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SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another case. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.

Following features were added to this release of SyncToy:

• Dynamic Drive Letter Assignment: Drive letter reassignment will now be detected and updated in the folder pair definition.
• True Folder Sync: Folder creates, renames and deletes are now synchronized for all SyncToy actions.
• Exclusion Filtering Based on Name: File exclusion based on name with exact or fuzzy matching.
• Filtering Based on File Attributes: The ability to exclude files based on one or more file attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden).
• Unattended Folder Pair Execution: Addressed issues related to running scheduled folder pairs while logged off.
• Folder Pairs With Shared Endpoints: Ability for folder pairs associated with the same or different instances of SyncToy to share end-points.
• Command line enhancements: Added the ability to manage folder pairs via the command line interface.
• Re-Architect Sync Engine: The SyncToy engine has been re-architect to provide scalability and the ability to add significant enhancements in future releases.
• Sync engine is also more robust insomuch that many single, file level errors are skipped without affecting the entire sync operation.
• Sync Encrypted Files: Sync of Encrypted files works when local folder and files are encrypted, which addresses the common scenario involving sync between local, encrypted laptop PC folder and remote, unencrypted desktop PC folder.
• 64-Bit Support: SyncToy now has a native 64-bit build (x64 only) for 64-bit versions of Windows.
• Folder pair rename
• Sub-folder Exclusion Enhancements: Descendents created under excluded sub-folders are automatically excluded. Usability improvements for the sub-folder exclusion dialog.
• Folder Pair Metadata Moved: Folder pair metadata removed from My Documents to resolve any issues with server-based folder pair re-direction setup.
• Setup Improvements: Integrated setup with single self-extracting archive file and no extra downloads if you already have .NET Framework 2.0 installed. Enabled silent install for the SyncToy Installer file. Removed combine and subscribe actions.
• Removed combine and subscribe actions

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SyncToy Discussion Forum

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The more you search, the more searches you save, and the more likely you have saved most of the search you want, but you may want to narrow the criteria. To build from an existing search:
1. Browse to your Searches folder.
2. Double-click the existing search.
3. Click Search Tools, and then click Search Pane.
4. Click the Advanced Search expansion arrow.
5. Modify the criteria (use wildcard characters).
6. Click Search. You can even save this new search for reuse.

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The Microsoft Security Assessment Tool 3.5 is the revised version of the original Microsoft Security Risk Self-Assessment Tool (MSRSAT), released in 2004 and the Microsoft Security Assessment Tool 2.0 released in 2006. Security issues have evolved since 2004 so additional questions and answers were needed to ensure you had a comprehensive toolset to become more aware of the evolving security threat landscape that could impact your organization.
The tool employs a holistic approach to measuring your security posture by covering topics across people, process, and technology. Findings are coupled with prescriptive guidance and recommended mitigation efforts, including links to more information for additional industry guidance. These resources may assist you in keeping you aware of specific tools and methods that can help change the security posture of your IT environment.

There are three assessments that define the Microsoft Security Assessment Tool:

• Business Risk Profile Assessment
• Defense in Depth Assessment (UPDATED)
• Mid-Market Security Core Infrastructure Operations Assessment (NEW)

The questions identified in the survey portion of the tool and the associated answers are derived from commonly accepted best practices around security, both general and specific. The questions and the recommendations that the tool offers are based on standards such as ISO 17799 and NIST-800.x, as well as recommendations and prescriptive guidance from Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group and additional security resources valued in the industry.

After completing an Assessment, you will gain access to a detailed report of your results. You may also compare your results with those of your peers (by industry and company size), provided that you upload your results anonymously to the secure MSAT Web server. When you upload your data the application will simultaneously retrieve the most recent data available. To be able to provide this comparative data, we need customers such as you to upload their information. All information is kept strictly confidential and no personally identifiable information whatsoever will be sent.

Download Microsoft Security Assessment Tool 3.5

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Professional Edition ; Windows Vista; Windows XP Professional Edition
• .NET Framework Version 2.0
• Internet Explorer 6.0

You should have the latest service packs installed for your operating system and browser.
The MSAT does not require an Internet connection for you to use it. But to upload your results and to check for updates, you will need an Internet connection.

This post is taken Microsoft Website.

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Recently some days back my friend Rich has written one very good book Windows Vista named as Windows Vista - The Pocket Guide. Vista Pocket Guide is very good and easy read book for all Windows Vista users. Vista- Pocket Guide help Vista users to find solutions for their day-to-day Vista issues as well as how they can get most out of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista- The Pocket Guide consists of 134 page in 9 chapters. First chapter of this book gives an introduction to computers and here author strongly recommend that first go to Getting Started chapter then after jump to any other chapter in this book.

Getting Started is very useful and a must read section of this book, before start reading the book. Here I find some very useful content like how to dual boot XP with Windows Vista, Which version of Vista is best for you, What to choose between Vista 32 and 64bit and many more.

