Alpesh Nakar's Blog

Nothing beats Windows Vista ‘Ultimate’. The real beauty with Vista Ultimate is Ultimate Extras.

If you know what I mean – Dreamscene. Windows DreamScene enables you to use looped, full-motion video as your desktop wallpaper instead of a static image.

This is available as a Windows Ultimate Extra. Not for any other version. And if you using Windows Xp/MAC, you really don’t have a choice.

Yes, you do. VistaWired shows you how.

1) Download the latest version of VLC Player here.

2) Open your video file, right click, and choose wallpaper. You can find some great videos to use here:
Winmatrix
SkyTimeLapse
Corbis Motion
Microsoft WMV HD

3) If you do not see the wallpaper option then proceed to:
Settings > Preferences > Video > Output Modules > Direct X.
Once you get here, check the Advanced Options box in the bottom right hand corner.
The advanced options will appear. Check Enable Wallpaper Mode. Now when you right click on your videos, you should be able to see a Wallpaper option.

If you want VideoLAN to behave like Dreamscene, you obviously do not want to see it in your taskbar since you will be running it for a long time. To get rid of its appearance in the taskbar:

4) Proceed to Settings > Preferences > Interface > Main Interfaces > wxWidgets

5) Then uncheck the box beside Taskbar

If you want to reach VLC, you can only get there by using Alt+Tab or Vista’s Flip3D. You can also choose to check the box beside systray so a VLC icon appears in your system tray.

6) Finally, you really wouldn’t want your background to disappear after a couple of seconds so we would have to loop it. To do so, just click on Playlist in the navigation menu, and a list of settings will be provided. Thanks to Matt for reminding me that I have forgotten to include this.

MAC Users:

All you have to do is proceed to the following:

VLC > Preferences > Interface > Main Interface > Use as Desktop Background

VIA VistaWired

This registry hack will ensure that Windows Vista does not wait for a service to stop before prompting you to forcefully stop it. Just decrease the time, Windows Vista will shut down quicker. This can be achieved via hack of your registry.
*Registry hacks are dangerous. Be warned, take a backup, before performing this hack. I will not be liable for any loss.*

1) Access your registry editor: Open up the Start Menu, and type regedit in the Search bar. When working with the registry editor, it is always a good idea to make some sort of a backup in case you make a mistake. You can access it by going to File > Export.

2) Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]

3) Edit the WaitToKillServiceTimeout=20000 - By default, the setting is at 20000 milliseconds (20 seconds.) The default setting are the safest settings for your computer. By lowering this amount, there is some degree of risk involved. I would suggest you lower it in 5 second increments to see what works for you. It is generally recommended that you do not lower it more than 3-5 seconds. Doing so will cause your computer to shut down improperly or lose data.

In Vista, there is this awesome feature – ReadyBoost. You can use nonvolatile flash memory devices, such as universal serial bus (USB) flash drives, to improve performance without having to add memory “under the hood.” The flash memory device serves as an additional memory cache—that is, memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it can access data on the hard disk drive.

Note: Edit registry at your own risk. It’s a risky business. As always, backup, backup, backup! I am not responsible for whatsoever that can happen if you try this!

However, not all USB flash drives are supported. In order for USB drive to be recognized, you can use the following reg hack.

1. Let Vista test it, and check the Do not Retest this device checkbox.
2. Unplug the device
3. Go to regedit
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EMDMgmt
4. Find the key related to you device (the device vendor and name is in the key)
5. Change the follwing values:
Device Status 0×02
ReadSpeedKBs 0×1000
WriteSpeedKBs 0×1000
6. Plug the device, right click on it to open properties and enable cache.

And oh yeah, USB drive is used for ReadyBoost!

Digg This?

Installing Vista SP1 RC was an experience in itself. I will summarise the installation procedure and the level of frustrations! In the end, it is well worth it! Trust me

Of course, this was not made available to public, only for MSDN and Technet subscriptions and I can understand why. You won’t release service pack that involves registry hacks and manual intervention. From what I have read from various sources (linked further), installation will be straight forward and well worth!

