Disclaimer
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2008
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2008
In case you missed out the free AVG offer here is another free anti-virus product. Once you create a free 
account on the CA site they will send you link to download it.
There words regarding the account.
“This information will be used to create your FREE account in case you are in need of any support. Your information will be kept private and will not be shared with any third parties.”
Get FREE One Year Subscription of CA Anti-Virus – Tweaking with Vishal
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
Microsoft MVP System Center Configuration Manager
© Anthony Clendenen
Earlier this afternoon the Phoenix lander touched down on Mars’ north pole. It will spend the next three months digging up ice to try and determine if life was on Mars at some point.
This is the first photo in from the lander but you can be assured more pictures and videos will be available soon. You can follow the Phoenix Mission blog here, and get news and updates from NASA on the Phoenix Mission here.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
Microsoft MVP System Center Configuration Manager
© Anthony Clendenen
Download the Visio add in and the web server component to connect and generate datasets to connect to your existing diagrams or auto generate your diagrams for your infrastructure monitoring needs. See your data from OpsManager and ConfigManager live in Visio diagrams.
Ronni Pedersen’s Blog Site: Microsoft Office Visio 2007 Pro SCOM & SCCM Connectors
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© Anthony Clendenen
If you don’t know I am a HUGE OneNote fan and have converted countless people from using Notepad, Notepad2, Word, paper, you name it to using OneNote since it first came out in Office 2003. (If you are only interested in the the list of OneNote PowerToys, skip this section and scroll down).
Some of my favorite things are the ability to write anywhere, assign "tags" to notes, copy and drag from anywhere, any application, webpage, pdf – anywhere into a OneNote page, and have it enter the link where it came from directly below it, create Outlook tasks or appointments, even contacts directly from the notes. You can record audio and/or video directly into a note page, you can password protect sections, you can draw, highlight, email…and one of the functions I use most, use the Windows key + S to screen clip any area of your desktop without losing the mouse focus on a menu or highlighted item!
Here is an example. On the left is a screen clip using OneNote’s function and you can see the Firefox right click context menu after left clicking on a link on Chris Pratley’s OneNote blog. On the right is text that from the same page that I copied and then drug onto the same note page, as you can see at the very bottom is a link to where it was copied from. You can also see that the same link that I used in my screen clipping example is brought over automatically into OneNote.
Let’s see what else I can do with these two examples.
You can see I have taken the text from Chris’ blog and the image of my Firefox context menu and switched their position on my notes page, I also shrunk down the image size and moved it lower on the page, I could also do things like make the text in the image searchable, crop the image, send it to the back, resize it, save it externally. OneNotes screen clipping tool also allow you to set default behavior when you do capture an area, copy it to the clipboard or copy it to the clipboard and send it to the Unfiled notes section of OneNote, and either view it or not. I just use the copy to clipboard option.
I also added some things after the text I copied in. I added a "To Do" tag next to the text "Get list of plugins for blog post" it’s that empty checkbox, that I can later check when I am done. I can also create a summary page that shows all my To Do’s, tasks, remember for later, follow up, essential any tags I choose for a notebook and it will group them together, showing completed items together. The search function in OneNote is one of its better features as well.
The next line is just to highlight another one of the tags, which you can assign hot keys by ordering them. And the final line is a tag that I have customized. It is a "For Follow Up" tag that I have made the text white and to highlight it in red. You can build you own custom tags or customize the built-in ones.
Here is the tags toolbar, also captured with OneNotes screen clipping tool
The original intent of this was to capture a list of OneNote plugins because I could not find a single source that had them all. So here is a list of plugins I was able to locate at the time of posting.
Pasted from <http://blogs.msdn.com/descapa/archive/2007/03/03/sort-sections-powertoy.aspx>
Pasted from <http://blogs.msdn.com/descapa/archive/2007/02/17/sort-pages-powertoy.aspx>
Task Requests from OneNotes Meeting Notes
Updated OneNotes Favorites addin (3/20/2008 v1.61)
This allows you to tag a note page as a favorite, essentially creating a favorites list like in IE in OneNote.
Calendar PowerToy by Josh Einstein – allows you a to view your notes by the date you wrote them
From : OneNote PowerToys Blog
(Sorted by me)
Working in OneNote:
Table Sum Powertoy for OneNote
ReadOnly Section Addin (OneNote 2007)
Official Powertoy: My Font Tool for Tablet PC
OneNote Favorites PowerToy (old version -see above)
Import to OneNote:
Jeremy Lewi’s SendTo OneNote PowerToy
Microsoft Dynamics CRM2OneNote
Import texts from Project Gutenberg
Send to OneNote 2007 from Windows Explorer
Outlook to OneNote AddIn (Outlook “rule”)
GBM How-To: Add OneNote 2007 Printer as Right-click Send To option
Application integration:
OneNote 2007 Integration with MindManager Pro 7
SnagIt Output for OneNote 2007!
