Fast File Copying with TeraCopy

Seen in Web Worker Daily... Teracopy, a windows copy program that replaces the Windows Explorer copy function, with both high speed and a synchronization capability.

Ubuntu Linux rescues Windows XP Embedded

This being summer, we're back on the Windows XP Embedded kick. After generating an image, the question was..how do we get this on to our target machine?

We wasted a lot of time on this one. As recommended in the docs, we installed "regular" Windows XP on the target machine to make sure that it would run Embedded. No problem there, it installed without problems from CD. We ran the Target Analyzer, to get our device.pmq. Copied device.pmq back to the development machine and generated the image.

At this point, we started fiddling with a second partition on the target machine. We created and formatted this using Acronis Disk Doctor, which comes on a bootable CD. Our plan was to install our target image on this partition, change the ARC listing in boot.ini to point to the second partition as the boot partition. We spent a day fooling with this, including changing the drive letters, hiding the partition, moving stuff around. Didn't work.

Finally, we reformatted the hard drive on the target machine. Now you'd think that Microsoft would have something like a "LiveCD" for this purpose, which would boot a version of Windows enough to allow copying to an existing hard drive. It doesn't, but Ubuntu, Suse, and Fedora Linux all have this, and Ubuntu had drivers that would read the USB drive where we stored the image, as well as the NTFS formatted hard drive.

A quick drag and drop, and we're done!

Have they no shame? (Microsoft that is...) There is a Community Technology Preview out for a new version of Embedded...let's hope this issue might be addressed with a couple of extra tools.

Mac Conversion: A progress report and some backsliding

The Spousal Unit always wonders why I upgrade my computer and operating system as frequently as I do. The fact is I think the world has enjoyed a pretty long run with Windows XP, wasn't it out in 2001? She doesn't sympathize with my explanation that sometimes I just get to the point that I'm tired of solving old problems, and I would just as soon solve new ones.

I bought a Macbook back in November. I was just coming off a bad experience with Microsoft Windows Vista. Partly I needed a new laptop...my Dell Inspiron keyboard was terrible, even after two replacements. So even thought the Inspiron is as great laptop, it was essentially useless for actual work, like word-processing. It was also heavy, but considering it could be a replacement for a desktop machine, I was willing to live with the weight.

So, an update on the Macbook, and my (non)-conversion to all things Mac.
The hardware is terrific. Even thought Apple upgraded the processor speed and hard drive capacity shortly after I bought mine, both have been more than adequate. What is really nice is that the weight is about half of the Inspiron. I can keep this machine in a LL Bean Sportsman Briefcase, along with the essential accessories and a leather-bound pad for note-taking. It has an excellent and usable keyboard. It has a track pad which mimics a single-button mouse. This is still a pain for us two-button mouse users, but it something you can live with if you want to go naked, or you can buy a Microsoft two-button notebook mouse to carry in the briefcase.

The Macbook plays nicely with external non-Apple peripherals. When you aren't traveling, you can plug it into one of those Dell 19" monitors from Staplesand work at 1440x900 resolution. If put the notebook to sleep, and then attach the external mouse, keyboard and monitor, you can restart it with the lid closed. Not as convenient as a docking station, which might be something to try next.

I've got the Macbook printing to an HP OfficeJet Pro K5400 ink-jet printer. Two of these printers have been working reliably and well for the past eighteen months under what I would call light duty. The printer has a USB interface. If you need to plug this in with a USB keyboard and USB mouse, then you need an external USB hub. I note that the docking station advertises five USB connections, which is another reason to consider it. Right now I'm using $14.95 keyboard from Logitech as the external keyboard. It is a little scary to realize that this dirt-cheap keyboard is superior to that of the Dell laptop keyboard.

