What’s New in Power Pack 3

As we are aware Microsoft has just announced the beta for Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (PP3), and here we shall see what’s new.

PP3 improves the Windows Home Server experience with Windows 7 and Windows Media Center by providing the following new features:

• Backup and restore of computers running Windows 7
• Windows 7 Libraries integration
• Addition of Windows Search 4
• Better support for netbook computers
• Enhancements for Windows Media Center

Windows 7 Backup

After the Windows Home Server Connector software has been installed on a computer running Windows 7, Windows 7 Action Center Backup warnings will be suppressed and users will no longer receive a notification to back up their computer when its being handled by WHS.

Windows 7 Libraries

PP3 adds the Music, Photos and Videos shared folders on the home server to Windows 7 Libraries making the content available to Windows Explorer, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player and other applications that use Windows 7 Libraries, allowing users to quickly access all their content in one organized place that is always available, searchable and expandable. Users can also search a specific library without having to know where the files are stored.

Windows Search 4

Windows Search 4 has been included with PP3 to improve query search times, indexing times and reliability. If users are searching across multiple computers, extended remote discovery increases the efficiency of searching across all document libraries. Files encrypted with Encrypting File System (EFS) are also now supported with search.

Netbook Compatibility

PP3 is now compatible with netbook computers that have small screen sizes and low resolution, the console is now fully viewable without scrolling.

Windows Media Center Enhancements

PP2 added the functionality that allowed Windows Media Center and Media Center Extenders to easily access the content on a home server and now with PP3 when the WHS Connector software is installed or updated on a Windows Media Center computer, and the machine restarted they will be prompted to install the Windows Media Center Connector. Upon completion users will notice a new Home Server selection in Windows Media Center menu with the following 2 items within:

• TV Archive
• Console View

TV Archive

This will give you the option to move recorded TV content to the home server in a variety of resolutions. The recorded TV shows are archived in the correct resolution for the type of device that will be used for playback. TV Archive is optimized for Windows Media Center computers, Windows Mobile-based phones, and the Zune player, however, any device capable of playing WMV files can take advantage of this feature.

• TV – Original Resolution
• Windows Mobile – 320 x 240, 500 Kbps, .WMV
• Zune – 640 x 480, 1500 Kbps, .WMV

Users can select individual TV shows, a series of shows, or all TV recordings to automatically be moved to the home server.

Console View

Console View also known as Console Quick View allows users to see statistics about the home server through Windows Media Center and Windows Media Center Extenders. This is a convenient way to view many aspects of the home server without needing to access the WHS Console. This feature allows users to view and monitor a number of home server indicators:

• Storage – Pie chart listing the percentage allocation of the home server storage
• Drives – List, size and health of hard drives installed on the home server
• Backup – List of computers being backed up and their current backup status
• Shared Folders – List of Shared Folders by name with health status and duplication status
• Media Counters – Count of music, photos, videos and recorded TV files on the home server
• Health – Health of the entire home network
• Home Server – System information of the home server’s hardware and manufacturer info

The Windows Home Server Team Blog is stating that no date is available as yet for the final release date although they are hoping for the release to coincide with the release of Windows 7 on October 22. As previous Power Pack’s, PP3 will be a free update to existing Windows Home Server users via Windows Update.

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