Webcast: Optimize Your Desktop Infrastructure With Windows 7 and MDOP

Here’s a new Microsoft On-Demand Webcast about the use of Windows 7 and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP).

This webcast covers um lowering IT costs, make the environment more secure and flexible.
The big focus here it’s on how virtualization can help you to decouple the applications from the physical machine and that, really makes your IT environment more flexible.

Note: MDOP it’s a software available only for Microsoft Software Assurance Program.

Presenters: John Diefendorf

Heres the link: Webcast: Webcast: Optimize Your Desktop Infrastructure with Windows 7 and MDOP

Windows 7 – Disable Language Bar via Registry

So, if you’re like me and don’t leave at the US, you’ll notice that because of the locale you choose, you’ll get an annoying language bar.

To get ride of it (hiding it) you can use a registry tweak.

.: Navigate to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\LangBar]

.: If LangBar key doesn’t exist, create it

.: Inside LangBar create a new DWORD called “ShowStatus"

.: Set the ShowStatus value to 3

Of course that to apply this to all users, you should create a script (ex.: vbscript) loading the Default User hive.

Hope this helps

Windows 7 – 5 Tips and Tricks for better usage 002

New round up for tips and tricks for you to get the best of the new Windows 7:

6. Desktop Magnifier

To quickly use the Windows Desktop Magnifier use Windows Key + Plus Key to zoom in or Windows Key + Minus Key to zoom out.

7. Shift Window from one Monitor to Another

This is very useful if like me normally works with to monitor. To shift the window from one monitor to another press Windows Key + Shift Key + Left or Right Key (depends in which monitor you want to shift the window)

 

8. Desktop Magnifier

To quickly use the Windows Desktop Magnifier use Windows Key + Plus Key to zoom in or Windows Key + Minus Key to zoom out.

 

9. Cycling Through the Open Programs via the Taskbar’s Peek Menu

This is similar to Alt-Tab keystroke but for the taskbar. Use Windows Key + T combination to do it.

 

10. Run as Administrator Combination

To run a program using “Run as Administrator” without using the usual right-click, you’ll need to press Ctrl + Shift and then click the application you want to open as Administrator.

Windows 7 – 5 Tips and Tricks for better usage 001

So here we go, beginning a new series of tips & tricks for better usage of the new Windows 7.

1. AppLocker

This new functionality makes it possible for you to lock access to applications executables, documents or files.

To access and configure this tool and configure rules you’ll need to:

- Run GPEDIT.MSC

- Go to Computer Navigation –> Windows Settings –> Security Settings –> Application Control Policies –> AppLocker

2. Burn Images

With this new Windows version you can now burn ISO files.
To do so, just double-click the file and the new menu should appear for you to burn the image to the physical support.

3. Dock Current Window to the Right/Left Side of the Screen

This is a good shortkey to dock windows automatically to a side of the screen.
For this to work, select the window you want to dock and press Windows Key + Right or Windows Key + Left and the window will go to the side of the screen.

4. Turn the Windows Taskbar Smaller

Some people doesn’t like the new windows taskbar size.
If you’re one of them, you can shrink it a little.

To do so, right-click on the Start button, then go to Properties, select the Taskbar tab and check the option “Use small icons”.

 

5. Minimize Everything Except Current Window

This works by pressing Windows Key + Home.

Windows 7 – First US Commercial

So here’s the first commercial, for US market, about Microsoft Windows 7.

In my opinion this is really an home user advertise and not for IT professionals. Maybe later…

For my country (Portugal) there’ll be a different one, not yet released:

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Available!

MDT 2010 was finally released today.

After lots of months, bugs fixed, new improvements and a lot of users feedback reading, the final version of MDT 2010 was released for everyone.

This new MDT 2010 makes it possible to deploy the new Windows 7 and Windows 2008 using the usual litetouch and zerotouch deployment features.

More then a tool, MDT is a complete framework that permits you to plan Windows deployment from one point to another with a lot of documentation to help you.

So here’s the link for downloading:

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010