Microsoft have released the stand alone files for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 to the Microsoft website.

x32 Download http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3&DisplayLang=en
x64 Download http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=656c9d4a-55ec-4972-a0d7-b1a6fedf51a7&DisplayLang=en

An advisory for those running Vista customized using vLite has been posted here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd300591.aspx

We'd expect a release to Microsoft Update in the coming months and will blog about its release nearer the time.

Microsoft have made the announcement that they will be releasing Office 2007 SP2 this month. The update features a number of bug fixes and improvements such as built in save as ODF & PDF formats and better performance and calendaring in Outlook. We have been testing the update for a few months now and have welcomed the ODF publishing features and have found Outlook to be more stable.

We are expecting Microsoft to release IE 8 to Automatic Updates, as High Priority, within the next week. Whilst the update will not automatically install, it will offer you the choice to "Ask Me Later", "Install" or "Don't Install", as you would get when installing IE 7 via Automatic Updates.

If you wish to block IE 8 from installing on your network, the blocker toolkit is available from this URL: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=21687628-5806-4ba6-9e4e-8e224ec6dd8c&displaylang=en

Microsoft have said that IE 8 will appear in WSUS around July 2009.

Microsoft have created a neat new software package for creating music. It works cleverly by matching music to your vocals! All you need to do is sing (or try :)) into the microphone and Songsmith will do some magic in the background and add music to it. Its great fun for creating jingles or even lullabies!

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/index.html 

Its free for the first 6 hours of use and then £25 for a full copy.

Have you ever done a Windows Update and seen that you have downloaded the latest version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool? If so, you may have wondered how to run the tool? Simply go to Start > Run and type in mrt.exe and the tool will scan your PC for any malicious software. If you don't have it, you can download it from here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

Check out http://www.dreamspark.com/ for free Microsoft software for Students. Most of the software is developer tools but there are few interesting things such as Windows Server 2008 and free MS IT Academy training.

Here is a handy little gadget if you use the Vista sidebar and OCS. It displays all open communications and makes it easier to manage conversations.

http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=2701d34d-ec6a-48ec-9ce2-a3932345f3a8

Microsoft have updated their Office Website with a new education subsite. It contains how to guides, smart templates and a host of other useful stuff: http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/school/FX102781621033.aspx

Microsoft have released a number of security updates for their Office and Operating System products. Please make sure you visit Microsoft Update and Windows Update to keep your pc's up to date.

Related information: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200808.mspx

For those of you eagerly awaiting the RTM version of Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 virtualization software, Hyper-V, the wait is over! Offered as a Windows Update here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F3AB3D4B-63C8-4424-A738-BADED34D24ED&displaylang=en for the 64bit Server 2008 system.

The download will appear under Optional Components in Windows Update in just under 2 weeks time...

Up until the 30th April, http://www.microsoft-press.co.uk/scripts/bookofthemonth.asp?id=theultimatesteal

According to sources, Vista SP1 will be heading its way to WU and Microsoft Downloads next week.

We have had the RTM version for about a month now and are running it on a few machines. We have encountered a few issues so please make sure you test it thoroughly before deploying!

 There is no news on when it will be added to Automatic Updates.

We are finding that more and more people are upgrading to Office 2007. Whilst this is great, a lot of users still have older versions and a common complaint we hear is "I keep saving Word files as *.docx. - I want to save them by default to *.doc"

To do this, click the Office Button in Microsoft Word and open Word Options. Click the Save option on the left hand bar and change the "Save files in this format:" option to "Word 97-2003 document (*.doc)"

We have decided to move the KLZ related news, information etc to it's own blog at: http://www.clusterweb.org.uk/CS/community/klz

This blog will remain for technology updates, general news etc.

The first service pack for the Microsoft Office suite of products has now been released

Office: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9EC51594-992C-4165-A997-25DA01F388F5&displaylang=en

Visio: http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=DC102486301033&Origin=HH102511011033&CTT=5

Project: http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=DC102486311033&Origin=HH102511011033&CTT=5

And if you use the Office Compatability Pack then you can update that too! http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9A1822C5-49C6-47BD-8BEC-0D68693CA564&displaylang=en&hurl=8D700ECFF53982A1D633F4CBDF143D22&QueryID=HFaCkZvTE&respos=5&rt=2&pid=CD102041601033

All other updates are here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?qu=2007+service+pack+1

Happy days - we have lots of updating to do!!!!!!

