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Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable - Now Available

June 3, 2008 in Knowledge Base, Windows Installer, Software Packaging, Industry News, Windows, Support | No comments

The Microsoft® Windows® Installer (MSI) is the application installation and configuration service for Windows. Version 4.5 of the Windows Installer has several new features, including:

  • Multiple Package Transaction: In a multiple package transaction, you can create a single transaction from multiple packages. In a multiple package transaction, a chainer is used to dynamically include packages in the transaction. If any of the packages do not install as expected, you can roll back the installation.

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Windows Installer Automatic Repair: Windows Vista

December 27, 2007 in Windows Installer, Knowledge Base, Windows, Support | No comments

In earlier versions of Windows, it might have been necessary to re-register the Windows Installer files in the registry (an example) if those files became damaged or corrupt. Beginning Windows Vista, damaged system files needed by Windows Installer can be repaired automatically.

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Microsoft Application Verifier v3.4

September 3, 2007 in Knowledge Base, Windows Installer, Software Packaging, Windows, Support, Administration | No comments

Application Verifier is a runtime verification tool for unmanaged code that assists in quickly finding subtle programming errors that can be extremely difficult to identify with normal application testing.

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Windows Vista Migration Webcast Series Part Six: Personality Captures

July 24, 2007 in Authoring Tools, Knowledge Base, Software Packaging, WebCasts, Windows | No comments

What: Windows Vista Migration Webcast Series - Part Six: Personality Captures
How will you Migrate to Windows Vista? Migrating to Windows Vista is not a question of when, but how. Whether you plan to deploy Vista as a mass migration project or gradually as new PCs are deployed, OS migration can be intimidating for any IT manager. But with Altiris, now part of Symantec, you can easily manage the mysteries of Vista migration. Join us for part six of a seven part webcast series on Vista migration featuring Windows expert Nelson Ruest. Nelson works for Resolutions Enterprises Ltd. as a Senior Enterprise IT Architect and has over 20 years’ experience in migration planning and network, PC, and server infrastructure design. He has been working on deployments since Windows 3.1 and so far, has assisted over 500,000 users with their migrations. Nelson is the co-author of the eBook: The Definitive Guide to Vista Migration. In this one hour, complimentary webcast on Wednesday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m. EDT (16:00 GMT, Europe), you’ll learn how to successfully tackle the complex task of Vista migration through planning and best practices and how an Altiris integrated solution will help ease your migration plan. The following topics will be discussed: * Personality Capture Considerations - Profile Types & Choosing which Profiles to Protect * Working with Personality Captures * Alternative Strategies for Profile Migrations * Finalize the Personality Protection Strategy * Benefits of Migrating with Altiris
When: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:00 AM

PRESENTER: Nelson Ruest, Windows expert and co-author of The Definitive Guide to Vista Migration

Time Displayed: EST (US & Canada) [Convert to Your Local Time]

Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000

July 21, 2007 in Windows, Support, Scripting, Administration | No comments

Windows Script is a comprehensive scripting infrastructure for the Microsoft Windows platform. Windows Script provides two script engines, Visual Basic Scripting Edition and Microsoft JScript, which can be embedded into Windows Applications. It also provides an extensive array of supporting technologies that makes it easier for script users to script Windows applications. Learn more…

The download of Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000 installs Microsoft Windows Script containing Visual Basic Script Edition (VBScript.) Version 5.6, JScript Version 5.6, Windows Script Components, Windows Script Host 5.6, and Windows Script Runtime Version 5.6. A detailed documentation can also be downloaded from Windows Script 5.6 Documentation

System Administrators and/or Software Packagers/Engineers often require usage of Windows Scripting Technology and it’s sub-sets for smoother application package authoring and/or deployments.

