Windows Vista Team Blog : Hardware

Windows Vista 64-bit Today

Chris Flores — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:44:00 GMT

There appears to be a shift taking place in the PC industry: the move from 32-bit to 64-bit PCs.

We've been tracking the change by looking at the percentage of 64-bit PCs connecting to Windows Update, and have seen a dramatic increase in recent months. The installed base of 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, as a percentage of all Windows Vista systems, has more than tripled in the U.S. in the last three months, while worldwide adoption has more than doubled during the same period. Another view shows that 20% of new Windows Vista PCs in the U.S. connecting to Windows Update in June were 64-bit PCs, up from just 3% in March. Put more simply, usage of 64-bit Windows Vista is growing much more rapidly than 32-bit. Based on current trends, this growth will accelerate as the retail channel shifts to supplying a rapidly increasing assortment of 64-bit desktops and laptops.

64-bit PCs running 64-bit editions of Windows Vista typically have 4GB of memory or more. Compared to 32-bit systems, which top out at around 3GB of memory, 64-bit PCs can offer added responsiveness when running a lot of applications at the same time and have the potential for greater performance and new experiences as next-generations applications are written to take advantage of this new platform.

What started out as a gradual (some would say "glacial") movement toward 64-bit PCs, driven primarily by technology enthusiasts, seems to have turned into a swift transition, likely fueled by the falling cost of memory and consumers' desire to get the most out of their PCs.

This change begs a few questions:

Is the 64 bit market ready to go mainstream?

Will consumers realize the benefits from larger chips and 4GB or more of memory?

The answer to both of these questions is yes - but a qualified yes.

Preconfigured 64-bit PCs obtained from retailers or PC manufacturers should work quite well. This is in stark contrast to the experience of many technology enthusiasts who built their 64-bit PC from scratch and may have had to scour the Web looking for drivers. So, unless you really love to tinker with your PC, we suggest you buy a pre-built 64-bit PC at retail or directly from a PC manufacturer.

Beyond the box, you also need to consider the hardware peripherals and software programs you plan on using with your new PC. Any hardware or software product displaying the ‘Works with Windows Vista' or ‘Certified for Windows Vista' logo must be compatible with both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista in order to warrant the use of the logo. If you don't see the logo, visit the Windows Vista Compatibility Center and check the 64-bit compatibility status. Hardware and software vendors continue to test and improve their products. Please note that the Windows Vista Compatibility Center is currently in beta. In some cases it is possible that a device may be marked as not compatible when in fact it is. I recommend that you also check with the device manufacturer to see if the compatibility status of your desired device has changed.

On the performance front, 64-bit PCs can provide a more responsive experience when running many applications simultaneously. Websites such as Bit.Tech.Net and Tom's Hardware have published performance benchmarks detailing some of the improvements realized from running the 64-bit PCs. In addition, PC Accelerators built into Windows Vista, such as Windows SuperFetch, improve performance by keeping commonly used programs in memory, even when the program is closed. More memory capacity on 64-bit PCs allows SuperFetch to do its job more efficiently.

But if you only use your PC for a few tasks, and rarely do them at the same time, then you're unlikely to realize a measurable performance benefit today. Of course, buying extra capacity for your future, unplanned needs is always worth considering.

In the future, we expect both compatibility and performance of 64-bit PCs to continue to improve. Most hardware devices have 64-bit drivers today and most software products work unmodified because of the 32-bit emulation technology in 64-bit Windows Vista (called WOW64). But there are some gaps, especially in the long tail of the market, but we expect rapid improvement now that 64-bit PCs are getting so popular.

Over time we'll see more 64-bit-optimized programs hit the market, which promise dramatic performance and experience improvements. A few key ones, like Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop and Sony Vegas Pro video editing software, are due to be released this fall. If you're a software or hardware developer, visit our 64-bit readiness page to learn more about 64-bit compatibility and optimization.

Essential Tool for the Job - Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 for Windows Vista (RTM Announcement)

Baldwin Ng — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:53:00 GMT

RTM Announcement - Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1

Hello,

It's been a few months since I last blogged about the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 - formerly known as WVHA or Windows Vista Hardware Assessment. Today, I'd like to announce the RTM release of this tool with new capabilities including desktop security assessment, Hyper-V virtualization assessment, and more.

