Steve's TS2 Insider

Q: (from Cynthia)

In Microsoft Word 2003 the name of a file turns from black to blue once it has reached a certain age, if it is not being regularly updated. After that, whether you update it or even change its name, it remains a blue font. Is there any way to control this?

A:

I believe this is a characteristic of Windows XP rather than Word 2003. It appears that the drive being used to store the documents supports compression and that after a document is unused for ?? it is automatically compressed (and the filename is colored blue). If you want to change this, you can either decompress the entire drive or decompress the file in question (which will restore the filename color to black).

To decompress the entire drive:

• Right-click the volume to decompress
• Choose Properties
• De-select the “Compress drive” check box
• Click OK to close the Properties dialog box (this will take several minutes to complete)

To decompress the file in question:

• Right-click the file in question
• Choose Properties
• Click the Advanced button
• De-select the “Compress contents” check box
• Click OK to close the Advanced Attributes dialog box
• Click OK to close the Properties dialog box

Or you could leave the compression alone, but stop changing the file color:

• Double-click Folder Options in the Control Panel
• Select the View tab
• De-select the “Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color” check box
• Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box

Q: (from Barry)

My client’s server needs to be activated but it errors saying it needs the key management service.

A:

As the error message states, it appears that you need to setup and activate the KMS service on your volume licensed Windows Server. There are instructions found at:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772269.aspx

but I also found this video that goes through the process in a few minutes:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbf2eb61-2b30-4f2d-bccd-df53e220b8e9&displaylang=en

Q: (from Deana)

Do you know of any partner discounts for the courses noted below?

• Collection 80011: Development I in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80038: What's New - Application in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80148: Product Builder II in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80147: Product Builder I in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80015: Enterprise Portal Development in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80149: Administration in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80144: Environmental Sustainability Dashboard in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
• Collection 80020: Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

A:

Sorry – it doesn’t look there are any programmatic discounts available right now.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/special-offers.aspx

Q: (from Mike)

How does Office 2007 make my employee's more productive? What studies can you sight for me to drive this home to customers?

A:

Here are some case studies that I think match the criteria:

Systematech

Video Language Interpretation Firm Doubles Sales with Latest Desktop Software

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000003497

Inu Treats

Pet Treat Company Boosts Efficiency by 30 Percent, Enables Growth with New Software

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000002840

Elite Payroll Services

Financial Services Firm Saves Time, Improves Professional Image with Latest Software

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000002187

Nibblers Catering

Caterer Integrates Business Software, Yields Time Savings Worth Nearly $10,000

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000001855

You can find more case studies at:

www.microsoft.com/casestudies

Use the advanced search options to filter the list. I filtered on “Microsoft Office 2007 Suite” and “Small Business” to find 36 results including the four above

Q: (from Steve)

If you have a machine with a lot of RAM and a huge hard drive, are there any issues with running the 32 bit version of W7? Is the issue that you’re basically forgoing the opportunity to run a richer version of the OS since your machine could support it, or on big machines, do you need to run the 64 bit?

A:

This question opens up the bigger question of performance and compatibility of 32 bit applications on a 64 bit platform:

You don’t HAVE to run Windows 7 on a “big” machine, but you might not be able to access all of the RAM. The 32 bit version of any Microsoft OS is only able to access 4GB of RAM; the 64 bit version can access more. Even if you are only running 32 bit apps, a 64 bit OS will let EACH app access up to 4GB of RAM (read better performance) while a 32 bit OS makes all of the apps share the same 4GB.

But 32 bit applications running under a 64 bit OS may take a slight performance hit because the processor is forced to switch from 64 bit mode to 32 bit mode each time the application talks to the OS.

The bottom line:

• If you are using standard, desktop applications, you probably won’t notice the performance gain or hit – you can choose either OS.
• If you are using “big” 32 bit photo a movie editing applications, the extra memory of 64 bit might provide some extra performance.
• But until all of the parts: the OS, the device drivers, and the applications are 64 bit, we will not see the full potential of 64 bit hardware realized. The good news is the that Windows is 64 bit now; many drivers are; and the next version of Office 2010 will be available in a 64 bit edition.

Q: (from John)

Have just reinstalled Office 2007, when I click on Outlook I get a message saying my previous backup is corrupt and needs repairing using Scanpst.exe then closes, it does not allow me access the outlook screen at all to select an option or even open it another backup file in another location.Am using Windows 7, went onto it a couple of weeks ago and the program had been running fine but had to reinstall Office.Am totally confused as I have never had this problem in the past, can anyone please help by telling me how to proceed please and get my Outlook working once more.Very many thanks in hope and anticipation.

A:

I don’t have many technical skills, but this is something I’ve dealt with before…

Have you tried to repair the PST in question using SCANPST? It's on your Office disk.

