System's blog

How to Extend Free Usage (Activation Grace Period) of Windows 7 to 120 Days

It should be interesting and sometimes even useful to know that Windows 7 OS can be used genuine and legally without any product key for free usage of 30 days as evaluation period.

During the 30-day activation free grace period, user does not need to activate Windows 7, and can use Windows 7 of any edition in full functionality. However, Windows 7 product activation function will keep reminding user regarding how many days left to input a product key and activate the system in order to continue using the operating system beyond 30 days.

In reality, Windows 7 also equip with a secret ‘rearm’ key in order to reset the free 30-day evaluation period limitation, which allows user to extend the activation-free usage or evaluation expiry date of Windows 7 for another 30 days legally.

Follow these steps to reset and extend activation grace period from 30 days to 120 days in Windows 7:

1. Install Windows 7 without any product activation key.
2. After installation is completed, use the Windows 7 for 30 days and wait for the remaining days left to activate.
3. When the activation grace period (or evaluation trial period) is almost expired or ended, log on to Windows 7, and open a Command Prompt and type Cmd in Start Search and hit Enter).
4. Type any of the following commands into the command prompt, and then hit Enter:

   sysprep /generalize

   slmgr.vbs –rearm

   rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows

   slmgr /rearm

5. Reboot Windows 7 to enjoy another 30 days of free usage without worrying about activation.
6. When the activation grace period countdown timer almost runs down to 0 again, repeat the trick to enjoy another 30 days of Windows 7 for free. General user can run the rearm command for maximum of 3 times.

Some Unique features in Windows Developer’s Preview

Windows 8 is now available, in a developer preview mode at least, and the OS contains over 300 new features, many of which are focused for the touch controls of tablets as far as I understand.

The operating system supports both x86 PCs and ARM tablets, making for nearly seamless transitions across devices. Running the live tile-based Metro user interface, Windows 8 looks somewhat familiar to those that have used other Metro devices like Windows 7 Phones.

It also has improved virtual keyboards, native USB 3.0 support, and new features like charms and snap multitasking.

1. Support for both x86 PCs and ARM tablets

Windows 8 is the first edition of Windows to operate on both ARM-based tablets and traditional x86 PCs based on ARM processors from Intel and AMD.

2. Touch-centric, Tiles-based User Interface (UI)

Although Windows 8 might look and feel like an entirely new “user experience,”, Microsoft is actually layering a new animation-enabled user interface (UI) on top of an only somewhat upgraded Windows 7.

3. Charms

In large part, ‘charms’ is a new implementation of the traditional Windows start bar. Charms can also be used to quickly configure settings for individual apps.

4. Snap Multi-tasking

‘‘Snap multitasking” is designed to make it easy to run two apps in Windows 8 side-by-side, to resize them, and to switch between them.

5. Windows 8 Control Panel

Beyond revamping the Windows task manager, Microsoft has also redesigned the control panel for Windows 8. New options include Personalize, Users, Wireless, Notifications, General, Privacy, Search, and Share.

6. Web Navigation by Touch

The Internet Explorer (IE) 10 browser built into Windows 8 is designed to offer faster browsing through greater hardware acceleration, along with rapid gesture-based zoom, pan, and Web site navigation.

7. Two Touch Keyboards

Windows 8 also contains two soft keyboards: an “enhanced” traditional keyboard, plus a new thumbs keyboard for non-touch typists.

8. Native USB 3.0 Support

New USB 3.0 ports operate at speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0. To better support these speeds, Microsoft is integrating Windows 8 with native USB 3.0 drivers.

However, USB 3.0 will  continue to work under Windows 7, through the use of third-party drivers.

9. Better Support for Multiple Monitors

Windows 8 also brings increased support for multiple monitors, The Developers Preview of the new OS includes first-time capabilities for extending the taskbar across two PCs, without any need for third-party apps.

It's also easy to switch between multiple monitors. The primary monitor has a start button, and the secondary monitor has a switcher button.

Tech Mela 2011: Let’s make it big!!

Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal is going to organize 2^nd Tech Mela 2011 for the IT community of Nepal on 24^th and 25^th June, 2011 (Friday & Saturday) at Administrative Staff College, Jawalakhel, Kathmandu. The objective of the event is to enhance and exchange knowledge about information technology and Microsoft products and technologies to the community. Tech Mela was also organized last year in mid-February, 2010.

Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal aims to get the attention of the people of various backgrounds to the Microsoft products and to bring about a high-end conference on technologies that have never been discussed or trained in the past in Nepal, primarily those that are going to be released in the year 2011.

Activities around this Tech Mela:

· Tech Mela 2011 Inauguration Ceremony: A major inauguration by a prominent figure will be organized in order to bring the importance of this event to the media and others concerned.

· Microsoft Office 2010 Launch Ceremony: Nepali version of Microsoft Office 2010 will be launched formally in Nepal so that

· Main Conference sessions: 9 products will be featured for whole day each of deep-down tech briefing. A lot of this curriculum will be gotten from Microsoft Learning First Look Clinics. Certificates will be provided for each person who attends these sessions.

The Microsoft products, solutions & programs that we shall talk about during these sessions will be among:

Products:

· Office 2010 नेपाली

· Windows 7 नेपाली

· Windows Azure

· Unified Communication: Microsoft Lync

· CRM Online & Office 365

· IE9 & 10 with HTML5

· Microsoft Intune

· Web Matrix

· Windows Phone ‘Mango’

· High Performance Computing

· System Center

· Microsoft Multipoint Server 2010

· Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

· New in Windows Server 2008 R2

· SharePoint Server 2010

Programs:

· Value of Certification

· MSP Program

· MSDNAA

· BizSpark

· Student2Business

· DreamSpark

· Phone/ ञोगिता

· School In a Box

· Startup Weekend

· Student Project Showcase: We will invite student tech clubs from various colleges to come and showcase their projects to encourage them to be innovative and creative with the solutions that they create.

· Microsoft Innovation Center: Technology centers are offering a comprehensive set of programs and services to foster innovation and grow sustainable local software economies.

Microsoft and partners in each community work together to operate the MICs, which are open to students, professional software developers, IT professionals, entrepreneurs and academic researchers. While each Center tunes its programs to local needs, they all provide similar content and services designed to acceler­ate technology advances and stimulate local software economies through skills and professional training, industry partnerships and innovation. Primary areas of focus and the activities around it include:

1. Skills and Workforce Development

2. Business and Industry Partnerships

3. Solutions and Innovation

Microsoft BizSpark: Helping startups succeed with all the right resources

Microsoft^® BizSpark^™ is a global program that helps fast-track the success of early stage technology startups with all the right resources, including software, support & marketing visibility.

BizSpark provides fast and easy access to current, full-featured Microsoft software development tools, platform technologies, including the Windows Azure platform and production/hosting licenses.

BizSpark gives entrepreneurs starting a business access to Microsoft technical support, business and technical training and connections to a community of over 2000 BizSpark Network Partners around the world, organizations who support the common goal of promoting entrepreneurship.

BizSpark offers startups global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients, partners and journalists.

More Details: http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/

Gaming Competition on Xbox360 with Kinect: As a part of fun, whether it’s working up a sweat or just getting the synapses snapping, Kinect features games that are good for mind, body and soul.

Community Chautari:

Primarily, Microsoft Student Partners and Community leaders will be directly involved as speakers on various Microsoft technologies and programs.

Career Carnival:

Various IT companies will be invited in this camp so that they will guide student participants in recruiting or internship processes there. In fact, these companies may also look for their perspective employees through this camp.

Entrance Fees or Tickets:

o Free Entrance upon pre-registration for Career Carnival, Community Chautari, Gaming Zone, Dance with Xbox Kinect zone, etc.

o Entrance fee, NPR. 50 per session (Sessions: Day1- Afternoon session/ Day2- Morning session/ Day2- Afternoon session) upon pre-registration at nepal.micnetwork.org for Career Conference.

Microsoft Tech·Ed 2011...

Download IE9 RC for FREE!

Folks!

This mini blog is for those who are still on IE8 and would like to upgrade to IE9 RC.

Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate, the latest IE version on the planet can be downloaded from here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

Thanks for your visit!

Get ready for the cloud with new Microsoft training and certifications

Business is moving to the cloud. According to IDC predictions for 2011, 80% of new software will be available as cloud services; by 2014, over one-third of software purchases will be delivered through the cloud.

To keep pace with their customers and employers, most IT professionals and developers will require additional skills. Microsoft’s new training courses will help acquire the skills needed for success, and also the new certifications will help you prove your knowledge and skills to employers and customers.

Cloud Certifications and Training

The cloud creates new opportunities and job roles, but it also impacts current ones. Over the next year, Microsoft will introduce new cloud-related certifications and update many of its current certifications to include cloud-related skills. Microsoft will provide training for these cloud computing offerings through Official Microsoft Learning products, including Microsoft Press books, Microsoft Official Courses, and Microsoft Official eLearning.Find Out More About the Cloud.

Microsoft provides cloud computing services to help run your business applications and infrastructure services with freedom, agility, and flexibility. Microsoft products include offerings for the three cloud service types: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

To learn more about cloud computing services, visit http://microsoft.com/cloud.

Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate 32/64bits is now Available!

Folks! I am back again with a good news that Microsoft has now released Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate . Until yesterday, IE9 was available as a Public Beta Version since September 15, 2010.

The Release Candidate includes much improved tab functionality, from the new square-ish visual elements, and moveable tab bar elements to increase customization.

It also includes features that enable a user to refuse tracking from advertisers.

To download the Release Candidate, use the links below:

Windows 7:

Windows 7 x86 version
Windows 7 x64 version

Windows Vista:

Windows Vista x86 version
Windows Vista x64 version

More on IE9:

IE9 supports all CSS 3 selectors, improved JavaScript performance, and embedded ICC v2 or v4 color profiles support via Windows Color System. It also features hardware-accelerated graphics rendering using Direct2D, hardware accelerated text rendering using Direct write, hardware accelerated video rendering using Media Foundation, imaging support provided by Windows Imaging Component, and high fidelity printing powered by the XPS print pipeline.

IE9 also supports the HTML5 video and audio tags and the Format.

Kinect Support for Windows PC

It is expected that Windows 8 will feature some sort of integration that would let users control the PC with Kinect. While we don’t know what the user experience of that would be like, it might be the next step in human computer interaction as we know it. 

Kinect was released in November 2010 as an add on to Xbox 360 that lets the gamer play games without any controller. Gamers use their body for motion/gesture control in games and other scenarios. It has been so amazingly successful that over 8 million units have been sold in 60 days while in just the first 10 days, 1 million units had been sold.

Although, there aren’t many games available for Kinect yet, the ones that are, really make for an amazing experience specially with lots of gamers at a time.

How to download a serial key from an ELMS account

This has been a question to many of you and some of you are still struggling to get through the steps to be followed while generating a serial key from an ELMS account.

Below are the fresh screenshots of the steps you will need to pass through for a serial key of your choice to be generated from the ELMS server.

After you have received an email from USER IMPORT, log in into the ELMS portal with the username provided to you and then follow the following steps:

STEP-1:

STEP-2:

STEP-3:

STEP-4:

STEP-5:

STEP-6:

STEP-7:

STEP-8:

I hope this is informative.

Nepalize your Windows 7

Microsoft recently launched Windows 7 Nepali(LIP) in Nepal, thanks to the Localization team of Microsoft MDP Nepal, Unlimited Technologies who were actually involved in its development process for the past one year.. On 21st Sept, 2010, Ms Sandra Johnson all the way from Microsoft’s Redmond office inaugurated the launching ceremony 2010 at Rastrya Nach Ghar, Jamal in Kathmandu.

 Ms Sandra spoke few of her words in support of local language computing and congratulated Mr Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, Country Manager of Microsoft for Nepal and his team for bringing out the Language Interface Pack within a year of worldwide release of Windows 7.

In the meantime, a copy of Nepali version of Windows 7 was offered to honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The Launch event also saw some finalists of Multipoint Challenge presenting their projects along with Mr. Nutan Marasini, Sr. Developer at Microsoft MDP Nepal briefing the audience regarding the nation-wide competition.

