CotW

Migrating to Windows 7 without Microsoft’s help | Windows – InfoWorld: “Although there is no direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of tools on Microsoft’s part to help you migrate. But — perhaps due to the abundance of Microsoft’s tools combined with the complexity of using each tool (or learning how to use the tools in the correct order) — some IT pros have decided to seek alternatives. And there are plenty to consider.”

How one man designed the Windows 7 boot animation: “Rolf Ebeling, a senior user experience lead for the User Experience Design and Research Team for Windows, Windows Live, and Internet Explorer, is the man who designed the 105-frame Windows 7 boot animation that millions see or will see every day for years to come. Along with developing the famous boot animation, he also helped with the appearance and functionality of the calculator. He’s already confirmed that he’ll be working on the next version of Windows.”

From TechNet…

Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook: “Putting the Windows 7 installation on a USB thumb drive has a few advantages—a small USB key is much more convenient for carrying around than a DVD, the OS will actually install much faster, and you can use a USB key to install Windows 7 on systems that do not have a DVD drive, such as a netbook. In fact, you can even install Windows 7 on netbooks that have fairly modest hardware. Dennis Chung, an IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft recently posted a video demonstrating how easy it is to prepare your thumb drive and use it to install Windows 7. Here’s a quick look at the process:”