Having all this paraphernalia connected to the Macbook detracts considerably from its sleek and smooth look. The Macbook is considerably more attractive running alone on a battery, connected wireless to the unseen network cloud. I've gotten well over three hours on the battery when running wirelessly which is fine. With the wireless connection enabled, the machine will sniff out the strongest local network connection and walk you through the connection process. If you have done this once already, the connection will be automatic the next time. It works fine on the university's VPN with the addition of the Cisco VPN client which requires manually logging on.

Mac heads rave about the Mac software and operating system. I think the OS is fine. I don't care really for the "Finder", but that is partly because I haven't really transitioned comfortably from the Windows "Explorer". But I really like that fact that the OS on the Macbook is the same as the OS on all other Macs, and that it is available in one version only. It is an operating system instead of a demanding lifestyle. Apple doesn't try to bludgeon its competition or its customers with its operating system. Really, can you imagine the Apple OS getting the same kind of treatment and publicity that Vista has gotten in the past two years? Upgrades and patches are a fraction of what comes out for Windows every week.

As for the backsliding, well, I installed Vista using the Parallels software. I did this strictly so that I could run OneNote, the one essential Microsoft program that doesn't seem to have a Mac equivalent. Except for the onerous secondary startup process of booting Vista within Parallels and then starting OneNote, this seems to work fine. In fact, the Macbook would really make an ideal Windows laptop.

Other Mac Software

Safari is much maligned in the blogosphere, and it has crashed several times. I installed Firefox as an antidote, but it crashed even more, so I'm sticking with Safari on the Mac side of the house at the moment. IMail doesn't really compete with Outlook, and I've had trouble trying to duplicate the series of folders that I have in Outlook with rules that automatically move new messages into specific folders. The calendar and address book have separate interfaces, and I guess I prefer how Outlook integrates all these into a single (albeit bloated) application.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that I'm really attached to this notebook. It is a fine combination of price and functionality with a sleek and comfortable design. I'm not sure if I would recommend it for an office, but for an individual's private machine it is ideal. With the addition of some inexpensive peripherals, it doubles nicely as a desktop machine as well.

My Dimming Vista

With all the controversy on Microsoft Vista, here is my contribution to the pile.

Four weeks ago I was going to write a post entitled something like Despite Almost Universal Opprobrium, Windows Vista Works Just Fine for Me or something similar. Sure, I had spent a lot of time futzing with the betas almost two years ago. By the time I installed the first RTM version in November of 2006 with bad results I decided to give up for awhile. But recent first experience of a production copy seemed to belie all of bad press and complaints that I heard from the pundocracy. Examples:

1. Friend buys inexpensive Acer laptop. Comes with Vista Home. Works flawlessly with everything we could throw at it.
2. I installed a copy of Vista Business on my MacBook in a virtual machine provided by Parallels. Works fine, so far. Even with only 512K allotted for the virtual machine.
3. Additional Windows Vista Business licenses installed on our Mini-ITX boxes seemed to work pretty well. There were occasional crashes, but no detectable or replicable pattern.

Then we installed Enterprise on our boxes through a site license and all hell broke loose. What I can't figure out is how much of a difference there is between Enterprise and Business and Home, other than things that are left out. Perhaps it is the footprint? (We're running only in 1 meg of RAM).

So after spending, no kidding, over a hundred hours on this, we've decided to go back to XP. And there everything is solid as a rock again.

We have said it before, and we'll say it again. In a production situation, i.e. your network, use the available time to upgrade everyone to Windows XP service pack 2. Microsoft may not make XP available forever, although it keeps pushing out the end-of-life phase for XP as Vista fails to gain traction.

More specifically, our main problem is a driver crash or incompatibility between our application, and a hardware driver on both Vista Business and Vista Enterprise.

However, I may get shot for saying this, but I prefer the Vista look and feel (even without Aero Glass over the Macintosh OSX's "east-European-behind-the-iron-curtain" look. And Vista is a vast improvement over the XP cartoon look.

Books Books Books

Trying to get some of this stuff off my desk, chest, mind, whatever... A spate of new books:

The Big Book Windows Hacks by Preston Gralla
This is a compilation of tricks for Windows users. Although addressed primarily to people struggling, er, working with Vista, many of the hacks work with XP. The book contains a lot of more generic information as well, regarding wireless networking, Microsoft Office, and PC hardware.

