IAG SP2 Update 3?

Well I've had word that IAG SP2 Update 3 should be out in a month or so.

The components being addressed with this update, are that Windows 7 will be recognised correctly and 64-bit clients will be supported.

Obviously you have seen that I have documented a 32-bit Windows 7 workaround, but there are still issues with this when using certain applications. The only 64-bit client that can be made work is Windows 7, as long as your computer has the ability to run XP Compatibility Mode (which will mean that only specific processors are supported)

As soon as I see that update, I will get it installed and tested, as my work laptop is both Windows 7 and 64-bit..... you can see I like a challenge!!

Virtualisation on Windows 7 64 Bit?

As you may have guessed, I'm currently running Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit on my new laptop. All is going well, but I have encountered an issue!!

I have a number of Virtual PC guests which use the old version of Virtual PC. I have obviously install Virtual PC RC, in order to achieve the XP Mode, which allows me to use IAG within the 64 bit environment.

My older Virtual PC files don't work in Virtual PC RC!!

So sensing a time for change and to purge the elements I don't use, I recreated the Virtual PC sessions on VPC RC. It's at this point, I think I should try out UAG in a demo environment, but as I have to use Windows 2008 R2 Beta, I discover that Virtual PC doesn't support a 64 bit environment and I seem to get jerky guest sessions unless I allocate a lot of memory and install the integration software, so what are my alternatives:

I have used VMWare Server in the past, and although the software supports 64 bit clients, but the amount of services the software uses up, makes me investigate how to stop these services when I don't use VMWare. I end up switching all the VMWare services to Manual, and then create a batch file to initiate them.

After much snooping and Googling, I discover Sun VirtualBox

I find that it is very easy to use, it will support 64 bit clients (which seems to be better tab) and it is effiecient with its resources (unlike VMWare)

Sun VirtualBox is now my main client for any virtualised environment!! (and best of all, it's free!!)

Does IAG work with Windows 7 (64 bit)?

After much experimenting with Windows 7 32 bit, you can see you are able to get Microsoft IAG to work with it, as can be been in one of my previous blog posts.

Now I hope we are all aware that 64-bit Windows operating systems are not supported by IAG. I know there were rumours of 64-bit support being released with IAG SP 2 Update 2, but that is not the case. We will discuss this update is a later blog posting.

Well I was fortunate enough to be provided with a new work laptop, which has a faster processor, bigger hard disk and more importantly 4GB RAM. I did initially install Windows 7 Enterprise 32-bit, but was disappointed to only see that 3GB was recognised by the OS (I would have lived with only 3.25-3.5GB being seen), so I bit the bullet and installed Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit so that all the RAM is seen and can be used.

I know that Windows 7 64-bit will allow you to install applications as either 32 or 64 bit, so some things like Java should be installed twice to work with both 32 and 63-bit IE browsers, will specific 32 bit applications an be installed and used. That said, despite the workaround detailed for Windows 7 32 bit, this does not work in Windows 7 64 bit!

Luckily, Microsoft have a Windows XP Mode as a solution: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

By installing Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode RC, it will allow you to run a virtualised version of XP on your Windows 7 desktop. There are not additional licenses to consider, but you will need a processor with either Intel® Virtualization Technology or AMD-V™ feature turned on. I downloaded this application from the Intel website to check that my processor supported this feature from here: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/

I found these step by step instructions on Windows 7 XP Mode, which I found very useful: http://lifehacker.com/5245396/set-up-and-use-xp-mode-in-windows-7

Once installed and working, I also installed Avira Premium Security Suite software to remove the Microsoft Security Centre red shield.

I created a shortcut into the all users folder of the virtualised desktop, to my IAG website. This also placed the shortcut into the start menu of my Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit. By clicking the link, it will start up an IE browser to my IAG appliance from the XP virtual environment, which gives a pretty seamless experience and I retain full IAG functionality.... phew!!!

Does IAG work with Windows 7 (32 bit)?

Well IAG did work when I was using Windows 7 RC (32 bit) on my netbook, but it no longer works on Windows 7 RTM (32 bit)!! :( I couldn't even get the login page to show!!

A bit of Googling found these instructions:

1. Copy the folder located here from your Celestix WSA appliance: C:\Whale-Com\e-Gap\utils\OfflineClientSetup to a temporary location on your computer
2. Find "Setup.exe" and set the compartibility mode to "Windows Vista SP2"
3. Find "ComponentsConfig.xml", and edit the Network Connector entry so install="1"
4. Run the setup.exe (as administrator)
5. Select either normal or custom, depending on what is required
6. Ignore the error "Can not register Whale Client Components whlvaw.dll" and finish the program
7. Start up the Command Prompt as Administrator, then start up Powershell within the command shell
8. Switch to the path "C:\Program Files\Whale Communications\Client Components\3.1.0″
9. Execute the command: "regsvr32 whlvaw.dll" (Attention: Ignore the Warning about the Driver installation and select YES)
10. The Network Connector should work as long as you start Internet Explorer as Administrator, because the file "whlioc.exe" & "whliocsv.exe" require local administrator rights.

The original post is here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/forefrontedgeiag/thread/a7ca54cc-60e7-467a-961c-fc4b32151249 - Thanks Joerg! :)

Installing Windows 7 using a USB memory stick

As I have a few days off work, I decided to rebuild my Windows 7 netbook, which led me to find a useful website again. I know a few people have struggled to get Windows 7 onto their computers as netbooks and some laptops don't have DVD drives.

I created a bootable memory stick so that I could install Windows 7 on my Advent 4211 netbook (MSI Wind clone) and have done the same for a few friends who are not so computer literate.

This website gives very good step-by-step instructions on how to do this: http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

Bear in mind you will need a Vista or Windows 7 machine in order to create this.