News
Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows Server 8 beta Compatibility Cookbook
This document provides information about changes to and new features of the Windows 8 client and server operating systems. It provides guidelines for developers to verify the compatibility of their existing and planned programs with the new operating systems.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27416
TechEd Europe 2012 – 26 – 29 June, Amsterdam
Register at: http://europe.msteched.com/
Windows 8 Blog | Building Windows 8
Windows Virtualization Team Blog
http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization
The World Simplified is a Virtual World
http://blogs.technet.com/virtualworld
The App-V Product Team Blog
The Official MDOP Blog
Ask the Directory Services Team
http://blogs.technet.com/askds
Ask the Performance Team
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf
Microsoft Enterprise Networking Team
http://blogs.technet.com/networking
Ask the Core Team
http://blogs.technet.com/askcore
Ntdebugging Blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging
The Hot Blog
TRM
http://blogs.technet.com/trm/default.aspx
Documents
Other
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) documentation resources download page
Download App-V technical documentation.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27760
Windows Server
Common Criteria Supplemental Admin Guidance for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
This is the supplemental administrator guidance documentation that was used in the Common Criteria evaluation of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=ee05b6d0-9939-4765-9217-63083bb94a00
Active Directory Rights Management Services at Microsoft
At Microsoft, sensitive business information in e-mail and business documents was at risk of exposure to unauthorized users. Microsoft IT implemented AD DS so that authors could use Microsoft Office and SharePoint to restrict access to confidential data.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28369
Windows Server “8” Beta Core Network Guide
The Windows Server “8” Beta Core Network Guide provides instructions on how to plan and deploy the core components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory domain in a new forest.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29248
Windows Server “8” Beta BranchCache Early Adopters
This step by step guide provides instructions on how to deploy BrancheCache in either hosted cache or distributed cache mode on a test network.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29247
Windows Server “8” Beta Hyper-V Component Architecture Poster
Provides a visual reference for understanding key Hyper-V technologies in Windows Server “8” Beta and focuses on Hyper-V Replica, networking, virtual machine mobility, storage, failover clustering and scalability.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29189
Understand and Troubleshoot Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server “8” Beta
The understand and troubleshoot Windows Server “8” Beta Guides support you in developing awareness of key technical concepts, architecture, functionality and troubleshooting tools and techniques. This understanding enables a successful early adoption experience during the pre-RTM product evaluation phase
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29001
Understand and Troubleshoot Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server “8” Beta
This Understanding and Troubleshooting Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality and troubleshooting methods for Hyper-V replica in Windows Server “8” Beta
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29016
Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server “8” Beta
This paper contains an introduction to Windows Server “8” Beta Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization and step-by-step instructions for expending the Windows Server “8” Beta Test Lab Guide Base.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29011
Understand and Troubleshoot AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server “8” Beta
This ‘Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality and troubleshooting methods for AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server “8” Beta
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29019
HSPD-12 Logical Access Authentication and Active Directory Domains
This document explains the interdependencies between Active Directory Domain Services ( AD DS) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) related to Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) smart card logon.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=9427
Windows Client
Common Criteria Supplemental Admin Guidance for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
This is the supplemental administrator guidance documentation that was used in the Common Criteria evaluation of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=ee05b6d0-9939-4765-9217-63083bb94a00
Microsoft Assessment and Planning
The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit makes it easy to assess your current IT infrastructure for a variety of technology migration projects. This Solution Accelerator provides a powerful inventory, assessment, and reporting tool to simplify the migration planning process.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=67240b76-3148-4e49-943d-4d9ea7f77730
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business provides a detailed look at the many new and improved features in Windows 8
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28970
Other
Best Practices for Virtualizing Exchange Server 2010