Updated: “Clip to OneNote” Firefox Extension
Export your Outlook notes to OneNote (2007)
Windows Live Messenger Send To OneNote 2007
GoogleNewsReader to OneNote PowerToy
Eclipse RCP Snippet for OneNote
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© Anthony Clendenen
Carol posted this over the the TechNet blogs site a couple of hours ago. I commented that I didn’t think it was a huge 
change because the odds are pretty low that this would really happen in today. Essentially the rule that an SMS or ConfigMgr client will use first bound NIC for auto assignment is no longer true. If you think this is a significant technical change leave a comment and let her know.
Auto-site assignment and multiple IP addresses
It happens to all of us. Just when you think you’ve comfortably nailed a certain aspect of the product – Kapow! – the rug is pulled from under your feet and you realize you’re not on the stable ground you thought you were. It’s all part and parcel of working with a complex product, but still disconcerting when it happens.
Well, I had one of those moments recently when a bug came in about multiple adapters and auto-site assignment. It has long been documented (way before I joined the team) that when a computer has multiple adapters (such as a wired adapter and a wireless adapter or modem), the adapter bound first will be used to determine the client’s boundary location during auto-site assignment.
This isn’t something that I’ve ever had to rely on myself – if a computer had multiple adapters I would always prefer to use a direct site assignment, and the docs say that in this scenario, auto-site assignment probably isn’t for you. But I’ve always trusted the “first bound adapter” information.
Now it turns out that this isn’t true. A customer reported that this didn’t seem to be the case with their SMS 2003 client – an adapter that was not bound first was being used for site assignment. The product team looked into it, and sure enough, this piece of information that I’ve always trusted was actually incorrect. When a computer has multiple adapters or multiple IP addresses, the ordering of the IP addresses was nondeterministic but consistent for a particular computer. The same number of adapters or IP addresses for another computer would usually result in a different but consistent ordering of the addresses.
Although the customer reported this with SMS 2003 and quoted the SMS 2003 Concepts, Planning and Deployment Guide as the source of their (mis)information, there are no plans to republish this documentation. However, I have corrected it for the Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 RC documentation, in the topic About Client Site Assignment in Configuration Manager.
Old text (incorrect)
Note:
If a Configuration Manager 2007 client has multiple network cards (possibly a LAN network card and a dial-up modem), and therefore has multiple IP addresses, the network card that is bound first is used for evaluating client site assignment.
New text (corrected)
Note:
If a Configuration Manager 2007 client has multiple network cards (possibly a LAN network card and a dial-up modem), and therefore has multiple IP addresses, the IP address used to evaluate client site assignment is nondeterministic.
This is undoubtedly a technical change to the topic, but it’s not noted in the What’s New in the Configuration Manager Documentation Library for March 2008 where we list new topics or significant technical changes. I deliberated whether this was a “significant technical change”, and taking into account that this has been incorrect in our documentation for nearly 5 years before anybody commented on it, I decided that it wasn’t. Then I remembered one of our product group’s mottos “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” and wondered if I had made the right decision.
Does anybody feel strongly that this constitutes a significant technical change? For example:
- Would knowing the correct behavior change an administrator’s decision about whether to use auto-site assignment when a computer has multiple addresses?
- Would this information provide the missing information about why auto-site assignment failed?
I suspect in practice that it’s one of those interesting pieces of information that you like to have clear in your mind, whether or not it’s actually of practical use. But if you think I made the wrong call and it qualifies as a significant technical change that should be called out in the change log topic, e-mail SMSDocs@Microsoft.com and I’ll see what I can do to retroactively list it.
And now, back to terra firma – until the next time!
- Carol Bailey
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties and confers no rights.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© Anthony Clendenen
J.C. over on the SoftGrid Team blog posed a list of SoftGrid virtual labs. If you are new to the technology, need a refresher or just want to pick up on some stuff you might not already know this list covers quite a few different areas of the entire SoftGrid process from sequencing to troubleshooting. 
I would also recommend subscribing to their RSS feed if you don’t currently.
