Archive
New Dell’s smartphone Venue Pro running Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7
Hera are some of its key features of the new Dell’s smartphone, running Windows Phone 7 :
- Stunning 4.1” WVGA AMOLED capacitive, multi-touch display
- A full portrait QWERTY keyboard to provide a better viewing & messaging experience
- Supported with T-Mobile service
- Elliptical, slender form provides elegance in a pocket-friendly size
- Gorilla Glass for unprecedented durability and scratch resistance
Some of the highlights and use cases for the new Windows Phone 7 :
- People hub: Enter social central to scan Windows Live and Facebook feeds and photos, in addition to dialing or texting friends in the address book.
- Pictures hub: Share photos easily from pictures saved to the phone, Facebook and Windows Live. Go from pocket to picture in seconds with a press of the camera button, and send photos from the hub to friends or post to Windows Live or Facebook.
- Games hub: Play games with friends, track scores and wins in the gamer profile. With more than 50 popular game titles available at launch, try-before-you-buy demos, Xbox LIVE leader boards, turn-based multiplayer, achievements and more, Windows Phone 7 brings the quality, consistency and community of the Xbox experience to gamers on the go.
- Music + Video: Play movies, TV shows and music quickly. Enjoy custom playlists, listen to podcasts and recommend favorite songs to friends.
- Office hub: View, edit, share and sync Microsoft Office documents. Collaborate with co-workers through SharePoint Workspace Mobile.
- Marketplace hub: Get quality applications like games, music, entertainment, news, sports, social networking, productivity, travel and many more. Apps are tested and certified to deliver a consistently great experience. Marketplace is also accessible through a PC client that is integrated into Microsoft’s popular Zune software.
The question is when the Venue Pro is comming to Australia?
Want to hear what people are saying about the all-new Dell Venue Pro? Follow the conversation on Twitter using the #DellVenuePro and #windowsphone hashtags.
The Last Mile: Pilot and Deploy Windows® 7
Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable
The Last Mile: Pilot and Deploy Windows® 7
→ ADD TO CALENDAR (ICS)
→ ADD TO CALENDAR (VCS)
On April 29th, join Microsoft Technical Fellow, Mark Russinovich, as he will be leading a discussion around the process of planning, testing, assessing and rolling out Windows 7 in an enterprise organization.
Mark will be joined by a panel of IT professionals who are currently in the piloting and deployment process, along with Microsoft subject matter experts who can speak in depth about the technologies. The event will be broadcast live over the web at 9:00 am PDT, and will be available for on-demand viewing following the broadcast. The discussion will be open and candid, with the panel sharing insights, dispelling myths and getting down to the real story around technical adoption of Windows technologies. Specific topics will include the role of the pilot and the critical information it provides, best practices and tips & tricks for ensuring a successful effort, tools and technologies that will help automate the pilot and deployment processes, and conducting a frank post-pilot assessment. During the event, Mark will field questions coming in via the web from viewers across the globe.
Missed a previous Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable? Gain insight, tips, and tricks from Microsoft Technical Fellow Mark Russinovich, industry experts, and IT professionals from around the world from these recordings:
http://technet.microsoft.com/windows/dd421882.aspx
New features in the Remote Desktop Client RDC 7.0
The RDC 7.0 client can be used to connect to legacy terminal servers or to remote desktops as before. However, the new features that are mentioned in this article are available only when the client connects to a remote computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
Web Single Sign-On (SSO) and Web forms-based authentication
For security, Web SSO requires remote applications to be signed using a certificate from a trusted issuer.
Access to personal virtual desktops by using RD Connection Broker
Access to virtual desktop pools by using RD Connection Broker
Status & disconnect system tray icon
RD Gateway-based device redirection enforcement
RD Gateway system and logon messages
RD Gateway background authorization & authentication
RD Gateway idle & session time-outs
NAP remediation with RD Gateway
Windows Media Player redirection
Bidirectional audio
Multiple monitor support
Note For connections with multiple monitor support enabled, AeroGlass support is currently not supported and will be turned off.
