The latest version of a solution accelerator initially dubbed Windows Vista hardware Assessment is now available for download. The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit is now at version 3.1 and has hit RTM stage. The latest build of the assessment and planning solution accelerator is tailored specifically to the most recent Windows client and server operating systems, namely Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1/RTM, including the Hyper-V release. Version 3.1 is up for grabs straight from Microsoft, and is designed to streamline as much as possible the evaluation and planning phases of large scale software migration processes in complex IT infrastructures.
“Formerly known as Windows Vista Hardware Assessment, this new release is now packed with many new features such as: Hyper-V virtualization candidates assessment (+ improved virtual machines inventory); SQL server discovery and assessment; 64-bit installation support; and Desktop Windows Security Center assessment,” revealed Baldwin Ng, Senior Product Manager, Solution Accelerators Team.
Designed as a network-wide agent-less tool, MAP 3.1 will crawl all the servers and the desktops that are an integral part of an IT infrastructure and will provide basic guidance through the migration process. The solution accelerator will deliver an inventory of all the resources available, focusing on a variety of areas, including server, desktop and virtualization upgrade scenarios. All the scanning is performed via a network and, in this context, MAP does not have to be deployed on each machine it evaluates. The assessment takes advantage of the capabilities offered by the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), the Remote Registry Service, or the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
“Windows Vista hardware and device compatibility assessment; Office 2007 hardware compatibility assessment; Windows Server 2008 hardware and device compatibility assessment; Microsoft Application Virtualization hardware compatibility assessment; SNMP inventory reporting, [and support for] Hyper-V and SQL Server,” Baldwin Ng added.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator 3.1 is available for download x86 or x64.
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Written by Jason on June 30th, 2008 with no comments.
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Windows Vista Service Pack 1 stand-alone packages may not bring to the table the updated SP1 Help documentation, but at the same time Microsoft is offering a much better deal to users of its latest Windows client planning to install the first service pack. One year’s worth of free Windows Vista SP1 support. This means that between March 18, 2008, and March 18, 2009, Vista users will be able to tap the Redmond company for unlimited installation and compatibility, free of charge. The move is a standard practice for Microsoft when it comes down to the Service Pack policy for all its operating systems. And in this context, it will also be made available for Windows XP SP3, once the third and last service pack for XP will be released.
All Vista users “needing technical support regarding your installation of Windows Vista SP1 - please go to the following URL and choose the bottom option that says ‘Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (All Languages).’ You have a variety of options you can choose for support - all of which will NOT cost you any support fee. I repeat: support for SP1 will NOT cost you anything - as long as you choose the correct option for support. We can only point you in the right direction in hopes of having your issue taken care of. However I am relaying as much feedback you give here to the folks internally at Microsoft regarding SP1 so your feedback is most certainly not falling on deaf ears. I will continue to relay feedback moving forward,” stated Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc.
The official support page for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (All Languages) features three options offered to end users. Microsoft is delivering E-mail Support (Response Time: 1 Business Day); Individual Chat Support (Monday – Friday 5:00 A.M. - 12:00 A.M. (midnight); Saturday 6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.; Sunday 6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.) as well as Phone Support (866) 234-6020, Wait Time will vary (Monday – Friday 5:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M; Saturday – Sunday 6:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.). Microsoft has emphasized the following: “No-charge: Unlimited support requests” for all Vista SP1 support options.
The Redmond company is also pointing the users to TechNet, MSDN and additional Technical Communities as alternative resources for Vista SP1 support. Windows XP SP3 is yet to be released to manufacturing by the Redmond company, but when it will be delivered I’ll make sure and provide an update with the links for free support from Microsoft.
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Written by Jason on June 15th, 2008 with no comments.
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In the TalkBack section on my post looking at SP3 benchmarks, _deitrich asked a really good question: Adrian, how about a comparison of XP SP3 vs Vista SP1? Oui? C’est possible?
Good question! Fortunately I’ve already done a fair bit of the groundwork in that I used the Phenom 9700 system I have for benchmarking both XP SP3 and Vista SP1.
I benchmarked both operating systems using PassMark PerformanceTest 6.1 and bringing together the results from both tests allows me to answer _deitrich’s question.
Note: The hardware configuration of the Phenom 9700 remained unchanged between the two tests and similar optimizations steps were carried out for each OS.
XP Professional:
* XP RTM
PassMark rating: 1001.4
* XP SP2
PassMark rating: 891
* XP SP3
PassMark rating: 990.8
Vista 32-bit:
* Vista RTM
PassMark rating: 1002.4
* Vista SP1
PassMark rating: 972.3
Vista 64-bit:
* Vista RTM
PassMark rating: 1183.1
* Vista SP1
PassMark rating: 1128.8
Written by Madhukar on April 29th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 1426 and 1429 and 1673 and 169 and 2065 and 2157 and 401 and Benchmark and Contributors and Vista service pack 1 and Xp Vs Vista.
