A Freaky Microsoft Dynamics CRM Blog : Virtual PC

AVAILABLE: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 RTM VPC

mennotk — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:27:00 GMT

We have released Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 back in December 2007 and did not immediately provide you with a new VPC. Why did it takes this long? I don't know, but I can tell you that as of today we have a new VPC with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 RTM on it. I actually did not built this particular VPC, a partner did. However, I did provide feedback and ideas what needed to be on this new VPC and did intensive BETA testing.

Ok I see you think, now tell me what is on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 VPC Menno! It actually has a ton of software on it, which some of you might like, and some of you might not. For the ones that don't want to read further, you can download it here

The RTM VPC Contains the following:

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (RTM)
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Desktop Client
Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition (SP2)
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Internet Explorer 7
Microsoft Office Professional 2007
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
Microsoft Performance Point Server
Microsoft Office Communication Server
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
POP3 E-Mail Services (No Exchange)
English, French, German, Danish and Dutch Language packs

This partner-ready download includes account and contact trial data and is ready to be populated with locale-specific data via the associated demonstration tool. Once complete, please copy the Demonstration tool to the virtual machine, and follow the instructions to populate activity, opportunity and other entity data and e-mails in Outlook. Refer to the demonstration documentation for detailed information.

For example, you may create seed data in any language to create opportunities, activities, cases, etc. that will be randomly assigned to the existing accounts.
You may also enter seed data for e-mail generation. Random e-mails (using your seed subject and message data) will be created using the contacts found in the existing contacts list.

Thanks for the scoop Michael!

Available: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Sample Data

mennotk — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:33:42 GMT

As of two days ago, you now can download Sample Data for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

You can use sample data in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Sample Database in marketing and sales presentations or for training people to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

The sample database includes a set of comma-separated value (CSV) files that contains the sample data and an XML map file that maps the data to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. To install the sample data on your on-premise installation or VPC, you must use the Data Migration Manager.

ENJOY: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 RC0 VPC

mennotk — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 08:15:00 GMT

Find out where and when you can download the RC0 VPC......(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0: Virtual PC Image (RC0 Release)

mennotk — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:49:00 GMT

For all the partners that do want to play with our RC0 release but have no access to the Connect web site or are not in the Showcase program, I recommend you to visit PartnerSource and download the updated VPC.

At the time of writing the download links are not operational and you will see incorrect information; it still shows CTP3 information. I assume this will be fixed as soon as possible.

So Mike, update your blog once PartnerSource gets updated...

Update (Nov 16th): http://blogs.msdn.com/mscrmfreak/archive/2007/11/16/enjoy-microsoft-dynamics-crm-4-0-rc0-vpc.aspx

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC - August 2007 Edition August fix

mennotk — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:30:00 GMT

Read this when you want to fix your Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC - August 2007 Edition...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 - Virtual PC Image (CTP3 Beta Release)

mennotk — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:19:00 GMT

Too bad I haven't got any credit for creating this VPC since I am on vacation and am a bit late with this post. So probably you have read all about this on blogs from Simon, Philip or Ben Riga.

Microsoft Partners can now download a preview of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 leveraging beta code in a Virtual PC (VPC) image. You can download it here.

The VPC uses the same base as our V3C VPC minus MOSS 2007.
The registration key for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 CTP3 will expire 20 November 2007.

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 VPC (Extended May 2006 Edition)

mennotk — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:49:00 GMT

Just a quick post about the fact that we finally......(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC - Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK

mennotk — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:10:00 GMT

Did you know that the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK 3.0.7 is included on the new August 2007 VPC? It can be found in the following directory C:\CRM Tools\SDK or of course on our download page: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9c178b68-3a06-4898-bc83-bd14b74308c5&DisplayLang=en

Happy coding and extending!

Released: Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC - August 2007 Edition

mennotk — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:15:00 GMT

It is here and here to stay! The Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC August 2007 Edition...(read more)

Old Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC (Update 2)

mennotk — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:39:00 GMT

Guys, just a quick post regarding the availability of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM May VPC. We ran into some issues with the rar files when we extended the May VPC. Please don't panic, the "old" VPC is still valid untill September 2007. You can easily check this your self by clicking START | RUN and type winver

We are working hard to resolve our problems with the rar files. I will keep you posted!

Old Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC (Update)

mennotk — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:18:00 GMT

As I announced in my previous post, we would extend the "May 2006" Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC. The screen shot below shows that we have updated the bits.

You can download the "May 2006" VPC here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a8edfc7b-01d8-4500-845b-01370d4eed21&DisplayLang=en

If you can wait, I would suggest in downloading the new VPC, which will be available shortly.

Update: The old image expires on September this year and you can verify thuis by going to Start / Run and type "winver"

New Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC (update)

mennotk — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:34:00 GMT

I can now proudly announce that we will have the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM VPC available for download in a few ...(read more)

New Microsoft CRM VPC?

mennotk — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:51:00 GMT

Does it exist?...(read more)

Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE'

mennotk — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:20:00 GMT

Ever wondered why the error "Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE'. [CLIENT: xxx.xxx.x.x]" shows up in the eventviewer on the current CRM VPC when booting?

Microsoft CRM Deletion and Microsoft CRM Workflow Service services attempt to access the underlying databases before the SQL Server Agent service started. Although this is not a critical error I wanted to fix this. So to address this issue set both services to depend on the SQL Server Agent service:

Open up Regedit by going to Start / Run and type in regedit
Go to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSCRMDeletionService]
Create the "DependOnService" multi-word values for both services to include SQLSERVERAGENT
Do the same for [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSCRMWorkflowService]

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft nor I cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Virtual PC 2007 got released!

mennotk — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 04:33:00 GMT

As you probably have read on a lot of news sites you can download, as of yesterday, the new and improved Virtual PC 2007. Virtual PC 2007 is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation. It also saves reconfiguration time, so your support, development, and training staff can work more efficiently.

VPC 2007 includes the following new features

Support for Windows Vista as a host
Support for Windows Vista as a guest
Support for Windows Vista 64-bit as a host
Improved performance compared to Virtual PC 2004

Assuming a lot of you already work with Virtual PC 2004 and want to upgrade to the new version. Please be careful with your "Save State" images. You will need to start and shut them down. The "Save State" file will get lost during the upgrade.

If you are starting a new CRM practise and want to setup a development and test environment without a lot of investment in additonal or new hardware you might want to consider Virtual PC 2007 or Virtual Server 2005. In one of my upcomming posts I will try to explain this scenario and how to set it up a bit more in depth.

To download Virtual PC 2007 go here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx