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THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT SPECIFICATION.
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© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Windows Vista Product Guide—Beta 2© 2006 Microsoft Corporation
Page 2 of 313
The Windows Vista Product Guide provides a
comprehensive overview of the innovative features
and functions that make Microsoft® Windows Vista™
the next-generation Windows client operating system
and successor to Windows XP. This guide also provides
information the benefits Windows Vista offers diverse
users as well as information about the different editions
(SKUs) available.
Windows Vista Product Guide—Beta 2© 2006 Microsoft Corporation
Page 3 of 313
Contents
Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................ 2
Contents .............................................................................................................................. 4
Section 1: Introduction to Windows Vista.............................................. 6
Section 2: Windows Vista Editions........................................................... 7
Section 3: For All Users ............................................................................ 21
3.01 First Experience ........................................................................................................23
3.02 User Interface: Navigation and Ease of Use .......................................................24
3.03 User Interface: ClearType.......................................................................................41
3.04 User Interface: Search and Organization ...........................................................43
3.05 Windows Sidebar and Gadgets ...........................................................................54
3.06 Internet Explorer .......................................................................................................55
3.07 Security ......................................................................................................................80
3.08 Windows Defender..................................................................................................89
3.09 Performance ............................................................................................................96
3.10 Networking..............................................................................................................103
3.11 Mobile PC................................................................................................................107
3.12 Tablet PC.................................................................................................................113
3.13 Windows SideShow................................................................................................120
3.14 PC-to-PC Sync ........................................................................................................123
3.15 Sync Center ............................................................................................................124
3.16 Printing .....................................................................................................................126
3.17 Accessibility ............................................................................................................129
3.18 Speech Recognition .............................................................................................132
3.19 Windows Update ...................................................................................................134
3.20 Help and Feedback..............................................................................................136
Section 4: For Home Users ................................................................... 140
4.01 Home User Introduction........................................................................................142
4.02 Windows Easy Transfer ..........................................................................................143
4.03 Parental Controls Settings ....................................................................................146
4.04 Windows Photo Gallery ........................................................................................151
4.05 Windows Media Player 11....................................................................................163
4.06 Windows Media Center........................................................................................172
4.07 CD and DVD Burning ............................................................................................181
4.08 Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker ..................................................184
4.09 Windows Games....................................................................................................186
4.10 Windows Mail .........................................................................................................189
4.11 Windows Calendar................................................................................................191
4.12 Windows Backup and Restore ............................................................................194
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Section 5: For Business Users ................................................................ 201
5.01 Business User Introduction ....................................................................................202
5.02 XPS Documents ......................................................................................................204
5.03 Windows Collaboration ........................................................................................207
5.04 Sharing.....................................................................................................................211
5.05 Corporate Roaming..............................................................................................213
5.06 Offline Files and Folders........................................................................................216
5.07 Remote Access......................................................................................................218
5.08 Windows Fax and Scan ........................................................................................220
5.09 Small Business Resources ......................................................................................223
Section 6: For IT Professionals .............................................................. 225
6.01 IT Professionals Introduction .................................................................................226
6.02 Deployment............................................................................................................229
6.03 Application Compatibility....................................................................................236
6.04 Management .........................................................................................................247
6.05 Advanced Security ...............................................................................................253
6.06 Advanced Networking.........................................................................................266
6.07 Reliability .................................................................................................................277
6.08 Hardware Guidelines ............................................................................................285
Section 7: Appendix ............................................................................. 289
7.01
7.02
7.03
7.04
Windows Vista Features Available in Windows XP...........................................290
Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release ..................................................294
Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release Feature Integration...............301
WinFX .......................................................................................................................306
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Section 1: Introduction to
Windows Vista
Windows Vista brings clarity to your world so you can focus
on what matters most to you
Today's digital world is both exciting and at times overwhelming.
Although the tools for managing digital information have grown in
capability and richness, they still require you to invest a significant
amount of time learning how to use them. For example, you need
to manually organize your information into folders and naming
conventions that the PC understands. Windows Vista is different. It
puts you at the center, and adapts to your needs, rather than the
other way around.
Confident
With Windows Vista, we introduce a new level of confidence to the
desktop experience. Significant investments have been made in
the fundamentals of the operating system to free you from having
to think about security, reliability and management of the PC.
You—the user—are in-control and can now spend more time
focused on what you want and need to do, rather than how to do
it.
Clear
The user experience in Windows Vista increases clarity, productivity
and focus for the end user. Moving beyond generic "icons,"
Windows Vista represents your files in more intuitive ways—visually
capturing the "live" contents of your work and simplifying the
process of locating your information. Windows Vista also introduces
a new and more flexible way of organizing your information so that
you can easily store, manage, find and organize the data you work
with every day, helping you make the most of your time.
Connected
Building on the amazing capabilities of the personal computer,
Vista ushers in a new way of connecting with the people, places
and devices in your life—at home, at work and on the go.
Windows Vista simplifies the experience of connecting to other PCs,
devices, friends, family and co-workers. You are the network.
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Section 2: Windows Vista Editions
Because different kinds of computer users need different features in
their operating system, Microsoft offers multiple editions of Windows
Vista, or retail “SKUs,” each oriented to the needs of specific types
of customers.
With Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft offered six editions: Home
Edition, Media Center Edition, Professional Edition, Professional
Tablet PC Edition, Professional x64 Edition and, in selected
emerging markets, Starter Edition. Windows XP Home Edition and
Windows XP Professional Edition target the needs of specific types
of customers, while the other editions align with PC hardware
configurations.
The Windows Vista SKU plan is optimized around key audiences—
consumers, small businesses and medium and large organizations—
and usage scenarios within each of these segments. The main goal
of the Windows Vista lineup is to more closely align the product
offerings with customer demand, rather than forcing customers to
make tradeoffs between functionality and form factors. Now, for
each major customer segment—consumer, small business, and
medium and large business—there is at least one entry-level edition
and a premium edition.
For consumers in developed markets, Home Basic is the entry-level
edition and Home Premium is the more fully-featured premium
edition.
Windows Vista Business is the mainstream SKU for businesses of all
sizes. Windows Vista Enterprise is the premium business SKU, and is
focused on the needs of organizations with global, highly complex
IT infrastructures. Windows Vista Enterprise is only available to
organizations with desktops covered by Software Assurance
agreements or with a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement that includes
the Windows desktop component.
For the most demanding consumer and small business users who
want to take advantage of every available feature in Windows
Vista, there is Windows Vista Ultimate, which includes all operating
system features across all customer segments.. While Windows Vista
Ultimate will be a valuable offering for a wide variety of customers,
the most significant customer audience is the “dual-user”—the
person that wants to have one PC to use at work and at home.
Additionally, the advanced data protection capabilities of
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption are other reasons home and
small business users may choose it.
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Another goal of the Windows Vista SKU strategy is to make key
technologies more broadly available. For example, Windows
Media Center, a separate product edition in Windows XP, is now
included as functionality in the Home Premium and Ultimate
editions. And Tablet PC, also a separate Windows XP edition, is now
included as a capability in the Home Premium, Business, Enterprise,
and Ultimate editions. Another advantage with Windows Vista is
that there is no longer a need to choose between 32-bit and 64-bit
versions. Both versions are available with every product edition
except Starter edition.
The following are summaries of each SKU:
CONSUMER SKUS:
Windows Vista Home Basic is the entry level offering for consumers.
Highlights include:
Significant advances in security and reliability
Parental Controls
Windows Vista Basic user interface
Search and organize innovations
Improved networking
Windows Vista Home Basic is designed to be easy to set up, to help
people use their PCs securely and reliably, to help people stay
better connected, and like all of the editions of Windows Vista, to
be compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and
services people use and trust. For people who simply want to use
their PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with
friends and family using e-mail or performing basic document
creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a
safer, more reliable, and more effective computing environment.
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Windows Vista Home Premium is the mainstream edition of
Windows Vista for consumer desktop and mobile PCs. It includes all
features available in Windows Vista Home Basic plus:
Windows Aero™ user interface
Windows Media Center functionality
Additional digital media features such as authoring and
burning DVDs
Windows Tablet PC capability
Additional mobility features such as PC-to-PC
synchronization
Windows Vista Home Premium makes finding information, staying
connected and interacting with your PC easier and more secure.
Using, organizing and sharing photos, video, TV and music
becomes a part of your everyday life. With Windows Vista Home
Premium, balancing your checkbook, doing homework, watching
a movie, listening to music or playing a game is a better and more
enjoyable experience.
Windows Vista Ultimate is the flagship edition of Windows Vista
across consumer and small business desktop PCs and mobile PCs.
The primary user of Windows Vista Ultimate is the individual, such as
a small business owner, who uses a single PC at both home and
work. This edition includes all of the features available in Windows
Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Enterprise.
Windows Vista Ultimate is the first operating system that combines
the advanced infrastructure of a business-focused operating
system, the productivity of a mobility-focused operating system,
and the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused
operating system. For the person who wants their PC to be great for
working at home, on the go and at the office, Windows Vista
Ultimate is the no-compromise operating system that provides it all.
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BUSINESS SKUS:
Windows Vista Business is the primary edition of Windows Vista for
business desktop and mobile PCs. This offering crosses the small
business, mid-sized business and enterprise segments. This edition
includes all the features available in Windows Vista Home Basic
(with the exception of a small number of entertainment features),
plus:
Windows Aero user interface
Windows Tablet PC capability
Additional mobility features such as PC-to-PC
synchronization
Core business features such as Domain Join, Group Policy
support and Encrypting File System
Small business-specific features such as Fax and Scan, and
Small Business Resources
For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs
running smoothly and securely, with less reliance on dedicated IT
support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides
dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling IT staff to
spend more time adding strategic value to the business. Windows
Vista Business also offers powerful new ways to organize, find, and
share information, while helping people stay better connected in
the office and on the road.
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Windows Vista Enterprise is the premium edition of Windows Vista
for business desktop and mobile PCs. This offering is only available
to customers who have their PCs covered by a Microsoft Software
Assurance agreement. In addition to including all of the features
available in Windows Vista Business, highlights of this edition
include:
Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption
All worldwide interface languages
Virtual PC Express
Subsystem for UNIX Applications (SUA)
Windows Vista Enterprise is designed for large enterprises and
organizations with complex desktop infrastructures. It helps reduce
the cost and complexity of deploying and managing PCs,
improves reliability and security, and makes it easier to comply with
information policies. Windows Vista Enterprise also increases
information worker productivity and enables mobile users to stay
better connected with customers, partners and their business in the
office or on the road.
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CONSUMER SKU FOR EMERGING MARKETS:
Windows Vista Starter is designed to empower families and entrylevel users in select emerging markets to take advantage of the
social and educational benefits that personal computer
technology and the Internet makes possible. Highlights of this
edition include:
Advances in security and reliability
Search and organize innovations
Windows Vista Basic user interface
32-bit only operating system designed specifically for lowercost computers
Windows Vista Starter helps families in emerging technology
countries be more successful by providing an affordable, easy to
learn and use computing experience. It is compatible with the
latest applications and devices and is more reliable and secure
because it is part of the Windows Vista family of products.
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Summary
The following table summarizes the SKUs by customers segment:
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The following table summarizes the SKUs by sales channel:
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The following table compares the Windows XP SKUs with
the Windows Vista SKUs
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Home
Home
Basic
Premium
User Account Control
Yes
Windows Security Center
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Defender™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Firewall
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Internet Explorer 7.0 Protected Mode
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Internet Explorer 7.0 Fix My Settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Anti-Phishing in Internet Explorer 7.0
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Anti-Phishing in Windows Mail
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Update
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Parental Controls
Yes
Yes
Fewer reboots, hangs and disruptions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Service Hardening
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Performance Self-Tuning and Hardware
Diagnostics
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Next-generation TCP/IP stack
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
IPv6 and IPv4 support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows ReadyDrive™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Easy Transfer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
64-bit processor support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fast Startup, Fast Shutdown, Sleep
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Maximum RAM supported with 32-bit
processor-based system
4GB
4GB
4GB
4GB
4GB
Maximum RAM supported with 64-bit
processor-based system
8GB
16GB
128+GB
128+GB
128+GB
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
CONFIDENT
Two processors (two processor sockets)
support
Ad hoc backup and recovery of user files and
folders
Scheduled backup of user files
Yes
Yes
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Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows ShadowCopy
Yes
Yes
Yes
System image-based backup and recovery
Yes
Yes
Yes
Encrypting File System
Yes
Yes
Yes
Desktop deployment tools for managed
networks.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Policy-based quality of service for networking
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS)
Client
Yes
Yes
Yes
Control Over Installation of Device Drivers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network Access Protection Client Agent
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pluggable logon authentication architecture
Yes
Yes
Yes
Integrated Smart Card management
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption
Yes
Yes
Support for simultaneous installation of multiple
user interface languages
Yes
Yes
All worldwide user interface languages (36
languages total) available
Yes
Yes
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications
Yes
Yes
Virtual PC Express
Yes
Yes
Backup user files to a network device
Windows Anytime Upgrade
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Ultimate Extras
Yes
Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Yes
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
CLEAR
Windows Vista Basic user interface
Windows Aero™ user interface with Glass,
Windows Flip, Windows Flip 3D, Live Taskbar
Thumbnails and Dynamic Windows and
smoother performing desktop
Instant Search integrated throughout the
operating system
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Automatically organize content based on file
properties/tags
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Internet Explorer 7.0 with Tabbed Browsing,
Quick Tabs, and integrated search
Yes
Internet Explorer 7.0 with RSS Feed Support
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Support for next-generation applications built
on WinFX®
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows SuperFetch
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows ReadyBoost™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Low Priority I/O
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Automatic Hard Disk Defragmentation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Mail
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Calendar
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Sidebar
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Photo Gallery—for organizing,
editing, printing and sharing photos and
videos
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Themed Slide Shows
Windows Media Player 11
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Center— for music, photos,
videos, live and recorded TV and online
entertainment
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Center—Record and watch
Hi-Def TV
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Center—CableCard support
Yes
Yes
Support for Media Center Extenders including
Xbox 360™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Movie Maker HD
Yes
Yes
Windows DVD Maker
Yes
Yes
Windows Movie Maker
Yes
Games Explorer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Updated games
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes*
Yes*
Yes
New, premium games
Universal game controller support
Yes
Yes
Yes*
Yes*
Yes
Speech Recognition
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Accessibility Settings and Ease of Access
Center
Yes
Windows Welcome Center
XPS Document support
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Small Business Resources
Yes
Yes
Windows Fax and Scan
Yes
Yes*
Yes*
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Network Center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Improved wireless networking
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
CONNECTED
Wireless network provisioning
Improved peer networking
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Improved VPN support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Improved power management
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
5
10
10
10
10
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial
Partial
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Tablet PC with integrated pen/digital
ink input
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Tablet PC touch screen support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Tablet PC hand writing recognition
improvements
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Tablet PC usability and navigation
improvements
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows SideShow™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
View
only
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Simultaneous SMB peer network connections.
Windows HotStart
Windows Mobility Center
Sync Center
Windows Collaboration
Improved file and folder sharing
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Home
Home
Basic
Premium
Business
Enterprise
Ultimate
PC-to-PC Sync
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network Projection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Presentation Settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Client
only
Client &
Host
Client &
Host
Client &
Host
Domain join for Windows Small Business Server
Yes
Yes
Yes
Domain join for Windows Server™
Yes
Yes
Yes
Group Policy support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Offline files and folder support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Client-Side Caching
Yes
Yes
Yes
Roaming User Profiles
Yes
Yes
Yes
Folder Redirection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Centralized power management through
Group Policy
Yes
Yes
Yes
Internet Information Server
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
Remote Desktop
Client
only
* Feature is optional
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Section 3: For All Users
3.01 First Experience ........................................................................................................23
Computer Setup..........................................................................................................................23
Welcome Center.........................................................................................................................23
3.02 User Interface: Navigation and Ease of Use .......................................................24
New User Experiences, Including the New Windows Aero ...................................................24
A More Intuitive User Experience ..............................................................................................27
More about Windows Vista Aero..............................................................................................37
3.03 User Interface: ClearType.......................................................................................41
3.04 User Interface: Search and Organization ...........................................................43
Search Features...........................................................................................................................43
Organization Features ................................................................................................................49
3.05 Windows Sidebar and Gadgets ...........................................................................54
Windows Sidebar.........................................................................................................................54
Gadgets........................................................................................................................................54
3.06 Internet Explorer .......................................................................................................55
Make Everyday Tasks Easier.......................................................................................................55
Dynamic Security Protection.....................................................................................................64
Improved Platform and Manageability...................................................................................76
3.07 Security ......................................................................................................................80
Enjoy a PC Free from Malicious Software................................................................................80
A Safe Online Experience ..........................................................................................................84
Make a Vulnerable PC Safer.....................................................................................................87
3.08 Windows Defender..................................................................................................89
Spyware Protection.....................................................................................................................90
Control Over Software on Your Computer .............................................................................93
3.09 Performance ............................................................................................................96
Startup, Sleep, and Shutdown Performance ..........................................................................96
Improved Responsiveness..........................................................................................................97
Diagnosing Performance Issues ..............................................................................................101
3.10 Networking..............................................................................................................103
Network Center .........................................................................................................................103
Connecting ................................................................................................................................103
Network Explorer........................................................................................................................104
Network Map .............................................................................................................................105
Network Setup ...........................................................................................................................105
Network Awareness ..................................................................................................................106
3.11 Mobile PC................................................................................................................107
Power Management Experience ...........................................................................................107
Windows Mobility Center*........................................................................................................109
Presentation Settings.................................................................................................................110
Multiple Monitors .......................................................................................................................110
Network Projection....................................................................................................................111
Windows HotStart ......................................................................................................................112
3.12 Tablet PC.................................................................................................................113
Pen Improvements ....................................................................................................................113
Tablet PC Input Panel Improvements ....................................................................................116
Handwriting Recognition Improvements...............................................................................117
3.13 Windows SideShow................................................................................................120
New Gadgets Increase Functionality ....................................................................................121
Devices for Windows SideShow ..............................................................................................121
3.14 PC-to-PC Sync ........................................................................................................123
3.15 Sync Center ............................................................................................................124
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3.16 Printing .....................................................................................................................126
The New XML Paper Specification Document Format........................................................126
Improved Windows Printing Experience ................................................................................127
3.17 Accessibility ............................................................................................................129
Ease of Access Center .............................................................................................................129
New Technology in Windows Vista Enhances Accessibility................................................130
Compatibility with Assistive Technology Products ...............................................................130
3.18 Speech Recognition .............................................................................................132
3.19 Windows Update ...................................................................................................134
Advances in Windows Update ...............................................................................................134
Using Windows Update ............................................................................................................135
3.20 Help and Feedback..............................................................................................136
A Better Out-of-the-Box Experience.......................................................................................136
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3.01 First Experience
Computer Setup
Windows Vista significantly simplifies the process of setting up a new
computer. Users are only asked to complete the most essential
tasks, so they can get to their desktop as soon as possible to begin
enjoying their new computer. Users can quickly review their
language and country setting, and review and accept the
Microsoft Windows and Computer Manufacturer license terms.
They then create a user account with their username and
password, and personalize their computer with a unique computer
name and desktop wallpaper. After selecting automatic updates
for Windows to help keep their computer up-to-date, and
reviewing their date and time settings, the user can view optional
offers from the computer manufacturer and begin using their
computer immediately.
Welcome Center
As people begin using a computer for the first time, they typically
complete a set of tasks in order to optimize the computer for their
use. Such tasks include connecting to the Internet, adding user
accounts for different people, and transferring files and setting from
another computer. Windows Vista includes Welcome Center, a
screen which presents all of these tasks in one easy to find place so
people can easily and quickly set up their computer, and do so on
their own schedule. Below the
tasks for Windows is a pane
where the computer
manufacturer can list tasks and
offers as well. Welcome Center
automatically appears when the
computer is used for the first
time, and can optionally appear
on future starts as well.
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3.02 User Interface: Navigation and Ease of Use
The PC has revolutionized the way we work, learn, play, and
communicate. Central to helping people use their PC and
manage their information is
the user interface, which has evolved dramatically over the last
several decades, from a C:\> prompt in MS-DOS to more userfriendly, functional, and sophisticated interface.
Windows Vista introduces a breakthrough user experience that is
visually exciting and intuitively designed to positively change the
ways you use your PC, and it’s the first Windows operating system
that scales the user experience to the hardware capabilities of your
computer.
The innovative ways of working with information in Windows Vista
will help you feel confident in your ability to view, find, and
organize information, and manage you computing experience.
Three attributes of the Windows Vista user experience in particular
stand out:
•
New productivity tools bring clarity to the information on
your computer, including seeing what’s in files without
having to open them, finding applications and files instantly,
navigating efficiently among open windows, and traversing
wizards and dialog boxes with more confidence and
certainty.
•
You’ll enjoy a rock-solid visual experience, free of flicker,
redrawing, hesitation, latency, and visual artifacts.
•
Common window elements are refined so you can focus on
content rather than the computing interface, and visual
elements are more informative, intuitive, and helpful.
New User Experiences, Including the New Windows
Aero
Windows Vista will offer four levels of user experience—Windows
Classic, Basic, Standard, and Windows Aero™.
The Basic user experience in Windows Vista is the entry level desktop
experience, which offers an upgraded and streamlined experience
compared to previous versions of Windows. This user experience
features a refined Start Menu that enables you to instantly find and
start anything on your PC. With the new, streamlined Explorers and
supporting features like integrated desktop search and Live Icons, you
can see more easily “see” and work with your data in clear and
effective ways. The Basic user experience can be used on any version
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of Windows Vista, including Starter, and has no hardware
requirements beyond the core Windows Vista system requirements.
Classic will include all of the functionality in the Basic user
experience, but with the Windows 2000 look and feel. This
experience is available on all product editions, including
Windows Vista Starter.
The Standard user experience in Windows Vista is the mid-range
desktop experience, which adds improved performance and
reliability to the functionality of the Basic user experience. On
computers equipped with graphics hardware that supports the new
Windows Driver Display Model (WDDM), Windows Vista’s advanced
graphics technology will enable smoother window handling,
increased stability, and a glitch-free visual experience. Standard will
not run on Windows Vista Starter, and is really geared for Home Basic
edition customers who purchase a more graphically capable PC. It
has the same hardware requirements as Windows Aero.
Building on these advances, Windows Aero offers Microsoft Genuine
Advantage customers a premium user experience on PCs with
graphics hardware that supports WDDM. A noticeable new element
of the Aero experience is the professional-looking, transparent glass
design, with subtle effects like dynamic reflections and smooth
animations. The glass windows create an open, energizing
environment, and enable you to better focus on your content, rather
than on the surrounding interface. Two exciting new Aero features,
Windows Flip and Flip 3D, let you confidently manage the windows on
your desktop, helping you to see them in a visually striking yet
convenient way. Beyond the new graphics and visual polish—the
Windows Vista Aero desktop experience performs as smoothly and
professionally as it
looks, giving you a
simple and highquality experience
that both delights
and inspires users.
Aero is only available
on the following
versions of
Windows Vista: Home
Premium, Business,
Enterprise, or Ultimate.
(More information
about the advances
in Windows Aero, and
user experience
hardware
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requirements, are included in the Windows Aero section ).
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A More Intuitive User Experience
For all users, Windows Vista is designed to provide easier access to
the applications and information you want. From the Start menu to
the files in your Explorers, you can more easily access what you
need and complete tasks more directly. The primary tools that
you’ll use to navigate and work within Windows Vista are all part of
the Basic user interface (as well as higher-level user interfaces), and
include:
•
Start Menu. Streamlined to make browsing, or looking for a
specific application, file menu, e-mail, or Internet favorite
easier;
•
Explorers. A streamlined and consistent set of tools for
finding, viewing, and managing information and resources;
•
Dialog Boxes and Wizards. Redesigned to be clearer and
more functional, and easier for developers to customize to
optimize the user experience;
•
Programs Explorer and Control Panel. Programs Explorer
(which replaces the Add or Remove Programs control) and
Control Panel, use the Explorer interface to help you more
easily and quickly manage applications and PC settings.
Start Menu
The Windows Vista Start Menu has been streamlined to help make
two tasks faster and easier: looking for a specific application, file
menu, e-mail or Internet favorite; and browsing through All
Programs.
To find a specific application or file, you
simply press the Windows key on the
keyboard, or open the Start menu and
begin typing in the Instant Search field that
is always available. As you type,
Windows Vista searches filenames,
metadata, and the full text of all files
instantly, and displays the choices
organized by the type of asset, such as
applications, Internet files, application files
and e-mail messages.
For example, to find the Office application
Microsoft Excel®, you would simply type part
of the application name—such as “Excel”—
in the Instant Search field, and
Windows Vista would immediately display a shortcut to Excel
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(assuming it’s installed) and to other relevant links. Windows Vista
auto-selects the most appropriate choice as you type, so most often
there’s no need to select the application from the list of results.
Windows Vista also can more quickly display a list of all applications
installed on the computer, browse to one and launch with a click. In
addition to the new, yet familiar tree-style navigation, you will notice
the responsiveness of menus and submenus compared to the delay
of a few seconds that sometimes occurs in Windows XP when many
applications are installed. Submenus also take up less screen space,
making it easier to navigate to the application you want without
having to traverse the desktop.
Windows XP Start Menu
Menu
Windows Vista Start
The New Windows Vista Explorers
In Windows, Explorers are the main tools used for finding, viewing,
and managing information and resources—documents, photos,
applications, devices, and Internet content. By providing a
consistent visual and functional
experience, the new
Windows Vista Explorers are
designed to empower you to
manage your information easily,
quickly, and with optimal
flexibility and control. This is
accomplished by streamlining
the menus, toolbars, navigation,
and task and preview panes into
a single interface
that is consistent across all of
Windows Vista.
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Key elements of the Windows Vista Explorers include:
•
Instant Search which is always available and finds files
instantly
•
Navigation Pane which contains both the new Search
Folders
and traditional folders
To learn more
about Search
Folders, Instant
Search, and
Preview Pane,
please turn to
Chapter 3.04:
Search and
Organization
on page 42
•
Command Bar which displays tasks appropriate for the files
being displayed
•
Live Icons which display a thumbnail of the actual contents
of
each file
•
Preview Pane which provides rich information (metadata)
about files
•
Reading Pane which allows users to browse a preview of a
file’s contents in applications that have enabled this feature
•
Enhanced address bar, title bars and borders.
Windows XP
Windows Vista
In Windows XP, menus, toolbars and the navigation pane or task
pane
(but not both) are distinct. In Windows Vista Explorers, menus,
toolbars, navigation, task bar and preview pane are merged into a
single, streamlined interface.
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Instant Search: Every Explorer window in Windows Vista contains an
integrated Instant Search field in which you can enter a word, part of
a word, or a phrase. Instant Search immediately searches file names,
file properties (metadata), and text within each file, and returns results
literally in an instant.
For example, as
shown in the
illustration, entering
the name “Frank” in
the Instant Search
field results in a list of
files related to
“Frank”—files for
which “Frank” is the
author or in which
“Frank” is mentioned
in the contents of the
file or the file name.
Navigation Pane and Search Folders: The navigation pane in
each Explorer has been redesigned to make it simpler to
navigate across your PC and quickly find what you’re
looking for. The default view of the navigation pane is a
series of quick links that take you to your Documents,
Pictures, or Music Explorers. Additionally, there is a new folder
that takes you directly to a new folder on your system where
your Search Folders are stored. A traditional folder and its
contents have specific addresses on the hard drive. In
contrast, a Search Folder is really a saved search that
executes the moment you click on it. Search Folders can
automatically organize your files logically, without moving
the physical files on your computer. This makes it easy for you to
view your files in many different ways without actually having to
worry about where your files are stored on your PC. If you prefer the
traditional, folder-tree based view in the navigation pane, you can
simply select the folder control found at the bottom of the pane.
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Command Bar: The new Command Bar displays tasks that are
appropriate to the files being displayed in an Explorer. The contents
of the Command Bar are based on the contents of the folder. For
example, the Document Explorer contains Command Bar tasks that
are appropriate to documents, while in the Pictures Explorer, it
contains tasks appropriate to digital images. Unlike Windows XP
and earlier Explorers, both the Command Bar and navigation pane
are available simultaneously—so tasks on the Command Bar are
always available, with no need to switch between the navigation
pane and the Command Bar.
Live Icons: Scalable “live” icons in Windows Vista greatly improve
on generic system icons. For applications that have this feature
enabled, live icons provide thumbnail previews of the actual
content of a file, rather
than just a generic
representation of the
application associated with
that file. You can clearly
see rich previews of your
files—including the first
pages of your documents,
previews of your photos, or
even album art for your
songs—without opening
them. This will help you work
more efficiently and
productively.
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Preview Pane: With the Preview pane, you no longer have to rightclick a file to open the Properties dialog box. Instead, a rich set of
file properties (metadata) are always visible in the preview pane.
You can also add or edit properties easily, for one or many files.
Reading Pane: For an even richer way to preview the contents of
documents and media without opening individual files, Explorers
such as the Document Explorer, Music Explorer and Photos Explorer
provide an optional
Reading pane. In
applications that have this
feature enabled, you can
browse readable views of
various documents, or
preview a few seconds of
content in media files. This
feature is similar to
previewing messages in the
reading pane of Microsoft
Outlook®.
Address Bar, Title Bars and Borders: The enhanced address bar
features drop-down menus along the current navigation path,
enabling you to easily backtrack or navigate forward, anywhere
along an address location. The enhanced address bar is
particularly useful on Tablet PCs, where it makes it easier and
quicker to navigate
precisely with just a few
taps of the stylus. Window
title bars and borders are
wider in Windows Vista,
making it easier to grab a
border to resize or move
a window.
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A More Intuitive User Experience—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Instant Search
A new search tool that enables fast search and filtering of any content
in view.
It also serves as a launch point to larger desktop searches as well as
Internet searches.
1
Navigation Pane
A redesigned feature that allows customers to view, navigate and
organize content by a familiar folder tree method or the new
Windows Vista metadata property-based method. Search Folders and
traditional folders are located on the same tool.
1
Command Bar
A new bar that displays contextual, one-click tasks depending on the
content displayed.
1
Live Icons
Live icons, scalable to 256x256 pixels, show the actual first page for
documents, the actual photo for photos, a screen capture for videos,
and album art for individual songs instead of generic icons.
1
Preview Pane
Displays high-resolution thumbnail and detailed information for any
selected files.
1
Reading Pane
In applications that have this feature enabled, users can browse highfidelity views of various files from directly within Explorers. Similar to the
reading pane in Outlook.
2
Enhanced Address Bar
Enables users to see physical addresses or past searches used to get to
the current view. Also enables Tablet PC users to navigate more easily
without the use of a keyboard.
1
Documents Explorer
Formerly My Documents, redesigned to enable instant search, flexible
viewing and organization, and easy access to document-centric tasks.
1
Music Explorer
Formerly My Music, redesigned to enable instant search, flexible viewing
and organization, and easy access to music-centric tasks.
1
Pictures Explorer
Formerly My Pictures, redesigned to enable instant search, flexible
viewing and organization, and easy access to photo-centric tasks.
1
View Slider Control
A slider control on the Command Bar that lets the user easily switch
between different views
1
Search Explorer
Enables instant search and flexible viewing of search results from across
the entire PC.
1
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Dialog Boxes and Wizards
Dialog boxes and Wizards in Windows Vista have been redesigned
to be clearer and more functional, with helpful explanations of
options, bigger fonts, and redesigned graphics and color. This
enables you to find relevant information more quickly and
accurately. They also are more consistent in behavior with other
interfaces, in particular with familiar Web-style navigation such as
forward and back buttons. For developers, standard Windows Vista
dialog box features are more easily integrated into applications
and are more flexible than Windows XP dialog boxes. This enables
developers to provide users with a more consistent and intuitive
experience.
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Wizards also are more useful and, for developers, easier to create in
Windows Vista. All elements, including graphical links, are easily
addressable so developers can create consistent, clean, efficient
Wizards that better assist users. For example, developers can
customize buttons to better reflect the user workflow (e.g. they are
no longer limited just to “Back,”
“Next,” “Finish” and “Cancel”). Wizard
windows can be resized to give users
more proscriptive information based
on different scenarios; and they can
easily be branded to maintain
consistency with a third-party
application’s interface. Existing wizards
will continue to work, and will appear
as they do in earlier versions of
Windows, and migrating them to the
new visual framework requires minimal
developer effort.
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Programs Explorer and Control Panel
The Programs Explorer, which uses the typical Windows Explorer
framework (for example, navigation pane, Instant Search),
provides a real-time account of installed applications on the
desktop. This new Programs Explorer replaces the Add or Remove
Programs control, and presents installed application information in
a clearer, easier-to-understand way.
For organizations, Programs Explorer also displays licensed
applications that are available for installation by users. Because this
information is presented in an explorer, a user can use the Instant
Search to quickly find a
specific application
among a long list of
applications that might
be available in that
organization
The redesigned Control
Panel also utilizes the
Windows Explorer
framework, and features
two views to help users
manage settings for
their PC more quickly
and easily. The first view is a more advanced version of the
category-based view first introduced in Windows XP. In addition to
categories, the new view lists specific tasks such as Change screen
resolution to help the average user find the right control. Even
better, Instant Search lets you type common word search terms, so,
for example, typing monitor would show Change screen resolution
as a matching task.
The second view is the
classic, standard view.
Instant Search works over this
view as well.
Finally, many of the
accessories in Windows Vista’s
Control Panel have
undergone extensive usability
testing and been redesigned
and integrated into the
explorer framework, making
them more consistent and
approachable for the typical
user.
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Programs Explorer and Control Panel Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Programs Explorer
Windows Features View
User can add and remove Windows components.
2
Programs Explorer Panel
Instant Search
Like the other search fields in the system, it enables instant metadata
property search and wider desktop and Internet searches. Unlike the
other instances of Instant Search, this field also instantly searches over
application the applications available over the network for installation.
1
Programs Explorer Installed
Programs View
Users can see which applications are installed on their system and can
change or remove them.
1
Programs Explorer Installed
Updates View
Users can see which updates from Windows Update have been
installed.
1
Programs Explorer
Add Programs View
Users can see which applications on the network are available for
installation.
1
Instant Search for Control
Panel
Users can instantly search over tasks, categories or Control Panel icons
by using natural language.
1
Control Panel Categorybased UI
A user-friendly view of Control Panel that displays Control Panel tasks.
1
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More about Windows Vista Aero
As noted earlier, Windows Vista Aero offers a premium user
experience that gives you a greater ability to visualize and work
with your information, and a smoother, more stable desktop
experience. Key features in Windows Vista Aero include:
Glass. Aero features windows that are truly translucent. This “glass”
effect allows you to more easily focus on the content of a window,
while providing better context to
the surrounding elements on your
desktop. For added
personalization, you can change
the color, the saturation and even
the level of transparency, to get
exactly the look and feel you
want.
Dynamic Windows. When minimized, a window will subtly animate
to a specific location on the taskbar, making it easier to locate
when you need it later.
Live Taskbar Thumbnails. With Windows Vista Aero, live taskbar
thumbnails show you the contents of the windows that are currently
open or minimized to the taskbar.
When you pause your mouse over a tile
on the taskbar, you see the “live”
contents of the corresponding window
without having to bring that window to
the foreground.
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Windows Flip (Alt + Tab). Windows Flip is an update to the feature
known as Alt-Tab in previous versions of Windows. With Aero, using
Windows Flip shows you live
thumbnails of your open windows,
instead of generic icons, making it
easier to quickly identify the
windows you’re looking for. One of
the displayed windows in the Flip
experience will always be on your
desktop, giving you a fast and
simple way to instantly minimize all
the open windows on your
desktop.
Windows Flip 3D. Flip 3D gives you a new way to find the window
you want. Flip 3D dynamically displays all the open windows on
your desktop in a stacked format.
While using the Windows (Start) +
Tab keys, it also shows “live”
processes like a playing video.
With Flip 3D up you can use the
Tab or arrow keys, or the scroll
wheel on your mouse, to smoothly
flip through the open windows
and select the window you need.
Smoother-performing Desktop: When using Aero, open windows
glide across your screen when you move or resize them. There are
no redraw artifacts, latency, or “tearing” effects that are
sometimes displayed on existing computers, particularly in windows
that display dynamic content such as video. The Aero experience
also reduces graphics driver-related system crashes and blue
screens.
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Detailed Windows Aero System Requirements
Windows Aero has the following requirements:
1. Windows Aero is only available to Genuine Advantage
customers who are running Home Premium, Business,
Enterprise, or Ultimate versions of Windows Vista.
2. The display adapter on PC must support DirectX® 9 with Pixel
Shader 2.0 in hardware, 32 bits per pixel and Windows
Display Driver Model (WDDM) support. WDDM introduces a
new level of graphics stability, significantly reducing one of
the biggest single sources of Windows support issues:
graphics driver related crashes. It also improves graphics
performance when running multiple graphics related
applications.
3. Graphics memory bandwidth, as assessed by Windows
Vista’s built in system assessment tool WinSAT.EXE, of at least
1,800MB/s at following resolution:
a. Desktop PC: at a monitor resolution of 1,310,720 pixels
(equivalent to 1280 x 1024)
b. Mobile PC: at the native resolution of built-in display
4. Appropriate graphics memory for specified monitor
resolutions expressed as total pixels (X dimension multiplied
by Y dimension):
a. 64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor
at resolution of 1,310,720 pixels (equivalent to 1280 x
1024)
or less
b. 128MB of graphics memory to support a single
monitor at resolutions higher than 1,310,720 pixels and
less than or equal to 2,304,000 pixels (equivalent to
1920 x 1200)
c. 256MB of graphics memory to support a single
monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
Note: To achieve the memory requirements outlined in #4 on
systems
with Unified Memory Architectures (UMA), also called shared
memory or integrated graphics chipsets, 1 GB of dual channel
configured system memory (RAM) is required. The system needs to
have at least 512 MB of RAM available for general system activities
after graphics processing.
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User Experience Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows AeroTM User
Experience
A professional, attractive, graphically-rich desktop experience that
requires a premium SKU and takes advantage of contemporary
hardware (WDDM drivers). The experience features great design and
rock-solid performance. It also includes fluid animation and transparent
glass on the Start menu, window borders, and new visually stunning
window-management tools, Windows Flip and Flip 3D.
1
Basic User Experience
The basic desktop user experience that all Windows Vista users get,
regardless of hardware capabilities and SKU. A theme file that gives
uses an upgraded and streamlined experience over Windows XP. It
features a redesigned Start Menu, more efficient explorers, and rich
data visualization tools like Live Icons and the new Preview and
Reading Panes.
1
Standard User Experience
A mid-tier user experience that adds the stability benefits of WDDM
and smoother re-drawing windows to the visuals of the Basic user
experience. It has the same hardware requirements as Windows Aero.
1
Classic Theme
Turns off Windows Vista Aero and Basic, and turns on a Windows 2000like UI. This UI still features many of the new Vista user experience
features like the Instant Search and column controls. It only changes
aesthetics.
2
Classic Mode
Enables IT staff to turn off new Windows Vista user experience features
on a feature-by-feature basis. This mode only turns off new
functionality, reverting to Windows 2000 functionality, but the
aesthetics still reflect Windows Vista Aero or Basic look and feel.
2
Window customization
tools
Tools for changing the tint of the glass that appears on different
components throughout the system
2
Aero taskbar
A new, sleek glass desk bar that can show thumbnails when users rest
the pointer over minimized applications.
2
Windows Flip
An updated look and feel for the traditional Alt-Tab experience, now
featuring live thumbnails of the open windows. Only available with the
Aero desktop experience.
2
Windows Flip 3-D
A new, window management tool, that is both efficient and visually
stunning. Only available with the Aero desktop experience.
2
Windows Vista Wizard
Framework
A visual and functional update to the wizard framework that Microsoft
pioneered, making all wizards easier to use and visually pleasing.
2
Windows Vista Task Dialog
Box
More common dialog boxes that have been redesigned and rewritten
to make them clearer and more understandable.
2
Dynamic Scaling for
Windows
For higher dots-per-inch (dpi) screens, Windows Aero can scale up the
desktop experience so that low dpi-aware controls and applications
can still be used
2
Desktop Compositing
Engine
A new display engine that gives users dramatically improved stability
and performance enhancements with respect to window drawing. It
eliminates screen tearing when users move various windows around
the screen. Requires WDDM drivers.
1
Windows Vista Sound
Design
A new startup theme and system sounds that are uniquely
Windows Vista.
Final
Release
Screensavers
New Windows screensavers that are visually compelling and look great
in the home, the office, and especially a retail store.
Final
Release
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3.03 User Interface: ClearType
People spend most of their time at the computer reading documents
and
e-mail, and viewing Web sites. Windows Vista increases the readability
of onscreen text with advances in Microsoft’s patented ClearType®
technology.
ClearType takes advantage of the computer industry’s shift in
screen hardware over the past few years from Cathode Ray Tube
(CRT) displays to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology used in
desktop and living room flat panel, portable laptop and Tablet PC
displays.
ClearType first shipped in Windows XP, and while it had some
readability improvements for CRT display users, it was not turned on
by default due to the low penetration of LCD-based screens on
which ClearType provides the most benefit. Because most users
tend to stick with default settings, this meant many missed out on
ClearType’s improvements in text readability.
In Windows Vista, ClearType is now turned on by default for all
users, irrespective of screen type. Since ClearType’s introduction, a
number of independent research studies have showed
conclusively that ClearType improves both comprehension and
reading speed by 5 percent. To put this in perspective, that’s
equivalent to saving users 24 minutes out of every eight-hour day
spent reading on the PC.
To gain even more benefits from ClearType, Windows Vista will
feature new typefaces specifically designed to take advantage of
the way ClearType works. The resulting six fonts—Calibri, Cambria,
Candara™, Consolas, Constantia™, and Corbel—all ship with
Windows Vista and take screen readability to a new level.
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Customers who use Far East languages such as Japanese will also
see improved readability. Typical fonts for Far East languages do
not support bold formatting and are very hard to read when text is
laid out horizontally, a trend
that is increasing on Web
sites and electronic
documents. To address this
issue, Microsoft has created
a ClearType optimized font,
called Meiryo, which
supports normal and bold
formatted Japanese
characters and better
horizontal text layout.
Future versions of Windows
will see continual improvements in the readability of text onscreen,
but the advances with ClearType are getting us closer to the day
when reading from your screen will be just as relaxing as curling up
on a sofa with a good book.
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3.04 User Interface: Search and Organization
We live in an age where nearly everything is digital. Documents,
music, video, photos, and even daily correspondence, including email, faxes, and voicemail, are increasingly created, accessed and
stored in electronic form on personal computers. Combined with a
huge increase in the storage capacity of hard drives over the last 10
years, we’re at a point where it’s increasingly difficult to stay on top
of the information stored on our PCs.
Some of us try to stay organized by meticulously creating structured
folder hierarchies in which to carefully store each file. This, of
course, takes lots of time and effort and quickly reaches its limits of
usefulness when talking about thousands of files. The rest of us live in
a world where we store our most important files on the desktop,
quickly filling it up, or in a few preferred folders, and relying on
Windows’ search functionality, which in past versions has taken up
to 30 minutes to find a single file.
Windows Vista introduces enhanced desktop search and
organization that will help you locate most any file or e-mail on your
PC. Remember anything about a file—the type of file, when it was
authored, or even what it contains—and Windows Vista can instantly
find it for you. Windows Vista goes beyond desktop search; it also can
help you “see” your files in multiple ways. Want to see all of your
documents arranged by date? How about author? No problem. The
system can auto-organize your content using basic properties that are
often automatically saved with your files. Even better, with supporting
in-box experiences, like Windows Photo Gallery or Windows Media
Player, or third-party applications, you can even “tag” you files with
relevant properties enabling the system to bring together your
documents, photos, music, and videos in whatever way you think
about them.
Search Features
Instant Search
With a new tool in Windows Vista called Instant Search, you are
never more than a few keystrokes away from whatever you’re
looking for. This feature, which is available almost anywhere you
are in Windows Vista, enables you to type a file name, property, or
even text contained within a file, and it returns pinpointed results.
It’s fast and easy. And Instant Search is also contextual, optimizing
its results based on your current activity—
whether it’s searching Control Panel applets,
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for music files in Media Player, or over all your files and applications
in the Start Menu.
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From the Start Menu
From the more efficient and comprehensive Start menu in
Windows Vista, users can find virtually anything on their PC with
fast-as-you-can-type performance. To find a
specific file, application or Internet Favorite,
simply press the Windows key on the keyboard—
or open the Start menu—and begin typing in the
embedded Instant Search box. As you type,
Windows Vista instantly searches file and
application names, metadata, and the full text
of all files, and displays the search results
organized by the type of asset—Programs;
Favorites/Internet History; Files, including
documents and media; and Communications,
including e-mail, events, tasks,
and contacts.
Explorers, Control Panels, and Experiences
Windows Vista features a number of explorers like the Documents
Explorer, Music Explorer, Pictures Explorer and new Search Explorer.
Instant Search is featured prominently in the top right corner within
every Explorer. Just like the Start Menu, you only have to type a few
letters to quickly display the most relevant results. If the results aren’t
what you’re looking for, Instant Search also provides easy access to
tools that can help you design more specific searches, or search
across the Internet using your search engine of choice.
Instant Search also appears in the top right corner of the
redesigned Control Panel. Here, you need only type in a word or
phrase associated with the task you want to accomplish, and the
Control Panel will filter down to the most appropriate choice.
You can also find Instant Search in Windows experiences like
Internet Explorer, Windows Photo Gallery, and even Windows
Media Player. Anywhere you see it, just start typing, and you’ll soon
find what you’re looking for. Quick, consistent, and easy.
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Advanced Filter Pane
For more detailed searches within an Explorer, you can use the
Advanced Filter Pane, which enables you to design a search with
multiple search criteria. For example, you can choose to search
over a specific location or content type such as documents, e-mail
or media. You can also add additional filters, such as specific
keywords and date ranges. When you’ve designed a really useful
search, you can save that search as a new Search Folder, enabling
you to re-run that exact search any time you click on it.
Small Business and Enterprise Search
In an organizational environment, all the data important to users
isn’t necessarily stored on a single desktop. The next-generation
search capabilities in Windows Vista are designed for use in
distributed data environments in several important ways:
•
Redirected Folders. Many enterprises concerned with the
safety and security of end-user data will redirect or “roam”
user folders, such as their Documents folder, to a server. To
preserve productivity, client-side caching is turned on so that
the data is still available when an information worker is
offline or not connected to the server. All redirected content
is indexed by the Windows Vista PC, so all Windows Vista
search and organization features work flawlessly over that
content.
•
Offline Folders. Information workers using server shares to
store personal or project data frequently will want that
content to be available offline. In Windows Vista, taking
folders or files offline has the effect of copying that content
locally and creating a sync relationship between the local
and server copies. Doing this also ensures that the local
content gets indexed, thus giving users an easy way to
search over server-based content.
•
Windows Vista Computer to Computer
Search. By default, a search searches only
the local computer. However, a user can
search other Windows Vista PCs
connected to their network by using a
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distributed search. With a distributed search, the target
computer instantly provides search results, but only if the user
has authorization to access those files.
•
SharePoint® Offline Documents. With the new version of
Office, you can take SharePoint libraries and documents
offline via Outlook, and Windows Vista will let you instantly
search over that offline SharePoint content.
•
Third-Party Data Source Support. Developers can use iFilters
and protocol handlers to add their data to the
Windows Vista system index so that users may instantly
search over that content.
•
Removable/Connected Hard Drives. Today, users frequently
connect standalone hard drives to their PCs for additional
storage, backup or archival purposes. This content can be
added to the index so that a user can easily search that
content.
•
Generic File Shares and Legacy Computers. Windows Vista
provides search performance equal to Windows XP search
over these devices. This is because fast search works only
when the content is indexed by the local PC or when the
remote location supports distributed searches.
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Search Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Instant Search
Search Explorer
An explorer designed to enable broad instant searches or targeted
searches over documents, media, e-mail, or the Internet.
1
Instant Search Box
A search box that enables the instant filtering of search results
currently in view.
1
Scope Picker
A selection tool for picking which locations a search will include.
1
Save a Search
A new command to save complex queries for future use; searches
are saved as Virtual Folders.
1
Query Pane
A tool with drop-down menus for designing targeted searches that
include multiple search criteria.
2
Internet search
The ability to pass search terms to the user’s Internet search engine of
choice.
2
Index control
A control for configuring the system index locations and other
settings.
2
Third-party extensibility
The ability for third party content and file types to be included in the
system index so that they too can be searched.
2
Small Business and Enterprise Search
Fast search for offline
folders
Searches content in offline folders.
1
Fast search for redirected
user folders
Works over Group Policy–enabled redirected folders when client-side
caching is turned on.
1
Windows XP parity search
Provides crawling search over USB drives, generic file shares, and
unknown PCs.
1
Fast search for
Windows Vista computer
to Windows Vista
computer
Supports distributed searches across other Windows Vista PCs.
2
iFilters and Protocol
Handlers
Using one or both of these technologies, third parties can
programmatically add their content to the local system index so that
users can instantly search over that content.
2
Offline SharePoint
Documents
The next version of Office will enable corporate users to take files
from SharePoint libraries offline via Outlook. Windows Vista can
instantly search over that content.
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Final
Release
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Organization Features
Document, Music, and Photo Explorers
While Windows Vista’s new desktop search capabilities address
many users’ needs, it is not designed to solve every information
management need. For instance, desktop search does not readily
help you find collections of similar files, like from the same project or
author, and then share those files out, organize them, or even
move them around your
hard drive.
Windows Vista’s powerful Explorers extend the benefits of Windows
Vista’s new desktop search capabilities to the next level by
combining instant search with the ability to auto-organize content
throughout your PC based on file properties. Rather than having to
remember specific locations or folder names to find your
documents, music, photos, and e-mail, you
can rely on Windows Vista’s ability to search file properties known
as “metadata.” For example, if you want to see all of the
documents that you have recently changed, the Document
Explorer can find those items, no matter where they are on your PC,
find them, and let you easily arrange them in lots of different ways,
such as by author. Or, if you prefer to
see those files arranged by type—such as Word documents or
Excel spreadsheets—Document Explorer can instantly sort and
display this
way as well.
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The real power of the new Explorers is that files no longer have to
be stored in a specific location to be found. For example, simply by
“tagging” a photograph from your high school graduation with the
keyword “graduation,” your name, and the names of family
members in the photo, you could locate it using the Photos Explorer
or in Windows Vista’s new Windows Photo Gallery.
Tagging Your Files
Windows Vista’s powerful new search and organization features
extensively utilize file properties (metadata) to provide users with an
even more dynamic way to interact with their information. Files you
use today already contain many
metadata properties that will be
immediately usable on
Windows Vista. Microsoft Office
automatically saves certain
properties on created documents,
such as author and date written.
