If you don’t partition your drive correctly before the OS install, you won’t be able to install Bitlocker. This tool will create another volume to boot from so that you can get BitLocker set up. (more…)

Consider the following scenario:

• Your computer is in a wireless network environment that uses Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS).
• You use SmartCard-only authentication for the wireless connection authentication.

In this scenario, when you log on to a Windows Vista-based client computer, you may receive the following error message in the toolbar:

Cannot connect to SSID: Please contact network administrator.

Note: In this message, the SSID placeholder represents the wireless network connection.

Therefore, you cannot connect to the wireless network. In this case, you must manually reconnect to the wireless network.

This problem does not occur when you log on to the computer for the first time. When you log on for the first time, you receive the following message:

Wireless Network Connection:

Please click here to select the certificate for the following network connection or other qualification information.

After you provide the correct information, you can successfully connect to the wireless network.

Note: This problem does not occur in Windows XP. In Windows XP, you are prompted to provide the related smart card information. Then, you can successfully connect to the wireless network.

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Event Log Extension Agent does not initialize correctly on a computer that is running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008. Therefore, network management middleware cannot use SNMP to retrieve event log information. When this problem occurs, the following events are logged in the Application log:

Event ID 1020

Log Name: Application
Source: EvntAgnt
Date: Date_Time
Event ID: 1020
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
Error processing registry parameters. Extension agent terminating.

Event ID 2019

Log Name: Application
Source: EvntAgnt
Date: Date_Time
Event ID: 2019
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
SNMP Event Log Extension Agent did not initialize correctly.

Event ID 2020

Log Name: Application
Source: EvntAgnt
Date: Date_Time
Event ID: 2020
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
SNMP Event Log Extension Agent has terminated.

Event ID 3003

Log Name: Application
Source: EvntAgnt
Date: Date_Time
Event ID: 3003
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
Error positioning to end of log file — can’t get oldest log record. Handle specified is 15728660. Return code from GetOldestEventLogRecord is 223.

Consider the following scenario:

• The Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 console is installed on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.
• In the Alerts view, you right-click an item to open the Health Explorer window.

In this scenario, the System Center Operations Manager 2007 console may crash. Therefore, you cannot use Health Explorer to see any monitored objects in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Vista.

A monitor that reports information to the operating system by using Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) 1.3 or a later version may behave unpredictably in the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:

• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows XP

Note: These operating systems support EDID 1.1.

Consider the following scenario:

• You are running a Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computer.
• Antivirus and antispyware with e-mail scanning software is installed on the computer.
• An e-mail client, such as Microsoft Office Outlook or Windows Mail, is configured to receive POP3 or SMTP e-mail messages.

When you start the e-mail client, or when you try to send or receive e-mail messages, Windows Vista crashes. Additionally, you receive the following Stop error message:

STOP: 0x1000008E (Parameter1, Parameter2, Parameter3, Parameter4) In TCPIP.SYS
KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M

Note: This issue does not occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• The e-mail client is configured to receive HTTP e-mail messages instead of POP3 or SMTP e-mail messages.
• The e-mail client works offline.

An excellent article on how to make UAC work for you, instead of turning it off and losing all the benefits it can offer. (more…)

Microsoft handing out USB keys that circumvent Vista security? I don’t think so. (more…)

• GeForce Release 175.12 (32-bit)
  The beta of GeForce Release 175.12 for Vista 32-bit.
  (tags: 32-bit Driver GeForce Nvidia Video )
• GeForce Release 175.12 (64-bit)
  The beta of GeForce Release 175.12 for Vista 64-bit.
  (tags: Driver GeForce Nvidia Video )

(more…)

The beta of GeForce Release 175.12 for Vista 32-bit. (more…)