SECURE YOUR USB DRIVES WITH BITLOCKER TO GO FOR WINDOWS 7
WHEN MICROSOFT INTRODUCED WINDOWS VISTA, ONE OF THE BIG SECURITY FEATURES IN THAT OPERATING SYSTEM WAS BITLOCKER, A HARD DRIVE ENCRYPTION SCHEME DESIGNED TO PROTECT SENSITIVE DATA FROM BEING ACCESSED ON LOST OR STOLEN COMPUTERS — MAINLY LAPTOPS.
WITH THE HUGE INCREASE IN THE USE OF VERY SMALL, LARGE CAPACITY, USB DRIVES, THE POTENTIAL FOR SENSITIVE DATA TO BE LOST OR STOLEN HAS REALLY BECOME MORE OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS MUCH EASIER TO LOSE OR STEAL A DEVICE NO BIGGER THAN A PACKAGE OF CHEWING GUM. TO PROTECT SENSITIVE DATA STORED ON USB DRIVES, MICROSOFT WINDOWS 7 FEATURES THE ENCRYPTIONS SCHEME CALLED BITLOCKER TO GO.
IN THIS EDITION OF THE WINDOWS VISTA AND WINDOWS 7 REPORT, I’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO BITLOCKER TO GO AND SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS ON A 1GB USB THUMB DRIVE.
THIS BLOG POST IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT AS A FREE TECHREPUBLIC DOWNLOAD AND AS A TECHREPUBLIC PHOTO GALLERY.
HOW IT WORKS
BASICALLY, BITLOCKER TO GO ALLOWS YOU TO ENCRYPT A USB DRIVE AND RESTRICT ACCESS WITH A PASSWORD. WITHOUT THE PASSWORD, THE USB DRIVE IS WORTHLESS. WHEN YOU CONNECT THE USB DRIVE TO A WINDOWS 7 COMPUTER, YOU ARE PROMPTED FOR THE PASSWORD AND UPON ENTERING IT YOU CAN READ AND WRITE TO THE DRIVE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD.
DURING THE ENCRYPTION PROCESS, WINDOWS 7 INSTALLS A SPECIAL READER ON THE USB DRIVE. WHEN YOU CONNECT THE USB DRIVE TO A COMPUTER RUNNING XP OR VISTA, THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER TAKES CONTROL, PROMPTS FOR THE PASSWORD, AND THEN BASICALLY MAKES THE USB DRIVE A READ-ONLY DEVICE.
BITLOCKER TO GO CAN BE USED BY BOTH HOME AND BUSINESS USERS. IN A DOMAIN SYSTEM, IT ADMINISTRATORS CAN CONFIGURE A POLICY THAT REQUIRES USERS TO APPLY BITLOCKER PROTECTION TO REMOVABLE DRIVES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO WRITE TO THEM. FURTHERMORE, THE POLICY CAN SPECIFY PASSWORD LENGTH AS WELL AS COMPLEXITY.
FOR A COMPARISON, CHECK OUT “PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: IRONKEY ENCRYPTED FLASH DRIVE.”
SETTING UP A USB DRIVE
SETTING UP BITLOCKER TO GO ON A USB DRIVE IS A SIMPLE PROCEDURE. ONCE YOU INSERT A USB DRIVE, RIGHT-CLICK ON IT AND SELECT THE TURN ON BITLOCKER COMMAND FROM THE MENU, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE A.
FIGURE A
WHEN YOU RIGHT-CLICK ON A USB DRIVE IN WINDOWS 7, YOU’LL SEE THE TURN ON BITLOCKER COMMAND.
AS SOON AS YOU DO, BITLOCKER TO GO WILL BEGIN INITIALIZING YOUR USB DRIVE, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE B. THE PROCESS IS NONDESTRUCTIVE, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY DATA THAT IS ALREADY ON THE DRIVE.
FIGURE B
WHEN BITLOCKER TO GO INITIALIZES YOUR USB DRIVE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY DATA THAT IS ALREADY ON THE DRIVE.
