An ISO file is simply a disc image stored as a file, composed of all of the contents of a CDROM or DVD disc. You can also think of an ISO file as a full-fidelity image (digital copy) of the optical disc. ISO files are used by vendors to distribute software. Backup applications also store content in the ISO format and many utilities allow creation of an ISO file from existing CDROM or DVD media.

Once created, these files can be share,store  just like any other file – however, if you want to access or read the content contained within the ISO file, you either have to “burn” the ISO file to a writable optical disc or use any third party software that allows you to “mount” and access the ISO file contents directly (i.e. without burning).

With Windows 8, you can simply access the contents of the ISO file without burning to new disc or using any Third party applications.

Virtual Hard Disks are the format used by Virtualization software Hyper-V or Virtual PC. The Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format is a publicly-available image format specification that allows encapsulation of the hard disk into an individual file for use by the operating system as a virtual disk in all the same ways physical hard disks are used.

With Windows 8, you can also access the contents of VHD by direct mount and eject using new Windows Explorer.

Check out below Screenshots:

Click here to see it in Action

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This concepts were formed with the Trustworthy Computing (TwC) directive of January 2002. At that time, many software development groups at Microsoft instigated “security pushes” to find ways to improve the security of existing code.

Since 2004, Microsoft Security Development Life Cycle(SDL) is mandatory software development policy for all products with meaningful business risk and/or access to sensitive data and SDL was designed as an integral part of the development process.

Security Development Process (SDL) Process :

Secure by Design; Secure by Default; Secure in Deployment; and Communications (SD3+C) were guiding principle defined  by Microsoft to guide the creation and support of more secure software.The SDL brings these principles to life, by integrating them into every step of the software development lifecycle

There are total 7 Development Phase of SDL activities:

1. Training : Get informed about security basics and recent trends in security and privacy.
2. Requirements: Analyzing security and privacy risk , Defining quality gates
3. Design : Threat modeling , Attack surface analysis
4. Implementation: Specifying tools, Enforcing banned functions, Static analysis
5. Verification: Dynamic/Fuzz testing , Verifying threat models and attack surface
6. Release: Response plan ,making Final security review , Releasing archive
7. Response: Response execution

For more information on the SDL Process, read the SDL Process Guidance.

Benefits of the Microsoft SDL

1. Reducing the number of software vulnerabilities
2. Reducing the “total cost of development” by finding and eliminating vulnerabilities early.

Measurable Security Improvements

Windows Vista was the first OS to benefit from the SDL, and the illustration below indicates security improvements derived from the SDL when compared to Windows XP.

View Complete list here

Educate yourself and your peers on how to build more secure applications and services!

The Microsoft SDL – Developer Starter Kit offers content, labs, and training to help you establish a standardized approach to rolling out the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) in your organization—or enrich your existing development practices.

Download the complete Microsoft SDL – Developer Starter Kit

Reference: SDL Home | SDL Blog  | Security Forums

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Does your Recycle Bin not refresh correctly? Or maybe you find that for some reason your right click context menu has been disabled in Internet Explorer! Or perhaps things are not fine with your Windows Media Center and you need to flush & rebuild Windows Media Center database! Maybe you opted to be not-warned while deleting Sticky Notes and you now want the warning dialog box back! Or then perhaps, post a malware attack you find that your task manage or cmd or your Registry Editor has been disabled! Fixes for these and many more such common Windows problems are being offered here.

The solutions to repair and fix 50 common Windows annoyances, issues & problems have been categorized under 5 tabs, viz : Windows Explorer, Internet & Connectivity, Windows Media, System Tools & Misc Additional Fixes.

How to use this application:

1. We first suggest that you run the System File Checker Utility. The button provided on the Welcome page, will ‘run sfc /scannow‘ and will check for and replace any corrupted Windows system files. It is expected to take anywhere from 5-10 minutes. If asked to, do reboot.

2. Next we insist that you create a System Restore Point. The provided button will create one, called Safe Point. We always recommend that you create one before making any changes to your system. Should you wish or need too, you can always go back to this Safe Point.

FixWin v 1.0 has been developed my MVP colleague & Windows Registry Guru Ramesh Kumar, for The Windows Club.

Download Now

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Please see the Windows Server SP2/Windows Vista SP2 page on TechNet/MSDN for additional details and documentation.
Windows Vista SP2 TechNet | Windows Server 2008 SP2 TechNet

Download Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP2 x86  Five Language Standalone Installer (KB948465)

Direct Download Link: Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe

Download Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP2 x64 – Five Language Standalone (KB948465)

Direct Download Link: Windows6.0-KB948465-X64.exe

Download Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP2 – Five Language Standalone DVD ISO (KB948465)

Direct Download Link: 6002.18005.090410-1830_iso_update_sp_wave0-RTMSP2.0_DVD.iso

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Seven Transformation Pack gives to your system the fresh and cool look of Microsoft’s new operating system: Windows 7. The pack changes most of the system icons, skins and toolbars and also adds new enhancements to your desktop.

Seven Transformation Pack will replace many of the resources in Windows XP/Windows Server 2003. It can change such things as:

• Boot screen
• Welcome Screen / Logon Screen
• New msstyles files (visual styles)
• New desktop and file icons
• New toolbar icons
• Progress Dialogs
• Sounds scheme
• System Tray icons
• New Wallpapers
• Some Windows 7′s popular features
• And much more

Download

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Read Release notes

Product Keys for Evaluation:

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Enterprise

Product Code : Q7Y83-W4FVQ-6MC6C-6QQTD-TPM88

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Standard

Product Code : V4KRB-QDWK2-GVT4X-BV4XG-34TV4

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Datacenter

Product Code : WXGKX-XXW8X-P8KTJ-PFX7T-DPYYW

Windows Web Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate

Product Code: RBBKH-BVD6B-74FV9-RYPJ7-TCFXB

Download

Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RC

English | French | German | Japanese | Spanish

Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RC for Intel Itanium-based Systems

English | French | German | Japanese

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The site is similar to WinVistaClub, but the difference is that TWC is not limited to vista, its extended to Windows 7 and beyond. Soon the WinVistaClub forum will be migrated to The Windows Club.

Visit The Windows Club

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The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. An MCTS is consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.

Start by showing companies that you mean business by certifying on the technology that you already know. And let DreamSpark to lend you a hand by providing you with a free certification exam while supplies last from now until June 30th, 2009. You have the knowledge; now put it to the test and advance your career!

How to claim your free Microsoft Technical Specialist exam voucher code

1. visit DreamSpark and Sign in with your Live ID
2. Get your voucher code by selecting the Get Key button below
3. Print out a screen shot showing the voucher code and bring with you to the exam appointment
4. Register your voucher code with Prometric and schedule your exam right away

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New features in Windows Vista Service Pack 2:

     * Support for Bluetooth 2.1
     * Describe the possibility of Blu-ray Media
     * Integration of Windows Connect Now
     * ExFAT filesystem support UTC timestamps
     * Support for 64-bit processors from VIA
     * Improved application compatibility
     * Patch against WLAN problems after standby
     * Integration of Windows Search 4.0
     * Improved RSS gadget
     * Reworked code for fewer crashes
     * Service Pack Clean up tool
     * Understandable / useful error messages

Download:

• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC 32-Bit
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC 64-Bit
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC ISO

Thanks to Ankur for information

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