ldifde - an improvement on lpd.exe

Strange, not blogged for nearly a year - must be too busy at work!

Also strange that my last blog is a precursor to this.  LDP.exe is a great gui interface for quick ldap queries, but i wanted to automate, script and get output to a file.

Enter ldifde.

with a few switches it allows for simple ldap queries to be scripted and give txt files with results.

You can also determine which attributes you want returned from the AD objects.

Currently using for a monthly review of AD groups.

LDP.exe

For getting info from AD in a text format, I'm finding LDP.exe which is part of the Windows Server 2003 tool-set VERY HELPFUL.

Typically I need to list members in AD groups and in AD Users & Computers you cannot export the lists.

LDP.exe, once bound to the domain can perform these simple queries and then you can grab the text output :)

I had to change the buffer and page size in the options to be able to get full results for queries that return a lot of text.

Simple enough, and free :)

Folder Polling Script

A neat little script which checks a specified folder (here its C:\Presentations) for the addition of a new file every 5 seconds (WITHIN 5 WHERE) .
Then the script checks for a certain file type, here Powerpoint or web page/link, and then triggers the app accordingly to run this file.
When a new file is detected, the app currently running is closed and a new one started.

I have a server connected to a plasma display, and this script allows users to drag a file into a shared folder, and the server will display the latest file dragged in to the plasma.

(It uses the relevant switches for powerpoint presentation mode - POWERPNT.EXE /S, and  Internet Explorer kiosk mode - iexplore.exe -k.)

Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & _
        strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
    'set poll time and location in the next line
Set colMonitoredEvents = objWMIService.ExecNotificationQuery _
    ("SELECT * FROM __InstanceCreationEvent WITHIN 5 WHERE " _
        & "Targetinstance ISA 'CIM_DirectoryContainsFile' and " _
            & "TargetInstance.GroupComponent= " _
                & "'Win32_Directory.Name=""c:\\\\Presentations""'")
Do
    Set objLatestEvent = colMonitoredEvents.NextEvent 'waits until next event - next file put into folder.
   
    strNewFile = objLatestEvent.TargetInstance.PartComponent
    arrNewFile = Split(strNewFile, "=")
    strFileName = arrNewFile(1)
    strFileName = Replace(strFileName, "\\", "\")
    strFileName = Replace(strFileName, Chr(34), "")
    strFileName = Chr(34) & strFileName & Chr(34)
    'check for file type and if ppt or htm then close program to allow for new application instance with file
    chkPPT
    'filter for ppt or iexplore
    If Right(strfilename,6) = ".pptx" & Chr(34) Or Right(strfilename,5) = ".ppt"  & Chr(34) Then
    objShell.Run("POWERPNT.EXE /S " & strFileName)
    ElseIf Right(strfilename,6) = ".html"  & Chr(34) or Right(strfilename,5) = ".htm"  & Chr(34) or Right(strfilename,5) = ".url"  & Chr(34) Then
    objShell.Run("iexplore.exe -k " & strFileName)
    End If
Loop 'keep going

Sub chkPPT
set service = GetObject ("winmgmts:")
bFlag = False
For each Process in Service.InstancesOf ("Win32_Process")
If Process.Name = "POWERPNT.EXE" Or process.name = "iexplore.exe" Then
bFlag = True
End If
Next
'check for file type of newly added file - do nothing if not ppt or ie8
If Not (Right(strFileName,6) = ".pptx" & Chr(34) Or Right(strFileName,5) = ".ppt" _
& Chr(34) Or Right(strFileName,6) = ".html"  & Chr(34) OR Right(strFileName,5) = ".htm"  & Chr(34) OR Right(strFileName,5) = ".url"  & Chr(34)) Then
bFlag = False
End If
'quit applications
If bFlag Then
strWmiq = "select * from Win32_Process where name='POWERPNT.exe'"
Set objQResult = Service.Execquery(strWmiq)
For Each objProcess In objQResult
intRet = objProcess.Terminate(1)
Next
strWmiq = "select * from Win32_Process where name='iexplore.exe'"
Set objQResult = Service.Execquery(strWmiq)
For Each objProcess In objQResult
intRet = objProcess.Terminate(1)
Next
End If
End Sub

When dates are not Excel friendly

I recently had an issue.