ONCE THE INITIALIZATION PROCESS IS COMPLETE, BITLOCKER TO GO WILL PROMPT YOU TO SET UP A PASSWORD THAT YOU WILL USE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVE, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE C. IF YOU HAVE A SMART CARD, YOU CAN USE ITS PIN TO UNLOCK THE DRIVE.
FIGURE C
YOU CAN USE A PASSWORD OR A SMART CARD TO UNLOCK A BITLOCKER TO GO PROTECTED DRIVE.
AFTER YOU SET UP A PASSWORD OR USE A SMART CARD, BITLOCKER TO GO WILL PROMPT YOU TO STORE A RECOVERY KEY, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE D. YOU CAN USE THE RECOVERY KEY TO UNLOCK YOUR DRIVE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU FORGET THE PASSWORD OR LOSE YOUR SMART CARD.
FIGURE D
TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON’T LOCK YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR DRIVE, BITLOCKER TO GO WILL CREATE A RECOVERY KEY.
WHEN YOU CREATE THE PASSWORD AND SAVE YOUR RECOVERY KEY, YOU’LL BE PROMPTED TO BEGIN THE ENCRYPTION PROCESS, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE E.
FIGURE E
YOU’LL BE PROMPTED TO BEGIN THE ENCRYPTION PROCESS ONCE YOU SAVE THE RECOVERY KEY.
DURING THE ENCRYPTION PROCESS, YOU’LL SEE A STANDARD PROGRESS MONITOR THAT WILL KEEP YOU APPRISED OF THE OPERATION, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE F. THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS WILL DEPEND ON HOW LARGE THE DRIVE IS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A PAUSE BUTTON THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO TEMPORARILY HALT THE PROCESS SHOULD YOU NEED TO PERFORM ANOTHER TASK.
FIGURE F
A PROGRESS MONITOR WILL KEEP YOU APPRISED OF THE ENCRYPTION PROCESS.
OF COURSE, ONCE THE ENCRYPTION IS COMPLETE, BITLOCKER TO GO DISPLAYS A CONFIRMATION DIALOG BOX AND CHANGES THE ICON ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENCRYPTED DRIVE, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE G.
FIGURE G
WHEN THE ENCRYPTION IS COMPLETE, YOU’LL NOTICE THAT THE DRIVE ICON SHOWS A LOCK ON THE DRIVE.
USING A BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN WINDOWS 7
WHEN YOU LATER INSERT THE BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN THE WINDOWS 7 SYSTEM, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY BE PROMPTED TO ENTER THE PASSWORD, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE H. IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN SELECT THE SHOW PASSWORD CHARACTERS AS I TYPE THEM CHECK BOX, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE LETTERS; OTHERWISE, YOU’LL SEE ASTERISKS. AFTER YOU TYPE THE PASSWORD, YOU CAN SELECT THE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK ON THIS COMPUTER FROM NOW ON CHECK BOX TO STORE THE PASSWORD IN WINDOWS 7’S PASSWORD CACHE.
FIGURE H
WHEN YOU INSERT THE BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN WINDOWS 7 SYSTEM, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY BE PROMPTED FOR A PASSWORD.
ONCE YOU CLICK UNLOCK, YOU’LL SEE AN AUTOPLAY DIALOG BOX THAT PROMPTS YOU TO VIEW THE FILES OR USE READYBOOST, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE I. WHEN YOU CLICK THE OPEN FOLDER TO VIEW FILES BUTTON, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE DRIVE AND ITS CONTENTS AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD.
FIGURE I
WHEN THE AUTOPLAY DIALOG BOX APPEARS, CLICK THE OPEN FOLDER TO VIEW FILES BUTTON.
USING A BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN WINDOWS XP/VISTA
WHEN YOU INSERT THE BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN A WINDOWS XP OR VISTA SYSTEM, YOU WILL SEE AN AUTOPLAY DIALOG BOX THAT PROMPTS YOU TO INSTALL THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE J. WHEN YOU CLICK THIS BUTTON, IT WILL TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO INSTALL AND RUN THE READER.
FIGURE J
WHEN YOU INSERT THE BITLOCKER TO GO ENCRYPTED DRIVE IN A WINDOWS XP OR VISTA SYSTEM, YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO INSTALL THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER.
