windows services are started:

Application Layer Gateway Service

Automatic Updates

Windows Services, Windows Commands, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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Windows: ByPass USB AutoPlay

Friday, July 13th, 2007

Here’s how to configure Windows to by pass AutoPlay dialog box and launch Windows Explorer when you insert your USB key in.

  1. Insert your flash drive into the USB port.
  2. When you see the AutoPlay dialog box, click Cancel.
  3. Open My Computer, right-click your flash drive icon, and select Properties.
  4. In the Properties dialog box, select the AutoPlay tab.
  5. Perform the following steps for each item in the Content Type drop-down list:
    - Select an item in the Content Type drop-down list.
    - Choose Select An Action To Perform in the Actions panel.
    - Select the Open Folder To View Files In Windows Explorer action.
    - Click the Apply button.
  6. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

Windows Explorer, USB, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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Windows: Fix Hidden Apps

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

A lot of Windows applications retain memory and this generally happens when you see the icon in the Taskbar, but it doesn’t appear or come to the foreground when you click on it.

Here is the fix for it:

  1. Right-click on the application button in the Taskbar and select Size. Better yet, press the S key. This way, you’ll be using the keyboard immediately.
  2. Look for a four-way arrow cursor somewhere on the screen. It might be along one of the edges of the screen, or tucked up in a corner.
  3. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to try and expand the window size. If you don’t see anything, you might be expanding an extent of the window that’s not visible yet (i.e., it might be offscreen). Press Enter to end the sizing operation.

 

Immediately after you select Size, the arrow key you strike will determine which edge of the window you’re resizing. For instance, if you hit Size and then press the right arrow key, the right edge of the window will be the one sized. You might need to size each window edge separately by selecting an edge, sizing it, pressing Enter and then repeating the process for another edge. This is a simple two-step process.

  1. Right-click on the application button in the Taskbar and select Move. This will again cause a four-way cursor to appear somewhere.
  2. Use the arrow keys to move the window into view now that it’s been sized properly.

 

Via TechTarget

Windows Tip, XP Tip, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

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About Microsoft Talk

My name is Brick ONeil, and I’ve been with the 451 Press Network since March 2007. I’m the new blogger for Microsoft Talk. We’ll be discussing ‘About Microsoft’ itself. What’s happening, who’s coming/going, what new technologies they’re coming out with, updates and upgrades. I’ll try to bring you news each day that impacts your daily life and use of Microsoft products, or just interesting information I think you’ll enjoy

Microsoft Talk Author(s)
    » Brick-ONeil

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