I have a report which exports into Excel. The date format from the report is US, and I work in the UK.
Excel tries to recognise the dates as UK, so for dates that fit (eg. month is 1-12) Excel gives me an incorrect date.  For dates that don't fit (eg. month is 13-31) then Excel doesnt recognise this as a date and this is formatted as plain text.

An example of this is below:

7/29/2011 7:23:26 AM
08/02/2011 05:45

These two dates should be 29/07/2011 and 02/08/2011 respectively. However the top one is formatted as text, whereas the bottom one is formatted as date (incorrect format in terms of UK to US!)
To rectify this issue I have the formula shown below (which assumes the cell A1 contains the top of the list of exported dates)

=IF(ISNUMBER(A1),DATE(YEAR(A1), DAY(A1), MONTH(A1)),DATE(MID(A1, FIND("/", A1, 4)+1, 4), LEFT(A1, FIND("/", A1)-1), VALUE(MID(A1, FIND("/", A1)+1, 2))))

This works exceptionally well.

A user came to me today with the same issue and following giving her this solution, I thought to blog this as being worth sharing.

XBMC rip audio CD to mp3

Now my XBMC is up and running :

• using wireless remote
• all media on mounted USB share (Samba installed so I can access across home network eg configured as a NAS also)
• using the Quartz skin currently
• All music, video, movies, photos cataloged

We have loads of CDs in the attic not currently on the media drive, so i thought - 'let the ripping begin' ;-)

Strange however that XBMC baulked at ripping discs to .mp3 with the LAME encoder.

I have PuTTY set up so I can look around on a terminal level whilst XBMC is running, and also FileZilla to give me a nice GUI representation of the directories and files.

It seemed XBMC was creating the correct folder structure for my rip, but creating a 0 size file.

A fair amount (which is why I'm blogging this) of googling, and I found a reference to the fact that the native install of Ubuntu (which XBCM live runs on) does not have the lame endoer installed!

That'll be it then.

A quick sudo apt-get install lame at the terminal and....

...yeah - its ripping... :o))

(I say its ripping, and it is trying to.... me thinks need a less prehistoric DVD drive...:)

Make an iPhone ringtone in iTunes 10

If you’ve made an iPhone ringtone before the process will be familiar to you. This will work the same on both Mac and Windows versions of iTunes 10:


Making the ringtone


• Launch iTunes 10
• Find and select the song you want to make a ringtone out of in iTunes 10

 • Right-click on the song name and select ‘Get Info’

• Then click on the Options tab

• Select the playback period of the song that you want to ringtone to be, make sure it’s not more than 30 seconds – tick both boxes Start Time and Stop Time.

• Now click “OK” and then right click on the song again, and select “Create AAC version” to create a new version of the song with the 30 second interval you specified

• This will create a 30 second track.  Right click the original track and choose Get Info and go back to the Options tab – untick the Start Time and Stop Time boxes and click OK. This will keep the original track at its correct length.

• Now click the new 30 second clip (it should be under the song).and drag the clip onto your desktop area.

• If it doesn’t have the .m4a on the end, then you need to change some windows properties – see section at the end.

• Right click it and choose Rename
• Change the .m4a to .m4r
• Click Yes when you get the next box.
• Drag the file from your desktop back into iTunes
• The file will now be added back into iTunes as a ringtone
• Drag it into your iPhone Ringtones to sync it.

Change Windows Folder Settings
If you cant see the .m4a on the end of the file:


• Open My Computer
• Choose Tools | Folder Options
• Click the View tab
• Untick Hide extensions for known file types
• Click OK
• Now the .m4a should be visible.

No MODI in Office 2010! (get it from 2007)

Ok, so what I wanted to do was to run the Office 2007 install but to only install the MODI (Microsoft Office Document Imaging) component which for some reason has been excluded in Office 2010. This component amongst other things is an excellent .tiff editor.

I first tried using the Microsoft Office Customisation tool, by running the command setup.exe /admin (see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc178956.aspx#BKMK_admincmd)

This has an excellent and straightforward GUI, and creates an .msp file which can then be pointed to using the command setup.exe /adminfile test.msp.

However, as my MS Office 2010 is installed and I will be using the license for 2010 to cover the 2007 MODI component (Microsoft's Office licenses are backwards compatible and can be used for the equivalent Office product in an earlier version provided that you are fulfilling the rest of the agreement in regards to number of installations) I did not have a product key for the 2007 install, and the use of the .msp then baulked as this needs to be supplied for the .msp file to go through, even though when I just ran the setup.exe manually it does NOT prompt for a key! (This is due to it seeing the install as an upgrade....