Rest of the book deals with specific guide and issues in each chapter. Security and System maintenance and Management section I find very useful for Vista users.

1. Getting Started
2. Backing Up Early and Often
3. Security
4. System Maintenance & Management
5. Increasing Performance
6. Working Efficiently
7. Personalizing Vista
8. Taking Control of Your Files

Vista Pocket Guide download

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Recently Microsoft has published a white paper, regarding five misunderstood features in Windows Vista and how these five features can benefit your laptop, desktop or organizations computers. 

1. User Account Control
2. Image management.
3. Display Driver Model
4. Search
5. 64 bit architecture

Adopting these feature is not straightforward as it’s seen, because these five features affect two key areas: application compatibility and hardware performance. This White paper explains all these five feature in a very effective manner.

User can download and view Five Misunderstood Features in Windows Vista here

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The Windows Deployment Services is the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS). Windows Deployment Services enables you to deploy Windows operating systems, particularly Windows Vista. You can use it to set up new computers by using a network-based installation. This means that you do not have to be physically present at each computer and you do not have to install each operating system directly from a CD or DVD.

What’s new in Windows Deployment Services?
Windows Deployment Services includes changes to the RIS feature set, including the following:

• Ability to deploy Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
• Windows PE is the boot operating system.
• Image-based installation, using Windows image (.wim) files.
• An extensible and higher-performing PXE server component.
• A new boot menu format for selecting boot operating systems.
• A new graphical user interface on the client computer that you use to select images.
• The Windows Deployment Services Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and the WDSUTIL command-line tool, which enable you to configure and manage Windows Deployment Services.

Benefits of Windows Deployment Services
Windows Deployment Services provides organizations with the following benefits:

• Allows network-based installation of Windows operating systems, which reduces the complexity and cost when compared to manual installations.
• Deploys Windows images to computers without operating systems.
  Supports mixed environments that include Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
• Built on standard Windows Vista setup technologies including Windows PE, .wim files, and image-based setup.

This Article is taken from http://msdn.microsoft.com

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Using a mobile computer inside corporate office is very much secure as compare to using it outside the corporate network. In corporate network your mobile computer id protected with corporate firewall, anti-virus, spyware’s, corporate access control and other security polices but what about using mobile PCs outside the boundaries of corporate office. Many organizations using laptops for flexible work hours. Regardless the flexibility introduced by laptops in working hours also introduces more security risks and more unknown challenges. Once an employee takes their laptop and leaves, they are on their own. The laptop becomes an island unto itself and must be able to defend itself against malware, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities.

Microsoft’s latest operating system windows vista provides more secure foundation for laptops as compare to earlier versions of windows operating system. Let’s take a look at some of the components that go into Windows Vista’s security, and why Windows Vista should be the operating system of choice when securing your mobile computer is a priority.

Address Space Layout Randomization: Address space layout randomization (ASLR) is a computer security technique which involves randomly arranging the positions of key data areas, usually including the base of the executable and position of libraries, heap, and stack, in a process’s address space. Prior to windows vista memory addresses were static and could be discovered. Static memory addresses can be easily discovered by an attacker who is developing a malware or trying to do malicious activities on memory.

Data Execution Prevention: Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature Included in Windows Vista , that prevents any application or service to execute code from a non-executable memory location. These types of attacks mainly targets computer programs that are poorly written. Prevention from Data Execution Prevention is first introduced in windows XP sp2.

Windows Vista Firewall: Firewall is a critical first line of defense to protect your computer against many types of malicious software. Vista firewall monitors and restricts both incoming and outgoing traffic. Vista firewall also provides internet protocol security settings and Firewall filtering settings integrated. Monitoring outgoing traffic gives a fair idea which computer programs are trying to access the internet and whether are these programs also trying to send some important data to remote systems.

Internet Explorer with protected mode: Internet explorer running in protected mode provides an extra level of security and data protection to windows vista users. Protected Mode protects the system by ensuring that any malware or exploits encountered via the Web are unable to affect the operating system or core functionality. In Protected Mode, Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista cannot modify user or system files and settings without user consent. Protected Mode requires the user to confirm any activity that tries to put something on your machine or start another program.

BitLocker Drive Encryption: BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature available in Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate for client computers and in Windows Server 2008. BitLocker enhances data protection drive encryption and the integrity checking of early boot components. Drive encryption protects data by preventing unauthorized users from breaking Windows file and system protection on lost, stolen or inappropriately decommissioned computers. This protection is achieved by encrypting the entire Windows volume; with BitLocker all user and system files are encrypted including the swap and hibernation files. Integrity checking the early boot components helps to ensure that data decryption is performed only if those components appear unmolested and that the encrypted drive is located in the original computer.

This post is created while reading some articles on Microsoft Windows Vista website, Microsoft Technet Windows Website and definitions are taken from Wikipedia.

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