Mr. Pradeep Neupane, Localization Manager talked about some of the cool features of windows 7 and Nepali LIP assets.

Microsoft Student Partners did a great job by volunteering at the event.The program finally closed up at 6PM with a Nepali patriotic  song ‘ Yo man ta mero nepali ho…’ .

Well, the Language Interface Pack(LIP) is now freely available over the internet. So, click here to download it and start using your Windows 7 in Nepali. Jai Nepal!

MSPs voice @ their 5th MSP Meeting

One of the best MSP (Microsoft Student Partners) meetings indeed! Lots of complaints to listen to though but taking them as feedback made great sense to me.

After the last MSP Meeting at Kathmandu College of Management on 16th Sept,2010 at Gwarko, I finally managed to organize the 5th MSP Meeting at our own office, Microsoft MDP Nepal, Unlimited Technologies, Unlimited Building at Khichapokhari. I formally started the meeting at 3:05PM and by this time, some of the most active and focused MSPs were already in the conference hall patiently waiting for the meeting to kick off.

My primary focus was on MSP’s plan for Q2, however, there were lots of hot discussions that took place in between. The descent part of the meeting was briefing by MSPs Nabaraj Poudel & Aariti Deo from Amrit Campus, Bijay Bikram Khadka from Patan Multiple Campus (PMC), Rajan Adhikari from New Summit College and Dipendra KC from Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) regarding their campus events held in the month of october.

I guess MSPs enjoyed the voting session for the best MSP speaker prize in which each volunteering MSP had to speak about one Microsoft program much focused on MSDNAA(Microsoft’s Developer’s Network Academic Alliance)  and student program.

		MSPs briefing their Campus Events VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

All of the MSPs also helped me to disclose their technical status: Whether one is into IT Pro or Developer track. That was fun either!

Future is in Cloud: A Cloud Computing time

What is Cloud Computing?

Folks! though, I believe that the concept of Cloud Computing is not new to many of us now, yet it’s always beneficial to increase the level of understanding by going beyond the barrier of timeworn knowledge. In this blog, I have endeavored to offer my readers a simple and generic perception on the same matter.

Understanding Cloud Computing:

We can assume Cloud Computing as a paradigm or a prototype in which information is permanently stored in servers on the internet and stored temporarily on clients that include desktops, entertainment centers, table computers, notebooks, wall computers, hand-helds, sensors, monitors, etc. In the contemporary model of cloud computing, the cloud computing infrastructure consists of services that are offered up and delivered through data centers that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. The cloud, then, in this model, is the single point of access for the computing needs of the customers being serviced. It can also be understood that, Cloud Computing is the services in the cloud being provided by enterprises and accessed by others via the internet. The resources are accessed in this manner as a service – often on a subscription basis. The users of the services being offered often have very little knowledge of the technology being used. The users also have no control over the infrastructure that supports the technology they are using. Cloud Computing is also like having a software application running in a server room from a person's office, while the application is actually running in a datacenter. And, this datacenter doesn't even need to be anywhere near the office, either. In fact, we may not even know where the datacenter is. So, basically which means that we also don't know where the server is, what its physical properties are, or nearly anything about it. But yes, what we do know about it is its general power.

Friends, if you are still perplexed, then here you go. When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections too: the front end and the back end. They connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet. The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The back end is the "cloud" section of the system.

The front end includes the client's computer (or computer network) and the application required to access the cloud computing system. Not all cloud computing systems have the same user interface. I think the idea is crystal clear by now.

Now, there arise a sort of question like who is responsible for the maintenance and deployment of applications and services in the cloud? Well… mates, it really depends on what type of presence we have in the cloud. The most significant difference between the cloud computing model and virtual servers is that, cloud computing provides users with a number of different options for doing what they want to do.

The three most commonly talked about options are: software as service (SaaS), platform as service and infrastructure as service.

