http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice/READING/nt102595.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)#################################################################
Microsoft WinNT News is designed for people with specific interest in the Windows NT operating system. Microsoft has launched this electronic newsletter so that we could keep members of the Windows NT community informed and aware of what is happening with the product, and to provide hints and tips that will enable you to better understand and utilize Windows NT. You'll find user group and third party news, technical information, and product beta and release information. By subscribing to WinNT News, you are also automatically enrolled as a charter member of the Windows NT Champs program.
POWERED BY WINDOWS NT SERVER 3.51 AND MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 6.0!
This issue of WinNT News contains
1. "HOW TO USE THE MAILING LIST"
Full instructions on how to subscribe, unsubscribe and change addresses.
2. "YOUR FEEDBACK"
You will be heard here.
3. "TECH BRIEFINGS"
*MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES CLUSTERING STRATEGY
4. "HINTS AND TIPS"
The little things that make life easier, faster, and more fun!
5. "CASE STUDIES AND WHITEPAPERS"
*IDC RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION
*WINDOWS NT WORKSTATION IN ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE FOR MORE:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/ntwengr.htm
6. "USER GROUP NEWS"
*WiNTUG - THE SEATTLE/BELLEVUE WINDOWS NT USER GROUP
7. "3RD PARTY NEWS"
*ARGO DATA ANNOUNCES BANKPRO FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS NT
*STERLING'S NEW CONNECT:DIRECT FOR WINDOWS NT
EDITORIAL COMMENT
We will be changing and updating the format of this newsletter in response to your requests. In particular, we solicit your input for our HINTS AND TIPS section, so that we may enhance your use of Windows NT. We would also like to have input from you for our CASE STUDIES section, in order that we may bring to you how others do their job, so please send your case study ideas, INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION, to:
winntnews-feedback@microsoft.bhs.com
We will not be able to respond to individual feedback in all cases, but please take it to heart that we will pay close attention to the input that we receive.
Kurt Buff
Editor
################################################################# #################################################################
1. SUBSCRIPTIONS
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIST
point your web browser to
http://www.bhs.com/microsoft.winntnews
and fill out the form there.
--OR--
send the command
subscribe
as the first line of your message to
winntnews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com _________________________________________________________________
TO QUIT THE LIST
send the command
unsubscribe
as the first line of your message to
winntnews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com _________________________________________________________________
TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS
Send the command
unsubscribe winntnews as the first line of your message to
winntnews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com
then subscribe again under your new address as per the procedure
above.
#################################################################
2. YOUR FEEDBACK
It's been two short weeks, and we're proud to announce that there
are currently over 4000 subscribers to WinNTNews from our Web
page, and over 630 subscriptions via the list server.
HERE IS SOME FEEDBACK FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS!
This feedback has been edited to remove identifying
characteristics, and for length.
*****************************************************************
I think I have filled out this survey on-line a few times, but I
want to be sure to register as a champ... that sounds cool, as I
hope to make Comdex...
(Editor's note: I'll be there at the Microsoft booth and for the
party. See you there!)
*****************************************************************
The Win 95 shell for NT is very nice but is dreadfully slow on my
Toshiba Satellite Pro 400 CDT. The laptop has an Pentium 75 MHz,
810 EIDE hard drive, and 24 MB RAM. My response is especially
slow when I click on My Computer.
(Editor's reply: This early code drop of the Windows 95 shell
wasn't integrated into the underlying OS. Thus, you may notice
that it is slower than native 3.51. However, our goal for the
final product is to have performance equal or better the
performance of the current GUI.)
*****************************************************************
Thank You for all the neat info. All I would like to know, is
what are the requirements to run Windows NT? Thanks again...
(Editor's reply: The requirements to run Windows NT 3.51
Workstation on an x86 compatible system are 12MB of RAM, 386DX/25
processor or better, 90 Meg of free HD space, and a VGA display.
A CDROM Drive is optional, but very highly recommended, since
installing from a floppy drive is tedious at best. If you don't
have a CDROM drive, please make sure that when you purchase, you
specify the package with floppies. It's annoying to have to run
back to the store (or worse, send it back through the mail) to
get the correct package. The part number to order for the floppy
disk version is 236-074V351, for the CDROM version [which also
has the RISC software on it] it is 236-075V351.
For RISC system, you need an Alpha AXP, MIPS R4x00 or PowerPC
based workstation with 16 Meg of RAM, a CDROM drive a HD with 120
Meg free, and a VGA or higher resolution video adapter.
Installation with floppies on RISC platforms is *not* supported.
Optional are a Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device, a
network adapter card an audio card, and other available
peripherals.)
*****************************************************************
Is there an NT User Group dedicated to computer telephony? I
would be interested in joining any such user group. I have no
idea how to start one, or run it for that matter, but could offer
significant input pertaining to directions in computer telephony.
I believe Windows needs strong representation in the computer
telephony field. Almost every company I deal with has expressed
an interest or the intention to move towards Windows NT or
Windows95. Some have moved solely to Windows NT.
(Editor's reply: If anyone out there knows of such a group, or
would like to start one, please email us at:
winntnews-feedback@microsoft.com
and we'll make sure it is publicized. See below for our user
group section on what we are doing to help start new user
groups.)
*****************************************************************
I use the shell update release on Windows NT WorkStation 3.51 at
work, but cannot load it on the Server 3.5 at home. How do I
obtain an update to Server 3.51?
#################################################################
3. TECH BRIEFINGS
MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES CLUSTERING STRATEGY
On October 12th, Microsoft Corp. announced it will work with
industry partners to deliver clustering for the Microsoft Windows
NT Server network operating system and the Microsoft BackOffice
integrated family of server software. With this clustering
technology, customers can connect a group of servers together to
improve performance and reliability. Unlike other clustering
solutions, this approach does not require proprietary systems or
interconnection hardware between the servers.