The BBC have responded to complaints regarding the recent BBC Panorama Programme...

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2204855/panorama-report-wi-misleading

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/news/2007/11/30/51156.shtml

We received notification today that the anticipated update to Microsoft Exchange (The product we use for the KLZ E-Mail provision) Service Pack 1 has been released. We will be thoroughly testing this update in our development environment before deploying into production. The new update offers increased functionality in OWA and makes administration for EIS a lot easier!

We will announce shortly when this update will be applied.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=44c66ad6-f185-4a1d-a9ab-473c1188954c

A cool feature we have recently found in Outlook 2007 is something called "natural text."

When you are making a meeting request or appointment, in the Start Time or End Time dialog box, enter something like "next friday" or "today + 6 days." Things like "day 25 of next month" also work. Speech marks are not necessary :)

Firstly, sorry for not posting for a very long time!

Microsoft has posted up a neat feature comparison matrix for the differences between OWA, Outlook 2007, 2003 etc.

http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/featurecomparison.mspx

We currently run Exchange 2007 without SP1. When SP1 is released near to Christmas we will be evaluating it then placing the update into production.

A few people have had a play with the Nokia Internet Tablet and found it to be a reasonable device.

I know the Nokia 770 is the older version and the new Nokia 800 is out, but for £74 inc. VAT I think it might just be a bargain.

http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=141019

Just a quick update on the Kent Learning Zone (KLZ)

The new infrastructure is currently being installed at the EIS Data Centre and we envisage this will be complete in the next week.

We are also holding 2 supplier briefing meetings at the EIS ICT Conference in Ashford on Thursday for those of you after an in-depth overview on the KLZ, so please do pop in at 11:00 in the Romney Room or 13:45 in the Chartwell Room. The meetings are free.

We will of course be demonstrating the KLZ on the EIS stand.

Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday 5th July at the Ashford International Hotel!!

http://www.eiskent.co.uk/default.cfm?id=77&pid=10

During an office discussion on Friday, it seems that I keep all the handy tips to myself! You can use the Windows key to carry out some very handy shortcuts. I have compiled a list with, what I think, are the best at the top...

For example, to easily lock your Windows XP workstation, simply hold the Windows key and press the L key.

To open the Run command, hold the Windows key and press the R key.

To open the Find Window, hold the Windows key and press the F key.

To minimize all Windows, hold the Windows key and press the M key. To restore your windows hold the Windows key, shift and press the M key.

For Windows Explorer, hold the Windows key and press the E key.

To minimize all Windows and show the desktop hold the Windows key and press the D key. Do this again to restore what you had.

For Systems Properties, hold the Windows key and press the Break key.

To show the Windows Vista scrolling desktop hold the Windows key and press Tab. (Very cool if you have Vista Aero graphics...) in Windows XP this changes between your open programs on your task bar.

To open Help hold the Windows key and press the F1 key...

Also, did you know you can right click using your keyboard by pressing the application key? This key is situated between the Alt Gr key and the Ctrl key on the right of the space bar...

We had a query today on how to Telnet when using Vista. It turns out that Telnet and a host of other features such as SNMP, TFTP are hidden away in the Control Panel. If you need to enable Telnet to Telnet into a Switch for example, chose the Client option - definitely not the Server!

Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features on or off

and look through the list!

The EIS website has been updated today with more current information as to where we are with the Kent Learning Zone.

Check the update here: www.eiskent.co.uk?learningzone

Firstly, apologies for going quiet recently!

Anyway, an interesting question came up from a school which found its screen / desktop rotated by 90 degrees. This is a new(-ish) feature built into Intel Graphic Chipset / Drivers which can be useful for presentations etc, but also really annoying if you find your screen rotated! To get your screen back simply hold the CTRL and ALT key and press the up arrow key. Press the right arrow key to rotate 90 degress to the right, down arrow key for 180 degress etc. Look at the Intel software for information on disabling hot keys if it is a problem.