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Why Skipping Vista & Going Straight from XP to 7 is the Best Option – For Some of Us

Gosia Grabowska — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Vista sales still down — and Microsoft knows it!

Vista sales since its first release date have never been what Microsoft anticipated. Microsoft thought that this is going to be the most popular Operating System yet — with a new look, new features, awesome security, etc. Unfortunately as soon as Vista came out problems started arising. We’re all pretty much aware of these issues so I won’t list them here.

Today, Vista sales are still quite low. Some people think that Vista is not being adopted due to the fact that there is an increase in sales of systems with base-level OS that boot into an online access (check out Brian Nelson’s article on skipping Vista).

In my opinion this isn’t the case. I think that Vista is still just not that popular.

Even though most of the problems and issues have been fixed, many people still think of Vista as nothing but problems (I know I do). It’s still a little slow, if you ask me, compared to XP. So when someone is out shopping for a new system and sees that there is an option to get Windows XP, many go for it. Check out Dell.com — I was able to pick a nice gaming system and have them install XP Pro on it. There must be a reason for it. Microsoft knows that a lot of us still prefer XP over Vista.

Windows XP problems

My good friend Dave posted a comment to one of my previous posts saying that Windows XP also had problems. Of course it did. And guess what Dave, Windows 7 is going to have lots of problems too.

All Microsoft products have little kinks and smaller or bigger problems that need to be worked out before the products become decent. My point about Vista was that it was supposed to be this best thing ever — and unfortunately Microsoft fell flat on it. Many people will agree with me.

Sure Vista is better now and a lot of people use it. But I am not going to buy it, just so I can buy Windows 7 again in few months. And by the way, I did learn Vista (my desktop has Vista on it) and I even passed Vista certification so that is just not the point.

The future of Windows XP

I, as well as many other XP users, don’t need to worry about using XP until Windows 7 gets released. Why? Well, because Microsoft already confirmed that they do not plan on cutting the support anytime soon. In fact Microsoft stated: “We plan to provide support for Windows XP until 2014.” That’s plenty of time, if you ask me. You will have time for the Windows 7 to be released, fixed (we all know there will be bugs, right Microsoft? hehe), and tested before you move over to the new OS.

Who should upgrade to Vista right now?

If your company buys you a new system and it has Vista installed on it — you should start getting use to it. Windows 7 is going to be quite similar to Vista (hopefully with fewer problems) so if you have no choice but to use Vista, then I think you should do it. Who knows, maybe I am going to be “forced” to use Vista too on my new laptop.

Skipping Vista — is it a good idea?

There’s nothing wrong for some of us (hardcore XP users) to wait for Windows 7. XP still works fine, it is quite stable, and it is going to be supported for at least 4 more years.

We need to understand that it may not be a good idea to move over to the new OS until second quarter of 2010, or later, but that’s only about 12 -16 months away. That’s nothing, right? That is just the right amount of time to plan for our new system, because you will more than likely need a new hard drive, video card, processor, etc.

One more thing to keep in mind if you are going to be buying a new system with XP on it — make sure it is “Vista ready” as the system requirements for Windows 7 will be very similar.

Good luck and hopefully I will see you on the other side in a year!

Why I hate Vista and can’t wait to start using Windows 7

Gosia Grabowska — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:52:09 +0000

Many of you will agree with me that Vista experience just sucks. Today I’d like to talk about why I don’t like Vista and I’ll also list some improvements in Windows 7 that will solve some of the annoying Vista issues.

• Vista is So Slow

You install Vista, then you wait for it to boot up … and wait … and wait … you drink your coffee and wait some more — oh and finally it’s up! Now you try to open up Word and you wait… and wait… and wait…

What the heck is taking so long?

• UAC is Annoying

Now you’re ready to download and install a new program but before you can do that Vista needs to make sure that you know what you’re doing so you get the “Do you really want to install this?” message. Once you click yes, Vista says “Are you sure?” — yes! “Positive?” — YES!!!

How annoying.

• Everything is in the Wrong Place

I consider myself to be quite knowledgeable about my ways around XP. I’ve been using it for years and when I need to do something I know exactly where to go and how to do it.