Windows Registry Guide, Second Edition This second edition does not include Vista, but is primarily oriented toward XP and Windows 2003 Server. It includes a couple chapters of basic registry description...how the registry is organized, how to back it up, and then goes into some detail about how to change registry entries on your own. Lots of practical advice here. For example:

• Customizing Folders
  
• Renaming Desktop Icons
  
• Adding Desktop Icons
  
• Reorganizing the Control Panel
  
• Adding File Templates
  
• Preventing Messenger from Running
  
• Customizing Internet Explorer
  
• Logging on Automatically.
  

Some of this we've covered ourselves, (indeed using using the same sources). And some of these things are covered by utility programs such as TweakUI and other PowerToys..

The Practice of System and Network Administration - Second Edition
This very fine book of systems administration is broad enough to provide help for everyone from entry-level to senior management. It includes a balance of nuts and bolts tactical information with high level planning and strategic ideas which is a rare thing in a single volume. Backups, disaster planning, and staffing are discussed alongside open source vs. closed source, supporting mixed environments, maintaining your asset inventory, and maintaining your sanity. This is the one book I'd take on a desert island, assuming there was a network to maintain there.

And a trio of hardware books by Jan Axelson...

These editions are by Nuts & Volts and Circuit Cellar author and tech columnist Jan Axelson. If you want to know anything about interfacing computer hardware, she is the go-to author.

USB Complete - third edition
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has evolved to replace "legacy" connectors on many computers, including serial RS232, keyboard, mouse, and printer ports. In addition, almost anyone who wants to connect to a PC these days will provide a USB interface. This book explains how to develop and debug such interfaces and describes the hardware and software necessary to make them work.

USB Mass Storage
This sub-class of USB devices encompasses things like interfacing a digital camera to a PC via the USB interface, where the mass storage is actually contained on a chip in the camera, or a removable card. Although generic mass storage units (USB thumb drives) are ubiquitous these days, there are a variety of emerging applications for this kind hardware.

Embedded Ethernet and Internet Complete
This is the classic "internet web server on a chip", where you have a device or sensor located remotely that you want to access over the web, or as the subtitle describes:

Create tiny Web servers and use TCP/IP to communicate over local networks & the Internet

The book as a thorough and readable discussion of the internal parts of TCP/IP. She even talks about crimping cable connectors. But then the book continues on to work through example applications using two popular modules: The Rabbit RCM2300 and the Dallas DSTINIm400. Want to interface your toaster to the web? This book will show you how.

Tech Friday: Putting Vista Business on a Diet

Last week's Tech Friday discussed how to remove several enhancements of the Vista interface using Vista business. Today, I'm at it again...and now have supplied the details. Links go to sites where I found a source of the information. This is all basic stuff, but it is hard to find it all at once; and I'm in a situation where I may need to install ten machines with Vista in the next couple of days.

• Turn off Welcome Center
Uncheck on Welcome Center, lower left-hand corner of window

• Turn off Sidebar
Right click Sidebar icon in the system tray and then select exit

• Turn off User Account Control
Control Panel | User Accounts | Turn User Account Control On or Off
(requires a restart)

• Turn off Balloon Help (requires a registry tweak)

Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
Navigate to the following subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced
Create a new REG_DWORD (32 bit) value named EnableBalloonTips
Double-click EnableBalloonTips, and then assign a value data of 0
Exit the Registry Editor
Log off Windows, and then log back on.

• Turn off Vista automatic searching
This requires stopping the Windows Search Service
1. Type "Services" in the start search box.
2. If User Account Control asks for permission, click Continue. (but turn it off, see above)
3. Locate an service named Windows Search. Right click on Windows Search, and then select Properties on contextual menu.
4. Click on Stop button to stop the indexing service immediately.
5. On the Startup Type dropdown box, select Disabled.
6. Click on OK button.