YOU’LL THEN SEE THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER DIALOG BOX, WHICH WILL PROMPT YOU TO ENTER YOUR PASSWORD, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE K. NOTICE THAT THE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK ON THIS COMPUTER FROM NOW ON CHECK BOX IS MISSING FROM THIS DIALOG BOX. HOWEVER, THE SHOW PASSWORD CHARACTERS CHECK BOX IS STILL AVAILABLE.
FIGURE K
BITLOCKER TO GO READER WILL PROMPT YOU TO ENTER YOUR PASSWORD.
AFTER YOU TYPE THE PASSWORD AND CLICK THE UNLOCK BUTTON, YOU’LL SEE THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER WINDOW, WHICH ESSENTIALLY LOOKS LIKE WINDOWS EXPLORER, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE L. HOWEVER, IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE WINDOWS EXPLORER.
FIGURE L
THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER WINDOW ALLOWS YOU TO ACCESS FILES ON AN ENCRYPTED DRIVE ON A WINDOWS XP OR VISTA SYSTEM.
IF YOU ATTEMPT TO OPEN ANY FILE BY DOUBLE-CLICKING IT IN THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER WINDOW, YOU’LL IMMEDIATELY BE PROMPTED TO COPY THE FILE TO THE DESKTOP, AS SHOWN IN FIGURE M — YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE FILE ON THE USB DRIVE.
FIGURE M
YOU CANNOT OPEN FILES ON AN ENCRYPTED DRIVE FROM THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER.
IF YOU ATTEMPT TO COPY A FILE FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER WINDOW, YOU’LL IMMEDIATELY SEE THE ERROR MESSAGE SHOWN IN FIGURE N.
FIGURE N
YOU CANNOT COPY FILES TO AN ENCRYPTED DRIVE FROM THE BITLOCKER TO GO READER.
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BITLOCKER TO GO? WILL YOU USE IT WHEN YOU GET WINDOWS 7? ARE YOU USING IT ALREADY? AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR INFORMATION TO SHARE ABOUT THIS TOPIC, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO DROP BY THE TECHREPUBLIC COMMUNITY FORUMS AND LET US HEAR FROM YOU.
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Monday, April 26, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
End of support for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista RTM
End of support for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista RTM
As we announced in 2008, support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010. Support for Windows 2000 will end on the same date. Support for Windows Vista Release to Manufacturing (RTM) will end on April 13, 2010.
NOTE: There is no Service Pack 3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you are on the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014.
To find out if you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP, right-click My Computer, then click Properties. If you do not see "64-bit" listed, then you are running the 32-bit version and you need to install Service Pack 3 . If "64-bit" is listed under System, then you are running the 64-bit version.
Customers running an unsupported version of Windows or service pack will not be eligible for any of our support options. Updates, including security updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Security Response Center, will be reviewed and built for the supported versions and service packs only. The most current service packs are available to organizations, and they are easily deployed via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services/Microsoft System Center, and the Microsoft Download Center. To better understand the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy and your support options visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle page.
There is no supported migration path from Windows 2000 to Windows 7 using the Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT). You will need to upgrade to Windows XP and then migrate to Windows 7 using USMT 4.0, a tool included with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). For more information on Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server End of Support visit Windows 2000 End of Support Solution Center.
Updating your Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 2000 PCs before the end of mainstream support dates will ensure your PCs stay supported and receive security updates. The best way to be secure and supported is by migrating to Windows 7.
■Small and midsize businesses should migrate to Windows 7 Professional, which is designed to help you work the way you want, help you get more done, and safeguard your work.
■Larger organizations should migrate to Windows 7 Enterprise, which enables enterprise users to be more productive from anywhere, manage risk through enhanced security and control, and reduce costs through streamlined PC management.
■There are tools to help test and mitigate application compatibility issues, including the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, Windows XP Mode, and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) to help migration. To learn more about these tools, visit the Springboard Series on TechNet.
■Upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 improves the level of protection against current and emerging online threats
As we announced in 2008, support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010. Support for Windows 2000 will end on the same date. Support for Windows Vista Release to Manufacturing (RTM) will end on April 13, 2010.
NOTE: There is no Service Pack 3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you are on the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014.
To find out if you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP, right-click My Computer, then click Properties. If you do not see "64-bit" listed, then you are running the 32-bit version and you need to install Service Pack 3 . If "64-bit" is listed under System, then you are running the 64-bit version.
Customers running an unsupported version of Windows or service pack will not be eligible for any of our support options. Updates, including security updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Security Response Center, will be reviewed and built for the supported versions and service packs only. The most current service packs are available to organizations, and they are easily deployed via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services/Microsoft System Center, and the Microsoft Download Center. To better understand the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy and your support options visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle page.
There is no supported migration path from Windows 2000 to Windows 7 using the Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT). You will need to upgrade to Windows XP and then migrate to Windows 7 using USMT 4.0, a tool included with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). For more information on Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server End of Support visit Windows 2000 End of Support Solution Center.
Updating your Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 2000 PCs before the end of mainstream support dates will ensure your PCs stay supported and receive security updates. The best way to be secure and supported is by migrating to Windows 7.
■Small and midsize businesses should migrate to Windows 7 Professional, which is designed to help you work the way you want, help you get more done, and safeguard your work.
■Larger organizations should migrate to Windows 7 Enterprise, which enables enterprise users to be more productive from anywhere, manage risk through enhanced security and control, and reduce costs through streamlined PC management.
■There are tools to help test and mitigate application compatibility issues, including the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, Windows XP Mode, and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) to help migration. To learn more about these tools, visit the Springboard Series on TechNet.
■Upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 improves the level of protection against current and emerging online threats
Monday, April 19, 2010
How do you get to Windows 7 Network configuration
At first glance there aren’t too many differences between configuring Windows 7 networking and configuring Windows Vista networking. However, there are important differences once you start using Windows 7. Let us find them out.
Navigation – getting to Windows 7 Network Configuration
How do you get to Windows 7 Network configuration? Just go to the Start Menu, then to Control Panel, and click onNetwork and Internet. You also can get to your network configuration, using the same navigation path in Windows Vista. However, when you get to the Network and Internet settings in Windows Vista, you will see a lot more options. Let us compare by starting with the Windows 7 Network and Internet window (shown in Figure 1, below).
Figure 1: Windows 7 Network and Internet Configuration
As you can see this new Windows 7 configuration window offers you a few new choices and a few old choices but, overall, not a lot of choices to choose from. We are used to seeing both the Network and Sharing Center and the Internet Options but the HomeGroup is new. I will come back to HomeGroup and the new and improved Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7, below.
Now let us compare what we saw in Windows 7 to the Network and Internet configuration in Windows Vista, shown in Figure 2, below:
Figure 2: Windows Vista Network and Internet Configuration
The first thing you notice is that there are tons of options to choose from in Vista. However, I do not think that this is such a good thing as some of these seem much less important than others. For example, I don’t think that the Windows Firewall or Offline Files deserve their own section here (these are removed in Windows 7).
Windows 7 Network and Sharing Center
99% of the time, in Windows 7 or Vista, to configure networking, you are going to click on the Network and Sharing Center. It offers the most functionality and the most common tasks that a Windows Vista or 7 Administrator would perform. So, let us look at how the Network and Sharing Center differs between these two operating systems.
First, here is the Network and Sharing Center from Windows Vista that most of us are familiar with:
Figure 3: Windows Vista Network and Sharing Center
Now, let us compare that to Windows 7’s Network and Sharing Center, below in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Windows 7 Network and Sharing Center
One of the big differences is caused by these two computers being different. The Vista computer has many more network adaptors as compared to the Windows 7 computer. That aside, as you can see, the Windows 7 computer actually has many fewer options than the Vista computer. Options have been removed from the left navigation and the Sharing and Discovery options have been removed from the main window. These options have just been moved to other sections.
The Network and Sharing options have been moved to the Choose homegroup and sharing options window (which we will look at in a minute). The left navigation options shown on the Vista computer have just been moved to the level above this, Network and Internet.
