Barney's Blog

Blog archive

Upgrade Advice: Let the Software Guide You

Microsoft loves when you upgrade. Salespeople are constantly pushing the latest (which hopefully is the greatest); volume licenses, especially Software Assurance, are designed to drive migration; and Microsoft has the Infrastructure Optimization Model, a framework that justifies the adoption of lots of new software.

But upgrading isn't as simple as cranking up a few Windows installers. You have to make sure the new stuff really works. That's where the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Version 4.0, now in beta, comes in. The new kit focuses on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and helps IT see if existing hardware, peripherals and applications will still work. Sounds like it's worth a look.

Posted by Doug Barney on June 29, 2009


Featured

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • Windows 365 Reserve, Microsoft's Cloud PC Rental Service, Hits Preview

    Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of its new "Windows 365 Reserve" service, which lets organizations rent cloud PC instances in the event their Windows devices are stolen, lost or damaged.

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.

Most   Popular