References:

Webcast: Application Compatibility Considerations with Windows Vista - July 18, 2007

July 12, 2007 in Windows Installer, WebCasts, Windows, Administration | No comments

What: TechNet Webcast: Application Compatibility Considerations with Windows Vista (Level 200)
In this webcast, we focus on application compatibility issues that you may encounter when upgrading to the Windows Vista operating system, and we show you how to address them. We start the session by explaining User Account Control (UAC), which helps reduce the exposure and attack surface of the operating system by requiring that all users run in standard user mode . Although UAC provides many benefits, some applications may be affected by its implementation. We discuss these possible areas of incompatibility and look at how to resolve any problems that may arise. We also cover other areas of possible application compatibility issues, such as the new networking features. Finally, we introduce some of the helpful tools Microsoft provides to assist with application compatibility with Windows Vista. Presenter: Blain Barton, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
When: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 9:30 AM

Time Displayed - Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Convert to Your Local Time]

Windows SteadyState is now available

June 22, 2007 in Windows, Administration | No comments

Windows SteadyState was formerly known as Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP. Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who uses them. Windows SteadyState is easier to download, set up, use, and maintain than Shared Computer Toolkit.
Windows SteadyState runs on genuine copies of Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Download & More Details

Windows 2000 to Windows Vista: Road to Compatibility

December 6, 2006 in Software Packaging, Windows, Support | No comments

Channel 9 has posted a very good video concerning “Windows 2000 to Windows Vista: Road to Compatibility”. This is especially targeted for developers who should make changes to their applications to run smoothly on Windows Vista. A conceptual knowledge of User Account Control is also explained which seems to impact software not following Windows Logo Program for XP and Vista.

Video Link

SQL Server earlier than 2005 SP2 NOT supported in Vista & Longhorn

November 20, 2006 in Windows, Support | No comments

Microsoft says:

In an effort to provide customers with more secure products, Microsoft Windows Server “Longhorn” and Microsoft Windows Vista will only support SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later when it becomes available. Earlier versions of SQL Server, including SQL Server 2000 (all editions including Desktop Engine edition, a.k.a MSDE), SQL Server 7.0, and SQL Server 6.5, will not be supported on Windows Server “Longhorn” or Windows Vista. Customers running applications with these earlier versions of SQL Server should consider evaluating and upgrading to SQL Server 2005, which was designed to take advantage of the upcoming security and performance enhancements in the operating environment.

That means, applicaiton developers are to be aware that running an older version of SQL as stated above, the application has higher chances of “incompability” on the soon to be RTM’ed Vista and Longhorn thereafter. Setup Engineers and Application Packagers must inform or follow-up with the application programmers/developers OR vendors to have this information relayed for application stability in Vista & Longhorn.

Microsoft has outlined some necessary information how to upgrade to current supported version along the earlier message release. Read more here.

10 More Commandments for Software Packaging: Focus on Vista Migration

October 27, 2006 in Windows Installer, Knowledge Base, Software Packaging, Windows, Support | No comments

Previously, DevInstall had posted an Event relating to Webcast: 10 More Commandments for Software Packaging: Focus on Vista Migration. If you missed the live Webcast which was on October 25, Macrovision has now made that available on-demand. Building on the popular 20 Commandments for Software Packaging, this new set of commandments apply to migration projects, and will show you which tools can help you perform these tasks. If you are getting ready for a Vista migration today, take the time to view this Webcast.

10 More Commandments include:

  1. Plan your Project
  2. Learn the New Feature Set
  3. Create your Team
  4. Build your Test Network
  5. Filter Features
  6. Analyze Application Compatibility
  7. Package for Production
  8. Rely on Workflows
  9. Test, Test, Test
  10. Learn your Lessons

Ofcourse, the speakers expand and present these bullets in greater detail with demos.

Speakers:

Nelson Ruest
Wes Day
Michael Snyders

Visit the Webcast

Modifying Your Applications to Run on Windows Vista

October 13, 2006 in Windows Installer, WebCasts, Windows | No comments

Previously, DevInstall had posted an Event relating to Webcast from MSDN: Modifying Your Applications to Run on Windows Vista. If you missed the live Webcast which was on October 06, MSDN has now made that available on-demand.

