Whole System Backup by Vista Ultimate

After upgraded my system to Vista Ultimate, I tried the whole system backup today. It is running very easy and smooth with only two seection steps in advance. First, I was asked which harddrives need to be included on top of system drive for whole system back; secondly, the target device(CD, or external harddrive, or other harddrives) was allowed to be chosen (unfortunately, no network drive supported). Remaining will be done by software itself, even with other tasks are running.

Installation of Windows Home Server (WHS) RC

I started to try Microsoft Windows Home Servr about half year ago. I like it very much so far. It provides easy usability and decent functionality. I got an email from Microsoft last month about that they decided that there is no upgrade option when upgrade from WHS CTP to WHS RC. It is really a big pain, but I still decided it is worth doing it because Microsoft promised there will be "upgrade option" in the future upgrading pathway, from RC but not from CTP. So an fresh installation will happen sooner or later, and it will be fun to have a look of RC without additional pain.

The torture of fresh installation is that I have to move more than 300G content from server and squeeze them into free space around other home computers. On and off of moving for almost two weeks, I finally made the server computer ready for the fresh WHS RC installation.

I first downloaded Windows RC from Microsoft, burn the server installation image to a DVD. Installation DVD was loaded to an external DVD of server (Just want to load four harddrive to server from the very beginning).

After system booted from CD, WHC starts the installation. And the remaining steps are easy and straightforward.




This part of the installation will be most confusing to someone that has no computer backgroup. I guess the term of "Volume" will make them lost immediately, so may be a good idea to have some "plain" word in "HOME" server installation. Actuatlly adding harddrive later in client console later is much easy to follow and this step can be get around at this moment.


A fresh installation is selected here.


A choice of no choice!


Customize server name can be done in this step.


Cool features included in Windows Home Server, with almost no or very few setting: Media sharing, Backup, Remote Access, and more.





Core of WHS is Windows 2003 Small Business





After another 1.5 hour installation, WHS set up is almost done before a few basic setting:





Not all done yet,


Activation of WHS


Finally


NEXT, I installed the client software, Windows Home Server Connector, on each home computer. It takes just a few minutes to do it.


After installation, it will pop up to ask the server password and join the client computer to server.

From WHS connector, you can add and manage user account,


manage and create new sharing folder, setting duplication of these folds, etc.


View server storage space and harddrive status.


Summary:
Windows Home Server is very easy to install and manage. Some cool features I like include automatic client system backup, easy share folder setting (but with limited choices), super easy storage managing(integrated all hardrive into one). I will like to have a few more features in WHS, like running some program which need to be running around the clock on the server side.

More about Vista Languate Interface

There is two kinds of the Vista User Interface (UI):
* MUI (Multi Language Interface)
* LIP (Language Interface Pack)
MUI is available to Vista Ultimate or Vista Enterprise version only. LIP providee possibility to change Home Premium and Business versions interface, but, ouch, no Simplified Chinese or even French pack available from thier website.

Upgrade from Vista Home Premium to Ultimate

My home computer has been on Vista Home Premium for a few months. Everything running smooth except lacking the whole system backup feature which is available on my laptop with Vista Business version.

Since my parents-in-law will come soon, I like to set up an account that has Chinese display base on my English version core. So I decided to upgrade to Vista Ultimate that can provide me these two features I need.

I first tried upgrade installation that took about two hours. Everything is fine except daemon tool giving error message. This sounds scary to me by recalling how much I have suffered to fix daemon tool during first Vista installation. So after backuped everthing on C, I did a fresh installation. The fresh installation is really like breeze, take me only a little bit more that half hour to finish everything.

However, I was stuck at activation by either online or automatic phone activation. So I talked to a Mirosoft agent, get the activation code within 5 minutes (It is 7am in the morning, so probably the best time to call a call center).

Next few steps is install my core software, Adobe photoshop, Microsoft Office, daemon tool, skype, etc. So far everything is very smooth. Creating account with Chinese display is also very straight forward.

Enable Auto Logon in Vista

Edit/Add keys in Registry

Hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\winlogon
-AutoAdminLogOn (1)
-DefaultUserName (your user)
-DefaultPassword (your password)
-DefaultDomainName (if you have a domain)

You'll need to create the DefaultPassword string and value