TechNet Flash, Volume 12, Issue 7 - April 7, 2010
TechNet Flash Editor's Note from Mitch Irsfeld

Windows End-of-Support Dates

First, an important reminder about end-of-support dates for Windows Vista RTM, Windows XP SP2, and Windows 2000. Make sure you are ready for these important dates:

• Support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows 2000 will end on July 13, 2010.
• Support for the Windows Vista Release to Manufacturing (RTM) will end on April 13, 2010.

We Got Game

Now for the fun stuff: Several contest updates. To start off, there is a new Windows 7 track on Microsoft’s Certification Game. You can now test your Windows 7 knowledge on Microsoft’s Are You Certifiable? game. 

Test your technical prowess against other IT professionals and developers from around the world and fight for your right to stay in the coveted top spot on the leader board. Who knows… maybe you’ll learn something!

Get Ready for the Scripting Games
The fifth annual Scripting Games will take place April 26 through May 7. Because specific skills are targeted for this year’s Games, the Scripting Guys have put together some resources to help you prepare. Check out this Hey, Scripting Guy! blog post that features the 2010 Scripting Games Study Guide.

And here’s one where you can win cool stuff: Enter the SQL Server Sequence Contest for a chance to win a new netbook or prizes valued at more than US$1,000. For the next nine weeks, we’ll be issuing a new question per week on Twitter or, if you prefer, Facebook and YouTube. Answer a question correctly and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a brand-new netbook. If you get stuck on any of the questions, check out the SQL Server Web site to jog your memory. There’s a new chance to win each week, and the more questions you answer correctly, the better your chances will be to win the grand prize - a suped-up setup for your workspace from SQL Server. The grand prize includes a wireless keyboard and mouse, 24-inch HD monitor, speakers, and noise canceling headphones all valued at over US$1,000. 

To enter, become a fan of SQL Server on your favorite social network to find out the location of each week’s question. Come back to the SQL Server blog for the answers to each week’s question, as well as updates on winners and prizes. 

If you work with SQL Server, be sure to check out this webcast from March 12: Large-Scale Planning of SQL Server and Optimization for SharePoint.

Speaking of webcasts, here are three free new sessions on Windows 7 deployment

• Piloting Windows 7 Part 4: Installation Options and Collecting Feedback
• Introduction to Windows 7 Deployment (Part 1 of 8)
• Deployment Tips from Early Adopters

Try the Microsoft Desktop Player
Check out the Microsoft Desktop Player, now in beta, to find contextual content for IT professionals and developers based on your adoption lifecycle. The Desktop Player filters content by topic based on your role and where you are in your adoption lifecycle. It also surfaces local resources based on your zip code. Find videos, webcasts, podcasts, white papers and relevant links based on your specific criteria. And get a feed of the latest news for IT pros.

You can also download the player directly to your desktop.

Thanks for reading,

Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash

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