What I like about the new Windows 7 Network and Sharing center is that the less related options have been moved off to reduce the clutter on the page. There are two things that I do not care for, concerning the changes with the Network and Sharing center:
• Why did they remove the Sharing and Discovery options from this page? I mean, it is not that what the Network and Sharing center should have – sharing and discovery options?
• Also, I have never cared for how in Vista or Windows 7 there are no technical networking details on the network and sharing center page. I should be able to see if I have an IP address here. I should be able to see if it is 169.254.xxx.xxx automatic (useless) IP address or if it is a real IP address. I would think that they would have added / improved this in Windows 7.
What about Windows 7 Homegroup?
Above, I mentioned Windows 7 homegroup. What is this? Well, this is new in Windows 7. A homegroup is a simple way to link computers on your home network together so that they can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers. There is just a single password that is used to access the homegroup, making creating it and connecting to it easy.
If you click on Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options from the Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7, you will see this window (assuming your network location is not Home):
Figure 5: Homegroup and sharing options in Windows 7
If you change your network location to Home, you will see the option to create a homegroup. Or if you come to theChoose Homegroup and sharing options page when your network location is set to home, then you can chooseCreate now and create your new homegroup.
Figure 6: Creating a Windows 7 Homegroup
You will be able to select what you want to share in the homegroup.
Figure 7: Viewing the Windows 7 Password to connect to the homegroup
And you will be given a single password, used on other computers, to connect to the homegroup.
When you are done, the Homegroup and Sharing center will look something like this:
Figure 8: Windows 7 Homegroup configured
Fix a network problem
My favorite change to Windows 7 networking is the update to Vista’s diagnose and repair. In Windows 7 if you want to get assistance fixing a network issue, you just click Fix a network problem. Sound simple and clear, right? That’s what I like about it.
From Windows 7 Network and Sharing, if you click Fix a Network Problem, you get this window, asking you want you want to fix:
Figure 9: Fixing a Network Problem
Windows 7 will go through and attempt to fix any network issues that you select. It will even ask you if you want to fix it as a Windows Administrator. Here is what fixing a homegroup looks like:
Figure 10: Fixing a network problem
Navigation – getting to Windows 7 Network Configuration
How do you get to Windows 7 Network configuration? Just go to the Start Menu, then to Control Panel, and click onNetwork and Internet. You also can get to your network configuration, using the same navigation path in Windows Vista. However, when you get to the Network and Internet settings in Windows Vista, you will see a lot more options. Let us compare by starting with the Windows 7 Network and Internet window (shown in Figure 1, below).
Figure 1: Windows 7 Network and Internet Configuration
As you can see this new Windows 7 configuration window offers you a few new choices and a few old choices but, overall, not a lot of choices to choose from. We are used to seeing both the Network and Sharing Center and the Internet Options but the HomeGroup is new. I will come back to HomeGroup and the new and improved Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7, below.
Now let us compare what we saw in Windows 7 to the Network and Internet configuration in Windows Vista, shown in Figure 2, below:
Figure 2: Windows Vista Network and Internet Configuration
The first thing you notice is that there are tons of options to choose from in Vista. However, I do not think that this is such a good thing as some of these seem much less important than others. For example, I don’t think that the Windows Firewall or Offline Files deserve their own section here (these are removed in Windows 7).
Windows 7 Network and Sharing Center
99% of the time, in Windows 7 or Vista, to configure networking, you are going to click on the Network and Sharing Center. It offers the most functionality and the most common tasks that a Windows Vista or 7 Administrator would perform. So, let us look at how the Network and Sharing Center differs between these two operating systems.
First, here is the Network and Sharing Center from Windows Vista that most of us are familiar with:
Figure 3: Windows Vista Network and Sharing Center
Now, let us compare that to Windows 7’s Network and Sharing Center, below in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Windows 7 Network and Sharing Center
One of the big differences is caused by these two computers being different. The Vista computer has many more network adaptors as compared to the Windows 7 computer. That aside, as you can see, the Windows 7 computer actually has many fewer options than the Vista computer. Options have been removed from the left navigation and the Sharing and Discovery options have been removed from the main window. These options have just been moved to other sections.
