Longhorn and Vista in Virtual PC

Posted: 12:20 pm
February 12, 2006
OS
1 Comment

If you're having trouble installing Windows Vista or Longhorn in the Virtual PC environment here are a few tips I found over on the Virtual PC Guy's Weblog:

  1. Create a new virtual machine with a 16GB (or larger) virtual hard disk and at least 512mb RAM
  2. Boot off of the install media (note: most ISOs for the December CTP are under 2.2GB in size – which means that you can boot off the ISO directly under Virtual PC)
  3. On the first page select 'Install now'
  4. On the next page, hit 'Shift-F10' – this will bring up a command prompt window
  5. Type in:
    1. DISKPART
    2. SELECT DISK 0
    3. CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
    4. EXIT
    5. EXIT

Now you will need to reset the virtual machine (hit host-key + 'R') and boot off of the install media again. You should now be able to go through with the default installation of Windows Vista. When you are finished you should be able to log in and install the Virtual Machine Additions.

SBS Show #16 – SMBTN Partner Groups

Posted: 11:41 pm
February 11, 2006
SBS Show
5 Comments

Joining us for SBS Show #16 are few leaders of SMBTN groups: Jim Locke, Roger Otterson and Andy Goodman. They discuss the concept of partner groups and going beyond the networking/technology discussions and towards actually doing business. Every partner in the small business community should listen to this show, especially if you work on your own: 06:00 What is SMBTN, why did you get together? 09:55 What does SMBTN offer people/groups that join? 14:55 What benefits do SMBTN members get from major software/hardware vendors? 19:08 Joining SMBTN from the SBS group leaders perspective? 20:45 SBS group benefits under the SMBTN umbrella 22:35 What is SMBTN really all about? 29:47 What benefits do members realize from SMBTN? 39:22 How does one go about joining SMBTN? 44:10 SMBTN conference? Download the SBS Show #16 http://www.vladville.com/sbsshow/sbsshow-episode16.mp3 SMBTN Annual Conference is at Buena Park, CA from Mar 30 – Apr 1. If you're curious where the SBS Show #15 went, Chris was put in charge of editing the SBS Show on Managed Server because we couldn't hear one of our guests. Look for it this week! In the meantime, the Inside SBS crew will be making its trumphant return with a talk on Mobility. Look for it early next week.

I bet Ballmer would throw the chair at this video too!

Posted: 11:21 pm
February 11, 2006
IT Culture
4 Comments

Ok, this just made my month folks. The screencap to the right is Microsoft's CEO Steven Ballmer on a TV commercial selling Microsoft Windows 1.0; Now thats what I call funny. It is nice to know that he has passed the chair (or torch, whichever metaphor works for you). Check out the video, absolutely amazing but might need IE.

ISA 2006 Public Beta Open

Posted: 12:36 am
February 10, 2006
Security
3 Comments

It feels like ISA 2004 just launched! Well, time to drop that stable firewall and caching proxy you're enjoying and check out ISA 2006. The public beta for this product was announced today and both Standard and Enterprise edition are available for download:

Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 is an integrated edge security gateway that helps businesses secure their Microsoft application infrastructure, streamline their network and safeguard their IT environment. ISA Server 2006 Beta is available for download in both Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition.

Something To Get, Something To Avoid

Posted: 10:59 pm
February 9, 2006
Web 2.0
4 Comments

On the subject of getting stuff, Skype 2.0 is out. Skype, for those of you under a rock, is a VoIP network that allows callers to do video and audio chat, including conference calling. Unfortunately, it has had its fair share of criticism from paranoid security experts that do not understand peer-to-peer technology. Chris has a great writeup on the irrational fears that people have toward Skype. Anotherwords, get it. Now what to avoid: Google Desktop. This is perhaps the best piece of Google software ever released (yes, better than Gmail) but the new version has "Search Accross Desktops" feature which apparently mirrors documents on Google's servers:

Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password. – EFF

I don't care about the do no evil, this crushes all boundaries of reasonable privacy compromise to make your personal information more discoverable. As a card-carrying member of EFF I urge you to avoid this one.