As you know, many of the IT pros out there like you are now spending a lot of time planning for Windows Vista deployments. But many question and challenges remain:

Are my existing PCs compatible to Windows Vista when it comes to Hardware and Device Compatibility?
Will my PCs have BIOS issues after the upgrade to Windows Vista?
Which of my PCs are ripe for an upgrade to Windows Vista? (e.g. CPU too old so it's time to replace them; or just add 512MB system memory and the PCs would be Windows Vista capable!)
What kind of software has been installed?
Are all of my PCs secure? Is Windows Security Center installed? Do they have Anti-Virus or Anti-Malware software installed? How about Windows Firewall settings?
What about application virtualization readiness?

The MAP Toolkit 3.1 is designed to address all of these desktop-side issues from a single tool! The MAP Toolkit is a platform of tools that combines the strength of agentless discovery and report generation capabilities from the previous generation (Windows Vista Hardware Assessment). The pie-chart below is part of an auto-generated readiness report from the MAP Toolkit and it illustrates the level of hardware readiness for Windows Vista upgrades across the desktop infrastructure.

As a matter of fact, if you view the latest MAP Team RTM blog post from yesterday, you will find that the MAP Toolkit 3.1 also havs many server-side and virtualization features including a Hyper-V virtualization candidates assessment and SQL Server discovery!!

Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 RTM Version
Read documentation about MAP operations on TechNet
Learn tips and see video demos on MAP Team Blog
Join MAP Fan Clubs on TechNet Forum or Facebook
Very importantly, download other Windows Vista Solution Accelerators like the MDT Toolkit, Windows Vista Security Guide and more as well!

Cheers!
Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators - Virtualization Lead)

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Getting A Major Facelift: Tool Expansion Announced at IT Forum 2007

Baldwin Ng — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:37:00 GMT

Hi all! It's been a little bit over 2 months since my last blog on the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 (WVHA) release back in August. You may wonder what our dev team is up to. Well, aside from getting the much needed rest, we have been busy working on the NEXT version of the tool. Yes, we're talking about a major expansion here. For those of you who haven't heard of WVHA, it's basically a network-wide readiness assessment tool that goes out to your network and securely assess each PC for their hardware and device compatibility for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office migration - click here for my detailed blog post.

Tool Expansion - Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator

This expansion will not only retain the original WVHA functionalities and the 7-language localization, but it will also incorporate many elements for the Windows Server 2008 wave and Microsoft Integrated Virtualization initiative. Imagine having the same agent-less inventory capabilities to survey the IT infrastructure of servers, applications and workstations and get back a series of assessment reports in an hour or two!

Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Solution Accelerator, the new name announced at IT Forum 2007 this week, will be the next-generation WVHA where we will add new assessment scenarios for Windows Server 2008 migration, server virtualization via Hyper-V, application virtualization recommendations using Microsoft Application Virtualization (SoftGrid) and more.

Come join our MAP Beta Program today and give us your feedback on the new product/technology scenarios!

http://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=297

Cheers and stay tuned for more...

Baldwin (mapsbeta@MICROSOFT.COM)

10 Things You May Not Know about Windows Vista - IntelliPoint Software

Nick White — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:22:00 GMT

How many of you have hooked up a new Microsoft keyboard and/or mouse and didn't install the included IntelliPoint software because Windows automatically found the hardware? As long as things worked when connected, I didn't miss some of the features that the IntelliPoint Software added.

But now that I've installed the software with Windows Vista, that's all changed. The team has added so many improvements in the IntelliPoint software functionality that I thought I'd conclude our 10 Things about Windows Vista series by discussing some of the lesser-known features of the IntelliPoint software. These features add functionality not only to those who may have problems with the fine print on some sites, but give the hardware more usability for the everyday user as well as the power user and gamer.

I'm using the new Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 keyboard. If you're looking for a new keyboard, check this out - www.microsoft.com/hardware/ultimatekeyboard, now available. The set features a 2.4GHz Bluetooth super thin, backlit rechargeable keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is easy to use with its ergonomic design, including "My Favorites" programmable hot keys, one-touch access to Windows Media Center and a navigation pad to make navigation even easier. The backlighting is automatic and turns on and off depending on the room‘s lighting and the proximity of the user.

