Scriptomatic for PowerShell

Now you have the same ability to auto generate scripts for PowerShell that you did with VBS when it comes to WMI.

Overview

A new utility that writes Windows PowerShell scripts that harness the power of WMI (Windows Instrumentation Management) for use in system management and administration. This tool was created by Microsoft consultant and author Ed Wilson.

Windows PowerShell Scriptomatic

Brief Description

Utility that writes WMI scripts for system administration.

Download details: Scriptomatic 2.0

And coming soon is PowerShell v2 with the following new features (so far).

You can get a pre-release copy of v2 here.  And Kevin Remde has even more details and links on his blog post regarding the next version of PS

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

Microsoft MVP System Center Configuration Manager

http://configmgr.com

© Anthony Clendenen

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New FolderShare

FolderShare has gotten a face lift, new client, and has moved to the Windows Live platform.  If you are not familiar with FolderShare Microsoft bought them a couple years ago and the concept is that you can setup shares among computers that sync with each other.  I have been using it for years to sync computers and make sure that I have the same documents on each computer.  You can set the sync to be automatic or on demand, you can also share your FolderShare libraries with your friends.  It is similar to Groove but it is a free service.

New FolderShare Blog.

New Windows client direct download.

Mac client direct download.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© Anthony Clendenen

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Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator

Use this new version of the WVHA to determine if your hardware is ready to migrate to Vista and determine if you can migrate to Server 2008.  It can also help you assess if you can virtualize servers by migrating them to Virtual Server or Server 2008’s Hyper-V and if you can safely migrate your applications into the virtualization world as well using Microsoft Application Virtualization.

You can download Server 2008 RC1 with Hyper-V here.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Overview

Introduction

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator (MAP) is the expanded version of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator (WVHA). This new version of the network-wide assessment tool gives you not only the original capability of hardware inventory and assessment for desktops, but also expanded features including server migration recommendation with Windows Server 2008, virtualization workload placements for server consolidation with Hyper-V or Virtual Server 2005 R2, and application virtualization recommendations with Microsoft Application Virtualization.

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool is based on agent-less infrastructure scanning technology that makes it easier to set up the inventory without the requirement of installing any software agents on each machine being inventoried. In addition, this tool can generate localized desktop readiness reports in North American English, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Beta Now!

Features Overview

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator performs three key functions, including hardware and device inventory, compatibility analysis, and readiness reporting.

Figure 1. Three Main Functions of Microsoft Assessment and Planning

Secure and Agentless Inventory

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool provides secure, agent-less and network-wide inventory for up to 100,000 computers. It collects and organizes system resource and device information from a single networked computer. Assessment tools often require users to first deploy software agents on all computers to be inventoried but this tool does not.

It is capable of discovering and assessing computers and devices on a network that supports Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and those that run on the following operating systems:

• Windows Vista
• Windows XP® Professional
• Windows Server 2003™ or Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows 2000 Professional or Windows 2000 Server
• Non-Windows (SNMP-enabled)

Comprehensive Hardware and Device Compatibility Analysis

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning provides detailed analysis on hardware and device compatibility for migration to Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office.  Specifically, this tool analyzes each machine’s readiness for the migration by looking at the specific hardware and device compatibility requirements that Microsoft published.

For customers interested in server consolidation and virtualization technologies such as Hyper-V or Virtual Server 2005 R2, this tool helps gather performance metrics and generate server consolidation recommendation reports that identify the best candidates for server virtualization. It also provides assessment reports for SoftGrid.

In-Depth Readiness Reporting

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool generates custom reports containing both high-level and detailed assessment results for migration to many products. The results are provided in both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word formats:

• Hardware assessment and upgrade recommendations for migration to Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office
• Server consolidation and workload placement recommendations using Hyper-V or Virtual Server 2005 R2
• Application virtualization candidate recommendation report for Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Inventory of Non-Windows or heterogeneous environment

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool can generate desktop readiness reports in seven languages including North American English, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Source.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© Anthony Clendenen

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Download The Microsoft Application Virtualization Guide

More info Here, or download directly here.

Related Downloads:

Microsoft Application Virtualization Platform v. 4.5 sign in with your LiveID and sign up for the Beta.

MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization

Overview

This trial guide walks you through a step by step creation of a Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 system including the Sequencing of two applications. Once you have completed these setup steps, you will be able to test the benefits of Microsoft Application Virtualization in your own environment.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© Anthony Clendenen

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Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh

You can install this release candidate through Windows Update but you first have to remove any other SP1 installs and download a cmd file to kick off the download from Windows Update.  Directions on how to accomplish all of this are detailed below.

