For any members that are wanting to purchase a prebuilt WHS box here is a extensive review on the:
HP MediaSmart Server EX475 - Hands On Review

Just to let a few of the readers know and it was also pointed out to me, the last set of WHS updates requires restarts. A list of major updates can be seen here at MSWHS.com website. I actually had to restart my computer 3 times to get it to work properly.

Vista SP1 RC Faster with Windows Home Server
December 7, 2007 — Philip Churchill

Good news for those of you that are using Windows Vista on client machines with Windows Home Server. The release candidate (RC) of Windows Vista SP1 is available via Microsoft Connect to beta testers, and to subscribers to TechNet and MDSN. In addition, the RC will be available to the public next week via Microsoft’s Download Center.

With the networking fixes included in Windows Vista SP1, transferring files over my network has improved tremendously. In its original release, Vista had some design problems with its networking stack, resulting in slow file transfers, especially when connecting to computers running Windows XP, Server 2003 and Windows Home Server. In Vista SP1, file transfer speeds have dramatically improved. I actually found it to be up to 300% faster, which is a huge improvement and accessing file shares on my Windows Home Server is also much more responsive too.

MS Windows Home Server

I come upon a Sys Volume error today. I noticed past few days I coudl not log in from my workstation and was wondering why but yet it was still backing up. SO today I got the erro message , runa repair on the hard drive it told me to, rebooted and everythign seem sto be fine now.

I will be keeping a closer eye on this thing now....

Today I finished setting up a new Test Rig w/ XP Pro & Server 2008 (as a Desktop OS) & installed the WHS Connector software in XP.

That PC backed up & now I have that Test Rigs OS's backed up for safety & in case I need one of them for testing on another partition, all I need to do is just restore it there.

I am fortunate that I have not had any problems w/ WHS

Congrats JD By the way, what's up with the Windows Home Server issues that were reported? Have they been resolved or are they ongoing? What exactly were they anyway?

I just checked on MSDN and there's still no sign of it there. I thought it would be posted there by now already. Although I understand it's a home user/consumer thing, I think techies need access to it to know what it's about. Actually I just want a freebie of it to be honest

My guess now is that MSDN wont have it until after PP1 is released so the Data Corruption Bug will be fixed.


1) Status of Power Pack 1 shipping
ATM the home server team has a current estimate of June, 2008 for PP1.

When Power Pack 1 ships, the Windows Home Server Connector will be able to be installed on home computers running Windows Vista x64 editions.
http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/archive/2008/01/06/windows-home-server-power-pack-1.aspx


2) Data Corruption Issue Q&A
March 10, 2008 — Philip Churchill

With the Knowledge Base Article (KB) 946676 detailing the data corruption issue being updated today (see here) we have more detailed information available for you in a question and answer format that should help you understand the problem easier.

What is the issue?
When certain programs are used to edit, transfer and save files to/on the Windows Home Server, the files may become corrupted.
What are the programs?

• Windows Vista Photo Gallery
• Windows Live Photo Gallery
• Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 and 2007
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
• Microsoft Money 2007
• SyncToy 2.0 Beta only
• Intuit QuickBooks
• uTorrent

Why does this happen?
A bug has been discovered in the way that Windows Home Server manages file transfer and balancing across multiple hard drives. In certain cases, depending on the way you use the application, timing, and the work load placed on the Windows Home Server, certain files may become corrupted.

*The rest is at the #2 link above.


3) In the MS WHS Forums
I have read about (almost) every kind of a problem one can have, from people w/ all types of experience, installing OEM software. I avoid going there.

Well so far I have not had any issues, but then again I do nothing more than backup my desktops and store files on it via shared folder access. Yes I do use the internet to transfer files also but so far no problems. I am waiting for them to release SP1 before I punish it. I woudl really like to install my Quickbooks on it and share between two computers but I can not take a chance right now.

Same here, no problems at all, I also only use it for basic Home Server tasks like you.

I don't edit files on the server (Like on a normal commercial server) which it sounds like is causing some of the problems people are having.



This AM I tried installing a complete OS backup (Vista HP) to another PC w/ a different Hdd type (PATA>SATA) & size partition. Afterwords I used VBP to get the OS to show-up in the boot menu & ran a System Restore (2x) from the Vista DVD, but no joy. That test failed.

It appears that the WHS Team will be having a public Power Pack 1 Beta starting in May:

Todd Headrick wrote:

As promised, I said I would provide an update when a decision was made. Please read today's blog post onthe Windows Home Server blog. http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/archive/2008/04/02/an-update-regarding-windows-home-server-power-pack-1.aspx While the decision was made to hold Power Pack 1 for the fix for KB #946676, there is a broad public beta planned for Power Pack 1 in May.

&

Quote:

The details are still being worked out. You have completed the necessary first step of getting signed up on Microsoft Connect. The Power Pack 1 beta will likely be a new program that you will need to accept a EULA to participate in that will be available off of the Windows Home Server connect site.