The mouse uses High Definition Laser Technology for smooth, precise tracking. It offers 4-way scrolling and Flip 3D with its tilt wheel. It automatically adjusts battery life depending on the performance needs.

Some of the features of the IntelliPoint software:

Magnifier
Although Windows Vista has a built-in magnifier that enlarges text and icons for easier viewing, the IntelliPoint software acts more like a real magnifying glass. You can select the size of the magnifying window to encompass either a small section of a document, Web page, or photo. The size is customizable by dragging the window to your preferred size. The size you select will be remembered for future use. You can also change the magnification level from 1.5x to 5x.

Some keyboards also have a ‘Magnifier' button that can be used alone or in conjunction with the mouse controls.

Instant Viewer

For those of you who use a mouse to navigate, this feature is similar to the keyboard shortcut ‘Alt-Tab.' With a quick push of the mouse wheel, you can see every application that's open. After moving the cursor to any of the windows, a quick mouse click brings the window to the front.

Precision Booster

If you're a gamer and your mouse supports this, Precision Booster will increase or decrease the speed of the pointer for improved accuracy. You'll be able to move around the screen much faster. A quick press and hold increases the speed until released, or just press and release the assigned button to toggle the speed up and then press and release again to resume normal speed.

The hot keys on the Microsoft keyboards and mice are fully customizable to work with the IntelliPoint software.

Flip 3D

One-touch access to Windows Flip 3D on the mouse allows users to flip through open windows in a stack, and quickly switch between applications for added productivity.

Flip 3D comes pre-programmed to the scroll wheel button on the Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 and Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 7000. The software allows the user to program Flip 3D to any of the mouse buttons. I've also found that the software enables Flip 3D on my old trackball using the center button. As I really like trackballs, this was a great surprise.

Also available with IntelliPoint Software Version 6.2 and Supported Hardware

Windows Gadget Button offers quick access to customizable content such as weather information, news, traffic and maps.
The Quick-Launch button gives one-touch access to Windows Vista Games Explorer, allowing gamers to quickly see the games in their PC's game library.
Windows Live Call button lets you access one of your online Windows Messenger contacts, and start a video conversation quickly.

To get the latest updates specific to your hardware, check the Microsoft Hardware Web site or go to http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Download.mspx

If you haven't installed the IntelliPoint software that came with your Microsoft hardware, try the latest version and let us know what your favorite feature is.

Meet Windows Vista IT Pro Hero - Sumeeth Evans from Indianapolis

Baldwin Ng — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:10:00 GMT

Hi all,

Whether you are seriously considering moving your desktops to Windows Vista or just simply contemplating about it, I highly encourage you to grab your favorite latte or beverage, sit back and read about this great story – one that illustrates how an IT pro had become an instant hero in this company.

Meet Sumeeth Evans - IT Manager of the Collegiate Housing Services (CHS). Situated just about 2 hours south of the Great Lake Michigan, CHS manages student housing programs for 27 post-secondary campuses in 13 states across the nation. Late last year (2006), Sumeeth started planning for migrating his company’s computers to Windows Vista but estimated that it could cost $76,000 to get the job done – he assumed that most of his Windows XP machines might not support Windows Vista due the hardware requirements. Fortunately, he joined the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment beta program and found out after using this assessment tool that 70% of his 3-year-old Windows XP machines could run Windows Vista with no or only minor upgrades! Yes, that’s the majority of his PCs!

Needless to say, his manager was pleasantly surprised with the readiness results and the huge savings in the hardware replacement costs that Sumeeth virtually became the IT HERO of the company!

Wanna be an IT hero too? Read on and find out how he did it:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=93644

To become an IT HERO yourself, download Windows Vista Hardware Assessment for free and get the tool here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83115

Cheers,

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators

Hello World! Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 is Going Global!

Baldwin Ng — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:48:00 GMT

The wait is over! The Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the newly-released Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 with many of the features YOU have been looking for. For example, we've added features such as localization to 6 more languages in addition to North American English, IP range scanning and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) detection of non-Windows machines and network devices. These are excellent features to help you speed up your migration projects to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office!

