Toshiba Tecra S10 T9600 Windows 7 Install 95% Successful – And It’s Fast!

We managed to get Windows 7 Ultimate x64 installed on the laptop with a few hiccups along the way.

We used a USB flash drive (previous blog post) to install the OS on the laptop.

Because we are dealing with a 64bit version of the OS, we are in a bit of a bind for some of the drivers due to Toshiba being behind other laptop manufacturers on using 64bit Windows for their installs.

Fortunately, the laptop’s hardware is shared by other manufacturers so we were able to download the Intel AMT and MEI (firmware vPro management) drivers from Acer’s site and use them to seat the hardware in the OS.

When some of the laptop components failed to install, we needed to manually run the driver update and change the option from searching only on the local machine to searching Windows Update if drivers were not found locally. When we did that, a number of the exclamation marked devices had their drivers found on WU, downloaded, and installed without a problem.

We are stuck on two components that we will need to wait for Toshiba on:

Hardware ID: TOS6205

And:

Hardware ID: TOS620A

One is a Bluetooth device and the other is the Toshiba shock sensor on the hard drive setup.

Other than those two drivers not being available, the laptop screams!

Having the T9600 at 2.8GHz, 4GB of RAM with 2 by 2GB 800MHz sticks placing the memory subsystem in Dual Channel Mode, and a 250GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive the laptop is fast.

For the price of the Laptop and the time to get things right after installing Windows 7, the setup is well worth the time put in.

We also picked up the extra large 12 cell battery for the unit and it is still kicking along after about 3 hours of battery based usage with 55% battery life remaining.

This is one sweet combination … speed and efficiency will abound with setup! :)

Some of that sweetness has been blogged about here:

• Blog Label Search: Windows 7

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Windows 7 – Enable Edition Choosing And Install From USB Flash Drive + Caveat

It looks as though we have taken a step back when it comes to the version of the Windows desktop OS on the DVD:

It seems the days of having the various versions of the OS on the same DVD are gone. The above screenshot was taken of the TechNet portal we are using to download the Windows 7 RTM versions.

Server 2008 R2 does not show up in our TechNet downloads portal yet. So, we will grab those ISOs at a later date.

We are going to download the required Ultimate and Professional x86 and x64 versions for us to use for VM work and such.

We will, however, be using a USB Flash drive to install the OS as a rule.

• TechNet Magazine: Tip: Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook.

We have formatted our OCZ ATV Turbo flash drive and made it Active as per the instructions above. We then copied the contents of a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 DVD onto the flash drive.

From there, we will edit the content on the USB flash drive to allow us to install the OS edition we need:

• My Digital Life: How to Select Any Edition or Version (SKU) of Windows 7 to Install From Single Edition DVD Disc Media or ISO.

The file that needs to be deleted, ei.cfg, is found in the \Sources\ folder according to Method 1 in the above article.

Here is the content of that file found on our Windows 7 x64 flash drive:

We deleted the file and booted a machine via the USB flash drive that will have Windows 7 Ultimate x64 installed on it.

After clicking on install we were presented with the various OS Editions to choose from.

Now, one thing to keep in mind when it comes to this install methodology is the fact that the EULA on the DVD image or OS install flash drive will be from the original OS edition installed by that image.

So, if the original DVD/ISO used to delete the ei.cfg file was Windows 7 Ultimate x64, then the EULA placed on that installed system will be the Windows 7 Ultimate EULA.

Since it looks like there will be some significant differences in the EULA between editions again, the reasoning behind the multiple OS DVDs becomes clear.

Once we confirm that the EULAs are indeed different for each OS edition, we will be using a dedicated flash drive for each edition to honour the EULA.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Toshiba Tecra S10 – Virtualization Is Disabled By Default in BIOS

We just received a new Toshiba Tecra S10 laptop that does not even have a product page on Toshiba’s site yet.

The unit is a new model Tecra S10 with a Core 2 Duo T9600 2.8GHz CPU and 4GB of RAM. The principle reason for sourcing this model is the high resolution 1680x1050 LCD along with the extra processing power presented by the Intel C2D T9600.