The Network and Sharing options have been moved to the Choose homegroup and sharing options window (which we will look at in a minute). The left navigation options shown on the Vista computer have just been moved to the level above this, Network and Internet.
What I like about the new Windows 7 Network and Sharing center is that the less related options have been moved off to reduce the clutter on the page. There are two things that I do not care for, concerning the changes with the Network and Sharing center:
• Why did they remove the Sharing and Discovery options from this page? I mean, it is not that what the Network and Sharing center should have – sharing and discovery options?
• Also, I have never cared for how in Vista or Windows 7 there are no technical networking details on the network and sharing center page. I should be able to see if I have an IP address here. I should be able to see if it is 169.254.xxx.xxx automatic (useless) IP address or if it is a real IP address. I would think that they would have added / improved this in Windows 7.
What about Windows 7 Homegroup?
Above, I mentioned Windows 7 homegroup. What is this? Well, this is new in Windows 7. A homegroup is a simple way to link computers on your home network together so that they can share pictures, music, videos, documents, and printers. There is just a single password that is used to access the homegroup, making creating it and connecting to it easy.
If you click on Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options from the Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7, you will see this window (assuming your network location is not Home):
Figure 5: Homegroup and sharing options in Windows 7
If you change your network location to Home, you will see the option to create a homegroup. Or if you come to theChoose Homegroup and sharing options page when your network location is set to home, then you can chooseCreate now and create your new homegroup.
Figure 6: Creating a Windows 7 Homegroup
You will be able to select what you want to share in the homegroup.
Figure 7: Viewing the Windows 7 Password to connect to the homegroup
And you will be given a single password, used on other computers, to connect to the homegroup.
When you are done, the Homegroup and Sharing center will look something like this:
Figure 8: Windows 7 Homegroup configured
Fix a network problem
My favorite change to Windows 7 networking is the update to Vista’s diagnose and repair. In Windows 7 if you want to get assistance fixing a network issue, you just click Fix a network problem. Sound simple and clear, right? That’s what I like about it.
From Windows 7 Network and Sharing, if you click Fix a Network Problem, you get this window, asking you want you want to fix:
Figure 9: Fixing a Network Problem
Windows 7 will go through and attempt to fix any network issues that you select. It will even ask you if you want to fix it as a Windows Administrator. Here is what fixing a homegroup looks like:
Figure 10: Fixing a network problem
Windows 7 consumer security software providers
Windows 7 consumer security software providers
We recommend that you install security software to help protect your computer from viruses and other security threats, and that you keep your security software up to date.
Some companies use products that appear to be antivirus programs to install viruses or malware on your computer. When you install the program, you might also be installing the virus or other malware, without knowing it. Many companies, including those listed on this page, distribute antivirus programs. You should carefully investigate the source of antivirus and other products before downloading and installing them.
The companies listed below provide consumer security software that is compatible with Windows 7. Just click the company name to see the Windows 7-compatible product they offer. For business security software that is compatible with Windows 7, please visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center or contact your security vendor of choice.
Important: Before you install antivirus software, check to make sure you don't already have an antivirus product on your computer. If you do, be sure to remove the product you don't want before you install the new one. It can cause problems on your computer to have two different antivirus products installed at the same time.
Microsoft is actively working with the partners listed on this page and additional security independent software vendors (ISVs) to provide security software solutions tested on Windows 7.
* F-Secure
* Sunbelt Software
* Zone Alarm
* Panda
* AVG
* CA
* Quick Heal
* Kaspersky Lab
* Avast!
* BitDefender
* BullGuard
* Gdata
* Norman
* AhnLab
* Symantec
* Rising
* Webroot
* Microsoft Security Essentials
* Trend Micro
* McAfee
* PC Tools
* K7
* ESET
We recommend that you install security software to help protect your computer from viruses and other security threats, and that you keep your security software up to date.
Some companies use products that appear to be antivirus programs to install viruses or malware on your computer. When you install the program, you might also be installing the virus or other malware, without knowing it. Many companies, including those listed on this page, distribute antivirus programs. You should carefully investigate the source of antivirus and other products before downloading and installing them.