Anyway - I needed another solution, which I found with the setup.exe /config command. (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc178956.aspx#BKMK_config)

This involves copying the default config.xml and modifying it accordingly to your requirements. Below is the .xml I used to specify the MODI component only:


<configuration product="Enterprise">
<display accepteula="yes" completionnotice="yes" level="basic" suppressmodal="no">
<optionstate children="force" id="ACCESSFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="EXCELFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="GrooveFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="OneNoteFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="OUTLOOKFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="PPTFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="PubPrimary" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="RMSFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="VisualStudio_PreviewServer_SPD" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="WORDFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="XDOCSFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="SHAREDFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="TOOLSFiles" state="absent">
<optionstate children="force" id="MSOfficeDocumentImaging" state="Local">
</optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></optionstate></display></configuration>


Then I created a batchfile to run the setup.exe /config modi.xml command and hey presto - it works!

For a full list of options that can be configured in the xml I found http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179195.aspx most useful.

Group Policy <> Registry

It's very helpful to be able to know the registry settings for group policy settings, to enable simple scripting to automate the settings.

Glad I found this link :o)

Synching

 

Again I am looking at syncing tools.  Windows live beta has now gone and been replaced by Windows Live Sync.

It comes as part of the 2011 Essentials pack, only installable on Windows 7 though, so that makes for a bummer on my main home Win XP laptop.  Will still use the web folder for live mesh there.  25 gig of free space is not something to be sniffed at.

This is being written on the blogger tool as part of the live essentials, which at first glance looks pretty cool  Im currently on my little d430 ‘work’ laptop, with Windows 7 on it.

Also trying out a few tools to help sync my Google documents, Synchplicity and the office plugin. not installled yet.

 

WIll update this in a bit, but want to see if the blogger tool works…

Sky+ remote codes

Our Sky+ remote went down this weekend, and whilst you can get basic functionality with the buttons on the front of the machine, it's a right pain and you can't really use Sky+ properly at all.

Luckily my dad had a spare new Sky+ HD remote, which I thought would work.

If you need to get a different type of remote to work with Sky, Sky+ or Sky HD. Here's how:

1 press the TV button
2 press and hold the Select and i buttons until the red light on the remote flashes twice
3 press the 1 button (0=Standard, 1=Sky+, 2=Sky HD)
4 press the Select button (the red light should flash twice, if it doesn't, your remote cannot control a Sky+ Digibox)
5 press the Sky button

There are also other 'reset' codes and TV codes, which are easily available on the web. But this was the one we needed to get our remote working with our Sky+.

Now for some soldering of the old remote...

Restoring a Dell factory image file (.wim) to a new hard disk

A bit of googling I found this excellent article on tjb-ts.blogspot which gave me the quick indication that this COULD be done and how to do it.

Basically, I extracted the factory.wim file from the recovery partition of a failing hard drive, and also got the imagex.exe and it's config files from the tools folder in the recovery partition and stuck them all on my external usb.

Then, using a vista disk, I booted into the recovery options after installing a new hard drive.

Going into command line, I issue the following commands to get the new hard disk ready, active and formatted:

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
create partition primary
assign letter=c:
active
exit
format c: /q /y

once this was complete, I navigated to my USB drive (handy that vista boot disk repair has usb support - as does windows 7) and ran the imagex command to restore the factory.wim file:

Imagex /apply factory.wim 1 c:\

Once this was complete, and again, thanks to the tjb-ts blog, I needed to run the vista startup repair option, which sorted out the booting issue. If I didn't run this option, then vista wouldn't load.

All in all, a successful operation!

Searching in Windows for NOT those things!

I recently have began cataloguing and cleaning up my media library to enable the new media unit at home to more easily serve us the pics, music and video that I have amassed over the years...

After renaming many files with prefixes to allow for faster searching, and getting all the mp3 tags correct and orderly, I wanted to check through my directories for any files that were NOT meant to be in the respective folders. IE in my music directory, for any files that were NOT .mp3, and in my pictures, any files that were NOT .jpg, etc.

I found out you cant do this with Windows search. DOH!

I found out (on Eileen's Lounge - thanks Hans!) that a command line will do this. Yay!
For instance:

dir "C:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\My Music" /s | find /v /i ".mp3" | C:\result.txt

will pipe a LOT of info into a text file, detailing any files not of the type .mp3 in the music directory. There is a lot of verbatim with this method to sift through though.

