Wireless in Windows 2008 R2

The wireless in Windows 2008 R2 would requires installing a feature in order to work. This is even though the NIC driver is installed properly, and that the status of the adaptor in the properties shows that it is working properly.

The feature to enable is as follows:

Upgrading of Windows 2012

This is a personal summary of the upgrade options for Windows 2012, extracted from Microsoft Website.

From evaluation edition of Windows 2012:


Availability of Fully functional Evaluation versions of Windows Server 2012 - 64 bits for 180 days:

• Windows Server 2012 Standard
• Windows Server 2012 Datacenter 
• Windows Server® 2012 Essentials 

Run
              slmgr.vbs /dlv
to see the evaluation period remaining.

Limitations of Evaluation Version:

• The following warning appears on the Desktop: Windows License is expired
• When you log on to Windows, you are prompted with the following options:
• Activate now
• Ask me later
• The system shuts down every hour.
• The only updates that can be installed are security updates.
• Event ID 100 from source WLMS “The license period for this installation of Windows has expired. The operating system will shut down every hour.” appears in the Application log.

Upgrade from Evaluation version:

Verified that it is an evaluation copy by running
         slmgr.vbs /dlv

(evaluation versions will include “EVAL” in the output)

For Windows Server 2012 Essentials: You can convert to the full retail version by entering a retail, volume license, or OEM key in the command slmgr.vbs.

For Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter, convert to retail version by:

1. If the server is a domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version directly, but rather, you have to do a transition process.
2. Determine the current edition name:
• DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition. 
• Run DISM /online /Set-Edition:<edition ID> /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula

                    providing the edition ID and a retail product key. The server will restart twice.

For the evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard, you can also convert to the retail version of Windows Server 2012 Datacenter in one step using this same command and the appropriate product key.

Upgrade from previous version:
Generally:

• In-place upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit architectures are not supported. All editions of Windows Server 2012 are 64-bit only.
• In-place upgrades from one language to another are not supported.
• In-place upgrades from one build type (fre to chk, for example) are not supported.
• If the server is a domain controller, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/hh994618.aspx for important information.
• Upgrades from pre-release versions of Windows Server 2012 (such as the Release Candidate) are not supported. Perform a clean installation to Windows Server 2012.
• Upgrades that switch from a Server Core installation to the Server with a GUI mode of Windows Server 2012 in one step (and vice versa) are not supported. However, after upgrade is complete, Windows Server 2012 allows you to switch freely between Server Core and Server with a GUI modes.  
• If you do not see your current version in the left column, upgrading to this release of Windows Server 2012 is not supported.
• If you see more than one edition in the right column, upgrade to either edition from the same starting version is supported.

If you are running:	You can upgrade to these editions:
Windows Server 2008 Standard with SP2 or Windows Server 2008 Enterprise with SP2	Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter with SP2	Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
Windows Web Server 2008	Windows Server 2012 Standard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard with SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SP1	Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter with SP1	Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
Windows Web Server 2008 R2	Windows Server 2012 Standard

Converting existing Windows Server 2012 versions

At any time after installing Windows Server 2012, you can run Setup to repair the installation (sometimes called “repair in place”) or, in certain cases, to convert to a different edition.

You can run Setup to perform a “repair in place” on any edition of Windows Server 2012; the result will be the same edition you started with.

Configuring a W2008R2 vhd as a boot partition on Win8 laptop

This is an update to the earlier post. Now that I have a Windows 8 Laptop, and that there is a new script, (convert-windowsimage.ps1) the process is now easier.

Generally, only 2 process required:
1. Creating the vhd.
2. Configuring dual-boot for the vhd.

1. Creating the vhd.

Make sure you had donwloaded the Convert-windowsimage.ps1 script from the web.
Locate your source iso file, and run the following command:

.\Convert-WindowsImage.ps1 -sourcepath i:\sources\install.wim -Edition ServerEnterprise -vhdpath d:\2008DB.vhd

The various Edition are as follows:
 1. ServerStandard

 2. ServerStandardCore
 3. ServerEnterprise
 4.  ServerEnterpriseCore
 5.  ServerDataCenter
 6.  ServerDataCenterCore
 7.  ServerWeb
 8.  ServerWebCore

The vhd would be a default dynamically expanding 40GB vhd. It will also be mounted automatically.