Enhanced video playback
Functionality available only when connecting from Windows 7 to Windows 2008 R2
Language Bar docking
RemoteApp allows users to use their docked Language Bar with their RemoteApp applications just as they do with the local applications.
This productive functionality was previously unavailable. Instead, users had to use the floating Language bar.
Remote application task scheduler
Remote application task scheduler functionality automatically starts remote applications on the Remote Desktop client required by the user. The client computer must have Windows 7 installed to use this feature.
Aero Glass support
Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 did not support Aero Glass remoting for sessions. This is now supported in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services, but is incompatible with multi-monitor support.
Start applications and desktops from ‘RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
Users can subscribe to all of their RemoteApp programs and desktops which are then listed in their local Start menu. The list is automatically updated as items are added or deleted
Update for Windows Vista, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Vista for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=ac7e58f3-2fd4-4fec-abfd-8002d34476f4)
Update for Windows Vista, x64-based versions

Download the Update for Windows Vista for x64-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=11e7a081-22a8-4da7-a6c5-cdc1ac51a1a4)
Update for Windows XP, x86-based versions

Download the Update for Windows XP for x86-based systems package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=72158b4e-b527-45e4-af24-d02938a95683)
Some Good Reasons to Switch to Windows 7…. and there are a lot more….
The overall presentation of Windows 7 is familiar enough to welcome XP users, but fundamentally it’s different enough to make you change the way you think of Microsoft.
Networking and mobility
DirectAccess
This item applies to Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate.
DirectAccess includes many improvements in smart card use, diagnostics, and user experience:
- Smart cards. Smart card support no longer requires Windows 7 Domain Functional Mode. Smart card management has been simplified to focus on edge enforcement as opposed to edge enforcement and local client enforcement. Beta feedback suggested that the local client enforcement option could create an increased number of support issues for organizations. Therefore, the option to enforce smart cards for all interactive logins is no longer available in the DirectAccess Wizard. Also, if a smart card is required, there is an enhanced user notification that is provided to help the user learn when a smart card is required.
- Troubleshooting. Support for troubleshooting is enhanced, including a new Windows Troubleshooting entry point within Control Panel. If a resource is not reachable (for example, a Web site fails to load), use the Diagnose Connection in Internet Explorer or Troubleshoot problems entry points to help determine the cause of the issue.
- User experience. Corporate Connectivity Notification has been removed to simplify the user experience; only Internet Access is displayed. If a resource is not reachable, the user should use the troubleshooting features to determine the reason.
For more information, see the DirectAccess (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150441) home page on Microsoft® TechNet.
Transparent caching
Prior to Windows 7, to open a file across a slow network, client computers always retrieved the file from the server, even if the client computer had recently read the file. With Windows 7 transparent caching, client computers cache remote files more aggressively, reducing the number of times a client computer might have to retrieve the same data from a server.
With transparent caching, the first time a user opens a file in a shared folder, Windows 7 reads the file from the server and then stores it in a cache on the computer’s hard disk drive. The second and subsequent times a user reads the same file, Windows 7 retrieves the cached file from disk instead of reading it from the server. To provide data integrity, Windows 7 always contacts the server to ensure the cached copy is up-to-date. The cache is never accessed if the server is unavailable, and updates to the file are always written directly to the server.
Transparent caching is not enabled by default on fast networks. IT professionals can use Group Policy to enable transparent caching, to improve the efficiency of the cache, and to save disk space on the client computer. They can configure the amount of disk space the cache uses and prevent specific file types from being synchronized.
As the feature name implies, the benefit is transparent to end users, providing a branch office experience that more closely resembles the experience of being on the same LAN as a server. Additionally, transparent caching can reduce bandwidth use across WAN links.
Security
Protect data on computers and devices
The Windows 7 partition drive size (required for BitLocker™ and the Windows Recovery Environment) has been reduced from 200 MB to 100 MB.
AppLocker
These items apply to Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate.
- The AppLocker UI includes a new administrative template, which can be configured by an administrator to display a customized URL when AppLocker blocks an application from starting. The message can be used to reduce help desk calls by directing users to a help desk intranet site.
To customize the administrative template, follow these steps:
- Open the Group Policy Management snap-in, right-click a Group Policy object (GPO), and then click Edit.