But when I installed Vista I was lost! I found myself unproductive, annoyed, and at some point I thought I was losing my brain cells. Microsoft completely changed the location of every important thing.

Needless to say, after all the disappointments with Vista I went back to XP.

Damn you Vista!

And the fact that I’m not the only one who hates using Vista just proves my point. There are lots of people out there dedicated to pointing out the different Vista shortcomings. Like this (really funny) blog post: Who Gave You Permission to Restart?? from the Why Vista Sucks blog.

Why I can’t wait to start using Windows 7

I’m also not the only person out there who can’t wait to start using Windows 7. Don’t get me wrong, I love my XP but I’m ready for a new OS and Vista just doesn’t do it for me — so I’m getting ready for a Windows 7 upgrade.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

• Windows 7 is Faster

Microsoft has reduced the amount of data needed to boot and shut down the computer, and multiple tests have confirmed that Windows 7 is at least 20% faster than Vista. Applications and programs also seem to run faster and smoother in Windows 7.

• Windows 7 has Improved UAC

Windows 7 UAC will be improved in two major ways:

You will have more control over the UAC notifications — so as an administrator you can determine the range of notifications that you receive.

UAC notifications will be less annoying and more valuable — they will actually provide you with relevant information so that you can understand what the situation means so you can make an informed decision and not just a blind choice.

• Much Cooler Taskbar

This might not be a huge improvement for Vista users, but it’s definitely a huge step for those switching from XP to Windows 7.

The Windows 7 taskbar is resizable providing you with the ability to rearrange the icons as you see fit. You can also roll your mouse over the icons to see a thumbnail of the applications you have open (see below).

• Better Device Management

Windows 7 specifies which device is which easily with the use of large photo-realistic icons to help make it easier to find and fix possible problems.

Are you planning on making the move from XP to Windows 7?

Last week I heard my coworkers raving about Windows 7 beta, and you know what? I think I’ll be ok with leaving my XP for a much improved version of Vista. Are you planning on doing the same?

If you’re like me and can’t wait for Windows 7 to be officially released see how you can Make XP Look Like Windows 7.

Windows 7 Exams are on the Way – Is a Vista Certification Still Worth it?

Lisa Szpunar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:42:45 +0000

Those of us perpetual learners started wondering about Windows 7 certifications as soon as we got the beta in our hands. Unfortunately, the wait has just begun. The Born to Learn blog revealed that development on three Windows 7 certifications has begun.

Here are the three new Windows 7 exam names:

70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring
70-685, MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
70-686, MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator

So with whispers in the air about these new exams you may have a decision to make:

Do I get certified in configuring Vista or wait and get certified in Windows 7?

I think you know the answer to this without me having to tell you. Get your Vista certification! We all know that once a release happens there is no magic switch thrown that makes all legacy software obsolete. So that means your Vista cert. won’t be outdated right away either.

Also, once you have passed the Vista exam, studying for a Windows 7 exam will be a piece of cake. There is only one reason to wait: you are a chronic procrastinator and the advent of a new exam gives you the perfect excuse to put off studying.

Even if you are focused on studying big bad Vista – news about Windows 7 certifications is still exciting. So here are some Questions and Answers, from what we know so far – for you procrastinators and non-procrastinators alike:

Windows 7 Certification Q & A

Q: What the heck is MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator?

A: A new category, for those responsible for managing an organization’s desktop environment on a large scale. That means planning and configuring the desktop infrastructure.

Q: Will a Windows 7 certification replace the Windows Vista requirement in the MCITP certifications?

A: The Windows 7 Technology Specialist certification will only become an alternative option to fulfill the desktop requirement for the applicable MCITP paths.

Q: Will there be an upgrade path from a Vista to a Windows 7 certification?

A: The official word is not out yet, but I personally assume there will be an upgrade path to the Technology Specialist cert. or maybe even the Enterprise Desktop Support Technician because there are comparable certifications to upgrade from.

Q: Will the beta exams be public or by invitation?

