Categories
Uncategorized

Windows XP Service Pack 3 via Windows Update Delayed

I case you missed the news today, we delayed the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3  due to a compatibility issue we found with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management as Chris Keroack noted on the TechNet Forums…

“In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to the web.

“To help protect customers, we plan to put filtering in place shortly to prevent Windows Update from offering both service packs to systems running Microsoft Dynamics RMS.  Once filtering is in place, we expect to release Windows XP SP3 to the web. 

“We are also testing a fix, and will make it available once that process is complete.  Once they have installed the fix, Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers should be able to run both service packs.

“Until then, we advise Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers to not install either service pack.  Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers running Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista SP1 should contact Microsoft Customer Support Services for additional information.”

MSDN and TechNet subscribers have access to SP3 to allow for sysadmins and IT Professionals to evaluate the release before deployment.

Categories
Uncategorized

Microsoft spills the beans on COFEE at law-enforcement conference

As covered by Seattle Times technology reporter Benjamin J. Romano in his coverage of Law Enforcement Technology 2008 conference Monday at Microsoft, Brad Smith outlined the COFEE, a small USB key fob that can be used by crime investigators. (Holy CSI, Batman.)

Microsoft COFEE“The COFEE, which stands for Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor, is a USB “thumb drive” that was quietly distributed to a handful of law-enforcement agencies last June. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith described its use to the 350 law-enforcement experts attending a company conference Monday.

“The device contains 150 commands that can dramatically cut the time it takes to gather digital evidence, which is becoming more important in real-world crime, as well as cybercrime. It can decrypt passwords and analyze a computer’s Internet activity, as well as data stored in the computer.”

A look at the device is available on King 5’s news video on demand site, link above.

Also of interest on PressPass, a brief interview with Tim Cranton, Associate General Counsel for Microsoft.  He “discusses the role of the Internet Safety Enforcement Team as part of Microsoft’s larger security strategy and calls on global public-private partnerships to help prevent online crime at the Law Enforcement Technology 2008 conference.”

Also see this transcript of Brad Smith’s speech at the Conference.

Categories
Uncategorized

Of interest: Dell joins Lenovo in allowing customers to ‘downgrade’ to Windows XP

Dell joins Lenovo in allowing customers to ‘downgrade’ to Windows XP.

Of interest from the Detroit Free Press, Dell joins Lenovo in allowing customers to ‘downgrade’ to Windows XP…

“Dell says that even though Microsoft will officially retire XP on June 30, it “has the ability to exercise ‘Windows Vista downgrade rights’ on your behalf in the factory if … you’d prefer to have Windows XP Professional preinstalled on your PCs.”

“Dell joins Lenovo, maker of the popular ThinkPad line of laptop and notebook computers, which earlier announced that it will sell XP media through Jan. 31, 2009. In both cases, customers must choose to “downgrade” to get XP.”

If you purchase from Dell, for example, you can select “Vista Ultimate Bonus” or “Vista Business Bonus” to have Windows XP installed.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows XP, ULCPC, Windows.

Categories
Uncategorized

Microsoft Office Labs launches today

As I dial in to a conference call, a little bit on the new Microsoft Office Labs site, launched today… as Chris Pratley notes…


       



“Welcome to Microsoft Office Labs.” It’s great to be able to say that. For quite some time the Office Labs team has been exploring ideas internally at Microsoft. Now we’d like to show you some of our ideas and ask you to give them a whirl.

“We’re a group of designers and developers that collect ideas from all over Microsoft (but mostly from Office and other products related to ‘getting stuff done’ – what we call ‘productivity’). We build working prototypes of the most promising of these ideas to see if they work as well as we hope they might.”


Office Labs is filled with prototypes of add-ons, web services and other downloads.  


The prototypes you see here are like “Concept Cars”.  They aren’t products or features of Microsoft Office.  Don’t expect them to work perfectly, or be available here forever.  Just as when a concept car is shown at an auto-show, one or two or none of the ideas shown might make it into a future vehicle.  Everybody knows its unpredictable, so don’t go off thinking this is some kind of preview for future versions of Office, ok?  Anyway, we thought it would be interesting to present some ideas we are exploring.


“Of initial interest…

InkSeine from Microsoft Research:  Use your Tablet PC with an interface uniquely tailored to pen input. The tool fades into the background so that you can focus on capturing your ideas, sketches, and creative thoughts. Integrates search and inking.

How to use Search Commands with WordSearch Commands:  Search for commands in your own words and get the button to do it, instantly. Works with Microsoft Office 2007 – Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Learn more and Download it

 


Tags: Microsoft, Office. 


 

Categories
Uncategorized

Deploying Vista: More with Mark Russinovich on Springboard Live

Questions on deploying Vista?  See the first Springboard Live clip using Silverlight, presented by our own Mark Russinovich…

Join Mark Russinovich and a panel of experts for a discussion on adopting Windows Vista into a desktop infrastructure. The panel features subject-matter experts and IT pros from around the world who have tackled Windows Vista deployment—hear about the challenges, workarounds, and tips & tricks they have learned along the way.

And see this month’s spotlight page, “Still on the Fence with Windows Vista?” which takes a look at why now is “a good time to take another look at Windows Vista and what the adoption process has to offer.”

Springboard on TechNet is a collection of tools and resources that may help you better understand deployment of Microsoft products and get answers and insightful guidance from professionals and the community.

You can also view the streaming video in Windows Media Player via the link below.

View in Windows Media Player

Tags: Microsoft, Mark Russinovich, tips, Vista, Windows.