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance and best practices for deploying Microsoft® Exchange Server 2010 in a virtualized environment with Windows Server® 2008 R2 Hyper V™ technology. This paper has been carefully composed to be relevant to organizations of any size.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=8647c69d-6c2c-40ca-977e-18c2379b07ad
Downloads
Other
Xbox LIVE on Windows Deep Dive
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=ef3c19ed-9a9e-4667-93ab-f3e1f1a33489
Asynchronous Gaming with Xbox LIVE
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=905351dc-7d3e-4669-a218-c0ca1076f651
Game Data Anywhere Using Xbox LIVE Cloud Storage
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=01eddd20-0490-444d-b307-f711ad65e7a5
Windows Client
Creating a Great Metro Style Game for Windows 8
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=38256020-7217-40c6-823e-8cb9d0daf40a
Monetization Strategies for Windows 8 Games
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=2522f679-dbb7-47d5-b550-e4f14b6a59af
Xbox LIVE Multiplayer Gaming on Windows 8 and Other Devices
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=28ad112d-7f34-4d10-a57a-0eceed3e5f23
Xbox LIVE Services - Entertainment Powered by the Cloud
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=01b395a2-b957-46fa-8f51-f08c785fef8b
Developing Metro Style Games on the Full Range of Windows 8 Devices
GDC 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=a669788b-9950-4e19-aeed-458ce6c22265
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Monthly Update February 2012
Download this set of updates for Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 environment released during the period of February 1 - February 29, 2012.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=a76a0473-7167-49b1-b5e3-a4365f7e9894
Windows Embedded Compact 7 Monthly Update February 2012
Download this set of updates for Windows Embedded Compact 7 released during the period of February 1 - February 29, 2012.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=3f86d35a-3ef3-4727-8d80-3c331b27774a
Windows Embedded Compact 7 Evaluation Edition
Windows Embedded Compact 7 Evaluation Edition toolkit is valid for 180 days from the day of installation.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=0a8709b5-bd03-4387-8a10-bf3f9aa94ede
Update for Windows Mail Junk E-mail Filter [March 2012] (KB905866)
Install this update for Windows Mail to revise the definition files that are used to detect e-mail messages that should be considered junk e-mail or that may contain phishing content.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=aa029fde-f341-44fc-8b85-0c6f3d3c2d69
Update for Windows Mail Junk E-mail Filter for x64-based Systems [March 2012] (KB905866)
Install this update for Windows Mail to revise the definition files that are used to detect e-mail messages that should be considered junk e-mail or that may contain phishing content.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=749e10cd-f40c-4f94-8e38-d4221ded7652
Windows Server
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64
This tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove the infection if it is found. Microsoft will release an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=585d2bde-367f-495e-94e7-6349f4effc74
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
This tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove the infection if it is found. Microsoft will release an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=ad724ae0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356
Licensing Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services
This licensing brief helps to clarify Microsoft licensing policies for Windows Server® Terminal Services (TS), including the new components that are in the Windows Server 2008 operating system.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=b8a7c6ed-1bc1-4035-9110-1ee6da8f3fd4
HPC Pack 2008 R2 SP2 Fix for 64-core Machine Support
This update allows machines with 64 or more cores to be added to the HPC cluster
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=d3c5a6c0-ef31-4026-9b8e-06cc6f0e05ed
HPC Pack 2008 R2 SP3 Fix for Slow Job Validation
This update fixes an issue were job validation may take a long time if there are many task dependencies in the job
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=a0c1877c-0815-4e5e-a830-4535a1d3235a
HPC Pack 2008 R2 SP2 Fix for Changing Job Preemption Policy
This update modifies the behavior of the HPC Job Scheduler's 'Preemption Policy'
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=054536cf-aa27-4e00-8f9a-e8e367fb46e5
Events/Webcasts
Microsoft Events:
Full list can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/events/default.mspx
Interactive Webcast Calendar
The interactive calendar will help you quickly find live webcasts that fit your schedule as well as on-demand webcasts to view at your convenience. You can choose your time zone and filter this list by audience, webcast series, product or topic, and presenter.
http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/calendar/monthview.aspx
Monthly Archived Webcasts:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/library/default.mspx
Windows 8 for Application Developers – Delivered by UK Tech.Days
The Studio – Manchester
27th April 09:30 – 17:30
Windows 8 offers unparalleled new opportunities for application developers to build and sell apps world-wide via the Windows Store. In this event we’ll deliver developer-level, demo-driven sessions that give you an accelerated entry into what it means to design and publish exciting, modern, polished, world-ready applications for next generation devices running Windows 8.