Software as Service (SaaS)

When we actually opt for SaaS, the applications and the data used within the applications are all stored “in the cloud,” which means the user doesn’t need any additional software or hardware ground in order to use and access them, and often a standard web browser is sufficient. Software as service is the solution that eliminates the need to use licensed software. The disadvantage of this is ‘Privacy’. When we are using online software solutions, we need to be much more aware of privacy and security concerns.

Platform as service

Platform as service or PaaS, is a little different with overlapping ideas. Generally, Software as a service provides the user with a particular application whether of the shelf or custom developed. The service provider takes care of all the maintenance and delivery aspects required for that application. Platform providers take this concept to a slightly higher level by creating an environment to run more than one applications.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

• Swiftness

With the implementation of Cloud Computing, rapid and inexpensive re-setting up of technological infrastructure resources will be possible.

• Cost

is claimed to be greatly reduced and capital expenditure is converted to operational expenditure.

• · Device and location independence

enable users to access systems using a web browser regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile). As infrastructure is off-site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from anywhere.

• Multi-tenancy

enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users thus allowing for:

• Centralization of infrastructure in locations with lower costs (such as real estate, electricity, etc.)
• Utilization and efficiency improvements for systems that are often only 10–20% utilized.

• Reliability

Though, managers may not be able to do much on their part when they are affected, data redundancy is made to an optimal level in cloud for data recovery.

• Security

can improve due to centralization of data, increased security-focused resources, etc., but concerns can persist about loss of control over certain sensitive data, and the lack of security for stored kernels. Security is often as good as or better than under traditional systems, in part because providers are able to devote resources to solving security issues that many customers cannot afford. Providers typically log accesses.

•  Maintenance

cloud computing applications are easier to maintain, since they don't have to be installed on each user's computer. They are easier to support and to improve since the changes reach the clients instantly.

Perhaps the biggest concerns about cloud computing are security and privacy thou at times it’s an advantage too. The idea of handing over important data to another company worries many clients. Corporate executives might hesitate to take advantage of a cloud computing system because they can't keep their company's information under lock and key.

But, the counterargument to this position is that, the companies offering cloud computing services live and die by their reputations. It benefits these companies to have reliable security measures in place. Otherwise, the service would lose all its clients. It's in their interest to employ the most advanced techniques to protect their clients' data.

Privacy is another matter. If a client can log in from any location to access data and applications, it's possible the client's privacy could be compromised. Cloud computing companies will need to find ways to protect client privacy. One way is to use authentication techniques such as user names and passwords. Another is to employ an authorization format -- each user can access only the data and applications relevant to his or her job.

If you have any questions or queries, I will be glad to respond to you. Cheers!

Microsoft working for secure, trustworthy cloud

A major talked about internet topic right now is cloud computing which holds center stage in the IT industry. Different vendors, service providers, press, analysts and customers are all evaluating and discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by the cloud alongside.

A very important part of the discussion is security among others. While the benefits of cloud computing is myriads, the cloud security and privacy are becoming a top concern for customers. According to a survey conducted by Microsoft, 86% of business leaders are excited about cloud computing, but more than 75% are concerned about the security, access and privacy of data.

Customers are right on their part to ask how cloud vendors can work to ensure the security of cloud applications, the protection of data and the privacy of individuals. Microsoft responds that it’s putting its best to find the solutions on how to make the cloud system more secured then anyone has ever imagined before.

Microsoft also states that as a part of their longstanding Trustworthy Computing efforts, they strive to be more transparent than anyone about how they help enable more secure cloud computing environment.

Recently, a server and tool expert at Microsoft had said that the data that clients have in their organization is theirs, no doubt. It’s entirely their business to help us protect that information for us. Microsoft’s strategy is to deliver software, services and tools that enable customers to realize the benefits of a cloud-based model with the reliability and security of on-premises software.

A program called Microsoft Global Foundations Services (GFS) primarily covers everything from physical security to compliance, including Risk Management Process, Response, and work with law enforcement; Defense-in-Depth Security controls across physical, network, identity & access, host, application and data.

Microsoft has also put it’s focus on identity, saying “As you move to cloud services you will have a number of vendors, and you will need a common identity system.” Identity is a cornerstone of security, in general, and especially cloud security. Microsoft already provides technologies with Windows Server and our cloud offerings that customers can use to extend their existing investment in identity infrastructure (such as Active Directory) for simpler, more secure access to cloud services.

