Steve Rigney
As if to acknowledge that some challenge is attached to keeping an OS humming, Microsoft designers have built some noteworthy tools into this version.
For starters, Memphis includes a help desk utility that walks users through many common problems. An Internet update utility automatically finds and installs the latest drivers and patches you need. And Microsoft moves forward with its Zero Administration for Windows (ZAW) initiative, which is intended to help its customers control management costs for Windows desktops by building administrative capabilities directly into its client and server OSs. Memphis is slated to integrate the client-side technology, called the Zero Administration Kit (ZAK).
The help desk utility fronts three different sources of information: Local Help, Technical Support, and Web Resources. Local Help dispenses assistance on common user questions about Windows, such as how to change a font or install a printer, and includes some new troubleshooting wizards.
Web Resources scans your hard disk to see all your installed drivers and software. Then, using ActiveX controls, it connects to a Microsoft Web page to look for updated versions of programs. You then select the new drivers you want to install; more important, you can uninstall a driver that is causing problems.
The Tech Support portion is designed specifically for beta testers. When Memphis encounters an error, such as a General Protection Fault, it invokes the familiar Dr. Watson utility. Dr. Watson gathers data about the cause of the error, which the help desk sends as an e-mail to Memphis developers.
ZAW! ZAK!
ZAW includes a centralized server application (which runs on Windows NT) that will help network managers manage and support their client PCs.
The ZAW utilities are teamed with a scripting utility, a troubleshooting application, and a system checker. The ZAK component is also an optional package for Windows NT and will soon be available for Windows 95.
ZAK, in its simplest form, is a set of examples that show you how to configure user profiles and system policies in Memphis to manage what your users do. You can perform tasks such as restricting users to a single application or denying them access to one of their local drives. This helps prevent them from installing unwanted software on the network or a company PC. Although Windows 95 had the policies and profiles to do this, the documentation on how to use them was inadequate. Microsoft hasn't said, though, whether ZAK will stay in Memphis or become an optional product.
The system troubleshooter is a great tool for administrators but a dangerous one for users who don't know what they're doing. The troubleshooter lets you edit configuration files easily, including .INI, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and CONFIG.SYS, to determine whether a particular driver or command is causing problems. You can also use the troubleshooter for temporarily disabling the services that automatically start when you turn on your PC. The only way to disable these services in Windows 95 is via the Registry Editor, a very complicated utility.
Finally, the new System File Checker lets you take a "snapshot" of a working Memphis configuration. It keeps a log of all current software versions and system files, and if something changes, it can help restore your configuration. For example, when you install a new application that changes your communications driver, the checker will let you restore the old driver if you have any problems. The checker will also make a backup of the new driver in case you ever need it.
