Exclusive 25% Discount on WHS Training Videos

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We brought details of the new video training from Train Signal on Windows Home Server the other day and we have negotiated a discount code with them which will enable you to receive a 25% discount of the already discounted price of $199.95 saving you an extra $49.99, bringing the total cost down to $149.96 less than half price of the original cost.

To purchase at this price make sure you use the Discount Code of mswhs25 during checkout. This offer is valid thru to March 18th 2008.

http://www.trainsignal.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=109

Add-In: Vista Caller-ID

The Vista Caller-ID WHS Add-in is designed specifically for Windows Home Server networks that include one or more Vista Caller-ID client machines.

Vista Caller-ID 1

Vista Caller-ID is an on-demand Caller ID log file aggregator add-in where the Caller ID history is centrally stored on the WHS Caller ID database with basic but useful features such as sort and find and of course remote access, where you may check a missed call from work or on the road.

Some key features of the Vista Caller-ID WHS Add-in include:

  • Integrates seamlessly with the WHS Console
  • Centralized Caller ID history management
  • Remotely view Caller ID information
  • On-demand aggregation (low-resource footprint)

Vista Caller-ID 2

To use this add-in you need a:

  • Caller ID service provided by local telephone company or compatible VoIP
  • Caller ID capable hardware / drivers (client PC running Vista Caller-ID)

Currently available in beta you may request a copy from the developer’s site

http://www.vistacallerid.com/windows-home-server-callerid

Data Corruption Issue (946676) Updated

The Microsoft Knowledge Base article 946676 has been updated today regarding When you use certain programs to edit files on a home computer that uses Windows Home Server, the files may become corrupted when you save them to the home server.

Microsoft has successfully reproduced corruptions for the following nine programs:

  • Windows Vista Photo Gallery
  • Windows Live Photo Gallery
  • Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
  • Microsoft Office OneNote 2003
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
  • Microsoft Money 2007
  • SyncToy 2.0 Beta
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • uTorrent

The list has been updated to show which programs have been reported by customers as having caused corruptions. However, Microsoft has not yet been able to reproduce corruptions for the following:

  • Photoshop Elements
  • Zune Software
  • Apple iTunes
  • TagScanner
  • Mozilla Thunderbird
  • Adobe Lightroom
  • Intuit Quicken
  • MS Digital Image Library
  • MP3BookHelper
  • ACDSee
  • WinAmp
  • Windows Media Player 11
  • Microsoft Office Excel
  • Visual DataFlex

It is also stated that you may also experience this issue when you use other programs that are not listed here, as the problem is still being researched. It is still recommended that you do NOT save or edit the program-specific files on the Home Server. But remember this issue ONLY affects Windows Home Server systems that have more than one hard disk drive added to the server storage.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 looks very similar to WHS

We have some screen shots of the new Windows Small Business Server 2008 for you. Do they look familiar to you?

SBS_BusinessCapacity

SBS_ProtectData

Taken from the Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 pages. Thanks to Bob Crook for bringing it to our attention.

Windows Home Server Training Videos

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The leading provider of IT training products Train Signal Inc have released over 12 hours of instructor-led training videos for Windows Home Server which show you how to take advantage of WHS to make your digital environment simpler, more organized and more secure.

The training is designed for regular PC users who may have very little technical expertise–and not just IT professionals. It explains everything you need to know to install, run and maintain a Home Server so you can consolidate all of your documents, pictures, music, and videos into a single secure place.

Gary Eimerman, Train Signal’s Director of Sales and Marketing says “Our training shows you how to take advantage of every option and feature that is available” within WHS.

The comprehensive high-quality, instructor-led training tool uses fun, interactive scenarios that show you how to:

  • manage all their home computers through the Windows Home Server console
  • create user accounts, set permissions and download security updates
  • share and access files from any PC in the house with an Internet connection
  • turn their Windows Home Server into a digital video recorder
  • centralize backup and recovery to easily protect data from hard drive failure and other disasters
  • automatically backup and restore PCs
  • gain remote access to files and PCs
  • connect an xBox to their Windows Home Server

The training videos are taught by Scott Lowe (MCSE, CNA), who has more than 14 years of experience and serves as chief information officer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and he also authors technical articles for Microsoft and CNet’s TechRepublic.

A preview video and a full list of the video’s content is available at TrainSignal’s site, who are currently offering the Windows Home Server Training Videos for $199.95 instead of the usual $299.95 with a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

http://www.trainsignal.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=109

Norco DS-520G Network Storage Appliance Review

Back in October (2007) of last year we gave you details of the DS-520 Home Server NAS Appliance from Norco Technologies which is available as two separate models the DS-520F provides Dual 10/100 Ethernet and a 600MHz Processor whilst the DS-520G has Dual Gigabit Ethernet and a 1GHz Processor and in both instances the processor is an Intel ULV Celeron M.

