Archive for August, 2010
Windows 7 Migration Tools – Microsoft User State Migration Tool (USMT) 4.0
Microsoft User State Migration Tool (USMT) 4.0 Windows® User State Migration Tool (USMT) 4.0 is a scriptable command-line tool that provides a highly-customizable user-profile migration experience for IT professionals. The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is used to migrate user settings from the previous version of Windows to Windows 7. Preserving user settings helps ensure [...]
Windows 7 Migration Articles – Ed Bott – How much will a Windows 7 migration really cost?
Great article from Ed Bott today on Windows 7 Migration costs. He talks a little bit about his views regarding Mary Jo Foley’s analysis of a pertinent Gartner Group report a few weeks ago. He goes on to explain his view on some of the true costs and risks of Windows 7 migration. You need [...]
Windows 7 Migration Tools – Parallels
Windows 7 Migration Tools – Parallels Upgrading from an older version of Windows to Windows 7 can prove to be a bit of a nightmare, but with Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7, Parallels hopes to make things easier. This product is designed for for non-techy users wanting to make the upgrade. It works in two [...]
Windows 7 Licensing and Activation – OEM Activation
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) activation OEM computer manufacturers usually market systems that include a customized, pre-installed build of Windows 7. Activation is effected by associating the OS with the computer’s BIOS. Examples of this would be the copies of Windows 7 that would come with a PC ordered from Dell or Gateway or Asus etc. The [...]
Windows 7 Licensing and Activation – Retail Activation
Retail activation This applies to retail versions of the Operating System i.e. versions you would buy from a retail store (Best Buy etc)… You receive a unique key bundled with your installation media which must be typed in during product installation. This key is needed to complete activation after Windows 7 is installed. Most consumers [...]
Windows 7 Licensing and Activation – Overview
Windows 7 Licensing and Activation – Overview Understanding how Microsoft Licensing and Activation works is crucial to the success of your Windows 7 deployment. Choosing the right licensing model can save you time and money, while activation ensures that your product is genuine and gives you access to Microsoft’s considerable support and resources. In this [...]
Windows 7 Deployment Strategies – High Touch with Standard Image
Strategy 2: High-Touch with Standard Image Using this method, you prepare a custom OS image that includes your customizations and application configurations, and then install it manually on the target computers. Microsoft recommends this strategy for organizations with small or distributed networks of 100-200 client computers and at least one IT professional on staff who [...]
Windows 7 Deployment Strategies – High Touch with Retail Media
Strategy 1: High Touch with Retail Media This strategy is best for home and very small businesses with no dedicated IT staff, and with small unmanaged networks of less than 100 client computers. It is a labor-intensive, hands-on deployment where you install and configure the Operating System manually on each computer from the image on [...]
Windows 7 Deployment Strategies – Overview
Deployment Strategies Microsoft has developed four distinct methods for deploying Windows 7 according to the size of the deployment and the resources of the organization. Of these, only the first three are appropriate for small to medium-sized businesses. This is because they are image-based, and offer varying levels of automation to provide for a more [...]
Windows 7 Migration Project Management Part 2- Identify Stakeholders
Identify Stakeholders Once the project is approved, the business owner or project sponsor has to identify key individuals or business units in the organization who have a stake in the deployment of this new software. Some examples are the IT department, Finance (license procurement), and executives from any department that is particularly important to the [...]
Windows 7 Migration Project Management Part 1- Define Project Scope and Objectives
Define Project Scope and Objectives Before you begin the Windows 7 deployment journey, it is necessary to clearly define the corporate and organizational objectives that you wish to achieve through the deployment of the new Operating System. The definition of your corporate goals will help you fine-tune the scope of the deployment. There are a [...]
Windows 7 Migration Project Management – Overview
Below are the Project Management steps that I would recommend for deploying Windows 7 to small and medium-sized organizations. Depending on the type and size of your organization, you may reorder these steps, but they are essentially the same for any significant system migration. Please note that some of these steps will likely run concurrently. [...]
New Windows 7 Features – VPN Reconnect
VPN Reconnect VPN reconnect is a new feature in Windows 7 that improves VPN connectivity. Using IKEv2 technology, VPN Reconnect automatically re-establishes a VPN after temporary loss of your Internet connection. This helps provide seamless and consistent VPN connectivity, especially to users of wireless mobile broadband services. An example of this would be a user who travels frequently on company [...]
New Windows 7 Features – BranchCache
BranchCache BranchCache enables content from File, Web and other servers on a wide area network (WAN) to be cached on computers at a local branch office. Using BranchCache can result in shorter application response times and reduced WAN traffic. Benefits of BranchCache include: System Responsiveness: With BranchCache enabled, copies of files downloaded from intranet websites [...]
New Windows 7 Features – DirectAccess
DirectAccess is a new remote connectivity application that enables remote users to securely access enterprise resources that may include fileshares, websites, and applications without connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). DirectAccess automatically enables bi-directional connectivity with the user’s enterprise network each time their DirectAccess enabled portable computer accesses the Internet. DirectAccess is available in [...]
