I have joined Microsoft Connect in order to test the new Power Pack Beta 1 for Windows Home Server.
According to the release notes, PP3 has the following features:
- Windows 7 Compatibility Enhancements
- Home Computer Backup & Restore Enhancements
- Home Server Console Enhancements
- Windows Media Center Enhancements
Since my new Windows Media Center PC is build on Windows 7, I was very interested in the first and last items. I list all the features below and go into details with then ones I have a special interest in.
Windows 7 Compatibility Enhancements
1 – Windows 7 Libraries integration:
When you install the Windows Home Server Connector and log on a Windows 7 computer, you can access the Windows Home Server shares from Windows 7 libraries.
2 – Windows 7 Action Center backup warning suppression:
After you install the Windows Home Server Connector and enable the home server backup on your
Windows 7 computer, you will not receive the warning from the Action Center which reminds that Windows Backup has not been set up.
3 – Windows 7 power settings:
You can configure your Windows 7 client computer to wake up at scheduled backup time and be put back to sleep after backup finishes.
4 – Windows Search:
Windows Search 4 has been included to improve query search times, indexing times and reliability. Extended remote discovery increases the efficiency of searching across all your libraries running Windows Search 4. Files encrypted with Encrypting File System (EFS) are now supported.
Comments:
1 – is interesting, however the whole concept of Libraries are somewhat complex (do Microsoft really think that “a normal user” will understand the “default save location” setup ?) and I don’t really plan to use it on my WMC.
For more on Libraries check out the Windows Team blog’s Understanding Windows 7 Libraries
2 – well, who cares ?
3 – great; but I don’t use it for now: waking up the kids PCs in the middle of the night can be counter productive; you usually fight a running battle over them having to turn the damn thing off.
4 – also great stuff; search indexer and searching tends to be slow from time to time so any improvements will be a great help.
Home Computer Backup & Restore Enhancements
1 – File and computer restoration:
Helps prevent the issue experienced when restoring files and folders from a Home Computer Backup that stops at 81 or 97 percent complete.
2 – Reliability:
Improved handling of temporary files helps to ensure necessary system files are backed up more reliably. Improvements to the backup repair process.
Comments:
1 – I haven’t experienced this problem.
2 – nice.
Home Server Console Enhancements
1 – Support for low resolution displays:
This update enables the Windows Home Server Console to support low-resolution displays. The lowest resolution that is supported after you apply this update is 1024 x 600.
2 – This update enables Windows 7 to be properly displayed as the operating system shown in the Computers & Backup tab.
Comments:
Both are welcome, I haven’t personally experienced these kind of problems.
Windows Media Center Enhancements
1 – TV Archive:
Enables automatic archiving of recorded TV by moving your recordings from a Windows Media Center computer to your home server in the format of your choice. This enables playback in the correct format for your home computers and/or portable devices.
2 – Console View:
Allows you to see information about your home server’s storage space, drives, backup status, etc. from Windows Media Center.
Comments:
1 – This is really great and I am looking forward to be testing it.
2 – a nice feature.
The download weighs in at 27 MB, it downloaded without any problems. You copy the file to the Home Server Software location; it unpacks into the following files:
After this you run the install command and away you go.
Following a reboot, you have to enable error reporting (described in the Release Note) and the server side is ready.
You are also warned that installing the final version will require uninstalling the Beta.
Now you have to install the updated Windows Home Server Connector software on your home computers.
You get a pop-up warning on your home PCs stating that you are required to do this; you click the balloon text and installation starts.
I installed the new Connector SW on:
- a 32-bit Windows Vista Ultimate SP2
- a 32-bit Windows XP SP3
- yet another 32-bit Windows XP SP3
- a 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate laptop
- a another 64-bit WIndows 7 Ultimate
I tested a backup and restore afterwards and it looked ok and all shares could be accessed from the clients.
In my next post I will describe the features of PP3 that I will be using.
Any questions or comments, just mail me 