Advice on Spreading Product Launch News

Posted: 10:34 pm
February 9, 2006
IT Culture
5 Comments

Key word being: spreading. Fabio is back:

"I'm happy to be back, spreading the news about the new, great tasting I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!," Fabio announced recently. "My romance with I Can't Believe Its Not Butter! never really ended so it is fitting that the love affair is out in the open again through an exciting new advertising campaign."

How does this matter to you? Well, the key lesson here is that there is no shame in promoting oneself. Be it your role in IT or your IT business, you cannot be ashamed about what you do to the point that you cease to promote it. If you're not proud of it, improve it.

MSFP Beta Leaked

Posted: 9:47 pm
February 9, 2006
Mobility
1 Comment

Microsoft Mobility & Security Feature Pack (MSFP) beta has been leaked. Check it out, it seems to be an older beta of MSFP, try at your own risk. This one requires a flash so please think twice. Download it here.

OneCare Live to go Live in June for $50

Posted: 3:40 am
February 8, 2006
Security
2 Comments

Kevin Remde is talking about OneCare Live pricing: $49.99 per year, protecting up to 3 PC's. To thank everyone for testing the beta, Microsoft will offer the first year of OneCare at $19.99 to its beta friends. Anotherwords, go sign up for the beta today 🙂 This certainly deals a new hand to the Norton franchise that has for years pushed their collection of broken paranoia (I don't dare associate "security" with Norton brand) software for $99 / year. I know I am not alone at this but I for one do not feel I should be paying for antivirus software. The backup, firewall, etc – Do you take Amex? But to pay for flawed software design, thats what I thought the actual Microsoft Windows XP license was for! You can't double charge me for a broken OS and fixes, thats like Cisco trying to charge me for drivers. Oh! P.S. Fifth blog post today, and its only 3:40 AM. I must be getting that Susan Bradley disease. I've even run out of creative title ideas.

Free Mobile Push for Windows Mobile & Blackberry

Posted: 3:20 am
February 8, 2006
Mobility
2 Comments

I realize this post is coming up at 3:30AM and I was dead tired about 20 minutes ago but this is just too cool to sleep on. Funambol is an open source company that provides mobile sync software for Windows Mobile, Blackberry and a ton of other commodity wireless devices. This is earth shattering, at least in my little world. I may never have to pay Blackberry ever again. It cuts out the middle-man and it also cuts out the need to have Blackberry or Exchange service on the backend. Software (Apache & Tomcat java based) can fetch data from multiple backends including Exchange, POP3/IMAP accounts, even freeware groupware and CRM packages. This is big. This means you can have push email from your aol.com address to your Windows Mobile 5 if you want to. It means this mobile sync will bring email, contacts, tasks, etc to your device. There is a server component, backend connector and the client software for your device. I am absolutely dying to check this out, it is by all means, the most exciting piece of code to come out in 2006 so far. It is java based which means cross-platform goodness that will run on Windows or Linux. Great time to give that free Vmware Virtual Server beta a try. All are available as a free download.

Leaking The Cause of MSFP Delays

Posted: 3:00 am
February 8, 2006
Mobility
Comments Off on Leaking The Cause of MSFP Delays

The speculation over MSFP being delayed by the Visto lawsuit is fairly rampant, but I've found another gravevine that has a somewhat more believable excuse:

AKU2, which is the release you are discussing, has MAJOR memory leaks and is not what could be considered viable (and yes, I am using the release). Patches are being worked on, but I think anything you see in the next 2-4 weeks is unpatched and therefore likely to require frequent resetting (but hey, these are MS devices!)

Whatever the outcome, expect MSFP to delayed in USA significantly (as is anything mobile coming to USA since we're the third world of mobility) and even further if it is not solid. I do not think carriers have forgotten the need to pull HP 6315 off the shelf three times before a solid firmware was delivered.