- In the Group Policy Management Editor snap-in, expand Administrative Templates, expand Windows Components, and then click Windows Explorer.
- In the details pane, under Setting, double-click Set a support web page link.
- Select Enabled, and then type a custom URL in the Support Web page URL text box.
- Click OK.
- New Windows PowerShell cmdlets, used in conjunction with the AppLocker UI, provide building blocks that help author, test, maintain, and troubleshoot AppLocker policies. These cmdlets allow an organization to build and import new AppLocker rules from event log information collected by running AppLocker in audit mode. As a result, these cmdlets help automate the IT processes required to build appropriate rule sets easily and confidently.
User Account Control
In the beta release, a user could change the notification level in the User Account Control (UAC) control panel without receiving a prompt for administrative credentials. The UAC control panel now runs in a high integrity process; changing the level of the UAC prompts for confirmation. When a user is logged on with a standard user account, that user must provide administrative credentials to change the default UAC notification level.
Management
Windows Remote Management and Windows PowerShell remoting
The default HTTP/HTTPS ports for Windows Remote Management (WinRM) and Windows PowerShell remoting have changed from 80/443 to 5985/5986 since the beta release. This change provides a more secure default configuration by avoiding accidental exposure of the WinRM interface to Web traffic on an Internet-facing server.
As a result of this change, pre-RC and post-RC computers that are not configured properly cannot communicate. When pre-RC and post-RC computers are used together for remote management, either directly (using the WinRM command-line tool or the WSMan APIs) or through an application that uses WinRM (such as Windows PowerShell or Event Collector), an error message occurs. This is the same error message that displays when the server has not been configured for WinRM traffic, because it is contacting the wrong port.
To avoid this issue, upgrade all computers by installing Windows 7 or Windows Server® 2008 R2 or by installing WinRM 2.0.
End-user productivity
Hardware support
Microsoft has removed the Bluetooth® audio class driver from Windows 7. When installing a Bluetooth audio device for the first time, you will need to install a non-Microsoft driver (your version of Windows 7 may already include the non-Microsoft audio driver). If your version of Windows 7 does not include the correct drivers, you can download them from Windows Update, your computer manufacturer’s Web site, or (for a driver that’s specifically written for the Bluetooth device) directly from your Bluetooth radio manufacturer’s Web site.
Internet access to home media
Some networks or network equipment block Internet access to home media (for example, corporate network policy often prevents this type of connectivity). However, you can manually configure your home router to increase the likelihood that Internet access to home media will succeed.
Although Windows attempts to automatically enable settings on your home router when Internet access to home media is set up, some home routers do not support this capability or they have disabled it. For best results, use a home router that has been certified to work with Windows.
To manually enable the necessary settings on your home router, first try the following:
- From a Web browser, go to the configuration Web page of your home router (for example, http://192.168.0.1).
- Locate and enable the UPnP™ feature. Save your settings.
Note
Home routers differ, but this feature is usually found in the Advanced settings. For more information about enabling the UPnP setting, consult your home router manual. - Open Windows Media® Player on your home computer that is running Windows 7.
Note
If Windows Media Player is already open, close and then reopen it. - On the Stream menu, select Allow Internet access to home media…
- On the Internet Home Media Access dialog box, select Do not allow Internet access to home media.
- On the Stream menu, select Allow Internet access to home media…
- On the Internet Home Media Access dialog box, select Allow Internet access to home media.
If the preceding procedure does not work because your home router does not support UPnP, you can manually configure advanced port-forwarding options on your home router.
To determine which TCP ports on your home router to forward to your home computer that is running Windows 7, follow these steps:
- In Windows Media Player, on the Stream menu, select Allow Internet access to home media…
- On the Internet Home Media Access dialog box, select Diagnose connections.
Note
If this option is not available, select Allow Internet access to home media to enable the feature, and then repeat steps 1 and 2. - Click the Port forwarding information link (located at the bottom of the window) to identify the TCP ports.
- From a Web browser, go to the configuration Web page of your home router (for example, http://192.168.0.1).