The companies listed below provide consumer security software that is compatible with Windows 7. Just click the company name to see the Windows 7-compatible product they offer. For business security software that is compatible with Windows 7, please visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center or contact your security vendor of choice.
Important: Before you install antivirus software, check to make sure you don't already have an antivirus product on your computer. If you do, be sure to remove the product you don't want before you install the new one. It can cause problems on your computer to have two different antivirus products installed at the same time.
Microsoft is actively working with the partners listed on this page and additional security independent software vendors (ISVs) to provide security software solutions tested on Windows 7.
* F-Secure
* Sunbelt Software
* Zone Alarm
* Panda
* AVG
* CA
* Quick Heal
* Kaspersky Lab
* Avast!
* BitDefender
* BullGuard
* Gdata
* Norman
* AhnLab
* Symantec
* Rising
* Webroot
* Microsoft Security Essentials
* Trend Micro
* McAfee
* PC Tools
* K7
* ESET
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Activation Crack, Win7..Enjoy :P
How to Activate Windows 7 (Seven) Beta M 1 Build 6519.1.071220-1525 with Activation Crack
Windows 7 (Seven) code drop in the form of Milestone 1 build version 6.1.6519.1 release 6519.1.071220-1525, which has been leaked to torrent site for free download via BT network. Windows 7, as it’s built from Windows Vista, requires product activation for continuous use, else the activation grace period (also is the evaluation period) will expire in 30 days if it’s not activated.
As normal user who is not exclusive partner of Microsoft, it’s almost impossible to get a hand on a legit product key to activate Windows 7 Beta M1 online. So hackers have managed to a crack method to activate Windows 7, by replacing the file related to software licensing with a Windows Vista version, and then activating Windows 7 using OEM emulation method that popularly used to activate Windows Vista.
1. Burn the Windows 7 Beta ISO to a DVD disc. If you intend to install Windows 7 on a virtual machine using Virtual PC 2007 or VMWare Server or other, simply mount the DVD image to the virtual machine.
2. Set the clock time of the computer in BIOS to 2nd December 2007. This step is to ensure that after installation of Windows 7 Beta M1, user will be able to log on to the desktop to perform the rest of the activation bypass crack steps, and to ensure that you have adequate time to use Windows 7 as the code expires in June 2008.
If you didn’t manage to change the time, and encounter Reduced Functionality Mode, here’s the trick to bypass, recover from RFM to log on to desktop.
3. Install Windows 7 Beta without entering any product key.
4. Download and unpack Win7_Activator.rar (alternate download link).
5. Click on Start menu, type Services in Start Search text box, and hit Enter.
6. In the Services control panel, locate Software Licensing service, and then change the “Startup type” to Disabled.
7. Reboot the computer.
8. Open Windows Explorer and browse to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLicensing folder.
9. Delete or rename (recommended) the original tokens.dat file in the folder.
10. Copy the “extracted from Windows Vista” tokens.dat from the downloaded archive into the SoftwareLicensing folder.
11. Click on Start menu, type Services in Start Search text box, and hit Enter.
12. In the Services control panel, locate Software Licensing service, and then change the “Startup type” to Automatic.
13. Run the activation.exe in the downloaded archive. It’s actually a Vista Loader OEM BIOS emulator installer (see more information about Vista Loader). So, activate the Windows 7 as if it’s a Windows Vista Ultimate OEM system.
Note: Ignore any error and warning messages that may happen.
14. Restart the computer.
15. After reboot, Windows 7 will ask for a product CD key. Use the following product key to activate full version of Windows 7:
6F2D7-2PCG6-YQQTB-FWK9V-932CC
Windows 7 M1 is now activated and available for use without restriction. However, the Milestone 1 (version 6519.1) of Windows 7 has the expiry date of June 2008 even though it has been activated.
Another activation crack for Windows 7 is TimerNuke (probably works for all versions and builds), which disable the activation!
Actually, no activation crack is required for Windows 7 Beta, as genuine activatable Windows 7 product keys are available.