 

Before You Install

• You must uninstall any previous versions of Windows Vista SP1 before installing Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh
  To uninstall previous version of Windows Vista SP1
  1. Open the Programs and Features control panel and select View installed updates. In the Microsoft Windows section, right-click Service Pack for Windows (936330) and select Uninstall.
  2. Your system will now uninstall the previous version of Windows Vista SP1 Beta and may reboot multiple times.
  3. Please wait one hour after uninstalling a previous version of Windows Vista SP1 before installing Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh. The installer service needs to clean up and complete the uninstall prior to installing the RC. Failing to do this can result in installation errors when installing the RC version.
• Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh is pre-release software and will change before the final release. Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh is for individuals, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating pre-release software and is provided for testing purposes only. Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems. Microsoft recommends that you have a backup of your data prior to installing any pre-release software.
• Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh is time-limited software.
  Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date. After installation your desktop will show the text “Evaluation Copy”. This does not mean that your system is no longer genuine but that you have installed a test version of software which is time-limited. The “Evaluation Copy” text will appear on your desktop after the second reboot after installing the service pack. Likewise, the “Evaluation Copy” text will remain on your desktop during the first reboot after uninstall the service pack, but will disappear after the next reboot.
• If you install Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh it is strongly recommended that you install the final version of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released. To do this, you will be required to uninstall this RC version of Windows Vista SP1.
• Assisted support (phone, email and online chat) is not available from Microsoft Help and Support for this RC release of Windows Vista SP1. Self-help and peer support is available through the Windows Vista SP1 forum.
• You must have a genuine copy of Windows Vista installed prior to installing Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh.

The Windows Update Experience
Systems running on Windows Vista RTM typically require two or three updates before SP1 can be installed. These updates are permanent on your Windows Vista systems. Windows Update will detect your system configuration and offer the prerequisite packages that are applicable to your system. Based on the state of your system, Windows Update will offer you all the applicable prerequisite packages and SP1 in a sequential order. For details, please see the instructions below.
The prerequisite updates consist of two updates which service specific Windows components prior to the installation of the service pack and a third update which services the installation software built into Windows Vista. The following are the prerequisite updates.

• KB935509 This updates is only required on Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate editions (which have Bitlocker capabilities). This update is required prior to installing KB938371, the second prerequisite update and is required to prevent potential loss of data on Bitlocker encrypted systems during updating.
• KB938371 This update consists of fixes for several components (including the TrustedInstaller), increases the success rate for installing the service pack and enables the service pack to be uninstalled successfully.
• KB937287 This is an update to the “Servicing Stack” or the Windows Vista component installer technologies built into Windows Vista. This update enables the built-in installer to properly and successfully install the service pack.

Installing the Service Pack
There are two ways to install the service pack, first, as a pop-up notification that the service pack is ready to be installed (this is the method in which most users will install the service pack) and using multiple manual installations from Windows Update. The first method is the simplest, but may take up to four days for the Windows Update Automatic Update feature to deliver each of the 3 prerequisites and the service pack. Windows Vista SP1 distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Windows Vista RTM.
Method 1: Automatic Update
You can install Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh using the Automatic Update process by following these steps.

1. Save the included RCRefreshSP1betaprogramsRK.cmd script to your machine.
2. Right-click on the script and select Run as administrator. The script will set a registry key on your machine that allows Windows Update to offer Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh to your machine.
3. From the Windows Update control panel, select Change settings.
4. Verify that Install updates automatically (recommended) is selected. This enables the Automatic Update feature to download and install the prerequisite updates and service pack automatically.
5. Windows Update Automatic Update will automatically update your machine over the next several days with the prerequisites updates. When the service pack has downloaded a pop-up notification will inform you that updates are ready to be installed. You must click on this notification and choose to install the service pack at this point. The service pack will not silently or automatically install itself.

Method 2: Manual Installation using Windows Update
To intall Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh as quickly as possible, follow the steps below.

