Windows 8.1 (Blue) will be a free update
According to the official Windows blog Windows “Blue” will indeed be named Window 8.1 and that it will be free for current Windows 8 consumers through the Windows Store.
So through the Windows Store, that is interesting not Windows Update.
It seems logical that enterprises can use their WSUS or any other deployment method, so I assume it will be available as a stand alone download.
Source: The Windows Blog
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Categories: Windows8 Tags: Features new to Windows 8, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Windows 8, Windows Store, Windows Update, WSUS
Update Rollups for Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 are NOT cumulative
If you pay attention to the updates Microsoft rolls out each month or take note of what Windows Updates are on your Windows 8 PC or Windows Server 2012 Server, you may have seen some monthly rollup updates.
These update rollups are not cumulative updates. You do need to apply each of the monthly update rollups to get the fixes and enhancements from each month. Installing the February 2013 Update Rollup does not get you the January 2013 to October 2012 rollup updates. This is to say, these rollups are independent of each other. Searching on the KB number will discuss what each rollup is addressing that month. Note that these updates do not focus on a particular component as we have seen with previous cumulative or rollup type updates but are broader to Windows.
Continue at source:
Update Rollups For Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 Explained – Ask Premier Field Engineeri
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Categories: Microsoft Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Windows, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2012, Windows Update
Windows 8.1 (Blue) will be a free update
According to the official Windows blog Windows “Blue” will indeed be named Window 8.1 and that it will be free for current Windows 8 consumers through the Windows Store.
So through the Windows Store, that is interesting not Windows Update.
It seems logical that enterprises can use their WSUS or any other deployment method, so I assume it will be available as a stand alone download.
Source: The Windows Blog
Viewed 2528 times by 288 viewers
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Features new to Windows 8, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Windows 8, Windows Store, Windows Update, WSUS
Less than a year remaining until XP End of Support
Yesterday marked the day of the 1-year count down of when Microsoft softs supporting Windows XP.
In this blog post Stephen Rose provides some answers to help explain what the end of support is and what you need to do to move to a modern OS like Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Microsoft will end Extended Support on April 8, 2014. Why?
In 2002, Microsoft introduced its Support Lifecycle policy based on customer feedback to have more transparency and predictability of support for Microsoft products. Per this policy, Microsoft Business and Developer products – including Windows and Office products – receive a minimum of 10 years of support (five years Mainstream Support and five years Extended Support), at the supported service pack level. Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 will go out of support on April 8, 2014. If your organization has not started the migration to a modern desktop, you are late.
Continue at the Springboard Series Blog
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Categories: Microsoft Tags: 8 April 2014, Microsoft, Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows XP
Default product keys for Windows 8 deployments
Use the following default product keys to quickly and easily preinstall computers with Windows 8 software.
| Windows version | Default product key |
|---|---|
| Windows 8 | 46V6N-VCBYR-KT9KT-6Y4YF-QGJYH |
| Windows 8 Professional | V7C3N-3W6CM-PDKR2-KW8DQ-RJMRD |
| Windows 8 N | 7QNT4-HJDDR-T672J-FBFP4-2J8X9 |
| Windows 8 Professional N | 4NX4X-C98R3-KBR22-MGBWC-D667X |
| Windows 8 Single Language (Emerging Markets) | NH7GX-2BPDT-FDPBD-WD893-RJMQ4 |
Simply type the default product key into the answer file used to preinstall the version of Windows that your customer requested.
Example:
<UserData> <ProductKey> <Key>V7C3N-3W6CM-PDKR2-KW8DQ-RJMRD</Key> </ProductKey> <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> </UserData> </component> </settings> </unattend>
Note These product keys cannot be used for activation. You will need to type a software product key during the installation process. These keys will be removed when sysprep generalize is run. The end user will be required to type the unique product key from the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label when first booting Windows 8.
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Windows 8 Camp in a BOX
This download includes the hands-on-labs, presentations, samples and resources from the Windows 8 camps. The Windows 8 camps are free training events for developers ramping up on Windows Store app development. To sign-up for a Windows camp, please visit http://devcamps.ms/windows.
Download Windows 8 Camp in a Box
Viewed 30378 times by 2105 viewers
Categories: Windows8 Tags: Features new to Windows 8, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Windows, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Windows Store
Towards Interoperable Pointer Events: Evolving Input Events for Multiple Devices
Today, the W3C has accepted and published Microsoft’s member submission describing a new way for Web sites to support multiple pointing devices such as mouse, pen, and multi-touch. Our proposal for a new Pointer Events Web standard is based on the APIs available today in IE10 on Windows 8.
The Web is more exciting and interactive for users when sites enable experiences for multi-touch. It is even better when the same site continues to work if you switch to using a mouse or pen. We believe the Web should not be fragmented into sites designed for only one type of input. We designed Pointer Events to make it easier for developers to avoid this fragmentation by abstracting the differences of input devices while still allowing for device-specific enhancements when desired.
Our goal with this submission is to work with other browser vendors and the wider Web community to move to adopt a new approach to multi-touch input. In the future, we hope that Web developers will only need to write to one pointer input model no matter if their users are using mouse, pen, touch, or whatever comes next. The W3C noted, “This Submission comes at a time of significant developer concern about creating content that works well on multiple input modalities, and in light of some disadvantages to the touch event model currently under standardization.”
Other approaches to supporting multi-touch input require Web developers to write their code once for mouse input and again for touch, dealing with the sometimes complex interactions between the two models (for example, when touch events are mapped to mouse events for compatibility). Throughout the development of IE10, and thanks to your feedback, we designed the Pointer Events model to be more compatible with the existing Web and avoid these complexities.
