David Overton's Blog : Vista, System Builder Information

New Small Business Oriented blog - Microsoft Police (entry on licensing) and Vista bloody Vista (who's fault is it when things don't work on Vista)

David Overton — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:09:00 GMT

Susanne Dansey pointed this out to me - Dave is doing some excellent blogging! I like both these entries from January. One discussed the rights and wrongs of what to do with a customer who will not license legally. My personal opinion here is that if they won't pay a software company, how long until they will avoid paying the services company for a quality job. Dave's second post is dealing with someone who has been told that Vista is poor and blames anything that does not work under Vista on Microsoft. I'm not saying that Microsoft is never to blame, but it is nice to see posts like this coming out of the woodwork.

Microsoft Police

There has been a lot of chatter in the newsgroups recently about Microsoft licensing and what to do if you think the legality of clients software is suspect.

Here is my opinion. Funny that, it being my blog

Simple, get them to become legitimate (or legal) or walk away.

Let’s clarify this. Why I said legitimate or legal is because these can be two separate things. Why? well frankly, just because Microsoft and it’s lawyers say something should be the case, it doesn’t mean that it is the law.

<snipped - click link above to read more>

Vista, bloody Vista!

I was having a friendly discussion in the pub at the weekend and was introduced to a college lecturer. He spoke quite fluently about IT in his college even though he admitted he is not very technically minded.

Then it came…Why Vista he asked, it knackers things, so his techie people tell him? Windows 98 which he has at home is fine GRRRR!

Except, it isn’t fine. His PC was falling apart at the seams, things just weren’t working. The more I questioned the more it became like a broken record. Why had Microsoft not left things alone. The fact that his quite clearly 18million year old dial-up modem wasn’t working was obviously Microsofts fault. They only update things in order to screw money out of poor victims like him. (This did stay friendly I hasten to add and many more pints were sunk during the discussions!)

And then the explanation of why Vista is so bad. According to his techie department, Vista had made printers stop working! Oh really. How about the fact that the printers in question were well known branded lasers of years ago vintage. Who makes them? It doesn’t bloody matter, it is not Microsoft thats for sure!

<snipped - click link above to read more>

Dave - keep on blogging - I like it a lot!!

ttfn

David

Technorati Tags: SBSC, Small Business, Microsoft, Vista, Windows Vista, Licensing

If you want Windows XP Pro on a new machine, buy Windows Vista (Business or Ultimate) and then downgrade

David Overton — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:03:00 GMT

I’m not sure how many people are aware of this, but if you buy a Windows Vista Business or Ultimate then you can use a Windows XP CD (which you have legal access to) to load Windows XP onto that machine.

When you need the product key / or need to activate, this will potentially fail, but a quick call to the activation centre with your Vista product key should give you all the details you need. Then when you are ready to put Vista onto that machine, you can do without the cost of buying it anew. Alternatively you can buy Windows XP today and should you ever want to load Vista, you can give more money to a shop to get a copy again.

For further information go to http://oem.microsoft.com/script/sites/public/licensing.htm

More information can be found in this one page document OEM Downgrade from Vista to Windows XP

ttfn

David

Please Note the following (in legalese)

Windows Vista Downgrade Rights Clarification

Per the EULA and OEM DTOS Agreement, the end user customer is responsible for supplying media for the OEM or customer to create the downgrade product image on the customer system. Neither Microsoft, the OEMs, nor the system builders are responsible for supplying this media. VL customers already have the necessary media. For non-VL customers, the easiest way to obtain this media is to buy a single FPP copy of Windows XP Pro or use an existing FPP copy of Windows XP Pro if they already own one. That media can then be used to downgrade Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate machines to Windows XP Pro. If the customer uses a product key for Windows XP Pro that they’ve previously activated, that machine will likely fail activation. If the downgraded machine fails activation the customer will be prompted to call the product activation call center to request a key that will enable them to pass activation. The customer should mention that they’re exercising their downgrade rights to the customer service representative in the activation call center.

Channel Expo Show presentations - Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Windows Server (SBS, Naked, Home Server and Longhorn) sales slides

David Overton — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:39:00 GMT

If you visited the Channel Expo show this year then you probably saw one or two Microsoft presentations on desktop and server solutions. James Akrigg and Matt McSpirit provided the desktop entertainment while I covered off what servers we have out there and what is coming in the near future.

We promised the slides and here they are:

Desktop (Windows Vista and Office 2007)- Office 2007 PowerPoint

Desktop (Windows Vista and Office 2007)- PDF

Server (SBS, Windows Server 2003 R2, Longhorn and Home Server) - Office 2007 PowerPoint

Server (SBS, Windows Server 2003 R2, Longhorn and Home Server) - PDF

James has an amazing blog (Out of Office) at http://blogs.technet.com/outofoffice

Matt touches many aspects of desktop technology including that for small business at http://blogs.technet.com/mattmcspirit

Have a look at the blogs and enjoy the presentations.

ttfn

David

Technorati tags: Channel Expo, Vista, Office 2007, SBS 2003, Nakes Servers, Home Server, Longhorn

Was Vista's arrival a surprises to anyone? No? Then how come so many people were unprepared - hardware vendors, ISVs, even Microsoft to an extent

David Overton — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:00:20 GMT

Lets start off by saying this is a RANT. If you don't like rants, look away now.

I saw this in CRN and it made me laugh and cry. We have seen news that iTunes has undisclosed issues with Vista (even after being fixed), poor drivers from nVidia and others and even enough to stop a BBC reporter from getting it going, yet from the list below, most are down to 3rd parties. I have only a little sympathy for hardware partners who didn't get drivers out - I was at WinHEC 3 and 2 years ago when the need to build drivers was hammered home. I have seen the offers of help to ISVs to get their applications working. I have seen the large amount of online training available for partners of all sizes to understand the benefits of the products. However, I have also seen the difficulties people have in when to bet on Vista and deploy the resources - I think its success has taken a few people by surprise! Microsoft is certainly happy with the launch.

If like me, when you have 2 years to solve a problem it is always tomorrows problem, until eventually the deadline looms and it suddenly urgent - perhaps many face this issue. Of course, I am hugely over simplifying the issue. Some people chose not to move, saying that they would wait until there was enough market demand. Others, so the rumours say, have no desire to make older versions of hardware or software work on Vista and are using it as a lever to drive upgrades. Finally, the meaning of "minimum requirements" somehow seems to have been lost on people, so when all editions other than basic recommend a minimum of 1GB, that should not be seen as optimum for all users, but the minimum.

I am frankly amazed that some vendors "top" PCs are not Vista compatible and it is because they were not ready - I thought the product was delayed to help these guys get ready - and if lower spec machines are working... gosh! While others have got it all working, on new machines and with new hardware designed for Vista style PCs.

For application issues, many uncertified Windows Vista Apps May Work - no surprise there, but for more information about application compatibility, go to http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/archive/2007/02/27/running-office-2003-on-windows-vista-and-running-other-applications-that-work-on-windows-xp-on-vista.aspx

Back to the CRN article - according to various solution providers contacted by CRN, here are the 10 biggest problems faced by early adopters of Vista out of the gate:

1. Lack of available drivers from ISVs causing application conflicts;
2. Lack of available drivers for existing and new peripherals and hardware components;
3. Buggy drivers;
4. New security feature often flags existing applications as suspicious and interrupts service;
5. Few applications aside from Vista and Office 2007 take advantage of user account control;
6. Customers are confused by Office 2007's ribbon-like user interface;
7. The OS automatically recommends which Vista versions is best for each PC's configuration. This will cause small businesses to download different versions of Vista;
8. Benefits of Vista and Office 2007 running together are not obvious. Partners and IT staff need training for maximum ROI;
9. Deployment isn't easy. Partners should use either Business Desktop Deployment tool, "lite" BDD no-charge tool or other tools;
10. Hardware doesn't run Windows Vista well.

Source: CRN | Microsoft, Vista| Hardware, Software Conflicts Dampen Vista's Debut

Of the issues above, numbers 1, 2, (3 when not Microsofts), 4, 5 and 10 are due to people not planning for the release of Vista. Microsoft could be considered at fault here if the organisations did not realise that Vista was coming, but I can't seriously believe many were in that position (unless they listened to Gartner who predicted "shorthorn" that never happened or that Vista would not ship until post April '07). Anyone who said they could not get hold of the code were obviously not using MSDN, Technet, CTPs or attending one of the many conferences where it was given out!

