Windows Vista™ Resource Kit
Get the definitive reference for deploying, configuring, and supporting Microsoft® Windows Vista™—with expert insights from Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and the Windows Vista Team.
windows -
comments -
7.4.2007 Introducing the Windows 7 Resource Kit PowerShell Pack
Today, the Windows 7 Resource Kit should be available in stores, and the PowerShell Pack is available for download on code gallery.
windows -
comments -
18.10.2009 Academic Resource Kit – Free Tools and Resources from Microsoft
Whether you want to build an AJAX-based web application, or a Windows game, the Academic Resource Kit is a great place to start.
microsoft -
comments -
9.2.2008 Windows Automated Installation Kit RTM Now Available for Download
The Vista RTM version of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows-AIK or WAIK) is now available for download from Microsoft downloads.
download -
comments -
16.11.2006 Download the Windows 7 RTM Automated Installation Kit
With the gold build of the latest iteration of the Windows client now live on MSDN and TechNet, Microsoft has also made available for download the final version of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 RTM.
download -
comments -
10.8.2009 Bill Gates Promises Windows 7 Will Be Less of a Resource Hog
There are but scarce details pointing the direction in which Microsoft is taking the development of Windows 7, and the operating system, for that matter.
windows -
comments -
12.5.2008 Microsoft Windows Vista OEM Preinstallation Kit available
The Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) OEM Presinstallation Kit is now available. Microsoft's Worldwide System Builder team would like system builders to experience the updated OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tools which will be used to preinstall Windows Vista.
windows -
comments -
16.10.2006 Windows Driver Kit Beta release hints at upcoming Vista SP1
Thanks to pacpis for this post. One of our members received the following e-mail earlier today from the WDK team:
windows -
comments -
18.7.2007 Windows 7, XP SP3 and Vista SP1 Vulnerability Exploit Included in Malware Kit
The exploit for a vulnerability affecting the Server Service on all supported versions of Windows has been included in a commercial malware kit, available for sale.
windows -
comments -
17.11.2008 Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit - Block Vista SP2 Automatic Upgrades
Microsoft is offering Windows Vista SP1 users the chance to block automatic upgrades to Service Pack 2. In addition to making available Vista SP2 RTM as a standalone download, DVD ISO image, the bits are also released to Windows Update, and subsequently served to Vista SP1 users who have Automatic Updates enabled.
download -
comments -
3.7.2009 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this download. This is Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit 0.5 Beta by Steve Jobs @ Keznews forum
download -
comments -
22.3.2007 Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit v1.5
Steve Jobs update his Vista Oem Activation Tool Kit For Vista 32bit and 64bit to version 1.5. Vista will be 100% genuine, all downloads will work.
download -
comments -
3.4.2007 Vista Automated Installation Kit - WAIK User's Guide
Documentation Update 1 - Documentation update for the Windows Automated Installation Kit and Unattended Setup Reference.
download -
comments -
3.4.2007 Vista SP1 and XP SP3 Blocker Tool Kit Draws Close to Expiration
Soon, there will be nothing standing between Windows XP and Windows Vista users and the automatic distribution of the latest service packs for the two operating systems. Microsoft provided a heads up related to the imminent expiration of the Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit, a tool that is designed with the sole purpose of blocking the delivery and installation of Service Pack 3 for XP and SP1 for Vista through Windows Update and Automatic Updates.
windows -
comments -
24.4.2009 Windows Update Blocker Tool Kit - Block Automatic Windows Vista SP2 Update
After availability of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 for public download I am sure many users would have already installed Vista Service Pack 2 to see the performance improvements and its advisable to install Windows Vista sp2 as it has many noticeable changes and also includes all the fixes released after Vista sp1.
common -
comments -
27.5.2009 Windows Automated Installation Kit
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is designed to help corporate IT professionals customize and deploy the Microsoft Windows Vista™ family of operation systems.
download -
comments -
14.2.2007 Windows 7 Activation Tool Kit BETA 1.8
Orbit30 releases a Windows 7 activation tool and a Windows Vista / 7 tweaker. - Windows 7 Activation Tool Kit BETA 1.8 | 25.4 Mb
download -
comments -
23.7.2009 Windows 7 Automatic Installation Kit Limitations
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK or WAIK) is among the free tools of choice when it comes down to building custom Windows 7 images and deploying them in a specific environment.
windows -
comments -
31.8.2009 Get an Insight into the Windows 7 OEM Pre-installation Kit
Here is your chance to get an insight into the OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) that Microsoft will offer for Windows 7.