The Windows Vista vs. Windows XP face-off is far from over. Not only that, but the smackdown of the two operating systems is about to enter into its next stage of evolution with Microsoft launching the latest service packs for both platforms.
Vista Service Pack 1 was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and XP SP3 RTM'd on April 21. At this point in time Vista RTM end users have full access to the 36 language versions of SP1 via Windows Update, Microsoft Update, the Download Center, and through Automatic updates. XP SP3 is currently available just to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, but will start being offered for download on WU and the Download Center come April 29, with AU distribution scheduled for June10.
SP1 and SP3 will undoubtedly bring a new facet to the Windows client already fragile equilibrium, with the market divided between Windows XP and Windows Vista. And instead of the inhouse competition between the two products ending with the SP1 and SP3 milestones, Microsoft has manged noting more than to perpetuate the Vista/XP operating system measuring contest. The first signs of the new fuel being poured into the inherent XP SP3 and Vista SP1 comparison, came as early as the end of 2007 when the service packs were still in Beta, with the general tendency to crucify Vista SP1 and put XP SP3 up on a pedestal.
The Redmond company felt the negative impact of splitting the market between the two products in the financial results of the last quarter, ending on March 31, 2008. Windows client revenue dropped to $4 billion from $5.2 billion in the same quarter of the past year, with operating income also down to $3 billion from $4.2 billion in Q3 2007. Vista managed to hit a total of 140 million sold licenses worldwide at the end of March, eroding the market dominance of XP, but not to the level where its predecessor would see its lion share crumbling entirely.
"Windows Vista delivers richer, safer user experience" is a statement coming straight from Microsoft. "Stylish, versatile Windows Vista powers a new wave of eye-catching PCs, with Service Pack 1 making consumers’ digital experiences more reliable and secure than ever," the Redmond company added. And yet the love for Windows Vista was inconsistent to say the least throughout 2007, and it is bound that will continue to be so even with SP1.
"Personal computing has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past six years," Microsoft added. And yet, the vast majority of end users, 73.59% according to statistics from Net Applications, are still focused on XP, an operating system made available at the end of 2001, and already over 6 years old. In Microsoft's perspective, Vista is tailored to perfection to blogging, social networking, digital photography, personal and work-related productivity, multimedia, wireless and additional activities and digital lifestyle scenarios.
Written by Madhukar on April 27th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 1426 and 1429 and 1673 and 169 and 2065 and 2157 and 401 and Contributors and Vista service pack 1 and Xp Vs Vista.
Microsoft is gearing up for the next stage in the delivery of its first service pack for Windows Vista. The Redmond company has confirmed officially that the automatic distribution of Vista SP1 is just around the corner. Still, at this point in time, the deadline for the debut of Vista SP1’s serving through Automatic Updates has not been made public. Microsoft has stated all along that it plans to start the distribution of Vista SP1 through AU by mid-April, but offered no additional information to pinpoint the release.
Service Pack 1 was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, concomitantly with the gold version of Windows Server 2008. Only on March 18 did Microsoft manage to make the service pack available to end users via Windows Update and the Download Center. At that time, the Redmond company only released the English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese language versions of Vista SP1.
As of April 15, Vista SP1 in the remaining 31 languages was also released to manufacturing and put up for grabs. And yet, the availability saga of Vista SP1 RTM is not over yet. The initial five languages of the service pack will start being served to all Vista RTM users that have the Automatic Updates option enabled. The remaining 31 languages supported by Vista will not be receiving Service Pack 1 through AU at this point in time. And in this context, Microsoft has yet to wrap up the delivery of Vista SP1 to an estimated 130 to 150 million copies of Vista RTM on the market.
“We are excited about Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and the benefits it provides. We made all 36 languages of SP1 available on Windows Update earlier this week, and we’re planning to begin automatic distribution of SP1 in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese shortly,” a member of the Microsoft Update team revealed.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone CD ISO is available for download here.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone DVD ISO is available for download here.
The Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone packages are here.
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Written by Jason on April 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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Over two months since Windows Vista SP1 was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and almost a month since it became available to the general public on March 18, the first service pack for the latest Windows client is once again available for download.
This is of course Vista SP1 Wave 1 of downloads, following Wave 0 which contained a package of the service pack in only five languages, namely English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese. Now Microsoft has made available the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone DVD ISO.
"Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues; supporting new types of hardware; and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also will continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone version can be installed on any language version," Microsoft explained.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone DVD ISO download contains the entire lineup of x86 and x64 versions of the service pack. 6001.18000.080118-1840_iso_client_sp_wave1-FRMCSP1_DVD.iso is a 1418.1 MB download, and Microsoft stressed that end users that are updating just one edition of Vista RTM should turn to Windows Update, rather than use the ISO image of SP1.