For number 4 - these applications are basically not following the recommendations that have been out for years to not write to certain directories etc. Vista now emulates many of the trouble spots to avoid issues while protecting the systems, so these are very naughty applications rather than just bad one.

For number 6 - we need to educate these people - there is FANTASTIC training on the office site that takes you through the new ribbon and also enables you to view a Office 2003 menu & toolbar and then be told how to work in the new world.

For number 7 - yes this is confusing, however that is more about choices. When people compare Vista to Apple Macs, they forget that you get to choose which box, but not which vendor or environment to use it. There is not a lower cost Mac product for the home, so I guess we could do as Apple has done and just price for the premium version?? :-)

Partner training for Vista, or at least in the UK, was rolled out on a huge scale - online and by visiting many locations, so anyone who chose not to attend was again betting against Vista being important to them - if they are now saying they don't have training, then where was their investment when the opportrunity was offered?

Finally Deployment. Deployment of Vista is easier than deployment of Windows XP & Office 2003. BDD was around to make it easier for them before and has been improved and re-released to make Vista easier. For small business customers, sneakernet is still probbaly the best way - run round to 10 machines and install the software that way - on a Saturday.

OK, rant over... I've Vistafied in the home and at work and loving it! I run the hardware advisor before I upgrade and so far, it has not let me down!

ttfn

David

Technorati tags: Windows Vista, Vista, Rant, ISV, Hardware

System Builders - Partner training on the OPK for Windows Vista and Office 2007

David Overton — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:35:00 GMT

This course looks into the new OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) for Windows Vista and 2007 Office. It explains to system builders OPK's functions and benefits; how it is deployed; what are some of its terms and requirements; as well as the tools and resources offered. https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/register.aspx?publisher=3&courseid=1875

ttfn

David

I'm sorry - I am not perfect and nor is Microsoft. Sometimes it is our fault

David Overton — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:26:51 GMT

I can be abrasive sometimes and whether it "is my fault" or not, I don't always understand others' point of views. To this I would like to say "It is my fault".

Now, if you have got up off the floor, let me give you a few examples.

I say "contact our customer support" and you say "I don't have time". Before I rant - OK, I understand this, if you could share the bug at some time, we will try to fix it. We haven't been able to identify it yet, so need your help
I say "There is no OEM media, get over it" and you say "I need OEM media to do my installs". OK, I can't fix this one. I do understand where you are coming from. If I were to share the fact that in the UK, which is a low piracy country, our tests so far have shown between 10-15% of all copies of Windows are pirated and many come from Action Packs and other OEM keys, does that help understand why this is such an issue? I do wish I could give you back OEM media, but I've been told it is just not possible. While Microsoft did publish the changes coming, I now get the impression that many did not realise that this was linked to the change in qualifying an upgrade, making the process different to Windows XP

The list goes on, however why did I even start this? Well a man I respect lots is Joel. I started reading his latest filing:

"Now I was fuming. Squiggly lines were coming up out of my head. I was a half hour late to work and had to go to the locksmith for a third time. I was tempted just to give up on him. But I decided to give this loser one more chance."

"Seven steps to remarkable customer service
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/customerservice.html

It then carries on:

I stomped into the store, ready to unleash my fury.
“It still doesn’t work?” he asked. “Let me see.”
He looked at it.
I was sputtering, trying to figure out how best to express my rage at being forced to spend the morning going back and forth.
“Ah. It’s my fault,” he said.
And suddenly, I wasn’t mad at all.
Mysteriously, the words “it’s my fault” completely defused me. That was all it took.

Potentially wise words from the sage. I mean what I say

have a great day

David

1st short coverage of the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit)

David Overton — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:34:24 GMT

Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) User's Guide for Windows Vista

The WAIK is designed to help OEMs, system builders and corporate IT professionals deploy Windows onto new hardware. The kit is a new set of deployment tools for Windows Vista. Download this guide to get the current methods, tools, and requirements for deploying Windows.

Technorati tags: Vista, Windows Vista, WAIK, Windows Automated Instakkation Kit, Deployment