I think Google desktop search could probably do this with less verbatim, but I don't have this app (no major use for it) and didn't want to install it. I would rather write a nice little script...

I called it the NOT search. I have posted it for download with an .exe version on 'Eileen's Lounge (formerly Woodies Lounge)' here.

It basically prompts you for the directory to search on, then for the file types to exclude, ie NOT search on, and then offers folder recursion, ie search through all subfolders. Once complete a nice little report is presented to you in Notepad, detailing any found files and their paths. I found this very helpful indeed and was able to clean up and move any files to where they should be.

The code is below:

'// pmatz's file extension NOT search - sept 01 2010. v 1.1
'// script to search for all files with extension's NOT specified
'//---------------------------------------------------------------

Public strList

main

Sub main
strList = ""
Dim strFileExtensions()
strPath = InputBox ("Enter path to search on." & vbCr & _
"(For root drives please use driveletter" & vbCr & _
"followed by :\ )" ,"pmatz's file extension NOT search")
If IsEmpty(strPath) Then
closeMessage1
Exit Sub
End If
strGetFileExts = InputBox ("Enter filetype/s NOT to search for." & vbCr & _
"(seperate file extensions with commas and leave no spaces" & vbcr & _
"e.g. .mp3,.jpg,.gif,.tar,.iso)","pmatz's file extension NOT search")
bRecurse = (MsgBox("Recurse through all subfolders?",vbYesNo) = vbyes)
strTypes = strGetFileExts
iExtensions= 0
Do
ReDim Preserve strFileExtensions(iExtensions)
iComma = InStr(1,strGetFileExts,",")
If iComma > 0 Then
strFileExtensions(iExtensions) = Left(strGetFileExts,iComma-1)
strGetFileExts = Right(strGetFileExts,Len(strGetFileExts)-iComma)
iExtensions=iExtensions+1
End If
Loop Until iComma = 0
strFileExtensions(iExtensions) = strGetFileExts
search strPath, strFileExtensions, bRecurse
createOutput strPath,strTypes
End Sub

Sub search(searchFolder,excludeTypes,recurse)
On Error Resume Next 'this stops crash for issues with no access etc.
bFound = False
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If Not fso.FolderExists(searchfolder) Then
closeMessage1
Exit Sub
End If
Set fFolder = fso.GetFolder(searchFolder)
Set fSubfolders = fFolder.SubFolders
Set fFiles = fFolder.Files
For Each fFile in fFiles
For iExtension = 0 To UBound(excludeTypes)
For iStop = Len(fFile.Name)To 0 Step -1
If Mid(fFile.Name,iStop,1) = "." Then
iStop = Len(fFile.Name)-iStop + 1
Exit For
End If
Next
If UCase(Right(fFile.Name,iStop)) = UCase(excludeTypes(iExtension)) Then
bFound = True
End If
Next
If Not bFound Then
strList = strList & vbNewLine & fFile.Path
Else
bFound = False
End If
Next
If recurse Then
For Each fSubfolder In fSubfolders
search fSubfolder.Path,excludeTypes,True
Next
End If
Set FSO = Nothing
Set fFolder = Nothing
Set fSubfolders = Nothing
Set fFiles = Nothing
End Sub

Sub createOutput(strPath,StrTypes)
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strOut = oShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
strOut = strOut & "\pmatzFileExtensionNOTsearch_" & getStamp & ".txt"
Set f = fso.CreateTextFile(strOut)
f.WriteLine "pmatzFileExtensionNOTsearch performed on " & Now()
f.WriteLine "Searched through " & strPath & ", excluding types " & strTypes
f.WriteLine "__________________________________________________"
f.WriteLine
f.Write strList
f.Close
oShell.Run("%systemroot%\notepad.exe " & strOut)
Set oShell=Nothing
Set fso = Nothing
Set f = Nothing
End Sub

Function getStamp
strStamp = FormatDateTime(Now(),2)
strStamp = Replace(strStamp,"/","-")
strStamp = strStamp & "_" & FormatDateTime(Now(),4)
strStamp = Replace(strStamp,":","-")
getStamp = strStamp
End function

Sub closeMessage1
MsgBox "Need to enter a legitimate path!",vbinformation,"pmatz's file extension NOT search"
End Sub

TreeSize - check your storage capacities

If you like me ever need to know at a glance how much storgae space you are using in a directory, then look no further than the excellent Tree Size application.
It comes in free version or a paid version with lots more features. But the free version is fine.
This will scan a directory or drive and breakup by folder how much space is used by files and folders.
You can print a 'report' which is helpful, and although the free version doesn't support an export to .csv feature, you can print to XPS for instance and do a little copy and pasting if necessary.

