Kurt Shintaku's Blog

A blocking tool (SPBlockerTools.EXE – 100k) is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update. This tool can be used with:

• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (valid through March, 2008)
• Windows XP Service Pack 3 (valid for 12 months following general availability)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (valid for 12 months following general availability)

This toolkit contains three components. All of them function primarily to set or clear a specific registry key that is used to detect and block download of Service Packs from Windows Update. You only need to use the component which best serves your organization’s computer management infrastructure.

• A Microsoft-signed executable
• A script
• An ADM template

1. The executable creates a registry key on the computer on which it is run that blocks or unblocks (depending on the command-line option used) the delivery of a Service Pack to that computer through Windows Update. The key used is HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdate.
   When the ‘/B’ command line option is used, the key value name ‘DoNotAllowSP’ is created and its value set to 1. This value blocks delivery of a Service Pack to the computer through Automatic Update or Windows Update.
   When the ‘/U’ command line option is used, the previously created registry value that temporarily blocked the delivery of a Service Pack to the computer through Automatic Update or Windows Update is removed. If the value does not exist on the computer on which it is run, no action is taken.
2. The script does the same thing as the executable, but allows you to specify the remote machine name on which to block or unblock delivery of Service Packs.
   Note that the executable and script have been tested only as a command-line tool and not in conjunction with other systems management tools or remote execution mechanisms.
3. The ADM template allows administrators to import group policy settings to block or unblock delivery of Service Packs into their Group Policy environment. Administrators can then use Group Policy to centrally execute the action across systems in their environment.

Please note that this toolkit will not prevent the installation of the service pack from CD/DVD, or from the stand-alone download package. This simply prevents the service pack from being delivered over Windows Update.

DOWNLOAD:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d7c9a07a-5267-4bd6-87d0-e2a72099edb7&DisplayLang=en

The 6.0 version of the Diagnostics and Repair Toolset 6.0 (DART) Datasheet got released.  The DART 6.0 software however has not but in case you’re curious as to what’s new, here’s a list of some of what’s highlighted in the datasheet:

Extended Support:

• Windows Vista x64 support
• Windows Server 2008 support (32/64bit support)
• Standalone System Sweeper support for Windows XP

Extended Capabilities:

• Bitlocker unlock support:
  Enables running DART tools on the drive once it has been unlocked using the Bitlocker Unlock in Windows Recovery Environment
• Autorun/Startup:
  Displays and enables disabling processes that start up automatically with Windows that may cause the system to crash before Windows fully loads
• Read from USB drives:
  Ability to pull files from a USB drive
• Anti-malware (Standalone System Sweeper):
  Offline mailware removal tool provides on-demand antivirus/anti-spyware scanning to protect against rootkits.
• Extended Diagnostics:
  Enables the following Windows Recovery Environment tools including…
  – Windows Complete PC Restore:  Restores PC using backup images
  – Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool:  Analyzes computer memory for hardware memory problems
  – System Boot File Repair:  Automatically finds and fixes boot errors in Windows Vista Startup process

Again, remember that DART 6.0 requires subscription to the Desktop Optimization Pack (DOP) along with Windows Client Software Assurance through either an Enterprise Agreement or through specifically have Windows licensed with Software Assurance.

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.evilkoala.org/Documents/MDOP_Datasheet_DRT_1107_r2a.pdf

(Incidentally, Brandon LeBlanc on the Windows Vista Blog posted a "review" of the bits.  Didn’t know this was to be made public yet but hey… whatever.
http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/archive/2007/11/12/giving-the-microsoft-diagnostic-and-recovery-toolset-dart-a-try.aspx)

Coworker and fellow Technology Specialist James Senior posted some instructions on how to use a FREE Stardock tool called LogonStudio Vista to change the image displayed at the Windows Vista logon screen. 

It’s a pretty cute little tool that’s not supported by Microsoft in anyway, but nonetheless, it’s cool.  LogonStudio also comes built with a visual editor to make it easy to create your own logons which can then be uploaded to websites to be used by others users.

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.stardock.com/products/logonstudio/

emailStripper is a free Windows program for cleaning the ">" and other formatting characters out of your emails. It will restore "forwarded" or "replied" emails back to their original state so they’re easier to read.  It does the following:

• Removes ">" signs and other formatting characters from email threads
• Removes all line breaks preceding the removed formatting characters

This turns email like this:

> > Hey, I just checked out your feature, and I have a suggestion 
> > for tweaking the headline.  Right now it doesn’t quite get across
> > what the article’s about.  At first glance I thought it was about
> > arranging your desktop the same way at home or at the office.  
> > That "consistent workspace" term is a new one (on me, anyway). 
> > If you’re open to adjustments, I thought maybe…

…into mail like this:

Hey, I just checked out your feature, and I have a suggestion for tweaking the headline.  Right now it doesn’t quite get across what the article’s about.  At first glance I thought it was about arranging your actual physical desktop the same way at home or at the office.  That "consistent workspace" term is a new one (on me, anyway).  If you’re open to adjustments, I thought maybe…

Oh yeah.  And it’s free.

DOWNLOAD:  http://www.papercut.com/emailStripper.htm

Download point:
First of all, download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

What’s new in RC1 you ask?  (Taken from the Windows Server Blog)
Microsoft is enhancing Group Policy with Group Policy Preferences, formerly known as  PolicyMaker Standard Edition and Policy Share Manager.  Group Policy Preferences will be available to Microsoft customers in two ways:

1. Integrated into the Group Policy management tools in Windows Server 2008

2. Integrated into the forthcoming Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows Vista, which will be available as a separate download in the Windows Server 2008 timeframe and will work in a Windows Server 2003 environment. 

