Microsoft TechNet helps IT pros get the most out of Microsoft technologies by allowing them to explore and evaluate products and services that can help reduce costs and bring value to their organization. Here's a sampling of important technologies that IT pros need to know to keep their skills up to date and their company on the road to profitability.
Looking for guidance specific to Windows 7 deployment? Check out what the industry's leading experts have to say in this free Microsoft Press eBook. Sample topics include: deployment platform, planning deployment, testing application compatibility, and eight common issues in Windows 7 migrations.
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The Windows 7 operating system is very compatible with common applications. Attend this webcast to learn more about the application compatibility changes in Windows 7 and how to get your application portfolio ready for an operating system migration from a Windows XP environment to Windows 7. We address gathering an application inventory, mitigating application compatibility issues, and any questions that you might have. In this webcast, we give you the answers and tools that can make your migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 rather straightforward using a WORKGROUP. We also discuss stand-alone migrations using standard methodologies and the tools that are needed. Learn how the User State Migration Tool (USMT) in the Automated Installation Toolkit (AIK) has everything you need to get the migration going and smoothly deploy Windows.
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How has Windows evolved, as a general purpose operating system and at the lowest levels, in Windows 7? Who better to talk to than Technical Fellow and Windows Kernel guru Mark Russinovich? Here, Mark enlightens us on the new kernel constructs in Windows 7 (and, yeah, we do wander up into user mode, but only briefly).
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Explore Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), a new command-line tool for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. DISM consolidates the core image management functions of multiple tools found in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and enables IT professionals to view components of an applied or mounted operating system image and add or remove packages, software updates, and drivers.
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The Problem Steps Recorder in the Windows 7 operating system is a feature that enables users to record their interactions with an application and provide a detailed screen-by-screen view with accompanying information. Learn how the recording can be used to quickly identify problems and help reduce time spent with the help desk.
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The User State Migration Tool (USMT) for Windows 7 is now part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and provides fast and flexible options to migrate user profiles and data from one operating system to another. Explore how the new Hard-Link Migration feature highlighted in his demonstration can dramatically reduce migration time for in-place operating system migration or computer refresh scenarios.
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This command line demonstration explains how to build a bootable Windows 7 VHD image from a Windows 7 "install.wim" file using diskpart.exe and imagex.exe. The demonstration continues with an explanation of how to configure the boot entry using bcdedit.exe and explains the limitations of VHD Boot. See the Windows 7 VHD Overview page for more information about this technology.
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Microsoft is committed to maximizing compatibility for applications that work with Windows Vista running on Windows 7. Much of the work done to remediate applications in Windows Vista will carry over to Windows 7 due to the underlying similarity of the two operating systems. This demonstration shows how creating compatibility fixes for an incompatible application running in Windows Vista can be used on a Windows 7-based computer.
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With the Release Candidate of Windows 7 now available, Microsoft encourages IT pros to download a version to their lab machine and begin testing their applications and devices to get to know whats in it for you. As you begin testing, this guide to the key features and capabilities in this new desktop operating system will help you along the way.
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Building on the technologies introduced in the Windows Vista® operating system, Windows 7 streamlines desktop deployment. Technologies within Windows 7 improve application compatibility, for example, and new tools in Windows 7 allow IT professionals to reduce the evaluation and readiness cycle.
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This screencast and document covers the key new features and improvements in the Windows 7 Release Candidate. This includes areas like performance, networking, security, PC management as well as everyday tasks.
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Join Kevin Remde, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist in US and Venky Chandrasekharan, Product Manager as part of Windows 7 team in US Subsidiary, as they address how the Windows 7 operating system could add more value to your organization. In this webcast, Kevin and his guests discuss the improvements in Windows 7 that can reduce the total cost of ownership by helping to increase automation, improve user productivity, and provide flexible administrative control to meet compliance requirements.
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Microsoft has continued its investment in security by adding new technologies to Windows 7 as well as enhancing many of the technologies introduced in Windows Vista. This provides an overview of the new security features and enhancements you'll find in Windows 7.