- Locate the port forwarding feature and specify the TCP ports that were identified in step 3. Save your settings.
Note
Home routers differ, but this feature is usually found in the Advanced settings. For more information about enabling port-forwarding, consult your home router manual.
Supporting tools and technologies
Although the following tools and technologies do not ship as part of the Windows 7 product, they support Windows 7 deployment and manageability.
Virtualization
- Windows XP Mode provides a virtual Windows XP environment in which you can run many Windows XP productivity applications on a Windows 7–based computer. Windows XP Mode is included in Windows 7 and is available as a pre-installed feature by your computer manufacturer or as a free download. For more information about Windows XP Mode, see Windows Virtual PC (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150447) on the Microsoft Web site.
- Windows Virtual PC provides the virtualization technology for Windows 7. Windows Virtual PC allows multiple client operating systems to run at the same time on a Windows 7 desktop, and it offers the runtime engine for Windows XP Mode, which provides a virtual Windows XP environment on Windows 7. For more information about Windows Virtual PC, see Windows Virtual PC (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150447) on the Microsoft Web site and the Windows Virtual PC Evaluation Guide.
- Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), built on Windows Virtual PC, is designed to provide IT professionals with the capability to centrally manage and deploy virtual Windows environments to reduce complexity, maintain control, and keep costs low. MED-V is available through Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). For more information about MDOP, see Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150448) on Microsoft TechNet.
Application compatibility
Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.5 enables software developers, independent software vendors (ISVs), and IT professionals to determine the following:
- Whether their devices and applications are compatible with a new version of the Windows operating system.
- How an update to a new version of the Windows operating system will impact their applications.
The toolkit can also be used by developers as follows:
- To test Web applications and Web sites for compatibility with new releases and security updates to Internet Explorer®
- To determine potential compatibility issues due to the User Account Control (UAC) feature
- To create compatibility fixes for application compatibility issues
- To determine potential application installation and setup issues
ACT 5.5 includes the following functionality:
- Inventories applications, hardware, and devices on user’s computers that run earlier versions of the operating system.
- Analyzes compatibility traits of applications and devices, and synchronizes compatibility data with ISV, logo, and community assessment.
- Provides test tools for Internet Explorer 8 compatibility testing.
- Provides tools to build compatibility fixes (called “shims”) for incompatible applications.
For more information, see Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.5 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=146754) on Microsoft TechNet.
Windows 7- Virtual PC : How does Windows XP Mode work?
Windows XP Mode is the combination of two features:
– The first part is a pre-packaged virtual Windows XP environment.
– The second is Windows Virtual PC, which is used to run the virtual Windows XP environment.
Customers can install their applications into Windows XP Mode using typical installation processes such as downloading from the Web or using the product CD. Once installed, the applications are automatically available on the Windows 7 Start Menu and can be launched just like any Windows 7 program. Optionally, these Windows XP applications can be pinned to the Windows 7 Task Bar and launched using just a single click from the Windows 7 desktop.
What types of applications are suited for Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC stand-alone?
Windows XP Mode is best suited for older business and productivity applications such as accounting, inventory and similar applications.
Windows XP Mode is not aimed at consumers because many consumer applications require extensive use of hardware interfaces such as 3-D graphics, audio, and TV tuners that do not work well under virtualization today.
The sweet spot for applications that run in Windows Virtual PC is business and productivity applications that tend to conform to the basic Windows API (Application Programming Interface.) Small businesses operate under constrained resources and are highly sensitive to the time and expense required to upgrade their PC.
Windows XP Mode provides small businesses with the ability to run many Windows XP applications, saving time and expense, but Windows XP Mode does not have 100 percent compatibility with all Windows XP applications.
Windows PC for Windows 7 with “Windows XP Mode”
Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7 based PC.
All you need to do is to install suitable applications directly in Windows XP Mode which is a virtual Windows XP environment running under Windows Virtual PC. The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7.
Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC are best experienced on your new Windows 7 PC. We will be soon releasing the beta of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate
You can read about it here. Stay tuned for more details soon.