The Client-Side Extensions for GP Preferences are included in Windows Server 2008, and down level versions will be available as a separate download for:

1. Windows XP Service Pack 2 and above
2. Windows Vista RTM and above
3. Windows Server 2003 SP1 and above

Group Policy Preferences provides three major benefits in increasing the manageability of Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008:

1. Further reduces the TCO of your Windows PCs by extending the reach of Group Policy manageability
   1. Windows Settings
   2. Control Panel Settings
2. Flexibility with how preferences get applied – administrator can initially set the preference and allow the end user to change the setting
   1. Reduce images by providing richer configuration within an image
   2. Provides simpler configuration via common user interfaces and reduce the need to create complex configuration scripts
3. Item-level targeting gives the IT Pro more precise control over the application of preferences

Together with the additional Group Policy management features available in Windows Server 2008, Starter GPOs and search/comment capabilities within the Group Policy Management Console, customers will have a greatly enhanced platform to manage their desktops and servers. 

Taken from Infoworld:

"Zumobi is offering a piece of software, currently only compatible with Windows Mobile phones, that works in connection with a back-end server and is designed to make mobile Internet use easier. The user interface is made up of 16 tiles on which users can easily zoom in and out. Each tile represents a Web page.

Zumobi’s back-end servers are constantly updating the Web sites on the phone, so a user doesn’t have to wait for the site to load after they click the tile. Users determine what site appears in each tile, and they can send tiles to each other.

The service will be free for end-users — except for related mobile data network usage — and advertising supported. Advertisers could sponsor specific tiles that might offer information users might want, such as traffic updates. If an operator preloads the software onto phones, the operator gets a cut of the advertising revenue. "

More available at:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/13/Microsoft-spinoff-opens-mobile-beta_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/13/Microsoft-spinoff-opens-mobile-beta_1.html

I know a lot of you have to start planning and budgeting for the upcoming year’s business conference travel & conference/event fees.  Here’s a list of events that Microsoft has coming up that may be useful to you.  If you have any questions about the content of any of these events, please contact me.

• Office Visio Conference 2008 – February 5-6, 2008 (Seattle, WA)
  http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!2248.entry
• Office Sharepoint Conference 2008 – March 3rd-6th (Seattle, WA)
  http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!2331.entry
• Office System Developer’s Conference 2008 – Feb 10-13 2008 (San Jose, CA)
  http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!2334.entry
• Microsoft MIX (Web Technologies Conference) – Las Vegas, March 5-7, 2008
  http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!2338.entry
• Microsoft Management Summit 2008 – April 28th-May 2nd (Las Vegas, NV)
  http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!2263.entry
• Microsoft TechEd 2008 for Enterprise Developers – June 3-6, 2008 (Orlando, FL)
  http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2007/default.mspx
• Microsoft TechEd 2008 for IT Professionals – June 10-13, 2008 (Orlando, FL)
  http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2007/default.mspx

(BTW:  The Professional Developer’s Conference has been rescheduled.  They will be announcing the dates any day now.)

Microsoft MIX08 – Web Technologies Conference, Las Vegas, NV
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, March 5-7, 2008
LINK:  http://www.visitmix.com/2008

Now in its third year, MIX is an intimate opportunity for cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web.

Come explore the latest wave of opportunities and help redefine the boundaries between content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows and the Web.

LINK:  http://www.microsoft.com/events/mix/default.mspx

The guys at the Technet EDGE blog wrote a great post about the new Auditing enhancements in Windows Server 2008’s Active Directory.  In other words, "How do I find out who screwed up our GPs or our OU structure?"

I hope this post will act as a good reference point to be able to quickly understand the good and bad about new AD auditing enhancements and then enable you to dive deeper at will using the links in this article.

There’s nothing more exciting than auditing right? Well, check this out and hopefully it will spark some interest.

More after the jump to the EDGE blog…
LINK:  http://edge.technet.com/Media/Windows-Server-2008-Active-Directory-Auditing-Enhancements/

Are you a developer?  Are interested in leveraging the Office Suite of technologies for your applications or are you interested in developing to Office, Sharepoint Server, Communications Server, or any of the other Office System technologies?

Come to the Office System Developers Conference!
Feb 10-13 2008
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, California

https://microsoft.crgevents.com/ODC2008/Content/default.aspx?p=UC3HYF

Architects and Developers come to the Microsoft Office System Developer Conference 2008 to:

• Take a deep dive into the real world product and deployment experience and guidance about the Microsoft Office System products and technologies since Office 2007 came to market.
• Expand your thinking by learning about Office Business Applications and how Office as an application development platform is revolutionizing the software development landscape.
• Learn key software architecture patterns for designing and building Office Business Applications.
• Find out how to build game-changing applications built with Office that take advantage of Software + Services, VOIP, Open XML, Silverlight, and more!
• Meet industry gurus; network with other professional developers, Microsoft product teams and executives.
• Get first hand information about the future direction of the Microsoft Office system.
• See live working code, cool demos and applications built using the Microsoft Office system.

Insiders & Partners

• Meet industry gurus; network with other professional developers, Microsoft product teams and executives, Meet industry gurus; network with other professional developers, Microsoft product teams and executives, Microsoft insiders, and key partners.

Architects and Developers go back home with:

• Techniques to develop on this breakthrough application development platform that includes clients, servers, services, and tools.
• An arsenal of new skills and knowledge about the Microsoft Office system, extensibility technologies, and trends that will lay the foundation for their application building.
• Ways to radically enhance and revolutionize their existing applications.