For the newcomers of the Windows Vista Team Blog, let me give you a brief overview and show you what Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator can do for you. Of course, if you can't wait, just click HERE to download the tool. That's okay too. :-)

In a nutshell, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is an automated software tool that helps business customers and consultants make informed decisions about desktop deployment and migration to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office. Specifically, this tool provides users a very quick way to inventory and assess PCs network-wide for their hardware and device readiness (within an hour if you have a network of about 500-1000 PCs). Through auto-generated readiness reports, organizations can more quickly identify computers that can migrate to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office "as is" without any hardware upgrades and other computers that could be migrated with very minimum hardware upgrades such as system memory and hard drive upgrades. This tool is now used by many large and small enterprises and it can scan 25,000 PCs in a single scan per domain/workgroup and can run multiple scans for a larger organization as well.

FIGURE 1: Screenshot of the Welcome Screen - French Version of Windows Vista Hardware Assessment

FIGURE 2: Screenshot of the Japanese Windows Vista Readiness Report

In this new release of version 2.1, we have added 3 major features that address many of the customer and partner feedback that we've collected for the past months:

Localization to 6 New Languages: With Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office going to all corners of the world, we've decided to globalize the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool. Now, you can not only operate this tool with your OS but you can also generate readiness report in Microsoft Word and Excel in your local languages including French, German, Japanese, Korean, Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. This makes this tool and the reports more impactful when presented to the technical and business decision makers.
IP Range Scanning: This feature is one of the most frequently requested features from our customers (you!) and this IP range scanning capability allows you to select a set of computers for the readiness assessment independent of whether you are using Active Directory or not - especially useful in many branch office assessment scenarios! This nicely complements other ways to target machines for assessment including the Active Directory Organizational-Unit targeting and flat-file import method.
SNMP Discovery: While many of your computers are Windows-based, we do know that our customers and partners would like to assess the ENTIRE network environment. So with this new SNMP discovery feature, you will now have the ability to discover and assess machines running non-Windows OS that are SNMP-enabled. It also paves a way for you to understand the network devices as well. Very cool feature in my opinion!

For more details, please view the content on TechNet or check out my previous blog in July.

Most importantly, over 240,000 users have downloaded this tool since February 2007. Many customers have already saved significant of migration costs and accelerated their migration using this tool - such as Sporton International and Collegiate Housing Services.

So why wait? Download Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 Now!

To read the TechNet overview in the 6 new languages, please click one of the links below:

TechNet France
TechNet Germany
TechNet Japan (available in the next 24 hours)
TechNet Korea
TechNet Latin America (Spanish)
TechNet Brasil

Have a great weekend everyone!

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators

wvhafdbk@microsoft.com

Microsoft Released New Version of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool

Baldwin Ng — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:09:00 GMT

Hi Folks,

Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office are here! And, you are probably thinking that it's time to take advantage of these 2 great technologies. But, you need to get answers on a few practical questions first:

Would my existing PCs run Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office? Should I buy new ones or upgrade them instead?
Would my devices still work? Would most of the device drivers be available from Windows Vista installation DVD and/or Microsoft Windows Update site?

Well, I have good news for you! Today, our team is happy to announce the availability of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 tool at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2007. This network-wide readiness assessment tool is designed to make it easier for Microsoft partners and customers to determine their existing PCs' readiness for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office. It's a great tool to accelerate migration and deployment planning for Microsoft customers and partners.

How it Works?

Step 1 - Network Inventory:

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 connects securely and remotely from a networked PC and reaches out to each PC on the network, whether they are in an Active Directory domain/forest or in a peer-to-peer/workgroup environment.
Hardware and device data were collected through the WMI protocol (Windows Management Instrumentation) and other Windows networking protocols all without deploying any software agents on the individual PCs.

Step 2 - Compatibility Analysis:

By analyzing the hardware and device data from each computer, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 can assess your existing computers' hardware compatibility and device compatibility for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office. It also offers hardware upgrade recommendations if required for each PC.