2. Configuring dual-boot for the vhd.

Despite the verbose message in step 1, you will still need to configure the dual-boot.

Run

Bcdedit /enum

to verify the creation.

Activating Windows 8

If you did not input the product key during the installation, you would not be able to change the default in the GUI. Unlike previous version where they have a link for one to enter the product key, you will have to do it in command line in Windows 8.

The command is simply:

Retreat at Bintan (Dec 2012)

Our extended family (12 people in total, 9A3C) took a retreat at Bintan Lagoon. It is thru my company, NCS resort at Bintan Lagoon, Cempaka 56.

It cost me $270 ($95+$95+$80); rental @ weekend $95/night; rental @ weekday $80/night, from 22 Dec till 25 Dec 2012. Xmas eve was cheaper!!!

The resort only take 7 people officially, any extra would be charge (one-time) $20 per adult and $10 per child.

The accomodation is cheap, but when we look at the grocery list, we were stunned.

It is then, that we plan our meals with instant noodle and eggs and bread, etc.

 
 

 
 

We booked our ferry @journeyful.com. It must be noted that the destination is Bintan Lagoon Terminal, a standalone one, not the usual Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal.
Fare was in total $775 for 9A3C.

The pro of booking thru journeyful for mozaic lines is that once you check-in your luggage, you only need to collect them at the resort lobby itself. For others, especially to BBT, it will require your intervention when you arrived at the terminal, to transfer the luggage to the coach. Thus, the higher price. However, do note that mazaic lines schedule are not confirmed, as their smaller crafts are unable to travel when the weather is bad. We noted this on 3 different times during the trip. One of our party had to wait for an 815 pm craft when his booking is 340 pm. In view of this, we recommend going thru BBT.

The journey took about 50 minutes. Arrival at Bintan Resort terminal, we were transfer via buggy to the lobby. Greet by dancers. Check in and then were driven to the villa via buggy. If you got your own buggy, you would probably escape the additional charges. They only found out we have the additional people during the buggy trip.

 
    

The villa was cempaka 56. The facilities was a bit broken down but was clean.

There was no mahjong table, but we improvised with the 2 dressing table from the guestrooms. Mahjong set, we bring ourselves.

 Our charging station.

We chartered a minibus from the resort at $128 (12 seater, 4 hours) to Tanjong Ubud to get supplies. Got hit by debris from some grass-cutting party. Recommended that you get to Oleh2, and get a rental vehicle there. It can be as cheap as $40 for a 7 seater, whole day. Best to make a trip as early as possible to get all the supplies for the next few days. Then it would not be necessary to bring anything else from SGP.

 Tanjong Ubud is about 45 minutes away. Small town, but there is a wet market and a supermarket.

 Live poultry available.

 Packets of oils.

We then had lunch at a kelong restaurant. It is noted that wherever you had lunch, there is transport that will take you back to your resort. For example, if you have a meal at Oleh2, they could transfer you back. That means that you only need to take a one-way ride from your resort. Better still, you could always call and ask them to pick you up. The contacts are:

Not that cheap!

We had a boat ride back after the lunch, FOC.

We embark at the mangrove walk jetty, just beside Oleh2.



We also took the shuttle out to Oleh-Oleh the next day. It costs $6/pax for a return trip. It is aty Oleh2 where I found the contacts for supplies and car rental at local rates. Too bad, will do it the next trip.

Other activities include futsal and swimming. There are 2 swimming pools available.

We had our BBQ at the villa. There was no lights at the pit and we had to cook with our handphone torches.

Also note that the restaurant in the resort start operation at 1800 hrs. So no early dinner possible. We had simple meals within the villa.

We also celebrated C'mas eve at Rice, the restaurant near the sea.
                                      

Our ferry was cancelled, and we had to move to BBT for the ferry home. It was chaotic.