After couple of restarts, I see that my Vista Enterprise is now an evaluation copy – build 6001. This is displayed in right hand corner of my desktop. Nothing to be concerned about, this was mentioned in the the installation document.

I followed the instructions of this document to the tee! If you have not download the huge self extracting exe, don’t bother. It did not execute, despite turning of the User Access Control. At the end of the manual steps, I had to run Windows Update and it downloaded the SP1 for me!

Steps to install Vista SP1 RC as follows:

1. Execute the batch file as an administrator. This patches your registry and enables Windows Update to download 3 prerequisite packages.

   · KB935509– This is only required on Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate editions (which have Bitlocker capabilities). This update is required prior to installing KB938371, the 2^nd prerequisite package, and is required to prevent potential loss of data on Bitlocker encrypted systems during servicing.

   · KB938371 – This package consists of fixes for several components, including the TrustedInstaller, that increases the success rate for installing the service pack, and which enable the service pack to be successfully uninstalled. This must be installed prior to the service pack install itself to enable these fixes.

   · KB937287– This is an update to the “Servicing Stack” or the Windows Vista component installer technologies built into Windows Vista. This update enables the built-in installer to properly and successfully install the service pack itself.

2. Reboot when prompted. This is after applying KB935509 and KB938371. No reboot is required after KB937287 although KB938371 and KB937287 are offered together.
3. Check for updates on Windows Update again, install and reboot when prompted for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. 
4. After reboot, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is installed in 3 stages sequentially. We don’t have to do anything, infact we cannot do anything, since this happens before you can login.

  

Image Courtesy Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows.

Note: Make sure your laptop (as in my case) adaptor is connected. You cannot run this on battery. Vista detects the adaptor and then only reboots after downloading Windows Vista Service Pack 1 update.

So far I have noticed that

1. My registered version of SnagIt is now a trial version! Pre SP1, I had registered SnagIt, so I will need to put in the serial number again
2. My laptop’s lost Bluetooth drivers.
3. The Remote Desktop (mstsc) application has been updated and have lost previous settings. I think there has been an update on this one.
4. I can select volumes that should be defraged with disk defragmenter.
5. Improvement in the speed of copying files from one volume to another volume of the same disk.
6. WM is now working! It wasn’t after I ran some windows updates last month.
7. Quick restore from hibernation.
8. Quick restart.
9. Performance improvement. Whilst copy Vista Enterprise ISO across (wireless) network, I could work on my laptop without feeling the memory drain ‘effect’ since the CPU usage was around 15%. That is a big difference I have seen.
10. Windows Explorer launches quickly, unlike pre-sp1. I have many networked drives and earlier it was a pain at times to launch windows explorer.
11. I had lots of issues with wireless at work. I had to keep refreshing my wireless network couple of times, before I could get connected. Post SP1-RC, it works like a charm. It just gets connected as in Windows XP! I am impressed. This is far by the most productivity improvement for me!

I will keep updating this as I notice anything new, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can download the Vista SP1 Beta Whitepaper and read the juicy bits and pieces on Windows Vista Blog or watch Mike Nash speak about Vista SP1. You might want to grab the Windows Vista SP1 Guides for IT Professionals.

In nutshell, it is a huge improvement post SP1! Big thanks to Vista Team!

As again, this is not a public release. This RC is to update a PC running Windows Vista RTM to Windows Vista SP1 for testing purposes only and is time limited.

This standalone package will install SP1 as well as any applicable pre-requisite packages.

This has been made available for MSDN / TechNet subscriptions.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x64) – EXE (English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish)

• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x86) – EXE (English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x64) – EXE (Multiple Languages)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x86) – EXE (Multiple Languages)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x86 and x64) – DVD (English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (x86 and x64) – DVD (Multiple Languages)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Windows Update Installation Experience

Points to note from Windows Update Installation Experience document

• This is pre-release code and will change before the final release. Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate is for individuals, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating pre-release software. This pre-release software is provided for testing purposes only.
• Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate is Time-Limited software. It will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date.

Microsoft have released quite a few updates for Windows Vista today. Updates are for x86, x64 based systems and Windows Media Center for Vista.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB941649)

This update resolves some compatibility and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability and hardware compatibility in various scenarios.