And, yeah..of course, Microsoft is not working on cloud security alone. These truly are issues that no one company, industry or sector can tackle in isolation. So it is important to start these dialogs in earnest and include a diverse range of stakeholders from every corner of the globe. Microsoft is working with customers, governments, law enforcement, partners and industry organizations, such as the Cloud Security Alliance, to collaborate on the best strategies and technologies to ensure more trustworthy cloud computing.

Difference Between DDR2 and DDR1

Folks! Recall Moore’s law…I don’t really wanna repeat it myself this time, though. Well, actually the attention I want to draw on is to make you confess that the computer technologies have improved greatly over the past few years and this has something to do with the Moore’s law.. The memory of computers has also evolved a lot from RAM, DRAM and SDRAM. Then came DDR-SDRAM and now DDR2-SDRAM. We should not concern ourselves with the very old models of RAM since those are no longer in use in most parts of the world.

SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is a type of memory that requires power to hold its data. This is the prevalent memory used in computers right before the introduction of DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM). DDR improves upon the architecture of SDRAM by a process known as “double pumping”. Instead of transferring data once every clock cycle, DDR changes its data state twice every cycle. Once on the rising edge, then another on the falling edge. This is true for both DDR and DDR-2. So why is DDR-2 better than DDR?

Actually, when DDR-2 came out, it was actually worse than DDR. The original DDR memory has its memory clock synchronized with the bus clock, allowing 2 bits to be transferred every clock cycle. DDDR-2 changes this by doubling the bus speed while still holding the memory clock at the same frequency. So that at every memory cycle, 4 bits of data is transferred. The trade-off to this is the higher latency of DDR-2 memory compared to DDR memory when operating at the same bus frequency.

In order to obtain the same performance as a DDR running at 100 MHz bus speed, DDR-2 memory must be run at 200 MHz. But if we look at the clock speed, the DDR is also working at 200 MHz while the DDR-2 is only at 100 MHz. If we have a DDR-2 chip that operates at the same clock speed as DDR-1, then we can see that it has double the throughput.

Memory clock speed is very important because producing chips with higher clock speeds is very expensive since in every batch of chips produced, only a small amount of it are capable of higher clock speeds. So, if we compare two chips that are similarly clocked, the DDR-2 would be cheaper. And, if we compare two chips that are similarly priced, the DDR-2 would be faster. The technology of DDR also ends where DDR-2 begins, meaning that DDR chips can no longer be improved further due to restrictions in cost while DDR-2 goes far beyond the capabilities of DDR. The capabilities of DDR-2 also have its limits, mainly as the clock speed gets higher, that’s where DDR-3 comes in. But that’s another story altogether.

Disabling Automatic Reboot in Windows 7 after Updates Installation

Windows updates are essential parts of one’s Windows operating system. Installing the windows updates (Windows Genuine advantage) regularly, lead to proper functioning of all the windows components, applications and beefs up the overall computer security system. An ordinary PC user can easily figure out that Whenever Windows 7 installs automatic updates through Windows updates, a PC will be forced for a reboot for the updates to take effect. Almost all Windows updates require us to reboot the PC and it can be disturbing in case we are working on something where we need to pay extra attention on. By default, Windows automatically reboots our PC in such conditions. But, we can disable the automatic rebooting by Windows after installing updates.

To disable automatic rebooting,

Open run command (Win + R Key) and type gpedit.msc and press enter.

In the local policy editor, go to  Local Computer Policy-> Computer Configuration-> Administrative Templates-> Windows Components-> Windows Update.

Double click on the option “No auto restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installation”. Select the Enable option and click save. 

If the status is set to Enabled, Automatic Updates will not restart a computer automatically during a scheduled installation if a user is logged in to the computer. Instead, Automatic Updates will notify the user to restart the computer. Although the automatic rebooting is disabled, Windows will prompt/remind you to reboot the PC.

It is important to reboot the PC manually later on or else Windows update might not be installed on your PC.