Well, its been a week since I had to install the CTP of Windows Home Server.
The long and the short of it is that the Upgrade option in the setup simply does not work – no way, no how. It stopped after the first reboot. It was insane. So I capitualted and copied all my data off the two secodnary hard drives as it was impossible to access data stored on the primary hard disk ( the one with the OS partition). I even tried recovering the hard drive to no avail. Which wasted the entire afternoon, I might add. So thanks to Folder Duplication – I did not lose one shred (no pun intended) of data – THANKS GUYS!!
So I did a new install over the old one and it worked like a Swizz car. It was a total breeze ( it might be going a bit far to say my grand mother could have done it).
I do like what they have done with the Console UI. Its more Vista-ish. Everything is well layed out. There is a helpful label at the bottom of the connector that informs you when storage is balanced.
The settings tab is re-designed. I like the inclusion of the Shutdown button under the menu instead of in a submenu – it saves a click. There are now settings for the Remote Access and Add-in bits. You can register for a custom domain from Live Custom Domains service that actually works very well (the wizard is supurbly designed). You can also auto-configure your router from here. I tried and it didin’t work (Linksys router WAG54G if anyone wants to know).
The process that actually does the configuring is called portfwd.exe and it hogged my system for hours. This slowed down everything. There isn’t actually an option to cancel the config (why???) and simply ending the process buys you a few minutes since it will start up again. the solution is to go into Control panel and click on Services (Control Panel should be in the Start Menu – if it isin’t, customize the Start menu to show it). Find Portfwd.exe and disable it.
Besides that small hickup everything runs smoothly.
This release of WHS really is good. I just need to get my hands on an Add-on or two to test that functionality.
I’m wondering, though, if you can back-up programatically to WHS. This would/ could give finer-grained control over back-up shecedules than is currently possible. It might even allow a few people to write somthing to back-up Macs or PC’s without the Home Connector.
If anyone is interest the WHS team do have a blog.
Random Musings 
I am trying to find out an answer and maybe you can help. I have an install of WHS with 8 data drives (other than the OS) I am having BSOD issues on a regular basis now and so I am building a bran new system with new mobo, cpu, and ram, and want to change out the main OS drive to a larger 500gig HDD.
So my question is will I be able to do the new install, setup the OS, and then just plug in the data drives to the new system and not loose the data?
thanks,
– Josh
Hi Josh,
As I recall the WHS team spcifically suggest backing up all your data. Since you have 8 drives ( I’m assumeing its a few TB) this might be a problem. But is worth the effort.
Now, my backup database was re-created when I re-installed by booting from the RTM DVD and choosing the re-install option. This affects ONLY the C drive in your main HDD. This did not cause any data loss for me. However, in saying that, I backed everything up completely before starting the re-install. This is a critical step.
As far as I know there is no official way to move main hard drive to a larger drive. A Google search may turn up things.
The best way to backup is to copy straight from your shared folders on to a non WHS hard drive(s)
This is what I would do. Using an larger hard drives means that you will be doing a completely fresh install to the 500Gb HDD. Once installed, use the Add Storage Wizard to add your newly backed up drives one by one (these are the drives that you currently use and that you have backed up FROM). Then copy the data from your backups back to your Shared Folders. Note that Add Storage reformats your drives so any data on them is lost.
As usual I cannot guarentee that this will work for you. So be careful. YMMV.
Check the We Got Served fourms at http://www.wegotserved.com and the official fourms: http://forums.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver/default.aspx for any other tips. I know that there was someone that had over 6TB of data to move from the beta 2 to the RTM version so there is tons of infomation there.
If you are unclear about any of the points above, do ask. And if I’ve been talking rubbish, do tell me as well.
Roberto