Music transferred to a PC often
has properties like song name,
album, and artist. But
Windows Vista also gives users
ways to apply custom properties
to their files.
It’s fast and easy to apply properties to any file or group of files:
•
Preview Pane. The easiest way to add a property to a file is to
select the file and click on the Change Properties link in the
Preview Pane. This takes you to the properties dialog box
where you can easily add or edit properties. Many of the
entry fields support auto-complete, making it even easier to
add properties. And this method works for one or across
many files. Selecting multiple files and adding a property via
the preview pane adds that property to all of the selected
files.
•
Saving a File. Windows Vista features a new, common file
dialog for opening and saving files. Applications that choose
to utilize this control will enable you to use all the innovative
new searching and tagging features when you open and
save files. To add properties when saving a file, you simply
enter properties directly into the preview pane.
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•
Windows Photo Gallery. Windows Photo Gallery is a new
experience in Windows Vista that enables users to import,
edit, and tag photos. Any tags applied to photos will be
reflected in the Photos Explorer.
•
Windows Media Player 11. Media Player has always been
the premier experience to rip, organize, listen, and sync your
music files. Any changes made to properties on your music
files are reflected in the Music Explorer.
Folders and Search Folders
Traditional, location-based folders are also still supported in
Windows Vista because people are familiar with them and like
using them. Folders are useful because they enable easy migration
from computer to computer, and because legacy applications
would break without them. In Windows Vista, customers save
content in folders, but Windows Vista makes using folders easier
with tools such as Instant Search and the enhanced column
header controls.
Windows Vista also introduces a new feature called Search Folders,
which are searches that are instantly run when a user clicks on them.
Windows Vista will come with many pre-configured
Search Folders, like Important E-mail, which instantly
shows you all your flagged e-mail, or all
Attachments, which can show you all files that are
attachments. You can also create and save your
own Search Folders. For example, you could design
a search for all documents authored by John which
contain the word “project” somewhere within them.
This search, titled “Author John/ Keyword Project,"
actually gets saved as a Search Folder. Any time
you click on this Search Folder, the search is run and
the view is populated with results in a split second.
As more files are added to the hard disk authored
by John and containing the word "project," these
files will automatically show up in your Search Folder,
regardless of where on your PC you put those files.
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Enhanced Column Header Controls
Enhanced column header controls take advantage of
Windows Vista’s extensive usage of file properties to give users
better control when it comes to managing large amounts of
onscreen data.
Imagine being able to view as many as 200 files in a single folder.
With today’s operating systems,
no easy way exists to manage
such an amount of data,
especially when trying to sort
through or organize the
information. Instant Search is
one way to instantly find a file
or group of files based on a
search term. But the new
column header controls can do
even more.
For all the files currently in view, the new column header controls
feature innovative drop-down menus, which can display all the
values across any of the columns. For example, choosing the
“Type” column header control will display all of the different file
types across the visible documents. With check box simplicity, you
can pick and choose one or many types that you want to see.
Selecting “.PPT” and “.XLS” filters out all other document types on
screen, leaving only your PowerPoint® and Excel files.
“Stack” and “Group By” Views: In
addition to the traditional “sort”
view, the new column header
controls also feature two other
views by which users can view
their content. The new Stack view
is a view of currently displayed
data organized by stacks per the
values in a specific column. For
instance, you can select the
author column header and
choose to stack by author, and all
the files currently in view,
irrespective of where they are physically stored on your hard drive,
will automatically be rearranged into stacks of documents
organized by author. These stacks behave similar to folders, in that
a user can click to open them and see the items inside; but, unlike
folders, stacks have no physical location on the hard disk drive. In a
sense, they are virtual views of your content. More importantly, if a
file has two authors, (ex. authored by Tim and Paul) that file is
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included in both the stacks for Tim and Paul, giving users the
ultimate flexibility in how they find and organize their files.
The Group By view is similar to the
Stack view. It simply takes the
existing screen content, and
places it into groups according
to the values in a particular
column header. So, grouping by
author gives you a more granular
view of which documents belong
to which author.
Organization—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Tagging Your Files
Common File dialog box
A new dialog box for opening and saving files, it enables the user to
save files and apply metadata properties.
1
Auto Complete
When manually entering a property on a file, possibilities to complete
the property are automatically suggested.
2
Windows Photo Gallery
A new photo experience that allows you to view, edit and tag your
photos with keywords, so that you can see your files in multiple ways
2
Windows Media Player 11
An updated Media Player Experience that enables you to listen, sync,
and organize your music. Properties edited in Media Player are
reflected in the Music Explorer
2
Explorers Metadata Tagging
File properties
Metadata that can be added and changed on files and used to find
and organize files on the computer regardless of physical location.
1
Folders and Search Folders
Folders
Support for legacy storage units but coupled with new storage
innovations such as the Instant Search box and column headers.
1
Search Folders
Saved queries that meet certain criteria, such as files made within a
certain date range, with a specific keyword, or by a particular author,
which can be run from anywhere on the desktop. Every time a user
opens a Search Folder, it displays the most current results for the query.
1
Enhanced Column Headers
Column Header Instant
Search
Provides easy filtering when you have numerous values in a particular
column
2
Stack view
In this new custom view, the system stacks any of the files in view by
any property or category visible in the columns.
1
Group by view
In this new custom view, the system groups any of the files in view by
any property or category visible in the columns.
1
Sort view
In this standard view, the system sorts all files in view by any property
1
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3.05 Windows Sidebar and Gadgets
As you use your computer to access information, perform tasks and
interact with software applications, you may at times feel like
you’re facing information overload. You need to open a Web
browser just to check the weather, open an application to view
your calendar, and open a calculator program to add up a few
numbers. Now, with Windows Sidebar and its associated miniapplications called gadgets, those tasks and information are at
your fingertips.
Windows Sidebar
Windows Sidebar is a pane on the side of the Windows Vista
desktop that you can use to keep your gadgets organized and
always available. Windows Sidebar makes great use of the space
on widescreen monitors, but
also works seamlessly on
standard displays.
You can easily customize
Windows Sidebar to suit your
preferred location—always on
top, or resting below
maximized windows. In cases
where you don’t want to keep
your gadgets docked in the
sidebar, you can simply move
your gadgets off the Windows
Sidebar, hiding the sidebar,
and place them anywhere on
your desktop.
Gadgets
Gadgets are mini-applications with a variety of possible uses. They
can connect to Web services to deliver business data, weather
information, news updates, traffic maps, Internet radio streams,
and even slideshows of online photo albums. Gadgets can also
integrate with your applications to provide streamlined interaction.
For example, a gadget can give you an at-a-glance view of all
your online instant messaging contacts, the day view from your
calendar, or an easy way to control your media player. Gadgets
can also have any number of dedicated purposes. They can be
calculators, games, sticky notes, and more.
Windows Vista comes with an essential set of gadgets to get you
started and you can easily download more from an online gadget
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gallery. This gallery will host gadgets from a wide variety of
developers and publishers and will offer an extensive selection to
meet your interests.
3.06 Internet Explorer
Microsoft® Windows® Internet Explorer 7, the new version of the
popular Web browser from Microsoft, is a major step forward in
security and privacy protection, end-user experiences, and
platform advances for Web and application developers. As you
read through this chapter, you’ll learn about all of the important
capabilities in this exciting new version.
The Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview includes all the features
expected in the final release; however, we encourage customers
to run this release only on non-production PCs in an environment in
which mission-critical applications and data will not be affected.
New features in Internet Explorer 7 focus on three areas:
•
Improved navigation. Everyday tasks are easier with
improved navigation through tabbed browsing, Web search
right from the toolbar, advanced printing, easy discovery,
reading and subscription to RSS feeds, and much more.
•
Dynamic security protection. Through a robust new
architecture, Internet Explorer 7 offers security features that
help defend against malicious software (also known as
malware), and new ways to better protect users from
unintentionally providing personal data to fraudulent Web
sites, through deceptive practices like phishing.
•
Improved platform for Web development and manageability.
Internet Explorer 7 offers improved support for cascading
style sheets (CSS), a rich RSS feeds platform, and robust tools
for deploying and managing Internet Explorer 7 in large
enterprise environments.
Make Everyday Tasks Easier
To enable today’s savvy Internet users to perform everyday tasks
more productively and efficiently, Internet Explorer 7 has been
redesigned with new and enhanced capabilities to easily search
and consume multiple sources of information.
PC users can use tabbed browsing, inline toolbar searching, and
shrink-to-fit Web page printing capabilities; can discover, preview
and subscribe to Web feeds; and can employ Internet Explorer’s
cleaner, sleeker user interface to minimize the number of toolbars
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needed and maximize the amount of screen real estate devoted
to the Web pages they care about.
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Cleaner, Sleeker User Interface
“Frame” is a term that refers to the way the browser’s user interface
is laid out. In Internet Explorer 6, the default frame includes menus
at the top and a row with buttons for Back, Forward, Stop, Home,
Go, and so on; below that is the Address Bar.
Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer 7
In Internet Explorer 7, the frame is reorganized to make it noticeably
simpler, more streamlined and less cluttered with unnecessary
items. The goal is to maximize the screen real estate devoted to the
Web pages that users want to view and reduce the toolbar
“creep” that can sometimes take up as much as a third of the
screen.
The Back and Forward buttons are smaller and have been moved
next to the Address Bar. The Windows flag icon in the upper-right
corner of Internet Explorer 6 has been removed to make room for
the Toolbar Search Box. Microsoft has invested heavily in the user
interface improvements in Internet Explorer 7, and users will
experience the difference the moment they launch the new
browser.
Tabbed Browsing
Tabbed browsing is the most-requested browser navigation feature
among customers seeking to manage multiple Web sites within one
browsing window. To create or open tabs in Internet Explorer 7,
users can click on the empty tab on the Toolbar or right-click on
any hyperlink in a Web page and choose New Tab. They also can
right-click on a tab to refresh each page as an individual tab or
refresh all of them as a group, as well as close individual tabs or the
entire group.
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Quick Tabs
Internet Explorer 7 helps manage multiple tabs with a feature
called Quick Tabs. Quick Tabs enables users to view thumbnail
images of all open tabs in one view. By simply clicking the Quick
Tab icon just to the right of the Favorites icon, users can view all
open tabs. From the Quick Tabs view, the user can open any tab
by simply clicking anywhere on
the tab image and can close any
tab by clicking the “X” in the far
right corner of the image. The
Quick Tabs page will scale to the
number of tabs the user has open.
If a user has nine tabs open, Quick
Tabs will preview thumbnail
images of all nine tabs; if a user
has more than 20 tabs open (not
recommended), they will see
smaller thumbnail images of each
tab but will still be able to see all
tabs in single view.
Tab Groups
Internet Explorer simplifies the organization of multiple tabs with Tab
Groups. Tab Groups enable users to organize multiple tabs as a
single Tab Group, which can be saved as a Favorite.
Tab Groups can be created for a variety of subjects or categories
such as shopping, finance or news. For example, travel sites such as
Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia® can all be saved as a travel Tab
Group in Favorites. The Tab Group will appear as a folder in the
Favorites menu. By clicking on the folder, the Tab Group will
expand to show the unique sites organized within the folder. The
user can open all the sites in the Tab Group with a single click on
the arrow to the right of the folder. A Tab Group can contain an
unlimited number of tabs or sites, and users can create an
unlimited number of Tab Groups within Favorites.
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Toolbar Search Box
The Toolbar Search Box makes it quick and easy for users to search
the Internet directly from the browser frame using their favorite
search provider. Users can choose a search provider from the
drop-down list and easily add more providers to the list.
When users upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, the Toolbar Search Box
will inherit the default setting the user had chosen for AutoSearch in
Internet Explorer 6. To offer users the greatest choice, Internet
Explorer expands the definition of search provider by including
broad and vertical search providers as potential candidates in the
Toolbar Search Box drop-down list. From the Toolbar Search Box
drop-down menu the user can
simply click on Get Search
Providers to be linked to the
Windows Search Guide. This guide
includes many broad and vertical
search providers that can be
added to the Toolbar Search Box
with a single click.
Printing Advances
As part of Microsoft’s efforts to simplify the common tasks that users
perform every day, Internet Explorer will include enhanced
functionality that makes it easier to print a Web page without
content at the left or right margin being cut off, which is common.
By default, the Internet Explorer 7 will shrink a Web page’s text just
enough to ensure that the entire page prints properly, so users will
no longer need to cut and paste the page into a text-editing
program. Users will also be able to adjust Web page margins,
change the page layout, remove headers and footers, and
increase or decrease the print space.
Print Preview also enables users to print the whole Web page or just
part of a Web page. If the user wants to avoid printing graphics or
ads that are unnecessary they can. They simply select the text
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and/or graphics they want to print with the mouse and select “Print
Preview”. The Print Preview will show only the area selected and
print accordingly.
Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer 7
Page Zoom
To improve the user experience, Internet Explorer 7 has added a
Page Zoom feature, which enables users to increase or decrease
the page size for easier viewing. Not only can the user change the
text size, but any graphics or embedded text in graphics can also
be modified. Hard-to-read text or small thumbnail images on Web
sites can now be enlarged.
100 Percent View
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RSS Feed Support
With new integrated support for RSS in Internet
Explorer 7, users can easily discover, subscribe to
and read RSS feeds directly in the browser. Users can
have personalized sports, news or shopping feeds
delivered directly to them.
Web publishers use RSS to create and distribute
feeds that include links, headlines and summaries.
With an RSS reader, a user can subscribe to many feeds and read
new entries all in one place, without visiting individual Web sites.
In previous versions of Internet Explorer, RSS feeds were rendered in
the browser in raw Extensible Markup Language (XML), which is
unreadable by anyone but the most technical users. In Internet
Explorer 7, users can read the feed directly in the browser, scan for
important stories and get a description of the content. Users can also
subscribe to a feed with a single click, a process that is very similar to
adding a Web site Favorite.
Internet Explorer 7 also supports
an RSS platform so all
applications can share the
same set of RSS subscriptions,
enabling developers to focus
on creating new end-user
experiences rather than on the
details of RSS functionality.
More details on this
functionality are provided in
the Improved Platform and
Manageability section of this
overview.
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Make Everyday Tasks Easier—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Advanced Printing
Automatically scales a printed Webpage so that it is not wider than the
paper it’s printed on, Internet Explorer 7 also includes a multi-page print
preview with live margins, resizing text to avoid document clipping, and
an option to print only selected text.
2
Toolbar Search Box
Web search queries using your favorite search provider can now be
entered into a search box within the toolbar, eliminating the clutter of
separate toolbars. You can easily choose a provider from the
dropdown list and easily add more providers.
2
Tabbed Browsing
View multiple sites in a single browser window. Easily switch from one site
to another via tabs at the top of the browser frame.
2
Simplified User Experience
The Internet Explorer 7 frame is reorganized to make it noticeably
simpler, more streamlined and less cluttered with unnecessary items. This
maximizes the screen real estate devoted to the Web pages that users
want to view and makes it very easy to perform the most common
browsing tasks.
2
Favorites Center
Offers easy and fast access to Favorites, Tab Groups, Browsing History,
and RSS Feed subscriptions. Expands out when needed. Can be pinned
in place for even easer access.
2
Quick Tabs
Provides easy tab selection and navigation by displaying thumbnails of
all open tabs in a single window.
2
Tab Groups
Tabs can be grouped and saved into logical categories, allowing the
user to open multiple tabs with a single click. A Tab Group can easily be
set as the Home Page Group so the entire Tab Group opens every time
Internet Explorer is launched from the Start Menu.
2
Page Zoom
Enlarge or zoom in on individual Web pages, including both text and
graphics, to either focus on specific content or to make content more
accessible to those with vision limitations.
2
RSS Feeds
Automatically detects RSS Feeds on sites by illuminating an icon on the
toolbar. A single click on the icon allows the user to preview and
optionally subscribe to the site’s feed, then be automatically notified as
content is updated. Read RSS Feeds directly in the browser, scan for
important stories, and filter your view with search terms or site-specific
categories.
2
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Dynamic Security Protection
Web browsers perform a broad range of functions in the
computing environment. They must be open and flexible enough
to enable users to interact with multiple data sources, and at the
same time be secure enough to prevent unwanted data access or
application behaviors. Managing this balance is a top priority for
Microsoft’s customers.
Vulnerabilities exist in all sophisticated software code; the
differences essentially come down to the degree of difficulty
required to exploit them and what a hacker can do upon
exploiting them. Some security vulnerabilities are not even
technological in nature. For example, malicious individuals can
exploit social behaviors and user misinformation techniques,
resulting in users being tricked into turning over personally
identifiable information through obscured Web sites, confusing
dialog boxes and unexpected add-on behavior. Web browsers
represent an alluring target for hackers because in addition to the
large installed user base, many users can be easily confused and,
historically, have not applied all security updates in a timely
manner.
Windows XP SP2 greatly improved security in the operating system
and the browser. Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP and
Windows Vista continues our efforts to increase browser security,
providing enhancements such as eliminating portions of legacy
code to deliver stronger and more secure software. Along with the
Microsoft Windows Defender application (formerly known as
Windows AntiSpyware), Internet Explorer 7 helps users achieve a
higher level of security protection than before.
Microsoft has two primary security objectives with Internet Explorer
7:
•
Protection against malware. Microsoft is committed to giving
customers more confidence in the security of their browsing
activity and helping to prevent the installation of malicious
software. The company defines malware as all malicious
code or unwanted software, including worms, viruses,
adware, and spyware.
•
Personal data safeguards. Microsoft aims to protect users
from phishing attacks, prevent fraudulent Web sites from
stealing user data, and help users more safely and securely
engage in legitimate e-commerce without divulging their
personal information unintentionally.
Protection Against Malware
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Malware, short for malicious software, refers to software
applications designed to damage or disrupt a user’s system. The
proliferation of malware and its impact on security is a driving force
behind the design of Internet Explorer 7. The new version has been
improved to reduce the potential for hackers to compromise a
user’s browser or system. In addition, Internet Explorer 7 includes
several technical features designed to thwart hackers’ efforts to
lead users into giving away personal data when they should not.
Core parts of the browser’s architecture also have been fortified to
better defend against exploitation and improve the way the
browser handles data.
URL Handling Protections
Historically, attackers have taken advantage of internal code
design issues within the Web browser to attack a system. A hacker
would rely on a user clicking on an HTML link referencing some type
of malformed URL that contains odd or excessive characters. In the
process of parsing the URL, the system’s buffer would overflow and
execute some code the hacker wanted to install. Given the size of
Web browser application code, the most efficient solution to fixing
these types of attacks was to issue updates as each was
discovered and the root cause identified. Yet even with only a
handful of such updates required, the more optimal solution was to
rewrite the baseline application code to minimize such exploits.
Rewriting certain sections of the code has drastically reduced the
internal attack surface of Internet Explorer 7 by defining a single
function to process URL data. This new data handler ensures higher
reliability, while providing greater features and flexibility to address
the changing nature of the Internet as well as the globalization of
URLs, international character sets and domain names.
ActiveX Opt-In
Internet Explorer offers Web developers the ActiveX® platform as a
mechanism to greatly extend browser capabilities and enhance
online experiences. Some malicious developers have co-opted the
platform to write harmful applications that steal information and
damage user systems. Many of these attacks were made against
ActiveX Controls shipped within the Windows operating system,
even though the controls were never intended to be used by
Internet-facing applications.
Internet Explorer 7 offers users a powerful new security mechanism
for the ActiveX platform. ActiveX Opt-In automatically disables entire
classes of controls—all controls that the developer has not explicitly
identified for use on the Internet—which greatly reduces the attack
surface. This new feature mitigates the potential misuse of
preinstalled controls. Users will now be prompted by the Information
Bar before a previously installed but as-yet unused on the Internet
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ActiveX Control can be accessed. This notification mechanism will
enable users to permit or deny access when viewing unfamiliar Web
sites. For Web sites that attempt automated attacks, ActiveX Opt-In
protects users by preventing unwanted access and giving the user
total control. If the user opts to permit loading an ActiveX Control,
the appropriate control is easily enabled by clicking in the
Information Bar.
Protection Against Cross-Domain Scripting Attacks
Cross-domain scripting attacks involve a script from one Internet
domain manipulating content from another domain. For example,
a user might visit a malicious page that opens a new window
containing a legitimate page (such as a banking Web site) and
prompts the user to enter account information, which is then
extracted by the hacker.
Internet Explorer 7 has been improved to help deter this malicious
behavior by appending the domain name from which each script
originates and limiting that script’s ability to interact only with
windows and content from that same domain. These cross-domain
script barriers will help ensure that user information remains in the
hands of only those the user intentionally provides it to. This new
control will further protect against malware by limiting the potential
for a malicious Web site to manipulate flaws in other Web sites and
initiate the download of some undesired content to a user’s PC.
Protected Mode
Available only to users running Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista,
Internet Explorer Protected Mode will provide new levels of security
and data protection for Windows users. Designed to defend against
“elevation of privilege” attacks, Protected Mode provides the safety
of a robust Internet browsing experience while helping prevent
hackers from taking over the browser and executing code through
the use of administrator rights.
In Protected Mode, Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista is
completely unable to modify user or system files and settings
without user action. All communications occur via a broker process
that mediates between the Internet Explorer browser and the
operating system. The broker process cannot be scripted to act
without user input, thereby reducing the likelihood of unwanted
software download or installation The highly restrictive broker
process prohibits work-arounds from bypassing the Protected
Mode. Any scripted actions or automatic processes will be
prevented from downloading data or affecting the system.
Internet Explorer Protected Mode helps protect users from malicious
downloads by restricting the ability to write to any local machine
zone resources other than temporary Internet files. Attempting to
write to the Windows Registry or other locations will require the
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broker process to provide the necessary elevated permissions.
Internet Explorer Protected Mode also offers tabbed browsing
security protection by opening new windows—rather than new
tabs—for content contained outside the current security zone.
Fix My Settings
Knowing that most users are likely to install and operate
applications using the default configuration, Internet Explorer 7
ships with security settings designed to provide the maximum level
of usability while maintaining controlled security. There are
legitimate reasons why a custom application may require a user to
lower security settings from a default, but it is critical the user
reverse those changes when they are no longer needed.
Internet Explorer 7 introduces users to the new Fix My Settings
feature to keep users protected from browsing with unsafe settings.
This new feature in Internet Explorer 7 warns users with an
Information Bar when current security settings may put them at risk.
When a user makes changes in the security settings window, they
will see settings automatically highlight in red if they modify certain
critical items. In addition to dialog alerts warning the user about
unsafe settings, the user will be reminded by the Information Bar as
long as the settings remain unsafe. Users can instantly reset the
security settings to the “Medium-High” default level by clicking the
“Fix My Settings” option in the Information Bar.
Advanced Protection Against Spyware With Windows Defender
Microsoft Windows Defender enhances security and privacy
protections when used with Internet Explorer 7. Extending the
protections against malware at the browser level, Windows
Defender helps prevent malware entering the machine via piggyback download, a common mechanism by which spyware is
distributed and installed silently along with other applications.
To learn more
Although the improvements in Internet Explorer 7 cannot stop nonabout Windows
browser-based spyware from infecting the machine, using it with
Defender,
Windows Defender will provide a solid defense in depth to protect
please
users at several critical security decision points Windows Defender is
turn to Chapter
3.08 Windows
Defender
on page 84
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available in a beta release for Windows XP SP2 and will also be in
Windows Vista.
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Personal Data Safeguards
Most users are unaware of how much personal, traceable data is
transmitted with every click of the mouse while they are browsing
the Web. The extent of this information continues to grow as
browser developers and Web site operators evolve their
technologies to enable more powerful and convenient user
features. With some basic Web site development tools, malicious
Web site operators can build near replicas of well known and
trusted Web sites. Most online users are likely to have trouble
discerning a valid Web site from a bogus copy.
More consumers are buying online. The extent to which
convenience and discount pricing are available online gives users
an attractive reason to click and buy. The Internet enables any
large or small business to easily create an online storefront for selling
goods, enabling the business to reach a consumer audience well
beyond traditional physical and geographic boundaries. Search
engine marketing efforts allow these Web sites to establish instant
consumer credibility and reach millions of users through some of
the largest search engines or portal Web sites. The combination of
these factors creates situations in which consumers are dealing
with distant businesses and left with fewer concrete mechanisms to
differentiate legitimate businesses from those seeking to collect
their information for improper gain. Another challenge facing users
is the ability for malicious Web site operators to attract
unsuspecting consumers by mimicking the appearance and
function of well-known and trusted businesses.
Increase in phishing. Masquerading online as a legitimate person
or business for the purpose of acquiring sensitive information,
malicious Web site operators use a technique know as phishing to
gather personal information. Over the past year, phishing attacks
have been reported in record numbers, and identity theft is
emerging as a major threat to personal financial security.
Unlike direct attacks where hackers break into a system to obtain
account information, a phishing attack does not require technical
sophistication but instead relies on users willingly divulging
information such as financial account passwords or Social Security
numbers. These socially engineered attacks are among the most
difficult to defend against because they require user education
and understanding, rather than merely issuing an update for an
application. Even experienced professionals can be fooled by the
quality and details of some phishing Web sites as hackers become
more experienced and learn to react more quickly to avoid
detection.
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Internet Explorer 7 offers a range of enhancements and solutions to
better protect against malicious Web site operators and help
prevent users from becoming victims of confusing URLs. The new
Security Status Bar, located next to the Address Bar, is designed to
help users quickly differentiate authentic Web sites from suspicious
or malicious ones. In addition, Internet Explorer provides a simple
file cleanup utility that deletes browsing history for better protection
of privacy and passwords
Digital Certificates, issued by recognized entities known as
Certificate Authorities, serve two functions: 1) The provide a third
party validation for the authenticity or trustworthiness a business or
Web site and 2) provide cryptographic encryption of data
communications to keep information safe and secure as it is
passed between the Web site and browser. Certificates play an
essential role for users in validating e-commerce Web sites and
helping to thwart phishing scams. Internet Explorer 7’s Security
Status Bar enhances access to certificate information by placing it
more prominently in front of users and providing single-click access
to the certificate.
Security Status Bar
Over the past few years, Web browser users have been introduced
to the concept of encrypted communications and secure sockets
layer (SSL) technologies to better protect their information from
being obtained by third parties. Although many users have
become quite familiar with SSL and its associated security benefits,
a large proportion of Internet users remain overly trusting that any
Web site asking for their confidential information must be safe. With
the explosion of home-based and small business Web sites selling
goods that span the pricing spectrum, users are even more likely to
encounter unknown entities asking for their financial information.
The combination of these factors creates a situation ripe for abuse.
Internet Explorer 7 addresses this issue by providing users with clear,
prominent, color-coded visual cues indicating the safety and
trustworthiness of a Web site.
Previous versions of Internet Explorer placed a gold padlock icon in
the lower-right corner of the browser window to designate the trust
and security level of the connected Web site. Given the
importance and inherent trust value associated with the gold
padlock, Internet Explorer 7’s new Security Status Bar places it more
prominently in users’ line of sight. Users can now view a Web site’s
certificate information with a single click on the padlock icon.
The Security Status Bar also supports information about High
Assurance (HA) certificates for stronger identification of secure sites
such as banking sites. These sites can be secured with High
Assurance SSL Certificates, also known as Enhanced Validation,
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which will help protect consumers from identity theft. Windows
Internet Explorer 7 will highlight these validated sites with a greenshaded address bar and will display the name of the business and
the entity that identified them very prominently.
To provide users with another visual cue designed to help them
recognize questionable Web sites, the padlock now appears on a
red background if Internet Explorer 7 detects any irregularities in the
site’s certificate information. By contrast, Web sites bearing
certificates with proper credential data will clearly display the
name of the certificate owner and a gold background to indicate
to users the higher level of safety and trustworthiness.
Microsoft Phishing Filter
Developers of phishing and other malicious activities thrive on lack
of communication and limited sharing of information. Using an
online service that is updated several times an hour, the new
Microsoft Phishing Filter™ in Internet Explorer 7 consolidates the
latest industry information about fraudulent Web sites and shares it
with Internet Explorer 7 customers to proactively warn and help
protect them. The filter is designed around the principle that, to be
effective, early warning systems must derive information
dynamically and update it frequently.
The Phishing Filter combines client-side scans for suspicious Web site
characteristics with an opt-in online service. It helps protect users
from phishing scams in three ways:
•
It compares the addresses of Web sites a user attempts to
visit with a list of reported legitimate sites that is stored on the
user’s computer.
•
It analyzes sites that users want to visit by checking those
sites for characteristics common to phishing sites.
•
It sends the Web site address that a user attempts to visit to
an online service run by Microsoft to be checked
immediately against a frequently updated list of reported
phishing sites.
Internet Explorer 7 uses the Security Status Bar to signal users (in
yellow) if a Web site is suspicious. The example to the left shows a
site that is attempting to spoof a legitimate Woodgrove Bank site.
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If the Web destination
has been confirmed as
a known phishing site,
Internet Explorer 7
signifies the threat level
(in red) and
automatically navigates
the user away from that
site. To avoid false
positive reports, human
beings must manually
review a Web site it can
be marked as a known phishing Web site. Similarly, human reviews
are made before a site can be removed from suspicious or known
phishing status.
URL Display Protections
Hackers commonly attempt to mislead users into thinking they are
looking at information from a known and trusted source. A valuable
hacking tool has been the ability to hide true URL information and
domain names from users. Internet Explorer 7 contains two powerful
visual tools to help prevent users from being duped: an Address Bar
in every window, and Internationalized Domain Name (IDN)
support.
•
Address Bar in Every Window. With Internet Explorer 7, all
browser windows require an Address Bar. Because hackers
often have abused valid pop-up window actions to display
windows with misleading graphics and data as a way to
convince users to download or install their malware, the
requirement of a read-only Address Bar in each window will
help ensure that users always know more about the true
source of information they are seeing.
•
IDN Display Protections. The Internet incorporates a global
community, and browsers must be able to handle nonEnglish characters and domain names. Operators of
malicious Web sites have used international character
display issues as a mechanism for phishing attacks against
users and as a way to hide the true Web site domain name.
The problem derives from international alphabets; many
characters in certain languages (e.g., the letter “a” in
English) can resemble entirely different characters in other
languages (e.g., the letter “а” in Cyrillic). As a result, an
individual with malicious intent may register a similar domain
name to fool users into submitting their content to a false
site. Previous versions of Internet Explorer did not have IDN
support and thus were not vulnerable to this attack.
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Internet Explorer 7 natively delivers full IDN functionality and display
protections, and also provides extensive security mechanisms to
protect users from attack. One of the core security features of
Internet Explorer 7’s IDN support is the multiple language display in
the Address Bar.
Internet Explorer 7 IDN rules force the display of the Punycode
domain name format when multiple character sets are contained
within a single domain name label. IDN support is aware of
operating system language settings, and only enabled language
character sets will display in their native language characters.
Certain language combinations, such as Chinese and English will
always display punycode and would never be valid in the same
label, since they do not share a common character set. Other
language combinations, such as French and English may display
either punycode or natively in IDN, based on which languages are
enabled on the users system. For example, If both French and
English language support were enabled, the URL
www.microsóft.com would be displayed properly in the Address
Bar since they share a common character set base (nearly all
romance languages share the same common character set).
However, if support for both languages were not enabled, the
address would display in punycode since it mixes both the French
and English character sets in the same label portion. The address
bar would display www.xn--microsft-03a.com, alerting the user
and calling attention to the suspicious URL.
Delete Browsing History for Better Protection of Privacy and
Passwords
Removing all personally identifiable and tracking information from
the browser is crucial to maintaining online privacy, especially in
shared computing environments. Previous versions of Internet
Explorer provided mechanisms to delete history information, clean
the cache, erase automatically completed form history and clear
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the Start/Run history. The removal of this data required deleting each
set individually, and not all the necessary removal buttons are
located on a single screen or within one area.
Internet Explorer 7 provides a Delete Browsing History option that
provides users with one-click cleanup to easily and instantly erase
personal data. Delete Browsing History is especially valuable in
shared-resource environments. Accessing online resources using a
friend’s computer seems harmless enough, but the user then
becomes reliant on the security of the friend’s system to protect his
or her data. Likewise, in public environments such as libraries,
schools and conference centers, computers may be used by
hundreds of people and potentially expose personal data and
history information to every one of those users. Delete Browsing
History provides a simple mechanism to instantly erase information
and eliminate any concern for data privacy on other systems.
Parental Controls
Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista utilizes a network layer filter
component—available to all Windows Vista applications—that
allows parents to establish filter controls for a range of settings,
including controls for objectionable content or define a specific set
of allowable Web sites to browse.
To learn more
about Parental
Controls, please
turn to Chapter
4.03: Parental
Controls
Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista works directly with the Parental
Controls service to provide easy access to logging information and
a single interface for managing settings. The Parental Controls
service can also be set to block file downloads, offering another
way to prevent malware from getting on a system.
Settings
Dynamic Security Protection—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Protected Mode
Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista runs in isolation from other
applications in the operating system. Exploits and malicious software are
restricted from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files
without explicit user consent.
2
ActiveX Opt-In
Disables nearly all pre-installed ActiveX controls to reduce the attack
surface and requires user consent before a previously unused control
can be accessed Users can easily enable or disable ActiveX controls as
needed through the Information Bar and the Add-on Manager.
2
Phishing Filter
Proactively warns and helps protect users against potential or known
fraudulent sites and blocks the site if appropriate. The opt-in filter is
updated several times per hour using the latest security information from
Microsoft and several partners to provide the latest industry information
about fraudulent Web sites.
2
Fix My Settings
Keeping users protected from browsing with unsafe settings, Internet
Explorer 7 warns users with an Information Bar when current security
settings may put them at risk. Within the Internet Control Panel, the user
will see certain critical items highlighted in red when they are unsafely
configured. In addition to dialog alerts warning the user about unsafe
settings, the user will be reminded by the Information Bar as long as the
settings remain unsafe. Users can instantly reset Internet security settings
2
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Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
to the “Medium-High” default level by clicking the “Fix My Settings”
option in the Information Bar.
URL Handling Security
Redesigned URL parsing ensures consistent processing and minimizes
possible exploits. The new URL handler helps centralize critical data
parsing and increases data consistency throughout the application.
2
High Assurance SSL
IE7 provides support for new “High Assurance” certificates, coloring the
address bar green to indicate the site has completed the additional
validations and independent verification processes of Certificate
Authorities. High Assurance certificates will help increase user trust for
online transactions and visually alert the user when they are present—all
designed to safeguard personal data.
2
Delete Browsing History
Enables users to clean up cached pages, passwords, form data,
cookies and history, all from a single window.
2
Parental Controls
To help keep kids safe online, parents can control browsing behavior
through the parental control settings built into Windows Vista. The child’s
safety level can be monitored and safely changed remotely. The safety
level carries over to many PC activities, other than browsing the
Internet, such as playing games or accessing the machine outside
certain approved usage times. Further, a child’s browsing session logs
can be examined by a parent afterwards, and cannot be removed
without the parent’s permissions.
2
International Domain
Name Support
In addition to adding support for International Domain Names in URLs,
Internet Explorer also notifies the user when visually similar characters in
the URL are not expressed in supported language character sets or
combinations, thus protecting the user against sites that could otherwise
appear as a known trustworthy site.
2
Address Bar Protection
Every window, regardless of whether it is a pop-up or standard window,
will present a read-only address bar to the user, helping to block
malicious sites from emulating trusted sites.
2
Security Status Bar
Enhances user awareness of Web site security and privacy settings by
displaying color coded notifications next to the address bar. Internet
Explorer 7 changes the Address Bar green for Web sites bearing new
High Assurance certificates, indicating the site owner has completed
extensive identity verification checks. Phishing Filter notifications,
certificate names and the gold padlock icon now also reside adjacent
to the address bar for better user visibility. Certificate and privacy detail
information can easily be displayed with a single mouse-click on the
Security Status Bar.
2
Cross-Domain Barriers
Limits script on Web pages from interacting with content from other
domains or windows. This enhanced safeguard will further protect
against malware by limiting the potential for malicious Web sites to
manipulate flaws in other Web sites or cause the user to download
undesired content or software.
2
Add-ons Disabled Mode
To help troubleshoot difficulties launching Internet Explorer or reaching
specific Web sites, users have the ability to start in “No Add-ons" mode,
where only critical system Add-ons are enabled.
2
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Improved Platform and Manageability
Web developers have expressed frustration with peculiarities in the
behavior of Internet Explorer 6, especially in the areas of standards
support. Application developers also want to take advantage of
new Web capabilities, but have been required to develop
everything from the ground up to do so. And network
administrators are always looking for better ways to manage large
numbers of browser users.
With Internet Explorer 7, the browser architecture has been reengineered to address compatibility and support a variety of rich
end-user experiences. In Beta 1, Microsoft improved support for CSS
and more transparent PNG support. The latest release goes even
further; Internet Explorer 7 is even more standards-compliant and
makes Web and application development easier. Yet, even with
this new functionality, Internet Explorer 7 can continue to be
centrally managed via Group Policy. The final release will include a
new version of the Internet Explorer Administration Kit to enable
more deployment options.
Improved CSS Support
CSS is a widely used standard for creating Web pages. Internet
Explorer 7 prioritizes compliance to CSS standards by first
implementing the features that developers have said are most
important to them. As a result, in Internet Explorer 7 Microsoft has
addressed some of the major inconsistencies that can cause Web
developers problems producing rich, interactive Web pages. This
includes fixing some positioning and layout issues related to the
way Internet Explorer 6 handles <div> tags. (More information
about these bugs can be found at
www.positioniseverything.net/explorer/peekaboo.html and
www.positioniseverything.net/explorer/guillotine.html.)
Internet Explorer 7 will be shipped with improved CSS 2.1 support.
Specific issues addressed by Internet Explorer 7 include the
following:
•
Ability to hover on all elements
•
Fixed positioning
•
CSS 2 selectors
•
HTML 4.01 improvements
•
Windowless Select Element
Transparent PNG Support
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Internet Explorer 7 also adds support for alpha-channel transparent
PNGs.
A PNG is a typographical file format that may include an indication
of the exact degree of transparency a picture should have through
a measurement called the alpha channel. With an alpha channel,
designers can use special effects that were not previously
supported. For instance, they can create Web page images that
have shadows but do not obscure the background image behind
them.
RSS Feed Platform
The Windows RSS Platform will be included as part of Internet
Explorer 7 for Windows Vista and Windows XP. This platform provides
rich functionality for downloading, storing and accessing feeds
across the entire operating system, and will enable more users than
ever to embrace RSS. This means that once a feed is subscribed to
in one application, that subscription and associated content will be
made available for all applications across the operating system.
The days of having siloed RSS data in different applications are
over.
The Windows RSS Platform provides this rich data layer through two
primary components:
•
The Common Feed List. Accessible through either the Windows
RSS Platform APIs or the file system, the Common Feed List
provides a common storage location for all subscribed-to sites.
Any application can add or delete sites and can share
information about the feeds, such as how subscriptions are
organized in folders, for example.
•
The Common Data Store. Accessible through either the
Windows RSS Platform APIs or the file system, the Common
Data Store handles downloading, storing and managing
read and unread status of feed data.
Microsoft expects that the use of RSS enclosures will increase
substantially in the near term. The Common Data Store is an ideal
tool for ensuring that the most updated content—such as text,
calendar entries, pictures, podcasts, and many other types of
files—is delivered and accessible to anyone who subscribes to it.
Further, because the platform does all the hard work of synching,
parsing, and storing RSS feeds, application developers will have a
much easier time building applications that use RSS for their
synching strategy. Microsoft believes that this platform technology
will help enable a major increase in the number of applications
that use RSS.
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The primary initial users of the Windows RSS Platform will be
technical enthusiasts who already use and subscribe to RSS, as well
as application developers who are looking for a new technology to
help them share varied content between applications. As RSS
adoption grows and Internet Explorer installations increase,
Microsoft expects widespread adoption of RSS by general users,
often without even knowing it.
OpenSearch
Internet Explorer 7 supports OpenSearch 1.1, the latest Creative
Commons release of the standard from A9.com Inc., a subsidiary of
Amazon.com Inc., which enables syndication formats such as RSS
and Atom to be used in search applications. Further, the Toolbar
Search Box in Internet Explorer 7 adopts OpenSearch extensions,
permitting search engines to plug in to Internet Explorer simply by
supporting OpenSearch.
Improved AJAX Support
Internet Explorer 7 improves the implementation of the XMLHTTP
Request as a native Javascript object for rich AJAX-style
applications. While Internet Explorer 6 handled XMLHTTP requests
with an ActiveX control, Internet Explorer 7 exposes XMLHTTP
natively. This improves syntactical compatibility across different
browsers and allows for clients to configure and customize a
security policy of their choice without compromising key AJAX
scenarios.
Administration Improvements
With Internet Explorer 7, administrators have centralized control
over settings via Microsoft Active Directory® Group Policy, which
makes the browser more manageable. All previous and new
features are manageable via Group Policy, including the Phishing
Filter and all browser add-ons, to help administrators ensure that
browser users comply with company standards. Further, fully
customized Internet Explorer deployments will be possible with the
enhanced Internet Explorer Administration Kit. Customers will be
able to confirm compatibility of their key applications with Internet
Explorer 7 using an updated version of the Application
Compatibility Toolkit that was included in Windows XP SP2.
Internet Explorer will continue to be supported as part of the
Windows platform, with continuous incident response support
provided by the Microsoft Security Response Center. Further, there
will be no change to Windows support life-cycle timelines with this
new release, so administrators can be assured that Microsoft is
standing behind the new release.
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Improved Platform and Manageability—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Alpha Channel in PNG
Supports transparency within the PNG image format, resulting in betterlooking Web sites that are simpler to build.
2
Group Policy
Improvements
Support for all aspects of Internet Explorer settings through Group Policy,
greatly easing management across an enterprise.
2
CSS Improvements
Addressed many of the major inconsistencies that can cause Web
developers problems when producing visually rich, interactive Web
pages. Improved support for CSS2.1 including selectors and fixed
positioning allowing Web developers to create more powerful effects
without the use of script.
2
Improved AJAX Support
Improves the implementation of the XMLHTTP Request as a native
Javascript object for rich AJAX-style applications. While Internet Explorer
6 handled XMLHTTP requests with an ActiveX control, Internet Explorer 7
exposes XMLHTTP natively. This improves syntactical compatibility across
different browsers and allows for clients to configure and customize a
security policy of their choice without compromising key AJAX
scenarios.
2
Open Search Extensions
In conjunction with Amazon.com, a set of RSS Simple List Extensions
were submitted to the RSS community, and released under the Creative
Commons license. Amongst other features, these extensions greatly
simplify development of applications that interact with Open Searchcompatible search engines.
2
RSS Platform
Provides rich functionality for downloading, storing and accessing RSS
feeds across the entire operating system, and will enable more users
than ever before to embrace RSS. Once a feed is subscribed to in one
application, that subscription, and all the associated content, will be
made available across the operating system for any application that
wishes to consume it.
2
Application Compatibility
Toolkit
An application compatibility kit will be available for Internet Explorer 7,
allowing IT pros and developers to understand any incompatibilities with
their existing Web sites, applications and deployments.
2
Internet Explorer
Administration Toolkit
OEMs and deployment specialists can pre-package Internet Explorer
with customized settings or additional programs for their users.
2
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3.07 Security
Though the IT industry has become much more effective in limiting
the damage caused by malicious worms and viruses, threats
continue to evolve as hackers become more sophisticated, and as
users become more connected to other users and to the Web via
broadband Internet access.
To address the evolving nature of malicious threats, Microsoft’s
security efforts are built around complementary technologies that,
working together, provide you with layered, in-depth protection.
Building on the security advances in Windows XP Service Pack 2,
Windows Vista has been engineered to deliver the most secure
version of Windows ever. It includes a number of new security
features that, combined, are designed to help you accomplish
three important goals:
•
Enjoy a PC free from malware, including viruses, worms,
spyware, and other potentially unwanted software;
•
Have a safer online experience;
•
Understand when a PC is vulnerable, and how to make it
safe again.
Enjoy a PC Free from Malicious Software
The effects of malicious software (also known as malware) can
range from mere annoyances such as the display of unwanted
advertising when you view Web sites, to significant problems that
can result in decreased PC performance, and identity theft
involving your personal information.
In keeping with Microsoft’s layered approach to security
protection, Windows Vista includes new features that help prevent
malware from installing on your machine, mitigate damage
malware might cause if it does infect your PC, and help remove
malware already installed.
The anti-malware features discussed in this section include:
•
Windows Firewall
•
Windows Update
•
User Account Control
•
Internet Explorer 7 Protected Mode
•
Windows Defender (for protection from spyware and
potentially unwanted software)
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When used in combination with other Microsoft software and
services such as the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool,
Windows Live Safety Center, and Windows OneCare Live or
another antivirus application available from one of our partner
companies, Windows Vista can significantly protect you from
malicious software.
Windows Firewall
A firewall is a critical first line of defense against many types of
malware. Properly configured, it can stop many kinds of malware
before it infects your computer or other computers on your
network. Windows Firewall, which comes with Windows Vista, is
turned on by default and begins protecting your computer as soon
as Windows starts. It is designed to be easy to use, with few
configuration options and a simple
interface.
More advanced than the Windows
Firewall in previous versions of Windows,
the firewall in Windows Vista helps
protect you by restricting other
operating system resources if they
behave in unexpected ways—a
common indicator of the presence of
malware. For example, if a component
of Windows that is designed to send
network messages over a given port on
your PC tries to send messages via a
different port due to an attack, Windows
Firewall can prevent that message from
leaving your computer, thereby
preventing the malware from spreading
to other users.
Windows Update
To learn more
about Windows
Update, please
turn to Chapter
3.19 Windows
Update
on page 122
Another important feature of Windows Vista is Windows Update,
which helps keep your computer up-to-date by offering the option
of automatically downloading and installing the latest security and
functionality updates. This update process is designed to be simple
and seamless as it updating occurs in the background and
required restarts can be completed at a more convenient time.
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User Account Control
Most user activities, such as surfing the Web, sending e-mail and
using productivity applications, do not require administrative
privileges. Yet most people log in to their home PC with an account
that has full administrator privileges. This puts the PC at greater risk
from viruses, spyware, and other threats.
Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) makes it easier to use
your PC with standard user privileges. You can create a separate
account for each member of the family and control what Web
sites, programs, and games each person can use and install. UAC
also helps families with children
keep their PCs free of malware
such as viruses, worms and
spyware that is sometimes hidden
in programs that appeal to
children. UAC makes it practical to
give children their own standard
user account, thus ensuring that if
a child tries to install a new piece
of software, the system will prompt
for an administrator account
password to approve the action.
Even while using an administrator
account, User Account Control
provides increased security. By
default, most programs will run with
the permissions of a standard user,
which limits the potential damage
they can do. If you need to perform
an action that requires administrator
privileges, the system will prompt the
user for an administrator password.
To learn more
about User
Account
Control, please
turn to Chapter
6.05: Advanced
Security
on page 233
Internet Explorer 7 Protected
To learn more
about
Protected
Mode please
turn to Chapter
3.06: Internet
Explorer
on page 53
Mode
Internet browsers have become a common avenue that hackers
use to deliver malware or to try to cause damage to a user’s
computer. Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista includes many
security improvements to help protect against these attacks. For
example, Internet Explorer Protected Mode provides the safety of a
robust Internet browsing experience while helping prevent hackers
from taking over your browser and executing code through the use
of administrator level permissions.
Windows Defender
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Windows Defender (previously known as Windows AntiSpyware) is a
feature of Windows Vista that helps protect your PC by regularly
scanning your computer’s hard drive
and offering to remove any spyware or
other potentially unwanted software
that it finds. It also provides always-on
protection that monitors key system
locations, watching for changes that
signal the presence of spyware, and
checking any files accessed against a
constantly updated database of known
spyware.
To learn more
about Windows
Defender,
please
turn to Chapter
3.08: Windows
Defender
on page 84
Note: Windows Vista does not include real time (also known as “on access”) virus protection.
The features discussed above complement antivirus software, but are not a substitute for
third-party antivirus software such as the applications offered by Microsoft’s antivirus
partners. (See a list at www.microsoft.com/security/partners/antivirus.asp.)
Enjoy a PC Free from Malware—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows Firewall
First line of defense against malware. Turned on by default and begins
protecting your computer as soon as Windows starts. Easy to use, with
few configuration options and a simple interface
2
Windows Update
Helps keeps your computer up-to-date by offering the option of
automatically downloading and installing the latest security and
functionality updates.
2
User Account Control
A set of features that helps minimize use of administrator privileges,
reducing the impact of malware, such as viruses, worms, spyware, and
other potentially unwanted software, on your PC.
2
Internet Explorer 7
Protected Mode
In Protected Mode, IE7 cannot launch new applications or modify user
or system files and settings without user consent.
2
Windows Defender
Helps protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer’s hard drive
and offering to remove any spyware or other potentially unwanted
software that it finds. Also provides always-on protection that monitors
key system locations, watching for changes that signal the presence of
spyware, and checking any files opened against a constantly updated
database of known spyware.
2
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A Safe Online Experience
The Internet is a vast resource for exploring, communicating,
shopping, and learning. Yet, as it has grown in scope and
popularity, it also has become a target for identity thieves trying to
trick consumers into revealing valuable personal information,
predators stalking Instant Messenger conversations, and
malevolent hackers attempting to infect unprotected PCs with
viruses.
Windows Vista includes new features designed to help protect users
and provide their families with a safer experiences online. These
features include:
•
Parental Controls
•
Phishing Filter
•
Internet Explorer Security Status Bar
•
InfoCard
Parental Controls
Windows Vista introduces a comprehensive set of parental control
features, that offer parents greater peace of mind and an
increased level of confidence in their ability to manage the
content that their children may view when they use a computer.
The Parental Controls panel helps parents to:
To learn more
about Parental
Controls, please
turn to Chapter
4:03: Parental
Controls Settings
on page 132
Limit when and for how long their children use the computer;
Control what Web sites their children can visit and what
software applications their children can use;
Restrict access to software games based on title, content or
ratings;
Read detailed reports about their children’s computer
usage.
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Phishing Filter
Windows Vista includes advances that help protect users against
phishing, a technique used by online scam artists to illegally obtain
a user’s valuable personal information, such as credit card
numbers, passwords and other account data.
To learn more
about Phishing
Filters, please
turn to Chapter
3.06: Internet
Explorer on
page 53
Phishing Filter, a feature in Internet Explorer 7, uses a series of
“checks” to help protect users from phishing scams. With the
Phishing Filter, IE 7 will warn users about suspected phishing sites or
redirect users to a warning page in the case of a known phishing
site.