A: This decision hasn’t been made yet. If they do decide on the invitation route – The Born to Learn blog says the best way to get an invite is to check out the Microsoft Certification Beta Exams info page and then subscribe to the MCP Flash newsletter.

Q: Where can I find the latest updates about the beta exam?

A: Keep an eye out at the Beta Exam blog

Q: Are there objective guides available for any of the Windows 7 exams?

A: Nope. Come on… They just started developing the exams.

Do you have any other questions…any other answers?

If so please leave them in the comment section below.

Downgradable Windows 7 — Downgrade Not Just to Vista, But XP Too

Gosia Grabowska — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:45:37 +0000

Yes, you heard me correctly — Microsoft confirmed earlier this week that Windows 7 will give you the ability to downgrade to Windows XP as well as Windows Vista.

Now, maybe not a lot of people will want to downgrade back to Vista, but the fact that we will be able to downgrade to XP is great (I’m still using XP on my system, so it’s good news for me).

This isn’t anything new as the downgrade rights were also available with Vista, but including these rights with Windows 7 Microsoft will definitely increase sales of its new OS. If you encounter any problems with Windows 7 and for some reason you won’t be able to continue using it, you will have the comfort to know that you can always downgrade to your favorite Windows XP (well, at least my favorite — ask my boss).

This is quite important for both individual users as well as companies spending millions of dollars on upgrades.

What do you think about the Windows 7 downgrades?

Do you think Microsoft made the right decision to offer Vista and XP downgrade options in Windows 7? Do you think you’ll be taking advantage of the downgrade?

Some of us here at Train Signal are already testing out the beta version and from what I’ve heard Windows 7 beta is pretty good. That said, I don’t think a lot of people will be downgrading from Windows 7, but it’s always good to give users more options. Let me know if you are testing it as well and share your thoughts with us.

I’m going to wait for the Windows 7 release and completely skip Windows Vista. When is it going to happen? Well, I’m not sure as Microsoft hasn’t announced a release date for Windows 7 yet. The speculations are that Microsoft’s new OS might be available in October this year. I think I can wait 6 more months.

How Can You Benefit from Windows 7

Kasia Grabowska — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:39:34 +0000

It seems that everyone is talking about Windows 7 these days, but have you looked at how the new os will be able to benefit you?

You’ve heard people say that Windows 7 is better than Vista and XP, that it has more features and that the 6 editions that you’ll get to choose from will have everything you need in an os.

But what are the improvements in Windows 7 that will benefit you? How can you be sure if upgrading to Windows 7 (or better yet, skipping Vista) is the right choice for you?

Well these aren’t easy decisions to make, and I’m not going to tell you what to do. What I am going to do is provide you with the resources and information you need to help you make the right decision.

Introducing Windows 7

To start off, take a look at this Introducing Windows 7 video from Microsoft (make sure you’re using IE to view it).

If you haven’t been reading up about Windows 7 or playing around with the beta, this is a good place to start.

Windows 7 Features

Another nice way (and a bit more in-depth) to learn about the new features in Windows 7 is on TechNet, in a little section called Windows 7 Feature Walkthroughs.

The videos in this lineup include:

User State Migration Tool
DirectAccess
User Account Control (UAC)
AppLocker
Problem Steps Recorder (probably the coolest thing I’ve seen)
and a few others

Windows 7 Improvements

There are a few places where you can learn more details about the major improvements in Windows 7.

One document I’d definitely recommend taking a closer look at is the Windows 7 Manageability Overview created by Microsoft. It includes information about reducing cost of ownership, increasing automation, improving user productivity and much more.

There are also a number of articles that focus on specific improvements on the Engineering Windows 7 blog.

Everything there is to know about Windows 7

If you want to go Windows 7 crazy and learn everything there is to know about it go for the Windows 7 Developer Guide.

Just be warned, this is not a light read; it pretty much covers every feature and aspect of Windows 7 that you’d want to know (and then some). I did not read through this document personally, but since this document has been downloaded over 73 thousand times, I’d say it’s pretty popular.

Staying up-to-date on Windows 7

Windows 7 will go through some changes before its release so keeping up with any new developments will definitely benefit you in the long run.

I’d suggest checking out the Windows 7 Team blog or just reading the latest tech news, or subscribing to our feed (did you know we have monthly giveaways for our email subscribers?).

We also started bookmarking interesting articles and useful resources on Delicious, so you can expect more good info from us there — check out what we have under our Windows 7 tag so far.

Test the new OS yourself with Windows 7 Beta

I would also recommend testing out the beta version, but it looks like Windows 7 Beta downloads are no longer available.

If you’re a TechNet Plus Direct subscriber you still can — just go under Downloads, and Windows 7 (again, make sure you’re downloading from IE).

And if you don’t have a TechNet Plus subscription it’s never too late to get one — see what the TechNet Plus subscription has to offer and if you like what you see make sure to get 15% off with this coupon code: TNTS03.

Other Windows 7 Resources

What are you favorite Windows 7 resources? Have you found an article or a video that’s useful and informative?

Please share them in the comments below!

Performance Shootout: Microsoft’s XP, Vista, and Windows 7

Lisa Szpunar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:42:49 +0000

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes at ZDNet did a performance test pitting the different Microsoft operating system against each other. He wanted to see how the different Windows 7 builds would compare to Vista and XP. This unofficial performance competition was done knowing that Microsoft’s latest OS is still in beta, but the author thought it would be a good clue to how Windows 7 is progressing and maybe even how it will eventually fare against the older operating systems. Check out if Windows 7 can beat Vista and XP!

Here are the main details of what was tested:

The experiment tested the following five operating systems:

Windows XP SP3 32-bit
Windows Vista SP1 32-bit
Windows 7 beta 1 build 7000 32-bit
Windows 7 beta 1 build 7000 64-bit
Windows 7 build 7048 64-bit

There are 31 real world scenario tests. Here are some examples:

Installing the operating system
Booting up and shutting down
Moving 100MB of JPEG files from one hard drive to another
Opening a complex Excel document including formula and charts
And even tests running video games like Call of Duty

Each test was done on two separate desktop systems:

An AMD Phenom 9700 2.4GHz system fitted with an ATI Radeon 3850 and 4GB of RAM
An Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2GHz fitted with an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS and 1GB of RAM

The result of each test is scored with a simple point system:

1 point for the fastest OS
2 points for second place
3 points for third
4 for forth
5 points for last place

Are you brimming with anticipation to know what he found? Here are the results:

Windows 7 is, overall, better than both Vista and XP.
As Windows 7 progresses, it’s getting better (or at least the 64-bit editions are).
On a higher-spec system, 64-bit is best.
On a lower-spec system, 32-bit is best.

I think it the analysis itself is super interesting and the results exciting! I can’t wait to see Adrian’s next version done with an actual Windows 7 release candidate.

You can see a full list of 31 tests, charts detailing the results of each test, and more about the experiment on Adrian Kingsley-Hughes’s blog.

Server 2008: How to Setup a Remote Desktop on Windows Vista

Gosia Grabowska — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:00:57 +0000

The main reason why administrators would want to setup remote access on a client computer such as Vista is to access the servers without leaving their own desk or office.

The server room is often on a different floor, sometimes even in a different building. Remote desktop allows administrators to work on servers without physically having to be there.

Before you go on to Vista to setup the remote connection you need to enable remote connections on all the servers you will want to connect to.

The recommended option for remote desktop on the server is the one with Network Layer Authentication which means that the client needs to be joined to the domain and the administrator needs to be logged in with his or her credentials.

This is the most secure way to allow remote access to the server and there shouldn’t be any reason for you not to select this option.

Before you start setting up remote desktop make sure that your client machine’s name matches your company’s naming convention. If for any reason you do not have a naming convention (I would strongly recommend creating one though), name your machine something that will be easy to identify.

If it’s your machine, maybe name it with your last name, or if it’s a machine used only for remote connections to the servers, name it RemoteVista, or something like that.

You want to avoid the random numbers and letters as it will be almost impossible to identify the machine on the network.

You also need to join that machine to your company’s domain. Since you have selected the Network Layer Authentication option on your servers in order to connect to them, the client must be joined to the domain.

Go ahead and join your Vista machine and reboot it. Now we’re ready to get started.

1. Once you log back in, you need to go to the Start menu and type in Remote in the search box.

This will bring results on top where you can select and click on Remote Desktop Connection.

2. In the Remote Desktop Connection window go ahead and click on the Options button.

3. In the Computer: field you need to type in a FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) of the server you are trying to connect to as well as your user name.

In our example we are connecting to ny-dc1-2k8 so our FQDN is ny-dc1-2k8.globomantics.com.

4. If you wish to save the settings and credentials of this remote connection as a shortcut to your desktop go ahead and check the box next to Allow me to save credentials.

This will allow you to double click on a shortcut on your desktop and automatically login to the server.

As convenient as this may seem however, it is not the most secure way to connect to the server and some administrators prefer not to do so. If you decide to create the shortcut, make sure you lock your machine every time you leave your station, even if it is only for few minutes.

5. Next click on the Display tab.

6. Under the Remote desktop size option select the size of your window. You can select a smaller window so you can still see your Vista desktop or select a Full Screen.

I prefer the full screen view as it almost looks like I am sitting at the server and not remote desktop.

7. In the Colors section select the color quality for your remote desktop.

8. I really recommend leaving the check next to the Display the connection bar when in full screen mode option since it will let you know which server you are connected to.

It can be difficult to keep track if you are working on more than 1 server at a time. This bar will show up on top of your screen and it will display the server’s name.

9. Now let’s click on the Local Resources tab.

10. The first section is about your Remote computer sound. It’s really helpful to hear if your server is making a beep or error sound.

I would recommend selecting the Bring to this computer option.

11. Next you need to make a selection for Keyboard key combinations such as ALT+TAB. This is definitely your preference and choice.

In our example we are going to use it only in full screen mode.

12. Under the Local devices and resources section make sure to select both Printers and Clipboard options.

The Printers option will allow you to print info or reports directly from the server you are connected to, to your printer at your desk. That option is really convenient as you won’t have to go down to the server room to get your printout.

The Clipboard option will allow you to copy information, files, or folders from your server and paste them on your Vista machine and vice-versa.

13. Next click on the Programs tab.

14. In this tab you can specify which programs should start automatically as soon as your remote connection is established.

For example if you always work in Server Manager, you can set it up so it automatically starts up when you connect.

In our example we don’t want any programs to start automatically, so we are going to skip this option.

15. Now click on the Experience tab.

16. First select your connection speed between your client and your server.

If you are on the same network you should choose LAN option. If, however, you’re connecting from home and you have a high speed cable modem then select the Broadband option.

17. Once you select the speed the appropriate options will be automatically checked, such as background, themes, etc.

The slower connection speed the less of these options will be selected. Keep in mind that you can always change these selections if you decide to.

18. And finally click on the Advanced tab.

19. The Server authentication option verifies that you are connecting to the correct machine.

If the verification doesn’t meet the minimum requirements you have the option to be connected anyway, to be warned, or to not be connected at all.

In our example we are going to select the Warn me option.

20. After all your settings have been selected, go back to the General tab and click on the Save As button.

21. First make sure you save this shortcut to your desktop. Then type in the shortcut’s name and click on Save.

22. And there it is. To test it go ahead and double click on the shortcut.

23. You will need to type in your password. If you prefer the automatic logon, check the box next to Remember my credentials — but remember, this is not the most secure way to create a remote connection.

When ready, hit the OK button.

And here you are — your remote desktop on Windows Vista is ready!

Get Efficient with WAIK – Windows Automated Installation Kit

Brian Nelson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:00:39 +0000

The Windows Automated Installation Kit or WAIK or Windows AIK, is a series of tools and resources designed to help with automating the often time consuming process of installing Windows and its related software as well as additional programs.

The purpose of this set compendium is to help systems administrators deploy and upgrade systems in a manner that is more efficient than has been possible in the past.

