Windows OS

A very handy hotfix for those people lucky enough to own an ASUS EEE PC. I will own one eventually, I am sure. Probably when they adopt the newer die-shrunk powersaving Intel chips.

In the meantime, if you have applied KB 923293 and/or KB 934428 (for SDHC support), and still have trouble with your SD cards, give KB 946629 a try. It looks like the files were built on Christmas Eve, 2007.

Based on build numbers, it looks like you can safely use this KB in place of the other two previously released.

As always, please don't e-mail me for the hotfix - use the handy link on the right side of this blog to request the hotfix from Microsoft directly.

Due to the way the packages are handled, and due to their exclusion from Windows XP SP3, it is typically a good idea to install the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) High Definition Audio class driver version 1.0a hotfix (KB 888111) if you are using a newer HD audio chipset. If you are in a pinch to download this hotfix, you can find it on Lenovo's site here.

If you want to enable LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discovery) responder support, install KB 922120, and then install SP3.

This blog entry is due to me trying to install both of these hotfixes after installing one of the latest XP SP3 builds and discovering that their install routine blocked their installation after I put SP3 on the machine. I simply uninstalled the SP3 build, installed the hotfixes in question, and then reinstalled the new SP3 build. Time consuming, but at least I know it works. I am hoping at some point that Microsoft will release updated versions of these hotfixes that can be applied to SP3.

I am actually a little surprised that they are not included with SP3.

Sometimes I forgot what roles does what with FCS v1, especially if I haven't touched it for a few weeks. Based on a post in the Forefront forums here, I've developed this little cheat sheet.

Management role
This hosts the MOM, FCS consoles and signature service. Populates the console drop downs with the latest malware threats.

Collection role
This hosts the customized/specialized MOM 2005 installation and is the collection point for data coming up from machines and for sending tasks to machines.

Collection DB role
This hosts the OnePoint database used by the MOM service.

Reporting role
This hosts the SQL Reporting Services/MOM reporting and generates all the FCS reports.

Reporting DB role
This hosts the SystemCenterReporting database. Used by MOM reporting and stores all the long-term data.

Distribution role
Hosts WSUS and is used to distribute signatures and the FCS client package. For small installations, Windows Update can be used instead for updates.

Two worldwide FCS promotions in Open & Select:
25% off FCS Subscriptions
35% off FCS Subscriptions for SMS/SCCM Customers

Your LAR (Large Account Reseller - someone like CDW) will have information on the promotion including part numbers. The promotion ends July 31st, 2008.

Full details can be found in the Promotion Data Sheet.

Originally spotted here.

A quick post which takes advantage of a new Windows 2008 Server feature to workaround the lack of tools available today.

Need to admin your Server 2008 Server from Vista? Publish the Server Manager and/or MMC from the server as a RemoteApp.

I know a lot of you might be thinking, "Thanks Captain Obvious" but it can come in handy if you haven't thought about it. It also works for Server Core installs.

The only caveat I can think of is that I think you might need a Terminal Service license to do this for longer than 120 days.

The Administration Tools Pack allows administrators to install the Windows Server 2003 SP2 management tools onto a computer running Windows XP Professional or a Windows Server 2003 family operating system to perform remote server management functions.

Although it doesn't seem to mention what has changed in this release, it was updated on 1/14/08. It also notes that this is the final version, which makes me wonder if this is the last release they will do, especially considering the direction that Windows 2008 is going with RSAT (remote server administration tools)/etc.

You can download the updated x86 version here and the x64 version here.

You can read about the known issues here. Unfortunately, it looks like they still haven't added 'official' support for Vista.

Hopefully I will be posting more later this week. I have a backlog of goodies but no time to post them. This entry was actually written a few days ago.

Microsoft headsets and webcams are optimized for Windows Live Messenger through the Call Button. Until now, there has not been a simple means to configure the Call Button to start Office Communicator. The goal of the Call Button Integration Support kit is to change that.

