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Top 7 Windows 7 Tips and Tricks for Power Users
After years of lamenting the shortcomings of Windows Vista, Windows 7 was released to resounding virtual applause and much media fanfare. Intrigued, I installed Windows 7 in a virtual machine on my Ubuntu box. In a word, impressive.
One of the most fun things about installing a new piece of software is exploring the new features and all the customizations that make your computing experience more personal.
In this article, I’ve compiled a collection of useful tips and tricks to help power users like yourself get the most of your Windows 7 installation. Here’s what’s covered:
1. Ten Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 7
2. Using the Windows 7 Taskbar Like a Pro
3. How to Gauge Power Efficiency in Windows 7
4. Customize Your Windows 7 Jump Lists
5. Unlock Hidden Windows 7 Wallpapers
6. Speed Up Boot Time in Windows 7
7. New Processes = Less Crashes
Video: Configuring an Iomega SAN and VMware vSphere for iSCSI
I have found the Iomega SMB level network attached storage (NAS) arrays to be very powerful and flexible units.
I recently aquired an Iomega Ix4-200D which is a 4TB NAS or SAN (which runs for under $999). It does not only Windows file share but can also be enabled for iSCSI (and many other protocols).
I have used advanced vSphere features on it such as VMotion, SVMotion, and even performed VM backups of VMFS datastores on the array with the destination being a CIFS file share on the array (causing some major contention) with the array handling it well.
I have been so pleased with the array I thought that I would create this video to share briefly the models of the product line and, in more detail, how you connect one of these arrays to vSphere using iSCSI. Here is what you’ll learn:
- Overview of the Iomega NAS/SAN Product Line
- How to enable iSCSI in the Iomega StorCenter
- How to enable iSCSI in vSphere and connect to the SAN
- How to format the new iSCSI disk with VMFS
- How to migrate a running VM to the Iomega SAN with SVMotion
What is VMware ThinApp and How Do I Use It?
Application virtualization is simply defined as removing the application from the Operating System (OS). In a typical sense, you install software on an OS and it configures the registry and intertwines with the OS. The only way to remove it from the OS is to use the uninstall program from Add/Remove Programs. In a typical network, hundreds of applications are deployed and they all have to be managed.
With application virtualization, you can abstract the OS resources and present them to the application as a virtual resource. Once configured, you have 1 executable that contains the application and user settings all contained in one file. This file can be copied to a network drive, shared, and/or even placed on a thumb drive to be carried around; it is independent of the OS or OS agnostic.
Introducing ThinApp
ThinApp is an application designed by VMware to help separate your applications from your OS. In order to use ThinApp, you must create a clean virtual machine using VMware Workstation as your base. Once that is configured and completed, you would install VMware ThinApp within the virtual machine.
Next, perform a snapshot on the virtual machine. This is necessary to be able to ThinApp an application and then revert back to a clean OS again to ThinApp an additional application.
For example, once you performed the above tasks, you would install your software, virtualize it, revert the OS back to its base, install new software, virtualize it, etc.
ThinApp 4.5: Support for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
Released: Windows 7 Administration Training
Of all of our video training releases over the years, I have to admit that we received the most calls, emails and requests about our Windows 7 course. That’s why I’m so happy to announce today the official release of our Windows 7 Administration Training.
Your instructor, Scott Lowe, does an excellent job in making sure every Windows 7 administration task is fully explained and put into context.
Everything from installing, upgrading, migrating, customizing and configuring to Windows 7 maintenance, performance and optimization is covered in this course.
And as always, all of the lessons in the Windows 7 Administration Training are available in multiple file formats for your convenience and include a free Transcender Practice Exam to help you prepare for the 70-680 MCTS exam.
Take a look at the video below to see what Scott had to say about the course during TechEd 2010.
Scott Lowe On Windows 7 Training
VMware vSphere Pro Series Training Vol. 2 — Now Available!
Looking for ways to increase your salary and advance your career? Virtualization and cloud computing are the way to go.
Virtualization made most (if not all) top IT job skills lists this year and recent salary surveys show that VMware certified professionals’ salaries are edging near the $100k.
The top virtualization player is not surprisingly VMware, and the most in demand virtualization skills hover around VMware vSphere.
Learn To Use VMware vSphere Like A Pro!
Our brand new vSphere Pro Series Training Vol. 2 is the second in our collaborative
VMware training series that is meant to elevate your vSphere knowledge to expert level.
This release packs almost twice as much information, tips, tricks and resources as Vol. 1 offering you over 21 hours of video training on:
- Site Recovery Manager (SRM)
- Veeam Management Suite
- VMware Data Recovery (VDR)
- PowerCLI
- vSphere Advanced Features
The best thing about our vSphere Pro Series is the quality instruction from four of the world’s top VMware users, all of whom have received vExpert awards from VMware.
The instructors of our new VMware vSphere Pro Series Training Vol. 2 include:
Videos: Learn the Cloud or Die, Virtual Desktops, & vExperts Talk
I attended the Charlotte Regional VMware User Group (VMUG) in June and took some great video of some of the most influential people in the virtualization world.
I have 3 videos that will 1) Provide a future vision of VMware’s cloud computing model, 2) let you know what VMware is planning in desktop and application virtualization, and 3) cover the latest news in storage and virtual infrastructure integration from the hottest names in this industry.
Video 1: Learn the Cloud or Die
In the first video, VMware’s Cloud Evangelist, Mike DiPetrillo tells us how with cloud computing we not only enhance our skills but prepare ourselves to CHANGE as “infrastructure will move to the cloud and we will be obsolete if we don’t improve our skills and knowledge”.
Mike said that IT people who currently maintain the infrastructure must be prepared to learn new IT skills and perform more important ROI-based projects for the company as our old maintenance jobs will go away with cloud computing.
This “learn the cloud or die” message is a tough sell to IT Admins like us. But, you know what? Haven’t we always had that same message in IT? We all know that we must continue to improve our skills or be out of a job. Thus, I don’t see anything really scary about this cloud message.
If all we know how to do is to install the Windows OS or provision disks on the SAN and that is all we can do then we need to be out of a job because we haven’t expanded our skills. So, I think that the take-away for us as IT admins is a reminder that we must “continue learning or be out of a job”. (no fear! Train Signal Training is here!)
VMware VCP, VCAP, & VCDX Certification Guide
Imagine a room filled to capacity with server after server. Then consider the needs of growing enterprises, certain to require more, not less storage capacity. Their choices? Buy yet another piece of hardware and purchase even more office space to house it or consider a less expensive technology solution.
Enter server virtualization.
Virtualization gives you the opportunity to collapse multiple server instances onto a single piece of hardware. It is no surprise that the demand for IT Professionals with virtualization skills are in such high demand.
Interested in demonstrating your virtualization knowledge to current or potential employer with VMware certification?
According to a Payscale.com survey, top VMware certified professional salaries are edging near the $100k mark.
Here’s how you can become a VMware Certified Professional.
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