Windows Client UPDATE--brought to you by the Windows & .NET Magazine Network http://www.winnetmag.net
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Windows & .NET Magazine Network Web Seminars http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars
* MICROSOFT EASES XP DEPLOYMENT
On February 25, Microsoft released a set of updated tools and a new Web portal to help enterprise customers evaluate and deploy Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Office XP. A Microsoft representative told me that the company understands that enterprise customers often take months to evaluate and plan desktop deployments, so Microsoft designed these updated tools and the new portal to make that process as simple as possible. The company estimates that, by streamlining key processes such as application compatibility testing and security updates, the tools will help enterprise customers reduce deployment time by as much as 67 percent.
The new tools include the following:
Windows XP Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 2.6. Designed to prevent one of the top XP deployment blockers, ACT helps administrators inventory, evaluate, and test applications for compatibility and automatically make adjustments so that recalcitrant applications will run properly on XP.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) 1.1. This tool scans individual systems and looks for missing security updates and identifies and reports on common security misconfigurations.
Desktop Deployment Portal. This revamped Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/resources/desktop/default.asp ) contains a variety of documentation, tools, and other resources to help enterprises roll out Windows XP and Office XP. Users can also order a version of the portal on CD-ROM.
3.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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4.
RESOURCES
* TIP: CONFIGURE XP TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WINDOWS EXPLORER WINDOWS AT LOGON (contributed by David Chernicoff, [email protected])
A reader asked me whether a tool exists that will let him configure his Windows XP desktop to automatically open the same Windows Explorer windows when he logs on that were open when he last logged off his computer. Windows XP directly supports this functionality. To enable it, take the following steps:
1. Launch regedit.
2. Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
3. In the right-hand pane, double-click the entry PersistBrowsers.
4. Change the data value to 1.
5. Exit the registry editor.
* FEATURED THREAD: WORKSTATIONS WITH DIFFERENT SUBNET MASKS
Forum member "vuk" would like help configuring two Windows NT 4.0 workstations to share printers and files. The workstations have different subnet masks and belong to different workgroups without DNS. Vuk would like to know whether using a NIC in each workstation is the best solution. If you can help, join the discussion at the following URL: http://www.winnetmag.com/forums/rd.cfm?cid=38&tid=55081
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NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Sue Cooper, [email protected])* RECOVER DATA FROM UNREADABLE DISCS
Arrowkey released CD/DVD Diagnostic, a data-recovery solution for CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs. The software bypasses the Windows file system and original software to access lost or damaged data files. CD/DVD Diagnostic finds, retrieves, and repairs corrupt or damaged files and copies the repaired files to your hard disk. An interruptible readability test shows the extent of damage to a disc so that you can determine whether a CD device can read the damaged disc. Pricing is $69.99 per single-user license. Contact Arrowkey at 847-415-2377, 888-759-0600, or [email protected]. http://www.arrowkey.com
* BACK UP TO BOOTABLE, REMOVABLE HARD DISK
CMS Peripherals announced ABSpro, a backup software application in the ABSplus automatic backup system line, software and hardware solutions that use a bootable, removable hard disk to back up, restore, and recover desktops and notebooks. ABSpro's bidirectional synchronization scans both the host computer's hard disk and the ABSplus hard disk and updates new or changed files on the ABSplus disk. ABSpro's versioning feature lets mobile users retrieve older volumes of files and folders. Contact CMS Peripherals at 800-327-5773, 714-424-5520, or [email protected]. http://www.cmsproducts.com
* SUBMIT TOP PRODUCT IDEAS
Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Do you know of a terrific product that others should know about? Tell us! We want to write about the product in a future What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions to [email protected].
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