Service Pack Blocker Tool

By DustinPosted on

As Microsoft is getting ready to roll out Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, there are some that want to do thorough testing before deploying it throughout the organization. For those people, Microsoft has released a blocker tool that stops the user from installing the service pack through Windows Updates.

A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update.

This tool can be used with:

  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (valid for 12 months following general availability of the service pack)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (valid for 12 months following general availability of the service pack)


This toolkit contains three components. All of them function primarily to set or clear a specific registry key that is used to detect and block download of Service Packs from Windows Update. You only need to use the component which best serves your organization’s computer management infrastructure.

  • A Microsoft-signed executable
  • A script
  • An ADM template

    • PC vs. Mac: Blu-ray

    By DustinPosted on

    In the constant battle between the Windows powered PC and the Mac (which is technically a PC), Microsoft has released a new video showing that Windows 7 supports Blu-ray and the Mac is a bit envious. They also have more on their Windows vs. Mac webpage. I just can’t see myself buying a Mac with the same hardware as my Windows PC, and putting Windows 7 on it. The Mac hardware is twice as much as the SAME EXACT hardware for the Windows PC! Who has the higher OS tax, Apple?

    Google Vs. Bing on Windows Phone 7

    By DustinPosted on

    CNET does a simple and sweet review on Google vs. Bing on the new Windows Phone 7. Sadly, Google just half baked their application and it is selling it’s search results rather than a good product. That worked 10 years ago, but not so much these days. Bing, on the other hand, stands out on it’s native Microsoft powered phone.

    Like others, Google Search uses the phone’s GPS to localize searches (on the Samsung Focus, in this case). It hands out search suggestions as you type, but only if you type slowly, we found. It also keeps track of your previous searches, a boon for anyone hoping to bypass typing and repeat a search. Results appear in a browser window, which provides access to image, local, and news results as well as the Web findings.

    And that’s about it. While suggestions and history are nice additions, were hoping for more than a Web shortcut from the Sovereign of Search in its debut Windows Phone app.

    On the other hand, Bing’s more polished app enables voice search and spell check in addition to search suggestions. Bing’s results look more striking as well, since they manifest in an app and not in a browser search results page–just as we expect for an integrated search incumbent. Image results and search history are missing; however, Bing’s local results for “bagel” were mapped in an image and spot on.

    Veterans Day 11-11-2010

    By DustinPosted on

    To soldiers old and new: THANK YOU for your service to this wonderful country. You are appreciated more than you will ever know. Military.com has a few nice articles that are worth reading.

    A Brief History of Veterans Day


    Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

    In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

    In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

    Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

    Tron XBox Controller

    By DustinPosted on

    Well, this just overshadows the previous news story of the new XBox 360 controller. I’m a lifelong fan of Tron, and am awaiting the new refresh of Tron. I just found out about the new Tron XBox 360 controller that will be in my hands very soon! This is definitely a must have for any Tron fan. Just amazing. No wireless, but I’m sure you’d be saving some battery life with the LED’s anyway. Not a lot, but still enough to notice.

    Are you looking forward to the 3D version of Tron? Well, we have news for you – you can definitely soup up your gaming sessions with the Tron Xbox 360 controller for $50. The main drawback we have about this would be the lack of wireless connectivity, but otherwise, you might just prefer to spend your gaming time at nights now with all the lights turned off simply because you want to enjoy the soft glow that makes you think you’re somewhere else instead of your room. The controller itself is pretty responsive, boasting just the right amount of resistance without feeling too loose. As for the triggers, some say that they might feel slightly plasticky, but what do you expect for $50? Perhaps not throwing in wireless is a good thing, since it would require more frequent charging to keep it juiced up for your entertainment.


    New XBox Controller Available

    By DustinPosted on

    Microsoft has released the new XBox 360 controller, and if you have the Wireless Receiver for your PC, it will work with Windows 7 as well. I really need to finish my gaming PC and separate my development/work stuff from my gaming stuff and get one of these! I need more USB ports for my gaming controllers.

    Now, if you happen to have an Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver connected to your Windows PC, guess what? You can use this new controller with your PC to play games just like you could with the older Xbox 360 Wireless Controller. So if you’re like me and prefer using a controller for PC gaming, this might be a good step-up especially with the transforming D-Pad. You can also use the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller to play the in-box games in Windows 7 like Chess Titans. Yes I like playing Chess on my PC with a Xbox 360 Wireless Controller. Truthfully I am really digging Batman: Arkham Asylum (I’ve got the “Game of the Year” Edition) being a huge Batman fan and can’t wait for its sequel and I’m going to be picking up Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 which uses DirectX 11 for some awesome game-play.


    Windows Phone 7: Weak First Day Sales

    By DustinPosted on

    While I’m kind of suspect to the source of this information, it seems like the launch of Windows Phone 7 was less than stellar. Sure, they give reasons as to why it could be so weak, but the source being unknown throws it off a bit for me. (Emphasis mine below).

    Microsoft may have sold 40,000 Windows Phone 7 smartphones during the first day of sales, according to TheStreet.com. That number reportedly came from “a market research source who tracks phone sales.”

    Apple Mac Errors

    By DustinPosted on

    I’ve found that a lot of people make fun of Windows for it’s errors, but what about Mac? So much for the indestructible Mac. It seems that I get a lot more errors that are unrecoverable from Mac’s than I do with Windows. Windows can crash, but it can recover from it easier and there is 99.999% always a fix. Not so with a Mac. Of course, I see mostly errors all day in the line of work I’m in: IT Support.

    And a little bit of humor:

    Google Copies Bing… Again!?

    By DustinPosted on

    Yes, Google has copied Bing once again. Instead of people dissing Google, it’s all Microsoft’s fault (isn’t it always?!). Well, this guy says the opposite and that Microsoft is the good guy.

    Now, I know that some — if not most — of you just looooove to hate on Bing, but there is absolutely no doubt that they’re getting a lot of things *right* in Google’s eyes and that’s the important thing to consider here. While I will be the first to say that I love Google for its search capabilities and I’ve yet to find a search engine that comes even remotely close to giving me the ability to drill down into results the depth and breadth of Google’s index, I think it’s time for some competition and innovation to happen in the search space.