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Title Date Added Company

Notable Changes in Windows Vista SP1 2008-02-01 Microsoft

Microsoft continuously improves the Windows Vista Operating System by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to help them to deliver improved compatibility, reliability and performance. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is another vehicle that Microsoft will use to deliver operating system improvements to customers. Windows Vista SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that, along with improvements delivered to users via these other channels, addresses feedback from the customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also will continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage Windows Vista.

Hotfixes and Security Updates Included in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 2008-02-01 Microsoft

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 includes all previously released updates for Windows Vista. Many of these updates are available to the public on the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update, while others are only available to specific customers or partners. It is standard practice to include all of these updates in a Service Pack and as such they are included in Windows Vista SP1.

Managing Shims in the Enterprise: Practical Advice for Application Compatibility Mitigation 2007-11-01 Microsoft

When addressing application compatibility issues in preparation for a deployment of Windows Vista, among the most flexible and powerful tools available are application compatibility fixes, or shims. However, most organizations do not leverage shims to the extent that they could, either because they don't understand the underlying technology or because they do not have a process in place to manage shims over the lifetime of the applications they manage. In this white paper the author shares his experience and best practices working with large enterprise customers to address application compatibility issues using shims as well as how to manage an organization's custom shim databases.

Autodesk and Windows Vista 2007-10-02 Autodesk

With the introduction of Microsoft Windows Vista, Autodesk customers have another choice of operating systems. Whether a company opts to adopt Windows Vista, Windows XP, or another supported operating system (OS), Autodesk applications deliver exceptional performance across the board. To ensure the superlative performance of Autodesk applications on Microsoft operating systems, Autodesk has worked closely with Microsoft over the past 12 years, collaborating on product development, bringing innovative technologies to market, and exceeding customer expectations. As a Microsoft Platinum Partner, a Global ISV, and a member of Microsoft's Manufacturing ISV program, Autodesk's close relationship with Microsoft enhances Autodesk's ability to provide products that raise the bar for innovation and transcend operating systems.

Is Windows Vista Really 50% to 87% More Secure Than Windows XP? 2007-09-14 Softpedia

Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista is the first software product to go with its entire development process through the Microsoft Software Development Lifecycle. Via the SDL, the Redmond Company attempted to bulletproof Vista as much as possible, making it "Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure in Deployment and Communication." Essentially, the SDL was set in place as a model to cut the volume of security defects associated with the design and coding process, as well as to ensure that the mitigations set in place tone down the maximum severity level of the remaining vulnerabilities. Ever since Vista hit the market, Microsoft continually applauded the platform as superior to Windows XP.

Next Generation Malware: Windows Vista's Gadget API 2007-09-11 Portcullis Computer Security

Windows has had the ability to embed HTML into its user interface for many years. Right back to and including Windows NT 4.0, it has been possible to embed HTML into the task bar, but the OS has always maintained a sandbox, from which the HTML has been unable to escape. All this changes with Windows Vista. This paper seeks to inform system administrators, users and the wider community on both potential attack vectors using gadgets and the mitigations provided by Windows Vista.

Overview of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta 2007-08-01 Microsoft

Microsoft continuously improves Windows Vista by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to deliver application compatibility and device driver improvements. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) will be another vehicle through which Microsoft provides operating system improvements to customers. This white paper presents an overview of Windows Vista SP1 and the improvements it will contain.

Tags: Application Development

Measuring Performance in Windows Vista 2007-07-02 Microsoft

A key goal for the Windows Vista operating system is to radically advance operating system reliability while providing users with a consistent computing experience so that they can quickly switch tasks or start new applications without encountering system delays. To improve reliability and consistency, Windows Vista adapts to the user's behavior and aggressively takes advantage of the machine's idle cycles to perform background tasks. But the underlying implementations in the operating system create challenges for professionals who want to measure performance. This paper highlights the major changes in Windows Vista related to the hardware platform that impact performance test results, specific features that can affect measurement, and some best practices for running a benchmark.

Namespace Usage Guidelines for the Windows Vista File System 2007-06-01 Microsoft

This white paper is intended for application developers and IT professionals. It provides guidelines for using the Windows Vista User Profile namespace in the applications. Windows Vista has an improved file system namespace that enables users to find and organize data easily. The file system namespace also enables application developers to distinguish between application-managed data and end-user-managed data, between private data and shared data, and between computer-dependent data and computer-independent data. The new file system namespace provides a platform that leverages features already available in Windows (for example, folder redirection) and improves the functionality of features in user scenarios (for example, improved data roaming, data migration, and data backup).

Tags: Application Development

ACPI Driver Interface in Windows Vista 2007-04-26 Microsoft

Kernel-mode device drivers are able to evaluate ACPI control methods via I/O ConTroL Codes (IOCTLs). Typically, a driver evaluates ACPI control methods to initiate or configure platform-specific functionality. An ACPI control method is a definition of how to interrogate or adjust system hardware. Control methods are written in the ACPI Machine Language (AML) and are interpreted by the ACPI driver in Microsoft Windows. These objects are loaded from the system definition in firmware into the ACPI namespace. This paper documents the mechanism for executing ACPI control methods and handling events from a kernel driver in the Windows Vista operating system. This information applies for the Windows Server 2008 Windows Vista.