We will be installing Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on this laptop as we require XP Pro Mode. Toshiba seems to be a bit behind Acer on the architecture front as the Windows Vista on it is x86 (32bit). Acer has started factory shipping all of their laptops with Windows Vista x64 versions which means 64bit Acer drivers are available for their products.

The lack of 64bit drivers for the Tecra may present a bit of a problem with Windows 7 x64. If it does, we will back off and install the x86 version of Windows 7 Ultimate x86.

Since we require XP Pro Mode, we need to verify if the BIOS on this laptop has the Intel VT enabled. The chipset is Centrino 2 vPro (previous blog post on Windows 7 XP Pro Mode and hardware requirements).

To get into the Tecra’s BIOS, we need to do the following:

• Press and hold the ESC key then power up the laptop.
• Press the F1 key when requested to do so.

Once into the BIOS, sure enough the Intel VT setting was Disabled. We also took note that the Trusted Execution Technology was also Disabled. Since both are required, we enabled them.

One other note of interest, both the TPM and Intel’s AMT (vPro) management were disabled in the BIOS out of the box. The TPM is required for BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. Intel’s AMT is required for remote out-of-band management of the laptop. Both will be enabled as well.

Now we’re off to set up a USB flash drive to install Windows 7 (TechNet Magazine article) with.

We use the OCZ ATV Turbo flash drive for all bootable and high data volume usage because time is money and they are soak the USB bus fast!

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Windows 7 Beta Testers – Download or Boxed Thank You Copy?

If you participated in the Windows 7 Beta program on the Microsoft Connect site, then there is an option to either download a complimentary copy of the Ultimate version of the OS, or wait for a boxed copy.

Click on the Information on getting your Windows 7 RTM “Thank you” copy link under What’s New? shown below:

A survey link will be found on the page that follows:

In our case, we are choosing the complimentary boxed copy as it will be used to upgrade my Dad’s system to Windows 7. If we are not eligible, then the download version will be used to do the same.

Note that the boxed copy option may not be fulfilled due to the fact that there is a certain number available.

While on the Windows 7 Connect program site, have a look at the numerous Windows 7 learning resources available for download:

The above screenshot shows the newest two downloads. There are three full pages of them.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Migration Guide Updated

We have updated the migration guide with a troubleshooting section that will be added to as we encounter hiccups in the migration process.

• SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Migration Guide – v1.1.1

We are waiting on a couple of IP based KVMs to show up here. Once they do, we will schedule the live on-line migration.

Thanks for reading! :)

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

SBS 2003 to 2008 Migration – Exchange OAB 9331 and 9335 Along with Outlook 0x8004010F Errors

On one of our SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 migrations we ran into a problem on the Outlook clients where the Offline Address Book would not synchronize.

The server had the following Event IDs:

• Event ID: 9331
  OALGen encountered error 80004005 (internal ID 50101ee) accessing the public folder store while generating the offline address list for address list '/'.
  - Default Offline Address List
• Event ID: 9335
  OALGen encountered error 80004005 while cleaning the offline address list public folders under /o=CompanyName/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs/cn=Default Offline Address List.  Please make sure the public folder store is mounted and replicas exist of the offline address list folders.  No offline address lists have been generated.  Please check the event log for more information.
  - Default Offline Address List

To fix the errors, the only solution we found was a pair of scripts to run in the Exchange 2007 Shell:

• Get-PublicFolder "\non_ipm_subtree\offline address
  book\/o=ORG/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs/cn=Default Offline Address list" -Recurse |
  Set-PublicFolder -Replicas "second storage group\public folder database"
• Get-PublicFolder "\non_ipm_subtree\offline address
  book\/o=ORG/cn=addrlists/cn=oabs/cn=Default Offline Address List" -Recurse |
  Set-PublicFolder -ReplicationSchedule $alwaysrun

ORG in the above command will be the specific Exchange organization that is being worked on.