By setting a Group Policy (or registry setting) and installing the kit, Microsoft headsets and webcams can be set up to start Office Communicator instead of Windows Live Messenger.

The kit is intended for use by workgroup or enterprise administrators in organizations that are using Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007.

The kit enables an organization-wide change in the configuration of Microsoft LifeChat (headset) and LifeCam (webcam) software so that the Call Buttons on the headsets and webcams start Office Communicator instead of Windows Live Messenger.

This kit requires the following Microsoft Hardware Product versions:
LifeChat v1.2 (headsets)
LifeCam v1.4 (webcams)

This kit requires Office Communicator 2007. Earlier versions of Office Communicator are not supported.

Download the kit here.

Originally spotted here.

WebGuide for Windows Home Server enables you to remotely access, listen, watch and stream your music, photos and videos stored on your home server while away from home.

1. Integrates with Windows Home Server remote website via homepage link and single-sign on.
2. Access your photos with thumbnails, "zoom" and EXIF-data.
3. Browse your music library and listen to it via the web.
4. Stream your videos/movies at multiple resolutions and bit-rates.
5. Mobile access to your music and videos from Windows Mobile devices.

Download it here.

Originally spotted here.

You can download it here.

This is the v.744 build I was talking about the other day. I will be posting more soon hopefully. Last week and this week have been very hectic, to say the least.

Now we just need more driver writers to adopt 64-bit Windows. Download it from here using a web browser that identifies itself correctly as a 64-bit browser, such as the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer.

If you want to download the 64-bit version directly without relying on the problematic website detection routine, grab the new 64-bit edition directly from here.

Mild rant: I hate websites that to try be clever and do not let you manually specify what version of a program you want to download. I know it tends to make it easier for end users but there are many times when I am on a 32-bit OS and need to download a 64-bit program.

Update: A reader named Mark left an excellent link in the comments page of this blog that shows how to install iTunes and iPhone support on Windows XP 64-bit. I really wish Windows XP 64-bit had better support when it was launched because I suspect we'd have more Vista and Windows 2008 64-bit drivers by now.

Curious how to interpret the "v.744" tacked onto the end of the version you see when you run winver?



Take that number, and add 16384 to it. So, for the Vista SP1 RC Refresh, it is build 17128.

The update was made to allow for the Windows Sidebar to perform the following actions:

1. Generate unique identifiers for all gadgets that run in the Windows Sidebar
2. Receive a list of known vulnerable gadgets from Microsoft by using Windows Update
3. Stop a gadget from running in the Windows Sidebar if the gadget has been determined to be vulnerable
4. Stop a gadget from being installed if the gadget has been determined to be vulnerable

The list of known vulnerable gadgets is released by Microsoft on the Windows Update Web page in the Windows Sidebar Protection update. The update prevents vulnerable gadgets from being installed or from running if the gadget is already installed.

You can read more about the update here, and download the update here.

These commands assume administrative rights on the PC.

To temporarily disable the PC Speaker beep:
net stop beep

To disable the PC Speaker beep for good (until you undo this setting):
sc config beep start= disabled

So, if you are bothered right now by PC Speaker beeps and want them to go away even after a reboot, run net stop beep and then run sc config beep start= disabled.

The space between start= and disabled is required.

The most noteworthy item, to me, is x64 support for the Connector software. There are plenty of other cool additions too. Read more about it here.

This new package creates a mouse scheme called "XsX - Alpha Blended with Shadows" on installation.

This is practically identical to the original package, except that a mouse shadow has been added to the actual cursor files.

Why was this done? The option of Enable pointer shadow does not function for 32-bit RGBA cursors in Windows XP and Vista.

The shadow effect was added by yksyks from the DonationCoder.com forum - read the original forum discussion here.



You can download the brand new package here.

No need to worry about manually installing any .inf files. Just run the program and follow the prompts! I embedded the Vista UAC elevation manifest so that limited rights users under Vista are properly prompted for elevation.