• Set for automatic login - (eliminate the log-in screen)
1. Type netplwiz in the Windows Search box
2. You'll see the user account window. Make sure your account is highlighted
3. Uncheck "User must enter name and password"
Upon a reboot, the machine will not ask for a name and password. Note, this only works if your machine is not part of a Windows domain or an active directory

• Set Window resolution to 800x600
We'll use 800x600 because ultimately, we're sending the output to a tv screen.

• Turn off the enhanced graphics and Aero
Rightclick on the desktop and choose Personalize
Windows Color and Appearance| Color Scheme choose "Windows Vista Basic"

• Turn off Windows firewall.
Click on the start "orb"
Select the Control Panel
Select Security
Select the Firewall | Turn Windwos Firewall on or off

Tech Friday: Lightening up Vista Business

As with all Windows installs, there are lots of possible deviations that you might want to make with the default. We're shoehorning a Vista Business on to a Mini-ITX machine with 1 meg of RAM and 1.86Mhz Celeron processor (socket M) and we want to keep the level of background processing down. Here's what we've found you can do to reduce the footprint.

• Turn off User Account Control [link]
  
• Turn off Vista automatic searching [link]
  
• Set for automatic login - (eliminate the log-in screen)
  
• Set Window resolution to 800x600
  
• Turn off the enhanced graphics and Aero [link]
  
• Turn off Windows firewall. [link]
  

Both Vista and the Mini-ITX machine that it is running on, from Logic Supply, are growing on me. I attached a $179.00 Dell monitor from Staples to the machine as well as an inexpensive Logitech keyboard and Microsoft mouse. You are better off using newer peripherals; there are no 'legacy' connections on the machine. Even the monitor requires a digital connector. Fan noise is a problem when using the unit for video or VoIP calls, so we'll also be testing a fanless version and crossing our fingers that it won't run too hot. Cost for the unit, plus Windows, plus the peripherals will put you in the $1000 range. On the other hand, a colleague is testing an Acer 4620 laptop that he got at a special at Best Buy for $499. Comes with Vista Home, (here are the differences between home and business) and it has been running everything that he can throw at it.

Tech Friday: Installing Ubuntu on the Mac and the PC

I've been drinking a lot of coffee today, and I think it affects my ability to concentrate. So, one thing has been leading to another and another, and I've ended up installing the latest version of Ubuntu Linux on both my PC and my MacBook using virtual machine software.

Why Virtual Machines?

A virtual machine allows you to host multiple operating systems on a single physical computer. The classic reason for doing this is to run some form of Windows on the Macintosh OS because you just can't live without some crucial Windows program. (Think Quickbooks, or OutLook, or in my case OneNote). The Virtual machine program is a thin layer of software which sites between the original OS (on the Mac this is OSX), and one or more "guest" operating systems, (in my case Windows Vista). There are a couple to choose from. The people at our university recommended Parallels. Installing Vista and Parallels went pretty smoothly. So, as I hadn't seen a Linux desktop for while, I thought I'd try installing the latest and greatest Ubuntu.

Why Ubuntu?

Ubuntu appears to the current favorite for a "desktop" Linux. It is available on some Dell machines. It comes with a large number of applications, and an attractive desktop. There are several versions available for specific purposes. It is well supported.

I started with this step-by-step tutorial, which is available for a couple different combinations of Parallels and Ubuntu.

While waiting for this to install, I fiddled with Microsoft Virtual PC on my Windows box and found that I was using an older version 2004. I downloaded and installed version 2007. Looks just like 2004, but includes support for Vista as reported at Linux.com. After a couple of false starts dealing with the mouse, I was able to get Ubuntu installed.

Once installed there are several additional tweaks that need to happen which required editing the boot loader parameters and some config files to get the mouse working. Then a similar process is required for sound drivers, and network drivers.