The solution was found on Experts-Exchange:

• Experts-Exchange.com: Exchange 2007 OAB Event ID 9331 & 9335 0X8004010F error

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

HP TouchSmart PC Beside an iMac 20”

Wow … the HP TouchSmart PC is an amazing machine.

In a way, we are talking about comparing Apples with Oranges, pun intended, but the TouchSmart sure open’s one’s eyes as to how the Apple iMac product has challenged the PC industry and brought about some pretty neat innovations.

To be fair, the iMac in the photo is a 20” version that is in our shop because it BSODs on boot and won’t Safe Boot either. We will be working on it on Monday.

The HP is an iQ816 Core 2 Duo with a 26” LCD display and is on the bench because we are going to create the HP recovery DVDs then flatten the system and install Windows 7 Ultimate RTM to test out the OS on this particular hardware setup.

Our initial impressions of the HP TouchSmart PC are very positive. This is a really neat machine and we can see some pretty lucrative market directions for them.

The product Web site:

• HP TouchSmart Home Desktop PCs (Canada)
• HP TouchSmart Business PCs (Canada) (soon to be released)

The business version of this particular product line will do very well for situations where desk space is at a minimum or there is the possibility of wall mounting the unit among others.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

A Single Drive NAS Setup For Business?

When it comes to taking care of a client’s business I.T. needs, cutting corners to keep costs down usually comes back to bite the one “saving” those costs.

One area where there is no real cost savings relative to the risks involved is data storage.

Hard drives, even SSD ones, have moving parts. They fail.

So, using a single drive solution to store critical shared data along with all of the workstation’s backups may not be the wisest of moves.

We have been called into an office where users could no longer connect to their shared data or backup their workstations to the NAS device a previous I.T. support company had installed for them.

The NAS unit was a single drive LaCie Peripherals device:

When we had a look at the setup, the device was plugged into a switch along with a workstation and a networked printer. There was a cable not plugged into the switch that turned out to be the run to the main switch in the basement of the building.

However, when that network cable was plugged in none of the other workstations could connect to the LaCie device.

We power cycled the LaCie to see if perhaps it was hung up as we could hear the drive spinning inside of it.

Once the unit power cycled itself, there was a distinct clicking sound that started to emanate from the unit.

Now the real struggle begins as the organization is in transition and it may not become quite clear exactly what has been lost in the shared folders and in the backup directories.

We will try a few recovery tactics on the device when we get permission to open it up on Monday, but we are not holding too much hope that the data will be recoverable by us. They may be in for a recovery charge from a third party.

When it comes to client data, it is absolutely imperative that the shared company data be stored on a device that has at least a pair of mirrored RAID 1 drives:

Since the device was also being used to backup all of the client workstations, a better solution would have been to use at least a pair of the single drive NAS solutions in a backup rotation.

Then, if one of the single drive units failed, the other would provide the necessary redundancy.

Disaster Recovery Planning needs to be a part of ANY data storage solution we are looking at providing our clients.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

HP TouchSmart iQ800 Series Desktop PC – Wall Mounting

We are outfitting one of our client business owner’s home with equipment that will tie into the home automation equipment supplied by 360 Theatre Systems based out of Edmonton.

One of the products that we are supplying is the HP TouchSmart iQ800 series desktop PC.

One of the PCs will be wall mounted at a desk near the laundry room that has limited desktop space.

HP has an excellent instruction set that includes a video for getting the custom VESA bracket mounted to the PC:

• HP TouchSmart IQ800 Series Desktop PC  -  Installing a Wall Mount Adapter for a VESA Wall Mount

The process is actually quite in-depth requiring us to remove the back panel, third leg, and the front two peg legs before mounting the base bracket under the back cover.

The install on-site for the units will not be until early next month. So, we will be testing one of them with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM to see how the new OS integrates with the PC’s features as well as how the OS will interact with HP’s drivers .