Google Sketchup

Quite simply, whether just for fun, doing some home DIY, woodwork, floor plans...

You gotta play with this, its excellent free software. I am completely immersed in the tutorials and am enjoying every minute.

Have a look and play. http://sketchup.google.com/

LDAP query

I needed to find out how to query the active directory database easily and so looked into how to script an LDAP query. Code below shows the basics of the simple query based on the LDAP://rootdse object and a recordset connection to perform the query.

Function LDAPsearch (strSearch,strQ)
'set variable to hold required amount of attributes
Dim aResults(4)

'set LDAP defaults to root domain
Set rootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE")
DomainContainer = rootDSE.Get("defaultNamingContext")

'create recordset connection
Set conn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
conn.Provider = "ADSDSOObject"
conn.Open "ADs Provider"

'set query, using strQ for searched FOR item and strSearch as search ON string
ldapStr = ";(" & strQ & "=" & strSearch & "*);adspath;Subtree"

'execute LDAP query
Set rs = conn.Execute(ldapStr)

'look for records that meet the query
While Not rs.EOF

'FoundObject is a successful find for query
Set FoundObject = GetObject (rs.Fields(0).Value)

'put results into array with tags
aResults(0) = FoundObject.employeeID
aResults(1) = FoundObject.displayName
aResults(2) = FoundObject.userPrincipalName
aResults(3) = FoundObject.sAMAccountName
aResults(4) = FoundObject.telephoneNumber

'goto next record
rs.MoveNext

'concatenate attributes to string
For i = 0 To 4
strResult = strResult & aResults(i)
Next

'count results (searches may produce multiple results)
iCount = iCount + 1

'add newline results string
strResult = strResult & vbnewline

'continue until no further records are found
Wend
End Function

PureSync

After a year or so of using Microsoft's Synctoy 2.0 for ensuring I always have an up to date synchronised copy of my important data, I finally decided to look for something a bit more flexible.
Synctoy didn't allow for easy changes to the directoris and files that you set up for synch.
To cut a long story short there was a clear contender, namely PureSync from Jumping Bytes.
This is a very powerful and flexible tool, with way more options to really specify how you want to back up / sync your files.
I have three main directories that I sync regularly to ensure minimal data loss in the event of a 'catastrophic failure' eg hard drive fail, theft etc. And so I am only scraping the surface in my use of what PureSync can do, even so, it is far more preferable than SyncToy.
If you are looking for a free sync tool that beats the competition, I would recommend PureSync as the solution.

Google Sync - Outlook 2010

I have found Google's Calendar Sync tool most useful to keep my work outlook calendar synced with my gmail calednar meaning that on my personal and work phones (also synced to google calendar) my scehdule is always up to date with my google calendar and my outlook at work. Google's sync works simply and effectively and helps keep my life organised!
Upon an upgrade at work to office 2010 (from XP) the calendar sync no longer worked. A bit of googling and it seemed to be a simple issue caused by the stamp of the 2010 tag on the app, and there were fixes involving hex editing the exe file which is where i thought .... oh no. Then i found this link: (thanks to james manning!)

Google Calendar Sync with Outlook 2010

This is the way to do it. Install the google tool, then use the updated .exe file and it works perfectly again.
Ahh...

Media Monkey

A suprisingly pleasant and refeshing change and improvment on music management...(better in my opinion that itunes)

I was looking for something better than iTunes as I have LOADS of music and need to keep it organised and searchable, but was finding iTunes both too slow (startup time especially) and creating duplicates and other various niggles. I have to say that within an hour of using (and getting to know its features) MediaMonkey, I am completely converted. And this is the free version. Am seriously thinking of buying the lifetime subscription to the full 'Gold' version. It handles all my music and I have completely un-duplicated my library already. It has EXCELLENT features and in my opinion blows all other players / library managers out of the water.

USB boot, with puppy OS

It is sometimes very helpful (and much easier than using a CD) to be able to boot into a lightweight OS from a USB stick - providing the BIOS in the system you target supports the 'Boot from USB' functionality. Thankfully all systems at work and home do, in fact most if not all modern (read last 5 years) systems shoudl have this capability.

