Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 Released

WVHA is a scalable agent-less assessment tool that integrates information from multiple network sources and assists customers and partners to determine the readiness of their workstations and laptops for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office. WVHA provides in-depth analysis of hardware, installed software and device compatibility and delivers specific and actionable upgrade recommendations for each PC discovered on the network for migration to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office. This tool does not require any “agent” software to be installed or deployed on machines inventoried and thus simplifies setup and usage.

wvha21

What’s New in WVHA 2.1?
This new release incorporates feedback from many Microsoft partners, customers and field employees and includes new capabilities including:
# Faster discovery of large enterprises up to 25,000 workstations and servers

# Localized versions available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, LATAM Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese

# Inventory by network subnet (IP range scanning)

# SNMP discovery that gives customers and partners the ability discover non-Windows machines and network devices

ATI Driver Package Opens Vista to Flaw

In case you haven’t seen it, the ATI driver package can potentially open your Vista kernel up to a compromise. ATI and MS are working to rectify the issue.

In an interview, Ionescu confirmed his tool was exploiting a vulnerability in an ATI driver – atidsmxx.sys, version 3.0.502.0 – to patch the kernel to turn off certain checks for signed drivers. This meant that a malicious rootkit author could essentially piggyback on ATI’s legitimately signed driver to tamper with the Vista kernel.

Microsoft Updates Vista in Bid to Boost Speed, Reliability

August 13, 2007 : Microsoft Corp. last week released a pair of Windows Vista updates that had leaked onto the Internet at the end of July, but the company didn’t say when it will begin pushing them to users via Windows Update.

One of the updates is pegged as a performance booster for the new operating system, while the other addresses reliability issues. They include a long list of non­security bug fixes, including one to improve the speed of Vista’s wake-from-hibernation function and another that’s designed to more quickly calculate the time needed to copy or move large directories.

In addition, several fixes are intended to resolve compatibility glitches between the operating system and third-party video drivers.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said the updates will become available through Windows Update, the software vendor’s automated patching service, “at a later date.”

When the previews of the updates found their way onto the Internet, there was speculation that they were related to the upcoming Vista Service Pack 1 and that they might even be harbingers of SP1’s release.

That doesn’t appear to be the case, but Microsoft confirmed that it has released early code for both Vista SP1 and the long-delayed Windows XP Service Pack 3 to small, invitation-only groups of testers.

So far, Microsoft has committed only to providing a beta release of Vista SP1 sometime this year while consistently downplaying the service pack’s importance. However, many companies appear to be waiting for SP1 before deploying the new operating system.

Samir Bhavnani, an analyst at NPD Group Inc.’s Current Analysis West unit in San Diego, said that many of Microsoft’s large corporate customers likely won’t shift to Vista for years. But SP1 is an important step in the process of spurring users to upgrade, Bhavnani added. “SP1 will get a lot more businesses to adopt Vista than the version that exists today,” he predicted.

Windows XP SP3 already has a tortured history. Last October, Microsoft delayed SP3’s release until the first half of 2008 — which would be more than a year after Vista’s launch and about three and a half years after XP SP2 became available. And last week, the software vendor described even the 2008 release date for SP3 as “preliminary.”

Vista SP1 brings small UI tweaks, including refreshed “NO GUI” boot splash & volume sliders. *faints*

It looks like our favorite camera-shy service pack is being hammered by the screenshot paparazzi as every die-hard enthusiast and his dog now has their paws on the Windows Vista SP1 beta which has been leaked left, right and center. I, for one, is not brave enough to pursue such a risky endeavor, so I’m glad someone else with an eagle-sight is scanning every pixel for user-interface changes as well.From everything I’ve heard up to this point, there are no planned major user-interface enhancements, fixes or even polishes for Vista in Service Pack 1. And so far, that proves to be correct and my expectations remain very low as they should be. However, some of the more vigilant members at the JCXP community have spotted at least 2 interface tweaks worthy to note for the pixel-loving enthusiasts.

The newer Windows Vista alternate boot screen image in SP1. (Inset) Alternate boot image in RTM.

Most of you should be aware of the “/NOGUI” tweak for Windows Vista which enables the alternate “Aurora” boot-screen splash image. As spotted by “VistaReloaded“, it appears that in SP1, the aurora image has been changed to the same flair used in the “resume from hibernation” splash, with the text “Starting Windows Vista” also removed. This flair is far more consistent with the background image presented during log-in.