Windows 7 RC Launched
Windows 7 delivers advanced capabilities to improve workforce effectiveness and productivity – driving maximum value from IT investments. As IT Pros, owners or consultants for small and medium businesses, you will find that Microsoft is committed to delivering tools and support that enhance manageability, security, software compatibility, as well as ease deployment and migration concerns.
Microsoft have made a number of enhancement, bug fixes between the beta and RC milestone.
Q: How big is the Window 7 RC download?
A: The x86 version of Windows 7 RC is approximately 2.47 gigs. The x64 version is approximately 3.2 gigs.
Q: Will the RC code be download-only, or can I have physical media mailed to me?
A: The Windows 7 RC code will only be available for download.
Q: Will my product key from Beta work for the RC, or do I have to register to get a new one?
A: No – you will need to register for a new PID in order to run RC.
Q: Is there a cap to the total number of downloads for Windows 7 RC?
A: There is no limit to the total number of downloads for Windows 7 RC.
Q: Will Windows 7 RC be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there a choice of SKUs for Windows 7 RC, or is it only available in Ultimate like the beta?
A: There is one release candidate release, with all the capabilities of the Windows 7 Ultimate SKU.
Q: When does this build expire?
A: Windows 7 RC will expire on March 1, 2010 – at this time the system will reboot every two hours. The license of windows 7 RC will expire June 1, 2010.
Q: Where should I submit feedback on Windows 7 RC?
A: The Beta testing has completed, and the release candidate is the time for customers and IT professionals to really start kicking the tires in terms of application compatibility, drivers and devices. We will of course continue error monitoring, but application compatibility issues should be reported to the ISV.
A: There are many tools available for IT Pros to begin their testing and deployments, including the Windows Automated Installation Kit, the Application Compatibility Toolkit and the Deployment Toolkit. More information about these tools can be found at www.microsoft.com/springboard
Upgrade Experience
Q: How does Microsoft recommend I install RC?
A: To install the Windows 7 RC, users will be required to either upgrade from a Windows Vista image, or do a custom (clean) installation. Windows 7 Beta users will need to do a custom (clean) installation.
Q: Why isn’t there an easy way for me to upgrade from beta to RC?
A: Upgrading from one pre-release build to another is not a scenario a real-world customer will experience. We want our testers to experience real-world setup to provide us with real-world telemetry as we work on finalizing the product.
Q: Is there a smooth upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?
A: As a result of the many changes we’ve made to the operating system, users who wish to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer will need to perform a custom (clean) installation.
Q: Does Microsoft provide any guidance on how to transfer files and settings from a previous operating system to Windows 7 when a clean installation is required?
A: Tools, guidance and other resources are available on windows.microsoft.com to assist in the upgrade process. Microsoft also provides a special utility on the release candidate CD to assist users with identifying, backing up and transferring files and settings to Windows 7. For more information on the Windows Easy Transfer utility please visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd446674.aspx.
Reporting Bugs on Windows 7 RC
Alessandro
Windows 7 session coming up on Apr 3rd
Language(s): English.
Product(s): Other,Security.
Audience(s): IT Manager,IT Professional.
Duration: 75 Minutes
Start Date: Friday, 3 April 2009 11:00 AM Australia (AEST)
Event Overview
Windows 7 has many features for the consumer, developer and IT Pro. But what about Security? In this session we’ll talk about and show some of the important security features that are coming as part of Windows 7. These include Applocker™, Bitlocker™ and Bitlocker To Go™, DirectAcess™, User Account Control and the security changes to Internet Explorer 8. There will be demo’s on all these technologies so you can see firsthand how Windows 7 security has been improved!
Speaker – Jeff Alexander, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft
Jeff Alexander is a IT Pro Evangelist for Microsoft and travels across Australia speaking to customers and partners about the latest technologies. Jeff can be seen speaking at Security events, TechEd and other recognised Industry Tech events. Jeff started as employee number 27 at Microsoft Australia and has been with the company for 21 years. Jeff’s blog is http://blogs.technet.com/jeffa36
Twitter Hashtag #win7live
Click here to Register for the Live Meeting Event
Windows 7 Virtual Roundtable Q&A: Part One
Q: When will the Automated Installation Kit (AIK) fully support Windows 7?
