Recently, Microsoft released an RC version of Windows Virtual PC and Virtual Windows XP, Now called Windows XP Mode.
Windows XP Mode is a new free separate install feature for Windows 7 that gives you a full Windows XP environment running as a virtual machine on your Windows 7. This feature enables you to launch the applications you install on Windows XP Mode from your Windows 7 desktop.
I covered the Beta version a few month ago when it was just released, so if you are not familiar with Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode, you should read this post first.
And now, lets see what changed since the Beta version.
Install
The install is pretty much the same as in the Beta version. After downloading the two files needed for Windows XP Mode (Windows Virtual PC update KB958559, Windows XP Mode Package) you’ll need to install Windows Virtual PC first and then the Windows XP Mode package.
The install is quiet simple. Windows Virtual PC is installed as an update and the installation is done after few clicks.
After installing Windows Virtual PC (which requires a restart) you can start the Windows XP Mode Installation. During the install process you can watch an updated tutorial on how to use Windows XP Mode. The install is the same as in the beta version and when it finishes, you got a full functional Windows XP.
Installing Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode creates a new program in the start menu. As I mentioned earlier, in the Beta release, Windows XP was called Virtual Windows XP, and now its Windows XP Mode, as you can see in the following screenshots:
Windows XP Mode Release Candidate Virtual Windows XP Beta
Management
As in the Beta version, Windows Virtual PC does not have a Management Console and the Virtual Machines management is integrated with Windows Explorer. When you click Windows Virtual PC in Start Menu, the following window opens, giving you tools in the upper side of the window to manage your Virtual Machines:
Regarding Hard Disks management, there is an option now to create a new virtual hard disk or modify the location of existing one. Windows XP Mode VHD’s are installed by default to your C drive, something I personally don’t like… so after installing Windows XP Mode my first step is to shutdown the VM, move all files (VHD,VMC,…) to a different partition, modify the location in Windows Virtual PC and start the machine.
The Integration Features has improved and now you can select the drives that you want Windows XP to connect to.
Integration Features – Windows XP Mode (RC) Integration Features – Virtual Windows XP (Beta)
All other components in the Integration Features are the same.
Integration with Windows 7
Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode now have better integration with Windows 7. If you’ll hover over Windows Virtual PC in Start Menu, or right click the Taskbar Icon, you will see an option to manage Virtual Machines and view the latest Virtual Machines used.
Auto Publish
When I covered the beta version of Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode, I demonstrated how you can run on your Windows 7 two versions of Microsoft Office and how you get remote alerts on Windows 7 Desktop from the Virtual Machine.
The Publish Application engine, which can be disabled through the virtual machine settings, is the same, with no new features. Applications that are installed to All Users will be available under Windows XP Mode Applications in the Start Menu. Another option is dragging an application shortcut to the All Users folder or the Start Menu which work for some applications, like Internet Explorer.
The way to RTM…
As you can see, there are no major changes from the Beta version except a better integration with Windows 7 and a few improvements to the Virtual Machine Settings. Microsoft did not mentioned an RTM release date but I can assume it will take no more the 6 month for Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode to go RTM.
For additional reading, check Windows 7 Team Blog announcement for Windows XP Mode and Windows XP Mode / Windows Virtual PC Home Page
If there’s something you’ll like to see in the RTM version, feel free to comment.
Enjoy!
Two days ago (24.08.09) Microsoft released SP2 for Exchange Server 2007.
As we know, most of Microsoft Service Packs are collection of all updates released for a product since it was RTM, but that is not the case with Exchange Server 2007 SP2. Exchange Server 2007 SP2 adds some new features to your Exchange Organization which I will summaries here.
Deploying Exchange Server 2010 - You can deploy Exchange Server 2010 in your organization once all of the Client Access servers in your organization have been upgraded to Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Exchange Backup Functionality - Exchange 2007 Service Pack 2 includes a VSS plug-in for Windows Server Backup to support Exchange backups. Once SP2 is installed, you can use Windows Server Backup to back up and restore your Exchange 2007 SP2 databases
Enhanced Auditing - New Exchange auditing events and audit log repository enable Exchange administrators to more easily audit the activities occurring on their Exchange servers
Dynamic Active Directory Schema Validation - The dynamic AD schema update and validation feature allows for future schema updates to be dynamic deployed as well as proactively preventing conflicts whenever a new property is added to the AD schema.
Public Folder Quota Management - Exchange 2007 Service Pack 2 provides a more efficient way to manage Public Folder quotas by improving the current Cmdlets and removing the dependency on the Public Folder Distributed Authoring and Versioning Administration to perform management tasks.
Centralized Organizational Settings - There are several new Cmdlets parameters that have been added that enable centralized management of many of the Exchange organization settings.
For a list of new Cmdlets and additional info about what’s new in Exchange Server 2007 SP2, visit the What’s New page.
You should also read the Release Notes for Exchange Server 2007 SP2 for more information about installing SP2 in your Exchange Organization, especially the Upgrading to Exchange 2007 SP2 part .
Enjoy!
Yesterday, August 14, Microsoft made Windows Server 2008 R2 available to download through TechNet and MSDN.
You can find the the announcement at the Windows Server Division Weblog.
From the announcement: “TechNet and MSDN subscribers also get access to RTM in the form of full bits. This version requires you to enter a product key for activation, but that key is supplied when you download the code. Just log-in with your account credentials and start downloading. Enjoy the new server!”
Windows Server 2008 R2 brings great new and updated technologies. These technologies include Web Application Platform, Virtualization, Scalability and Reliability, Management', better integration with Windows 7 and a lot more!
For those who are not TechNet or MSDN subscribers, there is a 180 day evaluation version of Windows Server 2008 R2.
Well, the download is in progress… Can’t wait to check it out!