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Title	Date Added	Company
Notable Changes in Windows Vista SP1	2008-02-01	Microsoft
Microsoft continuously improves the Windows Vista Operating System by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to help them to deliver improved compatibility, reliability and performance. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is another vehicle that Microsoft will use to deliver operating system improvements to customers. Windows Vista SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that, along with improvements delivered to users via these other channels, addresses feedback from the customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also will continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage Windows Vista.
Hotfixes and Security Updates Included in Windows Vista Service Pack 1	2008-02-01	Microsoft
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 includes all previously released updates for Windows Vista. Many of these updates are available to the public on the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update, while others are only available to specific customers or partners. It is standard practice to include all of these updates in a Service Pack and as such they are included in Windows Vista SP1.
Managing Shims in the Enterprise: Practical Advice for Application Compatibility Mitigation	2007-11-01	Microsoft
When addressing application compatibility issues in preparation for a deployment of Windows Vista, among the most flexible and powerful tools available are application compatibility fixes, or shims. However, most organizations do not leverage shims to the extent that they could, either because they don't understand the underlying technology or because they do not have a process in place to manage shims over the lifetime of the applications they manage. In this white paper the author shares his experience and best practices working with large enterprise customers to address application compatibility issues using shims as well as how to manage an organization's custom shim databases.
Autodesk and Windows Vista	2007-10-02	Autodesk
With the introduction of Microsoft Windows Vista, Autodesk customers have another choice of operating systems. Whether a company opts to adopt Windows Vista, Windows XP, or another supported operating system (OS), Autodesk applications deliver exceptional performance across the board. To ensure the superlative performance of Autodesk applications on Microsoft operating systems, Autodesk has worked closely with Microsoft over the past 12 years, collaborating on product development, bringing innovative technologies to market, and exceeding customer expectations. As a Microsoft Platinum Partner, a Global ISV, and a member of Microsoft's Manufacturing ISV program, Autodesk's close relationship with Microsoft enhances Autodesk's ability to provide products that raise the bar for innovation and transcend operating systems.
Is Windows Vista Really 50% to 87% More Secure Than Windows XP?	2007-09-14	Softpedia
Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista is the first software product to go with its entire development process through the Microsoft Software Development Lifecycle. Via the SDL, the Redmond Company attempted to bulletproof Vista as much as possible, making it "Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure in Deployment and Communication." Essentially, the SDL was set in place as a model to cut the volume of security defects associated with the design and coding process, as well as to ensure that the mitigations set in place tone down the maximum severity level of the remaining vulnerabilities. Ever since Vista hit the market, Microsoft continually applauded the platform as superior to Windows XP.
Next Generation Malware: Windows Vista's Gadget API	2007-09-11	Portcullis Computer Security
Windows has had the ability to embed HTML into its user interface for many years. Right back to and including Windows NT 4.0, it has been possible to embed HTML into the task bar, but the OS has always maintained a sandbox, from which the HTML has been unable to escape. All this changes with Windows Vista. This paper seeks to inform system administrators, users and the wider community on both potential attack vectors using gadgets and the mitigations provided by Windows Vista.
Overview of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta	2007-08-01	Microsoft
Microsoft continuously improves Windows Vista by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to deliver application compatibility and device driver improvements. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) will be another vehicle through which Microsoft provides operating system improvements to customers. This white paper presents an overview of Windows Vista SP1 and the improvements it will contain. Tags: Application Development
Measuring Performance in Windows Vista	2007-07-02	Microsoft
A key goal for the Windows Vista operating system is to radically advance operating system reliability while providing users with a consistent computing experience so that they can quickly switch tasks or start new applications without encountering system delays. To improve reliability and consistency, Windows Vista adapts to the user's behavior and aggressively takes advantage of the machine's idle cycles to perform background tasks. But the underlying implementations in the operating system create challenges for professionals who want to measure performance. This paper highlights the major changes in Windows Vista related to the hardware platform that impact performance test results, specific features that can affect measurement, and some best practices for running a benchmark.
Namespace Usage Guidelines for the Windows Vista File System	2007-06-01	Microsoft
This white paper is intended for application developers and IT professionals. It provides guidelines for using the Windows Vista User Profile namespace in the applications. Windows Vista has an improved file system namespace that enables users to find and organize data easily. The file system namespace also enables application developers to distinguish between application-managed data and end-user-managed data, between private data and shared data, and between computer-dependent data and computer-independent data. The new file system namespace provides a platform that leverages features already available in Windows (for example, folder redirection) and improves the functionality of features in user scenarios (for example, improved data roaming, data migration, and data backup). Tags: Application Development
ACPI Driver Interface in Windows Vista	2007-04-26	Microsoft
Kernel-mode device drivers are able to evaluate ACPI control methods via I/O ConTroL Codes (IOCTLs). Typically, a driver evaluates ACPI control methods to initiate or configure platform-specific functionality. An ACPI control method is a definition of how to interrogate or adjust system hardware. Control methods are written in the ACPI Machine Language (AML) and are interpreted by the ACPI driver in Microsoft Windows. These objects are loaded from the system definition in firmware into the ACPI namespace. This paper documents the mechanism for executing ACPI control methods and handling events from a kernel driver in the Windows Vista operating system. This information applies for the Windows Server 2008 Windows Vista.