Step 3 - Readiness Reporting:

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 offers the auto-generation of 2 readiness assessment reports: a summary report in Microsoft Word and a detailed spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel.
The Summary Report provides business decision makers with a high-level view of percentage of existing computers that can run Windows Vista and how many more computers can take advantage of Windows Vista with minor level of memory, hard drive and other upgrades.
The Detailed Spreadsheet Report provides technical decision makers with a detailed view of the information they need to plan for a desktop deployment/migration.

What's New with Version 2.0?

Backed by popular demand, we have added many features in this release:

Enterprise-Scale Scanning - Scan up to 25,000 computers per domain/workgroup in every scan (Note: multiple scans are possible for larger networks)
Office 2007 Hardware Assessment - Assess PCs for hardware compatibility with 2007 Microsoft Office
Customized Inventory using Active Directory - Choose computers of specific organizational units (or OU's) within an Active Directory domain/forest where the inventory would be conducted
Customized Inventory using Flat-File Import - Target a specific set of computers for the inventory and assessment by importing a specific flat file of computers (such as computer host names, NetBIOS names, or Fully Qualified Domain Names - FQDN)

What is the IT community saying about Windows Vista Hardware Assessment? Visit these blogs to find out more.

Where Should I Start?

Download the tool today and see how it can benefit your Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office migration planning
Sign up for one of my July webcasts on TechNet and Partner Readiness web sites
Look for the 6-language localized version that will go live in the coming weeks that will enable you to create readiness assessment reports in your own language including French, German, Japanese, Korean, Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese
Tell your success story using the tool and email us at: wvha-tap@microsoft.com
Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay tuned for my future blog posts where I will share with you our customers' success stories and what's new at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2007
Check out the Windows Vista Business Value Assessment Tool if you are a Microsoft Partner - you'll be amazed how powerful this ROI tool is! (IT Blogger, James Senior, gives you the inside scoop HERE!)
Visit the Solution Accelerators home page to download other great Windows Vista tools including Windows Vista Security Guide, Data Encryption Toolkit and Business Desktop Deployment 2007

See you next time...

Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators)

wvhafdbk@microsoft.com

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta Now Available for Download!

Baldwin Ng — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:51:00 GMT

Hi all,

The Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is happy to announce the release of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta. Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is an automated software tool that helps business customers and consultants make informed decisions about desktop deployment and migration to Windows Vista. Specifically, this tool provides users a very quick way to inventory and assess PCs network-wide for their hardware and device readiness. Through auto-generated readiness reports, organizations can more quickly identify computers that can migrate to Windows Vista “as is” without any hardware upgrades and others with recommended hardware upgrades.

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 Public Beta, an agent-less network-wide assessment tool, includes three frequently-requested features:

· Customized Inventory – Users may now choose computers of specific organizational units (or OU’s) within an Active Directory domain/forest where the inventory would be conducted.

· Flat-File Import of Computers – Users can now target a specific set of computers for the inventory and assessment by importing a specific flat file of computers (such as computer host names, NetBIOS names, or Fully Qualified Domain Names - FQDN).

· Office 2007 Hardware Assessment – Users may now assess their desktop computers for compatibility with Office 2007 system.

In addition, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment users may now inventory up to 10,000 per domain/workgroup per scan (Note: you can inventory a few times to assess a network larger than 10,000).

So, why wait? Download our 2.0 Public Beta here and give us your feedback! Make sure you use your Live ID (or Passport credentials) and register for this beta program before starting the download process. To download the already-released Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0, you may visit here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/wvha.

This tool is one of many Solution Accelerators that were recently launched for Windows Vista. Please visit the Solution Accelerators Home Page to download other tools including Business Desktop Deployment 2007, Data Encryption Toolkit for Mobile PCs, Windows Vista Security Guide and more.

One more thing – if you are attending TechEd 2007 in Orlando, please attend our breakout session and hands-on lab throughout the week and test drive Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0. See you there!

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators

TechNet Radio Chat on Windows Vista Readiness

Baldwin Ng — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 04:54:00 GMT

Tune in and listen to the radio interview of Microsoft Product Manager, Baldwin Ng and IT Pro Evangelist, Chris Avis as they discussed how the newly released Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator has become the popular tool in helping businesses determine their readiness for Windows Vista migration.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88283

Baldwin Ng baldwin.ng@microsoft.com

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerator

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment v2.0 Beta Program Now Open!