The WAIK has been promoted primarily as a means of deploying Windows Vista, but when combined with Windows Server 2008 Deployment Server it can be very useful in deploying Windows Server 2008 itself, as well as both Vista and XP for upgrades and installation on bare metal systems.

Getting the Windows AIK

The WAIK can be downloaded for free from Microsoft’s website. The current version for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 is available here:

Windows Automated Installation Kit

Microsoft has a habit of reorganizing its site and links so you can always find the Windows AIK through the download center at www.microsoft.com/downloads.

When you download the Windows AIK, you will notice that it is a DVD image (.ISO file). The WAIK is designed to be burned to a DVD but there are ways around that.

A tool like MagicISO will open up the iso file and allow you to extract all or part of it to your hard disk. So, just download the file and then pull out what you need. You can leave the rest of it compressed on a file server if you want.

However, it may be useful to send the DVD with every install technician into the field so that they are not caught without a needed tool.

Unfortunately, there is no way around downloading the entire 1375.9 MB regardless of how many or how few of the tools and resources you actually plan to use. So, plan ahead and download the WAIK now so that you aren’t waiting for it a 3:00 A.M. when a problem arises.

Inside the WAIK

Inside the Windows AIK are two types of help for system administrators:

The Windows AIK has numerous tools, some of which are standalone tools, and some of which are much more useful in conjunction with other Microsoft tools or systems such as Windows Server 2008 Deployment Services, or SMS Server.

The WAIK has a voluminous amount of documentation and more importantly samples that can be used as starting places for many tasks.

The tools included with the Windows AIK include Windows System Image Manager aka Windows SIM which is useful in creating and maintaining answer files for unattended installs.

This GUI based tool allows an administrator to not only create answer files without hacking through a text editor, but it also allows those files to be validated and checked without having to "just try it."

Another useful tool is ImageX which is a tool for capturing image files to be used in deployment. This is the tool that replaces Norton’s Ghost if you have been using that for your deployments.

Unlike other imaging tools, ImageX creates file based images which means two things:

If an image needs to be updated, it is not necessary to re-image the entire system. The tool can be used to simply modify the existing image by adding, deleting, or replacing the files inside the image.

If a file is duplicated on a system, that file is stored only once inside the image instead of being cloned in like in a sector based image. This produces much smaller images.

Package Manager is an interesting tool which allows for servicing Windows images from the command line. With Package Manager you can add and remove packages from images even if that package came from a different system image.

PEimg.exe is used to create Windows PE (Pre-Execution) images. Windows PE is a bare bones OS designed to get a system operating just far enough so that an image can be installed on it whether locally (CD/DVD) or over the network.

These images are better created with Windows Server 2008 Deployment Services instead if that will be the method of deployment.

Driver Package Installer or DPInst allows you to add drivers to deployed systems.

This tool is very useful for adding those drivers that are not necessary for system boot (scanners are a common one.) It is very easy to add to existing scripts and only requires an inf file as input.

Most important, is the Sysprep or System Preparation Tool.

Sysprep is used to strip out machine specific data such as the SID so that the images created from the machine do not propagate that data to all the other systems built from the image.

This tool is still very necessary in Windows Server 2008 Deployment Services. It is also available on Vista systems.

Windows AIK Documentation

While some of the documentation could be dug out somewhere else, it is nice to have it all in one handy spot. Some of it can only be found in the WAIK.

Of particular importance for deploying and upgrading systems are the ImageX Technical Reference, the Windows SIM Technical Reference, and the Sysprep Technical Reference.

Also of particular note is the Preinstallation Methods document inside The Windows Preinstallation Phases – Phase 1 section.

This one section will probably explain to a non-IT person exactly what the difference is between deployment options better than anything else probably could in half the time.

Also the Phase 4 Image Deployment section is an outstanding all-in-one resource to get a solid grasp on just what will be involved in using an image based rollout.

Keep in mind that the documentation was updated when Microsoft rolled out the WAIK update earlier this year so make sure you replace any docs you have lying around from the original version.

With this resource kit, some solid planning, and a little luck, you should be able to deploy a much easier rollout and upgrade program this time around.