(Left) “Sound Properties” in Vista SP1. (Right) “Sound Properties” in Vista RTM.

The other change, as spotted by “Andrei999“, is an updated slider control in the “Sound Properties” applet to control volume levels. Compared to the traditional sliders in RTM, in SP1, the sliders are presumed to use the newer sound-sensitive volume controls which provide visual feedback on sound outputs as shown by a green equalizer.

 

It would be great to see Microsoft clean up some of the minor and obscure graphical annoyances around Windows Vista like the “Previous Versions” icon which they failed to check into the final build, but I know thats as high of a priority as removing the 16-bit icons in the systems folder. If anyone’s still hoping for a full UI sweep, stop dreaming.

 

Screenshots:

 

Version

 

Activation

XdN Tweaker 0.8.7.3

XdN Tweaker is a free tweaking program for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista. It sets itself apart from the other tweak programs though by not being filled with options, settings, and “tweaks” that are actually normal options and menu settings of other programs. It tries to fill the gaps that other tweak programs overlook. Instead of just being another way of doing something you could do yourself just by clicking on “options” or “settings” in Windows, it offers features that Windows normally wouldn’t allow you to do without digging into the system registry. Depending on if you run the program under Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista, different options will be available to you (works with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows).

 

Features:

 

* Changes the number of Folder views Windows saves.
* Resets the folder views Windows has saved.
* Add/Remove classic Windows 2000 user control panel icon.
* Disable/Enable ATI Catalyst Control Center right click on Desktop (only for use if you have an ATI video card and have the Catalyst Control Center installed).
* Disable/Enable ‘SendTo’ right-click menu.
* Allows you to adjust and tweak TCP/IP settings.
* Disable/Enable ZipFolders.
* Disable/Enable the Outlook Express/Windows Mail splash screen.
* Put the File menu above the Back/Forward buttons in IE7.
* Remove or Replace the Search box in IE7.
* Disable/Enable User Account Control prompts under Vista.
* Disable/Enable the “- Shortcut” text under Vista.
* Attempt to force Vista to better save folder views.
* Disable/Enable Windows Media Player Explorer context menus.
* Add/Remove “Take Ownership” to right-click menus under Vista.
* Disable/Enable the Documents item on the Classic Start Menu.
* Changes “Delete” to “Search…” on Recycle Bin.
* Turn off the annoying full screen “black” UAC prompt.
* Enable Classic Search in Explorer and Internet Explorer.
* Disable/Enable Shutdown Reason dialog under Server 2003.
* Disable/Enable Windows scanning AVI files for thumbnails.
* Remove/Restore hidden ASPNET user that prevents auto login.
* Add “Tweak UI” icon to Control Panel (if installed).

 

For Windows XP and 2003, the .NET 2 Framework is required!

 

Download: XdN Tweaker 0.8.7.3 – 213 KB, freeware
Screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3
View: XdN Tweaker Page

Microsoft Products: FY08 and Beyond

On the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WWPC), from July 10-12 in Denver, Steve Ballmer presented a Keynote on Microsoft’s Software & Services strategy and vision. The past days, his presentation was posted to the Partner site.

 

Browsing the presentation, I found that the last slide had some interesting information about upcoming products. The slide is titled “FY08 and Beyond” and has a list of expected products, but also mentions:

 

 

Windows Vista SP1

Windows Server 2008 Update Release

Windows Server 2008 SP1

System Center Essentials “V2″

Microsoft TellMe

Forefront for Sharepoint “14″

Forefront for Exchange “14″

Although it does not disclose information about the products itself — the slide title (Fiscal Year 2008 and Beyond) implies that some of these products will be out before the summer of 2008. Download the presentation below to see for yourself or click here.

 

WWPC: Steve Ballmer’s Presentation

How to Start a Windows Vista Pilot Deployment

Thinking about deploying Windows Vista® in your organization? Some of the benefits of upgrading include better security, a desktop search feature that makes it easier for users to locate the information that they need, better support for mobile users, and lower management and deployment costs.

 

As tempting as it sounds to start deploying Windows Vista immediately across your organization, you should follow standard information technology (IT) best practices to conduct pilots to specific groups first. This guide is intended to give you an overview of how to successfully manage a pilot program that provides the best experience for pilot users and helps to provide positive project justification to business decision makers in your organization.