1. Save the included RCRefreshSP1betaprogramsRK.cmd script to your machine.
2. Right-click on the script and select Run as administrator. The script will set a registry key on your machine that allows Windows Update to offer Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh to your machine.
3. Windows Update Automatic Update will automatically update your machine over the next several days with the prerequisites updates provided you have the Windows Update Automatic Update feature enabled. When the service pack has downloaded a pop-up notification will inform you that updates are ready to be installed. You must click on this notification and choose to install the service pack at this point. The service pack will not silently or automatically install itself.
4. To manually install the service pack, start by installing all Important updates applicable to your system and the prerequisite updates. You may have to repeat this several times to fully update your system by opening the Windows Update control panel and selecting Check for updates. Note: If your system is managed by a administrator and has a Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) server for updates, you need to use the Check online for updates option of the Windows Update control panel. If this option is not available, your administrator may have disabled this functionality.
5. If you have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Enterprise, Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) should be in this list. If you have any other version, Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) should be in this list. Install these updates and reboot your machine when prompted.
6. If you do not have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Enterprise Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) should be in the list first and Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) is not required. Note: If you reboot and immediately check for updates you may not see all updates. This may be caused by the installer service completing the installation of the prior update. Please wait 5-10 minutes and check for updates again.
7. Install Update for Windows Vista (KB937287). Update for Windows Vista (KB937287) does not require a reboot.
8. Wait for 10-15 minutes before checking for updates again to enable the installer to complete its installation.
9. Check for updates again and install Service Pack for Windows (KB936330).

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© 2008 Anthony Clendenen

I Recommend These Books!
SMS 2003 Administrator’s Reference: Systems Management Server 2003 -  SMS 2003 Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach  -  Microsoft SMS Installer (Book/CD-ROM package)  -  Pro SMS 2003  -  Professional MOM 2005, SMS 2003, and WSUS  -  Start to Finish Guide to Distributing Software With Systems Management Server 2003  -  Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 - Administrator’s Companion

And you can check out more books and gadgets at my Amazon store here.

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Buy One Get One Free Vista

If you helped to test Vista, by being a MSDN or TechNet subscriber, you should have gotten an email telling you about this promotion (see below).  I can’t believe that people still go for these buy one, get one free or buy one get the next pair half off.  At the very best you will get 50% off, but do you really need two?  I can understand if you were going to buy two copies, then it is a great deal, but if you only need one or are only going to use one then you really didn’t save yourself any money as you pay full price for one and never use the other so it has no value.  Now if you get the gift certificate or the free laptop, then it is most likely worth it!

Microsoft offers a Vista two-for deal by ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley — As part of Microsoft’s latest Windows Vista promotion, Microsoft is offering a variety of prizes to its MSDN and TechNet Vista testers, including a two-for deal on Vista Ultimate; $250 Amazon.com gift certificates (in exchange for completing an online Vista deployment-plan survey; and a chance to win one of ten ASUS W5fe PCs that have been signed by Chairman Bill Gates.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© 2007 - 2008 Anthony Clendenen

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Cool Tools For Friday

There are always so many each week!

Microsoft Popfly went into public Beta a couple weeks ago.  Popfly allows you to make mashups, web pages, gadgets, so on all in in online easy to use editor that includes tutorials.

Want to install DirectX 10?  How about Leopard on your PC?

Shoot - I gotta run, literally, I have a training session in 30 minutes! 

Have a great weekend, I will be in New York next week if you want connect email me.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© 2007 Anthony Clendenen

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Microsoft Deployment RC1 Fix

Mike didn’t even mention this at dinner last night…

Issues with Microsoft Deployment RC1 - October 25, 2007

The development team has isolated issues in the initial Microsoft Deployment RC1 build. Toolkit was throwing errors when Configure ConfigMgr Integration, Configure Management Pack or Configure WDS PXE Filter features were invoked. The errors occur because two files were not properly signed in the Microsoft Deployment RC1 release. We have released an updated build which contains these signed files. Please download the latest installers from Connect web site.

If you would like to work around the issue without reinstalling Microsoft Deployment , you can refer to steps given at Microsoft Deployment team blog site.

Thank you for your patience and your diligence in testing Microsoft Deployment. Please make sure to submit bug reports on Connect Feedback site.

Microsoft Deployment Team

Microsoft Corp.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© 2007 Anthony Clendenen

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Microsoft Deployment Release Candidate 1 Available for Download

The latest installment of BDD, code named Deployment 4, now named Microsoft Deployment (MD) is available for download on the Microsoft Connect site.  This is the much anticipated version that integrates with ConfigMgr’s OSD and is the next evolution of BDD.  With this new version you can expect to have a single solution for the deployment of both desktops and servers as well as WDS, and ACT.  See below for more details on what is included.

Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) is now Microsoft Deployment!

