Helmers Blog

What feature would you like in Windows 8?

Helmer — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:54:33 PDT

It has been almost a year since Windows 7 became available to the general public. Microsoft is already working on the next version of Windows and together with Michael Pietroforte (from 4SysOps) and about 15 other blogs I’m curious what feature you think should really be part of the next Windows Client OS. Note : I [...]

Windows 7 RA vs. VNC Viewer

Helmer — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:15:00 PDT

A customer came to me with the question which of the two does a better job for delivering remote assistance to the end-users : the built in remote assistance function of Windows 7 or the (3rd party tool) VNC Viewer. Because I’m a big fan of the Request Remote Assistance function in Live Messenger for [...]

Forefront Endpoint Security 2010 Beta Available!

Helmer — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:16:37 PDT

It took them quiet a while, but it’s finally there (I first blogged about Forefront Codename ‘Stirling’ back in 2008!)…the beta of Forefront Endpoint Security 2010! In the next few weeks I’m certainly going to check it out and blog about it! Right now I’m kinda busy with the latest Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 (MDT [...]

Download : Windows Live Essentials Beta (Wave14)

Helmer — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:57:50 PDT

The Windows Live Essentials Beta is available for download. It’s available in the following languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese. Just go to http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta and logon with your Windows Live ID to download the software.

Public Beta of Windows Live Essentials Announced

Helmer — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:40:50 PDT

Piero Sierra announced earlier today on the Windows Team Blog that the Public Beta version of the new Windows Live Essentials (Wave 14) will be available later today (June 24th) for download. The exact time the download will be available is not given, but when it is available, you can download it here. For more [...]

Blog : Upgraded to WordPress 3

Helmer — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:46:25 PDT

The upgrade of my blog to WordPress 3.0 has been finished successfully! So now I can start designing a new ‘look’ for my blog…so in a few weeks the site will have an up to date layout again.

Live : XBOX E3 Media Briefing Starts at 19:30 CET

Helmer — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:11:53 PDT

It’s E3 time again. Just like every year Microsoft has some nice new XBOX 360 features to announce. Watch it live over at xbox.com. The most, in my opinion, interesting feature will be the new XBOX 360 add-on called Kinect (also known as Project Natal), which will make it possible to control your XBOX 360 [...]

Office Web Apps Available through SkyDrive

Helmer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:21:09 PDT

Just earlier today Microsoft has announced that of today Office Web Apps if you live in the US, UK, Canada or Ireland. Personally I don’t live in one of the previous countries, but if you participated in the beta and therefore were already able to edit Excel and PowerPoint documents through http://skydrive.live.com you also can [...]

MCTS Win2k8 R2, Desktop Virtualization Results

Helmer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:24:50 PDT

Just received an e-mail from Microsoft Learning today. I passed the MCTS Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Client Virtualization exam! Strange, normally you have to check the Prometric website to see if you have passed a Microsoft exam. Probably the system is working a lot smoother then with the last exams, let’s [...]

MCP Rewards Program Registration Available!

Helmer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:37:05 PDT

Last monday I blogged about the upcoming pilot of the MCP Learning Rewards Program! The Registration started an hour earlier! So if you want to join, be quick since there are only 10.000 spaces available! Step 1 : Visit http://www.mylearningrewards.net and click the Register now button. Step 2: Select MCP from the list and click Submit Step 3: Fill [...]

How-to Register for Windows Intune (from outside the USA)

Helmer — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:06:47 PDT

Microsoft made the beta version of Windows Intune available earlier today. Too bad it’s only available for participants in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. I was curious if you really have to be in one of the countries physically or if a ‘American-oriented Live ID’ will do. (This how-to is still a bit [...]

Earn Rewards With Your MCP Certification Exams

Helmer — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:42:46 PDT

Back in the 90-ties you received a one-year TechNet Plus Single User subscription when you achieved the MCSE ‘status’. I think I was one of the last ones who received this reward back in 1999. From 2000 you didn’t receive any reward (besides the MCP Wallet card and a certificate) at all…..until now! A few years [...]

Blog : Added New Version of Microsoft Translator Widget

Helmer — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:21:11 PDT

Since a long time Helmers Blog is using the translation services of Microsoft Translator. This service can do an instant translation of a website. Just press select the correct language and press the > button. The new Translator Widget can do more Yeah..the new functionalities are still in beta, but I think they [...]