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DirectAccess enables remote users to access the corporate network anytime they have an Internet connection, without the extra step of initiating a virtual private networking (VPN) connection. Find out how to use DirectAccess to provide a more secure and flexible corporate network infrastructure in which computers on and off the network can remain healthy, managed, and updated.
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The introduction of BranchCache in Windows 7 is the next step to improving end user productivity in branch offices. BranchCache caches content from remote file and Web servers in the branch location so that users can more quickly access this information. The cache can be hosted centrally on a server in the branch location, or can be distributed across user PCs.
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UAC was introduced in Windows Vista to help increase security and improve total cost of ownership by enabling the operating system to be deployed without administrative privileges. See how Windows 7 continues the investment in UAC with changes that enhance the user experience and put users in greater control of their prompting experience.
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AppLocker is a new feature in Windows7 that allows you to manage what applications are allowed to run on a managed machine with multiple techniques, including white listing and black listing applications. It goes way beyond what is available today using Software Restriction Policies.
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The Windows Troubleshooting Platform can reduce calls to the help desk by diagnosing and resolving common issues, and by providing built-in troubleshooters for several different types of problems including audio, video, and networking. Learn how to develop custom Windows Troubleshooting Packs using Windows PowerShell to help resolve issues commonly encountered in your environment.
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Learn how to use the User State Migration Tool (USMT) to migrate user files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 using a default installation.
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Explore how Windows PowerShell 2.0 can help increase the productivity of IT professionals by providing a powerful, complete scripting language to automate repetitive tasks and conduct remote troubleshooting. It delivers a growing set of cmdlets that can be used to manage Windowsbased PCs and servers, and it can be easily extended.
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AppLocker provides the flexibility to allow users to run the applications, installation programs, and scripts they need to be productive. Learn how you can realize the security, operational, and compliance benefits of application standardization by using AppLocker.
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Virtualization raises certain unique security requirements and provides some interesting security capabilities as well. Watch this video as Steve Riley, Senior Security Strategist with Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Initiative, explores the interesting aspects of virtualization and security.
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Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2008 provides centralized administration and management of your virtual environment, helps to increase physical server utilization, and enables rapid provisioning of new virtual machines by the VMM administrator and authorized self-service end users.
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This article looks at a toolset that can help you with your virtualization projectsthe Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP), which is a member of the Microsoft Solution Accelerators family. MAP 3.1 is a network-wide infrastructure assessment tool designed to help you quickly gain a baseline understanding of your servers and desktops, including whether they are ready for upgrade or migration to technologies such as Hyper-V, Microsoft Application Virtualization, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Office 2007, and SQL Server.
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The consolidation of servers onto fewer physical machines has huge advantages in resource and cost savings, but two key factors need to be considered during the planning process. Users have increasing expectations regarding the availability of their software, including both line-of-business applications and tools such as messaging and collaboration platforms. Furthermore, problems or failure on servers can have a significantly greater impact on operations.
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This report provides an in-depth perspective on malicious and potentially unwanted software, software exploits, security breaches and software vulnerabilities--both in Microsoft software and in third-party software. (PDF)
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Many organizations learn how to respond to security incidents only after suffering attacks. By this time, incidents often become much more costly than needed. Proper incident response should be an integral part of your overall security policy and risk mitigation strategy. Learn a recommended process and procedures to use when responding to intrusions identified in a small- to medium-based (SMB) network environment.
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After the very long Patch Management article last month, this month's article is much shorter and to the point. Let's just say you did not install the patches like we discussed last month. Now you got hacked. What to do?
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The regulatory environment is increasingly complex. Compliance is often not a simple process, and regulations vary in the specificity of their requirements. An organization must, therefore, conduct a full assessment of risks and impacts. This article describes some of the processes and technologies that you can use to help standardize and streamline regulatory compliance efforts in the area of e-mail confidentiality.
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A Web site's information architecture determines how the information in that site its Web pages, documents, lists, and data is organized and presented to the site's users. Information architecture is often recorded as a hierarchical list of site content, search keywords, data types, and other concepts. This article provides some guidance on how to analyze the information requirements of your Internet or intranet site.