Are you new to Microsoft Application Virtualization (aka SoftGrid) and looking for a quick and easy way to ramp up your skills? If so then these virtual labs are a great place to start. In as little as an hour or two you can use these to evaluate and test many of the features and concepts through a series of guided, hands-on exercises. Sure you can read the guides and manuals and all that stuff (you do read all those, right?) but if you’re anything like me there’s no substitute for getting your hands dirty. Plus a little practice now using these labs can save you a ton of time troubleshooting mistakes down the road. Check them out:
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TechNet Virtual Lab: SoftGrid Application Virtualization- Sequencing (basics)
After completing this lab, you will be better able to publish an application in the SoftGrid environment, stream and test the application, and perform an active upgrade of the application.
For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032366074&culture=en-US
======
TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft SoftGrid Virtual Application Advanced Sequencing
In this lab, you will walk-through performing a Virtual File System (VFS) installation of an application as well as a sequencing of a web-based plug-in. Before working on this lab, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of the SoftGrid environment.
For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032345999&culture=en-US
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After completion of this lab, you will be more familiar with performing a standard sequence of an application, publishing the application to test in the SoftGrid system, and also performing an active upgrade to the application. Before working on this lab, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of the SoftGrid environment.
For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032346000&culture=en-US
======
TechNet Virtual Lab: SoftGrid Application Virtualization- Publishing
After completing this lab, you will be better able to publish an application in the SoftGrid environment, stream and test the application, and perform an active upgrade of the application.
For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032366076&culture=en-US
======
TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft SoftGrid General Troubleshooting
In this lab, you will learn how to troubleshoot sequenced applications using common utilities. After completing this lab you will be able to create a package troubleshooting environment, use File Monitor to repair a package that is missing file(s), and use Process Monitor to add registry keys.
For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032367800&culture=en-US
======
J.C. Hornbeck | Manageability Knowledge Engineer
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© Anthony Clendenen
First of all, Happy New Year,
and may everyone find that in 2008 that your glass is more than half full, you and your loved ones are all very healthy and overly happy, that your careers are very prosperous, and that you gain all that you desire and more.
As we welcome another year and reflect on the year ending it is always nice to note what was the highlights of the year. So below is my personal top ten of 2007 when it comes to Systems Management.
10. Thursday, October 23rd, System Center Partner Airlift. It was actually the dinner on Thursday night that got this on the list. I set dinner for about 12 people at a local steak house, Daniel’s, and it ended up that at this dinner we had sitting around the table, Jeff Gilbert, Michael Niehaus, Paul Thomsen, Garth Jones, and Greg Ramsey, amongst others. 
9. New class in SMS 2003 SP3 causes CPU’s to jump to 100% utilization, and is fixed.
8. Saturday, July 7th, SoftGrid 4.2 was available, adding support for Vista. 
7. Monday, May 7th, System Center Essentials goes RTM. This doesn’t get a lot of press either but for SMB sized companies this has great potential.
6. Monday, April 23rd, I started my new position with 1E, I did say my personal top 10 so this had to come in somewhere on the list! 
5. Friday, March 23rd, System Center Operations Manager goes RTM. While we don’t often talk much about it, it is still a great milestone.
4. Wednesday, November 14th, Microsoft Deployment was released. After Michael, Tim, and the other team members had been slaving away for months it was finally ready for all of us. 
3. Friday, April 27th, SMS 2003 SP3 was released. The AssetIntel piece makes this a very important service pack for those sticking with SMS 2003.
2. Monday, March 26th, MMS 2007 opens in San Diego, CA. This is always such a great event. The training, meeting people, product news, it can’t be beat and each year it gets better and larger.
1. On August 24th 4 PM PDT, System Center Configuration Manager goes RTM. 
Regards and Happy New Year!
The Clendenen’s
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
There are a ton of sites with cool tools and keeping up with all of them can be overwhelming. Here are a few that I have come across in just the last week and find useful or at least sound useful (direct quotes below – not my spellings). Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Vidown FLV Downloader is a free FLV Download manager for Windows that can download FLV videos from any Flash website, play them uisng the integrated FLV player or convert them into Windows Media Video (WMV) format for playing it in WMP or on Windows Mobile device.
The main features of ViDown FLV Download Manager include:
+ Download FLV videos from more than 80 Flash websites.
+ Download multiple files from multiple websites at the same time.
+ Integrates with Internet Explorer shell.
+ Includes FLV video player.