The company will deliver clustering in two phases: the first will
allow one server to automatically fail-over to another, and the
second will enable more than two servers to be connected together
for higher performance. The first design preview of this
architecture is planned for the first half of 1996.
[FOR MORE: http://www.prnewswire.com/cnoc/story/569463/19412]
#################################################################
4. HINTS AND TIPS:
FAXING WITH NT
With the introduction of Windows NT Workstation 3.51 Microsoft
included a DLL for enabling Delrina WinFax, one of the leading
products in the FAX software category. This means that Windows NT
now works seamlessly with both WinFax Pro V 4.0, and WinFax Lite.
WinFax Lite is usually found bundled with various brands of
modems, and is not sold as a separate product. WinFax Pro V 4.0
is available from either your local software reseller or Delrina
at 1-800-813-8149.
HOW TO DELETE AN UNWANTED PARTITION
Will you ever need to convert either a Novell server or a Unix or
OS/2 machine to Windows NT? Will you ever need to switch a hard
drive from one of the above type of machines into a Windows NT
computer? Have you had problems deleting the non-DOS partition?
What if you just need to start fresh with a hard drive you have
been having trouble with? If you have, then the following
information may be just what you need.
FDISK from DOS or Windows 95 will allow you to delete FAT or NTFS
partitions. However, sometimes these solutions are not feasible.
Thus, the following options are offered.
To delete or modify a primary NTFS partition, perform any one of
the following four procedures:
- Boot MS-DOS version 6.0 or later from a floppy disk and press
RETURN to continue installing MS-DOS 6. When prompted to do
so, choose "Remove files".
- Initiate Windows NT installation from floppy disks or CD-ROM.
When prompted to do so, choose "P" to remove the partition.
- Use the DELPART utility to delete the NTFS partition. DELPART
is provided in the Microsoft Windows NT Resource Kit. Note
that DELPART cannot delete a logical drive in the extended
partition.
- Boot OS/2 version 1.x from a floppy disk and run its Fdisk
program. To remove the partition, specify the /D option.
Those with another kind of non-DOS partition, or who don't
have success with the above procedures can find a DOS debug
script at:
http://www.microsoft.com/kb/softlib/search.htm
when you search on 'PD0321'.
This is an application note that comes in a self expanding text
file with the debug script. You can also find the text file on
Technet, MSDN or ftp.microsoft.com
#################################################################
5. CASE STUDIES AND WHITEPAPERS:
IDC RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION
Today, October 25, 1995 at Service Support Expo in San Francisco,
IDC Research will present positive findings on the Financial
Benefits of Certification. The study has multiple sponsors: Drake
Prometric; Microsoft, IBM, Lotus and Sybase. There will be a
press conference at Moscone Center on Thursday, 10/26 at 9 am PST
*and* a teleconference/Q&A immediately thereafter at 10:30 am
PST. IDC is expected to discuss how IS organizations that
support certification operate more complex client-server
environments, yet their staff is more productive. Payback for
certification is less than 9 months on average.
WINDOWS NT WORKSTATION FOR ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
If you are an engineer, scientist, or other technical
professional, your work depends on your ability to use high-
powered workstations efficiently. Today, however, over 80% of
these advanced users need to use both a UNIX workstation and a
personal computer to get their jobs done - often having
multiple systems on their desk. This resource duplication costs
money and can decrease efficiency. There is a solution:
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation can dramatically reduce these
costs and inefficiencies by giving you the ability to run
technical and productivity applications on a single computer.
How much money do you spend on hardware today? Consolidating all
of your applications on a single system with Windows NT
Workstation can free up to 75% of a typical hardware budget.
For more information, You can read the white paper located at
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/ntwengr.htm
It is a self-expanding file produced in Word 6.0. If you don't
have Word 6.0, there is an option to download
a viewer that will allow you to read this file.
#################################################################
6. NT USER GROUPS
In this section, we highlight one or two NT User Groups (and
their events and activities) per issue. We welcome submissions
from all NT User Groups, but can only select the one or two most
relevant and interesting that have been submitted, and that fall
into that issue's time frame.
We are in the process of putting together a help packet to help
folks who are starting up new NT user groups, or wish to enhance
their current group. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how
to form a new group, or helpful hints on running an existing one,
please let us know!
Send your announcements, suggestions and ideas to:
winntnews-feedback@microsoft.bhs.com.
Your submissions, if accepted, may be edited to fit what we
consider our space constraints.
CHAMPFEST COMDEX
Don't forget - if you are attending Fall Comdex in Las Vegas,
attend the ChampFest Party, Tuesday evening 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the
Mirage Hotel Ballroom M & N! You can pick up your invitation at
the Microsoft Product booth on the show floor.
WiNTUG - A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP OF THE PNWPCUG
(PACIFIC NORTHWEST PC USER GROUP)
This SIG meets the second Monday of every month in the PACWEST
offices of Microsoft in Bellevue - 10500 NE 8th, the 13th floor,
in the Executive Briefing Offices at 7pm.
November's meeting will feature Aaron Frank and Bret Arsenault
of Microsoft demonstrating the decision criteria for choosing
between Windows NT Workstation and Windows 95 in the workplace.
Membership in the Pacific Northwest PC Users Group is not
required for attendance, but is strongly encouraged if you wish
to participate in an ongoing basis.
Contact either
Kurt Buff or
Marjorie James for further details about WiNTUG, including fu
(206) 703-6325
a-kurtb@microsoft.com
(206) 451-1711
mjames@ariscorp.com