I have been testing and doing presentations on Windows 7 for over 6 months. With Windows 7 officially release, it was time for me to step up to the plate, and move my production workstation over to Windows 7. This is the same workstation that I wrote about two years ago when I made the switch from XP to Vista. So last night I took the plunge and did an in-place upgrade (IPU) of my Vista Ultimate desktop to Windows 7 Ultimate. Yes, I know there are those who will say that a wipe and clean is the only

Windows 7 hits the street today. Find out if your PC is ready for Windows 7 by running the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. If your computer is already running Windows Vista, it should run Windows 7. And there are many reports of people doing successful in-place upgrades of Vista to Windows 7.

With the official release of Windows 7 just a day away, many will be asking: can or should I do an in-place upgrade (IPU) from Vista to Windows 7? Based on recent comments and feedbacks from many of my fellow MVP's, I can summarize my answer as follows: 1. Everyone agrees that doing a clean reload of Windows 7 is always preferred over an in-place upgrade. 2. However, there is also a strong concensus that an in-place upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 works very, very well Some words to the wise

One of the knocks on Windows Home Server (WHS) is that it contains the word 'Home' in its name. If that issue has kept you from selling or installing WHS in businesses, then check out the news from HP -- they have released WHS with a new name: HP StorageWorks X500 Data Vault ! The equipment is almost identical to their HP MediaSmart Server models, except with a faster processor, and SKU's with larger (1TB and 1.5TB drives) in them. I install WHS in all my business client offices -- even

Harry Brelsford, CEO & President of SMB Nation, performed as Elvis at the recently concluded SMB Nation 2009 Fall conference. [View:http://www.kwsupport.com/videos/SMBNation2009_0003.wmv:350:0]

Microsoft's Small Business Server (SBS) has been a mainstay of my business for 8 years, and it is what I propose and install for my clients. If you are interested in using SBS for your small business, be sure to read the following blog post entitled: Why Small Businesses Use Windows Small Business Server?

For more than a year I have been promoting the use of Windows Home Server as a local backup solution in a Small Business Server (SBS2003/SBS2008) environment (per these two blogs: blog1 , blog2 ). I already have WHS installed at most of my SBS customer sites. It now seems as if Microsoft is now willing to say "Yes" -- that using WHS to backup your workstations and servers is a viable and supported scenario! Read more on Microsoft's Technet site.

I hear it all the time ... my customer wants an SBS server, but they don't want to use Exchange. The only reason I can think of why either the customer or the IT consultant would suggest not using Exchange is because they've never used it themselves, and therefore are scared that it's too difficult to install or manage. I have installed SBS servers for almost 9 years. I barely know how to spell Exchange. I find Exchange very easy to manage. But, if you still need convincing, here is a

I hear it all the time ... my customer wants an SBS server, but they don't want to use Exchange. I don't know about you, but the only reason I can think of why either the customer or the IT consultant would suggest not using Exchange is because they've never used it themselves, and therefore are scared that it's too difficult to install or manage. I have installed SBS servers for almost 9 years. I barely know how to spell Exchange, yet I find Exchange very easy to manage. But, if

Ok, so it's been a long time between songs. Life does stay busy, doesn't it? That's why this song seems very appropriate. It was inspired by a recent post on Virtual PC and Windows 7. With a tip of the hat to Dana! He's a real virtual man, Sitting in his virtual land, Connecting to his virtual lans For nobody. Doesn't have a physical view, Knows not where he's loaded to, Isn't he a bit like you and me? Virtual man, please listen, You're not real, just emulatin'