In this context, Microsoft has lived up to its promise, to release to manufacturing the remaining language versions of Vista SP1 by mid-April. This month will also bring to the table the debut of Vista SP1's delivery through Automatic Updates. And although Microsoft has only pointed to mid-April without revealing a specific date, the all languages Vista SP1 RTM ISO is proof enough that AU distribution is just around the corner.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone DVD ISO is available for download
here.
Written by Madhukar on April 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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Microsoft has updated and re-released Windows NT Backup on March 27, 2008, making it available as a free download. The move comes as the utility needs to keep up the pace with the evolution of the latest Windows client and server operating systems. Microsoft released both Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM/SP1 to manufacturing on February 4, 2008. Windows Server 2008 was launched officially at the end of the past month, while Vista SP1 was released to the general public on March 18.
Version 1.0 of Windows NT Backup dropped on March 27 is tailored to both Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008. The utility is designed to enable users of Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 to restore backups that were created on the previous versions of the operating systems, namely Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. In the move from XP and Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has evolved the backup infrastructure of the two platforms. (more…)
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Written by Jason on March 29th, 2008 with no comments.
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The long awaited, highly anticipated Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) will finally be available by Microsoft. For many, SP1 is the promise land for fixing those annoying performance, compatibility and slow file copy problems that have plague Vista since it’s release.
Only time will tell.
Regardless of what happens, pre-cautions should be taken to ensure a successful upgrade to Vista SP1.
Below are five steps you should follow BEFORE installing SP1, that should help with achieving a successful upgrade and ensure no data is lost. (more…)
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Written by Jason on March 15th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Everything else has not failed… Well, maybe the Wow… So, when on the remnants of the failed Wow, Microsoft is now bringing in the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 cavalry. With Mark Russinovich, Microsoft Technical Fellow in the Platform and Services division at the lead, the Redmond company offered the Springboard Live! Interactive Virtual Roundtable the past week. Keyword being live, at this point in time, you can consider that you missed it. But not entirely. You can no longer participate in the roundtable, and as such the interactivity label is nothing but a label, but you can access the entire event via this link.
“Join Mark Russinovich and a panel of experts for a live, interactive discussion on adopting Windows Vista into a desktop infrastructure. (more…)
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Written by Jason on March 11th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Is Vista SP1 really the shot in the arm your Vista system needs? We've spent many hours strapped to our benchmarking system in a caffeine and pizza fuelled haze to uncover these very interesting results.
We tested Vista:
* as it comes out of the box (RTM -- or "release to manufacturing")
* as it comes out of the box, with all Windows Update patches applied ("RTM patched)
* with the final SP1 service pack applied
Testing Setup
Although Vista SP1 has many documented improvements, we aimed to test a particular scenario which has proved to be a major problem for pre-SP1 users: file copy speed, particularly over a network.
Our scenario was a home user running Vista Home Premium on a fast, low-latency network with decent PC hardware. All file copy tests were initiated from the main machine.
Our test machines were:
* Main machine - an Acer Veriton 7900 Pro (Intel Core 2 Duo 6700/4GB RAM/ATI RADEON X1950/2xSATA-II HDD) running Windows Vista Home Premium
* A second machine running Windows Vista Home Premium (connected via gigabit Ethernet for file copy tests)
* A third machine running a fully-patched Windows XP SP2 installation (connected via a dedicated gigabit network to two remote systems).
Each system used the latest available vendor (non-Microsoft) drivers and the November release of DirectX. No modifications were made to the operating system, so as to represent as closely as possible the configuration of an OEM machine.
We uses two test file batches – the first was a single 2.5 GB ISO, and the second was 2.5GB of small files (over 300 MP3s). Each file batch was copied to a remote destination (write), and then written back across the wire to the test system (read/write).
The file copy destinations were:
* the second hard drive in the main testing system
* a SanDisk Cruzer Micro 8GB USB flash drive
* the remote Vista system
* the remote XP system.
File copies were timed from the time “Copy” was clicked to the time the copy shell disappeared.
We also ran PCMark Vantage across the test systems to get an overall impression of system performance.
The aim of the tests was to see how changes in the test machine’s patch level affected performance.
We therefore ran the tests three times – once with Vista Home Premium RTM, once with all the available patches applied from Windows Update, and once with SP1 RTM applied.
The secondary Vista system was also patched to maintain consistency between it and the test machine.
The XP system was unchanged throughout the tests, running fully patched XP SP2.
Hard drives on all the three systems were defragmented before each file copy test.
Written by Madhukar on March 9th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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