Rather than go through all that, I downloaded VirtualBox and installed it on my workstation. Then I reinstalled Ubuntu. Mouse worked immediately. Networking came right up. The sound card worked as soon as I changed the default VirtualBox configuration to include the sound card. So far, Ubuntu works fine, and is surprisingly fast, and VirtualBox appears to be superior to Microsoft Virtual PC, at least when installing non-Microsoft operating systems.

Meanwhile, back on the Mac, its been more of a struggle. Here a couple issues and solutions:

1. When choosing which version to install, choose the "alternate" form of the Ubuntu installer. (There is a checkbox for this on the download screen.) This is a text-based installer. Otherwise, it will just hang as you start to do the install, and you'll get a funny message saying somthing like "Tried 6 times to start the X-Server and something is seriously messed up".
2. When you download the .iso file from the mirror, it will appear on the desktop as a disk. However, this is actually, just a pointer to the file ubuntu-7.10-alternate-i386.iso which is located in your download directory. This caused a lot of confusion, because when you attempt to assign an "image" for the installation process through Parallels, you have to point to the actual file with the .iso extension. (If in doubt...just burn it to a physical CD for heaven's sake; I should have done this and saved myself an hour of futzing. To be honest, my problems with the disk and the .iso are due to unfamiliarity with OSX on the Mac, not the fault of Parallels or Ubuntu.)
3. When installing, you'll be given the opportunity to select the screen resolutions that you want to install. The excellently named Muffin Research discussion page suggests selecting two resolutions: 1440x900 for using full screen, and 1280x800 for use when you have Ubuntu running in a window. Once you have installed, if there is still a problem, you can run the following command to start the selection process again:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
   
   
4. Parallels gives you the opportunity to set up networking to use the existing Mac network addressing, (shared), or the not-so-well-named (bridge). The bridge will treat the Ubuntu VM as a separate machine, so it will get an IP address separate from the Mac. There is an icon in the "system tray", located in the upper right hand of the Ubuntu desktop window, that shows if you are connected. If not, just click once on the icon and select "Wired Nework", if that is how you're connected.
   

More from LifeHacker on running Parallels on the Mac.

Tech Friday: Troubleshooting Windows Firewall

Tech Friday is the day when we get bogged down in technicalities.

Dynamic DNS Redux

Today I've been doing some further research on Dynamic DNS, and indeed I found out that Wednesday, I was actually playing with the Unix/Linux version of the the DynDNS updater. They have a more conventional Windows client available with a nice graphic interface. It still does the same thing as the earlier one does, and it can install as a Windows service.

Firewall Issues

The Windows XP SP2 firewall can be managed locally on the XP Workstation through the Control Panel applet, via the local Group Policy, or via a domain group policy. When running into problems with the firewall, often the first problem is to figure out just where the settings are coming from. Microsoft has provided a handy guide on troubleshooting the Windows firewall, using familiar tools like netstat and netsh. For example, the following command will display the firewall status, and show where the settings are coming from. Note the returned results in my case show that the workstation is controlled from the Domain under the Group Policy.

C:\netsh firewall show state

Firewall status:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Profile = Domain
Operational mode = Enable
Exception mode = Enable
Multicast/broadcast response mode = Enable
Notification mode = Enable
Group policy version = Windows Firewall
Remote admin mode = Disable

Ports currently open on all network interfaces:
Port Protocol Version Program
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1052 UDP IPv4 C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
26675 TCP IPv4 (null)
67 UDP IPv4 (null)
135 TCP IPv4 C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
137 UDP IPv4 (null)
139 TCP IPv4 (null)
138 UDP IPv4 (null)
3389 TCP IPv4 (null)
38293 UDP IPv4 (null)
443 TCP IPv4 C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
443 UDP IPv4 (null)
445 TCP IPv4 (null)
37674 UDP IPv4 (null)
37675 UDP IPv4 (null)
37674 TCP IPv4 (null)
2869 TCP IPv4 (null)
1900 UDP IPv4 C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
2967 UDP IPv4 (null)
990 TCP IPv4 F:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\rapimgr.exe

Additional ports open on Local Area Connection:
Port Protocol Version
-------------------------------------------------------------------
427 UDP Any


C:\

The Microsoft network troubleshooting white paper describes several additional troubleshooting tactics and is recommended.