This is very helpful (and sometimes necessary) for those situations where you need to bypass the main OS on a system:

• System hard drive failure - you need to be try and recover your files
• You just want a quick 'netbook' system with no HDD
• Locked out with no administrator password, and need to reset user accounts etc
• Take an image of a HDD, or indeed write an image
• Unnattended installations

I have recently found a nice simple method to prepare a USB stick for this purpose - making it bootable and using a pretty slick lightweight OS (Puppy Linux) which is in many ways preferable to my usual BartPE windows line of attack. It has most features you need, like basic office apps, network support, browser, USB support, file manager, nice layout and look and feel...

To set up the .iso image (or any .iso for that matter!) on a USB stick and make it bootable, I found a great little application which will do just that. It's called 'UNetbootin' - Universal Netboot Installer.

Simple to use, and works a treat.

Windows 7

After playing with the Beta and RC of Windows 7 in virtual machines, I found that there is a fully loaded Enterprise version which is fully functional for 90 days (and potentially more with up to 3 activation period resets - see later) available for free download.

Suffice to say I have now installed on our main home PC as it needed a reinstall of the OS and I thought why not??? I have to say both me and my wife are impressed with this new OS. There was a little teething trouble getting it installed which was for some reason due to it not being able to discern the system partition when trying to install the OS.
It showed up my 4 hard drives, and correctly showed the basic and dynamic volumes. But it threw an error every time I tried to load it on the system drive. I did a bit of googling with the particular error and found it a fairly common issue, and to do with the system partition not being able to be determined.
The workaround was to temporarily disconnect all other drives (3 SATA and 1 IDE) and then the install went swimmingly, both smooth and fast, much more pleasant experience than the XP install ( which it's got to be said, wan't at all bad in the 1st place!)
Once loaded up, I reconnected my drives and all was fine, Windows 7 detected all the drives and volumes (including my spanned volume from Win XP - my main Doxx volume spanned over 3 drives) although there was a 'missing' entry for a drive, which I think was a ghost of the system volume which obviously was present. I removed this and all was well - perhaps this confusion is from having dynamic volumes and contributed to the install baulking when I 1st tried to write to the system drive prior to the disconnections... anyhow...

Here is my main summary points thus far - nothing majorly technical as yet as this is a home PC, but still points of interest are:

• Speed - refreshingly fast boot up/shutdown times, and general speed of OS is FAST, on a fairly basic spec: 1.8Ghz Athlon 64 2800, 2 Gig DDR 400Mhz RAM, Nvidia GeForce FX5200 gfx.
• Sleep - whilst XP took ages to go into sleep mode, and even longer to come out, and would only come out by pressing the power button on the PC, 7 is again very quick, and comes out of sleep with a touch of the keyboard. That was a nice suprise!
• General look and feel and navigation in Windows 7 is great. No where near a cumbersome or overly protective as Vista, and much smoother operation. The new Aero features are cool and helpful - we have 'Peek', 'Shake', 'Snap' and 'Flip'.
• The system protection features are simple to use, a quick and far less annoying than Vista system prompt for an admin password to change anything that normally doens't need accessing is actually a good feature and easy to use. (This is the 1st PC I am using with a standard account rather than running with an admin account as I did in XP)
• Wallpapers, lovely images, wallpaper cycling, windows transparency, themes, colors... all fresh and new and crisp in Windows 7.
• System Tray - simple, clean and elegant, another improvement - all icons are now monochrome which is a better look and handled better.
• Wireless is much quick to connect and stable. The drivers were loaded automatically, which brings me to...
• Driver support - I did not have to visit any of my hardware's vendor's sites to get drivers for my hardware - all drivers were installed automatically through the install process, and after that whilst temporarily connected to the net via a LAN cable, through windows update - all drivers working well if not better than on XP!

I am sure I will think of further benefits, but this is a start!!! The overall feature set is much more rich than XP - things like parental control built in, Bitlocker encryption, and much more.

Yes, we are liking it.

I will have to update this post in a more technical way with regard to networking / domain / security soon, but I am hopefully and expectant that this new platform is actually a good job done by MS!

Okay, an update - a few weeks on and no system crashes, boot speed still very quick - even with the Kaspersky AV running. Shutdown also very quick as is the sleep function. Still liking it. Might even buy it ;)