My business requires me to safeguard the security of certain files. For years I have used Encrypted Magic Folders (EMF) from PC-Magic to encrypt those files, and to hide them from the view of an interloper. I loved it, because files were always encrypted on disk and yet were fully accessible to applications. However, when I upgraded to Vista 64, the new EMF crashed my system so completely that it was unbootable even in safe mode. I tried it twice, recovered twice with some difficulty, and gave up on EMF.

In the meantime I had heard about TrueCrypt, an open-source disk encryption package for Windows and Linux. It’s free! I must admit that after I downloaded it, I needed some time to get my mind around it.

Here are the basics:

• Using the TrueCrypt application you create a large “container” file on your system, larger than you will need to hold your encrypted files. It can be on any read/write disk, even a memory stick, and is initially filled with random data.
• The container file can be copied, moved, deleted, or renamed just like any other file. It’s not fragile.

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Microsoft Deployment is the next version of Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007. Microsoft Deployment, the fourth generation deployment accelerator, enables deployment of servers and desktops. Its tools and end-to-end guidance reduce deployment time, Read More……(read more)

This weekend, I decided to “evaluate” all my PC’s on my home network. My main Desktop PC wasn’t performing like I wanted it to and was running a combination of new and old hardware. I had a Test / Work PC running a combination of new and old hardware as well. My Test / Work PC was also running x64 which was something I wanted to move to on my main Desktop PC for quite some time now (I like being on the “bleeding edge”). So I decided to take the best parts of my main Desktop PC and my Test / Work PC and combine them together to create the “Ultimate” Desktop PC for myself. I was pretty satisfied with the results.

Here are the specs of what I ended up with:

• Processor - AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600
• Motherboard - ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe
• Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
• Memory - 4GB
• Keyboard / Mouse - Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000
• Monitor - Dual 24-inch Dell UltraSharp 2407 Flat Panel Displays
• Storage: 160GB Maxtor Harddrive, 160GB Western Digital Harddrive, 320 Western Digital Harddrive

I am also now officially running Windows Vista Ultimate x64

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This weekend, I decided to “evaluate” all my PC’s on my home network. My main Desktop PC wasn’t performing like I wanted it to and was running a combination of new and old hardware. I had a Test / Work PC running a combination of new and old hardware Read More……(read more)

I’m not yet a big fan of Windows Vista, but unless I go to some form of Unix it
is in my future whether I like it or not. The machine I am building will support the fanciest operating system that Microsoft makes, which is 64-bit Windows Vista Ultimate.

It would certainly also support Windows Vista Business, which is about $50 cheaper than Ultimate, but Ultimate has two things I might want that are not in Business:

• Media Center stuff - I could become interested in this, and
• Windows BitLocker, drive encryption.

So I ordered Windows Vista Ultimate, full, not upgrade or OEM, from VioSoftware for $253.22. Note: VioSoftware has two prices for this software package, one if you go to PriceGrabber first and a higher one if you go directly to VioSoftware. There is a $27 difference.

Say you’ve got a server running Windows Server 2003 x86, and you have no CD-ROM drive, and no physical access to the box. The only way to get to it is through RDP. Now, say you want to move it to 64-bit to be able to add more RAM. It should be as simple as mounting an Windows Server x64 ISO and starting the installation from Windows, right?

WRONG, PAL!

You see, installing x64 from inside x86 is not allowed, Microsoft says so. You can’t even do a clean install that way. So you’re thinking, maybe you could do it with Windows Server 2008. right?

WRONG AGAIN! You can’t do a clean install of Windows Server 2008 x64 over Windows Server 2003 x86 either. Any way you slice it, the x64 installer won’t even execute on Windows x86.

I have been dealing with this problem for over a year now. My host, ServerBeach, doesn’t support x64 installations yet, so I’ve been SOL. Last week, I set out to find the solution. ServerBeach graciously offered their assistance, since other clients have been asking for this too, and their support has been amazing.

Well, after beating my head against my desk for the past week, today I finally accomplished it: a completely

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