IE7 Security Status Bar
To learn more
about the
Security Status
Bar, please turn
to Chapter 3.06:
Internet Explorer
on
page 53
The new IE 7 Security Status Bar, located next to the Address Bar,
helps you quickly differentiate authentic Web sites from suspicious
or malicious ones by providing you with clear and prominent visual
cues to the safety and trustworthiness of a Web site, and one-click
access to certificates that authenticate the legitimacy of valid
Web sites. The new Status Bar prominently features a gold padlock
icon to designate the trust and security level of a Web site. The
Status Bar also displays special color coding to give users a more
visual way determine whether or not a site is legitimate or not.
InfoCard
InfoCard is a technology that will offer users a common way to
organize and manage their digital identities, maintain fewer
passwords, and better control what personal information they
share over the Internet. When you visit a Web site that supports
InfoCard, you’ll have the option to submit an InfoCard in lieu of a
username and password to log in. InfoCards are easy to submit via
the new interface built into Windows Vista.
InfoCards are more secure because the personal information in the
InfoCard is encrypted and stored safety on your PC, or with a
trusted identity provider such as a bank, ISP, or government
agency.
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A Safe Online Experience—Key Features
Feature Name
Parental Controls
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Helps parents keep their children safe by:
•
Limiting when and for how long their children use the
computer
•
Controlling what Web sites their children can visit, what
software applications their children can use, and who they
can chat with when logged onto the Internet
•
Restricting access to software games based on title, content
or software rating
•
Viewing detailed reports about their children’s computer
usage.
2
Phishing Filter
Helps protect against phishing scams by analyzing sites you want to visit
for characteristics common to phishing sites, and checking Web site
addresses against a frequently updated list of reported phishing sites
maintained by Microsoft. You’re warned when visiting a suspicious site
and advised not to proceed to a known phishing site.
2
IE7 Security Status Bar
Helps you quickly differentiate authentic Web sites from suspicious or
malicious ones by providing clear and prominent visual cues to the
safety and trustworthiness of a Web site, and one-click access to
certificates that authenticate the legitimacy of valid Web sites.
2
InfoCard
A technology that offers users a common way to organize and
manage their digital identities, maintain fewer passwords, and better
control what personal information they share over the Internet.
2
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Make a Vulnerable PC Safer
With the evolving nature of threats on the Internet, it can be difficult to
know if you’re taking the appropriate steps to make your computer
safe and secure. Independent surveys have show that many users
believe they have up-to-date virus protection when, in fact, many do
not. New security features in Windows Vista help you know if you’re
protected, and if you’re not, they provide the guidance and control
you need to return to a secure configuration.
Windows Security Center
Windows Security Center (WSC) helps keep your PC secure by
alerting you when your security software is not up to date, or when
your security settings have potential weaknesses that need to be
corrected. For example, WSC shows you the status of your firewall
settings and whether your PC is set up to receive automatic
software updates from Microsoft. The Security Center also monitors
antivirus and anti-spyware software, and notifies you when such
protection is not present or up-to-date. It also monitors your PC’s
security settings for Internet Explorer and User Account Control. If
WSC find that these settings are insecure, it alerts you and
recommends steps to remedy the problem.
Fix My Settings
Internet Explorer 7 ships with security settings designed to provide
the maximum level of usability, while maintaining controlled
security. Sometimes a user may need to lower security settings from
the default, but it is critical that such
changes are re-set to the default when they
are no longer needed. The new Fix My
Settings feature helps keep you protected
by warning when you when your current
security settings may put you at risk and
giving you an easy way to get safe again.
To learn more
about Fix My
Settings, please
turn to Chapter
3.06: Internet
Explorer on
page 53
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Remote Assistance
To learn more
about Remote
Assistance,
please turn to
Chapter 3.19:
Windows
Update on
page 122
Another feature to help you get and stay secure is Remote
Assistance, a collaborative help tool that lets someone you trust
remotely view and share control of your computer to assist in
diagnosing and resolving computer troubles.
Make a Vulnerable PC Safer—Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows Security Center
Alerts you when your security software is out of date or security
settings have potential weaknesses that need to be corrected.
2
Fix My Settings
Multiple cues alert you when security settings are unsafe, and
provide options to correct them.
2
Remote Assistance
A collaborative help tool that lets a person remotely view and
share control of another user’s computer to assist in diagnosing
and resolving computer troubles.
2
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3.08 Windows Defender
Windows Defender (formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware) is a
feature of Windows Vista that helps customers protect their
computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats
caused by spyware.
In this chapter the term “spyware” is used colloquially to refer
to an array of software programs that can be installed on a PC
inadvertently or without consent of the user. To learn more
about such potentially unwanted software, go to
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/msft/strate
gy.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsdefender.
Defender lets the user make conscious choices about software
installed
on their PC by providing always-on protection that monitors key
system locations, watching for changes that signal the presence of
spyware. Superior scanning and removal technologies use up-todate spyware definitions created by Microsoft, with help from
Windows Defender users who submit reports of potential new
spyware.
From installation to maintenance and updates, Windows Defender
is simple to use and comes with pre-configured settings and
guidance designed to help you get and stay secure. An improved
user interface gives you more control over your software. Common
tasks like scanning, blocking
and removing unwanted
software are easier than ever,
and a Software Explorer helps
you understand what software
and services are running on
your computer, and stop or
disable “rogue” software.
Windows Defender
automatically handles many
common tasks, and will only
interrupt or alert you for more
serious issues that require
immediate action.
Windows Defender utilizes many of the platform enhancements in
Windows Vista, including improved caching technology that allows
scans to run faster, and User Account Control that enables the
software to run without administrator privileges.
Integration with Internet Explorer (IE) allows downloaded files to be
scanned before they are saved and executed, reducing the
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chance that Spyware might be installed by accident. “Scan on
execute” functionality provides an added layer of protection, and
integration with Windows Security Center helps you keep track of
spyware protection alongside other security and safety features.
Windows Defender currently is available in a beta release for
Windows XP SP2, and in the beta release of Windows Vista. Windows
Defender and its associated definition updates also will be available
on an ongoing basis as free standalone downloads for customers
using Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server™ 2003 who
validate their software through the Windows Genuine Advantage
program. (Windows Defender is fully accessible and will be localized
to German and Japanese shortly after the English release. Availability
in other languages will be announced at a later date.)
Spyware Protection
To help protect you and your computer, Windows Defender
depends on three key technologies: scanning and removal of
spyware, real-time protection, and ongoing updates.
Scanning and Removal
of Spyware
By default, Windows Defender
will scan your computer for
spyware every day at 2 a.m.
unless you specify a different
schedule. During the scan,
Windows Defender will
automatically take action on
High, Medium and Low Severity
items, depending on your
preferences.
You can also quickly scan the
most common locations, such
as program files and IE
browser help objects on your
computer at any time by
clicking the Scan button.
Generally, a quick scan will
be able to detect the most
common spyware on your
computer. You can also elect
to perform a full system scan,
which will take longer, but will
examine your entire computer
for signs of spyware using a
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more comprehensive definition set. You can also specify a custom
scan using the dropdown menu to scan specific areas of your
computer, such as removable storage.
Once a scan is complete, Windows Defender will notify you of any
spyware that it discovers on your computer. It will then prompt you
with options on how to deal
with each threat, and
recommend appropriate
action in most cases.
Generally, there are four
actions you can take if a
threat is detected:
Ignore: No action will be taken, but the potential threat will
continue to be detected in future scans.
Quarantine: Back up the software in a safe location, then
remove it. This prevents the software from running, but it can
be restored if needed.
Remove: Delete the software from the computer entirely.
Always Allow: Add the software to the “allowed items” list. It
will not be detected in future scans.
Windows Defender can scan and remove software even if the user
is not running as an administrator—by default, non-administrators
can take action on detected items. They can choose to remove,
quarantine, or ignore items.
Real-time Protection
Scanning can remove existing spyware, but to protect against new
or unknown threats, Windows Defender includes monitoring agents
for real-time protection. Several security agents monitor critical
areas of the computer that spyware may attempt to modify:
autostart, system configuration, IE add-ons, IE configuration, IE
downloads, services and drivers, application execution, application
registration, and Windows add-ons. These critical areas of the
computer represent the common entry points for spyware.
Typically, spyware will need to modify one of these areas in order
to run automatically, or to spy on what you’re doing without your
consent. If any changes occur to these areas, Windows Defender
will notify you and help you allow or block this activity. Some
legitimate software may also behave in suspicious-looking ways, so
Windows Defender helps you make decisions about whether to
allow it on your system by showing you the percentage of other
Windows Defender users who have allowed it. Typically, legitimate
software will have a very high “allow” rate.
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Updated Definitions
Since spyware is a constantly evolving threat, Windows Defender
will automatically ensure that it has the latest definitions before a
scheduled scan, so you are better protected from new threats.
Definition updates are created by Microsoft analysts with help from
an active network of Windows Defender customers who submit
spyware reports. These reports help keep Microsoft—and you—
ahead of new and emerging threats posed by spyware.
Customers can opt into these networks at a number of different
levels. As a “basic participant,” they can submit reports that do not
include personally identifiable information—although this may result
in incomplete spyware reports. “Advanced participants” can
choose to send a full report that may include some personally
identifiable information. Advanced participants will also be alerted
of unknown software that exhibits behaviors similar to spyware.
Control Over Software on Your Computer
Windows Defender gives you a clearer view and more control over
the software on your computer. When suspicious actions are
detected by unknown software, Windows Defender will alert you to
their potential threats. It also includes a number of tools and
features that help you keep track of what software you have,
understand threats and alerts, and keep track of scanning and
protection activity.
Understanding Alerts
Windows Defender alerts you when it detects suspicious behavior
on your computer or discovers known spyware during a regularly
scheduled scan. It will adjust these alerts based on the severity of
the potential threat.
When innocuous changes occur, a small notification appears in the
system tray. For moderate to severe threats, a yellow or red alert
window will be displayed, since
these generally require you to
take action right away. From
these alerts, you can take
immediate action or select
“Review” to get more
information about the potential
threat. When multiple potential
threats are discovered, only one
alert is shown to minimize
interruptions and allow you to
take action quickly and get
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back to using your computer.
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Software Explorer
To help you understand what software and services are running on
your computer, automatically running on startup, or
communicating over the Internet, Windows Defender includes a
Software Explorer that lists these processes and helps you stop or
disable “rogue” software.
To learn more
about Windows
Event Log,
please turn to
Chapter 6.04:
Management
on page 227
Windows Event Log
You can also keep track of Windows Defender’s activity—including
alerts, detection and removal, or installation of new definitions—
using the Windows Event Log. Previous actions that have been
taken by the user can be reviewed or audited at a later point
through the event log viewer by searching for events created by
Windows Defender.
Windows Defender Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Thorough Spyware Removal
Advanced spyware
detection
Quickly and easily find known spyware programs.
2
Spyware quarantine and
removal
Spyware threat details
Straightforward and thorough spyware removal returns your computer
to normal.
2
Scan scheduler and
automatic, configurable
cleaning
Maintains your computer with regularly-scheduled spyware scans and
automatic cleaning.
2
Software Explorer
Quickly discover and remove unwanted programs that might have
been installed without consent.
2
Continuous Spyware Protection
Real-time protection
Continuously guards against common ways that spyware gets on your
computer.
2
Intelligent user alert
Protection that does not distract you from using your computer.
2
Browser hijack detection
Easily block Internet settings changes caused by spyware.
2
SpyNetTM Voting Network
Stop new spyware threats faster.
2
Automatic Definition
Updates
Automatically stay protected from the latest threats.
2
Up to-date Defenses
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3.09 Performance
New technology in Windows Vista makes your PC significantly more
responsive in performing everyday tasks. Improved Startup,
Shutdown
and Sleep performance helps both desktop and mobile PCs get up
and running quicker. And Windows Vista manages both memory
and I/O devices more efficiently, making the computer more
responsive to user applications.
In addition to in-the-box improvements, Windows Vista is designed
to take advantage of the latest hardware to improve system
performance. Windows ReadyBoost™ technology (formerly codenamed “EMD”) boosts performance without the need to add RAM.
Windows Vista also takes advantage of Windows ReadyDrive™
technology (formerly code-named “Hybrid Hard Drive”) to improve
reliability, battery life, and performance. Finally, state-of-the-art selftuning and diagnostics make it much easier for users and IT
administrators to manage performance effectively.
Startup, Sleep, and Shutdown Performance
To learn more
about Sleep,
please turn to
Chapter 3.11:
Mobile PC on
page 99
Windows Vista introduces a new power state called Sleep. In
Windows XP, the Shut Down functionality caused the system to start
up and shut down slowly. In Windows Vista, Sleep saves
documents, applications and data to both the hard drive and
memory, so users can get up and running in much less time.
Fast Boot and Resume
When a PC starts up, Windows Vista performs many processing
tasks,
such as loading items in the Startup folder, in the background,
giving
you control of your PC much sooner than in previous versions of
Windows. And even this short wait happens less frequently than
before, because
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you don’t have to reboot Windows Vista as often as previous
versions
of Windows.
Improved Responsiveness
Inconsistency in PC performance is one of the top issues for computer
users. One day, applications launch quickly and everything seems to
be working well. Then you go out for lunch, and the computer slows
down. Another day, applications seem to take longer to launch in the
morning. Users want to be able to count on consistent responsiveness
from their machines. Windows Vista includes a number of innovative
technologies that will help ensure that you can launch applications
quickly when you start your machine, and that these applications will
continue to be responsive throughout the day.
Windows Vista uses memory more efficiently, improving
performance by providing new scheduling mechanisms for timecritical work. These improvements provide a more consistent and
responsive user experience, with fewer blocking disk I/Os and less
performance degradation from background system activities.
Windows SuperFetch
A new memory management technology in Windows Vista, Windows
SuperFetch™ helps make the computer consistently responsive to
user applications. Most memory management schemes employ a
most-recently-used algorithm, in which the content last accessed
remains in RAM until it is replaced by something else. When users left
their machines to attend a meeting or go to lunch, background
applications would take this opportunity to execute actions such as
indexing, virus scans or system management functions. Before
SuperFetch, these background applications would remain in memory
until the user returned and launched another application. Thus, users
would find that applications that were running quickly before they left
their desk would be much less responsive when they returned.
SuperFetch manages memory using an algorithm that prioritizes
user applications over background tasks. With SuperFetch,
background tasks will still run when the machine is idle. However,
when the background task completes, SuperFetch will repopulate
memory with the data the user was accessing before the
background task ran, so when users return to their desks, their
applications will continue to run as quickly as before.
SuperFetch also helps improve PC responsiveness by tracking what
applications are used most on a given machine and preloading
these applications into memory. This makes the system more
responsive when it is first booted or switched to a different user profile.
SuperFetch uses an intelligent prioritization scheme that can even
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differentiate what applications you’re more likely to use on the
weekend than during the week, so the computer is ready with the
applications that are most likely to be needed at any given time.
Low-priority I/O
While SuperFetch allows Windows Vista to manage memory much
more effectively, memory is not the only resource needed to
ensure responsiveness. Applications also compete for access to I/O
devices, such as the system’s hard drive. One of the benefits of
Windows is that multiple programs can run simultaneously.
However, if multiple applications are trying to access the same
system resource—such as the hard drive—at the same time,
performance can suffer. Prior to Windows Vista, all applications had
equal priority when it came to I/O access. If a background process
such as a virus scan was running at the same time as you were
trying to access a file on the hard drive, the two applications would
compete for access to the hard drive, significantly slowing the
responsiveness of the PC for the task you were trying to perform.
Windows Vista introduces the concept of low-priority I/O, which
allows background processes to run with lower-priority access to
the hard drive than user applications. If an application is written to
use low-priority I/O, it can run at the same time as a user
application without slowing the user application. In Windows Vista,
a number of services are written to use low-priority I/O, including
search indexing, auto-defrag and Windows Defender’s daily system
scan.
Automatic disk defragmentation
Infrequent disk defragmentation leads to an inefficient layout of
files on the hard disk, which may slow PC performance.
Windows Vista includes a new disk defragmenter that runs in the
background and automatically defragments the hard disk as the
need arises. The new disk defragmenter no longer needs to
complete in a single session, allowing it to defragment
incrementally, whenever the computer is idle.
Disk defragmentation is one of the processes that will take
advantage of Low-priority I/O out of the box. This will allow a hard
disk to be defragmented in the background without hurting the
responsiveness of your applications.
Faster Access to DVDs and Music
Windows Vista includes a new feature called Windows Hot Start,
designed to help people who use their mobile PCs for media and
entertainment. Mobile PCs will include a separate button for media
playback that starts up right into Windows Media Player or the
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Media Center user interface. So when using a mobile PC on a long
flight, Hot Start will enable the user to quickly get to DVDs or music,
saving both time and battery life.
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Windows ReadyBoost™
Adding system memory (RAM) is often the
best way to improve a PC’s performance,
since more memory means more applications
are ready to run without accessing the hard
drive. However, upgrading memory can be
difficult and costly, and some machines have
limited memory expansion capabilities,
making it impossible to add RAM.
Windows Vista introduces Windows
ReadyBoost—a new concept in adding
memory to a system. USB flash drives can be
used to extend system memory and improve
performance without having to add
additional memory “under the hood.” The USB
device serves as additional memory cache—
memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it
can access data on the hard drive. When combined with
SuperFetch technology, this can significantly improve system
responsiveness.
It’s easy to use Windows ReadyBoost. When a removable memory
device is first inserted into a USB 2.0 port, Windows Vista will check
to see if its performance is fast enough to work with Windows
ReadyBoost. If so, you’ll be asked if you’d like to use this device to
speed up system performance. You also have the option to use
Windows ReadyBoost with an already connected USB flash device
by accessing the properties of that device. Finally, a user can
choose to allocate part of a USB drive’s memory to speed up
performance and use the remainder to store files.
Windows ReadyBoost technology is both reliable and secure. You
can remove the memory device at any time while using Windows
ReadyBoost without any loss of data or negative impact to the
system; however, when the storage device is removed,
performance will return to the level experienced without the
device. Wear on a USB drive is not an issue when using it to
enhance performance—a unique algorithm optimizes wear
patterns so that a USB device could run in this capacity for many
years, even when heavily used. Finally, data on the storage device
is encrypted to prevent inappropriate access.
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Windows ReadyDrive™
Windows ReadyDrive helps provide faster boot, hibernate, and
resume on Windows Vista computers equipped with new hybrid
hard drives that integrate non-volatile flash memory with the disk
drive.
Windows ReadyDrive is intended for mobile PCs running Windows
Vista. Data is written to the flash memory on the hybrid hard disk,
which lessens the amount of spinning for the mechanical hard
drive, thus saving battery power. With a hybrid drive, Windows Vista
can resume faster from Sleep because data can be restored from
flash memory faster than from the spinning mechanical hard drive.
And since the mechanical hard drive is not working when the
machine is in Sleep state, with Windows ReadyDrive users have less
risk of damaging the hard drive when on the move.
Diagnosing Performance Issues
Windows Vista’s built-in performance diagnostics can detect and
self-correct many performance issues. Performance diagnostics
provide instrumentation and services for both user-driven and tooldriven diagnoses of common problems, including glitchy media
playback, slow application startup, slow boot, and network-related
delays. Built-in performance diagnostics track how long it takes to
execute common activities—such as booting the machine—and
apply automated analysis when performance declines. The results
of this analysis are written to the system event log, where they can
be monitored by users or support professionals.
To learn more
about Windows
Diagnostics
Infrastructure,
please turn to
Chapter 6.07:
Reliability on
page 257
In addition to built-in diagnostics, Windows Vista includes new tools
and instrumentation that will make it easier for IT administrators to
manage system performance. For example, performance counters
are more reliable and secure, and more widely implemented.
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Performance Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows ReadyBoost™
Windows Vista can use available memory on a memory device, such as
a USB flash drive, as extra memory cache, to provide more consistent
and responsive performance.
1
Sleep; Fast Startup
Sleep is the default "off" setting in Windows Vista. It will deliver consistent
and reliable power transitions, a simple usage model, 2-3 second
resume times, and nonvolatile protection of end-user data.
2
Fast Shutdown
Provides quick response to the user’s request to sleep, shutdown or
restart, eliminating the confusion caused by delays or a lack of
responsiveness, and providing a consistent and reliable "off" experience.
2
Reliable Power-State
Transitions
User-initiated transitions to sleep or shutdown (through a laptop lid
closure or the new and simplified shutdown interface) will occur with
significantly increased reliability. The "burning briefcase" issue, where a
laptop wakes to suspend the user state to the hard disk but fails to
complete the transition, thereby overheating in a briefcase, is resolved.
2
Windows SuperFetch™
Intelligent memory management lets users access their data more
quickly. Optimizes based on usage patterns over time
2
Low Priority I/O
Differentiates between high-priority, low-priority, and critical I/O, as well
as deadlines for I/O requests. Allows background processes to run with
lower I/O priority than user processes, for greater responsiveness
2
Performance Self-Tuning
and Diagnostics
Detects and self-corrects problematic performance. Provides
instrumentation and service supporting user-driven and tool-driven
diagnoses of performance problems, such as media glitching, slow
application startup, slow boot, and network-related delays.
2
Windows ReadyDrive™
Windows Vista will be designed to take advantage of the additional
capabilities of hybrid hard disk drives by proactively managing the
nonvolatile cache that is integral to these hybrid devices. Windows
ReadyDrive helps provide performance, battery life, and reliability
advantages over standard drives.
1
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3.10 Networking
Windows Vista includes new networking features that make
networking easier to set up, easier to use, and more secure and
reliable. Whether at home or in a small business or large enterprise,
Windows Vista makes connectivity easier so you can focus on
what’s most important. Connect wirelessly to your company’s
network, share a high speed Internet connection and printers, copy
files between computers, or enjoy your favorite online
entertainment at home.
Network Center
Windows Vista puts you in control of your network experience with
the Network Center, where you can check your connection status,
see your network visually, or troubleshoot a connection problem.
Network Center informs you about the network your computer is
connected to and verifies whether it can successfully reach the
Internet. It even presents this information in a summary form of the
Network Map so you can
immediately see your
connectivity to the
network and Internet. If a
computer on the network
loses Internet
connectivity, you can
graphically see which
connection is down, and
then use Network
Diagnostics to help
determine the cause of
the problem and suggest
possible solutions.
Connecting
Windows Vista streamlines the process of connecting to networks,
and enables you to connect to any type of network—local wireless
networks, corporate networks through VPN or RAS, or dialup—all in
one easy-tofind place. This view of connectivity options is just one click away
from
the Start menu.
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Wireless networking
also is more secure,
with enhanced support
for the latest wireless
security protocols,
including WPA2. To
improve the overall
user experience, rather
than viewing multiple
pop-up notifications,
the system tray on the
lower right side of the
screen will present a
single icon which
indicates when wireless
networks are available. Windows Vista also provides an easy way
to create direct computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) wireless
connections to enable sharing and peer-to-peer applications,
even when not connected to the Internet.
Network Explorer
Once a network is set up, you can browse content on networked
computers, devices, and printers, just like you can browse the
folders stored on your PC. The new Network Explorer in
Windows Vista makes it easy to do just that. It presents a view of all
computers, devices, and printers on the network, and is significantly
faster and more reliable than My Network Places in Windows XP.
Network Explorer will display computers and devices, even when
they are not yet fully
configured for the
network. The Network
Explorer is even able to
use custom,
representative icons for
different devices (when
enabled by
manufacturers). You can
also directly interact with
select devices, such as
adjusting settings or
controlling music
playback, for example.
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Network Map
When people have multiple wired and wireless computers and
devices connected to a network, it can be difficult to understand
how everything is connected. Windows Vista provides a new
feature called Network
Map, which shows an
easy-to-understand
graphical view of
everything on the network
and how they are
connected. This helps
people optimize their
network for the best
performance, and easily
locate any problems.
Network Setup
With Windows Vista, setting up a network between multiple PCs,
and devices such as printers, music players, and game systems, is
simpler and more intuitive. The Network Setup Wizard easily and
automatically identifies supported network devices, and creates
more secure connections to the network that will help keep your
network protected against intruders.
With Windows Connect Now, network settings can also be saved to
a portable USB flash drive to make adding additional, supported
PCs and devices to the network a quicker and easier process.
Simply insert the USB flash drive into a PC or device and it will
automatically read the data and ready itself to join the network.
File and printer sharing is
also easily enabled on
each PC on the network
from the Network Setup
Wizard, so you can share
documents, photos,
music, and other files
across your network.
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Network Awareness
Network Awareness is a platform in Windows Vista which reports
changes in network connectivity to supported applications. This
provides a more seamless and contextually relevant networked
experience. As you connect to different networks, applications that
support Network Awareness can modify settings and the user
experience based on that network. For example, when you switch
from your home network to a wireless network at your
neighborhood coffee shop, your firewall settings can change so
other users cannot see your computer and your shared files.
Networking Key Features
Feature Name
Network Center
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
One central, easy-to-use place for quickly viewing network status and
2
important network settings.
Connectivity Interface
A single, easy interface for viewing and connecting to all available
2
wireless networks, corporate (VPN and RAS) connections, and dialup
connections. There are also helpful wizards for setting up these
connections for the first time.
Network Explorer
From one place, users can browse all computers and devices on the
2
network. The speed and reliability of discovering networked computers,
servers and devices is significantly improved compared to Windows XP.
Network Map
A visual map of the network that displays computers and devices, as
2
well as the ways in which they are connected. When a connection is
broken, this will be clearly displayed on the map, and Network
Diagnostics can be used to help diagnose the problem and suggest
possible solutions.
Network Diagnostics and
Windows can diagnose network problems when they occur and
Troubleshooting
suggest solutions.
Network Setup Wizard
Easy, self-guided wizard automatically recognizes when supported
2
2
networking hardware is connected and helps users create a network.
Wizard then guides them through using Windows Connect Now
technology to create a secure wireless network and easily connect
devices and computers to their wireless network. Rather than writing
these settings down, they can be transferred with USB flash drives, or an
Ethernet cable.
Network Awareness
A platform which reports changes in network connectively to supported
2
applications, enabling a customized user experience for each network.
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3.11 Mobile PC
As a mobile PC user, you face challenges every day that a desktop
computer user does not usually confront. Desktop users typically
have a reliable source of power and are usually connected to a
single network. As a mobile PC user, you may frequently have to
manage transitions as you move from place to place. Sometimes
you’re plugged in and sometimes you’re using battery power. You
may be connected to a corporate network in the morning, a
wireless network in a client’s conference room in the afternoon,
and your home network in the evening.
Windows Vista addresses the unique needs of mobile PC users by
providing several new or enhanced features. The following
describes some of these key features or enhancements.
Power Management Experience
You now have more control over how your computer users and
manages power than ever before. Windows Vista offers a simplified
and more reliable power management experience compared to
earlier versions of Windows.
Power Plans
Power settings in Windows Vista are based on power plans. A
power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that
manages how your computer uses power. Power plans help you
easily make a tradeoff between battery life and system
performance. Windows Vista
includes the following three
Windows default power plans:
Balanced. This plan balances
energy consumption and
system performance by
adapting your mobile PC's
processor speed to your
activity. For example, the
processor speeds up when you
play a multimedia game and
slows down when you read a
document.
Power saver. This plan saves power on your mobile PC by reducing
system performance. It’s primarily for people who want to maximize
battery life.
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High performance. This plan maximizes system performance on your
mobile PC. You sacrifice some battery life to improve the overall
performance.
The Balanced power plan meets most people’s needs. You can
easily change one or more settings in a Windows default plan, such
as the amount of time before your mobile PC goes to sleep or goes
into hibernation. And new in Windows Vista, if you don’t like the
changes that you made to a plan, you can restore the plan’s
default settings.
You can also easily switch between power plans by using the
improved battery meter on the Windows taskbar or the battery tile
in Windows Mobility Center. You can see all of the power plans on
your mobile PC in Control Panel and change settings there as well.
The plan settings adapt to whether or not you are on battery, so
you don’t need to switch plans just because you pulled the plug.
The Sleep Power State
In earlier versions of Windows, resuming from standby or hibernate
was not always consistently fast or reliable. Windows Vista promotes
the use of sleep to enable you to use your computer whenever you
want, without having to wait for the computer to start. To put your
mobile PC to sleep, simply click the Power button on the Start
menu. To wake your mobile PC, press the hardware power button.
Putting your mobile PC to sleep offers the following advantages:
•
When you click the Power button on the Start menu on your
mobile PC, Windows saves your work and the state of your
programs to memory, and then puts the computer to sleep.
If your battery is running low, Windows saves your work to
your hard disk and then turns off your mobile PC.
•
You don’t have to wait for your mobile PC to shut down.
Your mobile PC goes to sleep in only a few seconds.
•
When your mobile PC wakes, Windows restores your previous
work session within seconds. You don't need to restart your
mobile PC, log on, and then open the files that you were
working on.
Sleep is typically the best power-saving state to leave your mobile
PC in when you're not using it. Shut down your mobile PC or put it
into hibernation only when necessary; for example, when you don't
plan to use your mobile PC for several days.
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Improved Battery Meter
Windows Vista makes it easy to determine how much battery life
you have left and to manage the power consumption of your
mobile PC. The battery icon in the notification area on the
Windows taskbar provides at-a-glance information. It indicates
when your battery is low, critical, or missing from your battery bay.
By hovering your cursor over the battery meter, you can see the
amount of time and percentage of battery remaining, and which
power plan is active. If you click the battery meter, you see an
expanded view and can
immediately change the power
plan. If you have more than one
battery on your mobile PC, the
expanded view provides details
about each battery. Timely
notifications tell you know when your
battery life reaches low and critical
levels.
Windows Mobility Center*
You use your mobile PC in more places and in more ways than you
use a desktop computer, and you spend more time adjusting it for
the environment that you’re in. In earlier versions of Windows, to
change your screen brightness, adjust the volume, or turn off your
wireless connection to save battery power, you must search for the
settings in separate places in Control Panel or in the notification
area on the Windows taskbar.
Windows Mobility Center puts the most frequently used mobile PC
settings in a single location. Now, you can change your screen
brightness, volume, power plan, wireless networking, external
display, and synchronization. If you are a Tablet PC user, you can
also rotate your display. No
more hunting through Control
Panel or icons in the
notification area of the
Windows taskbar to find what
you need. All of the important
mobile settings are right there
in Mobility Center.
* Windows Mobility Center is available only on mobile PCs
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Presentation Settings
Presentation settings are options on your mobile PC that you can
apply when you’re giving a presentation. If you’ve ever had your
display turn black during a presentation, you will appreciate that
you can automatically turn off your screen saver every time you
give a presentation.
When presentation settings are turned on, your mobile PC stays
awake and system notifications are turned off so that they don't
interrupt your presentation. You can also choose to turn off the
screen saver, adjust the speaker volume, and change your desktop
background image. Your settings are automatically saved and
applied every time you give a presentation, unless you manually
turn them off.
Presentation settings automatically turn off when you disconnect
your mobile PC from a network projector or additional monitor, and
when you shut down or log off from your mobile PC.
Multiple Monitors
Anyone who has tried to connect a mobile PC to an external
display knows how challenging it can be. Windows Vista simplifies
the process by automatically detecting the external display and
showing your mobile PC's desktop. You can then choose how you
want your desktop to appear and also customize the display
settings, such as resolution and color depth. You can also specify
that a particular display is being used to give a presentation, which
turns on presentation settings automatically.
When you connect your mobile PC to an external display, Windows
Vista opens the New Display Detected dialog box, where you can
select one of the following display options:
•
Mirrored. Duplicates, or “mirrors,” your desktop on each
display. Mirrored is the default display option. It’s useful
when you plan to use your mobile PC to give a
presentation on a projector or a fixed display in a
conference room, such as a wall-mounted plasma
display or TV-type monitor.
•
Extended. Extends your desktop across all of the displays
that you connect to. This option is useful if you want to
increase your working space.
•
External display only. Shows your desktop on all monitors
that you connect to, but not on your mobile PC display.
This option is useful if you want to conserve battery
power. You can also use this option when you play a
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DVD on a mobile PC that supports full-screen video
playback on only one display.
Network Projection
Windows Vista makes it easy to give a presentation from a mobile
PC. By using the Connect to a Network Projector wizard, you can
connect to any available network projector over a wireless or wired
network. A network projector is a shared resource that you can
access from your mobile PC, similar to using a printer on a network.
The Connect to a Network Projector wizard offers two ways to
connect to a projector:
Choose a projector. When you search for a projector, a list of
available network projectors appears. As many as five projectors
that you've recently used appear at the top of the list.
Enter the network address of a specific projector. An example of a
network address is http://server/projectors/projector_1.
When the wizard displays the available projectors, an icon appears
next to each projector to indicate whether the projector is secured
or unsecured. Whether you choose a projector by selecting it from
the list of available projectors or by entering its address, you must
enter a password if the projector is secured.
With the wizard, you can also choose the appearance of your
desktop on each display. If you choose to mirror your desktop, the
same image appears on your mobile PC display and on the
projector. If you extend your desktop, a different part of your
desktop appears on each display. You can choose to extend your
desktop to the left or to the right. You can also specify that a
particular display is being used to give a presentation, and
presentation settings will turn on
automatically.
Users can also use this feature in
Windows Collaboration, which
enables streaming to a projector
and a Windows Collaboration
session simultaneously.
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Windows HotStart
Windows HotStart is a new feature in Windows Vista that enables
you to click a button and immediately launch a program
regardless of whether your mobile PC is on, asleep, in hibernation,
or off. Within a few seconds of clicking a HotStart button, you can
launch a media program such as Windows Media Player to play a
CD or watch a DVD that you’ve recorded, or browse and play
audio and video files from your hard disk. At any point, you can exit
or pause the media program to return to your desktop without
having to restart your mobile PC. Although HotStart is ideal for
playing media that you’ve recorded or stored on your hard disk,
you can also configure the button to start other programs, such as
an e-mail program or Web browser. HotStart also works on desktop
computers.
Mobile PC Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Sleep
Combines standby and hibernate into a single power-saving state.
1
Battery meter
Shows the percentage of remaining battery charge, the battery time
remaining, and the power plan in use when you hover over the battery
icon.
1
Power plans
Provides three power plans—Automatic, Power saver, and High
performance—to help you manage power consumption. By using
power plans, you can make tradeoffs between system performance
and power conservation.
1
Windows Mobility Center
Places the most frequently used mobile PC settings on the Windows
taskbar for convenient access.
2
Presentation settings
Simplifies how you manage their settings for presentations.
2
Multiple Monitors
Windows Vista turns external display hardware, such as projectors and
LCD monitors, into plug-and-play devices.
2
Network projection
Makes it easy for you to connect to a network projector. Detects
available projectors on a local network so that you can choose one,
connect, and begin using the projector.
1
Windows HotStart
User can quickly launch any application by the press of a button in any
power state.
2
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3.12 Tablet PC
The Tablet PC ushered in a new era of mobile computing: a single,
fully functioning computer that is practical and comfortable while
on the go, but also works great when you're at your desk. With
integrated pen support, touch screen support, digital ink input,
handwriting recognition technologies, and innovative hardware,
Tablet PCs are usable, comfortable, and productive in any place
and at any time.
Pen Improvements
With Windows Vista, tablet pens are more comfortable to use, and
they now offer functionalities that go beyond laptop computers.
Pen precision
Windows Vista brings a new curser for Tablet PC users so that the
pen operations can be much more precise. This increased
precision makes it much easier to target small items, such as
scrollbars, small menu icons, items in the notification area (which
was called “system tray” in the Windows XP) on the Windows
taskbar, or the edges of windows.
Visual feedback
In previous versions of Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition, after you tapped the screen on a Tablet
PC, you might have wondered whether you
tapped the screen hard enough or if the system is
just slow, because it does not give you any
feedback. Windows Vista provides subtle visual pen feedback to
give users more confidence about which operation they actually
completed.
Check boxes
Before Windows Vista, it was difficult to select multiple files when
using a slate Tablet PC or a convertible Tablet PC in slate mode.
Windows Vista improves multiple file
section functionality with a feature
called Explorer check boxes. When
you hover over any set of files with a
pen, a small check box appears that
enables you to select one or more
files that you can then move, copy, or
delete as a group.
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Pen flicks
Windows Vista enhances pen functionality by adding pen flicks.
These are gestures you can make with a tablet pen to quickly
navigate and perform
navigational or editing shortcuts.
Navigational pen flicks include
scroll up, scroll down, page back,
and page forward. For example,
instead of dragging the scroll bar
down to read a Web page on
your Tablet PC, you can simply
flick the pen and the window will
scroll down. Editing pen flicks
include copy, paste, delete, and
undo. For example, you can past
an item into a document or delete
text—with just a flick of your pen. You can
customize pen flicks to perform other functions,
which increases your efficiency while making pen
use feel more natural. To make pen training easier,
Windows Vista includes a tutorial that presents the
essentials of using a tablet pen to perform these
shortcuts.
New touch screen support
If touch input is available on your computer, you can use your
finger to do many of the things that you do with a mouse or a
tablet pen. For example, you can use your finger to navigate
pages, control objects on the screen, and even write. To overcome
the challenge of targeting small items or resizing windows with your
finger, Windows Vista includes a new feature called the touch
pointer. The touch pointer consists of a drag area, a pointer area, a
left-click button, and a right-click button. After you invoke it, this
mouse-like assistant floats on the screen just below your finger.
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Snipping Tool
You can capture a snip, or screenshot, of any object on your
screen—whether it's part of a Web site, document, or program.
Using your pen, you simply draw a circle,
square, or freehand shape around it. You
can then add handwritten comments to the
selected portion and save it or send it in an
e-mail message. If the image you captured
is from a Web page, Snipping Tool even
attaches the URL automatically. An earlier
version of Snipping Tool was downloadable
with Experience Pack for Windows XP Tablet
Edition 2005, but an improved version of
Snipping Tool is now a standard feature in
Windows Vista SKUs that have Tablet
functionalities.
Tablet PC Input Panel Improvements
Windows Vista improves Tablet PC Input Panel, an accessory on
Tablet PCs that enables you to use handwriting or an on-screen
keyboard to enter text. You can use the writing pad or the
character pad to convert your handwriting into text or use the onscreen keyboard the same way that you would use a standard
keyboard. By recognizing your handwriting and translating it into
text, you can use your Tablet PC in places where typing on a
standard keyboard would not be appropriate, such as a meeting,
class lecture, or interview.
AutoComplete
Entering URLs, e-mail addresses, and file names is faster and easier
with AutoComplete, a new addition to Tablet PC Input Panel that
works just like AutoComplete in common programs, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer
and Microsoft Outlook. As
you write a letter or series of
letters, AutoComplete lists
possible matches in Input
Panel based on text that
you've entered before.
Enhanced ink erasing
Everyone needs to sometimes make corrections to what they write.
In Windows Vista, it's not easier to replace ink in Input Panel. For
example, you needed to use the Z-shaped scratch-out gesture to
erase words or characters in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. In
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Windows Vista,
there are several new, more tolerant scratch-out gestures,
including strikethrough, vertical scratch-out in the pattern of an M
or W, circular scratch-out, and angled scratch-out gestures. If your
tablet pen has an eraser, you can also use the back-of-pen erase
to delete writing.
Handwriting Recognition Improvements
Many users get good handwriting recognition results right out of the
box, but some users experience recognition errors due to their
particular handwriting style, for example, the way they writer
certain letters,
words, or symbols. Now, instead of these users having to change
their handwriting, they can train the recognizer to learn their writing
style.
Personalize handwriting recognition tool
In Windows Vista, you can now provide handwriting samples to
teach the handwriting recognizer about your writing style and also
to target specific recognition errors. Using this tool increases the
likelihood that your handwriting will be recognized correctly by
Input Panel and by programs for the Tablet PC that use handwriting
recognition.
Automatic learning
If you turn on automatic learning in Windows Vista, it enables the
handwriting recognizer to learn your handwriting style or
vocabulary by collecting data about the words you use and how
you write them. The personalization occurs behind the scenes,
without user interaction.
For English, automatic learning creates a unique dictionary from a
user’s sent e-mail messages. New words, such as acronyms, industry
jargon, and e-mail addresses, are added to the dictionary. The
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recognizer prioritizes the words by the frequency of the words to
further improve handwriting recognition results.
For East Asian languages,
Windows Vista offers special
recognition help for converting
handwriting in Chinese (Traditional)
Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and
Korean into text by remembering the
corrections that you make to
characters. As you make corrections,
the handwriting recognizers learn to
distinguish more precisely between
different characters, so you continue to
see results the more you use your
Tablet PC.
Handwriting recognition error reporting
This tool provides you a way to send information to Microsoft about
corrections that you've made in Input Panel. By reporting errors,
you
can help Microsoft identify common handwriting recognition
problems and improve the accuracy of handwriting recognition in
future versions
of Windows.
Tablet PC Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Visual feedback for pen input
Provides distinct icons for single-tap, double-tap, and right-clicking so that
users know which operation they have completed.
1
Check boxes
Simplifies multiple file selection by displaying check boxes when a user
hovers over any set of files with a pen.
1
Pen flicks
Pen flicks are gestures that you can make with a tablet pen to quickly
navigate and perform shortcuts. Navigational pen flicks include scroll up,
scroll down, page back, and page forward. Editing pen flicks include copy,
paste, delete, and undo. You can customize pen flicks to perform other
functions.
1
Touch screen support
Brings the precision of a mouse to the pen, helping users to target small user
interfaces, such as scrollbars.
1
Snipping Tool
Captures a snip, or screenshot, of any object on your screen so you can
save, annotate, or share the image.
1
AutoComplete
When Input Panel recognizes your handwriting, it displays a list of possible
matches near the writing area, such as e-mail addresses, URLs, and file
names.
1
Enhanced ink erasing
Makes it easier for users to correct mistakes in digital ink, with improved
eraser and scratch-out capabilities.
1
Personalize handwriting
recognition tool
Enables users to customize handwriting recognition in their Tablet PCs by
“teaching” the computer to recognize how they form certain letters, words
and numbers.
1
Automatic learning
If you turn on automatic learning in Windows Vista, it enables the handwriting
1
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recognizer to learn your handwriting style or vocabulary by collecting data
about the words you use and how you write them.
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3.13 Windows SideShow
Wouldn’t it be great if you could read an e-mail message, confirm
a meeting location, or check an airline flight reservation even
when your PC was off? Windows SideShow literally puts that
information at your fingertips without you even having to open the
lid on your laptop.
Windows SideShow is a new platform that supports secondary
screens that OEMs and hardware manufacturers can include in
their designs for portable computers, keyboards, mobile phones,
remote control units, and other devices. The Windows SideShow
platform utilizes a class of ISV-developed mini-applications called
“gadgets” through which you can view important information that
is on your PC. Gadgets can also enable you to control some PC
functions, and in many cases, it doesn’t matter whether the laptop
is turned on, turned off, or in Sleep mode. Windows SideShow
dramatically expands the usefulness of your laptop and other
connected devices.
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New Gadgets Increase Functionality
Gadgets allow you to make the most of Windows SideShow–
enabled devices. For example, a gadget can give you an at-aglance view of your e-mails, your appointments for the day, or an
easy way to play music stored on your portable PC.
Windows Vista comes with an essential set of gadgets to get you
started, including gadgets for Windows Mail and Windows Media
Player 11, as well as a single gadget that displays your battery
meter, clock and wireless signal strength. Many new gadgets are
planned to be released from Microsoft, including gadgets that will
display Outlook Calendar information (available with Microsoft
Office 2007), RSS Feeds, or a remote control clicker for PowerPoint
presentations. Windows SideShow enables our partners to provide
gadgets for their data such as travel itineraries, stock quotes,
customer information or any other useful source of information.
Devices for Windows SideShow
The Windows SideShow–enabled devices, in combination with
gadgets from Microsoft and other partners, can save time and
even battery life by enabling you to quickly view key information
without having to fully power up your PC. There are three ways in
which these displays can be used.
Cached Data
If your laptop computer is equipped with a Windows SideShow
display, you can view your Windows Mail without having to open
and turn on the computer. In as little time as it takes to turn on a
PDA, you will have quick and easy access to your e-mails
whenever you need it. Here is how it works—Windows SideShow
saves your e-mails in the embedded memory cache of the display.
You can go down to the Windows SideShow control panel to
configure the PC to wake periodically (i.e., once an hour) so that
all the gadgets are up-to-date without any user interaction. In
addition, if your laptop is equipped with Windows SideShow that
natively supports MP3 or WMA files, you can play cached music
without waking the system at all.
Notifications
Some gadgets for Windows SideShow will provide you with
important information on a real time basis. While your PC is running,
these gadgets can tell you the strength of a wireless signal or
indicate when you receive an Instant Message from your friend.
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Remote PC Control
Imagine that you want to check the latest e-mails while you
are watching TV or a movie. With a Windows SideShow–
enabled mobile phone or remote controller, you can control
Media Center or TV while checking e-mails from specific
people or checking whether or not your friends are signed in
to Instant Messenger.
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3.14 PC-to-PC Sync
People actively using more than one computer frequently need
access to the same set of documents, media and other files,
regardless of the machine they are using. The PC-to-PC Sync
functionality in Windows Vista makes it easy for users without access
to central servers to synchronize information between two or more
networked Windows Vista PCs.
Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection were introduced in
Windows 2000 to address the sync needs of users in managed
corporate environments, but both require the use of servers as
storage hubs and group policy, and limit the usage and types of
files being roamed. Small businesses and home users in
unmanaged environments without server infrastructure have been
without a clear solution—until now.
PC-to-PC Sync in Windows Vista provides an easy way for users in
unmanaged environments to synchronize “known” folders such as
Documents, Music, and Pictures
between multiple PCs connected
to the same network. Because the
communication and data transfer
occurs directly between the
selected machines, no external
storage servers are required.
With PC-to-PC Sync, a user need only use the PC Sync Command
Bar task in any of the main explorers, such as the Document
Explorer or Pictures Explorer, enter the name of another PC
connected to the same network, and Windows Vista takes care of
the rest. The contents of the chosen Explorers on either PC are
instantly synced across both machines. The sync relationship is an
ongoing one, and any changes made to a file within one Explorer
on one PC is instantly replicated to the other, as long as both PCs
are connected to the same network.
PC-to-PC Sync Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Roam folders over the
network
A solution for picking folders to roam and identifying personal, networked
Windows Vista computers.
1
View all roamed folders/ sync
progress
A view in the Sync Center to help users manage sync content.
1
PC Sync Command Bar Task
A Command Bar task for setting up sync between two PCs
2
Conflict resolution
User experience for reconciling versions when content is changed on both
computers between sync sessions.
2
Background sync
User always works with the local copy, and when user is connected, changes
are synced to the remote source in the background.
2
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3.15 Sync Center
Windows Vista gives users one place—the new Sync Center—to
manage data synchronization between PCs, between PCs and
servers, and between PCs and devices. This has become
increasingly important as the range of computers and devices,
locations and data sources that customers want to synch has
exploded in recent years. Home users want to connect to digital
media devices, smart phones and connected hard drives.
Corporate customers are connecting their PCs to PDAs and cell
phones, and are more often using Folder Redirection and offline
folders.
Until now, there has not been an easy way to manage all of these
individual sync relationships, so users have had to deal with many
different sync experiences, depending on their devices or data
sources.
The new Sync Center enables
users to initiate a manual sync,
stop and in-progress sync, see
the status of all current sync
activities, and receive
notifications to resolve conflicts.
While offering customers a
unifying synchronization
experience, it does not replace
third-party sync tools or
functionality. For example, a
Windows Mobile® device will
still use its own infrastructure,
Windows Mobile Device Center
for physically synchronizing the data between it and a Windows Vista
computer. Windows Mobile Device Center is the replacement for
ActiveSync®. To change the granular sync settings for any
relationship, Sync Center simply directs the user to the Windows
Device Center, or in the case of a partner device to that third-party’s
data-management settings infrastructure.
Sync Center Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Individual sync
Sync only one data source or device.
1
Global sync
One button to initiate sync across all devices and data sources.
1
Sync status
A real-time display of sync progress and sync history.
1
Delayed Conflict
Resolution
When a conflict arises during a synchronization, a user can delay
resolution
2
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Sync settings
Management of sync settings is handled by passing the user back to
the partner device or data source settings UI.
2
Device sync connectivity
The user can check device connectivity status from this location.
2
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3.16 Printing
In recent years, the capabilities of printers for the personal
computer have dramatically increased while costs have dropped
significantly. As a result, demand among consumers and businesses
for printers that can do even more are on the rise. Consider these
trends:
•
Older dot matrix technology has been replaced by
sophisticated ink jet and laser printers that today offer full
color output in a matter of seconds.
•
A color laser printer that once cost thousands of dollars
today is now only a few hundred dollars, and the
performance has dramatically increased. As a result, color
output is being used in day-to-day printing in many
businesses.
•
Customers are opting to use increasingly more sophisticated
graphics, like transparencies and gradients, to bring their
documents to life.
•
Information workers and consumers are demanding greater
color fidelity and more vibrant and life-like images, whether
for a sales presentation or when printing pictures from a
family vacation.
•
Digital printing offers an affordable complement to
traditional printing options, enabling economical short run
and on-demand printing. Print shops can offer short run
printing at affordable prices due to lower job setup fees and
less waste. And enterprises can produce professional, costeffective printing in-house, and improve response rates with
personalized direct mail marketing communications.
The New XML Paper Specification Document Format
With Windows Vista, the capabilities of the underlying print
subsystem in Windows will match the level of innovation we’ve
seen the last few years on the hardware side. A new XML Paper
Specification (XPS) Document format, paired with XPS-capable
printers, will provide users with a truly next-generation publishing
experience that addresses issues such as accuracy of print fidelity,
the size of files with rich color effects, and the speed with which
such files can be printed.
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To learn more
about XPS
Documents,
please turn to
Chapter 5.02:
XPS Documents
on page 187
With Windows Vista, an XPS Document is automatically generated
anytime you print from an application. The resulting “spool file”
used by the print subsystem is identical to the fixed format XPS
Document that you can use to share content with other users
electronically. So when content is sent to an XPS-capable printer,
no conversion between the PC and the printer is needed. This
makes it possible to deliver a WYSIWYG ("what-you-see-is-what-youget") experience and greatly improves print fidelity and
performance.
With XPS Support
Without XPS Support
Improved Windows Printing Experience
Windows Vista printing brings the next generation of document
services to the Windows platform, providing customers with the
following benefits:
Improved Color Printing
The Windows Color System and the Windows print subsystem work
together to provide a richer color printing experience. The
operating system can communicate a broader range of color
information from applications to greater than 4 ink (or wide gamut)
inkjet printers. This makes Windows Vista a great platform for
printing photos with more life-like output.
High-Fidelity Print Output
By using the same format for printing as for application output,
Windows Vista Printing enables high-fidelity output by reducing or
eliminating image data conversions and color space conversions
that typically happen when printing. New applications built on
WinFX®, the next-generation APIs provided by Microsoft, will benefit
significantly as the smooth shadings, fades and glow effects
applied in a document while authoring will print just as intended,
without loss of image and color fidelity due to conversions to
intermediary file formats.