We are pleased to announce the RC1 release and new name for the fourth generation deployment Solution Accelerator, Microsoft Deployment. The current generation of automated deployment tools from Microsoft is increasingly unified; the same tools, utilities and products in many cases offer support and functionality for desktop and server deployment tasks. Following the trend of unified tools, the Business Desktop Deployment team has incorporated new functionality and guidance to support automated server deployment in addition to desktop deployment capabilities. This expanded feature set, with its guidance and ability to automate installation of Windows client and server operating systems - as well as applications - has effectively outgrown the current name, Business Desktop Deployment. Previous Beta releases have been using the code name “Deployment 4″ to refer to Microsoft Deployment before the name was finalized.

Microsoft Deployment is the next version of Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007. It unifies the tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment into a common deployment console and collection of guidance. Microsoft Deployment adds integration with current Microsoft deployment technologies - System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Windows Deployment Services, and the Windows Automated Installation Kit - to create a single path for image creation and automated installation. Microsoft Deployment adds integration with recently released Microsoft deployment technologies to create a single path for image creation and deployment, including:

• System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Operating System Deployment
• Windows Automated Installation Kit
• Windows Deployment Services with new multicast technology
• Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0
• User State Migration Tool 3.0.1
• 2007 Office system
• Windows Server 2008 Server Manager for automated server role definition

Enhanced Program on Microsoft Connect

This release candidate also offers an enhanced Microsoft Connect portal including technical frequently asked questions, deployment tips and tricks, a recommended 10-step program for new users to quickly get acquainted with deployment accelerators, customer-ready Solution Accelerator informational materials, and deployment-related conference presentations.

Accelerator Description

Microsoft Deployment combines the guidance and toolset from previous releases of Business Desktop Deployment and Beta releases of Windows Server Deployment. This release continues to support Zero Touch Installation (ZTI) of desktop operating systems using Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 with the Operating System Deployment Feature Pack and adds new deployment and task sequencing capabilities for desktops and servers using System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Microsoft Deployment also continues to provide Lite Touch Installation (LTI) support without infrastructure requirements and adds capabilities for Windows Server 2003 and pre-release versions of Windows Server 2008.

New Features in Microsoft Deployment

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 support, with the following features:

• Full support for Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 deployments with Microsoft Deployment and Configuration Manager 2007.
• Complete integration into the Configuration Manager 2007 admin console and task sequencing capabilities.
  • Quick start Configuration Manager 2007 operating system deployments using one wizard to create needed task sequences and packages.
  • Extension of the Configuration Manager 2007 task sequencing capabilities with new actions.
• Feature parity with BDD 2007 and SMS 2003, including dynamic package installation, automatic determination of state store location, computer backup, and database settings.
• Installation support for computers unknown to the Configuration Manager 2007 database
• Added support for offline patching
• Support for offline and online language pack installation
• Deployment monitoring:
  • Updated Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007

Lite Touch Installation (LTI) support for Windows Server 2008:

• Support for deploying Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 and potentially RC1 (to be verified after RC1 release), including support for Server Core installation options.
• Automated server role definition using Server Manager

Lite Touch Installation (LTI) enhancements:

• Enhanced disk and network interface cards (NICs) configuration options, including support for static TCP/IP configuration.
• Design changes to ease the migration from LTI to Configuration Manager 2007.
• Support for multiple task sequence templates. New sample templates include:
  • Client template: Windows Vista, Windows XP
  • Server template: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008
  • Replace scenario template
• Ability to invoke web service calls
  • Support for web service calls from rules
  • Web services can be invoked as part of the rules processing performed by Microsoft Deployment, using new rules that can be defined in CustomSettings.ini.
• Support for BDD 2007 upgrade or side-by-side installation with Microsoft Deployment.

Lite Touch Installation (LTI) multicast support:

• Deployment Workbench supports multicast transmission of operating system images when performing LTI deployments from Windows Server 2008 servers that are running Windows Deployment Services.

Where to Find Microsoft Deployment

Microsoft Deployment RC1 is available as a download in the Microsoft Deployment Connection Program on Microsoft Connect.

Download Now!

Related Resources

Desktop Deployment Center on Microsoft TechNet

System Center Configuration Manager on Microsoft TechNet

System Center Configuration Manager evaluation software on Microsoft TechNet

Windows Server 2008 on Microsoft TechNet

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© 2007 Anthony Clendenen

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Server 2008 RC0 Free Download

If you want to give Server 2008 a spin prior to its release next year you can download the release candidate zero here.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc.

http://configmgr.com

© 2007 Anthony Clendenen

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