download -
comments -
24.5.2009 Get Genuine Kit and Windows Product Key Update Tool
The best and most cost-effective way for customers to acquire Windows software is preinstalled on a new PC.
download -
comments -
15.8.2006 Pre-Activated Windows 7 RTM DVD Kit v2.1
Pre-Activated Windows 7 RTM DVD Kit v2.1 Windows 7 RTM Ultimate only Any language
download -
comments -
21.9.2009 Custom PC makers finally get Windows 7 preinstallation kit
On October 12, Microsoft provided system builders with the Windows 7 OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tools and related documentation they need to preload and customize Windows 7 on multiple new PCs.
windows -
comments -
13.10.2009 Windows Driver Kit RTM Build 6000.16386 Available on Connect
UPDATED! Microsoft have made the final version of the Windows Driver Kit available on Connect under the
Microsoft Windows Driver Kit Beta Program.
windows -
comments -
5.11.2006 WGA Patcher Permanent Kit!
WGA Patcher Permanent Kit! By :
Matt Enables Pirated PC to become Genuine.
download -
comments -
11.11.2006 Xbox 360 Messenger Kit
This year's Xbox 360 Spring Dashboard Update brought MSN Messenger contact-list integration to Xbox Live, but many of us have been waiting for Microsoft to release the chatpad accessory before making full use of the service.
microsoft -
comments -
23.7.2007 Windows 7 RTM Windows 7 Preinstallation Kit for OEMs
Just 10 days ahead of the Windows 7 General Availability deadline, Microsoft made available for download the preinstallation resources associated with the RTM Build of the latest Windows client.
windows -
comments -
14.10.2009 Microsoft Releases First Broad Beta Developer Kit for .NET Micro Framework
New framework allows developers to build applications for the smallest of devices.
microsoft -
comments -
27.9.2006 Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs - Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links
Microsoft has released MUI (Multilingual User Interface) language packs for Windows 7 RTM. The Windows 7 language packs is available via Windows Update as optional update for Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions only.
download -
comments -
28.8.2009 First Microsoft Genuine Office Validation Download on Download Center
Microsoft has posted the first Office download which has Genuine Office Validation (not required yet). It is sounds.exe the download enables sound in Office 2000,XP and 2003.
microsoft -
comments -
28.4.2006 DOWNLOAD Windows Vista Beta 1
links updated
This is Unofficial Download page of Windows Vista Beta 1. Windows Vista codename Longhorn, the next generation OS from Microsoft
This is Beta 1. Build 5112 for those inclined to such information.
Please post this on other forums and sumbit this to other news sites to help us. It will increase the traffic to the page dramatically!
download -
comments -
Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is designed to help corporate IT professionals customize and deploy the Windows Vista and Windows
Server 2008 family of operation systems. By using Windows AIK, you can perform unattended Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX,
and create Windows PE images.
This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.
winbeta.org -
05.02.2008Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit (Beta 3)
The Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit includes a set of hands-on-labs and presentations for technologies such as IIS7, Management, WCF, WF,
Windows CardSpace, Windows PowerShell, Virtualization and the Transactional File System (TxF). The content was originally created by Microsoft's
Developer & Platform Evangelism group as part of the Windows Server 2008 Touchdown training activities.
The seven hands-on labs
included in this kit are based on the DinnerNow sample application. The entire source code for the DinnerNow sample application can be downloaded from
codeplex (see the related resources), however, this sample is not required for using the developer training kit.
Although this
kit is intended to show developers how to build applications that target Windows Server 2008 technologies, the kit can be installed on Windows Vista,
Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. The hands-on labs and most of the technologies covered in this training kit also apply to Windows Vista.
winbeta.org -
03.01.2008Windows Driver Kit Version 7.0.0
The Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Version 7.0.0 contains the tools, code samples, documentation, compilers, headers and libraries with which software
developers create drivers for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003. This
development kit does not contain device drivers for your personal computer. If you are looking for drivers for your personal computer, go to
Microsoft Update for downloads, or visit
Windows Hardware Help for more information to find device drivers and hardware.
A working knowledge of C programming is necessary to use this kit to develop Windows drivers. For additional information about doing driver
development, please go to
Windows Developer Hardware Central.
winbeta.org -
07.08.2009Windows Vista SP1 Product Guide
A comprehensive feature-by-feature guide to Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. With contributions from people who actually worked on the product, this
is the definitive resource to learn about Windows Vista. The Windows Vista Product Guide is available in XPS and PDF formats.
winbeta.org -
22.03.2008Windows Server 2008 RTM WDK now available on Connect
Microsoft has released the Windows Server 2008 RTM Windows Driver Kit (WDK) on Connect. Supported driver platforms for the development kit include
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008:
We are pleased to announce the release of the
Windows Server 2008 RTM WDK. The WDK build is now available for download on Connect. This WDK beta release to Connect coincides with the recent OS
release of Windows Server 2008 RTM. Please take a few moments to install the newest WDK build and test as applicable for your needs. As always, please
file bugs found as quickly and as detailed as possible.