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Windows 7 Professional x64 ISO – VM Install Has No Other Versions Offered

Here is Windows 7 Pro x64 DVD being used to install Windows 7 Professional as a Hyper-V guest:

 

 

Note the absence of the version picker we had with Windows Vista.

We have other versions of the OS DVD being downloaded, but it is looking like we are indeed in a situation where there is a DVD/ISO for each version of the Windows 7 OS.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Windows 7 RTM on TechNet – Not Quite There Yet

Apparently the servers we connect to from our location here in Canada are not updated yet:

Hopefully we will see them updated sometime soon so that we can begin downloading both the 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7 RTM.

Anyone out there downloading yet?

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Zero Downtime Migration Deep Dive in Las Vegas – I’ll be there too! :)

Karl Palachuk has asked me to write the forward for his upcoming Network Migration Workbook which I have accepted to do.

Tied into the workbook is the upcoming Zero Downtime Migration Deep Dive Seminar on October 1st in Las Vegas.

Since I am in Las Vegas for the SMB Nation Fall Conference from the 2nd to the 4th of October, Karl offered a guest pass to the seminar for writing the forward!

I accepted his offer and am really excited about attending the seminar.

If you are new to SBS and/or the SMB market, then the SMB Nation conference and Karl’s Zero Migration Deep Dive Seminar would be two events to deepen and strengthen your SBS/SMB knowledge base.

The costs may seem quite high for both events, but one thing I have learned in my own I.T. career is that we need to spend money to make money. Money spent on deepening our technical knowledge and experience along with developing our business sense is money well spent.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

XP Pro Mode – Hardware Virtualization is Required

The Intel ProcessorFinder site is the place to go when looking up the features that a particular CPU supports.

Each CPU series shares a common feature set with some exceptions where there may be a couple of versions at the low end of the model set that have features "disabled" to augment the value at the high end.

Intel did this with the 5200 series Xeons as well as others, and still does it with the Core 2 Quad series with the amount of L2 cache being 50% smaller on the "value" versions of the CPU line. Most of the CPU lines have subtle feature differences between the entry and top end products.

Virtualization (Intel calls it VT) is a base feature. The desktop Media G series boards support VT (C2D, C2Q), while the Executive Q series (vPro) supports higher end VT-d and VT-Appliance settings for more advanced virtualization scenarios such as embedded VMs or the XP Pro Mode in Win7.

The base G series with VT enabled will also do XP Pro Mode since the hardware virtualization has been embedded in Virtual PC 2007 which is what XP Pro Mode is based on.

In the end, we always try to make sure we have the right product for the job.

Laptops have been very iffy when it comes to BIOS enabled hardware features implemented.

To get hardware virtualization on laptops, the laptop needs to have at least the Centrino Pro series chipset in our experience.

Information on the Centrino Pro chipset:

• Intel® Centrino® with vPro™ Technology (product site)
• Intel Centrino Pro Product Brief (PDF document link)

If XP Pro Mode is required by a client, we need to be particularly aware of the hardware setup Windows 7 will be running on as XP Pro Mode does require hardware level virtualization to be enabled in the system’s BIOS.

• Windows 7 XP Pro Mode posts (blog label search)

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

SBS BPA: Reduce The Size of The SharePoint Configuration Databases

We have seen some mention made of the SharePoint configuration databases getting quite large.

To date, we did not see any simple way to reduce the size of those databases.

Microsoft Support has released a Knowledgebase article with a simple SQL based script to trim the database size:

• Microsoft KB 2000544: SBS 2008 BPA Reports that The Windows SharePoint Services configuration databases log file is getting large (currently over 1gb in size)
• SBS 2008 Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) (download page)

Make sure to run a full backup just before running the script. This will enable a quick recovery of the server if things go sideways.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

SMB Nation in Las Vegas – Looks Like I Will Be Going!

While things are not 100% in place yet, it looks as though I will be attending the SMB Nation fall conference in Las Vegas!

• SMB Nation

It will be a good time to finally meet some of my fellow MVPs and hopefully get to know some of our regular blog readers!

If you plan on being there, please e-mail me!

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer