Windows 7 Beta 1 (7100) will start shutting down on JULY 1st

For Windows 7 Beta 1 (build 7100), bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1st, 2009. You will be alerted to install a released version of Windows and your PC will shut down automatically every 2 hours. On August 1st, 2009 if you are still on the Windows 7 Beta your license for the Windows 7 Beta will expire and the non-genuine experience is triggered where your wallpaper is removed and “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will be displayed in the lower right corner above the taskbar.

Source: Windows Team Blog

(Updated) SharePoint SP2 converts license to Trial!!!

During the installation of SP2, a product expiration date is improperly activated. This means SharePoint will expire as though it was a trial installation 180 days after SP2 is deployed. The activation of the expiration date will not affect the normal function of SharePoint up until the expiration date passes. Furthermore, product expiration 180 days after SP2 installation will not affect customer’s data, configuration or application code but will render SharePoint inaccessible for end-users.

We are working to release a hotfix to automatically fix this issue. A manual work-around is currently available and involves customers re-entering their Product ID number (PID) on the Convert License Type page in Central Administration.  For more information and detailed steps please read this KB article. (The KB link is not currently active, it will be available within the next 48hrs)

Update: Microsoft has released a hotfix that resolves this issue. More information and download links can be found here.

Source: MSDN Blogs

New WSUS Product Family - Live Search

Hello WSUS Admins,

Shortly we will be publishing a new top level category (product family) for WSUS – Live Search. The Live Search product family will include updates for all Live Search products. Under this product family we will be creating a category for:

• Search Enhancement Pack – For all updates relating to the Search Enhancement Pack

Source: Technet

Microsoft has shut off the Windows Live Messenger IM for users in the countries embargoed by the US

When you try to sign in to Windows Live Messenger, you receive the following error message:

810003c1: We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service.

Microsoft has shut off the Windows Live Messenger IM for users in the countries embargoed by the US hence Microsoft no longer offers Windows Live Service in your country.

• Cuba
• Syria
• Iran
• Sudan
• North Korea

Source: Messenger Support Blog

Get ready for Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

Hello WSUS Admins,

The MU team has published information about the upcoming release of Vista and Win2k8 SP2 through WU and WSUS. You can find more information on their blog post here.

Just a heads up to prepare for Windows Vista  and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2. It will be available in the coming weeks on the Download Center (DLC) and also through Windows Update and WSUS. On April 28^th, we announced the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. SP2 includes all updates that were released since SP1. It also includes support for new types of hardware and other technology improvements. For more information on the changes with SP2, see the notable changes document on TechNet.

Here’s a short list of the tools and guidance that’s available for SP2:

· If you’re managing systems that connect directly to WU, you can use the updated Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit to prevent WU from offering SP2 to your client computers.

· For more information about SP2, refer to the SP2 Frequently Asked Questions on TechNet.

· For help with deployment related questions, you should read this blog post on the Windows team blog.

Source: Technet Blogs

New Microsoft SharePoint site at microsoft.com, based on MOSS 2007

Lights… Camera… Action!

Today, we launched the SharePoint marketing website on SharePoint Server 2007.  First the home page, it is brand new and we’re using Silverlight enabled web parts to keep the interface simple, elegant and dynamic thus enhancing the overall usability of it.  You can watch customer videos, learn about events, download trial versions of the software and a lot more on the home page now.  Since the site is powered by MOSS, we are taking advantage of the publishing feature and list driven content.

Visit the new site at http://sharepoint.microsoft.com

Source: SharePoint on SharePoint: Launch of new website

"Windows 7" appears in WSUS

Here is a screenshot from my WSUS server today morning.

Notice the "Windows 7 Client" category in the Windows family of products.

Update: officially announced on August 21st at WSUS Product Team's blog.