In this WDK release, the WDK is delivering the latest updates to build
drivers for Server 2008 and earlier platforms since the release of Vista a year ago. This is the supported platform for the development and release of
all production drivers for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
The driver kit is
available for users currently registered in the beta and it is also available via "
Available Connections" on Connect for anyone registering in
the "Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK) and Windows Logo Kit (WLK)" beta program.
winbeta.org -
05.02.2008Windows Vista available on Volume Licensing
Thanks Tom Warren and
Bink for
this information that was
relayed to me yesterday
(shortly before my power
outage), but better late than
never! We can reveal that
Windows Vista is available for
Volume License users, shortly
ahead of the scheduled Nov.
17th release to MSDN
subscribers.
The
following flavours were
released:
- Windows Vista
Business 32-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD
English
- Windows Vista
Business 32-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD
UPG
- Windows Vista
Business 64-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD English
- SA Win Vista
Enterprise 32-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD English
- SA Win Vista
Enterprise 32-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD UPG
English
- SA Win Vista
Enterprise 32-bit English Disk
Kit MVL MVLS Only DVD Language
Packs
- SA Win Vista
Enterprise 64-bit English Disk
Kit MVL DVD English
- SA Win Vista
Enterprise 64-bit English Disk
Kit MVL MVLS Only DVD Language
Packs
The site
appears to be non-responsive,
it's probably being
hammered!
neowin.net -
16.11.2006Windows Performance Tools Kit v4.1.1 Update Available
The Windows Performance Tools (WPT) Kit contains performance analysis tools that are new to the Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework
3.5. The WPT Kit is useful to a broad audience, including system builders, hardware manufacturers, driver developers, and general application
developers. These tools are designed for measuring and analyzing system and application performance on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and
later.
Version 4.1.1 is an update to WPT Kit v.4.1.0, which was released as part of the
Windows Server
2008 SDK. Version 4.1.1 contains fixes for the following issues:
- Windows Performance Analyzer does not start when
double-clicking an ETL file.
- Windows Performance Analyzer does not perform power state transition analysis.
winbeta.org -
11.02.2008Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC released
Last week the Windows Team Blog announced that the availability of SP2 RC for Vista would be available soon. Today they have posted that the download
is now live and you can find the information needed here. If you have a beta install of SP2 loaded on your computer it must be uninstalled before
attempting to load the RC. It should also be mentioned that this, while close, is not a final product and a few hiccups may occur along the way. You
can download the RC directly from the Customer Preview Program or use the Windows Update Experience Kit to obtain the RC for your personal computer.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
05.03.2009WAIK Documentation for Vista SP1 Beta 3 and Server 2008 pops up
Now here's an odd one.
Microsoft today posted updated
documentation for the Windows
Automated Installation Kit
that includes support for both
Windows Server 2008 and
Windows Vista SP1 "Beta 3."
See below for the download
link if you're interested.
The Windows Automated
Installation Kit (Windows AIK)
is designed to help Original
Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs), system builders, and
corporate IT professionals
deploy Windows onto new
hardware. The Windows AIK is a
new set of deployment tools
supporting the latest release
of Windows. This guide
describes the current methods,
tools, and requirements for
deploying Windows.
Supported Operating
Systems:
-Windows Server
2008, Windows Vista
Even though it may not be
much, it's good to see
Microsoft finally posting
something publicly regarding
Vista SP1. All we need now is
the actual SP1 Beta bits...
winbeta.org -
07.06.2007Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows 7 Beta)
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Microsoft®
Windows® operating systems.. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify
images using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State
Migration Tool (USMT).
winbeta.org -
10.01.2009Windows Vista Media Center Software Development Kit 5.3 Available
A refreshed version of the Windows Vista Media Center SDK (version 5.3) has been released for download this afternoon. The download location is the
same as the previous versions of the
Windows Vista Media Center SDK. If you have any previous version of the Windows Vista Media Center SDK installed, you can run
the MSI for version 5.3 and it will automatically upgrade the older versions for you.
The features of version 5.3 of the Windows
Vista Media Center SDK are described in more detail in
this post on the Media Center Sandbox blog. The following is a summary of the key changes described in that post...
winbeta.org -
20.11.2007Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit
A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update.