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Improved End-User Experience
Communications technology built into the Windows Vista print
subsystem will enable applications to be more informed about how
you’ve set up your print job and more effectively transmit printer
settings information to printers, leading to an improved user
experience and less waste from misprints due to application and
printer driver miscommunication. For example, instructions for the
number of pages to print for each sheet of paper can be more
seamlessly communicated to the device from the authoring
application. End users will be able to select print finishing options
such as stapling directly from the authoring application as opposed
to through the printer driver.
Improved Print Performance
Windows Vista printing improvements will include better color
fidelity and better performance. For example, Windows Vista
implements Client Side Rendering, which is especially helpful to
enterprise customers because it reduces server processing time
and network bandwidth demands. Customers can see as much as
a 10x reduction in printing time compared to current processing,
depending on the richness of the content and the capabilities of
the target printer. Users will also see benefits as jobs can be queued
for printing when either the printer or computer are offline, and
then automatically sent to the printer upon reconnection.
The size of the print job sent to the printer can be significantly
reduced with Windows Vista due to the way information is stored in
an XPS Document. When printing to an XPS-capable printer, XPS
Documents implement a capability known as resource reuse. This
means the printing subsystem will only need to render an image
once – a corporate logo or a graphically-rich background for a
PowerPoint presentation for example – and that it can be used on
multiple pages. Compared to previous versions of Windows, this
significantly reduces the print processing time and the amount of
data sent over networks in enterprise environments.
XPS Printing and Compatibility
While XPS printing anticipates the future needs of customers,
Windows Vista maintains maximum compatibility with current
printers. The legacy GDI print path in Windows XP, which uses GDIbased print drivers, is also still available in Windows Vista.
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3.17 Accessibility
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs
that make it easier for you to see, hear and use your computer. For
Windows Vista, Microsoft invested more than three years in
research to better understand the needs of people who
experience a wide range of physical challenges that can affect
their computer use. The accessibility settings and programs in
Windows Vista are particularly helpful for people with visual
difficulties, full or partial hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms,
dexterity issues, or reasoning and cognitive issues. Yet, everyone
can use these features to customize their computer and make it
easier and more comfortable to use.
Microsoft made two major accessibility improvements in
Windows Vista:
•
A new Ease of Access Center to help consumers identify
and locate the built-in accessibility features in Windows Vista
and decide which settings are right for them;
•
New technologies such as state-of-the-art speech
recognition and magnification capabilities.
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides one,
centralized location where you can get quick access to adjust
accessibility settings and manage assistive technology programs.
The Ease of Access Center also includes a “recommend settings”
option to help you decide which accessibility settings or programs
to use.
If you choose to have Widows Vista recommend settings for
accessibility, you will be asked a few questions about your
experience performing routine tasks such as whether you have
trouble seeing faces or text on TV,
hearing normal conversations, or
using a pen or pencil. Based on
your answers to those questions,
Windows Vista will provide a
personalized recommendation for
the accessibility settings and
programs that are likely to
improve your ability to see, hear,
and use your computer. The Ease
of Access Center replaces the
Accessibility Wizard and Utilities
Manager found in previous
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versions of Windows.
The Ease of Access Center also lets you explore different categories
of settings that can help you use the computer without display,
optimize visual display, adjust the mouse, keyboard and sounds,
use alternative input devices, and perform reasoning tasks. Through
these categories, you can turn settings on and off, and learn about
new settings that make will computing more comfortable for you.
New Technology in Windows Vista Enhances
Accessibility
The new Speech Recognition experience in Windows Vista
empowers you to interact with your computer by voice—which
reduces or eliminates the need for a mouse and a keyboard—
while enabling you to maintain or even increase your productivity.
Microsoft also has added new magnification capabilities in
Windows Vista that improve the quality of magnified screen images
and the readability of scaled text for people with low vision.
Instead of stretching an image to enlarge it, which often creates
jagged edges and other distortions, magnifying an image in
Windows Vista is like changing a font size. It is rendered at a larger
size from the start. As a result, you can enlarge buttons, icons, and
other graphics to the size you find easiest to see with no loss of
image quality.
Compatibility with Assistive Technology Products
Microsoft works closely with assistive technology vendors
(through the Microsoft Assistive Technology Vendor Program at
www.microsoft.com/enable/at/atvinfo.aspx) to ensure that as
many assistive technology products as possible are available with
each new version of the Windows operating system. The
accessibility programs that are built into Windows Vista, such as
Magnifier, Narrator, and the On-Screen Keyboard, provide limited
accessibility support, but some people require full-featured assistive
technology products. Most leading AT products—including multiple
screen readers—will be compatible with Windows Vista within six
months after the new operating system is available.
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Accessibility Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Ease of Access Center
The Ease of Access Center provides one, centralized location where
you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility
programs.
Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista enables you to interact with your
computer using only your voice, yet maintain or increase your
productivity.
Magnifier
Magnifier enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of
your desktop in a standard display. Magnifier can display text from
actual size up to sixteen times larger than actual size and magnification
quality in Magnifier is greatly improved from earlier versions. By default,
the Magnifier window appears docked at the top of the screen, but
you can resize or move the Magnifier window to a different location
and choose to track either mouse, keyboard, or text editing.
1
Narrator
Windows comes with a text-to-speech program called Narrator. It reads
aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error
messages) that happen while you’re using the computer. Narrator will
always read aloud the text that appears in your desktop, but you can
also have it read aloud what you type, as well as events that happen
on the screen (such as dialog boxes that appear).
1
On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with all the standard
keys. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type and enter
data, you can use On-Screen Keyboard. You can select keys using the
mouse or another pointing device, or you can use a small group of
keys, or just one key, on the standard keyboard, depending on how you
set up On-Screen Keyboard.
1
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer,
saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and the Internet.
Check the menus of programs for shortcuts. If a letter is underlined in a
menu, that usually means pressing the CTRL key in combination with the
underlined key will have the same effect as clicking that menu item.
1
Mouse Keys
Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on your
keyboard or the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
1
Sticky Keys
Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must
press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys together to log on to Windows),
you can use press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on. This
way, you can press a modifier key and have it remain active until
another key is pressed.
1
Filter Keys
This option sets Filter Keys to run when you log on to Windows. You can
set Windows to ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession, or
keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
1
Sound Notifications
Sound Notifications replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a
flash on the screen, so that system alerts are noticeable even when
they’re not heard. You can also choose how you want Sound
Notifications to warn you.
1
Captions
Captions provide audio information in some programs that use sounds
in animation and video to indicate that activity is happening on your
computer (such as when a document starts or finishes printing).
1
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3.18 Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers users to interact
with their computer by voice. It has been designed for people who
want to significantly limit the use of a mouse and keyboard, while
maintaining or increasing their overall productivity. Users can
dictate documents and e-mails in mainstream applications, and
use voice commands to manage applications and the operating
system, and even fill forms on the Web.
Speech Recognition is a new function
in Windows Vista, and is built using the
latest Microsoft speech technologies. It
provides unparalleled recognition
accuracy that improves with each use
as it adapts to the user’s speaking style
and vocabulary. Speech Recognition
supports multiple languages and
includes a new human-sounding
speech synthesizer.
With Windows Vista’s Speech
Recognition, users are empowered
right from the start through guided
setups and an interactive training
application that familiarizes them with
key concepts and commands.
Another key innovation is the natural user interface that efficiently
assists users by providing choices or additional questions. Whether it
is starting an application, selecting a word or correcting a
sentence, users are always in control and smoothly guided toward
a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
UI Improvements
A redesigned interface that provides a simple but efficient experience
for users to dictate and edit text, control their computer, and correct
any mistakes.
1
Dictation
Dictate e-mails, documents and application and operating system
commands by voice.
1
Personalization
(Adaptation)
Ongoing adaptation to both a user’s speaking style and accent to
continually improve accuracy through use.
1
Correction
During dictation, a user is able to fix incorrectly-recognized words by
seeing and selecting from alternates for the dictated phrase or word, or
by spelling the word.
1
Disambiguation
A user interface for clarification, so that when a user utters a command
that can be interpreted multiple ways, the system will clarify what was
2
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intended.
Interactive Tutorial
A tutorial that teaches the user how to use Speech Recognition, and
teaches the recognition system what the user’s voice sounds like.
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3.19 Windows Update
As a licensed user of Windows Vista, you are entitled to software
updates to the operating system periodically released by Microsoft.
These include upgrades to Windows Vista features, updates that
improve reliability and performance, and updates that provide you
with new security protections against malware and other
potentially unwanted software. Microsoft may also provide
software updates to improve performance or reliability that are
supplied by the computer manufacturer for other software and
hardware components on your PC.
Windows Update determines
what updates are applicable to
your computer, and can
download and install them
automatically if you choose,
keeping your computer
up-to-date and more secure.
Advances in Windows Update
In Windows Vista, the capabilities of Windows Update make
updating easier and less disruptive.
•
Easier. In Windows Vista, Windows Update can
automatically download and install both High Priority and
Recommended updates. Previously, only updates classified
as High Priority could be installed automatically, and users
had to manually select and download other available
updates.
•
Less disruptive. Updating occurs in the background, and
flexible options are provided for completing the updating
process. If an update requires a restart to complete
installation, you may schedule this for a regular time when it
won’t disrupt your work. You may also postpone a previously
scheduled restart until your current work is complete. And in
instances when a software update applies to a file in use,
Windows Vista can save the application’s data, close the
application, update the file, and then restart the
application.
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Using Windows Update
To ensure your computer stays up-to-date, Microsoft recommends
using the Automatic Updating feature of Windows Update. This
ensures that both High Priority and Recommended Updates are
downloaded and installed onto Windows Vista.
This preference option is
provided during the initial
set up of Windows Vista, or
can be set at
any subsequent time.
For users interested in taking
a more active role in
managing the update
process, Windows Vista
includes a range of
preference options. These
provide control over how
you are notified about the
availability of updates, as
well the option to review
and approve updates before they
are download or installed.
At any time, you may also
proactively check to see if any
updates are available for your PC.
The Windows Update control
panel allows you to scan for
updates, review details about
each one, access your updating
history and manage your
updating preferences.
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3.20 Help and Feedback
Anyone who has ever set up a new computer knows how timeconsuming, complicated and confusing it can be. While trying to
get your desktop
to appear, you see various screens and instructions, often with little
explanation of what they mean. And trying to find help can itself be
a challenge.
When you set up Windows Vista on your computer, you’ll notice a
big difference. Windows Vista is designed to help you feel
confident about setting up and configuring your computer,
whether you are a first-time user or an expert. With fewer installation
steps, getting to your desktop is faster than ever. And if you do
have a problem, help is easier to find.
A Better Out-of-the-Box Experience
Windows Vista organizes the initial PC configuration tasks and settings
in one location, so you can feel confident that you are setting up your
computer correctly and not missing any steps. The new Welcome
Center provides additional information about secondary setup tasks,
like connecting to the Internet, and a list of offers from the computer
manufacturer .
Windows Feedback Services
With Windows Feedback Services, you can choose to have your
Windows Vista-enabled desktop or mobile PC automatically report
any system or application problems, and receive and install
available updates to resolve them. And Windows Vista makes
problem-solving easier with a new diagnostic framework that
detects common problems and allows you to easily correct them.
Windows Update
You want to know that your operating system is as secure, up-todate, and reliable as possible, and Windows Vista makes that
easier by providing automatic Windows Updates that require little
or no action on your part.
Many Problems are Solved Automatically
Windows Vista helps to keep your computer running reliably by
automatically detecting and resolving many problems with little
effort on your part. If Windows Vista cannot solve the problem itself,
it will guide you through steps to do so. If this is not successful,
Windows Vista provides an easy way for you to report a problem
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online and receive an update that will offer a solution as soon as
one is available.
A New Approach to Helping Customers
Traditionally, the Help feature in Windows
was written to describe how features are
supposed to work. With Windows Vista, the
Help topics are written to focus on the
tasks you are trying to accomplish.
Windows Vista Help is also updated
regularly, so you are assured of getting the
latest information and technology to keep
your computer up and running smoothly.
Remote Assistance
Remote Assistance is a feature, introduced in Windows XP, that
allows you to share your PC desktop with another user over a
network or the Internet. You can also share control of your
computer to get help fixing a computer problem. Remote
Assistance was a useful feature in Windows XP, but it was
somewhat complicated to set up and only worked well over a
broadband connection, making it less useful for many home users.
In Windows Vista, Remote Assistance is much easier to use, with
fewer clicks, easier
connectivity, and faster
performance. If you need help
with a computer problem, you
can use e-mail or Windows Live
Messenger to ask for Remote
Assistance from a support
professional, a knowledgeable
friend, or another trusted user.
If you happen to be the
“expert,” you can also initiate
Remote Assistance to help
friends, family members, or coworkers, even if they are far
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away.
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Windows Help and Feedback Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows Feedback
Services
Windows Vista-enabled personal or portable computers can
automatically report issues, receive available fixes, and install those
fixes.
1
Streamlined user
experience
Simplified user experience improves effectiveness of the service and
value to the customer.
1
Windows Update
Near seamless user experience to automatically keep Windows and
Microsoft applications up-to-date, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft
SQL Server™, Microsoft Exchange Server, and Microsoft Visual Studio®.
1
Windows Welcome Screen
Provides key set up assistance and special offers in one simple location.
2
Remote Assistance
Allows users or experts to initiate the sharing of a computer to diagnose
and repair problems.
2
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Section 4: For Home Users
4.01 Home User Introduction........................................................................................142
A Safer and More Reliable PC ................................................................................................142
Ease of Use and Greater Focus ..............................................................................................142
Better Connectivity Throughout the Home and On the Go...............................................142
The Latest in Home Entertainment..........................................................................................142
4.02 Windows Easy Transfer ..........................................................................................143
4.03 Parental Controls Settings ....................................................................................146
Parental Controls.......................................................................................................................146
Activity Reports ..........................................................................................................................147
Time Limits for Computer Use ..................................................................................................147
Computer Game Restrictions..................................................................................................148
Application Restrictions............................................................................................................148
Web Restrictions ........................................................................................................................149
4.04 Windows Photo Gallery ........................................................................................151
Acquiring and Importing Photos and Videos .......................................................................152
Finding, Organizing, Viewing, and Editing Photos and Videos.........................................152
Creating and Viewing Slide Shows.........................................................................................156
Sharing Photos and Videos via E-mail....................................................................................157
Printing Photos ...........................................................................................................................158
Burning CDs and DVDs .............................................................................................................160
Enjoy Home Videos in the Windows Photo Gallery..............................................................161
4.05 Windows Media Player 11....................................................................................163
Updated Design and Interface ..............................................................................................163
More of the Music You Love ....................................................................................................164
Optimized for Large Music Collections ..................................................................................165
Discovering New Music ............................................................................................................165
All of Your Entertainment in One Place .................................................................................167
Enjoy Your Media Everywhere.................................................................................................167
Connect with Portable Devices..............................................................................................169
Burn Your Own CDs and Data DVDs ......................................................................................170
4.06 Windows Media Center........................................................................................172
Let Us Entertain You...................................................................................................................172
Enjoying Music ...........................................................................................................................173
Digital Memories........................................................................................................................174
The TV and Movie Experience.................................................................................................175
Windows Media Center Extenders Offer Entertainment Throughout the Home.............177
Enjoy Media On The Go ...........................................................................................................179
4.07 CD and DVD Burning ............................................................................................181
Copy Data Files to a CD or DVD.............................................................................................181
Copy Photos or Videos to a CD or DVD ................................................................................182
Burn Music Content to CD or DVD .........................................................................................182
Creating DVDs of Home Videos with Windows Vista ..........................................................183
Windows Media Center ...........................................................................................................183
4.08 Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker ..................................................184
4.09 Windows Games....................................................................................................186
A Better Gaming Experience ..................................................................................................186
4.10 Windows Mail .........................................................................................................189
Instant Search ............................................................................................................................189
Junk Mail Filter............................................................................................................................189
Phishing Filter ..............................................................................................................................190
Reliability .....................................................................................................................................190
Newsgroup Features.................................................................................................................190
4.11 Windows Calendar................................................................................................191
Personal Time Management ...................................................................................................191
Shared Calendars .....................................................................................................................192
Calendar Subscriptions and Publishing .................................................................................193
E-Mail Invitations ........................................................................................................................193
4.12 Windows Backup and Restore ............................................................................194
Windows Backup and Restore Control Panel.......................................................................194
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New File Backup Wizard...........................................................................................................195
Automatic Previous Versions ...................................................................................................196
New Image-based Backup for Complete PC Restoration.................................................198
System Restore...........................................................................................................................198
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4.01 Home User Introduction
Windows Vista helps you use mobile and desktop PCs more
effectively with new tools to better protect your system, easier ways
to find and use information, and more seamless integration across
applications, devices and home networks.
Premium features, including Media Center and Tablet PC
capabilities, are baked into the operating system, providing richer
entertainment and liberating mobility experiences for consumers.
And Windows Vista delivers more complete, end-to-end consumer
PC experiences.
A Safer and More Reliable PC
Consumers continue to be concerned about the security and
reliability of their PCs, including loss of data and moving important
files and other information to a new PC. Windows Vista includes
automated technology and tools that build on the security
advances in Windows XP SP2, giving users greater peace of mind
using the Web and their PCs.
Ease of Use and Greater Focus
The clear and elegant Windows Vista Aero user interface makes it
easy to manage the increasing amount of information we all are
having to manage in our work and personal lives. With Aero, it’s
easy to focus on the tasks at hand. Basic information and
frequently-used tasks are readily available, saving users time
Better Connectivity Throughout the Home and On
the Go
Mobility enhancements in Windows Vista takes the guesswork and
challenges out of accessing your data and information while on
the go, making you more confident and more productive.
The Latest in Home Entertainment
PC users are becoming more sophisticated in their digital
entertainment requirements as digital music and photos enters the
mainstream and interest in digital movies and TV grows. Simplified,
end-to-end digital experiences enable users to more fully integrate
their PC with leisure time
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4.02 Windows Easy Transfer
One of the most difficult experiences when purchasing a new
computer is the time and complexity required to transfer a user’s
personal files, e-mail, data files, media, and settings from their old
computer to their new
computer. This process can be
so daunting that users
frequently request help from
friends or relatives, or never
succeed in getting all their
important data onto the new
computer.
Windows Vista significantly
simplifies this important
process, and makes
transferring personal data easy
and intuitive for mainstream
computer users.
Windows Easy Transfer is a wizard which automatically transfers the
data important to a user, including:
•
User accounts
•
Files and folders
•
Program data files and setting
•
E-mail messages, settings, and contacts
•
Photos, music, and videos
•
Windows settings
•
Internet settings
Programs (applications) are not transferred.
Users can easily choose to transfer their entire user account, all user
accounts on the computer, or can make custom selections of what
data and folders to transfer. Windows Easy Transfer provides a
number of different ways for users to connect two computers in
order to transfer their data. These include:
•
USB Easy Transfer cable. This is a special USB cable that is
designed to work with Windows Vista and Windows Easy
Transfer. Users can purchase this cable from select computer
manufacturers and retailers. With this cable, users simply
install a small piece of software on their Windows XP or
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Windows 2000 computer and then plug the cable into both
computers. Windows Easy Transfer automatically launches
automatically and guides them through the process. This is
the easiest and fastest method, and is recommended if they
don’t already have a network.
•
Home or Small Business Network. If users already have a
wired or wireless network, this is a great way to transfer all
their data.
•
Removable hard drive. If users own a removable hard drive,
Windows Easy Transfer will copy their data to that drive, and
then copy data from that drive to their new computer.
•
CD and DVD. Windows Easy Transfer can also use a
computer’s CD or DVD burner to transfer user data. This is a
great solution if they are only moving a small amount of
data which fits on one disc.
With all of these options, Windows Easy Transfer provides an ideal
transfer solution for every type of user. A novice computer user who
is looking to replace his Windows 2000 based computer with a
Windows Vista based computer can purchase a USB Easy Transfer
cable that is designed to work with Windows Easy Transfer, and in a
couple clicks, automatically transfer all of his personal data. A
more advanced computer user who purchases her third computer,
can connect this to her home network, and then select the specific
folders, file types, and settings she wishes to transfer.
Windows Easy Transfer enables users to transfer their data to
Windows Vista based computers from Windows 2000, Windows XP,
and Windows Vista based computers. Transferring data to Windows
Starter Edition 2007 is not supported, but existing users of
Windows XP Starter Edition will receive guidance on performing a
manual transfer.
Windows Easy Transfer Key Features
Feature Name
Easy Transfer
Support for USB Easy
Transfer Cable
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows Easy Transfer can transfer a user’s:
•
User accounts
•
Files and folders
•
Program data files and setting
•
E-mail messages, settings, and contacts
•
Photos, music, and videos
•
•
Windows settings
Internet settings
2
Windows Easy Transfer supports special USB Easy Transfer Cables which
can easily connect two computers for data transfer. Plugging in the
cable automatically launches the wizard, and results in a streamlined
experience.
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Network transfer
Users can securely transfer across a wired or wireless network.
2
Removable storage
Data can be transferred and temporarily stored on removable media
such as CD, DVD, external hard drive, or flash drive.
2
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4.03 Parental Controls Settings
For children, a personal computer is a gateway to an
incomparable world of learning, entertainment and
communication opportunities. However left to use the PC
unsupervised, children may play violent games or visit sexually
explicit Web sites. They may receive spam e-mail with information
or images their parents consider inappropriate for their age. They
may be approached in online chat rooms by people who mean to
do them harm. They may even use the computer at times when
they should be studying.
Windows Vista comes with a set of parental control features that
offers parents greater peace of mind and an increased level of
confidence in their ability to manage the content that their
children may view when they use a computer. The parental
controls built into Windows Vista help parents manage which
computer games their children are allowed to play, and which
applications and Web sites they can use. Parents can also set
specific times when children are allowed to use the computer—
and enforce those restrictions, even when they are not at home—
making it easier to limit unsupervised time and to ensure their kids
aren’t playing computer games instead of doing their homework.
Every family and every child is different, and the parental controls
in Windows Vista make it easy for parents to set up individual usage
profiles for their children, tailored specifically to the age level and
personal interests of each child. As children grow and mature,
parents can modify the usage profiles to meet their evolving needs.
Parental Controls
The Parental Controls panel, part of the User Accounts and Family
Safety Control Panel applet centralizes all of the key settings of the
Windows Vista parental controls. From this one location, parents can
configure the parental controls
for their computer and
applications, setting appropriate
limits on their children’s game
playing, Web browsing, and
overall computer use. Parental
Controls will not work on domain
joined machines. (For purposes
of illustration in the screen shots
that accompany this text,
Microsoft has created two
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personas: a boy named Toby, and his mother, Abby.)
The Parental Controls panel provides a centralized location where
parents can turn parental controls on and off, block or allow
specific programs, games and Web sites, and set controls for every
aspect of their child’s computer use.
Activity Reports
From the Parental Controls panel, parents can review easy-to-read
activity reports that show how their children have been using the
computer. Monitoring their children’s computer behavior not only
makes it easy for parents to keep track of what their kids are
seeing, hearing and doing, but also enables parents to refine and
modify parental controls based on actual feedback. For the child,
there is always a visible padlock icon in the system tray to let them
know that Parental Controls is indeed on.
Time Limits for Computer Use
With Windows Vista, parents can decide when children are
allowed, or not allowed, to use the computer. Parents are
presented with a grid showing the days of the week and the hours
of the day. The default setting is to allow children to use the
computer at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week. To
restrict their children’s computer use at certain hours on certain
days, parents simply click on the specific times and days they want
to block.
As children near the end of an approved time period, they receive
10-minute and 1-minute notifications that their time is about to
expire. If their time ends before they log off the computer,
Windows Vista suspends
their session and displays
the login screen so that
another user may use the
computer. The child’s
session stays active in the
background, however, so
the next time he logs on he
can pick up where he left
off without losing any of his
work.
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Computer Game Restrictions
Parents can decide which computer games they will allow their
children to play. They may start by deciding to allow their children
to play all games deemed appropriate for certain age levels by
one of the game ratings boards, because Windows Vista supports
all of the major international ratings boards that are currently
active. Parents also have the option of refining their choices by
allowing or disallowing specific game titles and various types of
game content. This enables them to make decisions about games
that are unrated.
Parents sometimes may choose
to override their own restrictions
and make exceptions to the rules
they set. For example, they may
restrict certain game titles that
appear in an otherwise
approved age rating, or allow
some games that are rated
above the age-level they have
chosen for their child.
In the United States, most games are rated by the
Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), but
Windows Vista supports game ratings by a total of
six boards internationally.
When children log onto the
computer, they can only play
games that conform to the
particular ratings and restrictions
set by their parents.
Parents can access parental controls for games through the
Parental Controls panel or by clicking on the Parental Controls
button in the Windows Games Explorer, which displays all of the
games available to
each computer user.
Application Restrictions
Windows Vista gives parents the ability to decide which computer
programs, or applications, their children are allowed to use. When
parents click on the Block
Specific Programs button in the
Parental Controls panel, it calls
up a list of installed computer
programs. They can either
choose to allow their child to
use all programs, or approve
only certain programs they feel
are appropriate. Parents can
also add a program to the list at
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any time, and then approve it for their children’s use.
An “over the shoulder” request feature enables a child to ask a
parent to authorize immediate access to a blocked application. A
child may download an application from the Internet that he
needs to complete his homework. But when he tries to run the
program, it fails because it is not on his list of approved
applications. From the error dialog box that appeared when the
application failed to run, he can request that his mother or father
enter their credentials and automatically approve the new
application—and he doesn’t have to waste time logging off so
that one of his parents can log in and give their approval.
Web Restrictions
Windows Vista comes with a built-in Web Content Filter, which can
examine content on various Web pages and provide parents with
information they need to make informed decisions about the type
of limits they want to place on their children’s Web browsing. It
works with most major browsers, not just Internet Explorer.
Parents can choose a pre-set Web restriction level established by
the Web Content Filter, or restrict specific Web sites or even
individual Web pages within those sites according to the type of
content they contain. For example, parents of a teenager might
choose to allow sites that contain sex education information, but
block pornography.
Children who encounter Web sites with content that has been
restricted by their parents will see a screen that explains why the
site is unavailable to them. The screen will include a message
suggesting that they check to make sure the Web address is
correct, and then talk to their parents if they still want access to the
site. An “over the shoulder” request feature, similar to the one for
blocked applications described above, allows children to ask their
parents for immediate access to a blocked Web site without
logging off the computer. Parents simply enter their credentials in
the error dialog box to approve the request and unblock the site.
Parental Controls Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Parental Controls Panel
Provides a central location where parents can configure all parental
controls and retrieve activity reports.
1
Game Restrictions
Parents can control which computer games their children are allowed
to play by approving or disapproving games by content, title, or
according to appropriate age ratings set by independent ratings
boards.
1
Time Limits
Parents can control which days and times their children can use the
computer.
2
Application Restrictions
Parents can block or allow their children access to any program on the
computer.
2
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Web Restrictions
Parents can place appropriate limits on their children’s access to Web
sites, specific Web pages, downloads, etc.
2
Activity Reports
Parents can choose to receive and review detailed reports of their
children’s computer use.
2
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4.04 Windows Photo Gallery
Windows Photo Gallery offers a more intuitive, easy to navigate
and robust way of interacting with your photos and home movies.
A streamlined process simplifies acquiring and importing images
and videos, and new organizational options make it easier to find
and enjoy your memories. And from within the Windows Photo
Gallery, you have the flexibility to launch any of your other photorelated applications.
A toolbar across the top of your
Photo Gallery screen offers
shortcuts to tasks and
information, while the familiar
left hand navigation bar
provides easy access to
organizational elements. A
control bar at the bottom of
your screen enables you to
launch a slide show with a single
click, and a slider lets you
quickly resize your thumbnails to
a size that is comfortable for
viewing.
Slideshow themes make sharing your photos and home videos a
richer overall experience.
Windows Photo Gallery offers basic photo editing, allowing you to
touch up your images, and revert to the original when necessary.
The Photo Print Wizard lets you easily share your memories via email or a local printer, or send them to a retail photo finisher for
printing. Saving your photos and videos to a CD or DVD is a great
way to preserve and share them, and the integration in
Windows Vista between Windows Photo Gallery and Windows
Movie Maker allows you to express yourself using cool effects and
transitions, and even to create great DVD movies using DVD Maker.
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Acquiring and Importing Photos and
Videos
Windows Vista makes the process of acquiring and
importing photos and videos easy, including a one
click option to move your pictures onto your PC.
Windows Vista streamlines the default acquisition
and import experience for all users, and enables
more advanced users to customize an Options
dialog box to simplify common acquisition tasks,
such as changing the import destination, or
renaming and replicating photo and video files.
The acquisition and import process in Windows Vista also takes
advantage of the new Windows Media Transfer Protocol (MTP),
which provides a number of key enhancements, including:
•
Support for a wider range of devices, including portable
media players and cellular phones;
•
Faster transfer of photo and video files;
•
Improved support for audio and video formats;
•
Support for wireless connectivity to cameras and devices
with wireless capability.
You can also tag your images with one or multiple keywords when
you import them, so they are immediately organized in a way that
makes them faster and easier to find.
Finding, Organizing, Viewing, and Editing Photos
and Videos
Windows Vista makes it faster and easier to find the photos you’re
looking for and provides several different ways to organize and
view them to best suit your personal preferences.
For starters, Windows Vista maintains a library that stores and
indexes your photos and videos on your PC for fast, efficient
retrieval. By default, all of the items in the Pictures and Videos
folders are indexed by the Windows Photo Gallery. Windows Vista
also gives you the option to customize this function and decide
which folders are indexed.
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Finding Photos and Videos
Hover Thumbnail
To make it quick and easy to find the photo
or video you want, the Windows Photo
Gallery displays a larger thumbnail and
metadata preview of any file in the gallery
when you hover your mouse over the item.
Navigation Tree
The navigation tree in Windows Photo
Gallery offers several methods to help you
find photos and videos on your PC. The navigation tree itself
enables basic search requests such as “Find all photos of Steve,”
and you can also CTRL+click on multiple items in the navigation
tree to build more sophisticated search options such as “Find all
photos of either Steve or Frank, taken in July, with a rating of at
least 3 stars”. Other search options enabled via the navigation tree
include:
Search Folders. Several predefined queries enable
you to quickly view items in the Windows Photo
Gallery. All Photos and Videos will show everything in
the Windows Photo Gallery. Use your thumbnails and
mouse-over previews to quickly browse this view. You
can also view only photos, or just videos. Images that
you have imported into the Windows Photo Gallery
within the last 30 days will be available in the Recently
Imported view.
Keyword Tags. Tags are meaningful pieces of
information that help you organize and find the right
photo or video. You can apply multiple tags to a
single image, or a single tag across multiple photos. If,
for example, Bill takes a photo of Steve and Frank, he
can create separate tags for Steve and Frank, and
apply both to the same photo. Later, he will be able
to find this photo by searching for either name. Like
folders, tags can be arranged in hierarchical tree
structures to help keep them organized and to group
them in a way that makes sense to you.
Date Taken. Digital cameras automatically record
when a photo was taken, and this information is
imported with your images, letting you browse your
photos by year, month, or day they were taken.
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Rating. As we all know, not all photos are “equal,” so
the Windows Photo Gallery allows you to apply a 1–5
star rating to help you identify and find your favorites
(or delete the ones you don’t like).
Folders. If you’ve been using folders to organize your
photos and videos, you’ll feel right at home with the
folders in Windows Photo Gallery. Any folders you add
to the Photo Gallery will appear in the Navigation
Tree, and any changes you make in either the
Pictures Explorer or Windows Photo Gallery are
reflected in both locations.
Instant Search
Windows Photo Gallery features Instant Search, a quick and simple
way to search simultaneously across tags, folder names, file names,
and captions.
Organizing Your Photos and Videos
Using Tags to find and organize photos and videos.
There are a variety of ways you can apply tags to help you organize
and find your photos and videos. You
can add tags when you first add a photo
or video to your collection or you can
select a photo, or multiple photos, to tag
at any time. You can also add tags by
dragging and dropping items onto the
tag on the Navigation Tree, just as you
are used to doing with folders.
The Windows Photo Gallery also introduces the Info
Pane, a new mechanism for tagging photos and
videos. You can open the Info Pane to view basic
information about a photo or video, including file
name, caption, date taken, file size/type, rating,
and any already assigned tags. You can change
most of this information just by clicking and typing.
You also can add previously-used tags simply by
starting to type the name of the tag, and selecting
the tag from the auto-complete list.
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Viewing and Fixing Photos and Videos
The Windows Photo Gallery Viewer enables you to easily view and
enhance your photos and video clips. In the Photo Gallery, scrolling
thumbnails allow you to increase or decrease the size of your
thumbnails with a simple slider,
helping you view groups of
photos in ways that are
convenient and comfortable.
You can also view a larger
thumbnail preview of your
photos by simply hovering your
mouse over the thumbnails—
this allows you to quickly
preview photos without having
to open the files, saving you
time.
View
The Windows Photo Gallery Viewer provides a large view of
individual photos or clips with options to zoom, pan and rotate
photos, pause/play clips, and bring up the Info Pane. Users can
quickly navigate from one photo or video clip to the next. The
Viewer is an effective tool to help you manage your photos and
videos after you have transferred them from your camera.
Edit Photos
The Viewer also has built-in editing capabilities to make your photos
look great.
The Viewer provides a set of basic editing tasks that you can apply
to any image in the Gallery. These tasks can be accessed by simply
clicking the Fix option on the menu bar in the viewer There is an
Auto Adjust button that automatically corrects the exposure and
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color of an image if you prefer not to make the changes manually.
In addition, the basic editing tasks allow you to:
•
Manually adjust exposure
•
Manually adjust color
•
Crop a photo to a specific size
•
Fix red-eye effects caused by a flash
The Viewer is smart whenever any edits are made to a photo; it
automatically preserves your original photos in case you want to
see them again or reuse them in a different way. If you ever want
to access the original image, you just choose the Revert to Original
option.
Creating and Viewing Slide Shows
Remember when a slide show was just a series of photos? Not
anymore. Vista Slide Show sets a new standard for creating and
presenting your digital memories full-screen, using photos, videos,
and “themes” that make your slide shows more compelling and
unique.
Slide show themes are easy to apply with a single click, and
incorporate cool visual art, effects and transitions. Choose from a
variety of themes based on which photos you are viewing as a
slide show. Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista
Ultimate will have additional themes to those found in Home Basic.
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Slide Show Screen Saver
In Windows Vista, a new desktop Slide Show Screen Saver feature
will allow you to choose photos, videos and even themes to be
displayed in Screen Saver.
The Slide Show Screen Saver
also introduces powerful
queries in its settings, allowing
users to choose Slide Shows
based on tags and ratings that
have been applied in the
Windows Photo Gallery. This
makes it easy to set Slide Show content with simple queries such as
“All four-star pictures,” or even more complicated queries such as
“All four-star pictures, from the beach, but not the ones marked
‘private.’”
Sharing Photos and Videos via E-mail
The Windows Vista Photo-Video E-mail Wizard provides an
integrated and flexible photo e-mail experience that enables you
to easily select, compress and send your photos and videos.
Select Your Photos
The Vista Photo E-mail Wizard can be accessed from the Windows
Photo Gallery and from regular Windows folders. Once you have
selected one or more files, you can choose the Send to E-mail
recipient task from the right click context menu, or choose the e-mail
task available on the task bar.
Compression Options
Once you select the e-mail task, a Picture size drop-down menu will
offer different compression options, with the default set to Medium.
However, the settings you choose will stay the same from session to
session, and include the following options:
• Tiny: 640 x 480
• Small: 800 x 600
• Medium: 1024 x 768
• Large: 1600 x 1200
• Original Sizes
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If you have selected videos to send, the drop-down menu will not
show resolution information but only the terms Tiny, Small, etc. The
Total Estimated Size will update as you choose various compression
options.
Attach
Once you make the adjustments you want, you can choose to
attach
your photos or videos. At this point,
you’ll see a status bar as the images
are compressed and attached to a
new e-mail message in the selected
e-mail application.
Printing Photos
There are two methods you can use
to print your photos in
Windows Vista: the Online Print
Wizard and the Photo Print Wizard.
With either method, you select
photos and then a Print task from
the Gallery or the Photos Explorer.
Online Print Wizard
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The Online Print Wizard makes it easy for you to order professional
quality prints in a variety of sizes and finishes over the Internet, for
mail delivery or pickup at a nearby store.
When you select Order Prints Online, you will be able to choose
from a list of available retail or online photo finishers, You will always
see your most recently selected option, so if you have a preferred
vendor you can quickly select their services every time. Because
the Online Print Wizard identifies your country/region from your
control panel settings, you are always presented with vendors in
your area.
The Online Print Wizard in Windows Vista steps you through the
process of selecting print options, including size, number of prints
and effects, and enables you to purchase your prints for in-store
pick up or mail delivery to an address you specify.
Photo Print Wizard
The Windows Vista Photo Print Wizard provides an easy-to-use, highfidelity photo print experience, with simpler work flow and smarter
defaults. Within the print wizard, a simplified Hub Page gives you a
single place to go for all local photo printing activities.
The Photo Print Wizard takes advantage of new print functionality
available in Windows Vista so you can easily and consistently get to
all the printing options you care about, such as paper size, paper
type, and print quality, regardless of which printer you use.
The new Photo Printing Wizard has more templates than
Windows XP, including support for borderless printing, and properly
supports larger paper sizes, as well as international picture sizes.
And with the new wizard, you can now preview your entire photo
print job, not just the first page. The improved color management in
Windows Vista ensures your print colors are more accurate than
ever.
Within the Photo Print Wizard, a simplified hub page allows you to:
•
Select a printer.
•
Select paper size (e.g., Letter, Legal, Tabloid and any other
paper sizes supported by the printer).
•
Select paper type (e.g., Regular, Glossy, High Gloss, Photo
film, Matte, and any others supported by the printer).
•
Select print quality (e.g. draft, Photo Color)
•
Select among layout options, which update depending on
the paper size you choose (e.g. 4x6, 8x10, index sheets,
wallet sized).
•
Select the number of copies for each photo.
•
Preview the final output.
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•
Select whether photos should fill the frame.
•
Access printer properties.
Once you have made your selections and clicked the Print
command, the Print Wizard disappears, and a status bar appears
as the photos are sent to the printer.
Burning CDs and DVDs
To learn more
about CD and
DVD burning,
please turn to
Chapter 4.07:
CD and DVD
Burning on
page 165
The Windows Data Burning experience in Windows Vista goes
beyond anything the Windows platform has offered before. For
example, with Windows XP you were able to use only a single
recordable drive and burn only to CDs. With Windows Vista,
Microsoft has added support for multiple recordable drives and
DVD media.
Windows Vista introduces a new technology called UDF burning,
which allows you to add and remove files from your CDR/RW and
DVDR/RW without ever having to launch a burn
task. It makes CDs and DVDs virtually identical
to removable media of any sort.
The disc burning experience in Windows Vista is
determined by what type of disc format option
you choose during the disc preparation phase.
You can select photos and video and the
Create Data Disc task from the
Windows Photo Gallery, or you
can insert a blank CD.
The advanced options dialog
box contains further formatting
options for more proficient users.
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Enjoy Home Videos in the Windows Photo Gallery
To make the most of your videos, Windows Photo Gallery offers a
Video Import wizard that enables you to capture video from digital
camcorders that support DV or HDV formats. The Video Import
wizard offers fully automatic or manual capture modes.
The Photo Gallery displays a thumbnail for each video file
imported, allowing you to easily identify a specific video file without
having to open and play back multiple files to find the one you
want.
In the Photo Gallery, organizing video clips is the same as working
with photos. You can add titles, descriptions, keywords and ratings
to all of your video clips. The additional metadata make it easier for
you to filter, sort and search your video clips.
Video clips and photos can
be viewed in the new Viewer
or in slideshow mode. Both
the viewer and slideshow
take full advantage of a
computer’s graphics
processing power, increasing
performance and enabling
HD video playback.
The Windows Photo Gallery
seamlessly integrates with
applications such as
Windows Movie Maker and
Windows DVD Maker. You
can drag and drop photos
and video clips from the Photo Gallery directly into Windows Movie
Maker and Windows DVD Maker, which makes it easy to extend
your video editing and create rich movies from content stored in
the library.
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Windows Photo Gallery Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Photo Import Wizard
Streamlined import experience and Windows Media Transfer Protocol
(MTP) providing improved support for a variety of devices and A/V file
formats; faster transfer of files; wireless connectivity
2
Keyword tagging
Keyword tagging helps you to add context and easily find/organize
your photos
2
Hover Thumbnail
Quick previews of photo thumbnail and metadata means you don’t
have to open a file to see what it is
2
Photo Star Rating
Rating your photos will help you to organize and find your photos.
2
View/organize by date
taken
View/organize photos by date taken, broken down by year, month, day
2
Instant Search
Search based on keywords, caption or metadata to quickly find your
photo
2
Photo Viewer
Provides a variety of ways to view your photographs and movies
2
Fix (Basic editing)
Adjust exposure and color; fix red eye, and crop photos
2
Undo and Revert to
Original
Undo edits you have applied, revert to the original file
2
Slide Show
Enjoy your photos and home videos via themed slide shows
2
Slide Show Screensaver
Protect your desktop privacy and share memories at the same time
2
E-mail photos
Compress your photos easily for convenient sharing over e-mail
2
Photo Print Wizard
Choose multiple options for the right prints on your local printer
2
Online Print Wizard
Order professional quality prints from a local retail photo finisher. Mail
order or pick up.
2
DVD burning
Seamlessly burn your personal videos photos and files to video or data
DVDs.
2
CD burning
Burn your movies, photos, music and files to CDs quickly and easily
2
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4.05 Windows Media Player 11
A core part of the Windows Vista entertainment experience, the
new Windows Media Player 11 offers you unmatched choice and
flexibility for your digital media. You can easily manage your
libraries of digital music, photos and video on your PC, explore a
new world of music through the integrated URGE music service,
and connect with mobile devices so you can have your media
collection wherever you want it.
Updated Design and Interface
When designing the new Windows Media Player, the needs of a
wide range of users were considered—from people just getting
started with digital media to discriminating audiophiles with very
large collections on their PCs. Building on this feedback, we have
made significant changes to the overall experience:
•
Streamlined interface. For a sleeker and more functional
appearance, the “classic” Windows Media Player menus
are now turned off by default and accessible by rightclicking anywhere on the Player frame. (You can choose to
re-enable the menus at any time.)
•
Faster Access to settings. Instead of navigating through
menus, you can now quickly access common settings by
clicking the arrow below each activity tab, such as Rip, Burn,
or Sync.
•
Universal Back and Forward buttons. Navigating Windows
Media Player is easier than ever, with integrated Back and
Forward buttons that help you quickly move between
screens or retrace your steps if you get lost.
•
Revamped playback controls. The new playback controls are
easier to find and use, are laid out more intuitively, and
feature improved repeat, shuffle and full-screen options.
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More of the Music You Love
Windows Media Player 11 is filled with smart features that breathe
new life into your music collection, provide a more personalized
media experience, and offer you cool new ways to discover more
of what interests you. Examples include:
•
Simplified Media Library. There are a number of
improvements in Windows Media Player 11 that make it
easier to keep your music organized and find creative new
ways to visualize and explore it. Music now has its own
focused media category
view, with a simpler list in
the Navigation pane
that shows artists,
albums, songs, genres,
years and ratings. By
right-clicking on Library
and selecting Show More
Views, you can
customize the look of
your music collection
any way you like.
•
Album art. Enjoying digital music doesn’t mean you have to
give up all your album art. Windows Media Player 11 brings
album art to the center of your experience, with thumbnail
views while browsing your collection, as well as intuitive
visual “stacks” of albums when browsing by genre or through
playlists. If you’re missing album art, Windows Media Player
can find it for you, or you can replace it with your own
images.
•
Library Layout and View Options. Your media library views
are completely customizable, with Icon, Tile, Expanded Tile,
and Detail View options, and you can further customize your
layouts to get the experience you want.
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Optimized for Large Music Collections
As people build larger digital music collections by “ripping” CDs,
buying from online stores and downloading from the Web, it’s more
important than ever to be able to quickly organize and explore all
of your music. Windows Media Player 11 is optimized to handle
massive collections of music—literally millions of tracks—so you can
scroll, flip and browse through your entire library without skipping a
beat. Key features include:
•
Instant Search. Digital music libraries benefit from smart tools
built into the Player. Search has been streamlined to make
accessing your digital collection extremely simple. If you
know exactly what you want (or even if you can only
remember part of a song or album title), Windows Media
Player 11’s Instant Search feature can search across your
entire library and return exactly what you’re after—fast.
•
Ripping CDs. Adding new music to your library is easier with
new enhancements to CD ripping functionality. You can
now rip songs from CDs into two new audio formats—
Windows Media Audio Pro and lossless WAV. And if your
computer has multiple CD drives, you can load them up
and start ripping them all at once, so you can digitize your
entire CD collection faster.
•
Powerful Playlists. You can still create custom playlists by
dragging songs and albums into the List pane, and a new
Shuffle Playlist feature makes it easier to create new playlists
out of your favorite tracks with just a single click.
•
Better Media Information. With large digital music libraries,
it’s often hard to make sure songs match the media
information that describes them. In addition to automated
metadata tools that run in the background, Windows Media
Player 11 now includes audio waveform matching that
better pinpoints the exact album information that goes with
your tracks.
Discovering New Music
Windows Media Player 11 features a completely new way to add
music to your existing collection. Online stores are deeply
integrated into the Player, so you can explore what’s available
using the same rich, intuitive features you use to search your own
music library.
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The featured partner for Windows Media Player 11 is MTV Networks’
URGE. This new music service, from the people that brought you
MTV, VH1 and CMT, puts a complete music experience right on
your PC. In URGE, you’ll find everything you’ve ever heard of, and a
lot you haven’t. Fall in love with new songs, remember old ones,
and get closer to artists than
ever before. URGE lives and
breathes music 24 hours a
day: 18 genres, countless
styles, and everything in
between-from pop, rock,
and hip-hop to classical jazz
and polka. With an URGE All
Access subscription, you’ll
get unlimited access to music
for a fixed monthly fee. Or
just download URGE and buy
tracks as you go. (URGE is
only available in the United
States).
Key features of URGE include:
•
2 million songs. Stream or download from 18 music genres
and more than 400 styles.
•
6,000+ music videos. Brought to you by people who started
MTV, VH1, and CMT.
•
Exclusives from MTV, VH1, and CMT. Songs, videos, show
playlists you can’t find anywhere else.
•
Dynamic Feeds. Save a Feed to your favorite playlist and
keep your favorite new music flowing straight to your music
library or compatible portable music player.
•
130 commercial-free radio stations. Professionally
programmed. CD quality. Every style.
•
500+ playlists. Genre- and style-based. Charts. Moods.
Years. Decades. Cities. Celebrity. Auto Mixes. And so on.
•
Features, profiles, interviews, and blogs. The best music
writing on the Web. Each with an attached playlist so you
can listen along or download.
•
Take URGE on the road. It’s everything URGE All Access
offers, plus total mobility with the compatible portable music
players
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And if you have a favorite online store from a previous version of
Windows Media Player, many of these stores are still accessible in
Windows Media Player 11—just click on the drop-down menu
below the URGE logo in the taskbar to Browse All Online Stores to
see a complete list of partners that have created plug-ins for
Windows Media Player. You can then choose another store to
appear by default.
All of Your Entertainment in One Place
Beyond music, Windows Media Player 11 offers great new ways to
enjoy video, pictures and recorded TV. A number of new features
help you get the most out of all of your media—playing it back on
your PC, easily organizing your digital media library, or connecting
with portable devices to enjoy it anywhere you like.
•
Simplified media views. The overall Windows Media Player
11 experience is designed to be simple and uniform, but
each media type now has its own specialized view in the
navigation pane. For example, you can explore video by
actor or genre just as easily as you can sort albums by artist.
Pictures can be sorted by the date they were taken. And
recorded TV can be organized by series. Just as with music,
you can quickly and intuitively search for content, and
explore your library with the same rich thumbnail views and
“stacks” of media.
•
A better video experience. Video playback in Windows
Media Player 11 features several new enhancements for
enjoying DVDs. First is the inclusion of a DVD decoder in
some versions of Windows Vista, eliminating the need to
purchase an additional plug-in to play DVDs. DVD playback
now also automatically defaults to full screen, and features
smoother playback.
Enjoy Your Media Everywhere
Storing your entire digital media collection in Windows Media
Player 11 has many great benefits, including innovative features to
help you stay connected with your library no matter where you are.
•
Share your library. If you’re running Windows Vista on a
home network, you can use Windows Media Player 11 to
share the contents of your library with other computers and
access all your media from anywhere in the home.
•
Connect with networked digital media players. You don’t
always need a PC in the room to enjoy digital media
throughout the home. If you have a networked digital
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media player you can use Windows Media Player 11 to
stream music, pictures, and videos from your computer to
that device.
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Connect with Portable Devices
The PlaysForSure logo program was created to showcase portable
devices that work great with Windows Media Player, and play
music and video purchased from the wide selection of Windows
Media online stores. There are many new features in Windows
Media Player 11 that improve the synchronization and digital
media management experience with PlaysForSure devices. These
include:
•
Simple device setup. Syncing portable devices with Windows
Media Player 11 is simpler than ever, with a wizard that helps
you quickly set up your new device the first time it’s
connected.
•
New sync features. You can still sync your device
automatically
or manually, but Windows Media Player 11 features a few
cool
new features:
• Multi-PC Sync allows you to
fill your device from multiple
computers—great for
managing home and work
libraries.
• Reverse Sync enables the
transfer of media captured
on your device—such as
phone/camera photos or
music purchased over the
air—to your library.
• Shuffle Sync calculates the
size of your device and fills it
with a random sampling of
your media library with just
one click.
•
Smart visual cues. The Sync tab includes several new visual
enhancements, including a device capacity meter (like a
“gas gauge” for your player), and the ability to explore the
media on your portable device using the same fast
searching and rich visualizations you use with your media
library.
•
Troubleshooting. Some purchased media from online music
and video stores include “usage rights” for activities such as
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CD burning and/or portable device sync. Windows Media
Player 11 includes features that make it easier to understand
these rights and troubleshoot any problems that may arise.
Clicking on a simple Help icon will detail what the problem is,
help you fix it, and quickly get you back to enjoying your
media.
•
Converting files for device sync. Not all portable devices
support all music and video formats, so Windows Media
Player 11 can automatically convert many types of media to
the formats your devices understand—even for protected
music and video purchased from Windows Media online
stores.
Burn Your Own CDs and Data DVDs
One of the great things about having a large digital media library is
the ability to burn custom CDs with your favorite tracks. Windows
Media Player 11’s Burn tab has been enhanced to make this
experience even better. When creating playlists for burning, a
capacity meter dynamically tells you how much space you have
left, and a new “disc-spanning” feature helps you make longer
mixes or back up your collection by automatically burning longer
playlists across multiple CDs.
Windows Media Player 11 Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Quick Access Tabs
Provides easier access to settings associated with the most common
Player activities (Rip, Burn, Sync).
2
Thumbnail and Stacking
Views
Visual navigation for music, pictures and video files.
1
Instant Search
Powerful keyword search for finding media library content fast.
Quickly queries across your entire library metadata to return exactly
what you’re looking for.
2
Shuffle Playlist
Create new playlists of favorite music tracks with one click.
2
Audio Waveform
Matching
Enhanced metadata matching for better pinpointing the exact
information that accompanies your media library content.
2
Urge Music Service
New integrated music service from MTV Networks (MTV, VH1 and CMT)
providing a 2 million track+ record store with custom programming
and both download and subscription options.
2
DVD Decoder
Some versions of Windows Vista include a DVD decoder eliminating
the need to purchase an additional plug-in to play DVDs.
2
Library Sharing
If you’re running Windows Vista on a home network you can share
your Windows Media Player 11 media library with other computers
and networked devices to access your music, pictures and videos
from any room in your home.
2
Multi-PC Sync
Fill your portable device from multiple PC libraries. Ideal for synching
content between your work and home PC.
2
Reverse Sync
Sync media from your device back to your PC. This is perfect for
2
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bringing camera phone pictures and music purchased over the
airwaves into your media library.
Shuffle Sync
Quick sync option for filling your portable device with a random
sampling of your media library.
2
Device Browsing
Explore the contents of your portable device in the sync view of the
Player as if it was your local media library; includes album art views
and fast search functionality.
2
Protected File Conversion
Automatically converts media files to best size for portable devices,
including protected audio and video files.
2
CD Burn Disc-Spanning
Easily burn large volumes of media to CDs without the need to limit to
one CD or data DVD capacity, automatically cues up next disc.
2
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4.06 Windows Media Center
Today, people use their PCs for specific tasks such as e-mail,
information work and browsing the Internet, much as they always
have—sitting at a desk, up close to the screen. But for many, the
PC has also become a rich all-in-one entertainment device for the
home that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the couch with a
remote control, rather than the traditional mouse and keyboard. A
Windows Media Center PC enables you to enjoy live and recorded
TV, music, photos, videos and online entertainment in a single
device, and if your PC is not in your living room, no problem!
Windows Media Center Extenders like the Xbox 360™ let you
remote your media center experience into other rooms in your
house.
Previously, if you wanted Windows Media Center, you had to buy a
PC with Windows XP Media Center Edition pre-installed. This
separate product edition was only available in limited countries.
With Windows Vista, the Media Center experience is an integral
part of Windows Vista and is available worldwide on new PCs and
at retail in the two product editions, Home Premium and Ultimate.
Windows Media Center in Windows Vista features some great
advancements to the experience, including an improved user
interface with easier navigation, and the ability to see and access
more of your content like photos and music on each screen.
Windows Media Center also offers built in support for archiving TV
shows to DVD, faster performance when interacting with large
libraries of digital media, and an improved platform for partners
developing third-party services and applications
for customers. In the United States, we have also introduced
support for High Definition Digital Cable in Windows Media Center
using OCUR (Open Cable Unidirectional Receiver) devices.
Let Us Entertain You
Windows Media Center is optimized for widescreen and highdefinition displays. With the new onscreen layout of your photos,
music and videos, you can now see up to three times more
content on a widescreen display, than with previous versions of
Media Center. The clean, simple look ties together with the
Windows Aero desktop experience and features transparency and
smooth animations, giving you a fun and visually stunning way to
browse and experience your home entertainment. Designed for a
wide range of displays and input methods, Windows Media Center
functionality is optimized for use with a remote control, mouse and
keyboard, touch screen, or even a Tablet PC.
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The Start menu has been redesigned to maximize the available
screen space on both standard and widescreen displays which
gives you more immediate access to your entertainment activities.
The menu lets you
effortlessly navigate both
vertically and horizontally,
bringing more of the
frequently-used options to
the forefront, such as
playing all your pictures or
playing all your music.
Enjoying Music
In the Music section, you can quickly browse your music by artist,
song or album title, as well as by genre, composer, or year. For
example, it’s really simple for you to see all your music from the
year you graduated from high school with just a few clicks on your
remote. Windows Media Center automatically downloads
thumbnails of album art giving you a very visual way to find the
albums you want to hear. It’s like looking at your CD collection
spread across a wall. You can shuffle and repeat your music,
create playlists, apply visualizations, and burn playlists to CD or DVD
at the push of a button.
Windows Media Center now also performs smoothly with large
music collections. This is as a result of code-level performance
improvements that allow Windows Media Center to easily fetch
and display large sets of data, as well as changes to the screen
layout that enable Windows Media Center to show more
information on screen at
one time.
You can also start a picture
slideshow directly from your
music library, when you are
selecting or playing your
music. Playing your music
on shuffle is even easier
with Windows Media
Center, using the
prominent options.
If you subscribe to music services, such as MSN® Music, you can
now add this option directly to the start menu, next to your music
library.
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But enjoying music in Windows Media Center is not limited to the
music library on a single PC. Media Center can also play FM or
Internet radio. Even better, it’s very easy to search for and add
music to your library from another Windows PC in your house so you
can truly have access to all the music in your home. Finally
because your PC is not always located in the same room as your
home audio and video system, with a Windows Media Center
Extender-capable device such as an Xbox 360, you have the
flexibility to stream your music collection from your PC to your
extender.
Digital Memories
Windows Vista makes it easier for you to find and enjoy all your
digital media, including pictures and home videos. Today, the way
people often share a photo experience in the home is by crowding
around a PC and clicking through folders of photos. With Windows
Media Center, you can turn your
simple photo collection into a
cinematic slideshow that can be
shared on the television in the living
room. The Play All option on the Start
menu enables a full slide show of
photos at the click of a button, and
you can even enjoy your slideshow
with music from your music collection
for a truly memorable experience.
If you want to create a slideshow with a soundtrack, you can easily
create a playlist of photos and music, to burn to DVD.
In the Picture Library, you can navigate easily through your photos
by folder or by the date they were taken, with thumbnails and
highlighting that help you quickly identify the specific images or
folders you want to see. You can also perform basic editing
functions, such as rotating or touching up pictures, either from
within the picture library or on the fly during a slide show.
Home videos are also an important part of the digital
memory experience in Windows Media Center. In the
Videos Library, you can easily play any of your home
movies that have been imported from your video recorder.
And while high-definition camcorders are just now being
introduced to the consumer market, Windows Media
Center has built-in support for high-definition video.
One of the fun things about digital memories is being
able to share them with family and friends. With Media
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Center you can burn images and videos with a soundtrack to CD
or DVD using your remote control.
At this time Windows Media Center does not provide support for
displaying RAW format images.
The TV and Movie Experience
No entertainment experience would be complete without
television and movies and Windows Media Center gives you a
seamless experience when watching your favorite television show
or movie.
If your PC has a TV tuner,
you can use Windows
Media Center to record,
watch and pause live
television. Windows Media
Center even supports
multiple TV tuners, so you
can record and watch TV
on different channels
simultaneously, and
because Windows Media
Center supports up to five Media Center Extenders, multiple tuners
give you a varied and flexible home entertainment ecosystem.
A new feature of Windows Vista maintains your TV and movie
viewing experience while you navigate your start menu. The start
menu is transparently overlaid on top of your currently playing
show, so that you don’t miss a moment of the action.
If you are constantly
channel surfing, the mini
guide in Windows Media
Center is another feature
that allows you to scroll
through channels without
interrupting your show. The
channels are displayed at
the bottom of your screen,
so you can surf without
missing any key moments.
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When browsing recorded TV content, contextual thumbnails feature
a TV program’s logo, or a key character, helping you to quickly zero
in on the show you want to see. Worried about your recorded TV
shows taking up too much room on your PC? Windows Media
Center allows you to archive some of your recorded TV programs to
DVD.
In some countries,
customers can access the
integrated Electronic
Programming Guide
information to find what’s
on, and to schedule future
shows to record. And when
it comes to recording
shows, users can easily
choose to record one show
or even a whole season of
the show making it so they
never miss their favorite show ever again. Currently, in countries
that use the PAL TV standard, channels occasionally change, with
the result that the Electronic Programming Guide can fall out of
sync with the broadcast channels. Windows Media Center provides
improvements to keep the Electronic Programming Guide
accurately synchronized with available channels in locales using
the PAL TV standard.
For the US market, with
Windows Media Center
2005, we introduced overthe air HD television
viewing and recording.
Now with Windows Media
Center in Windows Vista
we add support for Open
Cable Unidirectional
Receivers (OCUR),
enabling you to watch
and record your favorite
premium high-definition television content from participating cable
providers. With OCUR support you will be able to plug your digital
cable signal directly into your CableCARD–enabled PC to watch
and record premium and high definition cable content, like HBO,
without the need for a set top box. CableCard–enabled PCs are
specially certified PCs, which will be available from most computer
manufacturers when Windows Vista is released.
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Just like TV, watching
movies is a very important
entertainment activity. You
can use the Movie Guide to
easily identify movies that
are currently playing or
scheduled to play on TV.
And playing movies on DVD
in Windows Media Center is
easier than ever as DVD
Codec support is now
provided natively by the
system. Just insert your DVD and press play! If you have a large
library of DVD movies, you can even use supported external DVD
changers that enable you to access your entire DVD library from
within the Movie Library in the Windows Media Center interface.
Windows Media Center Extenders Offer
Entertainment Throughout the Home
Extenders, you can enjoy photos, music,
live and recorded TV, and your home
videos on up to five other extender
has a Windows Media Center Extender built in, and in the United
States, CableCARD support enables recorded high-definition
programs to be streamed to an Xbox 360 located anywhere in the
home.
Except for the Xbox 360, current version Windows Media Extenders
are not compatible with Windows Vista. However, options will be
available for owners of current version Windows Media Extenders,
and new Extender devices will be available with the release of
Window Vista.
On-demand content, services, and applications
In some countries, in addition to live and recorded TV, music and
videos, Windows Media Center in Windows Vista will continue to
offer on-demand content and online services such as those
currently available through Online Spotlight in Windows XP Media
Center Edition. These services include music and radio
programming, TV and movie content, and personalized sports,
news and entertainment programming. Example U.S. content
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providers include Fox Sports, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, AOL,
Yahoo, NPR, and Cinema Now. International partners offer services
ranging from online banking services from La Caixa in Spain, to an
interactive TV Shop Channel in Japan. A wide range of
downloadable applications for Windows Media Center will also be
offered through Windows Marketplace at
www.windowsmarketplace.com/mediacenter.
In addition to online and downloadable content, you can also use
Windows Media Center to access games that come loaded on
Windows Vista. Coupled with a Windows Media Center Extender,
you connect to your remote Windows Vista PC and, from the
comfort of your couch, enjoy a game of Chess or Mah Jong on
your TV, playing either against the computer or another person.
Parental Controls
Windows Media Center includes parental controls that allow you to
block TV content by rating or by type of content, such as
suggestive dialogue, offensive language, sexual content, or
violence. Parental Controls in Windows Media Center are PIN
restricted, to ensure that even if someone is logged onto the
computer in administrator mode, they still can’t change the
Windows Media Center parental controls you have set without
access to the PIN. Similarly, for movies and DVDs, you can block all
unrated movies, or set a
maximum allowed rating,
such as PG-13.
Unfortunately, these
controls are not integrated
with the Parental Controls
found in the main
Windows Vista desktop
experience, however the
two Parental Controls
systems do provide an
additional layer of security
when combined.
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Enjoy Media On The Go
Windows Media Center allows you to enjoy your media on the go,
with built-in support for synchronization with portable media
devices like MP3 players, Portable Media Centers, and even
Windows Mobile, so you can enjoy your media on your
SmartPhone.
In addition, third-party applications such as MSN Remote Record
(free) and MyTV ToGo (fee-based) can also enhance the mobile
experience.
•
MSN Remote Record is available for download through
Online Spotlight and allows you to conveniently initiate TV
recording on your home PC from any Web browser.
•
MyTV ToGo allows you to sync content such as recorded TV
shows to your Portable Media Center or other devices such
as an iPod with video capability, PocketPC or PlayStation
Portable
Windows Media Center as a Developer Platform
Windows Media Center in Windows Vista provides an enhanced
platform for third party developers. Applications developed using
the HTML application model in Windows XP Media Center Edition
will continue
to be supported. The new Windows Media Center Presentation
Layer enables content developers to create richer, more engaging
third-party experiences for Media Center users, which remote in full
fidelity to the Xbox 360 Media Center Extender. Windows Media
Center will also support rich, dynamic applications written using the
Windows Presentation Foundation (previously codenamed
“Avalon”). For example, Online Spotlight content providers can
take advantage of this enhanced platform to provide users with a
more consistent and intuitive experience throughout third party
experiences. Technical information for developers will be available
on the MSDN Web site at msdn.microsoft.com/mce.
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Windows Media Center Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Windows Media Center
Extends the Windows experience to full-screen entertainment you can
control with the familiarity of a remote control. Find, share, and enjoy all
your photos, music, home videos, radio, DVDs, and even recorded TV
programs in one sleek and easy-to-use place.
2
Enhanced TV experience
Pause, rewind, and record multiple live TV programs at the same time,
including HDTV over an antenna or digital cable (digital cable support is
US only).
2
Quick startup
Turn your system on and off like a consumer-electronics device, and
save energy through improved power management features that can
record TV even while the system is asleep.
2
Media Center Extender
support
Enjoy the complete Media Center experience on any TV in the home
when connected to a Media Center Extender device such as an Xbox
360, and home network. Now includes full HDTV capability.
2
Built-in TV and Movie
Guides
Built-in Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and Movie Guides save you time
and hassles when trying to find programs on your broadcast, cable, or
satellite TV lineup.
2
Enhanced developer
platform
New SDK for Media Center allows third parties to build on the Windows
Media Center Presentation Layer and Windows Presentation Foundation
to provide richer add-on services and applications for use with a
remote control within the Media Center Extender UI..
2
Exhaustive channel
scanning
Accurately discover and use all TV channels available that are
broadcast on the PAL standard.
2
Spotlight
On demand programs, applications and services from third party
content providers can be downloaded for consumption at your leisure
2
Photo and Video Library
Enjoy your photos and home videos on the TV, play photo slideshows
with a soundtrack and burn your photos and home or downloaded
videos to DVD
2
DVD playback
Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate now ship with a codec
pack that enables DVD playback. Windows Media Center has an easy
“Play DVD” feature, and connecting to external DVD changers enables
quick access to your entire movie collection through the Windows
Media Center interface
2
Music Library
Easily find and enjoy your music with Windows Media Center. Sort by
album or artist name, album year, genre, song title, and more. Burn
music to CD or sync to a portable device.
2
Multi Tuner support
Windows Media Center supports two dual-tuners, allowing you to
record or enjoy programs on different channels
2
Hot Start
Allows the OEM to configure the PC to start up like a consumer
electronics device at the click of a button. It also enables an option to
lock the media center experience so that users can’t easily navigate
away from it.
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4.07 CD and DVD Burning
The CD/DVD burning experience in Windows Vista is greatly
improved. Windows Vista makes it easy to:
•
Copy your data files to a CD or DVD
•
Copy your photos/videos to a CD or DVD
•
Burn music content to a CD or DVD
•
Create DVDs of your home videos with Windows Vista
•
Archive your recorded TV programs to DVD
Copy Data Files to a CD or DVD
With Windows XP, you were able to use only a single, recordable
drive and burn only to one drive at a time. With Windows Vista,
Microsoft has added support for multiple
recordable drives, as well as DVD and CD
media.
Windows Vista also introduces a new
technology called UDF burning, which
allows you to add files to, and remove files
from, your CDR/RW and DVDR/RW drive
without ever having to launch a burn task.
This provides a drag-and-drop experience,
making CDs and DVDs as easy to use as
other removable media. All you need to do
is insert the discs and copy your files over to
the drive; your files behave just as if you are
dragging and dropping them to a normal
hard drive or volume.
The disc burning experience in
Windows Vista is determined by
what type of disc format option
you choose during the disc
preparation phase. For example,
from the Windows Photo Gallery
you can select the Create Data
Disc task to burn selected photos,
or you can simply insert a blank
CD or data DVD.
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Copy Photos or Videos to a CD or DVD
Windows Vista supports the creation of DVDs that can be played in
many of today's consumer electronics DVD players. For example,
from Windows Photo Gallery, you can simply click on the Create
command
on the task bar, and you’ll be given the option of creating a DVD
for
use in a DVD player.
Burn Music Content to CD or DVD
Using Windows Media Player’s easy-to-find Burn option, you can
create audio CDs, as well as data CDs and DVDs.
You also can drag and drop individual items, or burn a playlist. A
shortcut makes it quick and easy to burn your Now Playing list.
Volume leveling can be applied
across tracks on audio CDs. You
can also convert music to a
lower bit rate in order to fit more
music on a disc. Options for bit
rate conversion range from
smallest size (32 kbps, or about
47 hours of music per CD) to
best quality (192 kbps, or about
seven hours of music per CD).
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Creating DVDs of Home Videos with Windows Vista
Transferring your Windows Movie Maker creations to DVD is easy
using Windows DVD Maker or the Windows Movie Maker Publish
menu. Windows DVD Maker provides support for a variety of movie
styles—you can add menus and title screens, and either manually
or automatically generates DVD scenes, or chapters.
DVD Maker in Windows Vista publishes directly to MPEG2 format,
enabling better speed and quality, and allows for DVD burning of
movies captured directly from your camera.
Independent software developers will be able to create additional
styles and transitions for creative DVD production using an
available SDK from Microsoft.
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center allows you to archive TV shows to DVD. It
also lets you burn selected pictures, home movies, and individual
music tracks, albums or
playlists to CD or DVD using
the remote control or a
right mouse click.
CD and DVD Burning Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
DVD creation
Easily create professional-looking DVDs you can share with family and
friends using commercial DVD players.
2
DVD burning
Seamlessly burn your personal videos, photos and files to data DVDs.
2
CD burning
Burn your movies, photos, music and files to CDs quickly and easily
2
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4.08 Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD
Maker
The Windows Vista version of the Windows Movie Maker and DVD
Maker applications make it easy for you to import, edit, and
manage digital home videos—including those in the new highdefinition video (HDV) format. You can even save your videos to
DVD and view them on consumer DVD players, making it easy to
share videos with your friends and family.
Windows Movie Maker in
Windows Vista provides a new,
easyto-use interface and even more
tools
to help you create and manage
compelling video memories and
movies. With a host of new titles,
special effects and transitions,
along with improved graphics
performance due to the high-end
graphics power in today’s PCs, the
new Windows Movie Maker in
Windows Vista can turn almost anyone into a great movie maker.
Transferring your Windows Movie Maker creations to DVD has never
been easier. You can use the Windows DVD Maker application that
comes with Windows Vista, or simply use the Windows Movie Maker
Publish menu to transfer your videos to a DVD format. DVD Maker
in Windows Vista publishes directly to MPEG2 format, allowing you
to burn DVDs directly from your video camera. Windows DVD
Maker also supports a variety of publishing styles for your movies,
and will automatically generate a list of scenes. A software
development kit (SDK) will enable third-party developers to create
additional styles and transitions
for even more creative DVD
production.
Windows Movie Maker gives
you maximum choice and
control over the quality and
size of your video files when
you are encoding.
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Not only does Windows Vista offer High-definition (HD) support, but
new video technology in
Windows Vista allows you to
increase the size of the preview
pane without losing resolution. You
can even preview HD content in
full screen view at full HD
resolution if your hardware
supports it. Using the power of
your PC’s graphics processing unit
(GPU) allows Windows Movie
Maker to render HD quality for a
smoother overall performance,
adjusting the size and resolution to
deliver the best quality possible for
your hardware.
Once you have created your movies in Windows Movie Maker, the
Windows Photo Gallery allows you to view and manage all of your
videos and photos from one place, and even to incorporate video
into your picture slideshows. The Windows Photo Gallery can
handle large volumes of information without running out of
memory, so you can import your video as well as hundreds, or even
thousands, of photos. If you have Windows Vista Home Premium or
Windows Vista Ultimate edition, you
can also import and incorporate HD video seamlessly.
Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Support for HD Video
Create, edit, and manage high-definition videos with Windows Vista
Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate editions.
2
DVD authoring
Easily create professional-looking DVDs from home movies, so you can
share them with family and friends.
2
DVD burning
Seamlessly burn your personal videos, photos and files to video or data
DVDs.
2
Improved graphics
performance
Behind-the-scenes software enhancements leverage the power of the
GPU, freeing up the CPU for other tasks. The end result is much faster
graphics performance and better support for HD display.
2
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4.09 Windows Games
Windows Vista offers a dramatically improved gaming experience
that—for the first time—places PC gaming on a par with gaming
consoles. It also includes enhancements that make it easier to
access, play, and manage your computer games, and to control
and monitor the games your children play.
A Better Gaming Experience
An improved graphics driver model makes it easier to install new
graphics cards for a more exciting visual experience, and provides
more reliable and stable game play. The new driver model also
provides better tools that game developers can use to write and
optimize graphics code. In addition, Windows Vista supports the
Universal Controller, which allows you to use the same game
controller with both your PC and your Xbox 360 game console.
Easy Access to All Your Games
The Game Folder, which is listed on the Start menu in
Windows Vista, provides a convenient list of all games currently
stored on your PC. Thumbnail graphics for each game provide
easy access to the games you want to play, and also display
detailed “metadata” information such as the game publisher and
developer; when you last played; which version of the game you
own; and the release date, genre, and rating for each game. The
metadata not only provides useful information about each of your
games, it can also be used to sort the games and organize your
Game Folder.
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Right-click on a game’s thumbnail graphic for easy access to a
menu of play tasks (different for each game) and online gaming
options. You can also easily access the player community for each
game, get help, support and important publisher updates, add or
remove games, and adjust your system for optimal playing
conditions.
You can play three types of games on Windows Vista:
To learn more
about Parental
Controls, please
turn to Chapter
4.03: Parental
Controls Settings
on page 132
•
Windows Vista-aware games: These games are built to be
compatible with Windows Vista and have a game definition
file that installs with the game and includes metadata
information and thumbnail graphics so that it can be fully
integrated into the Game Folder.
•
Pre-Windows Vista games: Windows Vista supports many
popular games that existed before the new operating
system
was developed. When you install such a game,
Windows Vista automatically recognizes the game and
provides the title, rating, and information on how to start the
game. You can use Windows Metadata Information Services
to download thumbnail graphics and additional information
about the game, such as the name and Web site of the
publisher and developer. Windows Vista currently supports
about 1,500 pre-Windows Vista games, and will be
expanded to include hundreds of additional titles.
•
Unsupported games: While there are a number of games
that Windows Vista does not yet fully support, the system
does provide a richer-than-usual gaming experience even
for unsupported games. When you can drag and drop these
games into the Game Folder, Windows Vista will provide
basic play tasks, but not metadata information. You can
also add new play tasks and shortcuts, and edit existing
ones, and the new graphics capability will enhance your
game play.
Parental Controls
If you are a parent, Windows Vista puts you in charge of deciding
which computer games your children can play, and makes it easy
to monitor their gaming activity and to enforce the restrictions you
set. For example, you can allow or restrict your children's access to
games according to game title, rating, category, or content.
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Windows Games Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Improved Graphics Driver
Model
Makes it easier to install new graphics cards for a more exciting visual
experience, and provides more reliable and stable game play.
2
Game Folder
Find and enjoy all of your games in one location.
2
Universal Controller
support
Use the same controller for your Xbox 360 and your computer.
2
Parental Controls
Allow or restrict your children's access to games according to game
title, rating, category, or content—and monitor and enforce those
restrictions.
2
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4.10 Windows Mail
If you’re like most people, e-mail is one of your most important
computer activities, allowing you to keep in touch with family,
friends and colleagues across town or around the world. As the
popularity and importance of
e-mail have grown over the years, annoyances and risks have also
emerged. These include things such as junk mail; viruses delivered
through e-mail and attachments; and phishing attacks aimed at
acquiring your personal
information and enabling criminals
to steal your identity.
Windows Mail addresses these
serious concerns, while adding
new features that enable you to
search and manage the
increasingly large number of
messages you receive. Windows
Mail is designed to let you easily
read your e-mail while keeping
you safe, and to make all of your email communication fun and
hassle-free.
Instant Search
With thousands of messages in your inbox, it may be a challenge to
find the one e-mail you are trying to locate. This is especially true for
saved e-mail, which may be months or years old. Windows Mail
includes a built-in Instant Search field, just like the one in the
Windows Vista operating system. Instant Search enables you to
search across all of your e-mail instantly—without ever leaving
Windows Mail. You can also find your e-mail by using the Instant
Search field in the Start menu. In addition, the Search Explorer in
Windows Vista is integrated with Windows Mail, so when you search
your PC hard drive for a particular subject relevant e-mail
messages will be found along with documents and other files.
Junk Mail Filter
Unwanted junk e-mail—also known as spam—continues to be a
serious problem because it forces you to wade through irrelevant
or offensive messages to find the e-mail you care about. To reduce
this hassle, Windows Mail includes a built-in Junk Mail filter that
automatically screens e-mail to identify and separate junk e-mail.
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Unlike other approaches, which require you to “train” the filter to
correctly identify junk e-mail, Windows Mail starts identifying and
separating junk mail the first time you use it, without any need for
special settings or laborious user feedback.
Phishing Filter
To learn more
about Phishing
Filters, please
turn to Chapter
3.06: Internet
Explorer on
page 53
“Phishing” is a deceptive practice designed to help scam artists
steal your identity by tricking you into disclosing valuable personal
information, such as passwords, credit card numbers and bank
account data. Phishing scams start with phony e-mail messages
that claim to be from a trusted financial institution or online service.
By including links to fraudulent Web sites, phishing e-mails attempt
to trick you into entering your personal information, where it can be
captured and misused by criminals. Windows Mail includes a
phishing filter that analyzes e-mail to detect many of these
fraudulent links and to help protect you from this online deception.
Reliability
In the past, Outlook Express users occasionally experienced
problems when opening large data files of saved e-mail. Windows
Mail is based on new technology for storing e-mail, and provides
significantly improved reliability. As a result, you can be more
productive and have more confidence when using e-mail.
Newsgroup Features
(for Microsoft MVPs or technical audiences)
If you happen to use newsgroups, Windows Mail includes new
features to make your experience contributing to and managing
newsgroups easier and more productive. For example, Windows
Mail simplifies the process of posting questions and answers, and
rating the usefulness of information posted by other people.
Windows Mail Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Instant Search
Allows users to search across all e-mail messages instantly
2
Junk Mail filter
Automatically screens e-mail to identify and separate junk e-mail
2
Phishing filter
Analyzes e-mail to detect fraudulent links and to help protect users from
identity theft
2
Reliability
Uses new storage technology to provide increased reliability
2
Newsgroup features
Makes contributing to and managing newsgroups easier and more
productive
2
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4.11 Windows Calendar
There are 24 hours in each day, but it doesn’t always feel like it. As
the pace of life accelerates at work and at home, many people
find it helpful to use a PC-based calendar to manage their time
and coordinate their schedule with family, friends, and colleagues.
Windows Calendar is a
flexible, easy-to-use calendar
included with the
Windows Vista operating
system. It enables you to
plan and manage all of your
activities and coordinate
your schedule with others.
Windows Calendar also
includes a feature that
allows you to create a
personal task list and to
receive automatic
notifications and reminders
about specific tasks or upcoming appointments.
Windows Calendar provides a broad range of features to help you
manage your personal schedule.
Personal Time Management
Creating Appointments
Windows Calendar lets you easily create appointments. Once an
appointment is on your calendar, you can set up an alert to remind
you that the appointment is approaching. You can set Windows
Calendar to alert you minutes, hours, or even days ahead of time,
depending on how much advance notice you want.
You can also set up recurring appointments. Perhaps you attend a
weekly book club meeting, have a standing haircut appointment
every
six weeks, or pay your mortgage on the same day each month.
With Windows Calendar, you can create one appointment, and
then instruct
the calendar to set up similar appointments on a series of days at
the intervals you choose.
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Managing Tasks
Windows Calendar includes a personal task list, which makes it
easy to organize and manage the things you need to do. For each
task on your list, you can describe what you need to do, set a
deadline for completion, choose a priority ranking so you tackle
the most important tasks first, and keep track of your progress. You
can also set reminders to let you know when a task is due. And as
you complete each task, simply check it off your list and have the
satisfaction of watching it disappear.
Shared Calendars
Windows Calendar provides individual calendars for multiple
people.
This is especially helpful for families or other groups of people who
share
a single PC. Windows Calendar makes it easy for people who use
the same computer to coordinate their personal schedules by
letting them compare information from any or all personal
calendars side-by-side and in a
single view.
Imagine a busy family with two parents
and three children, ages 10, 12, and 15.
Because everyone in the family has
access to a shared PC running
Windows Vista, each family member
can use Windows Calendar to set up
and manage his or her own personal
schedule. Windows Calendar enables
each person in the family to view other
family members’ calendars, either
selectively or all at once.
As the parents plan for the week ahead, they can overlay their
children’s and spouse’s calendars onto their own calendar to see
what everyone in the family has planned and to make sure no one
overlooks any important activities. After reviewing all of the
schedules together, they may notice that they need to schedule
time to attend one child’s soccer game, another’s school play,
and a parent-teacher conference for the third child. Or they may
choose to compare their schedule only with their spouse’s
calendar to make sure at least one parent will be home by a
certain time each evening. Appointments from each calendar are
displayed in a different color, making it easy to tell whose schedule
each item belongs to.
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Calendar Subscriptions and Publishing
Windows Calendar is fully compatible with the popular .iCalendar
format, which gives you the ability to import and export calendar
information to and from other applications and Web sites.
Using Windows Calendar, you can subscribe to calendars hosted
on Web sites in the .iCalendar format, and then view those
calendars alongside your own. For example, you could subscribe to
the season schedule of your favorite professional baseball team,
the activities calendar for your child’s middle school, or the annual
schedule of a civic organization whose meetings you attend—and
automatically stay up-to-date with any changes in those events.
The .iCalendar compatibility of Windows Calendar also makes it
easy to publish your own calendar on the Internet through a Web
host. If, for example, you chair a committee, organize a carpool, or
coach your child’s basketball team, you can use one of the
calendar views in Windows Calendar to create a schedule and
then publish it to the Web so that others can see and share that
information. If you want, you can publish your personal schedule
with password protection, so that only designated friends and
family members can access and view your calendar.
E-Mail Invitations
With Windows Calendar, you can also use e-mail to send and
receive appointments and invitations to friends and family
members. This makes
it even easier to keep your family or other groups in sync.
Windows Calendar Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Personal Calendaring
Users can easily create appointments and events to manage their
personal schedule
2
Task Management
Users can create lists of tasks, which they track until completion
2
Alerts
Automatic alerts help remind users when an event is close to
beginning, or a task is due
2
Shared Calendars
Multiple users in a family can create their own calendars, and then
share them with other family members, so they can see all the
calendars in one view
2
Calendar Publishing and
Subscribing
Based on the open standard .iCalendar format, users can publish
their calendars for others to see, or subscribe to other calendars
available on the Web
2
E-mail Invitations
Users can send invitations to events and appointments as e-mail
attachments
2
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4.12 Windows Backup and Restore
The new backup and restore functionality in Windows Vista makes it
easier to keep your data and computer safe from user error,
hardware failure, and any other issue that could result in data loss.
Multiple layers of protection—ranging from automatic caching of
previous versions of your files to an image-based backup of your
entire computer—ensure that your important files and your
complete PC are protected.
These features are presented in a single, unified Windows Backup
and Restore control panel. From this control panel, you can use the
new automatic backup feature to make backup copies of your
files, and later browse and search for files to restore from a backup.
Another new feature lets you access previous versions of files
without even having a backup, and is based on the Volume
Shadow Copy technology initially introduced with the Windows
Server product family. In addition, Windows Vista also introduces a
new PC-wide, image-based backup capability known as
CompletePC Backup and Restore, which complements the filebased backup features and provides an important tool in case a
complete system recovery is needed.
The System Restore feature, which can reverse system changes
while keeping your data intact, has been updated in
Windows Vista to be more robust. And by using the Windows
Recovery Environment, which many computer manufacturers install
on new PCs, System Restore can even fix a problem that is
preventing your computer from starting properly.
Windows Backup and Restore Control Panel
Windows Vista provides a new single destination where you can
access all of the related backup and restore features. The new
Backup and Restore control panel makes it fast and easy to
determine the backup status of your PC and to take action, as
needed, to protect your data against loss.
The Backup and Restore control panel provides a console view of
the various backup-related features present on any given
Windows Vista edition. For example, file-based backup, which is
available in all Windows Vista editions (except Starter edition), is
prominent in the center of the console and indicates when files
were most recently backed up. The restore tool is located directly
beneath, and is also prominent in the
user experience.
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Windows Vista Business and
higher-value editions—such as
Windows Vista Ultimate, which
includes both home and
business features—have the
additional system image
backup technology and the
Previous Versions capabilities,
which are also accessed from
this central console.
As a convenience, you can
also access other related
features from the Backup and
Restore control panel, although they are displayed less prominently
on the screen. For example, there are direct links on the left side of
the screen to help you configure System Restore settings or to launch
the Windows Security Center.
This new, central place to go for backup- and restore-related items
should make it easier for consumers and business users, especially
small-business users, to ensure that their files and their complete
system are protected against data loss.
New File Backup Wizard
The core file backup feature in Windows has been completely
replaced in Windows Vista, to provide more user options and more
stability.
The new backup wizard lets you select the kinds of files to be
backed up, indicate where the backed up files are to be stored,
and initiate the process
whenever you choose. Highervalue Windows Vista editions,
beginning with Windows Vista
Home Premium, provide
additional options regarding
backup destination, and offer
the convenience of
automated scheduling. The
automatic scheduling function
should remove a major
obstacle for many users who
acknowledge they should
back up their data but often
do not because they say it is
inconvenient or they don’t
remember.
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The file backup wizard also provides more destinations for your
backed up data. You can choose to back up information to CD,
DVD, an external hard disk connected to your PC by USB or IEEE
1394, or to a secondary hard disk on your PC. If you are using
Windows Vista Home Premium and other higher value editions, you
get the additional options of backing up to another PC, a Network
Attached Storage (NAS) device, or a server connected to the
network. A simple wizard helps you schedule when and where you
want files backed up. The tool then runs on its own without user
intervention, except to ask for a new blank CD or DVD if required.
Of course, the backup option is only useful if the recovery
experience is smooth and
effective. Windows Backup
includes a wizard to help you
select the files or folders you want
to restore, prompts you for the
storage medium you used to
backup your information, and
then quickly restores the files you
select. The recovery experience
incorporates the common visual
vocabulary of Windows Explorer,
so you have a familiar view of your
files when dealing with the
sometimes stressful process of
restoring data.
Automatic Previous Versions
Have you ever accidentally overwritten, deleted, or failed to save
a file you were working on? Accidental file deletion or modification
is a common cause of data loss among computer users.
Windows Vista Business and higher-value editions introduce another
useful innovation, called Previous Versions, to help you protect your
data from accidental loss.
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Previous Versions automatically creates daily
“restore points” that capture older versions of your
files as you work, so you can quickly and easily
retrieve previous versions of a document you may
have accidentally deleted, failed to save, or
overwritten—even if you have never backed up
your files. The Previous Versions features uses the
Volume Shadow Copy technology first introduced
in Windows Server 2003. This powerful and
performance-optimized technology has
protected millions of documents on Windows file
servers, and is now available to help you protect
the files stored on your PC as well.
With this feature, you can see previous versions of files on your
computer’s hard disk, regardless of where they are located. Your
PC automatically takes daily “snapshots” of your disk, which tracks
changes made to all of the files you have stored there. You can
access a previous version of a file by right-clicking on the file name
and selecting Previous Versions.
Only the bare minimum of disk space is taken up by the previous
versions, since changes are tracked at the “physical,” or “block
level.” If only a small part of a file changes (such as a slide in a
presentation), only that portion of the file needs to be saved, rather
than the entire file. A set amount of disk space is used for storing
the previous versions, and Windows Vista will automatically “age
out” older versions of files to make room for newer ones. You can
configure this setting at the volume level by using the System
control panel’s System Protection screen, which also governs the
System Restore feature. Typically, you will be able to access about
one month’s worth of previous versions for your files.
Since some files may have previous versions and have a backup
copy, Windows Vista will show you both options. When you view
previous versions for such a file, you can choose to restore a
previous version located on the computer disk, or you can restore a
version (perhaps older) that is on a backup CD or hard disk.
If you are connected to a Windows file server, you can also view
and restore older versions of files in shared folders or local folders
and files redirected to the file server, if the Volume Shadow Copy
Service is enabled on the file server.
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New Image-based Backup for Complete PC
Restoration
Windows Vista introduces a new technology for creating a
complete system image backup of all PC content, including files,
programs and settings. Unlike the related file-based backup wizard,
this new capability, known as CompletePC Backup effectively
takes a perfect “picture” of all content on your PC’s hard disks,
rather than your individual files, and then copies that entire image
to the location you specify. This “physical” or “block-level” imagebased technology provides a rapid backup of the entire PC
system, which can be used if the system ever has to be completely
restored.
CompletePC Backup and the file-based backup wizard tools
complement each other. Image-based backup and restore is
generally faster than file-based backup processes, and is especially
useful when you are backing up or restoring an entire system,
Image-based backup does not provide the ability to recover
specific files as the file-based tool does, however. Instead, imagebased backup restores the entire system. So this combination of
file-based backup and a complete system backup work together
to provide you with multiple layers of protection.
Typically, you will want to configure the file-based backup to run
on a regular basis, and occasionally create an image-based
backup. You can always restore an image-based backup in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure, and then restore a more
recent file-based backup to bring your files up-to-date.
Complete PC Backup and Restore is included in Windows Vista
Business and higher-value editions. The tool can be run any time
you desire. This feature, like the file-based backup tool and the
related restore tools, is accessible from the Backup and Restore
control panel.
System Restore
Using System Restore, you can undo changes and fix problems with
your computer by rolling it back in time, without affecting your
data files. You can use System Restore if you think a video or sound
card is causing problems, if an application you installed (perhaps
from the Internet) is crashing frequently, if someone played with the
settings in Windows Vista and rearranged your favorite icons or
changed the desktop picture, or to recover from any number of
other problems.
System Restore has a simple wizard interface that presents you with
a list of “restore points” to which you can roll back your system. A
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restore point is created each time you install a software application
or a hardware driver, and once each day as well. You can even
create a restore point yourself, to make sure you have one that is
current before you make changes to your computer that could
require you to use System Restore.
System Restore has been made more robust and reliable in
Windows Vista. The most important advance is that System Restore
can now fix your computer, even if you can’t boot Windows. System
Restore can run in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)—
installed by many computer manufacturers and available on the
Windows install media—which means you can fix even a problem so
serious that it prevents Windows from booting.
The underlying technology has also been improved significantly. In
Windows XP, System Restore relied on a file system filter that made
a backup copy of any system file before it was changed. This
model wasn’t very efficient when dealing with small changes to
large files, and it didn’t catch all changes to system components.
In Windows Vista, System Restore uses the same volume shadow
copies that the Previous Versions feature uses, which means
changes are tracked within each file at the block level. It is more
efficient, and it can capture changes made to any system file,
setting, or component.
Windows Backup and Restore Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Backup and Restore
control panel
A central console providing easy user access to a set of backup-related
features in Windows Vista.
2
File Backup Wizard
Enables users to easily back up their data files, whenever they choose,
to local media destinations such as DVD, CD, an additional internal
hard drive or a locally attached external hard drive. The feature
provides more options in Windows Vista Home Premium and highervalue editions, by enabling the added convenience of automated
scheduling and by allowing backup files to be stored on remote PCs,
NAS devices or servers across a network.
1
Previous Versions for files
on a file server (“Shadow
Copies for Shared Folders”)
Prevents data loss from accidental file deletion or modification by
allowing users to retrieve a previous version of a document. Files saved
to the Documents area that are redirected to a server running the
volume shadow copy service enables this to work.
1
Previous Versions for files
on your personal
computer
A new feature in Windows Vista that automatically captures changes
made to local files, even without having to configure a backup. The
feature uses automatic point-in-time snapshots that track changes to
volumes and are stored on the local PC hard drive, so you always have
access to the latest version of your files.
2
Image based backup
New feature in Windows Vista provides fast, high-fidelity image-based
backup and restore of a complete PC hard disk (files, settings, Windows,
and applications). This feature is especially useful to restore a complete
PC system.
2
System Restore
Enables users to restore their computers to a previous state in order to
recover from a bad application, driver, or settings change, even one
that prevents booting Windows—all without affecting user data
1
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Section 5: For Business Users
5.01 Business User Introduction ....................................................................................202
Windows Vista Business.............................................................................................................202
Windows Vista Enterprise..........................................................................................................202
5.02 XPS Documents ......................................................................................................204
XPS Document Creation ..........................................................................................................204
XPS Document Viewing............................................................................................................205
XPS Document Graphics Fidelity ............................................................................................205
Office 12 and Rights Management Server Support.............................................................205
5.03 Windows Collaboration ........................................................................................207
Meet Anywhere, Any Time.......................................................................................................207
Discovering Sessions and People Near Me ...........................................................................208
Make Meetings More Productive ...........................................................................................208
Secure Collaboration ...............................................................................................................209
Windows Collaboration or Live Meeting? .............................................................................209
5.04 Sharing.....................................................................................................................211
Same Computer Sharing..........................................................................................................211
Network Sharing ........................................................................................................................212
5.05 Corporate Roaming..............................................................................................213
Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection......................................................................213
5.06 Offline Files and Folders........................................................................................216
5.07 Remote Access......................................................................................................218
Simplified Remote Access........................................................................................................218
Improved Flexibility and Control .............................................................................................219
5.08 Windows Fax and Scan ........................................................................................220
Easy-to-Use Fax and Scan........................................................................................................220
Faxing..........................................................................................................................................221
Scanning.....................................................................................................................................221
5.09 Small Business Resources ......................................................................................223
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5.01 Business User Introduction
Two versions of Windows Vista are specifically designed to meet
the
needs of business customers: Windows Vista Business and Windows
Vista Enterprise.
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business has been designed to meet the needs of
organizations of all sizes, especially small businesses and midmarket organizations. With these size businesses in mind,
Windows Vista Business is available in retail stores and through
volume licensing programs.
For small businesses, Windows Vista Business is designed to help
keep PCs running smoothly and securely so you will be less reliant
on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista
Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements,
enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day
maintenance of PCs and more time adding strategic value to your
organization. Windows Vista Business also offers powerful new ways
to organize, find, and share information while helping you stay
better connected, whether you are in the office or on the road.
Together, the new capabilities of Windows Vista Business help you
reduce PC costs and stay focused on the success of your business.
Windows Vista Business includes features designed specifically for
small business, including advanced networking, advanced backup
and restore, data synchronization for mobile PCs, a speciallydesigned fax and scan center, and a dedicated Small Business
resource center.
Windows Vista Enterprise
For organizations with complex desktop infrastructures,
Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to reduce the cost and
complexity of deploying and managing corporate PCs, while
offering improved reliability, security and compliance with
information policies.
Windows Vista Enterprise also increases the productivity of people
who depend on a PC to get their job done, and enables mobile
users to stay better connected with customers, partners and their
business, whether in the office or on the road. In short,
Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to help organizations realize a
higher return on their IT investments.
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Windows Vista Enterprise also helps organizations better protect
data on PCs, even if lost or stolen, with Windows BitLocker Drive
Encryption.
With Virtual PC Express and Services for Unix Applications, migration
and application compatibility issues with previous versions of
Windows and UNIX systems and applications are reduced. And the
integration of all Windows user interface languages enables a
single worldwide image—dramatically lowering desktop
deployment costs. Windows Vista Enterprise is available exclusively
to all Volume Licensing customers with Software Assurance (EA,
Select, and Open).
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5.02 XPS Documents
With Windows Vista’s new XPS Documents capability, users can
transform any onscreen content into a document that can be
easily viewed, printed, full-text searched, and securely protected
and authenticated with the latest rights management and digital
signatures technologies. This set of capabilities is enabled using the
new open XPS Document format.
Knowledge workers especially will benefit from these easy-to-create,
paginated, fixed-format documents. XPS Documents can be
created directly from any application and viewed in Internet
Explorer, or other browsers if the viewer is hosted by such browsers,
making this format ideal for:
•
Users who need to securely share content with others who
may not have the original authoring application.
•
Users who want to create a paginated reading experience
with non-paginated content such as a Web page.
•
Workflow and business applications that need to create a
fixed-format, archivable record or output.
An XPS Document is basically a page-by-page view of content as it
would be rendered by a printer. In other words, it turns on-screen
content into true electronic paper. The format retains all of the
fidelity of the original source material and all of the necessary
resources for rendering, such as fonts and images. Because this
format is focused on creating the most accurate representation of
on-screen content, XPS documents will not contain scripts or
macros, making these documents a trustworthy format when users
need to safely share or archive content.
Key XPS features in Windows Vista include:
XPS Document Creation
Whether working with Win32®-based applications or nextgeneration WinFX–based applications, users will easily be able to
create XPS Documents. An XPS Document can be generated from
any Win32 application using the Microsoft XPS Document Writer
included with Windows Vista. This printer driver allows users to
create XPS Documents as easily as selecting a printer in the Print
dialog box. When WinFX applications become available, users will
be able to create, change, and manage XPS Documents directly
from those applications.
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XPS Document Viewing
When it comes to reading XPS Documents, customers will have a
choice of viewing features. When WinFX is installed on a PC, the
document will simply open up in the Microsoft XPS Viewer, which is
hosted in Internet Explorer. This viewer always validates and opens
the document in protected memory, preventing the user’s system
from being compromised by a malicious file posing as an XPS
Document file.
The Microsoft XPS Viewer supports
a full fidelity experience and
supports the application of rights
management and digital
signatures from within the viewer.
Because the format is an open
specification available with a
royalty-free license, software
vendors can enable XPS viewing
from within their own applications,
or create their own custom XPS
viewers for other platforms.
XPS Document Graphics Fidelity
XPS Documents supports high-fidelity, vector-based graphics,
which means an XPS Document can be magnified many times
over, and at all times the text is gracefully scaled up. Readers will
not see jagged or pixilated text. This fidelity carries over when
printing as well. The Windows Vista print subsystem and natively
support the XPS Document format, to enable a higher quality
output and faster performance when it comes to printing
graphically rich documents. What-you-see-is-what-you-get
(WYSIWYG) high fidelity graphics printing is made possible with XPS
Documents and enabled hardware devices.
Office 12 and Rights Management Server Support
The upcoming release of Office System 2007 will provide native
support for XPS Document publishing, which means Office 2007
customers will have an option to “save as XPS” from directly within
Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. In
addition, any permissions set from within these applications to read,
print or view a document will be inherited by the published XPS
Document and enforced by the Microsoft XPS Viewer when the
document is shared.
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Applying permissions to an XPS Document is made possible through
Microsoft Windows Rights Management Server Version 1 SP1. When
an organization has deployed this version and later of the Windows
Rights Management Server, users will be able to set specific access
rights to their XPS Documents, thus protecting the information after
it is published and shared. Permissions can be applied from within
the XPS Viewer or from within an
authoring application if XPS is natively
supported, such as Office 2007.
The same server infrastructure also
enables digital signing of XPS
Documents. Users can sign a whole
document or individual pages. With
the right infrastructure, these signatures
can be legally valid and ensure the
authenticity of a document, enabling
organizations to establish timely and
cost-efficient document flow policies
in a cost-efficient way.
XPS Documents Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
XPS Document
A new fixed-format document that can be directly generated from
almost any onscreen content on the Windows Vista desktop.
1
Microsoft XPS Document
Writer
Windows Vista users can make an XPS file from any Win32 application
by simply clicking Print on the File menu, and then selecting “Microsoft
XPS Document Writer” from the Print dialog box.
1
Microsoft XPS Viewer
A WinFX-based viewer that is hosted by Internet Explorer and features
controls that enhance the reading experience of XPS Documents.
1
Embedding fonts
XPS Documents contain all fonts in the document. Recipients who may
not actually own the fonts used in the document can still see the
document as the author intended.
1
Digital signatures support
Users can digitally sign documents through an interface in the XPS
Viewer. Signed documents will display an icon to indicate that they
have been digitally signed. Users can see the digital signature and
date/ time stamp from the properties page and can countersign from
this page. The digital signature ensures that the document wasn’t
tampered with.
2
Shell support for XPS
Documents
XPS Documents support live icons, and users can perform full-text
searches of XPS Documents.
2
Rights management
support
With Windows Rights Management Server V1 SP1 support, users can
assign access rights to their documents on a per recipient basis.
2
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5.03 Windows Collaboration
Collaboration is becoming more essential than ever to
organizational productivity and success. Yet, there are many
obstacles to overcome around collaboration. For instance, a
network is not always available—you just cannot share a file with
your team members in some meeting rooms or café without
network. Projecting is another challenge. A projector is not always
available, or even if you have a projector, some documents (Excel
or Word) do not project well.
Windows Collaboration, the new collaboration feature in Windows
Vista, is a simple, yet powerful tool that enables face-to-face
collaboration among small groups of Windows Vista users at
anytime and anywhere.
Whether you are making a PowerPoint presentation or revising a
spreadsheet, Windows Collaboration enables face-to-face
collaboration for as few as
two or as many as 10
people over wired network,
an ad hoc wireless network
or a wireless local area
network access point. And
connections are established
quickly, easily, and securely.
One person simply initiates a
session in Windows
Collaboration, which then
allows designated users to
share the same view of an
application and to
collaborate with each other
in real time.
Meet Anywhere, Any Time
Windows Collaboration uses two different modes to link users’
machines: either by connecting through an already existing
network such as a wired or wireless LAN, or by connecting over an
ad hoc wireless network. An ad hoc wireless network is perfect for
collaboration when participants do not have access to a network
infrastructure; for example, in a hotspot-less coffee shop or airport.
Using Windows Collaboration on an ad hoc wireless network opens
up a range of new and more flexible collaboration possibilities.
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Discovering Sessions and People Near Me
Discovering and joining sessions is a breeze using the built in
Sessions Near Me feature. People can easily discover the sessions
occurring nearby on the local network, or on private “ad hoc
wireless” networks. To join a session, the user must simply enter the
password for that session.
Also, Windows Collaboration takes advantage of what is called
People Near Me. People Near Me allows you to check who is
available on the network you are using—and invite them to join your
collaboration group or another People Near Me enabled
application. People Near Me
makes explicitly inviting a person to
a session simple and easy.
Remote participants can be
invited via e-mail or a file, if your
network supports IPv6
connectivity. You can simply start
a session in Windows
Collaboration and send invitations
via e-mail. When the participants
get the invitation, they simply
need to click it and type in the
password.
Make Meetings More Productive
Sharing files with groups is much easier with Windows Collaboration
than with traditional methods such as paper handouts, sending files
through e-mail or Instant Messaging, uploading files to common
network shares, or passing around a USB key. Windows Collaboration
allows groups to instantly start a shared common session that
enables multi-party file sharing.
Unlike standard presentations, where changes can only be made
from the presenter’s PC, Windows Collaboration allows the person
who initiated the session to pass control to other users, who can
make revisions to the presentation even while the original is being
broadcast from the computer of the person who is making the
presentation. When one member of the group makes a change to
a file and saves it in the session, those changes are replicated
immediately to everyone in the session.
Any Microsoft or third-party application or file can be broadcast or
streamed to a group using Windows Collaboration. By
broadcasting OneNote®, for example, a group instantly has a
shared whiteboard space that can capture ink, pictures, text, etc,
which can be saved and shared with the group. And multiple files
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of any type can be broadcast to the group, by anyone in the
group.
Secure Collaboration
Windows Collaboration—and the entire peer-to-peer developer
platform in Windows Vista—are designed with security in mind.
Invitations and participant authentication are handled by using
certificates and through the exchange and verification of public
and private key pairs between the session creator and other
attendees.
Windows Collaboration or Live Meeting?
Both Windows Collaboration and Microsoft Office Live Meeting
help people communicate and collaborate in a rich way, and you
can take advantage of both products for different purposes. Live
Meeting is designed to help people collaborate beyond different
locations, across corporate boundaries, and on different networks
over the Internet. Live Meeting operates on a server infrastructure
and can support up to 2,500 concurrent users, enabling larger,
more formal meetings that are often planned and scheduled in
advance. It is browser-based and can be used with any Windows
operating system that supports Live Meeting. However, it is not the
out-of-the-box solution with Windows Vista, and it also requires an
Internet connection.
Windows Collaboration is a peer-to-peer application that operates
directly between personal computers, so there is no server
infrastructure involved, even when using the application over a
corporate LAN or WLAN. Also, Windows Collaboration is designed
to enhance and support spontaneous and informal small-group
collaboration (up to10 concurrent users) anywhere, anytime. Lastly,
Windows Collaboration is delivered as a built-in feature of the
Windows Vista operating system, and participants just need to run
Windows Vista on their PCs.
Windows Collaboration Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Anywhere, any time
face-to-face collaboration
Supports both infrastructure and ad hoc wireless networks.
2
Shared control of
presentations
Allows the initiator to pass control to other users, who can make
revisions, even while the original is being broadcast from the computer
of the person who initiated the session.
2
Multi-party file sharing and
collaboration
Everyone can change and save files, and if one person saves a
change in the session, it is replicated immediately to everyone in the
session.
2
Compatibility
Any file or application can be broadcast or streamed—not limited to
Microsoft applications.
2
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People Near Me and
Sessions Near Me
Check availability of others on the network and invite them to join your
collaboration group, or search for relevant sessions and ask to join.
2
Password protection
The session creator decides who can join the session.
2
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5.04 Sharing
In Windows Vista, traditional folder sharing information between
users is easy. In previous versions of Windows, sharing files and
folders with other users and computers on the same network was
difficult to discover and implement. Windows Vista lets you easily
share information the way you want by bringing the ability to share
to the forefront, and seamlessly integrating it with features for
acquiring, creating, and storing data.
Same Computer Sharing
When you share a computer running Windows Vista with multiple
users, sharing files or folders with specific users—or with all users on
that computer—is easy.
While Windows XP made it simple
for you to share a single business
or home computer with multiple
users through the Log On/Log Off
capability, it was often hard to
understand where and how to
save documents and media
intended for private use versus
public use (available to all users).
Another challenge was that
Windows XP provided no easy
way to share content with specific
individuals. When data was
shared, by default it was shared with anyone who might use that
computer—or no one at all.
Windows Vista solves these file-sharing issues in several ways. First,
when you save a file, it is easy to determine whether the file is
being saved into a personal profile or into the public profile. Next,
across all Windows Vista sharing scenarios, a new Sharing Wizard
helps you specify other users with whom you want to share a file.
The Wizard shows every person who has an account on the
computer you share, enabling you to easily choose another and
share a file.
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Network Sharing
With Windows Vista, sharing files and folders with coworkers on the
same network is also more discoverable and simpler to execute.
Network folder sharing is available today in Windows XP, but the
feature is not widely known and using it is a complex process, so
sharing a file through a file server or e-mail is often easier.
Windows Vista network sharing is extremely easy to execute. With
Windows Vista, you can share individual files, whereas before you
would have had to share an entire folder when you wanted to
share content.
The sharing command is also now featured prominently on the
explorer Command Bar. When you choose to share content, the
setup process is quick and easy with the new Sharing Wizard
(mentioned above). You simply select colleagues from Active
Directory, the Windows domain, workgroup, or PC, and then set the
level of access you want to enable for that file or folder: Reader,
Contributor, or Co-Owner.
Windows Vista will even help to notify your colleagues with whom
you’ve chosen to share content. The Sharing Wizard features an “email link” option, which will automatically compose an e-mail from
you with a hyperlink to the shared content embedded within the
message. When your colleagues receive the e-mail, they simply
click on the link and it takes them directly to the shared folder or
file. Windows Vista also improves the sharing experience by
enabling you to more easily keep
track of shared content by using the Search Folders available
within Explorers that can display all shared content on a PC.
Sharing Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Simplified navigation pane
A new pane that clearly shows users if they are saving/ accessing files
from their private or public profiles.
1
Sharing Wizard
A richer user experience for sharing that makes it easy for customers to
find a person to share content with and then set appropriate rights of
access.
1
Command Bar “Share”
task
The Share task is noticeably displayed on the command bar. Users no
longer have to right click to share a file.
1
Sharing Search Folder
A search folder that enables a user to see all content on the PC that is shared
2
Share an item or folder
The ability to share individual items as well as folders.
2
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5.05 Corporate Roaming
In Group Policy-enabled environments, IT Pros can configure
computers running Windows Vista so that user data is secure and
stored on a server, while allowing users to take their data offline or
to efficiently access their data from multiple PCs on the network.
Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection
In large organizations, IT administrators need a way to securely and
efficiently store user data and settings on a central server for
several reasons:
•
To manage, secure, and back up desktop and laptop user
data against loss;
•
So that users with multiple computers—a corporate laptop
and desktop, for instance—can use either PC and keep
documents, media and favorites in sync on both machines;
•
To enable a customized and secure computing experience
for multiple users who are using the same computer in a
kiosk environment.
With Windows XP, customers achieve stateless computing in two
ways: through Roaming User Profiles (RUP) or Folder Redirection
(FR). While RUP enables individuals to roam all of a user’s important
data, including application data, it is inefficient. When users log on,
the computer copies all of their files, forcing them to endure a long
wait time before they can even get
to the desktop. Customers endure it
because it is the only way to roam all
of a user’s important files and settings
in Windows. Folder Redirection allows
more efficient roaming of data
because files can be locally cached.
The drawback of FR is that it only
permits the user to roam a small
number of folders. For example, users
cannot roam data such as Favorites,
the registry settings or application
data, which renders many user
applications useless for roaming users.
For organizations that use Group Policy, Windows Vista addresses
these issues by enabling deployment of RUP and FR with local
caching enabled. Deploying all of these technologies concurrently
achieves the goal of seamless data roaming without sacrificing
usability.
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In such a scenario, an IT Pro would choose to roam only certain
user settings, but not the bulk of a user’s data, such as documents
or application data. The roamed user settings would contain the
appropriate FR settings, so that when users logged in for the first
time, their documents would start to sync to the PC’s local cache.
All of that synched content would, of course, work with the new
search and organization features in Windows Vista.
As part of this recommended solution, numerous improvements
have been made to both RUP and FR. By itself, Vista’s RUP will see
fewer user profiles on account of a more aggressive
synchronization mechanism. But if an organization couples RUP with
FR, its users will notice a more immediate log-on experience.
Windows will bring the critical elements of the profile down first, and
the user’s documents in the background, enabling users to access
a functional desktop much faster than before.
With FR in Windows Vista, an IT administrator has more control over
folders that get roamed. In XP, if the Documents folder was
roamed, that would include Music and Pictures, things that an
organization might not necessarily want to roam. With Vista, the
administrator can choose to only roam documents (or any other
folder) without the user’s pictures or music. Only the registry settings
cannot be redirected (although these few settings could be
deployed via RUP). The key to this implementation is that all of the
user’s content is gradually synched to the local PC in the
background.
The local cache also includes enhancements to make this
recommended implementation more efficient and stable. In
Windows XP–based FR, when a user connects to a network to edit
a document, the server copy is always held open for both reads
and writes, tying up precious network bandwidth. This can also
create a less-than-desirable experience if the network connection
is tenuous, like in branch office scenarios or under wireless
connections, since the handoff between online and offline states
typically creates an unstable user experience.
With Windows Vista FR with local caching, a user will perform writes
to the server copy, but all reads are satisfied out of the local
cache, even when connected to the server. This preserves network
bandwidth and provides the user with a more stable experience
between online and offline states. For example, a customer editing
a set of documents always reads the local copy, even when
connected to the network. Writes are passed through the cache
immediately to the server. If the server connection goes down or is
tenuous, the customer is not aware of the varying states and can
continue working uninterrupted. The customer might edit a series of
documents while in the unconnected state. Upon reconnection, all
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the changes to those documents are seamlessly synched in the
background without any action needed from the user.
Another user experience improvement to FR + client caching is
support for the “ghosting” of unavailable content. As a user logs
into a PC, that is not connected to the network, and opens the
Document Explorer, instead of seeing only the files that have
downloaded from the server, the user will see both downloaded
files and ghosted items. The ghosted items represent the files that
have not been downloaded, preserving the context of the user’s
files. Ghosting support requires that auto-caching on the server be
turned on.
FR + client caching in Windows Vista also supports a new feature—
Delta Sync—which streamlines the overall sync experience. Delta
Sync is the ability to sync only the changes to a document, rather
than the entire document itself, when synching from client to
server. Windows Vista also includes streamlined sync algorithms that
can better determine the exact changes between server and
client copies also increasing sync speed. The combination of these
two Windows Vista features adds much more efficiency to roaming
user data within the corporation.
Corporate Roaming Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Search and Organize Over
Redirected Content
Windows Vista’s groundbreaking search and organize features work
seamlessly over roamed content when CSC is enabled
1
Background Sync
Upon reconnection to the server, changes made to files when offline are
automatically synced in the background.
1
Conflict Resolution
User experience for reconciling versions when content is changed in two
places between sync sessions.
1
View All Roamed Folders/
Sync Progress
A view in the Sync Center to help users manage sync content.
1
Redirect Any Known Folders
IT administrators can set up FR so that any profile folder can be roamed, not
just the five hard-coded folders from Windows XP in the user profile.
2
Fast Logon
With Roaming User Profiles, the system downloads the critical user files first,
allowing the user to get to a usable desktop quickly. Less critical files are
downloaded in the background
2
Ghosting
When offline, unavailable (not yet downloaded) items appear as ghosts,
preserving the viewing context of all user files. Clicking on a ghosted item
immediately initiates a download of that item
2
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5.06 Offline Files and Folders
With Windows Vista, taking remote folders offline is faster than ever,
with smooth transitions between offline and online states and a
new sync algorithm that reduces overall sync times. This feature is a
boon for:
•
Mobile workers who need content from servers or other PCs
with them while traveling,
•
Workers that may be in branch offices that are subject to
highly variable bandwidth connections back to the central
office
Today, the ability to use offline files and folders is a useful feature in
Windows XP because it allows a user to point at any remote folder
on another PC or file server and
create a sync relationship between
that location and their PC. The sync
infrastructure and user interface
tracks changes between the local
version, which is stored in the local
cache, and the remote version, and
enables the user to reconcile versions
if conflicts exist. (For more information
on improvements to the local cache,
see the Corporate Roaming section.)
With Windows XP, a user must sync
the entire document, even if there
are only a few changes. This can
make sync a time-consuming
process, especially if there are many
documents to sync.
Windows Vista makes the sync process for offline folders much
faster with support for Delta Sync. Delta Sync is the ability to only
send the changed blocks of a file rather then the whole file when
synchronizing client changes to the server. Next, the advanced
sync algorithm in Vista is much better at determining which files or
directories need to be synchronized, adding additional efficiency
Windows Vista also supports “ghosting” for online files and folders.
When a user makes only a few files from a directory available offline,
Windows Vista will create ghosted entries of those other items not
taken offline. These ghosts preserve the online context for the user.
When the user is not connected to the remote data source, and the
user navigates to the remote location, he or she will see these
ghosted online items alongside the offline files.
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Offline Files and Folders Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Background sync
Upon reconnection to the server, changes made to files when offline are
automatically synced in the background..
1
Conflict resolution
An interface for reconciling two different versions of the same file when the
client copy does not match the server copy.
1
Delta Sync
Only changes to a file are synced, not the whole file
1
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5.07 Remote Access
If you travel as part of your job or divide your work time between
home and the office, you need secure and dependable remote
access to your corporate network, any time and from any place.
The Windows Vista client, teamed with the forthcoming Windows
Server (code-named) “Longhorn,” offers a better together solution
that simplifies remote access and ensures a high level of security—
without a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Whether you are a mobile user working from the road or a remote
user working on your home computer, Windows Vista makes it
quick and easy for you to access your corporate network
whenever you need it.
Simplified Remote Access
The Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows Vista enables
easier remote access to any resource or application that your
organization has made available to you. For example, if you are a
sales person who requires remote access to a financial application
or a CRM application, Windows Vista enables the corporate IT
manager to place an icon for that application on your desktop.
Just click on the icon, and an automatic Terminal Services Remote
Program connection is made back to the company over the
Internet and to the Terminal Server in Windows Server “Longhorn”,
with no need for a VPN.
While your organization’s personal computers can be
preconfigured to provide direct access to applications and data
that you and other employees will need while working remotely,
what if you need to access the corporate network through your
home PC?
Terminal Services Gateway in Windows Server “Longhorn” provides
additional features for home computers that are used to access
corporate networks. If you log on
to your home PC, you simply
access the corporate Web site
over the Internet and click on the
links that take you straight to the
corporate resource you want to
use.
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Improved Flexibility and Control
Windows Vista also gives corporate IT managers enhanced control
over which applications and information they make available to
remote users. By eliminating the need for a VPN connection,
Windows Vista enables the IT manager to grant granular and
secure remote access only to specific corporate resources—a list of
Terminal Server-based applications and desktops designated by
the IT manager—rather than full network access.
Whether you are using the Remote Desktop feature on your office
mobile PC to access the corporate resources you need, or
accessing the corporate network from your home computer
through the Terminal Services Gateway, Windows Vista simplifies
the user experience for you while
giving your company additional security and management
controls.
Remote Access Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Remote Desktop
Enables secure remote access to selected corporate resources without the
need for a VPN connection. IT managers choose which resources to make
available, and users simply click on a desktop icon to make the connection
and access the application or information.
1
Terminal Services Gateway
Provides secure remote access to the corporate resources over the Internet
from users’ home PCs.
2
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5.08 Windows Fax and Scan
Windows Fax and Scan in the Windows Vista operating system
provides flexible, integrated faxing and scanning capabilities that
make it easy to send and receive faxes, scan documents and
images, and share those resources with other users. Whether you
are a home user or a business professional in a small or mediumsized business, the new enhancements in Windows Fax and Scan
can help you send information, handle documents, and save time.
Easy-to-Use Fax and Scan
Windows Fax and Scan can be found by default in the main All
Programs menu of Windows Vista Business Edition and
Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. It can be installed as an optional
component in Windows Vista Enterprise Edition. Opening Windows
Fax and Scan enables you to perform all faxing and scanning tasks,
and to manage all of your faxes and scanned documents, from
one location.
Windows Fax and Scan offers several pre-set categories and folders
to help you organize your faxes and scanned documents more
easily, and enables you to create customized folders as needed. To
file faxes and scans, simply drag and drop them into the
appropriate folder, just as you file and organize e-mail in Outlook.
Terminology and functionality familiar to users of other Windows
applications makes using Windows Fax and Scan simple and
intuitive.
In addition, Windows Fax and Scan supports multiple user accounts
on the same computer. This is particularly useful for small businesses
that have several employees sharing a computer. Different
employees can log on to the
same computer to send faxes,
and each one will be
appropriately recognized and
identified as the sender on the
faxes they send. Instead of
receiving generic faxes from
the business, customers and
suppliers receive the personal
touch.
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Faxing
With Windows Fax and Scan, sending and receiving faxes is as
simple as using e-mail. Simply select New Fax from the File menu to
get a fax template with all of the fields you need.
The To line in the fax template links directly to your address book—
either the address book in Outlook or the Windows Address Book.
Just click on the name of the contact to whom you want to send a
fax, and Windows Fax and Scan will automatically retrieve the fax
telephone number. If you prefer, or if you are sending a fax to
someone you don’t have listed
in your address book, you can
type in the fax number instead.
Next, just fill in the Subject field
and type any Notes you want
to add to the fax cover sheet.
Attach the document you
want to fax, just as you would
add an attachment to e-mail,
and the pages of the
attachment become the
pages of your fax. To send
more documents in the same
fax, simply add them as
additional attachments.
Scanning
Windows Fax and Scan offers one-click scanning of documents
and images from locally connected or network-connected
scanners and multifunction print/scan/fax devices. Windows Fax
and Scan lists all of your scanned files, plus other useful information
such as the scanner used to create the file and the day and time
the document was scanned.
You can adjust the settings for documents you are scanning,
selecting the correct paper size and controlling colors, resolution,
etc., and then store the settings you have chosen as a scan profile.
Windows Fax and Scan allows you to create and store multiple
scan profiles to make it easy to get consistent quality every time
you scan, without the need to reselect all of your settings for
different types of documents and images.
Before you scan a document, you can use the Live Preview feature
to see how it will appear on your computer after it is scanned. Live
Preview creates a cached image of the document you intend to
scan, so any changes you want to make occur instantly, providing
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immediate results and enabling you to modify the image until you
have it just right.
Earlier versions of Windows provided scan support, but only for
scanners connected directly to your PC. Windows Vista improves
scanning in two key ways. First, by providing support for scanners
that are connected across a network, making it easy for you to
share scanners with your family members or work colleagues.
Second, Windows Fax and Scan offers you an enhanced user
experience by providing integrated support for scanning, faxing
and e-mail so that all three features work together seamlessly, and
by enabling you to easily manage documents after you have
scanned them onto your system.
Sharing Scanned Documents
Windows Fax and Scan enables you to set up routing lists for
scanned documents. Under the File menu, choose Set Up Routing,
and then designate the e-mail addresses and server shares that
should receive your scanned documents. Whenever you scan a
document from that scanner, it will be routed to the people and
shares you have selected.
For later sharing, simply right click on the icons for e-mail or faxing
that are built into the task bar of Windows Fax and Scan, which will
bring up either an e-mail or fax template with the scan file
attached. From there, you can simply send the e-mail or fax as you
normally would.
Windows Fax and Scan Key Features
Feature Name
Beta
Brief Statement of Capability
One-click Faxing and
Scanning
Makes faxing and scanning documents as easy as using e-mail.
2
Drag
Functionality
Makes it easy to file and sort all of your fax and scan files.
2
and
Drop
Live Preview
Enables you to see how a document will look before you scan it, and
to adjust settings instantly to get it just the way you want it.
2
Set Up Routing
Allows you to creating routing lists of designated e-mail addresses
and server shares to automatically receive copies of scanned documents.
2
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5.09 Small Business Resources
The new, easy-to-use tools in Windows Vista Business are designed
to help businesses large and small work more efficiently and
protect vital business data. Yet smaller organizations—particularly
those without in-house IT personnel—may be reluctant to try some
of the new and improved features in Windows Vista Business
without a clear understanding of both their business benefit and
ease of use.
That's why Small Business Resources was created.
Small Business Resources is an online experience specially designed
to highlight the full spectrum of Windows Vista features most
relevant to small businesses as well as other compelling Microsoft
small business resources available online. This experience will be
localized for a global audience and refreshed as new features
and/or initiatives emerge.
Small Business Resources focuses on the many ways Windows Vista
Business can help smaller organizations improve the way they use
technology to streamline operations, be more productive and
safeguard vital data. For instance, here are a few areas of
emphasis:
•
Windows Backup and Restore offers multiple automated
tools to help small businesses protect data against hardware
failure or user error.
•
Improved security in Windows Vista Business protects PCs
from the latest generation of security threats and promotes
a safer online experience.
•
Windows Fax and Scan makes faxing—which many small
businesses rely on as a primary means of communication—
more convenient, more flexible and more confidential.
•
Search and Organize features improve workplace
productivity with more intuitive file organization and fast,
simple searching for files and e-mail.
Text, graphics and video options are all part of this online
experience, along with opportunities for users to delve deeper into
the subject matter by following links to additional resources on
specific Windows Vista features and/or related topics. The
objective is to help users understand how a feature benefits their
business and what they need to do to get started using it.
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Additionally, Small Business Resources introduces Windows Vista
users to free online services developed by Microsoft to help its small
business customers get more value out of the technology they use
everyday. Specifically, these are:
•
Microsoft Small Business Centers, worldwide Web portals
specifically designed for the small business owner and
manager seeking reliable information on Microsoft products,
advice on business issues, and tips and tools for using
technology to run his or her business more successfully.
•
Microsoft Small Business +, a personalized online resource
that offers small businesses an opportunity to get more value
out of their relationship with Microsoft through free online
software and business training, free online support,
newsletters, and more.
Ultimately, the goal of Small Business Resources is to equip small
business customers with the information they need to realize full
value from their Windows Vista investment and to strengthen their
relationship with Microsoft.
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Section 6: For IT Professionals
6.01 IT Professionals Introduction .................................................................................226
Security........................................................................................................................................226
Multi-tiered Data Protection....................................................................................................226
Reliability and Performance ....................................................................................................227
Deployment ...............................................................................................................................227
Manageability ...........................................................................................................................227
Productivity.................................................................................................................................228
6.02 Deployment............................................................................................................229
Deployment Innovations..........................................................................................................229
Deployment Tools......................................................................................................................233
Deployment Scenarios .............................................................................................................235
6.03 Application Compatibility....................................................................................236
Improved Application Compatibility Resources ..................................................................236
Application Compatibility Tools ..............................................................................................237
The Importance of an Application Compatibility Community..........................................239
Enterprise Guidance: Information to Assist with Application Compatibility ....................240
Bridging Technologies ..............................................................................................................242
6.04 Management .........................................................................................................247
Reducing Desktop Support Costs ...........................................................................................247
Simplifying Desktop Configuration Management ...............................................................248
Increasing Automation.............................................................................................................249
Reducing Update Management Costs.................................................................................250
6.05 Advanced Security ...............................................................................................253
Threat and Vulnerability Mitigation ........................................................................................254
Identity and Access Control ....................................................................................................260
Information Protection and Compliance..............................................................................264
6.06 Advanced Networking.........................................................................................266
Next Generation TCP/IP Stack ................................................................................................266
End User Experience .................................................................................................................268
Wireless Networking ..................................................................................................................268
IPv6 ..............................................................................................................................................272
Network Access Protection .....................................................................................................272
IPsec ............................................................................................................................................273
Network Awareness ..................................................................................................................274
Policy-based Quality of Service ..............................................................................................275
6.07 Reliability .................................................................................................................277
Fewer User Disruptions ..............................................................................................................277
Easy Recovery when Disruptions Occur ................................................................................279
Continual Improvement in Reliability .....................................................................................281
6.08 Hardware Guidelines ............................................................................................285
Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Requirements ........................................................285
Enterprise Planning Guidelines ................................................................................................287
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6.01 IT Professionals Introduction
Windows Vista advancements in security and reliability, along with
its cost and operational efficiencies, give you and your users
confidence in your company PCs. With Windows Vista, users have
clear ways to organize and view their information, which enables
them to focus on the most important aspect of their jobs.
Windows Vista communication, mobility, and networking features
keep users connected to people, information, and devices.
Combined, these benefits bring clarity to your world and to the
world of your end users.
These capabilities make Windows Vista a great operating system
solution for your company PCs. From the perspective of an IT
professional, Windows Vista is easier to deploy, and less expensive
to maintain, than any earlier version of Windows. From the
perspective of end users, Windows Vista's improved performance
and reliability add value by allowing people to be more effective
while performing their jobs.
Security
Microsoft has been able to increase the security of Windows XP
significantly since its initial release by providing updates such as
Service Pack 2, but major security improvements require significant
architectural changes that can only be made by releasing a new
operating system release. With Windows Vista, Microsoft is making
fundamental investments in technology to help make customers
more secure. Efforts include using a security development lifecycle
to develop more secure software and providing technology
innovation in the platform to provide layered defense, or defensein-depth. Windows Vista includes many security features and
improvements to protect client computers from the latest
generation of threats, including worms, viruses, and malware.
Multi-tiered Data Protection
Theft or loss of corporate intellectual property is an increasing
concern for organizations. Windows Vista has improved support for
data protection at the document, file, directory, and machine
levels. The integrated Rights Management client allows
organizations to enforce policies around document usage. The
Encrypting File System, which provides user-based file and directory
encryption, has been enhanced to allow storage of encryption
keys on smart cards, providing better protection of encryption keys.
In addition, the new BitLocker enterprise feature adds machinelevel data protection. It provides full volume encryption of the
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system volume, including Windows system files and the hibernation
file, which helps protect data from being compromised on a lost,
stolen, or recycled machine. In order to provide a solution that is
easy to deploy and manage, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
chip is used to store the keys that encrypt and decrypt sectors on
the Windows hard drive. It requires the TPM and an enterprise
management infrastructure to ensure that the feature is easy to use
for end users.
Reliability and Performance
While Windows Vista takes advantage of modern computing
hardware, it also runs faster and more reliably on the same
computers used to run Windows XP. The operating system is more
dependable, and Restart Manager reduces the number of times
users need to restart their computers. Applications that run on
Windows Vista are more reliable too, because applications can
recover from deadlocked situations and improved error reporting
enables developers to fix common problems. Windows Vista can
even help detect and recover failing hard disks and memory.
Deployment
Deploying a new operating system to an enterprise is no small task,
but Windows Vista image-based deployment makes the process as
efficient as possible. Images are the fastest way to deploy an
operating system, but they have not historically been part of the
standard Windows operating system installation, requiring
additional software and many hours of labor to maintain. To help
reduce the complexity of the deployment process, Microsoft based
the installation of Windows Vista on the file-based disk imaging
format called Windows Imaging Format (WIM); modularized
Windows Vista to make customization and deployment of the
images easier; and made significant other deployment
enhancements to the core operating system.
Manageability
Monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting hundreds or
thousands of computers can be both time-consuming and
expensive. Windows Vista represents a significant step forward in
Microsoft’s commitment to reducing Windows computers' total cost
of ownership (TCO). Windows Vista is designed to reduce the cost
of desktop support, to simplify desktop configuration management,
to enable better centralized management of the desktop and to
decrease the cost of keeping systems updated. Expanded Group
Policy settings make almost every aspect of Windows Vista
centrally configurable, and powerful command-line and scripting
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tools enable IT professionals to automate monotonous tasks.
Monitoring and reporting are designed to be centralized as well.
Productivity
User productivity is still one of the key considerations for IT
departments evaluating a new operating system. Windows Vista
seeks to add value to enterprises by substantially improving user
productivity. Improvements to the user interface help both end users
and skilled IT professionals become more productive. By allowing
users to easily find what they need, Windows Vista helps users focus
on what is most important for them to get job done.
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6.02 Deployment
Windows Vista has been redesigned to significantly reduce the cost
and complexity of desktop deployments and upgrades. IT
professionals will be able to take advantage of new capabilities in
Windows Vista, and new deployment tools, to enable easy, quick and
seamless deployment of the operating environment and associated
applications on the end-user desktop. These new capabilities also
support the preliminary steps of planning, application compatibility
testing, migration analysis and desktop engineering.
Deploying information technology successfully requires careful and
detailed planning followed by impeccable implementation using
the right tools. Windows Vista’s suite of tools is designed to
complement the workflow and phases that IT professionals go
through while planning, engineering, and deploying the desktop
images.
Deployment Innovations
Windows Vista has been designed to enable a great deployment
experience through architectural redesigns and changes to the
core of the operating environment. These advances include:
•
Modularization. The Windows Vista operating system is built
using strong principles of modular design. This approach has
several advantages, including the ability for IT professionals
to customize the platform to a certain degree, service
individual components, and minimize the need for testing
during deployment. In addition, languages can be installed
as optional components without the need for a separate
image for each language, thereby reducing the number of
images a global organization needs to maintain.
o
Worldwide Deployment with Multi-lingual User Interface
(MUI). With Windows Vista Enterprise, IT pros can
configure a disk image including all Microsoft user
interface languages. The MUI packs will only be available
to business customers in Windows Vista Enterprise.
A single, multi-lingual disk image can be deployed
worldwide to all PC form factors (desktop, laptop,
tablet)
Provides significant cost savings by reducing the
number of images an IT Pro needs to deploy and
manage
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Allows an end user to toggle between languages
installed on the PC
A total of 36 languages are available in Windows
Vista
The worldwide user interface languages will also be
available to Windows Vista Ultimate consumers.
•
File-based image formats. Windows Vista will be distributed in
the new Windows Imaging technology (WIM), a hardwareagnostic image file format. This means that an organization
needs only one image to address a range of hardware
configurations. This format also allows multiple images to be
stored in one file—that is, multiple Windows Vista SKUs can be
in a single file, and Microsoft can ship a single worldwide binary
to its customers (one each for 32-bit and 64-bit architectures).
WIM also allows for a compressed file format and single
instancing, thus reducing file size significantly. Another
advantage of the WIM file format is the ability for IT
professionals to service the image offline, including adding
and deleting optional components such as patches and
drivers without booting up the desktop or creating a new
image. This dramatically reduces the number of images an
organization needs to maintain.
•
Nondestructive imaging. Windows Vista allows an easy inplace migration path from previous versions of Windows. The
new image-based setup and built-in migration capabilities of
Windows Vista ensure that user data and state/profile
information can remain on the hard drive while Windows Vista
is installed. This is different from the upgrades of the past
where registry settings and partial files were replaced and
edited. Windows Vista is cleanly installed and the
data/settings and applications are then applied to this new
operating system. The Windows Vista upgrade process will
also automatically roll back the upgrade and restore the
user’s original desktop in the case of failure at any point
before the first logon.
•
XML-based unattend files. The new Windows Vista setup
exclusively uses unattend files based on Extensible Markup
Language (XML) to enable remote and unattended
installations. The goal is to have a single unattend file format for
the entire deployment process, rather than the current need to
use multiple unattend files such as Unattend.txt, Winbom.ini
and Sysprep.inf. With XML comes the ability to automate
increasingly larger portions of the desktop engineering and
deployment process. For example, the component settings will
be exposed in a consistent method, allowing tools such as
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System Image Manager to create, manipulate, and validate
complete unattend files. This has the potential to make
installations faster, manageable, and less error-prone.
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•
Windows PE technology. Windows PE is a Win32-based,
minimal operating system to simplify the deployment,
testing, diagnostic, and recovery processes in a secure and
flexible environment. Many of the deployment tools are built
on a Windows PE foundation.
•
Application compatibility and migration. One of the biggest
challenges any organization faces when deploying a new
desktop environment is to migrate the applications without
breaking them, which can significantly slow the upgrade
process. Significant strides have been made in making sure
that applications can migrate with less effort or testing onto
the new Windows Vista environment. This includes the ability
to virtualize file and registry settings in a restricted-user mode.
This enables older applications that write to Windows Vista–
protected areas (for example, the \Windows directory) to
continue to work, because the target location will be
virtualized, and the applications can run unchanged.
•
Script-based installations. Windows Vista includes extensive
support for using command-line and scripting to enable
remote, automated, and repeatable deployment scenarios.
Deployment Innovations Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Neutral partition size
Enables Windows Vista to be deployed on partitions of any size by moving
away from sector-based images.
1
Core deployment platform
Uses Windows PE as the stable core platform for all deployment tools.
Windows PE can be run from hard disk drive, media, USB flash drive, or
network (Preboot Execution Environment—PXE).
1
NTFS and FAT
Deploys interchangeably between file allocation tables (FAT) and Microsoft
Windows NTFS file system.
2
XML-based unattend files
Uses XML-based unattend files for the entire deployment process.
2
Recovery
Rapidly restores the operating system by using the standard image.
2
Network boot support
Supports PXE as the network boot environment.
2
Image integrity
Performs consistency checks to make sure the image is true before
deployment.
2
Command-line capability
Provides extensive scripting and command-line capability to automate
deployment.
2
Comprehensive suite of
deployment tools
Provides a suite of tools that can be used from planning to engineering to
deploying the desktop across the company.
2
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Deployment Tools
Windows Vista comes with a comprehensive suite of tools and
technologies to enable an IT professional to plan, test, build, and
deploy desktops across the organization. These tools are designed
to address the issues that IT professionals have when planning and
executing desktop deployments, and are organized according to
the deployment lifecycle phase in which they are used.
Application and Migration Planning
This set of tools is focused on making sure that applications and
data migrate well. It is important to end users that their desktop
environment is set up exactly the way they are used to working with
it. This ensures an easy transition with no loss in productivity.
Migrating a desktop involves careful planning, taking inventory of
all the applications in the environment, and testing them
thoroughly to make sure there are no migration issues. The goals of
Windows Vista application compatibility and migration are
described in the following table.
Engineering the Perfect Desktop
This set of capabilities enables the creation of the gold or standard
images that can then be installed onto the desktops. Because
Windows Vista is component-based, the System Image Manager
can develop an unattend file to customize the image by choosing
certain optional components along with required components. For
example, language packs are optional components that can be
installed based on local requirements. The IT professional can install
the desired applications onto the build PC and then create an
image of the desktop for distribution. Tools such as System Image
Manager and ImageX are used during this phase.
Implementing the Deployment Process
In this phase, the gold or standard image is deployed remotely or
locally by using a media or network boot from the desktop.
Windows Vista has many tools for migrating a user’s data and
settings when it is installed onto the new PC. Windows Vista will look
at the work done in the planning stages for application
compatibility and use that information to decide which
applications and data will migrate seamlessly.
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Deployment Tools Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Application and Migration Planning
APIs for ISVs
Provides extensibility and API set for ISVs and third-party applications
through a software development kit (SDK).
2
Software inventory
analyzer
Inventories all the applications installed on user desktops across the
enterprise, stores in a central location, and performs compatibility
analysis against a compatibility database.
2
Filtering analysis reports
Provides information about application compatibility issues and
mitigation information. This information is improved with user input.
2
Compatibility mitigation
Creates custom compatibility databases based on analysis, and tests
the fixes to make sure they will work.
2
Engineering the Perfect Desktop
Hardware abstraction
layer (HAL) independence
Allows retail versions of Windows Vista to be HAL-independent.
1
Customization of images
Adds, updates, and removes optional components to create a custom
image, including languages, drivers, and service packs.
2
Offline image servicing
Patches and services an offline image without creating a new image
for distribution.
2
Unattend file manipulation
Creates and edits XML-based unattend configuration files for
automating install.
2
Create image of a
desktop
Takes an image of an existing PC for distribution or for backup. Can
save out to a distribution share, from which users can install the gold
image or IT professionals can push the image out to the desktop.
2
Scripting support in image
creation
Uses scripting tools to create and edit images.
2
Implementing the Deployment Process
Multiple boot options
Boots from the network (PXE boot), CD, DVD, hard disk, RAM disk.
2
Secure remote deployment
Allows IT professional to remotely install the new desktop.
2
PXE server support
Allows remote installations to use the PXE boot process to install the
operating system.
2
In-place upgrade
Upgrades the user’s PC in place and upgrades data and settings. This is done
by using a wipe and reload (clean install) of the operating system with existing
data stored locally or remotely in a network share.
2
Scripting support
Enables the administrator to script and automate large wipe-and-reload
deployments, installations, and migrations.
2
Add critical updates at install
Adds critical updates to the standard image at the time of install by using
image-based setup.
2
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Deployment Scenarios
There are multiple scenarios that will be executed depending on
the uniqueness of the customer or OEM environment. The following
examples highlight some of the new capabilities enabled by
Windows Vista, which will result in lower costs, reduced complexity,
and much faster deployment of the desktop.
New Computer Installation
1. The IT professional modifies the Windows Vista image using
the desktop engineering tools to have the necessary drivers
and optional components.
2. This image is installed on a test PC, and additional
applications required by the business (such as Microsoft
Office® and firewall) are added, and the image is saved
onto a network share or media (DVD/CD).
3. The end user can use the media to install Windows Vista or
press F12 to enable a network boot.
4. The user is asked a few questions on language of install and
a few others for personalization.
Upgrade Computer Installation: Wipe and Reload
1. Steps 1 and 2 are the same as above.
2. The end user uses a media disk to install Windows Vista
locally.
3. The user is not asked any questions, and the whole setup is
done migrating the user's data, settings, and applications
over to the new Windows Vista desktop. In most cases the
old data is moved over to a network store, the local hard
drive is formatted, and a new Windows Vista image is
cleanly installed. The user data and settings are then put
back onto the new Windows Vista desktop.
Computer-to-Computer Deployment: Migration
In a corporate scenario, the steps would be the same as an
upgrade, except that the data is gathered from the old machine,
and the new installation is done on the new system. The user is not
asked any questions.
In an end-user scenario, the user can install Windows Vista on a
new system and then migrate data and settings directly from the
old computer to the new computer.
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6.03 Application Compatibility
As the availability of applications from a wide variety of software
manufacturers has grown in recent years, it has created many new
opportunities for using computers in our business and personal lives.
One of the most important questions faced by individuals or
organizations when they deploy a new operating system is, “Will this
new system be compatible with my current and planned software
applications?” Application compatibility has been a major area of
focus in the development of Windows Vista.
•
Designed for compatibility. During the Windows Vista design
process, Microsoft’s development teams test more than 400
applications from over 150 independent software vendors
(ISVs) against daily test builds of the operating system,
ensuring the highest possible levels of compatibility. If even a
small application-specific issue is discovered in testing,
changes are requested through the engineering team to
determine if application compatibility could be immediately
addressed in Windows Vista development. If not, small
application fixes to the operating system will allow some
legacy programs to remain fully functional on Windows Vista.
•
Responsive to security enhancements. As securityenhancing changes were designed into the basic
Windows Vista file structure, Windows Vista system processes
were also redesigned to automatically handle remapping to
the new file structures. This was another way of ensuring that
most existing applications will be fully compatible with
Windows Vista.
Improved Application Compatibility Resources
We know from customer feedback that the User Access Control
changes available with Windows Vista are extremely important for
achieving a secure, stable and compatible computing
environment. However, some applications may need to be
changed to meet this new requirement. With the following
enhancements to Windows Vista, Microsoft is creating an
environment to assist with these needs:
•
Windows Vista will automatically make basic compatibility
changes as needed through the Program Compatibility
Assistant.
•
Microsoft’s Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) V5.0,
delivered in alignment with the release of Windows Vista, will
help you understand your application portfolio, identify
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applications that will need enhancements for Windows Vista
compatibility, and help create and deploy fixes for those
applications.
•
Microsoft will host an online Web service for application
compatibility testing results from ISVs and customers. This
online community will provide compatibility results from
thousands of application test efforts, giving you a large
database of compatibility information to draw from when
planning your own environment.
•
Microsoft offers excellent “bridging” technologies to assist
you during the migration process. Using Microsoft’s Virtual
PC, Virtual Server, and Terminal Server environments, you
can continue to run applications in legacy virtual operating
system environments, ensuring no application outages for
users.
•
New deployment technologies and guidance such as
Microsoft’s Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop
Deployment will help you deploy applications faster and
more cost-effectively.
Application Compatibility Tools
Windows Vista ships with tools that will help you save time and
money when managing application compatibility and deploying
Windows Vista.
•
The Windows Vista Program Compatibility Assistant. This tool
assists users by automatically setting an appropriate
“compatibility mode” for applications that have been
designed for previous versions of Windows. As Windows Vista
detects applications that need to run in a compatibility
mode for Windows XP, Windows 2000 or most other versions
of Windows, application programs are automatically set to
run in the appropriate compatibility mode, and will run on
Windows Vista without further user intervention.
•
The Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit 4.1. ACT 4.1
can help you prepare for installing Windows Vista by
understanding your existing application inventory, managing
critical applications, and determining where your
application environment may require special attention in
preparation for Windows Vista. Originally delivered to assist
customers deploying Windows XP SP2, ACT 4.1 examines
DCOM interfaces, firewall settings, and Internet Explorer
issues.
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•
The Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit V5.0 (to be
released to the Web in alignment with Windows Vista
release). The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit V5.0
is designed to help you prioritize application migrations and
lower the cost of application compatibility testing
specifically for Windows Vista. It can help you deploy
Windows Vista more quickly and efficiently.
New features in ACT V5.0 include:
•
Windows Vista–specific Evaluators. A new Inventory
collector evaluator, a new Windows Vista User Account
Control evaluator, and an Update Compatibility evaluator
will test for possible compatibility issues during new
deployments of service packs and/or hot fixes.
•
Configuration and Collect Data Features. New features will
allow you to centrally perform evaluator configuration
settings, set inventory parameters, do evaluator job
scheduling, set up Systems Management Server (SMS)
integration, and gather run-time status information.
•
Data Organizing Features. ACT 5.0 allows you to categorize
your inventory, set prioritization, maintain status tracking, and
include/exclude applications from being reviewed.
•
Issue Resolution Features. You also can automatically
create and deploy mitigations to known application
compatibility issues.
•
Data Analysis Features. You can perform reporting and
analysis, add additional custom issues to the database with
Product Studio-like workflow, and export reports to files.
•
Online Application Community. One-click posting
capabilities will enable customers and ISV partners to share
information about application compatibility testing and
upload the results of their personal compatibility testing to
share with other IT professionals. You can filter and
acknowledge the applications you want to share with the
community, and your feedback will be combined with other
community members to provide a comprehensive detail of
compatibility ratings, including My Rating, Community
Ratings, Microsoft Results, and Vendor results.
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The Importance of an Application Compatibility
Community
Giving customers and ISV partners the opportunity to share
information about their experiences with application compatibility
testing will provide an invaluable resource for all participants. While
Microsoft will, in total, test more than 1,900 applications on
Windows Vista, we cannot test all possible versions of applications
that customers will want to use in their Windows Vista environment,
so ISV reporting is critical for creating a comprehensive list of
applications supported on Windows Vista. Microsoft, ISVs, and
customers can share experiences with other participants in the
community, which will reduce the focus on individual application
compatibility testing.
Microsoft Involvement
Microsoft will enhance both the Application Compatibility Toolkit
V5.0 and the ISV Developer portals to allow customers and ISV’s to
post testing results of their own application compatibility
experiences. Microsoft will provide this information to the overall
community through publication on its corporate Web site
(www.microsoft.com) and through the automated Web service
that feeds the application compatibility toolkit. Microsoft will also
act as the steward of this information, and where conflicts exist in
testing Microsoft will attempt to work directly with the ISVs to
provide an official solution statement.
In addition, Windows Vista compatible applications will be
highlighted in ACT V5.0 and on the Microsoft.com application
compatibility testing results Web site.
ISV Involvement
We ask ISVs to provide information on Windows Vista compatibility for
multiple versions of their applications through the Microsoft Developer
Portal. In addition, we will provide testing results from customers,
allowing ISVs to identify and correct potential Windows Vista
compatibility issues early.
Customer Involvement
Customers gain the largest benefit from community membership by
using available information to reduce the amount of application
compatibility testing they need to do. In addition, customers will be
able to post their own testing results of ISV applications, which helps
ISVs gain a better understanding of customer experiences. This
cooperative effort will enhance the resolution of compatibility
issues for the entire Application Compatibility Community.
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Enterprise Guidance: Information to Assist with
Application Compatibility
Known Compatibility Concerns
Understanding and anticipating application compatibility issues
and using the information available to help you address these
issues will enable you to plan for the scope of changes you will
need in your application environment. Known application
compatibility issues and resolutions in Windows Vista include:
Changes that occur between releases
•
Operating System version checks. These can be addressed
by running applications in other operating compatibility
modes within Windows Vista using the Program Compatibility
Assistant.
Changes Required for Security Reason
•
Windows Resource Protection of system files and protected
registry locations. With newly protected system file and
registry locations for better security and stability, most
applications that previously referenced these locations will
automatically be redirected to temporary locations during
that session. If your applications data is trying to persist in
protected system areas, you’ll need to modify those
applications.
•
User Account Control and the ability to customize “Standard
User” scenarios. Applications will need to support new
standard user permissions.
•
Running Internet Explorer with lower, more secure rights. To
protect the integrity of Windows Vista, Internet Explorer will
now operate with lower rights, typically not allowing access
to system files. Internet and intranet applications may need
to be modified to run in a more restrictive security scenario.
Operating System Innovations
•
64 Bit Windows Vista. 16-bit applications and 32-bit drivers
will not be supported in the Windows Vista 64-bit
environment. Automatic registry and system file redirection is
not available for the 64-bit environment, so new 64-bit
applications will need to adhere to new Windows Vista
application standards.
New Firewall/Anti-Virus APIs
• New system APIs expose the layers of the Windows Vista
operating system for anti-virus software and firewall
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manipulation. Applications that perform these functions will
need appropriate modifications using the new system APIs.
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Bridging Technologies
In addition to specific application compatibility tools and
resources, there are additional Microsoft solutions that can be used
to “bridge” difficult application compatibility issues and to help you
with application migration and deployment. These solutions can
assist when you need to migrate to Windows Vista and continue to
run business-critical applications that are not compatible with the
new operating system.
Virtual PC
Virtual PC provides you with a safety net for operating system
migration and a tool for more rapidly deploying Windows Vista.
Virtual PC makes it possible to simultaneously run multiple operating
systems on a single PC. This allows you to migrate your computers
to Windows Vista for a more secure and manageable experience,
while keeping a previous Windows environment available to run
non-compatible applications until developers can modify them.
Virtual PC Express
(A feature of Windows Vista Enterprise)
Like Virtual PC 2004, Virtual PC Express allows users to conveniently
run multiple operating systems on a single computer through virtual
machines. The differences between the two are the following:
From a technical perspective, Virtual PC Express is limited to
one single virtual machine. In essence, Virtual PC Express
allows users to run an operating system as a host and run
another operating system as a guest in the virtual machine.
(In contrast, VPC allows for an unlimited number of virtual
machines).
From a licensing perspective, Virtual PC Express is only
available to Software Assurance customers. Since SA
customers are entitled to run two copies of the operating
system, VPC Express users can fully benefit from their
licensing use rights and do not need to acquire any
additional license for their virtual machine. (Unlike VPC that
requires a license for each OS in each virtual machine as
well as for the one on the physical computer).
From a customer scenario perspective, Virtual PC Express
addresses the need for certain users to temporarily maintain
mission-critical legacy applications that might be working
well with an older OS version while the IT department is
migrating to the new OS.
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Virtual PC Express provides a low-cost safeguard for maintaining
legacy applications during migration. Organizations do not need to
delay a cost-saving deployment of the new operating system; they
also do not need to purchase additional equipment just to support
legacy software that doesn’t run on the corporate-standard
version of Windows.
After installing Virtual PC Express, users are guided by a wizard on
the next steps to follow. Users will create a virtual machine to which
they will allocate some memory, specify a hard disk, then they will
need to install the operating system (guest) that supports the
legacy application, then install the application itself (or multiple
applications). End users will be able to navigate very easily from
their host OS to their virtual machine via the Virtual PC Express
console.
There is an Early Release of Virtual PC Express in March 2006,
concurrently with the SA 3.0 release. This Early Release will not
support Windows Vista as a host yet, since the Windows Vista
release is planned in late 2006.
Virtual PC Express Early Release (March 2006) will support the
following host operating systems:
•
Windows 2000 Professional
•
Windows XP Professional
•
Windows XP Tablet Edition
Virtual PC Express Early Release (March 2006) will support the
following guest operating systems:
Windows 95/98/98se/ME
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows XP Professional / Home
MS-DOS 6.22
OS/2 4 Fixpack 15 / CP1 / CP2
With the Windows Vista Enterprise release, Virtual PC Express will be
enhanced and will support Windows Vista as a host; it will also
provide 64-bit support.
Terminal Services for Hosting Applications
Hosting legacy applications on Terminal Server lets you deliver
Windows-based applications, or the Windows desktop itself, to
virtually any computing device on your network. Windows Vistabased computers can connect to these application hosting
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environments through Remote Desktop to access legacy
applications.
Virtual Server/Virtual PC for Hosting Applications
With a Virtual Server/Virtual PC environment, you can host legacy
applications and allow remote connectivity from end users who
need access to those applications. In conjunction with Windows
Server 2003, Virtual Server 2005 Release 2 provides a virtualization
platform that runs most major x86 operating systems in a guest
environment, and is supported by Microsoft as a host for Windows
Server operating systems and Windows Server System™
applications.
Subsystem for Unix-based Applications (SUA)
(A feature of Windows Vista Enterprise)
SUA is a Windows component that provides platform services for
UNIX-based applications:
•
SUA is the next-generation of Microsoft’s Portable Operating
System Interface (POSIX) subsystem, similar to the Interix™
subsystem that formerly shipped with Windows Services for
UNIX 3.5 or previous POSIX subsystems that shipped with
Windows 2000 and NT 4.0. This subsystem and its
accompanying utilities provide customers with an
environment that resembles any other UNIX system.
•
SUA eases integration between Windows and UNIX/Linux
environments
o
•
IT professionals can use the UNIX-based tools and
utilities they are already familiar with on the Windows
platform
Helps with migration of UNIX-based applications to Windows
by re-compiling of UNIX-based applications on Windows
o
For customers interoperating with legacy UNIX systems
we want to help them overcome as many barriers as
possible in moving their workloads to the Windows
platform
Enhanced functionality and new features:
Includes 64-bit support (previous MS Posix subsystems did
not)
Support for connectivity to Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server
from database applications, through the Oracle Call
Interface (OCI) and the Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC) standard.
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Supports two different UNIX environments: SVR-5 and BSD.
SUA is an optional install in Windows Vista Enterprise
Additional utilities, SDK are available as a Web download
The Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop
Deployment
The Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment
(BDD) delivers end-to-end guidance for efficient planning, building,
testing, and deployment of Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft
Office, including planning and testing for application compatibility.
IT professionals can realize a quick return on investment while also
setting new standards for reliability, performance, security, and
ease of use.