For a cookbook approach to the Windows command line, check out the Administrator's Pocket Consultant series title Microsoft Windows Command-Line by William R. Stanek.

Dyn DNS clients

Looking for a client for Dynamic DNS. This is a program that goes out and pings the DynDNS web service and tells it what your current IP address is.

DynDNS runs a service that will tell you what your current public IP address. This is handy...in any web browser just type http://checkip.dyndns.com.

DynDNS recommends using software clients to do updates, although the functionality is embedded in most home routers.

...[I]n practice we have found that router based clients just don't provide the same level of reliability and user experience as software clients. For this reason, our current recommendation is that customers use a software client whenever possible, even if their router has a DDNS client built into it and even if that DDNS client has been certified by us.

Using the command line version of inadyn, I tried the following which does a one-time update:

C:\DynDNS_Client>inadyn --username myname --password mypass --alias mydnsname.gotdns.com

This returns the following:

INADYN: Started 'INADYN version 1.96.2' - dynamic DNS updater.
I:INADYN: IP address for alias 'mydnsname.gotdns.com' needs update to '24.61.26.209'
I:INADYN: Alias 'mydnsname.gotdns.com' to IP '24.61.26.209' updated successful.

Now, of interest here is that the one time update does not simply execute and then return to the command line....in fact it creates a loop that executes repeatedly. By default this appears to be one minute, and what happens is that program first does an ip address update. On subsequent passes, it first sends a query to checkip.dyndns.org and compares the results with the stored IP. If they are different then it will perform another update. This is more evident if you add --verbose 5 to the command line; you'll get a printout as the program goes through the steps.

So, I'm going to try installing this as a software service on my XP workstation; and disabling it in the router.

Tiny Computers from Logic Supply

I'm testing a tiny computer from Logic Supply It has the following specs:

Intel Celeron M440 (Yonah) with a Front-side bus of 533Mhz
1 gig of memory
A 2.5" Hitachi hard disk 5400 rpm
Panasonic DVD/CD reader
No OS
Build and test for additional $45.00

The case is about 7" x 7" and maybe 1.5 inches tall.

Total price is $661 before tax.

They gave me an awesome tour of the assembly plant. Dozens of these little guys being assembled, tested and burned in.

The one caveat that I would bear in mind is that the ones without fans can run hot...really hot, like hard to hold your hand on to them hot. This was the case at least when they were running the test program which exercises the processor.

I ordered mine with a fan; and the noise is acceptable, just a low swoosh (so far).

It came without an OS, so I'm installing Vista just for grins.

So far the buying experience has been terrific. They are really helpful on the phone. They specialize in small machines using mini-ITX motherboards using either Intel, AMD or Via systems. This unit is a candidate platform for our embedded application, and a successor to our beloved Pundit pizza-box sized system.

Install Vista on a MacBook

Here is an illustrated walkthrough of an installation of Windows Vista on a Mac running the virtualization software Parallels. 

 

There is a bit of a saga here; I was resisting installing Windows on my Macbook but I finally decided I couldn't live without Microsoft OneNote, the note-taking software which comes with Microsoft Office 2007. (and version 2003, BTW).  I found that that the Mac version of office called something like Mac Office 2008 does not include a version of OneNote, so I took myself off to the handy-dandy computer depot at the university, got Parallels for about $79.00 and Windows for an academic price of about $15.00.  However, they've been told no more Windows XP, they'll only sell Windows Vista.  

They also recommended 4 gigs of RAM; I've got 2, so we'll see how it runs, and then if I need to upgrade I'll probably do that through Crucial.  So now I have the OneNote trial running on Vista in a Parallel's virtual machine.  Of interest will be seeing how this will eventually synchronize with my master OneNote file.  All that depends on  how the Windows network will work through Parallels. 