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Microsoft SharePoint helps users solve their most pressing information management needs. This article describes the typical characteristics and best practices for publishing portals based on Office SharePoint Server 2007.
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It's important to document your Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 capacity planning strategy as early as possible in the planning process, and then refine it as the project continues. Early planning can significantly reduce your risk of discovering that you have underestimated your hardware needs after the deployment has already started.
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If you have been running Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and have decided that you need the functionality of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, you can upgrade from Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 to Office SharePoint Server 2007. We'll show you how.
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Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 will be the next version of the Windows Server operating system from Microsoft. Building on the features and capabilities of the current Windows Server 2008 release version, Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to create solutions that are easier to plan, deploy, and manage than previous versions.
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Windows Server 2008 R2 is now blessed by engineering as ready and begins the manufacturing process. It's the final code. Julius Sinkevicius, Director of Product Management, discusses this milestone and what you as IT Professionals need to know about this new version of Windows Server 2008 R2.
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Gordon Ryan checks in with a very cool screencast highlighting some of the new backup features that arrive with the RC version of Windows Server 2008 R2 including the ability to backup System State as a separate job, the ability to do incremental System State backups, and the ability to exclude specific file types, file folders, and specific files.
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This screencast discusses and demonstrates new Active Directory functionality that comes with Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory Domain Services. It demonstrates the configuration of the "Recycle Bin" feature, and how to restore deleted objects that had been mistakenly deleted.
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This screencast walks you through two ways that a Live Migration can be initiated against Hyper-V-based virtual machines running on high availability clustered Hyper-V hosts.
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In this screencast we use PowerShell 2.0 (which will be a part of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7) to do some remote administration using the new "Remoting" functionality.
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In this screencast, we discuss and demonstrate how to set up the capability to boot from a VHD file running either Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
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How are you positioning yourself, your team, and your organization for success during this economic downturn? Visit the Thrive site and learn how to enhance your skills, advance your career and elevate IT as the business leader!
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In our last discussion we talked about the changes that Windows 7 brings to the desktop. Join our experts as we launch into the changes that Windows Server 2008 R2 brings to the server OS and what these changes mean with regard to existing network infrastructure. What current applications and products are affected by making the move to Windows Server 2008 R2 and also how do Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 together bring a new dimension to network computing? Join Tim Vander Kooi, chairman of the board for the North American arm of Culminis, and Kevin Watt, Product Manager as part of Windows Server team in US Subsidiary.
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Are you thinking of making the leap into IT consulting? Do you want to join the ranks of small business owners making their own mark in the world? You can! In this webcast, we'll discuss the requirements and best practices for setting up your own business. We'll also explore the many hats you'll wear as a consultant and business owner. And we'll examine strategies for transitioning from full-time employee to full-time IT consultant with a minimal amount of risk along the way.
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Join Kevin Remde, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist and Shanen Boettcher, General Manager in the Server & Tools Division on the US team at Microsoft, as they discuss Hyper-V in Windows Server & System Center and how Microsoft Virtualization solutions can cost less and help you maximize the return on your virtualization investment.
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Join Kevin Remde, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist and Shanen Boettcher, General Manager in the Server & Tools Division on the US team at Microsoft, as they discuss how IT organizations use virtualization as a strategy to drive much more than physical server consolidation and data center cost cutting. Well review the portfolio of virtualization targets–servers, applications and desktops. Our discussion focuses on real challenges and solutions IT Managers experience when deploying and managing virtualized environment yielding cost savings and meeting end user performance expectations.
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At the end of each month, we'll pick one lucky winner and giveaway one Microsoft Classroom or Virtual course valued at up to $2,995! The winner will get to choose the Microsoft course of their choice and get training FOR FREE!
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On Demand
Do you have a problem with your interview demeanor and skills? We'll discuss ways to increase your likeability in interviews and the hidden agenda behind many interview questions.
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On Demand
We'll show you how to get where you want to go professionally. Get guidance on how to weave your value and vision into a powerful resume and personal action plan.
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On Demand
We'll explain how to increase your good fortune so you can discover the best opportunities. Topics also include the dos and don'ts of networking and the most effective methods of job hunting.
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