We encourage you to review the proposal and share your thoughts. The specification is a starting point and calls out several open issues for discussion and we look forward to making improvements based on your feedback
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Windows Upgrade Offer Registration Now Available
If you purchase or have purchased an eligible Windows 7 PC anytime between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 you will be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $14.99 (U.S.) which will be redeemable when Windows 8 is generally available on October 26th. If you’re still looking for a PC, check out some of our great Windows 7 PCs. Once you’ve purchased your PC you can come back and register for the offer.
Registration for the Windows Upgrade Offer is only for those who buy an eligible Windows 7 PC between June 2nd and January 31st, 2013.
Here is what you need to do to register for your $14.99 (U.S.) upgrade to Windows 8 Pro:
After buying your PC, go to the Windows Upgrade Offer website to register. It will ask you to select your country (details for the offer vary depending on country). You will then be asked to register with your personal details as well as information about your Windows 7 PC purchase – including date of purchase, retailer, and PC brand and model. You should also have your 25-digit Windows 7 product key that came with the PC handy as you may be required to enter this as part of the registration.
Then starting on October 26th, we will start sending out promo codes via email with purchase instructions. You will be directed to Windows.com where you will go through the online upgrade process with the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant (shown above) as I have highlighted here in this blog post. Once you get to the purchase screen in the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, it will show the $39.99 upgrade price. However, on the order confirmation page you’ll have a chance to enter your promo code – that price will change to $14.99. Once you make your purchase, your download and upgrade installation begins!
You will have until February 28, 2013 to register for the offer to get Windows 8 Pro for $14.99.
If you experience any issues or have questions – you can click the contact support link at the top of the Windows Upgrade Offer website.
Did you already buy an awesome Windows 7 PC prior to June 2nd (or have a Windows 7 PC not eligible for the offer)? Not to worry! Starting on October 26th, you will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99!
Both the Windows Upgrade Offer and $39.99 upgrade promotion is available in 140 countries worldwide, with 37 supported languages, and 23 supported currencies (we’ve added 9 additional countries over the original 131!).
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Categories: Microsoft Tags: Coupon, MicrosoftWindows, Personal computer, Product key, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows Upgrade Offer
First updates for Windows 8 RTM released
Microsoft posted the first (public) updates for Windows 8:
An update is available to correct tile logo images of files on the All Apps View.
Assume that you add the shortcut for a file to the All Apps View in Windows 8, Windows RT or Windows Server 2012. After you change the file association of the file type, the tile logo image is not updated accordingly in the All Apps View.
KB: An update is available to correct tile logo images of files on the All Apps View
Also Microsoft published the EU browser choice Screen update for Windows 8.
KB: What is the Browser Choice update (KB976002) – Microsoft Windows
Both updates are available through Microsoft Update app.
Viewed 8478 times by 1401 viewers
Categories: Windows8 Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Personal computer, Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows Server 2012, Windows Update
Windows Server 2012 Technet download links
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 (x64) – DVD (English)
Today 4 september 2012,
TechNet for Action Pack, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL), TechNet Plus Consumer Service Professional Pilot, TechNet Professional (Certified Partner), TechNet Professional (NFR Bundle), TechNet Professional (NFR FTE), TechNet Professional (NFR MCT), TechNet Professional (NFR MVP), TechNet Professional (NFR), TechNet Professional (Retail), TechNet Professional (SA), TechNet Professional (VL), TechNet Professional with Media (Retail), TechNet Professional with Media (VL), TechNet Standard (Retail), TechNet Standard (VL)
Windows Server 2012 VL (x64) – DVD (English)
Today 4 september 2012,
TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL), TechNet Professional (SA), TechNet Professional (VL), TechNet Professional with Media (VL), TechNet Standard (VL)
Windows Server 2012 Storage Server and Foundation (x64) – DVD (English)
Today 4 september 2012,
TechNet for Action Pack, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL), TechNet Plus Consumer Service Professional Pilot, TechNet Professional (Certified Partner), TechNet Professional (NFR Bundle), TechNet Professional (NFR FTE), TechNet Professional (NFR MCT), TechNet Professional (NFR MVP), TechNet Professional (NFR), TechNet Professional (Retail), TechNet Professional (SA), TechNet Professional (VL), TechNet Professional with Media (Retail), TechNet Professional with Media (VL), TechNet Standard (Retail), TechNet Standard (VL)
Windows Server 2012 Language Pack (x64) – DVD (Multiple Languages)
Today 4 september 2012,
TechNet for Action Pack, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL), TechNet Plus Consumer Service Professional Pilot, TechNet Professional (Certified Partner), TechNet Professional (NFR Bundle), TechNet Professional (NFR FTE), TechNet Professional (NFR MCT), TechNet Professional (NFR MVP), TechNet Professional (NFR), TechNet Professional (Retail), TechNet Professional (SA), TechNet Professional (VL), TechNet Professional with Media (Retail), TechNet Professional with Media (VL), TechNet Standard (Retail), TechNet Standard (VL)
Windows Server 2012 (x64) – DVD (English)
Today 4 september 2012,
TechNet for Action Pack, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners, TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL), TechNet Plus Consumer Service Professional Pilot, TechNet Professional (Certified Partner), TechNet Professional (NFR Bundle), TechNet Professional (NFR FTE), TechNet Professional (NFR MCT), TechNet Professional (NFR MVP), TechNet Professional (NFR), TechNet Professional (Retail), TechNet Professional (SA), TechNet Professional (VL), TechNet Professional with Media (Retail), TechNet Professional with Media (VL), TechNet Standard (Retail), TechNet Standard (VL)
Viewed 9441 times by 1649 viewers
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Hyper-V, Microsoft, MicrosoftWindows, TechNet, TechNet Professional, TechNet Standard, Windows 8, Windows Server