Baldwin Ng — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 04:28:00 GMT

Good news! The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment v2.0 Beta Program is now open for registration! Please join our beta program and test drive new features including OU-targeting, machine names import, localized UI/readiness reports and more.

Visit the Microsoft Connect site to join: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88282

For those of you who are not familiar with Windows Vista Hardware Assessment, it is basically a network-wide PC readiness assessment tool that helps organizations understand their readiness to migrate to Windows Vista. It provides organization-wide reports on hardware compatibility, device compatibility, upgrade recommendations and more. The coolest part is that this tool does not require any software agents to be installed on individual computers.

Visit our TechNet Web Page and download the tool (v1.0) today at: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=83405

Baldwin Ng (baldwin.ng@microsoft.com)

Sr. Product Manager, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Guidance Pages now available in 8 new languages

Baldwin Ng — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 07:23:00 GMT

Hi all,

We are happy to announce the availability of Windows Vista Hardware Assessment guidance pages in 8 new languages in addition to the already-available US English version. The list of localized web sites is listed below, please click the individual link to visit your language of choice:

For more information about Windows Vista Hardware Assessment v1.0, you may also visit the original blog post last month:

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/02/20/windows-vista-hardware-assessment-1-0-released.aspx

Baldwin Ng (Product Manager, Solution Accelerators Team - baldwin.ng@microsoft.com )

Using 4 Monitors with Windows Vista

Nick White — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:19:00 GMT

Not long ago I stopped by a co-worker's office and caught sight of his set-up of four 24-inch Dell 2407 monitors, all connected to the same PC and all working together perfectly. Needless to say, I was impressed:

The four-monitor arrangement my co-worker was using was dual ATI x1900XTX video cards. He also has a PC with NVIDIA cards running the same array of displays. Pretty slick !

There is a lot of great hardware on the market today that can allow you to replicate this arrangement yourself -- all you need is a motherboard that supports two PCI-Express x-16 video cards.

For instance, AMD (ATI) has a solution called CrossFire™ that enables the use of dual video cards. Take a look at AMD's CrossFire™ website, which includes information for implementing this display array on your own desktop.

Not to be outdone, NVIDIA also has a solution that puts 4 video cards to use on a PC called SLI™. If you have a system running NVIDIA, get more information from SLI™ from their website.

You should note that many high-end video cards today are shipping with a dual-monitor option -- so while four monitors may be a bit of overkill, two might better suit you (and your wallet!). The good news is that Windows Vista is designed to natively accommodate multiple-monitor scenarios; for example, you can configure Windows Sidebar to appear on any connected monitor without first requiring preliminary adjustments.

Certified for Windows Vista Devices and Software

Ben Reed — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:10:00 GMT

Have you been wondering how you can tell which software and devices will be compatible with the premium features of Windows Vista? You can easily identify these products by looking for the devices and software that are Certified for Windows Vista. Read below for more specifics on the program, and then enter to win thousands of dollars worth of Certified for Windows Vista products.

What does it mean to be Certified for Windows Vista?

You all have probably seen the Designed for XP logo that appears on PCs. The Windows Vista Logo Program is the next generation, however, we’ve made two important changes. First, Microsoft has worked with industry partners to develop new standards and device categories so Windows Vista can take full advantage of dramatic advances in hardware and devices to enhance the types of computer activities people have become accustomed to. Secondly, we’ve set up a certification process, so that devices and software need to go through Microsoft compatibility tests before they qualify for the logo. So, yes, there are there thousands of applications and devices that are compatible with Windows Vista, however, Certified for Windows Vista devices and software have been tested to help ensure that they are compatible with the premium features of Windows Vista. Devices and software that carries the Works with Windows Vista logo are tested for baseline standards of compatibility with all PCs running Windows Vista.

Devices:

To talk a bit more specifically about device drivers, they have undergone Microsoft compatibility tests for ease-of-use, better performance and enhanced security. We are continuing to add approximately 1,600 device drivers per month. These devices will install easily on Windows Vista and can automatically download device driver software. Wireless devices are also intuitive to set-up and security-enhanced.