The Solution Accelerator for BDD solution contains guidance,
sample templates and technology files that present deployment
guidance as feature team guides that thoroughly explain each
deployment process. The guidance in the Solution Accelerator for
BDD is structured according to the feature teams and processes
shown.
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Application Compatibility Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Program Compatibility
Assistant
Automatically detects and changes application runtime variables to
allow programs to run in another operating system compatibility mode.
2
Automatic System File and
Registry Re-direction
Applications that use system and registry resources that are now
protected in Windows Vista are automatically redirected to temporary
locations allowing applications to continue to execute
1
Application Compatibility Resources for use with Windows Vista
Resource
Brief Statement of Capability
Available
IT Pro Guidance and
Documentation
Application Compatibility information and resources available to IT
Pro’s to assist in managing the migration and deployment of
Windows Vista
H1 2006
Developer Guidance and
Documentation
The Application Compatibility Cookbook will provide developers with
specific how-to scenarios for migrating applications to run on
Windows Vista for compatibility issues
Q2 2006
Business Desktop
Deployment Solution
Accelerator
Delivers end-to-end guidance for efficient planning, building, testing,
and deployment of Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office,
including planning and testing for application compatibility.
H2 2006
Application Compatibility
Resource Guide
Identifies all available resources to the IT Pro, Developer and Partner
communities by audience type and will assist them in finding the
appropriate resources for their purpose
H2 2006
Application Compatibility
Evaluation Guide
Designed to assist in taking IT professionals through the process of
testing applications in their own organization
H2 2006
Application Compatibility
Toolkit v5.0
Assists IT professionals and developers in identifying applications in
their organization that may need modifications to run compliantly on
Windows Vista
Final Release
Bridging Technologies
Virtual PC
Virtual PC Express
Virtual Server
Terminal Services
Bridging technologies provide alternative ways to run nonWindows Vista compatibility applications in a Windows Vista client
environment. Each of these technologies can assist in different ways
to create the most appropriate bridge when migrating to
Windows Vista
H2 2006
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6.04 Management
Windows Vista offers many new and improved management and
troubleshooting features designed to:
•
Reduce the cost of desktop support;
•
Simplify desktop configuration management;
•
Enable better centralized management of the desktop, and;
•
Decrease the cost of keeping systems updated.
Reducing Desktop Support Costs
Reducing the cost of servicing the desktop was a key focus in the
design and development of Windows Vista. The first step in
reducing support costs is to reduce the number of support
incidents. Windows Vista includes built-in diagnostics that can
automatically detect and diagnose common support problems
and then help users resolve the problems on their own. Problems
that Windows Vista diagnostics address include failing disks,
degraded performance, lack of network connectivity, and failure
to shut down properly.
IT departments can add custom content to User Assistance—
Windows Vista's version of help files—to provide answers to
questions about custom applications and internal network
resources. User Assistance can also be customized to link users
directly to an internal support center.
To learn more
about Remote
Assistance,
please turn to
Chapter 3.19:
Windows
Update on
page 122
Remote Assistance, first included with Microsoft Windows XP,
enables support center personnel to resolve problems more quickly
by viewing and controlling a remote computer's desktop across the
network. Windows Vista offers several significant advances to make
Remote Assistance even more effective: it is faster, uses less
bandwidth, and can function through Network Address Translation
(NAT).
Performance problems are some of the most complex and timeconsuming challenges to troubleshoot. To reduce the time spent
on these types of issues, Windows Vista provides new performance
counters and an improved Performance console that offers more
detailed information. These tools give support personnel detailed
insight into Windows Vista's inner workings, information they can use
to isolate the type of complex, persistent problems that might
otherwise remain unresolved for months
or years.
Improvements to the Windows event logging service make the
Windows Vista desktop easier to manage and monitor, and
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provide better information for troubleshooting. Strict standards
ensure that events are meaningful, actionable, and welldocumented. Windows Vista features a unified event log, so that a
support professional can view all the operational information about
a machine from a single Event Viewer. Many components that
stored logging information in text files in previous versions of
Windows now add events to the event log. With event forwarding,
administrators can centrally manage events from computers
anywhere on the network, making it easier to proactively identify
problems and to correlate problems that affect multiple
computers.
Finally, the event viewer has been completely rewritten to allow
users to filter and sort events, control which type of events are
logged, discover events more easily, and perform basic diagnostic
tasks. This input makes it much more practical for administrators to
use the event log to troubleshoot users’ problems.
Simplifying Desktop Configuration Management
One of the best ways to minimize desktop support costs is to
maintain a secure, stable desktop configuration. However, desktop
configuration management can itself be a significant challenge.
Windows Vista includes several important features to improve the
stability of enterprise desktop configurations and reduce the
expenses related to maintaining those settings.
To learn more
about User
Account
Control,
please turn to
Chapter 3.07:
Security on
page 75
One of the most significant Windows Vista innovations is User
Account Control, which provides the ability for users with standard
user accounts
to run most applications and perform the most common system
configuration tasks. By limiting the use of administrator accounts to
true
IT administrators, you help prevent users from making unauthorized
system changes or installing unapproved programs, which could
contain
a virus or spyware.
Windows Resource Protection (WRP) provides additional protection
from potentially dangerous system configuration changes. WRP
protects:
•
System registry settings from accidental changes by the user
or from changes by unauthorized software;
•
System files and settings from changes initiated by any
process other than the Windows trusted installer;
•
Applications such as Microsoft Internet Explorer from
potentially unreliable or malicious third-party Component
Object Model (COM) extensions.
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Managing desktop settings with Windows Vista takes less time,
because more settings are configurable using Group Policy. Some
areas for which richer settings are available in Windows Vista
include wireless networking, removable storage devices, Internet
Explorer, printers, and power management. Additionally, Group
Policy settings are available to configure all new Windows Vista
features.
Many IT professionals are already familiar with the Microsoft Group
Policy Management Console (GPMC), a must-have tool for
managing Group Policy objects (GPOs) in Active Directory domain
environments. GPMC is integrated into the Windows Vista
operating system, so administrators do not have to download and
install it each time they need to manage GPOs on a different
computer. Windows Vista can also support multiple local GPOs,
enabling administrators to specify different policies for different
users on a single Windows Vista computer. This feature improves
security and manageability in such shared-use environments as
libraries and schools.
Increasing Automation
Windows Vista greatly increases the IT administrator's ability to
automate tasks, reducing the time needed to manage the desktop
and decreasing the likelihood of manual errors.
Task Scheduler is much more powerful in Windows Vista than in
earlier versions of Windows. Task Scheduler can still be used to
launch tasks at specific times, or when the computer starts up, and
it is entirely backward-compatible with Windows XP. With the new
Windows Vista Task Scheduler, IT professionals can also schedule
tasks to launch when:
•
A specific event occurs, such as insufficient disk space.
Administrators can use Task Scheduler to notify the support
center of problems or even automatically resolve common
issues;
•
A user logs on. Administrators can use Task Scheduler to
launch a script or application instead of adding it to the
user's Startup group;
•
The computer is idle. Administrators can use this feature to
run maintenance tasks such as defragmenting the disk or
backing up the computer when it is not in use.
Additionally, tasks can be run in sequence, enabling administrators
to schedule multiple tasks with the confidence that the tasks will
not run simultaneously. To improve security and reduce
maintenance related to password expirations, credentials for the
accounts used to run a task can be stored in the Active Directory
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domain, rather than on the local computer where they are more
vulnerable to attack.
Web Services for Management (WS-Management) also makes
Windows Vista easier to manage remotely. An industry-standard
Web services protocol for protected remote management of
hardware and software components, WS-Management—along
with the proper software tools—allows administrators to remotely
run scripts and perform other management tasks. Communications
can be both encrypted and authenticated, limiting security risks.
Microsoft Management Tools, such as Systems Management Server
(SMS) 2003, use WS-Management to provide safe and secure
management of both hardware and software.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a framework for
administrative tools that is used by Microsoft Windows 2000,
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
Windows Vista includes several improvements to MMC that make
administrative tools easier to use. First, Windows Vista allows
administrators to run multiple tasks in parallel, keeping
administrative tools responsive even after launching a complex or
slow management task. Instead of requiring administrators to rightclick objects, a separate action pane shows them exactly what
they can do with any particular object. MMC makes life easier for
developers, too, meaning that more non-Microsoft applications are
likely to utilize the MMC framework.
Reducing Update Management Costs
To learn
more
about
Windows
Update,
please turn
to Chapter
3.19
Windows
Update
on page 122
It is critical to keep current with the latest software updates, but
update management can be costly, time-consuming, and
disruptive to IT Professionals and end users. Windows Vista
addresses these concerns by simplifying the process of deploying
updates, using bandwidth more efficiently, providing administrators
with the ability to track successful and unsuccessful updates, and
including enhancements to the Windows Update Agent (WUA).
Windows Vista also includes platform technology that can be used
to prevent reboots or reduce the impact of reboots, in cases where
they cannot be avoided. This new technology is used by the
Windows Installer, so adding or removing applications with the
Windows Add/Remove programs feature will be less likely to require
a reboot. Some applications, including key Microsoft Office 2007
applications, also leverage this technology to automatically save
and restore application state after a reboot due to an installation
or an update.
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), a new version of Software
Update Services (SUS), also helps improve update management.
Administrators can use WSUS to more easily review the new
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updates that are available and assess whether these updates are
needed in their environments. For environments that use Automatic
Updates, administrators can use WSUS to deploy all updates. In
previous versions of Windows, only critical updates could be
deployed using the Automatic Updates feature.
The Windows Update Agent (WUA) is now a stand-alone
application that can download updates either directly from
Microsoft or from an internal WSUS server. Because the WUA
provides a single interface to updates downloaded either from
Microsoft or from an internal enterprise server, users do not have to
learn how to use two separate tools.
Management Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
WUA: Consistent update
experience
Enables WUA to browse updates published on the update server in the same
manner in which users can browse updates on the Windows Update Web site.
2
WSUS: Detection
Provides consistency with how updates are offered among tools like Microsoft
Systems Management Server (SMS), Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
(MBSA), Windows Update application, and Microsoft Update (MU).
2
WUA: Beta updates
Allows users to browse beta updates through the Windows Update application.
2
WUA: Network quarantine
integration
Supports distribution of updates in a quarantined network.
2
WSUS: AutoUpdate
everything
Allows all updates (even noncritical updates) to be distributed from the update
server through the AutoUpdate mechanism. Machines stay up-to-date with
little or no end-user intervention.
1
Drivers
Improves driver detection (leveraging Plug and Play—PnP—constructs), supports
the growth of .exe-based driver installs, and improves multifunction driver support.
2
BITS: Pause and restart
Allows bandwidth-sensitive downloads to be paused and restarted.
2
MMC Simplified developer
experience
Provides an intuitive managed code framework that reduces and simplifies the
task of developing snap-ins.
1
MMC Consistent
administrative experience
Improves discoverability of actions on the actions pane; updates add/ remove
dialog box.
1
Task Scheduler: Core jobs
scheduling service
Provides jobs triggered on schedule, once or recurring, in specified
credentials.
2
Task Scheduler: Event-based
activation
Adds event triggering capability. Provides capability to serially run a series of
actions with a common trigger.
2
Task Scheduler: Credentials
management improvements
Uses Service-for-User (S4U) Kerberos extensions to prevent storing
credentials locally. This improves security and ensures that scheduled tasks
are not affected by password expiration policies.
2
Task Definition wizard
Part of the Task Scheduler UI. Allows tasks to be set up with just a few clicks.
2
WS-Management
Allows remote access to capabilities for the client API via SOAP/ Global XML
Web Services Architecture (GXA). Uses SOAP-structured requests to directly
access providers.
2
Health and Monitoring Model
Ensures that all events raised are meaningful and actionable, through standard
event schema and prescriptive guidelines.
2
Event Log: Core event
logging
Provides event publication capabilities and APIs. Capabilities include logging,
filtering, notifications, processing of events in service, log maintenance and
archiving, and remote operations.
2
Event Log: Enhanced Event
Viewer
Provides enhanced Event Viewer with discover, query/ view, configuration, and
diagnostic capabilities.
2
Event Log: Event forwarding
Allows event forwarding and collection from multiple computers to a central
location.
2
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Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Event Log: Reading
Provides framework for reading private logs and event files.
2
Instrumentation:
Performance counters
Provides and accesses performance counters.
2
Performance monitoring
Provides secure and consistent logging, scheduling analysis, and reporting. Also
provides better user experience, with the ability to compare performance data.
2
Group Policy–enabled
features
More policy settings, covering new Windows Vista features, and enhanced
policies in key areas of customer need (such as writeable devices).
2
GPMC integration
Includes the GPMC tool as part of Windows Vista.
2
Network awareness
Provides more reliable and robust application of Group Policy settings
2
Multiple Local Group Policy
Objects (LGPOs)
Improves security in shared-use environments, such as schools and libraries.
2
WRP: System file protection
Protects areas of the system to prevent undesirable changes to key system
components.
1
WRP: Registry protection
Provides a new management facility to the registry that prevents vital areas
from being corrupted.
1
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6.05 Advanced Security
Building on the security advances in Windows XP Service Pack 2,
Windows Vista includes fundamental architectural changes that will
help make customers more secure from evolving threats, including
worms and other types of malicious software. Windows Vista was
designed and developed using Microsoft’s Security Development
Lifecycle (SDL), a rigorous process designed to significantly reduce
the number and severity of security-related design and coding
defects. These improvements minimize the operating system’s
attack surface area, which in turn improves system and application
integrity, and helps organizations more securely manage and
isolate their networks.
In addition, Windows Vista includes new features and functionality
designed to provide layered defenses against malware threats,
intrusions and data breaches. This approach incorporates:
•
Prevention to block attacks
•
Isolation to limit damage potential
•
Recovery to get affected users back to a “healthy” state
•
Identity and access control to allow only legitimate users to
access devices, applications and data.
Windows Vista also is supported by Windows Update, Automatic
Updates, Microsoft Updates, and a Software Update Validation
program that provides rigorous testing of updates before they’re
released to customers. Windows Vista is engineered to support
future Common Criteria requirements to achieve Evaluation
Assurance Level 4 certification and Federal Information Processing
Standard 140-2 evaluation.
Information for IT Pros about Windows Vista’s security advances is
organized into three sections:
1. Threat and Vulnerability Mitigation
•
•
Spyware and Potentially Unwanted Software
Personal Firewall
•
Windows Service Hardening
•
•
Network Access Protection
Integrated IPsec/Firewall Management
•
Enhanced Security for Web Browsing
•
•
Malware Protection
Protection Against Data Theft
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•
•
Security Status Bar
•
Phishing Filter
•
•
Address Bar Everywhere
Delete Browsing History
64-bit Protection
2. Identity and Access Control
•
•
User Account Control
Authentication
•
•
Authorization
Granular Auditing
•
Credentials Management
•
Cryptography Services
3. Information Protection and Compliance
•
Windows® BitLockerTM Drive Encryption
•
•
Windows Rights Management Services client
Encrypted File System
•
Control Over Installation of Device Drivers
Threat and Vulnerability Mitigation
IT departments and individual users spend significant time and
resources solving problems caused by malware, and trying to
detect and prevent problems before they occur. Windows Vista
includes powerful features that help prevent, detect, and remove
malware before it causes problems, leading to improved computer
performance and security, and fewer support calls.
Spyware and Potentially Unwanted Software
To learn more
about Windows
Defender,
please turn to
Chapter 3.08:
Windows
Defender on
page 84
Windows Defender (formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware) is a
tool to help detect, clean and provide real-time blocking of
spyware and other potentially unwanted software. In addition,
during an upgrade or migration to Windows Vista, the operating
system uses the default signature for Microsoft’s Malicious Software
Removal Tool to help detect and remove viruses and other types of
malicious software. After setup has been completed, end users
may download and run this tool at any time from
www.microsoft.com/security, or it can be downloaded on a monthly
basis with Automatic Update. (Note: This functionality is not a
substitute for running antivirus software.) For details on Microsoft
Client Protection, Microsoft’s anti-malware solution for businesses,
see
www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/solutions/security/client
protection/default.mspx
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Personal Firewall
One of the most important ways IT departments can mitigate
security risks is by limiting the applications that can access the
network. The personal firewall built into Windows Vista is an
important part of this strategy. With the personal firewall,
administrators can allow an application to run locally on
computers, but prevent it from communicating across the network.
For example, Windows Firewall in Windows Vista will allow
Administrators to block applications such as media applications
from contacting or responding to other computers. The
applications could be used to play music or videos on a local
machine, but be blocked from accessing content on the Internet.
In addition, the Windows Vista firewall settings are configurable by
Group Policy objects to simplify manageability and provide
enterprise control.
Windows Service Hardening
The personal firewall works closely with a new platform initiative
called Windows Service Hardening, which helps prevent critical
Windows services from being used for abnormal activity in the file
system, registry or network. The Windows firewall supports both
inbound and outbound filtering and is used to enforce the Service
Hardening network rules. In addition, services can be limited to only
writing to specific areas of the file system or registry based on
Access Control Lists (ACLs). This will help prevent a compromised
service from changing important configuration settings in the file
system or registry, or infecting other computers on the network. For
example, the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service can be
restricted from replacing system files or modifying the registry.
To learn more
about Network
Access
Protection,
please turn to
Chapter 6.06:
Advanced
Networking
on page 246
Network Access Protection
The Network Access Protection (NAP) client in Windows Vista helps
protect against malicious network attacks by allowing an
organization to establish requirements for client health status—such
as software update state and up-to-date virus scanner signatures—
and checking those requirements when the client connects to the
network. If a client does
not meet the health requirements, it will not be allowed on the
network until it does.
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Integrated IPSec/Firewall Management
To learn more
about IPSec,
please turn to
Chapter 6.06:
Advanced
Networking
on page 246
In Windows Vista, Internet Protocol security (IPsec) and firewall
management are integrated in a single console, known as
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. This console centralizes
inbound and outbound traffic filtering along with IPSec server and
domain isolation settings in the user interface, enabling increased
visibility into security settings.
Enhanced Security for Web Browsing
Security advances in Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista were
designed with two primary security goals in mind: protecting users
against malware, and safeguarding their personal data.
•
Malware Protection. Internet Explorer 7 has been significantly
“hardened” to help prevent attempts to execute malicious
software on a user’s machine. For example, a consolidated
URL parser minimizes the potential for parsing or buffer
overflow attacks. Cross-domain scripting controls limit
exploits of code in which a script from one Internet domain
manipulates content in another domain. Internet Explorer 7
also introduces a new security mechanism called ActiveX
Opt-In, which is designed to prevent unintentional exposure
of ActiveX controls pre-installed on a user’s machine, but
which have not previously been enabled. ActiveX Opt-In
greatly reduces the attack surface by prompting users to
permit or deny access to an as-yet unused ActiveX control
when viewing unfamiliar Web sites.
Internet Explorer 7 also has a feature called Internet Explorer
Protected Mode, available only with Windows Vista, which
helps protect users from malicious downloads by restricting
the ability to write to any local machine zone resources
other than temporary Internet files. In Protected Mode,
Internet Explorer 7 cannot modify user or system files and
settings. All communications occur via a broker process that
mediates between the Internet Explorer browser and the
operating system. The broker process is initiated only when
the user clicks on the Internet Explorer menus and screens.
Any scripted actions or automatic processes will be
prevented from downloading data or affecting the system.
Internet Explorer Protected Mode also offers tabbed
browsing security protection by opening new windows—
rather than new tabs—for content contained outside the
current security zone.
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•
To learn more
about these
security
features,
please turn to
Chapter 3.06:
Internet Explorer
on page 53
Protection Against Data Theft. Internet Explorer 7 offers a
number of important enhancements to help protect users
personal information and data:
o
Security Status Bar: This option helps users quickly
confirm authentic Web sites by providing clear and
prominent visual cues to the safety and
trustworthiness of a Web site, such as improved
visibility of the secure site lock icon, and verification of
the site certificate.
o
Phishing Filter: The Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer 7
helps users browse more safely by advising them
about suspicious or known Phishing Web sites.
o
Address Bar Everywhere: With Internet Explorer 7, all
browser windows require an address bar. Because
hackers often have abused valid pop-up window
actions to display windows with misleading graphics
and data as a way to convince users to download or
install their malware, requiring an address bar in each
window will ensure that users know more about the
true source of the information they are seeing.
o
Delete Browsing History: In the past, users had to
separately delete history information, clean the
cache, erase automatically-completed form history,
and clear the Start/Run history. The Delete Browsing
History option provides users with one-click cleanup
that instantly erases the history of their browser use
and any personal data.
64-bit Protection
The 64-bit editions of Windows Vista tap into security features of the
latest 64-bit processors to provide an enhanced layer of hardware
protection against some of the most destructive worms and
exploits.
Data Execution Prevention
Buffer overflow exploits have proved very harmful to Windows in
the past several years. A buffer overflow happens when an area of
memory (a buffer) expects to have a maximum amount of data
but is given more and doesn’t handle it correctly. For example, if
your e-mail client is designed to handle attachments that have, at
a maximum, 255-character filenames and you receive a message
that has a 256-character filename, a buffer overflow can occur.
When this happens, adjacent memory space is overwritten and
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malicious code can end up being executed. The infamous
MSBlaster worm was this type of exploit.
The 64-bit editions of Windows Vista work with the 64-bit
processor’s Data Execution Prevention (DEP) to protect computers
against buffer overflow attacks. While DEP is by no means a
substitute for a well-designed and well-implemented antivirus and
anti-malware deployment, it is an important additional layer of
protection that might well have prevented the spread of the
MSBlaster worm had it been widely implemented at the time.
PatchGuard
The 64-bit versions of Windows also support Microsoft PatchGuard
technology, which prevents unauthorized programs from patching
the Windows kernel. This greatly improves the overall security and
reliability of Windows and provides another important layer of
defense against malware. PatchGuard works by preventing kernelmode drivers from extending or replacing other kernel services
while third-party software is prevented from patching any part of
the kernel.
Driver Signing
Businesses and consumers who demand the highest levels of
security will have an additional reason to choose 64-bit Windows
Vista: All kernel-mode drivers running in 64-bit Windows Vista must
be signed by the developer. While a signed driver is not a
guarantee of safety, it will certainly help identify and prevent many
malicious attacks, while giving Microsoft the ability to help
developers improve the overall quality of drivers and reduce the
number of driver related crashes.
Combined with the built in hardware support for DEP, this will help
make 64-bit Windows Vista the most secure and reliable Windows
ever, and will make it an attractive choice for security-conscious
customers.
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Threat and Vulnerability Mitigation Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Spyware
Windows Defender
Scanning and real-time blocking of spyware and other potentially unwanted
software.
2
Filter outbound as well as inbound traffic
2
Personal Firewall
Outbound filtering
Windows Service Hardening
Windows Service Hardening
Allow each service to be associated with a write-restricted token that limits the
file, registry, and network access allowed to that legitimately required for the
service’s operation.
1
Contains the system health agents used to declare health in areas such as
patch state, virus signature, and system configuration, along with a quarantine
agent that will report client health status and coordinate between the system
health agents and the server-based quarantine enforcement service.
1
Network Access Protection
Network Access Protection
Client Agent
Integrated IPSec/Firewall Management
Windows Firewall with
Advanced Security
Centralizes inbound and outbound traffic filtering in the user interface,
providing increased visibility to security settings.
2
Full support for Internet
Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
Configures IPv6 via user interface and GPO
2
Enhanced Security for Web Browsing—Malware Protection
ActiveX Opt-in
Prompts the user the first time an ActiveX control is executed.
2
Protected Mode
Restrict Internet Explorer to writing to only the Temporary Internet Files
directory in the Internet zone.
2
Enhanced Security for Web Browsing—Protection Against Data Theft
Security Status Bar
Highlights the address bar when a user is on a secure site and lets the user
easily check the validity of a site’s security certificate.
1
Phishing Filter
Warns the user if he or she attempts to navigate to a site that is referenced by
a TCP/ IP address or other type of suspicious URL, such as one with special
characters in it. Also performs a check for reported phishing sites against a live
service when the user navigates to a page.
2
Delete Browsing History
Clears all cached data (for example, history, browser cache, forms data) with
one click.
1
64-bit Protection
Buffer Overflow
Data Execution Prevention
Block unwanted code from executing when it overruns memory
1
Block unauthorized programs from extending or replacing parts of the
Windows kernel
1
Requires developers to sign kernel-mode drivers to prevent malicious attacks
2
Kernel Patching
PatchGuard
Malicious Kernel-Mode Drivers
Signed Kernel-Mode Drivers
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Identity and Access Control
To help IT professionals authenticate users and control access to
devices, applications and data, Windows Vista includes a number
of significant advances, including:
User Account Control
User Account Control (UAC) is a new set of infrastructure
technologies in Windows Vista that help organizations deploy a
better-managed desktop and mitigate exposure to, and the
impact of, malware. UAC allows all users to run applications and
tasks with a standard user account, limiting administrator-level
access only for authorized processes. It also allows desktops to
more easily be locked down, which prevents unauthorized
applications from installing and inadvertent user changes to system
settings, which can increase help desk call volume.
In Windows XP, there are two levels of users: standard users and
administrators. Standard users run applications with a user account
and are member of the Users group. Administrator users run
applications with an administrator account and are members of the
local Administrators group. When a user launches an application,
their access token and its associated administrative privileges are
applied to the application at run time. This means that an
application launched by a member of the Administrators group runs
with all rights and privileges allotted to a local administrator. Similarly,
if a member of the Users group launches the same application, it
runs with the rights and privileges allotted to a standard user.
In Windows Vista, most applications are supplied with either an
"administrator" or "standard" token. If an application cannot be
identified as an administrative application, Windows Vista will launch
it as a standard application by default. Before an application
identified as administrative can be launched, Windows Vista will
prompt the user for consent to run the application as elevated. This
feature is known as Admin Approval Mode. The consent prompt is
displayed by default, even if the user is a member of the local
Administrators group, because administrators run as standard users
until an application or system component that requires
administrative credentials requests permission to run. This process is
called elevation.
The impact of malicious software can be reduced by notifying
users when they are about to perform an action that could impact
system settings, such as installing an application. When a user
provides appropriate credentials, Windows Vista takes steps to
protect the administrative application from attacks by standard
user applications and processes. Because an administrator must
approve application installations, the
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risk of unauthorized applications being installed automatically is
reduced. Additionally, standard users are prevented from making
system-wide changes to operating system settings, with a few
exceptions necessary for usability, including changing display
settings, power management settings, and the time zone.
Authentication
Passwords are currently the most popular method of
authentication. However, there are many limitations with using this
type of single-factor authentication. A short, easy-to-remember
password can easily be determined by an attacker. However,
longer, more complex passwords are difficult to remember and
often get written down by end users. Windows Vista introduces a
revised architecture for adding alternative authentication
methods, such as biometrics or tokens, into Windows Vista. The
Winlogon re-architecture allows independent software vendors
and organizations to implement their own authentication methods,
such as biometrics or tokens, by writing credential providers. The
credential provider model is much simpler than Graphical
Identification and Authorization (GINA) replacement, and multiple
providers will be able to function side by side.
Authorization
To ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data,
and to maintain control over intellectual property, Windows Vista
provides enhanced capabilities in rights management. Developers
will find support for Extensible Rights Markup Language (XrML) to
express rights and conditions associated with digital content.
Granular Auditing
Windows Vista's auditing capabilities make it easier to track what
users do. Auditing categories now include multiple subcategories,
reducing the number of irrelevant events. Windows Vista integrated
audit event forwarding collects and forwards critical audit data to
a central location, enabling enterprises to better organize and
analyze audit data
Credentials Management
The management of credentials, such as passwords and
certificates, and hardware like smart cards that hold credentials, is
a challenge for many organizations. Windows Vista includes new
tools to help support credential management for roaming users,
including the new Digital Identity Management System (DIMS), and
a new certificate enrollment process. Smart cards are easier to
deploy with new smart-card management resources such as selfservice personal identification number (PIN) reset tool. For smaller
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businesses and consumers, it is now possible to back up and restore
the credentials stored in the Stored User Names and Passwords key
ring.
Cryptography Services
Cryptography is a critical component of the authentication and
authorization services of Windows. Windows Vista delivers Crypto
Next Generation (CNG) services, which have been requested by
many governments and organizations. In its initial release, CNG
allows new algorithms to be added to Windows for use in Secure
Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) and Internet
Protocol security (IPsec). Windows Vista also includes a new security
processor to enable trust decisions for services such as rights
management.
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Identity and Access Control Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Consent/Credential Prompt
Launches on the user’s interactive desktop to get consent or credentials
from the user to launch the application with full, administrative-level
privileges.
2
Virtualization
Redirects per-machine files and registry writes to the user’s profile on
failure. Redirects reads to look in the virtualized/ per-user location first
and to check the per-machine location second. Intended to allow legacy
applications to run without administrative privileges.
1
Admin Approval Mode
Creates a full-privilege “administrator” token and filters out administrative
rights and groups to derive a second “standard” token when a user with
elevated privileges does an interactive logon. This standard user token is
used to start the desktop and other applications by default.
1
Shield UI for
Elevation
Allows standard users to unlock administrative functions without logging
off by inputting administrator credentials. The shield icon is used
throughout the user interface to denote an operation for which the user
will need to supply administrator credentials.
2
Winlogon Rearchitecture
Allows independent software vendors (ISVs) and organizations to
implement their own authentication methods, such as biometrics or
tokens, by writing credential providers. The credential provider model is
much simpler than Graphical Identification and Authorization (GINA)
replacement. Not only will credential providers be much easier to write
than GINA replacements, multiple providers will also be able to exist side
by side.
1
Kerberos and Protocol
Enhancements
Supports new usage scenarios as well as improved performance and
supportability, WS-* (Web services standards) support, full support for
IPv6.
2
Authorization Manager
Offers enhanced control over role, definitions and role assignments, and
significantly increases scalability and performance.
1
XrML
Supports XrML 2.0 and XrML 1.2, which is used for expressing rights
and conditions associated with digital content.
1
Credential Manager
Enhancements
Backs up and restores a user’s credentials.
1
X.509 Enrollment
Provides rewritten enrollment process with rich developer API classes
and user experience.
1
Digital Identity Management
Service
Provides certificate and credential roaming within a Microsoft Active
Directory forest and end-to-end certificate lifecycle management
scenarios.
1
Smart Card Management
Provides deployment and management tools, such as self-service PIN
reset tools, to make smart cards easier to manage. A common API
model for smart card developers will make tools easier to develop.
1
CNG
Within the cryptographic infrastructure, provides APIs and infrastructure
to allow new algorithms or algorithm implementations to be easily added
to the system. Initially, it will support SSL/TLS and IPSec, with other
scenarios such as S/MIME and EFS possible in the future.
2
Smart Card Infrastructure
Provides common Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) for all card
types by means of a common card module; supports domain join.
2
User Account Control
Authentication
Authorization
Credentials Management
Cryptography Services
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Information Protection and Compliance
To help IT managers maintain the integrity of devices and data,
Windows Vista includes a number of new capabilities, including:
Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption
BitLocker Drive Encryption (previously known as full-volume
encryption) is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that
addresses the growing concern about corporate and customer
data being accessed from lost or stolen machines. By encrypting
the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected,
preventing unauthorized users from breaking Windows file and
system protection to access data on lost or stolen computers. This
helps organizations comply with data privacy regulations and
reduces equipment-repurposing concerns. The feature is simple to
deploy and use, and enables easy recovery.
BitLocker uses a v1.2 Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip for the
preferred method of encryption key storage. The technology can
be deployed to systems which do not have a TPM v1.2 chip by
storing the encryption key on a USB flash device. However, this
deployment method does require the end user to insert the USB
flash device each time the system is booted, and it is critical that
the end user store the USB flash device separately from the
machine it is being used to protect. This is critical since a thief who
is able to obtain both the user’s machine and the USB flash device
which stores the encryption key will be able to decrypt the volume.
The TPM deployment method is preferred as TPM hardware has
built-in protection against tampering.
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) Client
This capability helps enterprise customers control and protect
critical digital information by providing smart-card integration,
longer key lengths, and support for business-to-business (B2B) adhoc information exchange. Windows Vista includes an integrated
RMS client.
Encrypted File System
EFS is useful for user-level file and folder encryption. For example, if
two users are sharing a machine, EFS can be used to encrypt the
data of each user so it is not available to the other user of the
machine. Windows Vista enhances an administrator's ability to
manage EFS on the network by allowing storage of EFS keys on
smart cards.
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Control Over Installation of Device Drivers
IT administrators can use Group Policy in Windows Vista to block the
installation of removable storage devices, such as USB flash drives
and external hard drives, to help prevent corporate intellectual
property or sensitive data from being compromised or stolen.
Information Protection and Compliance Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
BitLocker Drive Encryption
Full volume encryption of the system boot volume
2
RMS client
Provides ability to access and create rights-management protected
documents. Requires RMS Server.
2
EFS Smartcards
Ability to store EFS keys on a smartcard
2
Control Over Device
Installation
Ability to set policies denying the use of removable storage devices, as well as
other device drivers
2
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6.06 Advanced Networking
Connecting users to resources and content in a secure, simple, and
manageable way is critical to the productivity of any organization.
Windows Vista provides enhancements in many areas of
networking to help make client access to resources seamless and
secure, while keeping configuration efforts to a minimum. Windows
Vista provides an enhanced networking experience for both the IT
Administrator, who is responsible for the security, maintenance, and
deployment of networked resources, and the end-user, who
deserves a rich, seamless and dependable networking experience.
Next Generation TCP/IP Stack
To help IT administrators optimize network efficiency, Windows Vista
includes the Next Generation TCP/IP Stack, which provides a rich
architecture that enables self-tuning for better efficiency over time.
Some of the new features of the Next Generation TCP/IP stack
include:
Dual IP layer architecture for IPv6
The Next Generation TCP/IP stack supports the dual IP layer
architecture in which the IPv4 and IPv6 implementations share
common Transport and Framing layers. It also has both IPv4 and
IPv6 enabled by default, and there is no need to install a separate
component to obtain IPv6 support.
Automatic configuration of stack settings based on different
network environments
The Next-Generation TCP/IP stack automatically senses the network
environment and adjusts key performance settings, such as the TCP
receive window. Improved stack auto-tuning and configuration
reduces the need for manual configuration of TCP/IP settings. It
enables faster network transfers, more intelligent bandwidth usage,
and fewer retransmissions of lost data on the network. This can lead
to a significant reduction in the time required to transfer a large file
or back up a hard drive across the network.
Routing compartments
To prevent unwanted forwarding of traffic between interfaces for
virtual private network (VPN), Terminal Server, and multi-user logon
configurations, the Next Generation TCP/IP stack supports routing
compartments. A routing compartment is the combination of a set
of interfaces with a login session that has its own IP routing tables. A
computer can have multiple routing compartments that are
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isolated from each other. Each interface can only belong to a
single compartment. For example, when a user initiates a VPN
connection across the Internet with the current TCP/IP stack, the
user's computer has partial connectivity to both the Internet and a
private intranet by manipulating entries in the IPv4 routing table. In
some situations, it is possible for traffic from the Internet to be
forwarded across the VPN connection to the private intranet.
Routing compartments in the Next Generation TCP/IP stack isolate
the Internet connectivity from the private intranet connectivity with
separate IP routing tables.
New security and packet filtering APIs
The interfaces in the current TCP/IP stack for TCP/IP security (filtering
for local host traffic), the firewall hook, the filter hook, and the
storage of packet filter information has been replaced with a new
framework known as the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP). WFP
provides filtering capability at all layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack.
WFP is more secure, integrated in the stack, and much easier for
independent software vendors (ISVs) to build drivers, services, and
applications that must filter, analyze, or modify TCP/IP traffic. For
more information about WFP, go to
www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/network/WFP.mspx
Reconfigure network settings without having to restart the
computer
A new method to store configuration settings enables more
dynamic control and does not require a computer restart after
settings are changed.
Supportability enhancements
There is extensive support for run-time diagnostics, including support
for TCP Management Information Base (MIB)-II and better system
event logging and tracing.
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End User Experience
To learn
more
about
Networking
User
Experience,
please turn
to Chapter
3.10
Networking
on page 95
Windows Vista assists end-users in solving network issues without
having to involve the help desk. The Network Center provides the
end-user with information on which network the computer is
connected to and whether it is accessing the Internet. It also
includes the ability, through the Windows Network Diagnostics Tool,
to identify the top
potential
issues affecting network
connectivity, and
automatically takes
the appropriate steps
necessary to attempt to
solve the issue.
Wireless Networking
Wireless networks are becoming increasingly common in the
network infrastructures of many organizations. Additionally,
roaming users frequently find themselves trying to connect to the
Internet or their corporate networks via a wireless network at a
hotel, conference center, or airport. It is imperative to choose
security options which protect data without being unduly
cumbersome for users or administrators.
Windows Vista includes a native wireless networking architecture
(Native WiFi) as part of its core networking stack. This provides many
benefits, including flexible deployment across many hardware
brands and models, similar user experiences regardless of the
hardware, and more reliable third-party wireless NIC drivers. When
creating wireless networks, Windows Vista will default to the most
secure options supported by the NIC.
An issue common to wireless networking is management of
configuration options on client PCs. Organizations must maintain a
consistent configuration across various desktop installations to
ensure greater supportability, reduced administrative costs, and
increased end-user productivity. Windows Vista includes
improvements to address these issues:
An enhanced user experience in discovering, creating, or
connecting to wireless networks through the Network Center
user interface
Wireless Single Sign-On to ensure that the wireless network is
available before the user authenticates to an Active
Directory domain
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Support for the latest security protocols from the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards
body, including WPA2
Mitigation of common attacks against wireless networking
Increased manageability through Group Policy objects for
wireless networking and command-line commands for
configuration and troubleshooting
Availability of diagnostic tools to aid in troubleshooting and
repair of wireless connectivity problems
An Enhanced User Experience
The ability for users to create and use wireless networks has been
enhanced with Windows Vista. Users can create ad-hoc wireless
networks through a wizard-driven interface. When presented with a
list of available networks, Windows Vista clearly marks any wireless
networks that are unsecured. In addition, Windows Vista examines
the capabilities of the wireless interface card and chooses the
highest security available for that card when connecting to a
wireless network. Windows Vista also uses a more secure-by-default
design that chooses default options that enhance security.
Wireless Single Sign-On
The deployment of wireless networks has promoted the use of Layer
2 network authentication, such as 802.1X, to ensure that only an
appropriate user or device is allowed on the protected network
and that their data is secure at the radio transmission level. The
Single Sign-On feature executes Layer 2 network authentication at
the appropriate time given the network security configuration,
while at the same time seamlessly integrating with the user's
Windows log-on experience.
Administrators can use Group Policy or the Command Line
Interface to deploy Single Sign-On profiles to client machines.
Once a Single Sign-On profile is configured, 802.1X authentication
will precede the Windows logon. This feature enables scenarios
such GPO updates, Log-On scripts and wireless Bootstrap, which
require network connectivity prior to user logon.
Broad Support for Wireless Security Protocols
The native WiFi architecture in Windows Vista has wide support for
the latest security protocols, including WiFi Protected Access
(WPA), WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), Extensible Authentication
Protocol (EAP), Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol—
Transport Layer Security (PEAP-TLS), Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP),
and others. This broad support ensures interoperability between
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Windows Vista and almost any wireless infrastructure. Personal
networks at home or in small businesses can also be more secure
through WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK using a pre-shared key. The
capabilities of the wireless network card are examined by Windows
Vista, and the most secure protocol is chosen by default when
creating a new wireless network
Security in Windows Vista is also extensible. Using the EAP-HOST
framework, Windows Vista is able to support custom authentication
mechanisms defined by a hardware vendor or by an organization
itself.
Guarding Against Common Wireless Attacks
Windows Vista includes many improvements to the behavior of the
wireless client to mitigate against common wireless attacks. The
client now actively probes for fewer networks and only if instructed
to do so by the user. Additionally, the client will only connect
automatically to networks which the user has explicitly requested or
identified as preferred networks and provides a warning if the user
is about to initiate a connection to an unsecured network.
Increased Manageability
Wireless networks are logically equivalent to their wired network
counterparts in Windows Vista and can be managed in much the
same way as wired networks. Windows Vista includes new Group
Policy settings which enable administrators to configure policies for
wireless client behavior. In addition, Windows Vista includes a
command-line interface that enables full management of wireless
networks from the command prompt.
Using the Group Policy snap-in for the Microsoft Management
Console (MMC), administrators can define how wireless clients
connect to and operate on wireless network infrastructures. For
example, a company may define a policy that requires all wireless
connections to use a certain protocol, that all connections must be
made to a certain wireless network, or that the connection can
only be made to secured networks.
With Group Policy, the client can then be prevented from
changing
these settings.
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Wireless Command-Line Interface
Windows Vista includes an enhanced network command-line
interface (NETSH) which enables automation and scripting and
assists with troubleshooting wireless network connections.
Using the command-line interface, administrators can verify,
change, or remove the client’s wireless network configuration
profiles. These profiles can be also exported and imported into
other computers to expedite provisioning of multiple computers.
Wireless Diagnostics
Windows Vista includes wireless diagnostics capabilities as part of
the extensible Network Diagnostics Framework (NDF). The NDF
provides users with advanced means to assist in problem resolution
for network-related issues.
When unable to connect to a network resource, the user is
presented with clear repair options rather than error messages
which can be difficult to understand. If Windows Vista can repair
the issue automatically, it will; if not, the user is directed to perform
simple steps to correct the problem without having to call for
support.
Also, richer information is recorded in the Event Viewer about
diagnosed connections. These event records can be used by
support professionals within organizations to perform further
troubleshooting when wireless diagnostics was either unable to
resolve the problem or if the steps were beyond what the user’s
rights were capable of performing. The event logs can significantly
shorten the time needed to resolve wireless connection problems,
resulting in the reduced
cost of support calls and
greater user satisfaction
and productivity.
Additionally, these event
log entries can be
automatically collected
by network
administrators using
Microsoft Operations
Manager or other types
of central management
tools and analyzed for
trends and wireless
infrastructure design
changes.
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IPv6
With the number of networked devices increasing dramatically, it is
becoming increasingly difficult to scale an IPv4 architecture to
meet the growing needs of organizations. Currently, IT
administrators must use technologies such as Network Address
Translation (NAT)—which adds complexity and can cause
application incompatibilities—or combine public and private IP
addresses on the same network to support the increased use of
networked devices. Additional point solutions or techniques
increase the cost of network operations and can create security
issues. IPv6 support in Windows Vista enables enterprises to support
a larger network address space while eliminating the need for NAT
or other workarounds. IPv6 scales well beyond the IPv4 address
space, and provides additional security with full support for IPSec.
Enterprises can deploy IPv6 within their infrastructure without having
to completely upgrade their network with IPv6 transition tunneling
mechanisms to support the tunneling of IPv6 traffic across an IPv4only infrastructure.
For end-users, IPv6 in Windows Vista supports Teredo, which allows
global addressing and end-to-end communication for IPv6capable applications between Teredo client computers that are
behind most of the NATs in common use today. By using Teredo,
application developers do not have to build their own NAT
traversal solution. As long as the application is IPv6-capable, it can
take advantage of Teredo, the NAT traversal solution built into
Windows Vista.
Network Access Protection
Windows Vista includes the Network Access Protection agent that
can provide information about a client’s health state and
configuration to network access servers or peers. Clients that lack
current security updates or virus signatures, or otherwise fail to meet
corporate-mandated health requirements, are restricted from the
network until they can be re-configured for compliance. A Network
Access Protection infrastructure included with Windows Server
"Longhorn" determines whether to grant the client access to a
private network or restricted network based on its compliance with
established health policy. In the restricted network, the client may
be granted access to remediation services to get the patches,
antivirus signatures, etc. needed to comply with the health
requirements policy. Network Access Protection also can be used
to protect your network from unhealthy remote access clients as
well as unhealthy local area network (LAN) clients using 802.1Xauthenticated wired or wireless connections.
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IPsec
With the explosive growth and adoption of pervasive, highlyconnected networks, organizations are faced with a potentially
paradoxical situation: provide greater accessibility while
maintaining security. Employees, business partners and customers
alike are demanding greater flexibility and mobility when
connecting to networked resources. Even though more ubiquitous
connectivity can yield numerous business benefits—such as
productivity gains and operational cost savings—it also has the
potential to introduce new risks to the organization’s networked
infrastructure. This can include costly virus attacks, rogue users and
devices, and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Organizations face many challenges in their efforts to meet the
demands of this new communications paradigm. Therefore, they
seek to:
Reduce the risk of malicious software (malware) threats,
such as viruses, worms and spyware, and limit the impact of
outbreaks and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks;
Protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive
information and intellectual property;
Prevent unauthorized access (either internal or external) to
trusted assets;
Lower operational costs and administrative overhead;
Achieve and maintain compliance with legislative and
industry regulations.
The implementation of IPsec within Windows Vista was designed to
enable an IT administrator to:
•
Easily create security policies based on user or computer
credentials as part of network access authorization;
•
Leverage Group Policy to centrally distribute these policies in
a flexible manner based on business requirements;
•
Create Windows Firewall policies based on IPsec.
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Windows Vista provides IT administrators the ability to effectively
manage access to critical information assets in several scenarios:
Server Isolation: Restrict connectivity to a server or groups of
servers by machine, port, IP, user and subnet. For example,
the administrator can restrict access to the Finance
Department’s
SQL Server to only the Finance Web Server, while also
restricting access to the Finance Web Server to users who
are in the Finance user group
Domain Isolation: Restrict connectivity to a domain of
machines. The administrator could allow all outbound
connectivity while restricting inbound connectivity to other
domain-joined machines. Domain Isolation is a SarbanesOxley control solution to protect intellectual property. It also
limits the impact of worms and viruses by restricting
connectivity from computers not joined to the corporate
Active Directory domain.
Network Access Protection: The administrator could restrict
connectivity to the corporate network from machines that
are healthy as determined by NAP. IPsec integration with
Network Access Protection provides real-time enforcement
of health policy which cannot be achieved by 802.1x or
DHCP enforcement. If the status of the computer changes
to unhealthy, IPsec would immediately block that
computer’s connectivity to the corporate network.
Windows Firewall with User & Machine Authorization: The
administrator can define richer firewall policies which restrict
which applications can bypass the firewall (network
scanners), as well as restrict connectivity by machine, user,
IP, port or subnet. All of these policies can be defined and
managed from one central user interface.
Network Awareness
Windows Vista’s Network Awareness provide the ability to report
changes in network connectivity to applications in order to provide
a more seamless experience to the end user. As the user connects
to different networks, the change is communicated to applications
which take advantage of Network Awareness, which can take
appropriate action. For example, when a user switches from the
home office to a corporate network, firewall settings can be
configured to allow the use of IT management tools, and Group
Policy will detect the reconnection to the corporate network and
automatically begin processing policy changes instead of waiting
for the next detection cycle.
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Policy-based Quality of Service
Policy-based Quality of Service (QoS) in the Windows Vista and
Windows Server "Longhorn" operating systems alleviates network
congestion by enabling central management of hosts' bandwidth.
For example, because the traffic for an enterprise resource
planning (ERP) application for branch offices is given a high priority
over the WAN link, a branch office sales manager accessing and
entering ERP data can benefit from a consistently fast response
time, even when the WAN link is loaded with other traffic. Today,
network traffic is not easily prioritized and managed. Mission-critical
and latency-sensitive traffic must compete for bandwidth against
lower priority and latency-tolerant traffic, such as bulk data
transfers. At the same time, users and machines with specific
network performance requirements may require differentiated
service levels. Such challenges of providing predictable network
performance levels often first appear over WAN connections or
with latency-sensitive applications like VoIP and video. However,
the goal of providing predictable network service levels applies to
any network environment and to more than VoIP applications—
including any custom line-of-business application.
With Policy-based QoS, an IT department will be able to define
flexible QoS policies to prioritize and/or throttle outbound network
traffic without requiring modifications to applications. These QoS
policies will apply to outbound traffic based on any or all of the
following conditions: sending application; deployment through
Group Policy (such as a set of users, machines); source/destination
IP address; source/destination port; and protocol.
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Advanced Networking Key Features
Feature Name
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Network Diagnostic
Framework
Provide root cause analysis of common networking issues and
automatically repair or provide guidance to end-user.
Network Center
One central, easy to use place for quickly viewing network status
and important network settings.
Dec. CTP
IPv6
Supports larger enterprise networks by providing larger address
spaces.
Dec. CTP
Windows Firewall with
Advanced Security
Integrates firewall capabilities with authentication and/or
encryption capabilities of IPsec to provide more secure network
connections to resources.
Dec. CTP
Network Access
Protection
Windows Vista computers can be checked for administratordefined system health prior to be allowed on a corporate network.
Dec. CTP
Network Awareness
A platform which applications can use to know which network a
user is currently connected to in order to provide a customize
experience for each network.
Dec. CTP
Policy-based Quality of
Service
Prioritize and limit amount of bandwidth a user or application can
use.
Dec. CTP
Routing Compartments
Prohibit data from one network connection to be sent across
another network connection to
Dec. CTP
Group Policy
Configuration for Wireless
Networks
Easier configuration and deployment of wireless network settings
across the enterprise from a central location.
Dec. CTP
Connectivity interface
A single, easy interface for viewing and connecting to all available
wireless networks, corporate (VPN and RAS) connections, and
dialup connections. There are also helpful wizards for setting up
these connections for the first time.
Network Explorer
From one place, users can browse all computers and devices on
the network. The speed and reliability of discovering networked
computers, servers, and devices is significantly improved from
Windows XP.
Dec. CTP
Network Map
A visual map of the network that displays computers and devices,
as well as the ways in which they are connected. When a
connection is broken, this will be clearly displayed on the map, and
Network Diagnostics can be used to help diagnose the problem
and suggest possible solutions.
Dec. CTP
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Beta 1,
significantly
enhanced
in Dec. CTP
1
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6.07 Reliability
Reliability enhancements in Windows Vista help users work with
greater confidence and productivity, while reducing support costs
for organizations. Users will find that their work is less often disrupted
by crashes, hangs and restarts, and that they are able to recover
more quickly when problems do occur. The IT department will need
to address fewer support issues, and new tools and improved
instrumentation will allow support professionals to diagnose
problems more quickly and accurately.
Improvements to reliability in Windows Vista can be summarized as
follows:
•
Fewer User Disruptions. Windows Vista includes new
technology that will prevent many common causes of
hangs, crashes, reboots and other disruptions.
•
Easy Recovery when Disruptions Occur. Windows Vista
provides fast, easy solutions for occasional, unpreventable
failures. Windows Vista automatically diagnoses and
recovers an unbootable system to a usable state with the
help of the Startup Repair Tool. Built-in diagnostics in
Windows Vista can detect many common error conditions,
and either repair problems automatically or guide the user
through a recovery process.
•
Continual Improvement in Reliability. Windows Vista is
reliable out of the box, and enhanced instrumentation
provides better insight when disruptions do occur and will
enable continual improvements in reliability.