This tool can be used with:
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (valid through March, 2008)
- Windows XP Service Pack
3 (valid for 12 months following general availability)
- Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (valid for 12 months following general
availability)
This toolkit contains three components. All of them function primarily to set or clear a specific registry key that is
used to detect and block download of Service Packs from Windows Update. You only need to use the component which best serves your organizations
computer management infrastructure.
winbeta.org -
07.12.200710 Ways Vista is more annoying with Windows 7 available
We all know Windows Vista got a bit of a bum rap. Its biggest sin was that it shipped earlier than it should and its reputation has never recovered.
However, with Windows 7 now out, those of us who have to switch between PCs now find ourselves discovering completely new things about Windows Vista
that are annoying -- because they are things that Windows 7 made so much better. Here's our list... #1 "Program not responding" Windows
Vista loved to throw programs under the bus for not responding. This was especially true of Windows Explorer which regularly would fade out a window
because it was trying to access a network resource.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
05.11.2009Windows Vista Enterprise Edition appears on Select
Microsoft appears to have
published Office 2007 and
Vista keys to Select licenced
customers.
Along
with the keys is a download
entitled "Windows Vista
Enterprise English Disk Kit
MVL ISO CD". It's not quite
clear what this is but since
the download is 2641MB you can
only assume it's Windows
Vista Enterprise Edition. The
download was published a few
hours ago.
We are
currently awaiting a response
from Microsoft and will update
shortly.
Update: Microsoft
have now pulled the download
but the keys remain. Updated
with screenshot of what was. A
Microsoft spokesperson has
confirmed that Vista has not
yet RTM'd but is unable to
explain the odd appearance of
Vista Enterprise.
neowin.net -
03.11.2006Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows®
operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using
Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool
(USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the
volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
winbeta.org -
07.08.2009Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 RC
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows®
operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using
Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool
(USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the
volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
winbeta.org -
05.05.2009Driver Signing changes between Windows XP and Vista...
Chris Taylor: In XP the driver rankings were determined in the following way as discussed in the "Windows Vista Resource Kit":
-
In-box drivers are given first preference.
- Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) signed drivers next.
- Unsigned drivers are
given lowest preference.
In Vista this algorithm was extended to include eight levels of digital signing:
- Microsoft
signed WHQL Certified Drivers.
- Microsoft signed in-box drivers (NT Build Lab Certified).
- Microsoft signed Windows Sustained
Engineering Certified drivers.
- Drivers that have been signed using Authenticode (Enterprise CA).
- Drivers that have been signed
using Authenticode (Class 3 CA Certified).
- Drivers that have been signed using Authenticode (MAKECERT.EXE Certified).
-
Microsoft signed WHQL Certified drivers for a down level Windows Operating system.
- Unsigned Drivers.
This behavior is
illustrated in setupapi.dev.log when determining which driver to install for a device.
winbeta.org -
13.03.2008Microsoft Malware Removal Starter Kit
Urs KĂĽderli: I just had to create a bootable CD/DVD to offline clean a PC of a friend of mine. So I installed and used the
Microsoft
Malware Removal Starter Kit:
Based on the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) kit, great collection for creating
a rescue and cleaning disk. It is also very easy to add your own favorite tools as well.
Additional resources for this topic:
The Antivirus Defense-in-Depth Guide:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=28732 The Responding to IT
Security Incidents page on Microsoft TechNet:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/securi
ty/guidance/disasterrecovery/responding_sec_incidents.mspx The Windows Security Resource Kit, Second Edition from Microsoft
Press:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6815.aspx winbeta.org -
08.11.2007Office Accounting 2008 Software Development Kit
The Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 Software Development Kit shows developers how to use the Office Accounting platform to create custom solutions
and to integrate their products with Office Accounting.
winbeta.org -
14.11.2007Windows Driver Kit Beta release hints at upcoming Vista SP1 Preview
One of our members received
the following e-mail earlier
today from the WDK team:
Hello WDK Beta Users-
A new beta WDK build
is now available for download
on Connect. This WDK beta
release to Connect coincides
with the recent OS beta
release for Vista SP1 Preview.
Please take a few moments to
install the new build and test
as applicable for your needs.
As always, please file bugs as
quickly and detailed as
possible.
Thank you
for your continued support!
WDK Team
While the Windows Driver
Kit beta is a public beta
which anyone can apply for
here,
Vista SP1 presumably will be
released to a more private
group of testers.
Note: Even though
Microsoft sent out the e-mail
earlier today, an updated WDK
release has yet to be posted
on
Connect.
winbeta.org -
17.07.2007