https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032507163&culture=en-GB
New KB's
Windows Client
Windows 7 Enterprise: Icons are not displayed for certain files in Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2422299/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Description of an update rollup for the printing core components in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647753/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: "0x0000008E" Stop error when Windows 7 enters and then resumes from standby repeatedly if Windows XP Mode is running
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2652034/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: A private EUDC character is not displayed correctly if KB 2506223 is installed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2656692/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: "Invalid XML content" error message when you run a WMIC command in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664203/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: You cannot access the Internet by using a dial-up network connection in NDIS mode in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2674365/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Improved interoperability between the BranchCache feature and the Offline Files feature in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2675611/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Data transfer speed is slow in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2675785/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: "0x000000F4" Stop error when you try to start a ClickOnce application in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2675806/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Configuring Remote Assistance to work across forests
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2682075/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Cannot boot WinPE after installing it to a hard disk on a UEFI computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2684055/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Linked Display Adapter changes can cause undesired application behavior in Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2684902/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Incorrect free disk space displayed after running check disk
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2691422/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: Error: Windows Explorer has stopped working
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2694911/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: [SDP 3][c276c72d-7a5f-4696-b3c0-4f41f08790fd] Custom File Upload Diagnostic
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2695060/en-US
Windows 7 Enterprise: It may take about 10 seconds to display the optical drive in Windows Explorer after you connect it to the computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2695085/en-US
Windows 7 Home Basic: Check your hard disk for errors in Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2641432/en-US
Windows 7 Home Basic: How to set a computer to beep when Caps Lock or Num Lock key is pressed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2655348/en-US
Windows 7 Home Premium: How to set up XP mode in Windows 7 to browse the network via My Network Neighborhood
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2293558/en-US
Windows 7 Professional: "550 Access is denied" error message when you upload a file to a virtual directory in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2581719/en-US
Windows 7 Professional: Folder moved from an unpinned location to a pinned location is not available offline in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665362/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: MS12-020: Description of the security update for Remote Desktop Protocol Vulnerability: March 13, 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2621440/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: MS12-018: Vulnerability in Windows kernel-mode drivers could allow elevation of privilege: March 13, 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2641653/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: AppLocker path condition does not work when a file name contains international characters in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2659440/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: MS12-019: Vulnerability in DirectWrite could allow denial of service: March 13, 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665364/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: MS12-020: Vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop could allow remote code execution: March 13, 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2671387/en-US
Windows 7 Service Pack 1: Microsoft resources and guidance for removal of malware and viruses
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2671662/en-US
Windows 7 Ultimate: Topmost windows are not always in the topmost position in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2587473/en-US
Windows Server
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter: How to configure a firewall for domains and trusts
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179442/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter: You cannot exclude ports by using the ReservedPorts registry key in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665809/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter: Computer stops responding when you perform a file operation on a directory in Windows Vista SP2 or in Windows Server 2008 SP2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2673320/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter: Dynamic disks are marked as "Invalid" on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista when you bring the disks online, take the disks offline, or restart the computer if Data Protection Manager is installed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962975/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise: Security group filter in Group Policy Preferences does not remove a user from a group in Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2653810/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise: How to use the "netsh advfirewall firewall" context instead of the "netsh firewall" context to control Windows Firewall behavior in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947709/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: Some anti-affined groups fail over unexpectedly when you rejoin a node in a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2652013/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: You cannot enumerate 32-bit applications by using the SNMP service in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2655244/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: You cannot reestablish a Remote Desktop Services session to a Windows Server 2008 R2-based server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2661332/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: You cannot connect to a VPN when you use Forefront Threat Management Gateway as your RRAS server in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664375/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: "0x0000003B" Stop error on Windows Server 2008 R2-based RD Session Host servers that use an RD Connection Broker
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2666484/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: Redirected mode is enabled unexpectedly in a Cluster Shared Volume when you are running a third-party application in a Windows Server 2008 R2-based cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2674551/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: A logoff script is removed incorrectly when you use the GMPC to remove a logon script on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based domain controller
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2675275/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: Failover Cluster Validation wizard does not test Dynamic Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2693046/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: A physical disk resource may not come online on a cluster node
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/981475/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise: A Remote Desktop Services session stops responding during the logoff process in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2571388/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise: Changes that are not replicated to a downstream server are lost on the upstream server after an automatic recovery process occurs in a DFS Replication environment in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2663685/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise: Slow shutdown time for a cluster node in a Windows Server 2008 R2-based cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2673129/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation: Remote Control always prompts for user permission
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2690875/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: MS12-017: Vulnerability in DNS Server could allow denial of service: March 13, 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647170/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: NFS clients can only access an NFS share intermittently in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2662672/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: You cannot restore a virtual machine that has a semicolon in its name or in its directory path on a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1-based server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2666703/en-US
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard: You cannot install a new domain controller on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 because of an RPC error
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665616/en-US
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: Terminal Services service crashes when Group Policy settings are refreshed in Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2672601/en-US
Windows Server AppFabric: Cumulative update package 1 for Microsoft AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2671763/en-US