If you don't have time for that, you could go to your Outlook email profile and remove the PST from your default profile until you have time to fix the file. Go to the Control Panel, Mail (32-bit) and select Show Profiles. Highlight your default profile (there is probably only one) and click the Properties button. Click the Data Files... button and remove the PST file that is giving you problems. It will still be on the disk, just not associated with this profile and you should be able to get into Outlook, just not save messages to that PST.

Q: (from Sid)

We bought 4 HP Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit towers for our Computer Club Computer Room and now have been told that SteadyState does not exist for Window 7 64 bit systems.  Is that correct?  If it is, Microsoft has once again figured how to shoot itself in the foot....public use machines (libraries, schools, computer rooms, kiosks, etc.) need SteadyState to protect against users who visit malicious Web sites.

A:

Still no word on the updated version of SteadyState. During the Windows 7 beta, it looked like SteadyState functionality was going to be embedded in the OS (under the beta names of PC Safeguard or Guest Mode), but it was pulled before the RC. I’m guessing that has delayed the delivery of a Windows 7 SteadyState because it was potentially going to be embedded in the product. BTW, it didn’t launch with Windows XP or Windows Vista either, so we will have to wait and keep watching the SteadyState website.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

Q: (from Jim)

I have win7 up and running including, the win xp mode.  My question is:  Where does the program icon go to open the xin xp app straight from the win7 desktop?

A:

As a good network administrator, I didn’t read the documentation when I first installed Windows XP Mode and the seamless execution feature didn’t work for me either. Fortunately the solution is two very easy steps:

1) From the Windows XP Mode Settings screen, make sure that Auto Publish is enabled:

2)

After installing the application in the Windows XP virtual PC, a shortcut needs to be placed into the Start, All Programs menu under Windows XP. That shortcut will automatically be replicated to the Start, All Programs, Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode Applications menu under Windows 7. Here are some screen shots that might help:

Windows XP Mode:

Windows 7 Host:

Q: (from William)

How can I obtain some Windows 7 launch signs and flyers to put in my retail store location?

A:

There are several sources of Microsoft branded promotional material:

Unfortunately, banners and branded material from the retail team has already been distributed.

From the OEM team, you can purchase Microsoft branded banners, shirts, and other give-away items: www.oemsalescenter.com

If you are looking for handouts and flyers; again, we have very limited supplies of pre-printed material, but you can print your own by downloading the document masters from www.oemsalescenter.com or the Ready-to-Go Campaign material found at https://partner.microsoft.com.

Q: (from Bill)

Did you have a link for documentation of exhaustive feature comparisons for windows 7? and also possibly Vista?

A:

As far as “feature comparisons” go; those are available at www.microsoft.com/windows7. But if you want the full 140 page Windows 7 Product Guide, you can search the Microsoft downloads for “Product Guide” and will find the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b3c68ec2-e726-4830-ac89-31c71d6be5f3

Q: (from Matthew)

I received a copy of software at an event but has lost the disk and want to get a new one.

A:

You can contact Microsoft Supplemental Parts Team for replacement media at (800) 360-7561.

A full article on ordering replacement media can be found at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

Q: (from Brian)

I asked you to show me how to find insert column in the ribbons. You couldn't but said you'd get the answer for me. I'd also like to find cut and paste a row.

A:

The row/column/cell insert tools are right on the Home tab ribbon - I can't believe we didn't see it at the event. It's near the right side of the ribbon under the sub-category "Cells".

And if you want to copy and paste a row using the controls on the ribbon: highlight the row and use the Clipboard tools found on the left side of the Home tab ribbon.

Q: (from David)

I was prompted by Outlook to fix a problem with my PST file; where can I find the SCANPST.EXE application?

A:

It should be part of the standard Office installation. It is officially found under Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office 12.

Here is a screenshot from my system where I’m running Office 2007:

Q: (from Roy)

What I want to do is connect into a pc that is up in the sound booth and remote control it.  That PC is connected to an over head projector that is showing on a screen behind me as I face 150 people.  I am using Windows 7 Ult on both machines, there is no domain, we are using workgroups.

A:

I do this at my community theater all the time:

Setup the sound booth machine as a Remote Desktop Host and the stage computer as a Remote Desktop Client. What you see on the client is what is happening on the host and you are able to control the computer remotely.

In PowerPoint 2003 there was a presentation broadcast mode that the machine with the presentation could broadcast and control the presentation on other machines. That feature appears to have disappeared in PowerPoint 2007 but supposedly will reappear in PowerPoint 2010.

Q: (from John)

Wondering if you might be able to provide me a comparison chart between for the features of the windows 7 O/S various types (Enterprise, Professional, and the others)

A:

Here is a link to the official comparison found online:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare-editions/default.aspx

Remember Ultimate and Enterprise have the same feature set.

And I’ve attached a slide that I keep in the appendix of my presentation decks.