Microsoft grants the right to use any prior version of Windows Server 2008, regardless of which channel was used to acquire the license (OEM or VLV etc.). Windows Server 2008 licenses can be downgraded to use or access older versions of the corresponding licenses as outlined by Microsoft at the following URLs:

Windows Server 2008:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/downgrade-rights.aspx

Windows Small Business Server 2008:
http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/downgrade-rights.aspx

Q. What are Downgrade Rights?

Downgrade rights, in general, mean that you can use an earlier version of the software acquired. For example, downgrade rights for Small Business Server means you are allowed to install and use SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition instead of SBS 2008 Premium Edition which is what you purchased; and correspondingly, you can install and use SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition instead of SBS 2008 Standard Edition. At any time, you can install the software you purchased and cease to use the earlier version.

Q. How do we exercise these rights?

Compucon can pre-install an earlier version of your acquired license. This saves you time and you will not need to have the older installation media. You will however, need access to a product key for the earlier OS - and if your new system/server fails online activation, you will need to contact Microsoft on an 0800 number.

Computers are magnificent tools for productivity, communication and entertainment.  The history of their evolution is rather short.  Humans took 2 million years to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds.  Computers took 50 years to gain speed of over 1000 times.  However, New Zealand has contributed little to the development side although we are not too far behind on the adoption side.  The gap between development and adoption is believed to be due to a lack of the understanding of the roles of computers in the progression of human civilization.  If not rectified soon, the gap will widen further like the degrading of New Zealand economy on the world ladder over the last 10 years.

This seminar will assist students to know about the computer as if it is a human body, and lead students to appreciate the applications of computers.  The computer is now an extension of the human brain.  Many thought the computer was just an invention next to the printing press, and that the Information Age is just an extension of the Industrial Age.  These views are being simplistic.  Imagine the fact that computers can think and work faster and more reliably than humans.  What does that mean?  As Star Trek has revealed, computers are more objective and accurate than human.  Fortunately, computers do not have emotions and do not reproduce at their own desire yet. 

This seminar will provide some examples of how human uses computers to improve our standards and conditions of living.  Thanks to a few living and outstanding human beings such as Vint Cerf, Tim Bernards-Lee and Linus Torvald; we have entered the Information Age.  We have a new open technology platform and sharing culture.  We have an IP (Internet Protocol) that allows us to connect with everything in the world.  We have www that provides millions of information and action windows to us.  We want our students to know them and become new role models of the world.

This seminar is designed for senior secondary school students (year 12 and 13) as the principal audience, and will also appeal to senior teachers in computer science and social science for the depth of messages and technical information conveyed.  Compared to the seminar in May 2008, this seminar will have 50% of new content for a deeper exploration into the topics described above.  One day when the computer takes over, they will say “every computer and its man in the street”.

This seminar is an original effort of the author and it is the first attempt of its kind in New Zealand if not anywhere.

Presentation: 2008-1031 KHS Computer Technologies.pdf (2.9MB)

Session 1: Global Hardware Trends

The hardware of a computer is akin to the body of human.  If the hardware is bad, the person struggles.   Yet many people view the hardware as commodity and they choose to choose a commodity foundation for productivity.  It is true that hardware technologies have developed so fast that being average is good enough but for the average person.  In fact hardware technologies have developed very fast that many people have lost sight of hardware and thought it was no longer relevant.  This presentation is not intended to go into philosophy, but attempts to provide an update of trends of hardware developments which will provide a more informed basis for our decisions.  It predicts that most PC in the classroom will eventually disappear and explains how this happens.  It explains the variety of storage approaches which will be a major criterion for continuity of operations of schools and security of ownership.   Keywords: cloud computing, virtualization and expander storage systems.

Presentation: 2008-1030 Global Hardware Trends.pdf (1.2MB)


Session 2: Alternative Software

Open source is free lunch for all but the lunch is not for everyone.  That is, not everyone is able to enjoy the free lunch.  You will need to have a wealth of knowledge as a prerequisite to enjoy the freedom open source offers.  Can people not familiar with open source be able to use open source for free?  Yes if under guidance.  Does open source perform better than proprietary software?  This is an issue called fitness for purpose.  Will open source be cheaper to run over a period of time than proprietary software?  This is an issue called the total cost of ownership.  We will give open source a fair go and support

Presentation: 2008-1030 Free Software ideas.pdf


Session 3: Open Floor incorporating “Northern Loop”

Northern Loop refers to a desire at this stage to have a high bandwidth Internet data highway for schools in Northland.  The loop is expensive to set up and use, and the industry has not come to the party yet.  We intend to provide a summary of the state of affairs in the seminar. 

Another issue is how peers can exchange experience and help each other.  We have started up a web forum as a recommendation of the last face forum and currently we have 12 members participating in the forum.  The most active members are Kamo High, Whangarei Girls High and Whangarei Boys High up to this stage.  We expect the membership to double every year for the next few years, and the benefits of participation to double linearly to exponentially.  Please offer your thoughts of how we can make the web forum work for schools.

Assuming you have downloaded the latest and correct firmware for your model of controller from www.adaptec.com, please follow the following instructions to update your controller firmware.

Please note this is for authorised and trained technicians only. Please backup critical data and proceed at your own risk.

1. Extract files from the downloaded firmware.zip and open Adaptec Storage Manager; log in as Administrator
2. In the Enterprise View, right-click Direct attached storage and click Update controller images.
3. The ROM Update wizard opens; please follow on-screen prompts.
4. When adding the firmware image files, select all the .UFI files you have extracted, then click Open.
5. Select the controller you want to update and review the update summary and click Apply. Click Yes to begin the update when prompted. When the update is complete, click OK. Server needs to be restarted to activate the new firmware image.