The Compatibility Gladiator
Application Compatibility Planning, Remediation, Mitigation, Virtualization, and Modernization
App-V 4.6: So your Client Installation or Upgrade has failed: How do you break down the Logging?
App-V 4.6 is still very prevalent out there and will be for a while. With the releases of Windows 8...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 09/09/2014
App-V 5 and Citrix Integration Resources
Whether it is integration with XenApp, XenDesktop, PVS, or UPM, App-V 5 is the recommended...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 09/09/2014
App-V 5: On Application Launch
In previous blog posts, I discussed what happens when a package is added/configured, published, and...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 09/04/2014
App-V: On Virtual Registry Nomenclature
In previous blog posts, I’ve discussed items related to App-V’s virtual registry,...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 09/03/2014
App-V 4 Application Troubleshooting: Breaking Down Virtualization Issues Pt. II
App-V 4.5 and 4.6 virtualize at the user mode layer. One of the most identifying factors of seeing...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 09/02/2014
AppV 5: Important Considerations and Ramifications for Package Upgrade and VFS Write Mode
If you are running any version of the App-V 5 client or Sequencer prior to App-V 5.0 Service Pack 2...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/30/2014
App-V 5: On the (now sometimes) Immutable Package Cache Location
When you add/configure and publish a package in App-V, the primary file assets and source registry...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/29/2014
App-V 4 Application Troubleshooting: Breaking Down Virtualization Issues Pt. I
If you are working with an application that has been virtualized with App-V 4.x and that application...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/27/2014
App-V 5: Application Troubleshooting: “Fly-by-Night” Error Messages
To continue the discussion of application troubleshooting, I wanted to provide some clarification on...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/27/2014
App-V 5: On App-V Nomenclature
As you may have figured out by now, App-V 5 has components that are referred to by multiple names...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/26/2014
App-V 5: Installing to the PVAD: Don’t do it . . . Yes . . . I said it.
Update 12/5/2014: The PVAD feature is now optional as of App-V 5.0 SP3. Also SP3 allows for merged...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/24/2014
VMM: Options for Offline Servicing, P2V, and Building Virtual Networks
UPDATE: 10/21/2014: The MVMC 3.0 is now released with P2V functionality restored....
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/23/2014
App-V 5: Revisiting Registry Staging
Last year, I wrote a blog post on registry staging in App-V and how it can affect initial publishing...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 08/21/2014
App-V 5 – How App-V 5 Handles Software Clients, Application Capabilities, and URL Protocol Handlers
App-V 5 brought a lot more options for integrating virtual applications with the local operating...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/24/2014
MED-V: The Case of the Unresponsive Word Window
I recently resolved a long standing issue that affected legacy web applications running inside a...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/24/2014
Free App-V Training from Microsoft Virtual Academy!
There is a wealth of on-demand and live training available at the MVA web site:...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/22/2014
The Role of Server Groups in App-V 4
The Role of Server Groups in App-V 4 Server groups are for configuring a server or server farm to...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/20/2014
App-V 4: Factors that can cause Performance Issues with App-V 4.x Servers
For those of you still using App-V 4 (hopefully at least App-V 4.6 on the client side and 4.5 SP2 on...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/20/2014
App-V 5: On App-V 4.x to 5.x Token Transitions
Tokenization is essential to application virtualization. This is where traditional directory paths...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/16/2014
App-V 5: On Asset Intelligence
Asset Intelligence has been used for years to enhance the inventory capabilities of Microsoft System...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/12/2014
Chatting All Things Dash V with Richard C on RunAs Radio!
Last week, Chris Jackson appeared on RunAs Radio talking about about the benefits of Windows XP...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 07/02/2014
App-V 5: On Streaming
Now that Hotfix 4 for App-V 5.0 SP2 has been out now for several weeks, many of you have likely...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 06/26/2014
App-V 5: On AddPackage and ConfigurePackage
The other day I was troubleshooting a package add issue where I was running into a brick wall that...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 06/22/2014
App-V 5: Be Careful Toggling Shared Content Store Mode
One of my colleagues in support let me know of an important note for those upgrading to App-V 5.0...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 06/13/2014
App-V 5: The Case of the Failed Connection Group Descriptor (or . . . Another Reason not to Use Notepad for XML File Creation)
Have you ever noticed that when you go to save a newly created file in Notepad, the default encoding...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 06/05/2014
App-V 5: Creating and Testing Office 2013 Connection Groups in Stand-Alone Mode
App-V 5 has evolved significantly since its initial release in the fall of 2012. Many of these...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 06/04/2014
App-V 5: On Sequencing Using Tokenized Paths, PVAD’s, VFS, and VFS Write Mode
Update 12/5/2014: The PVAD is now considered optional due to changes in App-V 5Service Pack 3. Read...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 05/23/2014
App-V @ #msTechEd 2014 - View the recordings in case you missed it!
We had quite a few breakout sessions on App-V at TechEd North America this year! If you were there...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 05/17/2014
App-V 5: Application Troubleshooting: On the Origins of an Error Message
Have you ever been testing a virtualized application and it fails with a bizarre application error...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 05/12/2014
MDOP 2014 Released - along with App-V 5 SP2 Hotfix 4 - plus New Performance Guidelines!
MDOP 2014 is now available:...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 05/01/2014
App-V 5: On Virtual Fonts
App-V has many virtualization subsystems that make up how App-V isolates itself from other...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 04/19/2014
Information Regarding the Latest Update for Windows 8.1
Update 4/16/2014: Please refer to the following updates posted in the blog posts below released on...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 04/11/2014
The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter 2.0 is Now Live on the Microsoft Download Center
UPDATE: 10/21/2014: The MVMC 3.0 is now released with P2V functionality restored....
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 04/11/2014
App-V 5: On Roaming Exclusions
When you use App-V with roaming profiles or a service or product that may roam integration settings...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/21/2014
Windows XP: April 8th - Almost Here!
For the past couple of years, Microsoft has been advising customers of the planned end of extended...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/21/2014
Important Read: Internet Tolls And The Case For Strong Net Neutrality
If you believe in the openness, freedom, and affordability of the Internet, this blog is very...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/21/2014
Are you still Using MED-V? If so, do NOT install this update
If you are currently still running MED-V 2.0, be very aware of a known issue. If you install the...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/20/2014
Microsoft adds software boot camps as prizes for Imagine Cup 2014
Microsoft has already announced that one of the World Finalist teams in its 2014 Imagine Cup student...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/19/2014
App-V 5: On Using Sequencing Templates
Sequencing Templates (.APPVT) files are designed for automating the sequencing of applications....
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/18/2014
Enabling Advanced Windows Installer Logging
Throughout my tenure while working in support, I would occasionally come across issues where the...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/17/2014
App-V 5: On Dynamic Configuration
When you create a package using the App-V sequencer, everything that you will need for the package...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/17/2014
App-V 5: More on Connection Groups
Update 12/5/2014: There have been significant improvements to the behavior of Connection Groups...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/12/2014
TechEd North America 2014: Come See Me Talk About App-V 5 Sizing and Capacity Planning
Yes, it is time for another shameless plug. If you plan on attending TechEd North America this year...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 03/02/2014
Channel 9 Interview: Life as an MCS Consultant
A few years back, I was interviewed while in my previous role:...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/25/2014
Connection Group Case Study #2: Paint.NET
To continue my current obsession with App-V connection groups, I want to use another case study to...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/24/2014
Connection Group Case Study: Notepad++
Notepad++ uses plug-ins that register through a configuration file. This is one of the most common...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/22/2014
On the Design of (and Sequencing for) Connection Groups
Update 12/5/2014: There have been significant improvements to the behavior of Connection Groups...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/21/2014
Online Event: Virtualizing Your Data Center with Hyper-V and System Center
Wednesday, February 19th from 9am – 5pm PSTIf you're new to virtualization, or if you have...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/15/2014
App-V 5: The Case of the RunVirtual Collision
I've discussed running native applications within virtual environments and the many ways we can...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/11/2014
App-V 5: On Run Virtual, RDS Run Virtual, Virtualizable Extensions, and Dynamic Virtualization
Update 12/6/2014: With the release of App-V 5 Service Pack 3, there is a change that allows the...
Author: Steve Thomas (MSFT) Date: 02/04/2014