In preparation for a Windows 7 migration the folder references in countless scripts used by administrators may need updating due to the changes in the standard Windows folder locations.  With the broad support for 64-bit Windows, there are also some path variances on the 64-bit platform.  If these scripts are updated with new literal location references they won’t work for both OSes during the migration and may not work on 64-bit Windows 7 or later on Windows 8.  Let’s look at how to modify your scripts so they work on all these variations simultaneously and become future proof.  This article also contains a very cool technique and sample code for being able to retrieve any special folder location in a shell script (.cmd or .bat) using a small VBScript.

VMware Workstation 8 added the ability to auto-start virtual machines in the background.  This excellent piece of functionality taken from the server product makes workstation like a mini-VM Server.  Except that auto-shutdown has not been provided.  This post tell you how to configure auto-start VMs and gives you a Windows Shutdown script that will auto-shutdown any shared vms that are running.

We recently ran an article about compatibility problems with Windows 32 to 64-bit thunking layer (splwow64.exe).  There is actually a testing tool to verify whether print drivers follow development best practices and some group policy settings to control whether print drivers are run in their own isolated process.  Both of these can be handy when working with printing on 64-bit Windows.

I had the privilege of speaking at the PDS Packaging Event 2011 in Amsterdam.  I have posted the presentation to this article.

64-bit Windows redirects the "System32" folder for 32-bit processes.  On Windows 7 the system account's profile folder lives in "..\System32\config\systemprofile".  It is also redirected when accessed from a 32-bit process.  This has a direct affect on packages that are run under the system account (many software distribution systems), but perform operations on the user profile.

Although there have been rumblings for quite some time, the beloved Wise Package Studio is bowing out with a tip of the hat to Installsheild.  I still remember conversations with the folks at wise when they were first hatching the idea to create an administrator's tool...

For software developers on Windows 7, Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) and UAC Virtualization may mask application problems that should be fixed in the source code.  IT professionals supporting software developers should consider disabling these settings for computers and user ids that are used to test software.

Recently I needed to copy files from a failing drive.  With Windows Copy this is a pain because if reads bad data it chokes and I am left trying to figure what was copied and what was not and what more can be salvaged.  Fast copy to the rescue - but first, let's talk about the FAST part...

Windows Installer on Windows 7 has a nasty little secret!  It caches the ENTIRE MSI file.  Surely it must then use it as the source location right?  Nope!  But where there is a will, there is a way (sometimes the wrong way, but that's for another time ;)