Update : Win2k8 R2, Desktop Virtualization beta exam & code available

Helmer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:26:01 PST

According to my earlier blogpost and the news on the MS Learn blog the beta code for the 71-669 exam should be e-mailed to us around 15:00 CET (9:00am EST). For now the exam is available on the Prometric website, but sadly enough I didn’t receive the code yet. If I read the responses to [...]

71-669 : Win2k8 R2 Desktop Virtualization Beta Exam available on March 1st

Helmer — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:15:24 PST

A few days ago I already blogged that MS Learning would announce the last out of three new Virtualization exams. Next week, on Monday March 1st, the registration for the (beta) exam will open! Registration old school Until now the first possibility to register for an exam was at 12:00 am EST (6:00am [...]

App-V 4.6 is availabe…

Helmer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:00:40 PST

Finally the App-V is available for 64-bit operating systems! You can download App-V 4.6 as part of MDOP 2010 from MSDN or TechNET. Since the release of Windows Vista I’m using 64-bit Operating Systems, so with the release of App-V 4.6 I can finally run all my sequenced applications on my laptop! I have to be [...]

Make your choice!

Helmer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:43:51 PST

Which browser will you use? Starting on February 27th Microsoft will release their browser ballot screen to windows-users in Belgium, France and Great Britain. You will only see screen similar to the screen you see below if Internet Explorer is your default web browser. So if you are already useing Firefox or Chrome for instance [...]

New MCP Credential : Microsoft Certified Non-Professional

Helmer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:22:05 PST

Robbert Verbeek pointed me to the latest Microsoft Credential : Microsoft Certified Non-Professional. To achieve this credential you have to pass both the 70-401 (SCCM,Configuring) and the 70-656 (MDOP, Configuring). I’m not sure why Microsoft should name it Non-Professional, but as you can see below…it does exist! I already forwarded this [...]

Geek Night 2010

Helmer — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:13:10 PST

Just like last year also this year there will be a Geek Night (during the Dutch DevDays). So all you Dutch geeks register before you’re too late and visite Geek Night 2010 at March 30th. Location : World Forum, The Hague (Den Haag) Date: March 30, 2010 [...]

Enable Windows 7 SuperAdmin-Mode

Helmer — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:03:39 PST

Something reached me today via Twitter : How to enable SuperAdmin Mode in Windows 7. It’s really easy. Just follow the next steps: Create a new folder Right click the folder and name it like this : SuperAdmin.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} Press Enter. Now [...]

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Helmer — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:10:54 PST

It’s almost the end of the year…it’s almost time to celebrate and (a few days later) fireworks. The year that my blog had to move to another hoster twice due to a visitor overload! 2009 is also a year for loads of new stuff : I build myself a Nerd Network, the Philips TV which [...]

MCP : Be Real Quick : The 71-693 Is Finally available for Europe

Helmer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:38:06 PST

It took them a while over at Prometric…but the beta code is working right now in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Hungary and Germany…so be quick and register for the 71-693 before it’s all filled up! Whole day long we were waiting for Prometric to fix their error, and finally they did! Check out my [...]

UPDATE : MCP: The 71-693 is available…what’s with the beta code?

Helmer — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:21:29 PST

NOTE : If you are unable to register for the exam, please also leave a comment at this MS Learning Blog Post so they will know who as unable to register Update (11:00am CET) : Unable to register for this exam in the following countries : Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland and Germany. Probably [...]

Register for the 71-693/70-693 at 6:00am CET

Helmer — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:25:42 PST

In a couple of hours (6:00AM (CET) you will be able to register for the new Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator exam (70-693 / 71-693). This is the second in the line of three new Microsoft Virtualization exams of which the last will (for what I heard ) be available in beta [...]

B2L : Virtual Business Cards Have Arrived!

Helmer — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:32:07 PST

Due to a little bug the launch, which was scheduled for 0:30am (GMT+1), the Virtual Business Cards are finally available! Erwin just told me that the bug which delayed the launch is fixed! Yeah..it’s announced at the B2L blog too! Please upgrade your browser The Virtual Business Cards are LIVE! Just visit http://www.mcpvirtualbusinesscard.com to sign [...]