The sections that follow discuss the technology behind these
improvements in more detail.
Fewer User Disruptions
Windows Vista is engineered to reduce the frequency and impact
of user disruptions. It fixes many common causes of crashes and
hangs, and includes enhanced instrumentation that will provide
greater insight into what causes unresponsive conditions.
Focus on Fundamentals
Windows Vista was engineered with reliability in mind. Hangs and
crashes have been tracked since the earliest Windows Vista Beta
release, and reliability problems have been treated as bugs that
need to be repaired. Additionally, new tools have been employed
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during development to ensure that all code meets reliability
standards.
Reduced Reboots
The most frequent cause of reboots is installation of applications
and software updates. In previous versions of Windows, when an
installer needed to replace a file in use by a running process, a
reboot was required to complete the installation. New technology
in Windows Vista will help reduce the need for reboots when
installing software or updates.
First, certain application updates are able to install the new version
of a file on the disk even if the old one is in use. This is enabled by
using side-by-side compliant dynamic link libraries (DLLs). The next
time the user restarts the application, the updated version of the file
replaces the previous version.
Second, a new technology called Restart Manager lets installers
determine which applications are holding files that need to be
replaced. The operating system sends a notification to that
application to save its data and shut itself down. The files are then
updated, and the applications are restarted after the update
process has finished, without requiring a fully system reboot.
Improved Driver Reliability
Drivers will perform more reliably in Windows Vista than in previous
versions of Windows. Support for canceling synchronous I/O
operations in Windows Vista will enable drivers to recover gracefully
if they become blocked when attempting to perform I/O.
Windows Vista also has new APIs to enable applications to cancel
pending I/O requests when a resource takes too long to become
available. To help Microsoft and our partners identify and fix drivers
that do not complete I/O in a timely fashion and that have not yet
implemented the cancellation APIs, new instrumentation called
Kernel Hang Reporting will collect information to support triage and
diagnosis.
Registry Protection
Any code that runs in kernel mode, including many types of drivers,
can potentially corrupt kernel data in ways that surface later.
Diagnosing and fixing these bugs can be difficult and timeconsuming. Corruption of the registry tends to have a
disproportionate impact on overall reliability, because this
corruption can persist across reboots.
Windows Vista will protect system settings from corruption or
inadvertent changes that can cause the system to run incorrectly
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or not run at all. Windows Resource Protection (WRP) protects
critical system settings, files and folders from changes by any
source except a trusted installer. This will prevent users from
changing critical system settings that can render systems
inoperable.
Windows Vista also prevents poorly written drivers from corrupting
the registry. This protection enables the memory management
component to achieve protection the vast majority of the time at
low overhead.
Easy Recovery when Disruptions Occur
Built-in diagnostics and failure recovery mechanisms in
Windows Vista minimize user impact when unavoidable problems
occur, reducing support costs and improving productivity for end
users and support professionals.
Repairing Unbootable Systems
To learn more
about Startup
Repair, please
turn to Chapter
4.12: Windows
Backup and
Restore on
page 178
Startup problems are among the most difficult to troubleshoot,
because an administrator cannot start the operating system and
use built-in troubleshooting tools. Often, administrators choose to
reinstall the operating system rather than attempt to solve the
problem—even though the solution might be as simple as
replacing a single file. Windows Vista includes a Startup Repair tool
that provides automated diagnosis and recovery for unbootable
systems. When a boot failure is detected, the system automatically
activates the Startup Repair tool, which runs diagnostics and
attempts to recover the system to a usable state. In many cases,
Startup Repair can diagnose and automatically resolve the
problem with no input required from the user.
Built-in Diagnostics
Windows Vista contains built-in diagnostics—collections of
instrumentation, troubleshooting, and resolution logic—that resolve
external problems that affect the way Windows behaves. The
framework that supports these diagnostics—called the Windows
Diagnostic Infrastructure (WDI)—is a new feature in Windows Vista.
A number of diagnostic scenarios are implemented using WDI,
addressing some of the most common and costly problems facing
PC users.
Built-in diagnostic scenarios in Windows Vista include the following:
Problem Type
Diagnostics
Product Guide
Section
Hardware Failures
Disk failure and defective physical memory diagnostics
Reliability
Networking Problems
Network diagnostics for wireless and wired networks
Networking
Client Performance
Performance diagnostics, including slow shell responsiveness
Performance
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Degradation
and visuals, and slow boot/logon/shut-down
Resource Exhaustion
Resource exhaustion detection and resolution
Reliability
Power Transition Problems
(i.e., hibernate failures)
Power transition diagnostics for consistent, predictable power
transitions
Power
Management
All of these built-in diagnostics scenarios take advantage of the
new WDI framework in Windows Vista, and all of them are
expected to improve reliability and reduce support costs. (Network
Diagnostics, Performance Diagnostics and Power Transition
Diagnostics are discussed in detail elsewhere in this product guide.)
The other diagnostic resources are described below:
•
Disk Diagnostics. Even in closely-managed enterprise
environments, it's common for mobile users to go weeks or
months without a backup. Data loss caused by unexpected
disk failure can be disastrous, and a user might spend weeks
recreating their work, if it’s even possible to do so. Built-in disk
diagnostics in Windows Vista detect impending disk failures
and guide users through data backup, disk replacement,
and data restoration procedures. When Windows Vista
detects a potential disk failure, it logs an event to the event
log and guides users through the backup and recovery
process to minimize the likelihood of customer data loss.
•
Memory Diagnostics. Defective computer memory is a
difficult problem to diagnose. Often, it can mimic software
or operating system problems, leading to hours of wasted
troubleshooting effort. Memory Diagnostics in Windows Vista
works with Microsoft Online Crash Analysis to detect crashes
that may be caused by failing memory, providing guided
support and prompting the user to schedule a memory test
the next time the computer is restarted.
•
Research Exhaustion Detection and Recovery. Occasionally
when a user is running a large number of applications, the
machine will simply run out of system resources, leading to
hangs, crashes, and data loss. Resource Exhaustion
Detection and Recovery warns users when critical resources
are low—before a hang or crash occurs. It also identifies
which processes are consuming the largest amount of a
given resource and helps the user reclaim that resource.
And when Windows Vista issues a resource exhaustion
warning, it logs events in the Event Log that include detailed
data useful for subsequent analysis.
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For enterprise environments, built-in diagnostics are manageable
through Group Policy. Administrators can choose to disable any
diagnostic scenario or keep the diagnostic component in place
and disable the resolution component for any diagnostic scenario.
All built-in diagnostic scenarios
raise events to the Event Log.
These events provide a record of
what problems built-in diagnostics
have automatically repaired, and
also provide information to IT
professionals to help solve those
problems that can't be resolved
automatically.
Recovering from Service Crashes
In Windows XP, if a service crashes, the user usually has to reboot to
recover full functionality. This is due to three problems. First, most
services do not restart automatically after a crash, and most users
cannot manually start a service that does not have an associated
icon or familiar UI. Second, even if the user knows to restart the
crashing service, the user may not know which other services also
stopped when the crashing service’s Svchost process was
terminated. Finally, there may be dependencies between services
outside of the Svchost process that are not exposed through the
Service Control Manager, making it hard for the user to know which
services to restart in what order.
In Windows Vista, most in-box services have a recovery policy that
allows the user to continue working after the service has crashed
and automatically restarted. (The key exceptions are those critical
services that must be present for the operating system to remain
operational.) The implicit and explicit dependencies between
services are understood, and all appropriate services are restarted in
the correct order when one crashes.
Continual Improvement in Reliability
Windows Vista offers improved reliability from the moment it is
deployed, and its enhanced error reporting capabilities provide
the foundation for further reliability improvements over time. For
example, Windows Vista provides more detailed information on
certain types of reliability issues to the Microsoft product feedback
system—information which both Microsoft and partners will use to
continually improve their products. And when users submit
anonymous error reporting information to Microsoft, they will more
often receive a fix for their problem.
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Reliability Instrumentation
Many key operating system components in Windows Vista log user
disruptions and their causes when known. This information can be
combined with other configuration and usage information on the
system so that developers, IT professionals, and automated tools can
assess reliability and determine the necessary corrective action
when problems occur.
Some specific improvements in instrumentation in Windows Vista
include hang reporting, deadlock detection and memory leak
detection.
•
Hang Reporting. In earlier versions of Windows, application
hangs were difficult for developers to troubleshoot because
error reporting provided limited or no information about
hangs. In Windows Vista, hang reporting is included in
Windows error reporting. When users chose to share data
with Microsoft through the Microsoft product feedback
system, Microsoft analyzes hang reports to determine the
root causes of the most frequent hangs.
•
Deadlock Detection. Deadlocks are circular wait conditions.
When an application hangs, Windows Vista determines if the
hang is caused by a deadlock. Windows Vista includes this
information as part of the Windows error reporting data to
ensure that all hangs caused by deadlocks are accurately
and automatically diagnosed.
•
Memory Leak Detection. With Memory Leak Detection,
Windows Vista can identify and report software memory
leaks so software vendors can address these issues.
Reliability Analysis Component
The Reliability Analysis Component (RAC) is a tool to help IT
Professionals better manage the stability of machines in their
organization. RAC aggregates,
analyzes, and correlates
problems at the operating
system and application level. It
calculates a stability index
which provides an indication of
overall system stability over
time. RAC also keeps track of
any important changes to the
system that are likely to impact
stability, such as Windows
updates, application
installations, and driver
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installations.
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RAC reports the problem, the cause, and the analysis data to the
customer, to health monitoring applications such as Microsoft
Operations Manager (MOM), and, selectively and with the user’s
permission, to the Microsoft product feedback system. This detailed
information allows IT Professionals to be more proactive in
preventing failures and provides guidance on areas for
improvement.
The Reliability Monitor displays data collected from RAC in a
stability chart and correlates the computer's stability index with
important events that are likely to affect stability, such as driver
failures and software installation.
Reliability Key Features
Brief Statement of Capability
Beta
Start-up Repair Tool
Feature Name
Provides users with a guided, diagnostics-based recovery experience for noboot situations caused by registry corruption, missing or damaged system files,
hardware failure, buggy drivers, or damaged driver files. It is used in
conjunction with a Windows PE recovery environment present on the system
or provided on a CD. It is invoked automatically after a configurable number of
boot failures in a row.
2
Restart Manager
Reduce need for reboots when installing software or patches
2
Synchronous cancellation of
I/O requests
Enables programs to cancel pending I/O requests when a resource takes too
long to become available
2
Deadlock detection, Memory
Leak detection
Identify and report software memory leaks and deadlocks so software vendors
can address.
2
Hang Reporting
Find hangs and provide fixes to customers
2
Registry kernel memory
protection
Protects the registry’s kernel memory from modification by drivers or other
kernel-mode code. Any such modifications will be detected and rendered
automatically diagnosable.
1
Windows Diagnostic
Infrastructure (WDI)
Infrastructure for detecting potential failure conditions, collecting data,
diagnosing the cause, and launching resolutions
1
Disk Diagnostics
Detects potential disk failures and guides the user through backup and data
recovery to minimize downtime and data loss.
2
Memory Diagnostics
Detects and confirms physical memory corruption caused by bad memory
modules and motherboards, and provides the user with information needed for
repair.
2
Resource Exhaustion
Detection
Prevent hangs, crashes and data loss due to resource exhaustion (i.e., too
many applications open)
2
RAC client
Acts as a system reliability analysis and reporting agent and data publisher.
2
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6.08 Hardware Guidelines
There is no need to wait until Windows Vista launches before
deploying new PCs in an organization. Windows Vista Capable PCs
should enable an easy transition to Windows Vista and ensure that
customers’ near-term PC investments will retain their value once
Windows Vista is available.
Hardware requirements for Windows Vista Capable PCs have been
established to ensure that PC systems and components which
meet these criteria will run Windows Vista well, and enable the next
generation of Windows applications. Enterprise Planning Guidelines
are based on these hardware requirements. By using these
guidelines to procure PC system hardware, customers should be
able to deploy systems that will upgrade well to Windows Vista.
Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Requirements
Windows Vista Capable PCs need to pass the current certification
requirements for Designed for Windows XP logo. In addition, these
PCs need the following combination of essential PC hardware for
basic overall Windows Vista performance:
CPU — PC systems should have a modern CPU.
RAM — PC systems should have 512MB of memory or more.
GPU — PC systems should have a DirectX 9 class graphics
processor.
Recommendations
Windows Vista offers significant improvements to the desktop user
experience. To take advantage of these advances in the graphics
user experience, the display adapter/graphics processor will need
to support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). Graphics
processors capable of supporting WDDM:
Are designed to ensure that graphics user experience scales
up with hardware capabilities.
Offer improved graphic stability and performance.
May be able to support additional desktop productivity
features.
Windows Vista Capable PC systems would greatly benefit from a
graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model
(WDDM). Therefore, WDDM support for a PCs display adapter is a
recommended criterion for Windows Vista Capable PCs.
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Good, Better, Best Desktop experience when running
Windows Vista
Windows Vista will scale with PC hardware capabilities. One of the
features that scales with hardware is the desktop user experience.
Therefore, it is possible to support multiple tiers of user experience,
ranging from Basic to Windows Aero, on Windows Vista Capable
PCs based on hardware configuration.
Good
PC systems that meet the above requirements of a modern CPU,
512MB RAM and DirectX 9 class GPU should be able to offer a
good experience, when upgraded to Windows Vista. They will offer
a Windows XP comparable desktop graphics experience with
regards to features, stability and performance. Users will see the
“Basic” themed user experience.
Better
PCs that use a GPU with WDDM support would provide a better
graphics experience—specifically enhanced graphics stability,
multi-application performance and monitor hot-plugging—
compared to Windows XP, when running any version of Windows
Vista. Therefore, we strongly recommend procuring PC systems that
include a GPU with WDDM support to get a better desktop
experience while running Windows Vista. Worth noting though,
while WDDM provides improved stability to the desktop experience,
it does not enable the user to run a different theme/experience. A
user with just a simple WDDM-capable display adapter will still only
see the “Basic” user experience.
Best
PCs with appropriately configured graphics hardware, as
described below, would support the Windows Aero user
experience. For Genuine Advantage customers, Windows Aero
offers the best designed, best performing user experience. The
desktop experience includes a transparent glass design, which
provides enables the user to better focus on the on-screen content
versus the Windows interface. It offers enhanced visual quality
overall, including glitch-free window re-drawing and subtle
animations. Lastly, it includes new features, like Windows Flip and
Flip 3D, which enable users to more confidently manage their
desktop experience.
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To enable Windows Aero, PC systems must meet the following
criteria for graphics hardware, with either discrete or UMA solutions:
The display adapter on PC must support DirectX 9 with Pixel
Shader 2.0 in hardware, 32 bits per pixel and Windows
Display Driver Model (WDDM) support. WDDM introduces a
new level of graphics stability, significantly reducing one of
the biggest single sources of Windows support issues:
graphics driver related crashes. It also improves graphics
performance when running multiple graphics related
applications.
Graphics memory bandwidth, as assessed by Windows
Vista’s built in system assessment tool WinSAT.EXE, of at least
1,800MB/s at following resolution:
Desktop PC: at a monitor resolution of 1,310,720 pixels
(equivalent to 1280 x 1024)
Mobile PC: at the native resolution of built-in display
Appropriate graphics memory for specified monitor
resolutions expressed as total pixels (X dimension multiplied
by Y dimension):
64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor
at resolution of 1,310,720 pixels (equivalent to 1280 x
1024) or less
128MB of graphics memory to support a single
monitor at resolutions higher than 1,310,720 pixels and
less than or equal to 2,304,000 pixels (equivalent to
1920 x 1200)
256MB of graphics memory to support a single
monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
Note: To achieve the memory requirements outlined in #4 on
systems with Unified Memory Architectures (UMA), also called
shared memory or integrated graphics chipsets, 1 GB of dual
channel configured system memory (RAM) is required. The system
needs to have at least 512 MB of RAM available for general system
activities after graphics processing.
Lastly, Windows Aero is only available on Windows Home Premium,
Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate product editions.
Enterprise Planning Guidelines
To assist organizations in planning their hardware deployment,
we are providing hardware guidance through Enterprise Planning
Guidelines. The current guidelines are available at
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www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/entp
guid.mspx
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Section 7: Appendix
7.01 Windows Vista Features Available in Windows XP...........................................290
Windows Vista Features Not Available on Windows XP Machines....................................290
Windows XP ‘Down-level’ Features ........................................................................................292
Windows Communication Foundation..................................................................................293
7.02 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release ..................................................294
People Are Key ..........................................................................................................................294
A New World of Work................................................................................................................295
Simplify How People Work Together.......................................................................................296
Help Secure and Manage Content .......................................................................................297
Find Information and Improve Business Insight .....................................................................298
Reduce Security Threats and Deployment Costs ................................................................299
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................299
7.03 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release Feature Integration...............301
7.04 WinFX .......................................................................................................................306
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) .............................................................................307
Microsoft Codename “InfoCard”...........................................................................................307
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)......................................................................308
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) .....................................................................................308
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7.01 Windows Vista Features Available in
Windows XP
Many Windows Vista features are available only in Windows Vista,
while some are available as a Windows XP download.
Windows Vista Features Not Available on
Windows XP Machines
A partial list of Windows Vista features not available on Windows XP
machines includes:
In the area of user experience:
Windows Vista Basic, and Windows Vista Aero User
Experience*
Desktop Compositing Engine and Windows Device Driver
Model (WDDM)
New thumbnail previews within the shell
Unified home and domain login experience
Reading Pane integration into the Windows Explorer
(with Office 12 at launch, 3rd parties to follow)
Programs Explorer
Redesigned Control Panel
Windows Photo Gallery
Shell support for RAW codecs
Search integration into Windows Explorers
MPEG 2 decoders*
Family Safety Settings
Improved Sharing (Folder and per Item)
Improved Performance (SuperFetch, Autodefrag, Windows
ReadyBoost Support)
In the area of mobile improvements:
Improved power management and faster shutdown
Smoother state transitions
New Mobility Center
Windows Vista Sync Center
Tablet PC improvements including support for “Pen Flicks”
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Significant improvements to Corporate Roaming, including
cached mode, delta-sync, increased limits on max folders)
Support for auxiliary displays (Windows SideShow)
Support for Hybrid Hard Drives
Networking UX improvements
Windows MeetingSpace
Remote Desktop access using HTTP
For home users and small business customers:
PC to PC synchronization
Improvements to Media Center including HDTV recording
Movie Maker HD
Gaming Center and new games
Windows Mail and Calendar
Fax and Scan Center
Improvements to Backup and Restore
Improvements to the PC-PC transfer feature
For IT administrators:
Improved deployment technologies that will enable
customers to streamline processes and enable further
automation:
•
System Image Manager: a tool that leverages the
modular architecture of Windows Vista and its XMLbased unattend format to enable better servicing
and language independence;
•
New Image Based Setup that provides faster and
more reliable installations;
•
Windows Imaging Format (WIM) technology and as
improved hardware abstraction layer provide
hardware independence.
Administration Tools
•
Improved group policies, including centralized control
of power management settings;
•
Improved diagnostic tools;
•
Improved eventing and event viewer.
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Windows XP ‘Down-level’ Features
There are some features that ship with Windows Vista which are
being made available as downloads for Windows XP. Some of
these features have limitations when running on Windows XP. For
example, because the Aero UI is not available on Windows XP,
neither Windows Media Player nor Internet Explorer 7.0 will be
capable of having the Aero UI running on Windows XP.
The following additional comments apply to specific features:
Internet Explorer 7.0
When running on Windows XP, Family Safety Settings /
Parental Controls and Protected Mode are not
available.
Windows Media Player 11
When running on Windows XP, the following Windows
Media Player 11 features are not available:
•
Playing content (including DRM) on your PC from
another PC or device
•
Viewing content from the Vista Media library on
other PCs or digital devices, such as Tivo
•
Playback of High Value video content
•
Shell integration with Windows Media Player
•
Content Indexer change notification to sync My
Music and WMP library
•
DVD Fullscreen playback enhancements
•
DRM Transcode
•
High quality video streaming over home networks
•
Media foundation for playback
Windows Defender
Windows Defender is also available on Windows XP and the
functionality is the same, with the following two exceptions:
Scan time is faster on Windows Vista, due to the use of an
index kept by Vista of files that have been changed.
Known malware is caught at an earlier point in time during
the process of opening the file.
Deployment Tools
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Ximage and Windows Deployment Service are tools available to
assist with deployments of both Windows Vista and down-level
(Windows XP and Windows 2000) operating systems. However,
neither the System Image Manager, the XML-based unattend
formats, or the improved hardware abstraction layer work with
Windows XP or Windows 2000.
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
WPF is part of WinFX, which is a feature of Windows Vista. WinFX
and all of its components, including the new Common Language
Runtime, will also be made available down-level to Windows XP.
From the point of view of functionality (APIs) we expose to
developers, there is little or no difference. It is worth noting,
however, that when WPF is running on Windows XP, there are some
limitations:
There is no access to the AERO API and UI
There is no API access to metadata on images
The underlying Windows Vista driver model (WDDM), which
provides greater robustness and virtualization of the graphics
resources is not available.
Windows Communication Foundation
Queues—per application dead letter queues and poison message
handling. These features require MSMQ 4.0 on Windows Vista and
will not function on down-level operating systems. In Vista, the
addition of poison message handling will mean that users will not
have to manually unblock queues as they do today when
unreadable messages are sent to the queue. The addition of per
application dead letter queues means that users will not be
restricted to using a single dead letter queue per MSMQ queue
and stale messages will be routed to separate queues per
application.
CLFS logging integration. Our logging mechanism supports CLFS
integration. CLFS is available on Windows Vista and Windows Server
2003 R2, but is not available on Windows XP.
WS Management support. The WCF WMI provider supports
command and control operations that are exposed as WSManagement services on Windows Longhorn Server and Windows
Server 2003 R2. (This is not a client feature and will not be available
on Windows Vista Client).
*Note: AERO UI and MPEG2 Codecs are not included in
Windows Vista Basic or Starter
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7.02 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System
Release
People Are Key
To thrive in today’s changing markets, businesses like yours are
constantly challenged to maximize their competitive advantage.
You may already focus on fundamentals such as:
•
Understanding and serving customers
•
Delivering breakthrough products and services
•
Building tighter relationships with key partners
•
Streamlining operations and driving cost savings
But how can you drive gains across all of these areas at once? By
empowering your people. At Microsoft, we believe that when
properly equipped with the right tools, people can go farther and
do more. And of the many options available to business, software
has demonstrated a unique capacity to amplify the power and
productivity of people.
People-Ready Software
As the world of digital business information grows exponentially, you
count on advances in software not only to manage the influx of
information, but also to accelerate the effectiveness and impact of
your people. This belief has always been, and will always be, at the
core of Windows and Microsoft Office. From developing a
graphical user interface for computers, to combining separate
productivity applications into a unified suite, our focus has been on
providing software that empowers people.
This focus on individual productivity is a major area of investment in
the next releases of Windows and Microsoft Office. We listened to
your feedback, invested significantly in research, and made major
improvements with new, intuitive user interfaces designed to
increase the productivity of all users—from the most skilled to the
most basic.
In several versions, Windows Vista offers a streamlined user
experience called Windows Aero™, which provides enhanced
graphics and visualization capabilities. Extensive search
functionality makes it easy to find your information. Windows
SideShow™ helps mobile workers use external displays to access
relevant information without opening their laptops.
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By replacing an overwhelming catalogue of commands, the new
Microsoft Office System user interface helps your people get the
results they want to achieve. They won’t have to spend time
searching through toolbars and menus because the software now
reflects the way they want to work. We also added new analysis
capabilities to the Microsoft Office System so that people can work
with data more efficiently and make better decisions. Enhanced
authoring tools make it easier than ever to create high-impact
documents and presentations with less effort.
Our extensive user research tells us that user reaction to these
improvements has been very enthusiastic. We streamlined the user
experience and added more professional polish and detail, but
Windows and the Microsoft Office System remain fundamentally
familiar to current users.
A New World of Work
While individual productivity is of primary importance, we know that
the business environment is changing and with those changes
comes a demand for new solutions that help groups of people—
small teams, business divisions, and entire organizations—work more
productively and effectively with information.
Customers tell us this pressure for new levels of team and
organizational productivity comes from a combination of global
trends:
•
One world of business. Most enterprises today operate
globally, or they face global competition. As traditional
barriers to the flow of goods, capital, and labor dissolve,
collaboration of all sorts is becoming more common—and
more critical. For example, teams increasingly work across all
types of organizational and geographic boundaries. The
outsourcing of call centers, accounting, and many other
common business processes is on the rise, as is
telecommuting. An estimated 23.5 million U.S. employees
now work primarily from home—more than double the
number who did so in 1997.
•
The transparent organization. Government regulations,
combined with increasing vigilance by shareholders,
customers, and empowered consumer groups, compel
businesses to operate at unprecedented levels of visibility
while maintaining control over proprietary information.
“Flattening” of organizations can help information to flow
more easily, but it also makes intellectual property more
susceptible to misuse.
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•
Always on, always connected. Wireless networks and
increasingly powerful mobile devices make information
access easy, but prioritization is becoming more and more
difficult as workers try to balance competing demands for
their time. Finding the right information and expertise to
make efficient decisions continues to be a real challenge.
•
Increased security threats. In addition, organizations
worldwide are facing evolving security threats, privacy
issues, and the difficulty of managing software updates to
keep their systems secure.
The Next Wave of Innovation
The next releases of Windows and the Microsoft Office System fully
embrace the challenges—and the incredible promise—of these
new business trends. They deliver significant new capabilities that
will help your organization increase each individual’s impact. They
also simplify how people work together, secure and manage
content, find information and improve business insight, and reduce
security threats and deployment costs.
Simplify How People Work Together
In an increasingly globalized business environment—where teams
are challenged to work across time, geographical and
organizational boundaries and increasingly with customers and
partners—the next releases of Windows and the Microsoft Office
System are designed to simplify how people collaborate.
Windows Vista includes capabilities designed for mobile workers or
people in distributed workforces to:
Get more out of meetings by sharing applications or jointly
editing files among small groups using Windows Shared View
(a new peer-to-peer application) or projecting presentations
wirelessly using Network Projection.
Access network information on the road with simplified
connectivity through the Network Center and with easier
offline access to commonly used network files. Intelligent
background synchronization automatically reflects changes
the next time the user connects to the network.
Set up smooth and simple device synchronization with a
Windows Mobile® device, making it easier to transfer files,
music, and pictures. Computer-to-computer sync enables
people to replicate key documents between their laptop
and desktop computers.
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Control key mobile system settings from a single location
using the Mobility Center, and make laptops more effective
with improved power management and wireless support.
Today when we talk about communication and collaboration with
the Microsoft Office System, people most often think of managing
e-mail in Microsoft Office Outlook®. With the next release of
Microsoft Office, we’ve expanded that experience to a new set of
capabilities that help people:
Communicate in and out of the office—achieve “anywhere
access”—with powerful mobile e-mail and instant messaging
capabilities.
Use a single inbox to manage all types of communication,
including e-mail, voice mail, phone calls, and video
conferences.
Work together on documents using group workspaces,
whether online or offline.
Span geographic boundaries with Web-based meetings.
Keep up to date with automated alerts, and use new
collaboration technologies like RSS, blogs, and wikis.
With the 2007 release, your people will have the tools they need to
work together. And they’ll be able to do so from within the familiar
Microsoft Office System programs they already know and use.
Help Secure and Manage Content
When we look at the trend toward more transparent organizations,
we see customers struggling to simplify their everyday business
processes and to better control an ever-increasing volume of
content. New compliance requirements compel organizations to
monitor how they work and how information—whether it is
documents, e-mail messages, or Web content—is used, managed,
and secured.
Our studies show that up to 80 percent of a company’s digitized
information resides on computer hard drives. With an increasingly
mobile workforce, your sensitive data is at risk if a laptop is lost or
stolen. Windows Vista Enterprise and the Microsoft Office System
can help.
More than 700,000 laptops are stolen in the United States each
year. Using Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption, Windows Vista
Enterprise can help to protect user and system data from being
compromised when a machine is lost or stolen. Additional
capabilities enable you to restrict the use of USB keys and
removable storage devices, which prevents your company’s
valuable intellectual property from walking out the door.
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The Microsoft Office System builds directly on the popular content
creation experience found in core desktop programs such as
Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office PowerPoint®. The
Microsoft Office System can enable your people to move beyond
simply using applications to create documents, spreadsheets, or
presentations, to optimizing their capabilities to share, apply
workflow and approve or manage content. Security, retention, and
compliance policies can be applied to content—all within the
familiar Microsoft Office System.
We also expanded the electronic form capabilities of the Microsoft
Office System—both on the desktop and on the Web. Microsoft
Office 12 can help you automate internal and external business
processes and better integrate the familiar user experience of
Microsoft Office System programs with data from your key business
systems.
Find Information and Improve Business Insight
In an “always on, always connected” world, where information
and people are online around the clock, organizations are
increasingly faced with the challenge of managing a growing
amount of information. According to IDC research1, companies
may lose up to US$18,000 per knowledge worker per year in lost
productivity when users can’t find the documents they need to do
their work.
Windows Vista can help your company stay ahead of the
competition with powerful search capabilities that help employees
quickly and easily find the information they need—on their
computers and on the Internet. New live icons give people the
ability to preview their documents and go directly to the items they
need. Search Folders offer a quick and convenient way to find and
organize documents based on content, no matter where they are
stored on your computer.
The Microsoft Office System also helps people find information
more quickly. New capabilities include a greatly improved
enterprise search engine to help employees find information across
your company. Innovative new tools enable rapid searches
through e-mail as well as handwriting, graphics, and audio
recordings stored on laptops.
Business intelligence tools extend insight across organizations for
every employee. These tools include personalized “report centers,”
executive dashboards, business scorecards, personalized portal
sites, and server-based Microsoft Office Excel® spreadsheets. We
also made it easier to import data from key corporate systems into
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the Office environment using our new Business Data Catalogue
and XML file formats.
Reduce Security Threats and Deployment Costs
Windows Vista and Office 12 are more secure by design. They
enable you to reduce the threat surface area, by providing one
location where people can manage privacy and security settings,
and to simplify security prompts and warnings.
Windows Vista features User Account Control capabilities, which
enable better management of operations that require different
levels of security privilege. Internet Explorer Protected Mode helps
shield your system from Web-based malicious software by limiting its
access only to temporary files. Anti-phishing capabilities help to
protect users and their data, while Network Access Protection
restricts unhealthy clients that lack current security updates or virus
signatures.
Improved junk e-mail filtering in Outlook sorts unwanted e-mail
more precisely. Enhanced protection against phishing and
fraudulent e-mails helps to prevent the accidental release of
personal information. Suspicious messages are tracked and links
within them are automatically disabled.
Windows Vista and Office 12 also reflect changes in how we build
software to make it more manageable and reliable. Security patch
management and updates are significantly easier to deploy using
language-independent binaries that require a single patch,
regardless of how many languages your organization might use.
New imaging technology in Windows Vista allows companies to
deploy a single operating system image to different types of
computer hardware and to people with different language
requirements. This dramatically reduces IT costs. Improvements in
the way users update their computers results in fewer reboots, and
virtualization capabilities help to ensure that older but still critical
applications will continue to run.
With the Microsoft Office System, we are reducing the complexity
associated with patching and deployment by providing a
consistent experience for customization with the new Office
Customization and Office Migration tools. Improvements in
software reliability and quality come through proactive support,
improved program responsiveness, and better crash recovery.
Conclusion
Microsoft believes that when people are properly equipped with
the right tools, they can surmount any challenge. A person’s value
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isn’t simply measured in productivity, but in organizational impact
and results. And of the many options available to businesses today,
software has demonstrated a unique capacity to amplify the
positive impact of people, helping them to overcome diverse
challenges in a new world of work.
Microsoft creates software that is:
Familiar and easy to use so it requires less training and is
easier to deploy, adapt, and manage.
Widely used by businesses and supported by the largest
community of partners, developers, and support
professionals in the world.
Easy to connect and integrate with the other software,
technology, devices, or services that businesses and their
partners use or may adopt in the future.
Innovative and continues to evolve with increased
capabilities as business needs change.
When your people use Windows Vista and Office 12, they’re not
only helping themselves; they’re helping your entire organization
compete
and succeed.
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7.03 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System
Release Feature Integration
To enhance productivity and make computing easier, Microsoft
has integrated features in Windows Vista and Office 12, the new
2007 Microsoft Office System release. The following list details
certain new capabilities that are specific to Windows Vista, and are
not available when Office 12 is running on Windows XP.
Search
The new search functionality in Windows Vista is fully supported by
Microsoft Office System metadata for both Office binary and Open
XML formats. Windows Vista search will be able to search deeply
into Office 12 data, providing full-text search for documents,
Outlook e-mail and Outlook e-mail attachments.
Improved File Open/Insert/Save Dialog
When using Windows Vista, Microsoft Office System users will
interact with the Windows Vista Common File Dialog when
opening, inserting, and saving files in Office 12 applications. Instead
of using proprietary
open/insert/save dialogs,
Office 12 will prominently
expose the new “search and
organize” functionality in
Windows Vista and make it
available to Office users.
Searching for documents from
an open-file dialog in Office 12
will be the same as searching
for a file in Windows Vista
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Thumbnails
Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Office 12 will make it easier to save
high-quality thumbnails in support of the Windows Vista goal to
present high-fidelity thumbnail
representations of files in the
Windows Vista user interface.
Explorer Reading Pane Support
Office 12 documents, PowerPoint files and Excel spreadsheets are
fully readable in the Windows Vista Explorers. With the Explorer
reading pane, you can scroll
through an entire document
without even opening it in the
application used to create it.
RSS
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) in Windows Vista and Outlook 12 will enable
users to subscribe to RSS feeds. Outlook 12 will automatically
subscribe to feeds that a user has added to IE7.
Native XPS Support
Office 12 enables users to “publish” an XPS document directly from
the Office applications suite. Rights management is fully integrated
across Office documents and XPS document creation. If a user
applies rights management to a Word document, and later
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publishes that document in XPS, the XPS document automatically
inherits the restricted permissions placed on the original Word
document.
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Windows SideShow (Auxiliary Display) for Laptops
The Windows team is working with hardware vendors to support
small lid displays on laptop computers running Windows Vista. Users
who have Outlook 12 installed on a Windows Vista laptop with an
auxiliary lid display would be able to check the time and location
of appointments stored in their calendars by glancing at the
display on the laptop lid without opening and starting the
computer.
Freeze Dry/Restart Manager
Windows Vista includes a new feature called Restart Manager that
reduces user frustration with system updates and reboots. To
complement this functionality, certain Office 12 applications
(specifically, Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint) will showcase a
new “Freeze Dry” feature that can “remember” program settings such
as window size, window position and even cursor position. The next time
you install a software update that requires restarting your Windows Vista
computer, Restart Manager signals Office to “Freeze Dry.” When your
computer restarts, all of your programs automatically return to the state
they were in before the interruption occurred.
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1
Single Index
Windows Vista and Office 12 provide instant desktop search
capabilities based on their own underlying index and query
provider. In reality, they are the same technology. Because Office
12 is deployed on Windows Vista, Office 12 executes fast searches
using the Windows Vista index. The net benefit to you and other
users is that you no longer have multiple indexes competing for
CPU cycles.
International Domain Name Support
From all Office 12 applications, you will be able to navigate to and
open Web-page URLs that contain extended characters such as
“ä,” “å,” and many others.
IPv6 Support
Internet Protocol version 6 is a new IP standard that was created
with the primary goal of expanding the number of available IP
addresses. Office 12 supports IPv6 with support at the system level
in Windows Vista.
Reducing Hangs
Both Office and Windows are designed to make it easier to cancel
any operation that could cause your system to “hang.” Office 12
uses Windows file I/O anti-hang APIs where appropriate. The goal is
to enhance application responsiveness when running Office 12
and Windows Vista.
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7.04 WinFX
WinFX is the Windows Vista programming model for developing
software using managed code. It is a superset of the Microsoft .NET
Framework, combining the power of the .NET Framework 2.0 APIs
with new technologies for building applications that have visually
stunning user experiences, seamless and secure communication,
and the ability to model a range of business processes. Because
WinFX is an evolution of the .NET Framework, it provides a consistent
and familiar
development
experience
for the millions
of developers
programming
in managed
code today.
New features
in WinFX
dramatically
simplify
software development and open the door to building new types of
applications:
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). Provides classes for
building next-generation client applications that combine
user interface (UI), documents, and media.
Microsoft InfoCard Technology. Simplifies and improves the
safety of accessing resources and sharing personal identity
information online.
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF). Unified
programming model and runtime for building serviceoriented applications.
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). Programming model,
engine, and tools to build workflow-enabled applications
that model business processes.
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Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
Windows Presentation Foundation is the new presentation subsystem
for Windows Vista. It enables developers to build user experiences
that incorporate application UI, documents and media content,
including 2D and 3D graphics, vector-based graphics, animation,
speech, audio and video.
WPF overcomes traditional
barriers associated with
developer-designer
collaboration with the
introduction of the XML
Application Markup Language
(XAML). By providing a unified
API for all aspects of the user
experience, WPF-based
applications let customers
visualize information in ways
never before possible, and
capitalize on the power of a
PC running Windows Vista.
Microsoft Codename “InfoCard”
InfoCard is a new technology in WinFX that helps developers build
Web sites and software that are less susceptible to the most
commonly deployed identity-related attacks such as phishing.
InfoCard minimizes security risks by reducing reliance on user
names and passwords. Instead, it uses a separate, secure desktop
and strong cryptographic claims-based authentication. By helping
users better manage their personal information and control how,
and to whom, it is released, InfoCard facilitates more secure online
experiences such as shopping, banking and bill payment.
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Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
Windows Communication Foundation is the managed code
communication subsystem for Windows Vista applications. It
enables developers to build secure, reliable, service-oriented
applications that integrate across platforms and interoperate with
existing investments. WCF solutions can run within the context of a
single machine, over company intranets, or across the Internet
using a variety of protocols, formats, and message exchange
patterns. By combining and extending the capabilities of existing
Microsoft-distributed systems technologies such as Enterprise
Services, System Messaging,
.NET Remoting, ASMX, and
WSE, WCF reduces the coding
and complexity of developing,
deploying and managing
distributed applications. With
support for REST, RSS, and the
WS-* Web services protocols,
WCF provides the
communication infrastructure
for a wide range of software,
from consumer P2P
applications and content
feeds to enterprise-critical
solutions.
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
Windows Workflow Foundation is the programming model, engine
and tools for rapidly building workflow-enabled applications on
Windows Vista. It includes support for both system- and humanbased workflow across a wide range of scenarios, including line of
business applications, user interface page flow, document-centric
workflow, composite workflow for service-oriented applications,
business rule-driven workflow,
and workflow for systems
management. WF provides
developers with a graphical
design capability that enables
the creation of workflowenabled software using a
combination of imperative
code and declarative rules.
And because WF builds
workflow capabilities directly
into the core developer
framework, it enables
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enterprises and ISVs to more easily build software that models and
adapts to their ever-changing business processes.
In addition to the new feature areas introduced in the WinFX APIs,
developers can extend the value of their existing skills in the .NET
Framework when building WinFX applications. WinFX includes the
.NET Framework 2.0 APIs – from ASP.NET for Web application
development, to Windows Forms for forms-based client
applications, to ADO.NET for data access. And like the .NET
Framework, WinFX integrates seamlessly with Visual Studio® 2005,
giving developers access to an intelligent code editor, debugging
capabilities, deployment tools, and more.
As a core part of Windows Vista, WinFX brings together .NET
development and the Windows platform. It enables developers to
take advantage of new technologies to increase their productivity,
improve application security, deployment and manageability, and
leverage existing skills in the .NET Framework. The result is software
that is more connected, easier to use and more resilient to the
changing needs of a business.
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Detailed Table of Contents
Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................ 2
Contents .............................................................................................................................. 4
Section 1: Introduction to Windows Vista.............................................. 6
Section 2: Windows Vista Editions........................................................... 7
CONSUMER SKUS: ..........................................................................................................................8
BUSINESS SKUS:..............................................................................................................................10
CONSUMER SKU FOR EMERGING MARKETS: ............................................................................12
Summary .......................................................................................................................................13
Section 3: For All Users ............................................................................ 21
3.01 First Experience ........................................................................................................23
Computer Setup..........................................................................................................................23
Welcome Center.........................................................................................................................23
3.02 User Interface: Navigation and Ease of Use .......................................................24
New User Experiences, Including the New Windows Aero ...................................................24
A More Intuitive User Experience ..............................................................................................27
More about Windows Vista Aero..............................................................................................37
3.03 User Interface: ClearType.......................................................................................41
3.04 User Interface: Search and Organization ...........................................................43
Search Features...........................................................................................................................43
Organization Features ................................................................................................................49
3.05 Windows Sidebar and Gadgets ...........................................................................54
Windows Sidebar.........................................................................................................................54
Gadgets........................................................................................................................................54
3.06 Internet Explorer .......................................................................................................55
Make Everyday Tasks Easier.......................................................................................................55
Dynamic Security Protection.....................................................................................................64
Improved Platform and Manageability...................................................................................76
3.07 Security ......................................................................................................................80
Enjoy a PC Free from Malicious Software................................................................................80
A Safe Online Experience ..........................................................................................................84
Make a Vulnerable PC Safer.....................................................................................................87
3.08 Windows Defender..................................................................................................89
Spyware Protection.....................................................................................................................90
Control Over Software on Your Computer .............................................................................93
3.09 Performance ............................................................................................................96
Startup, Sleep, and Shutdown Performance ..........................................................................96
Improved Responsiveness..........................................................................................................97
Diagnosing Performance Issues ..............................................................................................101
3.10 Networking..............................................................................................................103
Network Center .........................................................................................................................103
Connecting ................................................................................................................................103
Network Explorer........................................................................................................................104
Network Map .............................................................................................................................105
Network Setup ...........................................................................................................................105
Network Awareness ..................................................................................................................106
3.11 Mobile PC................................................................................................................107
Power Management Experience ...........................................................................................107
Windows Mobility Center*........................................................................................................109
Presentation Settings.................................................................................................................110
Multiple Monitors .......................................................................................................................110
Network Projection....................................................................................................................111
Windows HotStart ......................................................................................................................112
3.12 Tablet PC.................................................................................................................113
Pen Improvements ....................................................................................................................113
Tablet PC Input Panel Improvements ....................................................................................116
Handwriting Recognition Improvements...............................................................................117
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3.13 Windows SideShow................................................................................................120
New Gadgets Increase Functionality ....................................................................................121
Devices for Windows SideShow ..............................................................................................121
3.14 PC-to-PC Sync ........................................................................................................123
3.15 Sync Center ............................................................................................................124
3.16 Printing .....................................................................................................................126
The New XML Paper Specification Document Format........................................................126
Improved Windows Printing Experience ................................................................................127
3.17 Accessibility ............................................................................................................129
Ease of Access Center .............................................................................................................129
New Technology in Windows Vista Enhances Accessibility................................................130
Compatibility with Assistive Technology Products ...............................................................130
3.18 Speech Recognition .............................................................................................132
3.19 Windows Update ...................................................................................................134
Advances in Windows Update ...............................................................................................134
Using Windows Update ............................................................................................................135
3.20 Help and Feedback..............................................................................................136
A Better Out-of-the-Box Experience.......................................................................................136
Section 4: For Home Users ................................................................... 140
4.01 Home User Introduction........................................................................................142
A Safer and More Reliable PC ................................................................................................142
Ease of Use and Greater Focus ..............................................................................................142
Better Connectivity Throughout the Home and On the Go...............................................142
The Latest in Home Entertainment..........................................................................................142
4.02 Windows Easy Transfer ..........................................................................................143
4.03 Parental Controls Settings ....................................................................................146
Parental Controls.......................................................................................................................146
Activity Reports ..........................................................................................................................147
Time Limits for Computer Use ..................................................................................................147
Computer Game Restrictions..................................................................................................148
Application Restrictions............................................................................................................148
Web Restrictions ........................................................................................................................149
4.04 Windows Photo Gallery ........................................................................................151
Acquiring and Importing Photos and Videos .......................................................................152
Finding, Organizing, Viewing, and Editing Photos and Videos.........................................152
Creating and Viewing Slide Shows.........................................................................................156
Sharing Photos and Videos via E-mail....................................................................................157
Printing Photos ...........................................................................................................................158
Burning CDs and DVDs .............................................................................................................160
Enjoy Home Videos in the Windows Photo Gallery..............................................................161
4.05 Windows Media Player 11....................................................................................163
Updated Design and Interface ..............................................................................................163
More of the Music You Love ....................................................................................................164
Optimized for Large Music Collections ..................................................................................165
Discovering New Music ............................................................................................................165
All of Your Entertainment in One Place .................................................................................167
Enjoy Your Media Everywhere.................................................................................................167
Connect with Portable Devices..............................................................................................169
Burn Your Own CDs and Data DVDs ......................................................................................170
4.06 Windows Media Center........................................................................................172
Let Us Entertain You...................................................................................................................172
Enjoying Music ...........................................................................................................................173
Digital Memories........................................................................................................................174
The TV and Movie Experience.................................................................................................175
Windows Media Center Extenders Offer Entertainment Throughout the Home.............177
Enjoy Media On The Go ...........................................................................................................179
4.07 CD and DVD Burning ............................................................................................181
Copy Data Files to a CD or DVD.............................................................................................181
Copy Photos or Videos to a CD or DVD ................................................................................182
Burn Music Content to CD or DVD .........................................................................................182
Creating DVDs of Home Videos with Windows Vista ..........................................................183
Windows Media Center ...........................................................................................................183
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4.08 Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker ..................................................184
4.09 Windows Games....................................................................................................186
A Better Gaming Experience ..................................................................................................186
4.10 Windows Mail .........................................................................................................189
Instant Search ............................................................................................................................189
Junk Mail Filter............................................................................................................................189
Phishing Filter ..............................................................................................................................190
Reliability .....................................................................................................................................190
Newsgroup Features.................................................................................................................190
4.11 Windows Calendar................................................................................................191
Personal Time Management ...................................................................................................191
Shared Calendars .....................................................................................................................192
Calendar Subscriptions and Publishing .................................................................................193
E-Mail Invitations ........................................................................................................................193
4.12 Windows Backup and Restore ............................................................................194
Windows Backup and Restore Control Panel.......................................................................194
New File Backup Wizard...........................................................................................................195
Automatic Previous Versions ...................................................................................................196
New Image-based Backup for Complete PC Restoration.................................................198
System Restore...........................................................................................................................198
Section 5: For Business Users ................................................................ 201
5.01 Business User Introduction ....................................................................................202
Windows Vista Business.............................................................................................................202
Windows Vista Enterprise..........................................................................................................202
5.02 XPS Documents ......................................................................................................204
XPS Document Creation ..........................................................................................................204
XPS Document Viewing............................................................................................................205
XPS Document Graphics Fidelity ............................................................................................205
Office 12 and Rights Management Server Support.............................................................205
5.03 Windows Collaboration ........................................................................................207
Meet Anywhere, Any Time.......................................................................................................207
Discovering Sessions and People Near Me ...........................................................................208
Make Meetings More Productive ...........................................................................................208
Secure Collaboration ...............................................................................................................209
Windows Collaboration or Live Meeting? .............................................................................209
5.04 Sharing.....................................................................................................................211
Same Computer Sharing..........................................................................................................211
Network Sharing ........................................................................................................................212
5.05 Corporate Roaming..............................................................................................213
Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection......................................................................213
5.06 Offline Files and Folders........................................................................................216
5.07 Remote Access......................................................................................................218
Simplified Remote Access........................................................................................................218
Improved Flexibility and Control .............................................................................................219
5.08 Windows Fax and Scan ........................................................................................220
Easy-to-Use Fax and Scan........................................................................................................220
Faxing..........................................................................................................................................221
Scanning.....................................................................................................................................221
5.09 Small Business Resources ......................................................................................223
Section 6: For IT Professionals .............................................................. 225
6.01 IT Professionals Introduction .................................................................................226
Security........................................................................................................................................226
Multi-tiered Data Protection....................................................................................................226
Reliability and Performance ....................................................................................................227
Deployment ...............................................................................................................................227
Manageability ...........................................................................................................................227
Productivity.................................................................................................................................228
6.02 Deployment............................................................................................................229
Deployment Innovations..........................................................................................................229
Deployment Tools......................................................................................................................233
Deployment Scenarios .............................................................................................................235
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6.03 Application Compatibility....................................................................................236
Improved Application Compatibility Resources ..................................................................236
Application Compatibility Tools ..............................................................................................237
The Importance of an Application Compatibility Community..........................................239
Enterprise Guidance: Information to Assist with Application Compatibility ....................240
Bridging Technologies ..............................................................................................................242
6.04 Management .........................................................................................................247
Reducing Desktop Support Costs ...........................................................................................247
Simplifying Desktop Configuration Management ...............................................................248
Increasing Automation.............................................................................................................249
Reducing Update Management Costs.................................................................................250
6.05 Advanced Security ...............................................................................................253
Threat and Vulnerability Mitigation ........................................................................................254
Identity and Access Control ....................................................................................................260
Information Protection and Compliance..............................................................................264
6.06 Advanced Networking.........................................................................................266
Next Generation TCP/IP Stack ................................................................................................266
End User Experience .................................................................................................................268
Wireless Networking ..................................................................................................................268
IPv6 ..............................................................................................................................................272
Network Access Protection .....................................................................................................272
IPsec ............................................................................................................................................273
Network Awareness ..................................................................................................................274
Policy-based Quality of Service ..............................................................................................275
6.07 Reliability .................................................................................................................277
Fewer User Disruptions ..............................................................................................................277
Easy Recovery when Disruptions Occur ................................................................................279
Continual Improvement in Reliability .....................................................................................281
6.08 Hardware Guidelines ............................................................................................285
Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Requirements ........................................................285
Enterprise Planning Guidelines ................................................................................................287
Section 7: Appendix ............................................................................. 289
7.01 Windows Vista Features Available in Windows XP...........................................290
Windows Vista Features Not Available on Windows XP Machines....................................290
Windows XP ‘Down-level’ Features ........................................................................................292
Windows Communication Foundation..................................................................................293
7.02 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release ..................................................294
People Are Key ..........................................................................................................................294
A New World of Work................................................................................................................295
Simplify How People Work Together.......................................................................................296
Help Secure and Manage Content .......................................................................................297
Find Information and Improve Business Insight .....................................................................298
Reduce Security Threats and Deployment Costs ................................................................299
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................299
7.03 Windows Vista + 2007 Office System Release Feature Integration...............301
7.04 WinFX .......................................................................................................................306
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) .............................................................................307
Microsoft Codename “InfoCard”...........................................................................................307
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)......................................................................308
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) .....................................................................................308
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