What does the Webcast talk about? Some highlights…

  1. Innovation and Compatibility of applications for Vista
  2. What is Microsoft doing about application compatibility?
  3. Typical Compatibility Failures
  4. User Account Control: Why might application break?
  5. Windows Resource Protection: What’s changed? Include it in your application package?
  6. Mitigation: What is Redirection? Is it per user or per machine? How can you avoid redirection?
  7. Application Updates: Who has the privileges?
  8. Service Isolation
  9. Networking, Version Checking, Microsoft GINA, Graphics Device Interface (GDI) and Dots per Inch (DPI)…
  10. Removed Components while going to Vista

And many more…This is a strong recommendation to Application Developers, Installation Developers and also for Application Packagers. 

Presenter: Uday Shivaswamy, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Watch the on-demand Webcast

So What is Windows Vista Shell?

October 13, 2006 in Windows, Scripting | No comments

Channel9.msdn.com sits down with Director of Development for Windows Shell at Microsoft, Ales Holecek, for an interview about Windows Vista Shell. Ales spends most of the time answering a single, broad question: What is the Windows Vista Shell?

Channel9 references, “of course, you can’t talk about Windows Vista shell without talking about UAC (User Account Control), Windows Explorer, Aero, Desktop Search, and, for developers, the improved Shell APIs”.

Ales begins with general Windows Shell definition as an application that runs on top of the kernel and gets started once the user logs on. It controls everything…from user’s desktop to windows management!

Sounds something of interest to you? Click-Watch-Geek!

Visit the Video Interview

Windows SDK for September CTP of Windows Vista and .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime Components

October 1, 2006 in .NET, Windows | No comments

Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for September Customer Technology Preview (CTP) was released on September 28, 2006. The Windows SDK contains documentation, samples, headers, libraries, and tools designed to help you develop Microsoft Windows applications. The documentation, samples, and tools provided in the Windows SDK support application programming interfaces (APIs) available in the Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) versions of Windows. Not all API support all platforms. You can look under the specific API documentation to determine which platform the API supports.

The documentation, samples, and tools provided in this release are preliminary and subject to change. This SDK is designed to use with Windows Vista build 5728 and the .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime September Customer Technology Preview. This release of the Windows SDK is compatible with the RTM versions of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. Visual Studio Extensions for .Net Framework 3.0 are available in the related resources.

NOTES:
There are a number of known issues with this release. Please consult the Release Notes associated with this download for more information. Reminder: This version of the Windows SDK will not work with previous pre-release versions of Windows Vista, the .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime Components for Windows XP or Windows Server, or previous pre-release versions of Visual Studio.

Please note that this download contains SDK content only. To build .NET Framework 3.0 applications for Windows XP or Windows Server, the .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime Components for September CTP must be downloaded separately.

Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Beta and Windows Vista

September 26, 2006 in Visual Studio, Windows | No comments

Microsoft has released the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta. “Visual Studio 2005 shipped in November of 2005 and this Service Pack incorporates fixes that we have addressed since that release”, announced Microsoft today. Following are the type of fixes you will find in this beta service pack:

  • The Hotfixes and General Distribution Release Updates released between Visual Studio 2005 Release to Market and the end of the Service Pack customer beta period.
  • Any fixes addressing security issues categorized by the Microsoft Security Response Center as “Critical”, “Important” or “Moderate”.
  • Fixes for product reliability and stability issues, including those reported by customers via the Product Feedback Center, and the crashes most frequently reported via Watson.
  • Fixes for common “eligible” functional issues reported by customers via the Product Feedback Center. “Eligible” functional issues are those that do not require breaking changes, architectural changes, or Design Change Request level feature work and that do not create unacceptable product quality risk and/or cost of implementation.
  • Fixes for the top customer and supportability issues as reported by Customer Support Services.

Somasegar’s WebLog mentions VS2005 is triggered to make itself compatible with Windows Vista. Such a support will be announced in the coming months. Presently, VS2005 SP1 will run on Vista but may likely have some compatibility issues. Visual Studio .NET 2002 or Visual Studio .NET 2003 support will be dropped as development environments on Windows Vista however, you can continue to use Visual Studio .NET 2002 or 2003 on Windows XP to develop applications that can run on Windows Vista.

Download VS 2005 SP1 Beta

NOTES

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