+ Includes FLV video convertor to convert FLV format to WMV format.Download ViDown for Windows here [includes plugin to convert FLV to WMV]
UpdateStar is free software for Windows XP and Vista that can automatically search and download the most up-to-date versions of programs found on your computer. UpdateStar contains a database of more than 80,000 software products be it freeware, paid, commercial, trial, demo, donationware or shareware.
Key features of UpdateStart include:
+ Runs in the background and notifies of new updates immediately
+ Once an update is afound, UpdateStar offers information and download options as well as licensing links in the case of a commercial program or update
+ Adds a custom and much faster Add/Remove program applet
+ You can personalize updates by selecting specific applications for which you want UpdateStar to look for updates
+ Get special offers and discounts for commercial software updates, if interested
Download UpdateStar for Windows XP and Vista here
Defraggler Beta is a new disk utility for Windows XP and Vista from the makers of CCleaner and Recuva that enables you to defrag selected individual files on the hard drive, instead of processing the whole drive/volume.
Key features of Defraggler Beta include:
+ Defrag Individual Files and Folders: Most defragmentation tools only let you defrag the whole drive. Defraggler allows you to select individual files and folders to defrag making the defrag process very quick.
+ Portable: Can be run off any portable USB Flash drive
+ Locate Files on the Drive: After analysis Defraggler lists all the fragmented files on the drive. Selecting one or many will highlight their location on the disk allowing you to visually see the location of files on the disk.
Getting started:
1) Launch Defraggler, select a drive and press Analyze
2) When the analysis is finished, the program will display a visual drive map and a list of the fragmented files
3) Selecting files from the file list will highlight them on the drive map
4) Right click and choose “Defrag Highlighted”Download Defraggler Beta for Windows XP and Vista here
OpenedFilesView is a free utility that displays a list of all opened files on your Windws XP or Vista based computer. Along with that, it displays a whole bunch of information about the open file such as:
+ File name, size and its complete path
+ Handle number
+ Created and Modified time
+ Attributes and type of access allowed- read, write, delete or shared
+ Process ID, Name and PathThis utility is useful if you cannot delete a file or an applications or program is hung, not responding or giving access denied permission errors and you need to track down the culprit. You can do this by sorting the column in OpenedFilesView by “Full Path” and locating the directory where the file you are trying to delete is situated. Or if you have multiple Internet Explorer windows open and one of them hangs.
Download OpenedFilesView for Windows here
Featured Windows Download: Recover Forgotten Passwords with Snadboy’s Revelation
Windows only: If you’ve forgotten an important password but have it saved in its applicable software or web page, password utility Snadboy’s Revelation will reveal it. Open the application, drag your cursor over the asterisks, and the password will appear. This application is a lifesaver, especially if you’re unable to recall all your hard-to-remember passwords. Snadboy’s Revelation is donationware, Windows only.
(via Ryan’s shared items in Google Reader)
Disable and Remap Any Key with SharpKeys
Windows only: Sick of accidentally hitting the Caps Lock key when you never intentionally use it? You can disable the Caps Lock key entirely with a free Windows utility called SharpKeys. The How-To Geek explains that instead of having to edit the Windows registry yourself to disable and remap keys, SharpKeys does it for you with a convenient interface. You can even add key combinations that map to functions and applications, like Print or your default email client. SharpKeys is a free download for Windows XP and Vista.Map Any Key to Any Key on Windows XP / Vista [the How-To Geek]
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
There seems to be a lack of information around the virtual SCSI driver in Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, or at least information that is easy to find so here are some tips on getting the most out of this driver and how it compares to the IDE driver.
Here are some of the advantages in using the SCSI driver and hard drives over IDE drives in your VM’s.
And if you weren’t confused before, in Server 2008 with Windows Server Virtualization, all of this changes.
Here are some virtualization resources and related links:
virtualization.info home page virtualization.info RSS feed
John Howard’s blog, Senior Program Mgr, Windows Server Virtualization
Microsoft Virtualization home page
Download Windows Server 2008 RC0 
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc.
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
If you have certs in any of the Microsoft management suite of tools, SMS and MOM, or would like to get a head start on getting your first cert in any of the newly branded System Center tools Microsoft has put together two sessions on what’s coming for System Center Certifications. They have two but they are the same sessions just at different times to try and cover the different time zones for everyone.
There will be two different tracks one Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, or MCTS, which is due to begin in Q1 2008, and Microsoft Certification for IT Professionals, or MCITP, which will be available some time after MCTS.
If you are interested in attending either of these online Live Meeting event you can register for them by following the links below.
Continue to sources here and here.
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc.
© 2007 Anthony Clendenen
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