Windows 2000 Software and Application Deployments

After you've deployed Windows 2000 Workstation to all of your clients, you have a unique problem. Getting all of those applications back onto the workstation. If you have a large environment, you can spend countless hours deploying them individually by hand, or you can make an investment in the future and start deploying your applications remotely.

Software Deployment

Migrating your apps to Windows 2000
Whenever there's a major software release, IT directors face both good news and bad news. True, embracing the new approach may bring improvements in functionality, but then there's the inevitable hailstorm of glitches. This article will show you how to make sure that your code will work on the new Windows 2000 bed. Source: InfoWorld Test Center

Migrating Your Windows 9x Applications to Windows 2000
Some Windows 95/98 (Windows 9x hereafter) applications will require a migration DLL to work properly after a user upgrades from Windows 9x to Windows 2000. A migration DLL is developed by the application vendor, is called by Windows 2000 Setup and makes the changes required for the application to run as well on Windows 2000 as it did on Windows 9x. This article provides a general overview of Windows 9x to Windows 2000 application migration issues. It also explains how to test if your application needs a migration DLL and how to write a migration DLL. For more information and for updates on application migration issues, please monitor the application migration web site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/windows2000/migration/default.asp

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Office 2000
A free 6 chapter deployment guide for Office 2000 and Windows 2000 Professional. The information is practical and hands-on, taking you through a series of step-by-step procedures that lead you through the upgrade process.

Software Deployment Using Windows 2000 and Systems Management Server 2.0
White paper explains the desktop and system management features in the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and in Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0. It also provides a comparison of the features in each product and the key questions involved in determining which technology is appropriate for use in any given organization.

Software Deployment with Windows 2000 IntelliMirror and SMS
Software management involves three phases. In Phase I we prepare software packages. We either obtain native installer packages or use scripting methods. In Phase II we distribute these script files and the source files to software distribution points. Finally, in Phase III we target client computers.

Software Installation and Maintenance
White paper describing Windows 2000 Software Installation and Maintenance, one of the key Change and Configuration Management features. Administrators can use Software Installation and Maintenance to manage software throughout the software�s lifecycle to reduce their organization�s Total Cost of Ownership for Windows 2000 Professional.

The Definitive Guide to Windows Software Deployment
A online eBook sponsored by Lanovation. Free registration is required. Source: RealTimePublishers.com

Application Compatibility

Description of the Application Compatibility Tool
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 251062 - The Application Compatibility tool (Apcompat.exe) is a tool that attempts to convince programs that perform compliance checking in Windows 2000 that they are actually running under an earlier operating system. (updated 2/14/2000)

How to Enable Application Compatibility-Mode Technology in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 279792 - Compatibility mode provides an environment for running programs that more closely reflects the behavior of either Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. These modes resolve several of the most common issues that prohibit older programs from working correctly with Windows 2000. Programs that experience issues after migration may benefit from being started in one of these compatibility environments (updated 5/16/2001)

How to Identify and Prioritize for Testing Program Compatibility
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 244510 - To ensure that potential program problems are resolved before deployment, Microsoft recommends you begin to develop a plan for testing your Windows-based programs early. (updated 2/14/2000)

HOWTO: Test and Debug a Windows 2000 Migration DLL
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 200001 A migration Dynamic-Link Library (DLL) allows an application installed on Windows 95 or Windows 98 to function correctly after you have upgraded to Windows 2000 Professional. This article covers two important aspects of creating a migration DLL

How to Test Programs for Compatibility with Windows 2000
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 244632 - One of the primary tasks in preparing for testing is to write a test plan. In the test plan, you specify the scope and objectives for the testing and describe the methodology you are going to use.

Some Applications May Fail to Uninstall Properly Under Windows 2000
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 252672 - Some applications may fail to uninstall properly. For example, after you run an uninstall program for an application, you may find that some files installed by the application are still on your computer. (updated 2/14/2000)

Verify Hardware and Software Compatibility with Windows 2000 Before Installation (Readiness Analyzer)
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 252329 - When you upgrade to Windows 2000, Microsoft recommends that you use the Windows 2000 Readiness Analyzer tool. Do this first to verify that both the software and the hardware on the target system are compatible with the new operating system

WebCast: Tools and Techniques to Resolve Windows Application Compatibility Issues
Level:200 During this Support WebCast, we will introduce the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit, talk about its various parts, and discuss how to use it to quickly resolve Microsoft Windows 2000 application compatibility issues. We will introduce Appfix technology, and then discuss its history, benefits, and limitations. In addition, there will be a detailed exploration of one tool out of the set, QFixApp, which allows temporary implementation of appfixes. Finally, we'll take a look into the future, to see what improvement Microsoft Windows XP will bring to application compatibility issue resolution.