Norco ExtremeTech

For those of you after more information tech site ExtremeTech has posted a 4 page review for your eager eyes here.

How To Use Time Machine with Windows Home Server

Blogger Jeremy Jones has a Mac Mini, MacBook and a MacBook Pro and shows us how to back them all up using iTimeMachine to Windows Home Server.

whs time machine

Read the full post here.

The Week in Review – Sunday's Summary

What was going on this week at mswhs.com? Here’s your chance to catch-up if you missed something!

  • Add-In: Client Info 2.0.0.1
    • Client Info by Eric Maurer has been updated to version 2.0.0.1. The add-in enables you to see hardware information about your home server and all client computers; including processor, memory, IP address, drive size, drive temp, and if a drive SMART failure is predicted.Fixed in this version is the…
  • Add-In: To Desktop
    • Another new add-in is has been announced called To Desktop which enables you to either minimize, close or exit full screen from the Windows Home Server console. Very handy for when you remote desktop from the web to your server machine where the console occupies the entire screenThe plug-in is in…
  • Add-In: Windows Home Server Disk Management 1.0.6.0
    • The Windows Home Server Disk Management add-in has been updated to version 1.0.6.0 what have either added, changed or fixed the following: Added: Each drive bay now has a user-editable comment field (currently only displayed in the Settings dialog)Changed: Drive bay settings dialog now has…
  • World Cup – Windows Home Server Style!
    • The Windows Home Server Team Blog has posted the results (so far) of the top 16 countries in the Windows Home Server World Cup Competition from the 40+ countries where the software has been purchased in the world.In third place its   DenmarkIn the runner up position its   New ZealandAnd in top…
  • Tranquil PC T2-WHS-A3 Harmony Home Server Review

    PC Pro magazine reviews the Tranquil PC T2-WHS-A3 Harmony Home Server which gets an impressive 5 out of 6 stars and it receives a “PC Pro Recommended” award as well. Read the full review here.

  • Home Server Setup Recommendations
    • Blog “Respect Sakura” has listed 4 important rules in her article entitled Home Server Recommendations Part 1, which include: Buy the biggest drive you can afford for your SYS volume Why you should Keep your total amount of volumes low e.g. maximum of 4 to 6. Use the onboard SATA, and don’t…
  • HP MediaSmart Server Unboxing Video

    Blogger Ian Dixon of TheDigitalLifestyle.com has posted a video of the unboxing of the HP MediaSmart Server. Unboxing of a HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server

  • Tamba Bay SBS User Group Q&A
    • Small Business Server MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Kevin Weilbacher gave a two and a half hour presentation and demo on Windows Home Server at his local Tamba Bay SBS User Group and has kindly posted for us the Q&A from the event which can be found here.
  • Tranquil PC T7-HDX Provides addon Storage
    • The T7-HDX Home Server Extender, is a storage extension unit designed specifically for the T7-HSA from Traquil PC. The T7-HDX slides on to the T7-HSA’s chassis to form one integral unit, and can be configured at purchase with a range of storage options.  Along with the 2TB storage capability this…
  • HP EX470 Review
    • UK Mag Computeract!ve reviews the HP MediaSmart Server EX470 and gives it 4 out of 5 stars. Here’s an excerpt:  Power consumption was higher than other network hard disks – we estimate annual energy bills of £39 for the Mediasmart EX470. These niggles, and the £400 price tag, mean it’s only…
  • It’s Electric
    • Green Computing is given a look at in an article at Economist.com who state It’s about saving money, not the environment.Following on from this article is the RandomElements Blog entry on Conserving power in a multi-PC household which has even more on saving how much electric our servers may…
  • Add-In: Advanced Admin Console Update
    • The add-in Advanced Admin Console has been updated to 0.2.0 Beta which now allows you to add custom program shortcuts to the drop down menu. Details and the download are available from here.

Add-In: Client Info 2.0.0.1

Client Info by Eric Maurer has been updated to version 2.0.0.1. The add-in enables you to see hardware information about your home server and all client computers; including processor, memory, IP address, drive size, drive temp, and if a drive SMART failure is predicted.

Fixed in this version is the problem of 2 hard drives appearing under one drive when they are the same model. Detailed instructions are also available for installing the client service with Windows Vista.

The details.

Add-In: To Desktop

Another new add-in is has been announced called To Desktop which enables you to either minimize, close or exit full screen from the Windows Home Server console. Very handy for when you remote desktop from the web to your server machine where the console occupies the entire screen

The plug-in is in beta and there is some redundancy with exit full screen and minimize.  Exiting full screen places a title bar around the WHS console from which you can minimize.

Download