Devices are tested to deliver performance and quality beyond basic compatibility, so you can have high-definition experiences with photos, music, videos and communications. For example, they are able to take advantage of Windows Vista features like native DVD burning, Network and Sharing Center and Windows Aero user experience. Color sensitive devices like monitors and printers work together with the Windows Color System so when you print pictures, they look like what’s on your screen. Certified of Windows Vista wireless routers provide reliable connectivity for demanding applications like on-line gaming and HD media streaming, while wireless networks are security-enhanced.

Software:

And now on to some software specifics. I want to emphasize here that Certified for Windows Vista software products are tested to Microsoft’s compatibility standards to help make software easy to install, better performing and more secure. For example, software is specifically tested to minimize the number of crashes, hangs and reboots that are typically experienced by users. It also installs without degrading the performance of Windows Vista or other applications. I also think it’s important to mention that Certified for Windows Vista software should continue to improve over time, because we require that they not just include error reporting, but that they also use this data to continually update their product. Certified for Windows Vista software is also designed to work with advanced security features in Windows Vista, as well as meets the Anti-Spyware Coalition privacy guidelines.

I’m planning on posting information about specific Certified of Windows Vista products on a regular basis, so continue to check back for product highlights and deeper spec information. This is a just an introduction to the program. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. In the meantime, enter each week for a chance to win a ton of great products from our partners.

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0 Released

Baldwin Ng — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:54:00 GMT

Hello,

Let me first introduce myself. I'm Baldwin Ng, Product Manager for Microsoft Solution Accelerator team. Our team has been developing great tools such as Business Desktop Deployment 2007 and guidance on client security such as the Windows Vista Security Guide. Today, another IT pro tool is born - Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0.

Now that Windows Vista is launched and made available, customers are asking many of these deployment questions:

How many of my existing PCs are currently ready for Windows Vista?
How many more PCs can be upgraded to Windows Vista?
What upgrades are required in terms of memory, hard disk and graphics cards?
How much would it cost and how long would it take to upgrade these PCs?

Indeed, one way to answer these questions would be to manually check each computer. Another way would be to run automated readiness tools that can check one PC at a time against the Windows Vista hardware specifications, like the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. However, most businesses and IT consultants told us that they much prefer an easy-to-use network-wide assessment tool. Many of the IT consultants also stressed the need for a tool that would not require deployment of software agents to individual PCs being assessed.

NEW TOOL - Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0
To tackle this challenge head-on, our development group teamed up with Windows Vista team and Microsoft Partner group and developed a network-wide assessment tool for Windows Vista migration called Windows Vista Hardware Assessment. This tool helps organizations make informed decisions about desktop deployment and migration to Windows Vista by quickly assessing PCs on a network and generates detailed readiness reports of their hardware and device compatibility.

Please read on to find out more about how this tool works and learn ways to leverage the power of assessment to accelerate your desktop migration projects! (Of course, if you can't wait to try this tool, we understand. Feel free to jump to tool's web site and CLICK HERE!)

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment consists of three core components: Hardware Inventory, Compatibility Analysis and Readiness Reporting.

Hardware Inventory
* Through the use of WMI, AD and other Windows Networking Protocols such as NetServerEnum, this tool discovers both computers on a domain as well as workgroup computers.
* Once inventory is completed, all system resources and device information are stored in a SQL Server 2005 Express database.
* AD domain membership and WMI credentials are required for you to conduct a successful inventory.
* The current release of this tool supports network discovery of up to 5,000 machines.

Compatibility Analysis (with Windows Vista)
* Using the most up-to-date device and BIOS database from the Windows Team, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment analyzes each PC's readiness around hardware and device compatibility for Windows Vista. Driver information is pulled from online through a regularly updated Web service so that you can get the latest devices information each time you run the tool.
* Each PC is analyzed for its ability to run Windows Vista as well as the two different levels of experience: Windows Vista Capable and Windows Vista Premium Ready. For more information regarding the details of hardware requirements, please visit the Windows Vista Hardware Planning Guidance site: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905075.aspx

Readiness Reporting
* The last step of the readiness assessment is the auto-generation of a set of readiness reports.
* Summary Report in the form of Microsoft Word document provides a concise summary for business decision makers in an organization to understand the existing PCs' readiness for Windows Vista and what it takes to upgrade them to the new operating system.
* Detailed Report in the form of Microsoft Excel workbook provides IT implementers and consultants the detailed analysis results, PC by PC, so they can better estimate and implement the desktop migration by completing the required hardware upgrades such as addition of memory and more hard-disk space. Detailed information is also provided so one can understand the number of device drivers that are required to get device updates and where to get them. For example, this tool will tell you if a certain device driver can be updated via Windows Update, Windows Vista DVDs or through the device manufacturers.