- A: There is a beta of the Windows AIK for Windows 7 that you can download today from http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd349343.aspx.
- A: Yes, you will be able to unlock and read from BitLocker files on Windows XP and Windows Vista.
- A: MDT 2010 is currently in beta, and can be downloaded from https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=14.
- A: The kernel consists of many different files; it is updated with Windows 7, but is based on the same underlying architecture.
- A: ReadyBoost in Windows 7 adds support for concurrently using multiple flash devices (such as USB keys, Secure Digital cards, and internal flash devices) and for caches larger than 4 GB. ReadyBoost supports exFAT, FAT32, and NTFS file systems.
- A: No. Group Policy settings are independent of Group Policy Preferences. There is no 1:1 relationship between them in Windows 7.
- A: AppLocker is not dependent on a specific version of Windows Server. You can manage AppLocker from a Windows 7 client using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) that ships in the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 7, which is currently in Bet. You can download the beta here.
- A: Since Windows Vista and Windows 7 share similar design frameworks, there is a foundation for application compatibly. Since Windows XP has a different framework, the levels of application compatibility are not the same.
- A: Yes. Double-click an ISO, and Windows 7 opens a minimalistic dialog. Choose a burner, select whether or not to verify your burn, and burn/cancel.
- A: The Beta and RC are, and will be, supported via the Windows 7 Forums at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/category/w7itpro.
- A: Yes. We plan on releasing an update to the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) in April to support Windows 7 pre-releases. There will also be a version corresponding with Windows 7 release to manufacturing (RTM).
- A: There will be a version of the Application Compatibility Toolkit to support Windows 7 available in the April 2009 timeframe. Additionally, the Windows system application compatibility fix (shim) database is constantly extended with each Windows release milestone.
- A: For individual use, Windows Easy Transfer can be used to gather files and settings from your computer and save to an external location. For organizational use, the User State Migration Tool (part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit) can also perform in-place user profile migration using Hard-link Migration along with a clean operating system install.
- A: Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) supports Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2. DISM also leverages an included shim for Package Manager (pkgmgr.exe) to enable DISM to perform Package Manager commands against Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 images.
- A: In working to improve performance for startup we have focused on making improvements in the following areas:
- The efficiency of core Windows code
- Only starting certain services when they are needed (demand-start services)
- The way device drivers are initialized
- Allowing multiple device drivers to start at the same time (parallelization)
- An overall reduction in the memory and CPU required to start and run the graphics system
- A: Microsoft has invested in PerfTrack, an automated reporting feature in Windows that tracks the performance of over 400 experiences on the PC. Windows 7 also includes troubleshooters such as IE Performance as well as a Check for Performance Issues to help users check for performance issues over time.
- A: Detailed guidance for creating Boot from VHD files is currently being created. The basic process is to create a virtual disk using diskpart.exe, attach the virtual disk using diskpart.exe, use ImageX to apply a System-Prepared Generalized Windows Imaging (WIM) file to the attached virtual disk, then detach the virtual disk using diskpart.exe. After the VHD file is created, add an entry into the boot loader using bcdedit.exe to point to the file location of the VHD file. This only works with Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions and Windows Server 2008 R2 VHD files.
- A: Most tools are retained from Windows Vista. Deployment Image Servicing and Management consolidates functions of IntlConfig, PEImg and PkgMgr in the Windows AIK for Windows 7. DISM supports PkgMgr functions against Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 images. Integrated tools like the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 will also support Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment.
- A: Yes. There is a two-part blog post on this subject on the Springboard Series Blog (Part 1 | Part 2) and a deployment overview guide available at http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd367841.aspx.
- A: There are two common approaches. You can pre-partition the drive for BitLocker, install the operating system, and enable BitLocker via deployment task sequence. Or, you can run the BitLocker Drive Preparation tool post-install and enable BitLocker via deployment task sequence. The default installation of Windows 7 will automatically create the BitLocker partition at install time.
Published 09 March 09 08:49 AM | Celine Allee
http://blogs.technet.com/springboard/archive/2009/03/09/windows-7-virtual-roundtable-q-a-part-one.aspx