Microsoft

Tech Ed 2006: Hands-on labs Windows Vista

By // June 21, 2006, 10:22 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Tech Ed 2006: Hands-on Labs Windows Vista

    TechRepublic Editor, Bill Detwiler worked through several Windows Vista Hands-on Labs at Tech Ed 2006. This gallery walks you through his experience--including the bugs.

  • Server and Client Labs

    Located in each of the Technical Learning Centers, the Hands-on Labs gave Tech Ed 2006 attendees a chance to play with a variety of Microsoft products.

    As the sign says, the labs in this area focus on Microsoft server and client technologies.

  • Plenty of seats

    Dispite the crowds, I had no trouble finding and empty seat at this Client Hands-on Lab.

  • Gouped by technology

    Within each area, tables are setup for specific technologies--these computers were running client labs.

  • Lab station

    Each lab station consists of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and lab manual. The labs appeared to run on Microsoft Virtual PC and used a custom GUI interface developed by HynesITe, Inc.

  • Lab GUI

    Oon the left, each lab had a section for lab notes, a lab browser, and a task list. In the main lab pane on the right, were the virtual machines--some labs required more than one--and the electronic lab documentation.

  • Virtual PC login

    From here, I can login to the first virtual machine--a Windows XP client--and start the lab. Since this is a virtual PC I had to use Right-Alt-Del instead of the familiar Ctrl-Alt-Del.

  • Windows Server 2003 login

    This lab also created a Windows Server 2003 virutal machine for me to work with.

  • Managing Windows Vista

    This lab was designed to showcase Vista‘s new management features.

  • Lab workbook

    The lab workbook contained the same information as the lab‘s eletronic documentation.

  • Stopping Windows Search Service

    Before beginning the lab, I had to disable the Windows Search Service on this Vista machine. According to one of the lab "instructors", the Windows Vista Search Service was attempting to index the C: on the actual computers on which the labs where running. This made the virtual machines too slow to use.

  • Stopping Windows Search Service

    The Windows Search Service Warning was also in the lab notes.

  • Error Message

    While using the virtual machine‘s MMC, I received this error message. I‘m not sure what I did, but I was able to click OK and continue the lab.

  • Error Message Detail

    Here is the detailed information about the error message I received.

  • Task Scheduler

    During this lab, I created a weekly defrag task that would run on the Vista box.

Tech Ed 2006: Hands-on Labs Windows Vista

TechRepublic Editor, Bill Detwiler worked through several Windows Vista Hands-on Labs at Tech Ed 2006. This gallery walks you through his experience--including the bugs.

Related Topics:

Microsoft Enterprise Software Software Collaboration Mobility Cloud Hardware

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...