Update for Windows Vista (KB941649)

This update resolves some compatibility and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability and hardware compatibility in various scenarios.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB942089)

Install this update to resolve an issue where Omniquad Firewall and TT Firewall Version 2.0.3 fail to install on systems running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista (KB942903)

Install this update to resolve an issue where the Language Pack update failed to install on systems running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB938929)

Install this update to resolve suspend and resume issues on Windows Vista systems configured with a digital cable tuner.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB942813)

Install this update to resolve an issue where the computer continually restarts with Microsoft Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE) 2.0 on an AMD Barcelona processor, and the Operating System Capabilities ( _OSC ) method enabled in the BIOS.

Update for Windows Vista (KB942089)

Install this update to resolve an issue where Omniquad Firewall and TT Firewall Version 2.0.3 fail to install on systems running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista (KB940069)

Install this update to resolve an issue where an indexing service query, using a LIKE predicate, returns an incorrect result on a system running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB927084)

Install this update to resolve suspend and resume issues on Windows Vista systems configured with a digital cable tuner.

Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista (KB938929)

Install this update to resolve suspend and resume issues on Windows Vista systems configured with a digital cable tuner.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB943544)

Install this update to resolve an issue where a duplicate or incorrect date is displayed on the Windows Vista Sidebar Calendar gadget.

Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista (KB927084)

Install this update to resolve suspend and resume issues on Windows Vista systems configured with a digital cable tuner.

Update for Windows Vista (KB941542)

Install this update to resolve an issue where connecting to a non-UNC (Uniform Naming Convention) printer fails on a system running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista (KB942813)

Install this update to resolve an issue where the computer continually restarts with Microsoft Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE) 2.0 on an AMD Barcelona processor, and the Operating System Capabilities ( _OSC ) method enabled in the BIOS.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB942903)

Install this update to resolve an issue where the Language Pack update failed to install on systems running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB940069)

Install this update to resolve an issue where an indexing service query, using a LIKE predicate, returns an incorrect result on a system running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB941542)

Install this update to resolve an issue where connecting to a non-UNC (Uniform Naming Convention) printer fails on a system running Windows Vista.

Update for Windows Vista (KB943544)

Install this update to resolve an issue where a duplicate or incorrect date is displayed on the Windows Vista Sidebar Calendar gadget.

If you want to make that move to Vista, you need these tools to do it.

The tools include Windows Vista Hardware Assessment (WVHA) 2.0, the Windows Vista Business Value Assessment, and Microsoft LicenseWise.

Hardware Assessment
With the ability to scan up to 25,000 PCs per domain, WVHA 2.0 is an updated version of a network-wide assessment tool Microsoft introduced in February.

WVHA 2.0 lets you or Microsoft’s partners determine whether your hardware can support Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. With your cooperation, a partner can remotely and securely connect to your network, without installing agents, and collect relevant hardware information through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

WVHA could return results within one hour and give you guidance on driver updates. WVHA 2.0 is available to IT pros, as well as partners, and you can download it here.

Vista’s ROI
Microsoft has developed the Business Value Assessment tool to help customers “realize an increased value of up to $130 per PC annually. Value-added resellers, systems integrators, and managed service providers can use the tool to calculate Vista’s potential ROI and build a business case for deploying it. This tool isn’t available to IT pros without going through a Microsoft partner.

Microsoft LicenseWise
The Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor (MPLA) became available in November 2005 to address midmarket IT pros’ complaints about the complexity of Microsoft’s licensing.

Microsoft has now released a companion product, Microsoft LicenseWise, for Microsoft partners. 

LicenseWise provides information across programs such as Open License, Open Value, Select License, and Enterprise Agreement and informs users about product prerequisites and programs such as Software Assurance.

LicenseWise is linked with the MPLA to strengthen collaboration between partners and their customers through a seamless, consistent and predictable interaction.

So you can use MPLA to compile a quote for licensing a particular product, then call a Microsoft partner and give the product-specific quote from MPLA. LicenseWise will automatically pull up a fully configured partner UI and let the partner customize the quote to add in partner-specific products and services.

MPLA available here