Shadow Copy

Andy interviewed Darren Hook, Global Escalation Manager for Microsoft, and Darren mentioned...

"Shadow Copy helps you recover a file if you accidentally delete it.

"...Available in the Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista, this feature automatically creates point-in-time copies of files as you work, so you can quickly and easily retrieve versions of a document you may have accidentally deleted. Shadow copy is automatically turned on in Windows Vista and creates copies on a scheduled basis of files that have changed...

"It works on single files as well as whole folders...

Reliability Monitor (in Vista)

When you're having problems with a computer, or would like to investigate performance issues, consider using the Windows Vista Reliability Monitor...

From the Run line, execute "perfmon.msc". Under Monitoring Tools, click "Reliability Monitor".

Note: it collects 24 hours of data before it calculates the System Stability Index, or generates the System Stability Report.

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Windows Vista Performance and Reliability Monitoring Step-by-Step Guide

(To summarize...)

The Reliability and Performance Monitor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that combines: Performance Logs and Alerts, Server Performance Advisor, and a System Monitor.

It measures how quickly a computer completes application and system tasks. Overall system performance might be limited by the access speed of the physical hard disks, the amount of memory available to all running processes, the top speed of the processor, or the maximum throughput of the network interfaces.

It:
records failures (including memory, hard disk, application, and operating system failures)...
key events (including the installation of new applications and operating system updates)...
displays a timeline of changes in both the system and reliability...
and can identify how to get the system back to optimal reliability when it does not behave as expected.

The Resource View screen provides a real-time graphical overview of CPU, disk, network, and memory usage. You can identify which processes are using which resources...

To start Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor
1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and click Manage.
2. In the Microsoft Management Console navigation tree, click Reliability and Performance.

Microsoft offers free support for Vista SP1 installs

Vista users encountering problems when they upgrade to Service Pack 1 can breathe easier: the company is giving away free support for those installing the service pack.

The transition to the service pack has not been problem-free for many users, some of whom have seen their computers fall into endless reboot cycles and struggled with broken applications after installing the upgrade.

Normally, only Windows Vista users who bought the retail product would be eligible for free support but, for SP1 installation, even users with an original-equipment-manufacturer copy of Vista on their computer can get Microsoft's help, according to the official Vista blog.

"We are offering free-of-charge support to anyone who is having issues installing Windows Vista SP1," Microsoft blogger Brandon Le Blanc said.

Unlimited installation and compatibility support is available at no charge until March 18, 2009, according to the Microsoft Service Pack 1 support site.

There are three options available under the free support plan for U.S. users: e-mail support, which will be answered within one business day; online chat, which has a current waiting time of around 40 minutes; and call, available only for users who have a software-assurance agreement, professional contract, TechNet subscription, or MSDN subscription, or for those who come under the Microsoft Partner Program.

Support will be handled on a case-by-case basis, a Microsoft spokesperson said, and the user will always be advised if costs are involved.

Whether enterprise customers will also receive support without cost will depend on their agreement, the spokesperson added.

Vista Service Pack 1 - Available for Download

Everyday about 1pm I get a text message sent to me about what's new in Tech. So, today's "Tech Tip" was "A major package of updates and security fixes for Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system will be available for download." I thought it would be at least a couple of days.

I immediately went on Ustream to see if Andy was randomly broadcasting. I browsed around some other tech show to see if anybody might be talking about it.

I stumbled upon "The Tech Buzz" where they actually called Microsoft to find out if the Service Pack was available. They told them that it was available. They are doing an official install of Vista Service Pack 1. It took them about 45 minutes to install it.

If anybody is interested in downloading Vista Service Pack 1, here is the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en

If you install it, let us know how it goes and if you had any issues!

Good Luck!

Did you know...? - MS PowerPoint Viewer 2007 loads Vista fonts on your XP machine?

That's right font fans! Kevin Purdy has a featured article on Lifehacker.com (click on the title of this post to go there) where he details how to get those cool Vista fonts LEGALLY loaded on your XP machine.
For those who just want to get down to biz, here's the d/l for PPT Viewer 2007 from Microsoft.
Enjoy!
DD