MORE ON READINESS REPORTS
The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment provides 2 reports for each network/network segment:

Summary Report (in Microsoft Word)
* The Executive Overview section provides a high-level view of Windows Vista readiness for each PC discovered as-is (i.e. without any hardware upgrades) and after you decide to invest in some minor upgrades such as memory, disk space, etc. Note that CPU change is considered a major upgrade - a typical buy-new scenario as supposed to an upgrade scenario. For example, in this report, you may find that if you were to invest in the recommended upgrades, you can migrate up to 342 PCs to Windows Vista. That is good news if you are looking to reduce your desktop management cost and migrate most PCs to a single operating system - i.e. Windows Vista.

* How about hardware upgrades for the various experience levels of Windows Vista? What you'll find is that Hardware Analysis section of this readiness report would give you much of the details that you need to estimate the upgrade cost including number of PCs requiring increase of System RAM, Hard Disk Capacity, upgrade of Graphics Card or Optical Drive, etc. This really helps the business decision makers of any organization to better understand the cost it takes to roll out Windows Vista.

* On the Device Compatibility side, we provide the insights into how many device drivers would be available for updates and where one can find the updates. This makes it easier for any organization to implement the migration. An OS analysis summary is also provided, which is especially valuable to organizations where asset management and system management software are not used. You may find this summary useful when considering various Volume Licensing options with Microsoft as well.

Detailed Report (in Microsoft Excel)
* The Client Assessment worksheet provides assessment results, PC-by-PC regarding current readiness and reasons for the current "rating." For example, take a look at the Computer_00001 in the spreadsheet below. You will find that this computer is not upgradable to Windows Vista Capable experience because its CPU speed is lower than 800MHz, a Windows Vista minimum requirement. Computer_00003, however, can be upgraded to Windows Vista Premium Ready.

* The Capable After Upgrades worksheet provides detailed recommendations for each PC that can be upgrade to Windows Vista Capable such as 1) Upgrade to 512 MB RAM or 2) Free up 15 GB of disk space (with a disk drive capacity of at least 20GB). For example, if you take a look at the report below, you will find that Computer_00003 can be upgraded to Windows Vista Premium Ready by clearing the hard drive to make room for 15GB of disk space.

* Aside from hardware assessment, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment also gives you a detailed look into device compatibility on each PC as well as organization-wide. The Device Assessment Summary worksheet makes it easier for you to identify devices that you need to investigate further (e.g. devices with no known device compatibility information).

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
It is important to note the following before you start scanning your network:
1) Information is encrypted end to end, providing a secure way to inventory each PC.
2) There is minimal impact on the network and PCs during the inventory process.
3) Currently, there is no technology available to allow remote/agent-less detection of Bit-Locker and Aero-Glass features of a specific PC. You are advised to use other tools available for single-PC readiness assessment for such features, such as Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.

OTHER WINDOWS VISTA DEPLOYMENT TOOLS
Aside from hardware and device compatibility, you may also want to try out two other tools that are crucial to the success of any desktop deployment projects: Business Desktop Deployment 2007 and Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0.

Don't forget, if you want to further harden your Windows Vista PC environment, our team has also produced the Windows Vista Security Guide that gives you the best practices and guidance you need.

SUMMARY
As you can see, Microsoft is readying IT professionals with a suite of deployment tools including the brand new Windows Vista Hardware Assessment. So, why wait? Download the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool and guidance today and accelerate your Windows Vista desktop migration project planning!

For any suggestions on future releases, please write to us at: wvhafdbk@microsoft.com . We'd love to hear from you!

LifeCam drivers for Windows Vista are available

Nick White — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:45:00 GMT

They're here! The Windows Vista-compatible drivers for MS; LifeCams are now available for download.

And I can verify that they work great :)