Microsoft Action Pack - January Update

Latest Action Pack came today with updated disks including SQL-Server 2008 CTP 5 (Community Technology Preview), Windows Server 2008 RC1, System Center Data Protection Manager 2007.

Changes to the Action Pack subscriptions are beginning to make this less attractive. For example, the current Action Pack subscription includes licenses for Vista client upgrades, (10 of them), so the presumption is that you are not using Windows XP at all, but in fact have upgraded everything to Vista. Note that under the terms of the Action Pack, the XP licenses are no longer valid. Also, since the units are only Vista upgrades, you presumably need to upgrade from an existing XP installation, which, if you haven't had an Action Pack in the past, suggests that you have bought and paid for your XP elsewhere.

Just writing all that with the machinations involved gives me a headache.

On the positive side, The Action Pack provides licenses for multiple copies of current Microsoft products as well as a few betas, and CTPs of unreleased software. It is a pretty impressive list.

There are enhancements, variations and stratifications. For example, for software developers there is the Empower program, which includes 5 licenses for Visual Studio and MSDN Universal for $375/year. The kicker here is that you have to develop a shrink wrap application within 18 months of joining and market it as such. This looks like a very promising deal, especially when Visual Studio 2008 is launched in February. (And they let you use XP!)

The Action Pack Special Editions are targeted at two other specialties, Small Business Specialists, and Web Developers, Designers and Agencies.

Cleaning Windows (Vista)

Slashdot is all over this tool. It allows you to strip out a lot of the extraneous stuff that gets loaded with Vista. But it also looks to be a configuration program for many aspects of the installation process. From the About screen on their website:

vLite is a tool for customizing the Windows Vista installation before actually installing it.

Main features are:

* hotfix, language pack and driver integration
* component removal
* unattended setup
* tweaks
* split/merge Vista installation CDs
* create ISO and burn bootable CD/DVD


Windows Vista from Microsoft takes a lot of resources, we all know that. vLite provides you with an easy removal of the unwanted components in order to make Vista run faster and to your liking.

This tool doesn't use any kind of hacking, all files and registry entries are protected as they would be if you install the unedited version only with the changes you select.

It configures the installation directly before the installation, meaning you'll have to remake the ISO and reinstall it. This method is much cleaner, not to mention easier and more logical than doing it after installation on every reinstall.

Move contacts from OutLook to Mac Mail

Here's the secret to moving your contact addresses from OutLook into Mac Mail.

1. Install Mozilla Thunderbird on your Windows PC
2. Import your address book into Thunderbird
3. Export the address book from Thunderbird into a LDIF file
4. Transfer the LDIF file to the Macintosh
5. Import the LDIF file within Mac Mail. There is a nice function that updates existing records, rather than create new ones.

The reason this is more effective than just exporting to a commma delimited text file from OutLook is that it effectively preserves any notes that you have written for the contact. Previously I tried to export directly....then went from OutLook to Excel...and then reimported; but the result wasn't satisfactory.

Now if I could figure out a way to synchronize the various address books...

As far as messages are concerned, however, they appear to be syncing up nicely. On the Mac, I created a new eMail account and defined it as an IMAP account. With IMAP you download only the headers of the mailbox messages; and it requires a live connection to the mail server. On the OutLook side, I just modified the properties of the existing eMail account to "leave messages on the server". Now I can see messages from either platform, or log in to the webmail interface for my master account.

As for calendars, I'm now using Google Calendar as the master calendar and subscribing to the Google calendar with OutLook's calendar and the Mac iCal. Doesn't all quite work as it should yet, but I think maybe I'm getting there.

Of course this should all be transparent and easy, right?

Stuff That Works November 2007

Looking at the Enthusiasm Score from a year ago, I'm amazed how unchanged most ideas are. So in this year's edition, I'll take a different approach rather than trying to score things incrementally

• Stuff That Really Works
  
• Stuff That Works with Minor Problems
  
• Stuff That Works with Major Reservations
  
• Stuff That Doesn't Work
  

Stuff that Really Works

The following technology items that I take for granted on a daily basis, that never seem to require troubleshooting. It is a short list.

• My landline. Verizon, with MCI long distance
  
• Verizon pre-paid cell phone plan.
  
• My ISP and web host:intermedia.net
  
• The FireFox web browser
  
• Microsoft Office 2003 - the file formats and interface changes of Office 2007 haven't been internalized by either me or colleagues with which I exchange Word or Excel documents.
  
• Microsoft OneNote 2007 - Solid as a rock.
  
• SightSpeed desktop videoconferencing
  

Stuff That Works With Minor Problems

• HP Procurve 2xxx Network Switch. Ended up replacing a couple of these because of a fan failure. The process was relatively painless, with excellent support from HP, and free warranty replacement.
  
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Small Business Server. I installed on a repurposed Dell Optiplex workstation, and the combination has worked almost flawlessly for over two years. And yet, the SBS is more than most small shops need...eventually I can see a replacement with a straight Windows Server with added SharePoint, leaving aside things like Fax, and Exchange.
  
• On workstations, Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2. This is starting to get more difficult to find. Upgrade any workstations now, or you'll have to cope with Windows Vista.
  
• WiFi. As long as you keep expectations reasonable, and remain aware of the security implications, WiFi is great.
• BaseCamp web-based project manager.

Stuff That Works with Major Reservations

These are things that we're using, but we are still looking, or items that are not yet ready for prime time.

• VoIP - I had hoped to be a lot farther along with VoIP, both on a casual occasional basis using applications like Skype and Gizmo, and with a PBX solution such as Trixbox or Asterisk. To date there has been unreliable connection quality when using Internet VoIP connections. Like some other aspects of life, when it is good is very good, but when it is bad it is unworkable. Are expectations unreasonable here?
  
• Windows Vista
  
• The Mac OS X and Linux. The reason these are on the list is that indeed they work, but they don't necessarily play easily with Windows, particularly when it comes to printing and sharing files. The problems here aren't insurmountable, but they require more than a casual engagement and technical expertise. I think this is a reasonable major reservation...and it remains the reason to insist on a single operating platfom for your IT infrastructure. It should be easier than this.

Stuff That Doesn't Work

In general, I can just point to John Dvorak and the Cranky Geeks for endless tales of chaos and disfunction.

Switching from PC to MAC

I've been fiddling with my MacBook for the better part of a week and, for the most part, I really like what I see. I'm still wondering about discarding certain applications; notably OutLook (with the X1 search capability) and OneNote. Eventually, I may install Windows on the machine, but to keep things interesting, I'm determined to to push the Mac as far as I can before caving. Below are some web sites that I've found that help with the transition. Maybe we need an organization for Windows Users Anonymous for those of us attempting to kick the habit.

General Hints and Overview

The Tao of Mac has a good page with of hints for switchers.

Another similar essay is located at Apple Matters.

Listings of keyboard equivalents

The Mac keyboard has additional modifier keys, including the "Apple" key, and the "Option" key. David Pogue posed the question of how to get a right-click from the Mac one-button mouse or trackpad when you are running Windows on a Mac via Boot Camp. The short answer seems to be.."spend $20.00 and get a two-button mouse" but there are also odd combinations of keystrokes that appear to work. This has been an issue so far when attempting to switch from Windows to the Mac OS... I feel like I've lost a hand, not being able to right-click. And it isn't as if there aren't things that pop up on the Mac side when you right click... Both the Finder and Safari, for example have right-click menus just like a Windows application.

Loose Ends and Unsolved Mysteries:

• I can't print to networked printers, or at least to any printer that isn't connected directly via a USB port.
  
• While I know there is a "dashboard"... a combination of applets like clocks and so on, I don't know how to switch between the dashboard and regular applications.