Related Articles
* TimerNuke Crack Free Download to Disable Activation of Windows 7 and Server 2008
* Frakenbuild Activation Crack Resurrected to Activate Windows 7
* Use Rearm to Reset and Extend No-Activation Grace Period on Windows 7 Build 6956
* How to Recover from (Remove) Windows 7 Frankenbuild PlusPatch Crack or Orbit30 Activator to Activate with Genuine Product Key
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Windows 7 (Seven) code drop in the form of Milestone 1 build version 6.1.6519.1 release 6519.1.071220-1525, which has been leaked to torrent site for free download via BT network. Windows 7, as it’s built from Windows Vista, requires product activation for continuous use, else the activation grace period (also is the evaluation period) will expire in 30 days if it’s not activated.
As normal user who is not exclusive partner of Microsoft, it’s almost impossible to get a hand on a legit product key to activate Windows 7 Beta M1 online. So hackers have managed to a crack method to activate Windows 7, by replacing the file related to software licensing with a Windows Vista version, and then activating Windows 7 using OEM emulation method that popularly used to activate Windows Vista.
1. Burn the Windows 7 Beta ISO to a DVD disc. If you intend to install Windows 7 on a virtual machine using Virtual PC 2007 or VMWare Server or other, simply mount the DVD image to the virtual machine.
2. Set the clock time of the computer in BIOS to 2nd December 2007. This step is to ensure that after installation of Windows 7 Beta M1, user will be able to log on to the desktop to perform the rest of the activation bypass crack steps, and to ensure that you have adequate time to use Windows 7 as the code expires in June 2008.
If you didn’t manage to change the time, and encounter Reduced Functionality Mode, here’s the trick to bypass, recover from RFM to log on to desktop.
3. Install Windows 7 Beta without entering any product key.
4. Download and unpack Win7_Activator.rar (alternate download link).
5. Click on Start menu, type Services in Start Search text box, and hit Enter.
6. In the Services control panel, locate Software Licensing service, and then change the “Startup type” to Disabled.
7. Reboot the computer.
8. Open Windows Explorer and browse to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareLicensing folder.
9. Delete or rename (recommended) the original tokens.dat file in the folder.
10. Copy the “extracted from Windows Vista” tokens.dat from the downloaded archive into the SoftwareLicensing folder.
11. Click on Start menu, type Services in Start Search text box, and hit Enter.
12. In the Services control panel, locate Software Licensing service, and then change the “Startup type” to Automatic.
13. Run the activation.exe in the downloaded archive. It’s actually a Vista Loader OEM BIOS emulator installer (see more information about Vista Loader). So, activate the Windows 7 as if it’s a Windows Vista Ultimate OEM system.
Note: Ignore any error and warning messages that may happen.
14. Restart the computer.
15. After reboot, Windows 7 will ask for a product CD key. Use the following product key to activate full version of Windows 7:
6F2D7-2PCG6-YQQTB-FWK9V-932CC
Windows 7 M1 is now activated and available for use without restriction. However, the Milestone 1 (version 6519.1) of Windows 7 has the expiry date of June 2008 even though it has been activated.
Another activation crack for Windows 7 is TimerNuke (probably works for all versions and builds), which disable the activation!
Actually, no activation crack is required for Windows 7 Beta, as genuine activatable Windows 7 product keys are available.
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* Use Rearm to Reset and Extend No-Activation Grace Period on Windows 7 Build 6956
* How to Recover from (Remove) Windows 7 Frankenbuild PlusPatch Crack or Orbit30 Activator to Activate with Genuine Product Key
* Windows Vista Activation Activators and Cracks AIO (All-in-One)
* Download Windows 7 Milestone 1 (M1) Build 6.1.6519.1 Leaked BT Download
* 15 Windows 7 Pre-Release Preview MAK Unlimited Activation Product Keys
* Download Windows Vista RC1 Direct from Microsoft and Product Key Crack
* Download 64-bit Windows 7 6801 Pre-Beta ISO (Microsoft.Windows.7.64Bit.Build.6801.DVD-WinBeta Torrent)
* TimerNuke Uninstall and Removal Script for Windows 7 and Server 2008
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