Words and Software
Technical writing for Windows 10 (old: Intelligent Systems Service, Data Protection Manager, and Operations Manager)
Lost product key
John writes in with this problem: "I had to reinstall my OS (xp) today. I have completed the install...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/13/2005
How DPM's end user recovery feature works
Enabling users to recover previous versions of documents isn't new to DPM -- it's part of the Shadow...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/10/2005
How fast is DPM?
See for yourself in Veritest's Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Backup/Restore...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/07/2005
A resource for error codes
I just came across another microsoft.com resource that I didn't know about before, thanks to Tony...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/03/2005
Online dictionary with a twist
Sometimes, you're looking up a word in a dictionary to be sure you spell it correctly. Online...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/03/2005
3 down, 2 to go
I passed exam 70-270! My weakest area was security, probably because that isn't something I play...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 11/01/2005
Upcoming webcasts
There are two webcasts planned for November that should be of interest to DPM customers (and those...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/31/2005
Some criticism of technical documentation
Selena Sol at extropia replies to the question, "What would you want to see in software...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/30/2005
Repurposing words
Esquivalience—n. the willful avoidance of one’s official responsibilities Only, there's no such...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/30/2005
New Microsoft certification plans announced
Here I am, partway through the exams for the MCSA, and we announce "a new generation of Microsoft...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/25/2005
DPM Exec Chat transcript posted
The transcript from the executive chat session, System Center Data Protection Manager Revealed (Oct...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/25/2005
Is DPM right for you?
Here are two ways to evaluate DPM... View Christopher Whyte's on-demand webcast, Introduction to...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/24/2005
Do you use scripting for system administration?
If not, it can be worth learning. As a system administrator once told me, "If you have to do it more...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/23/2005
One way writers can embarrass themselves
Documentation typically goes through numerous passes, between writers and technical experts and...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/21/2005
"Why can't I install DPM on a...."
There's an old song (70s) with a chorus of "Things get a little easier once you understand." (Okay,...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/20/2005
The story behind Chapter 1
When I joined the DPM group, I started off digging through the specs to learn about the product and...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/18/2005
About me
I'm a senior technical writer on the Windows Server Central Services team, working with the System...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/18/2005
Cool tool: Process Explorer
A really common annoyance (for me) is trying to rename, move, or delete a file, only to be told that...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/17/2005
The identity of Help
Today, I'm thinking about product Help, DPM's in particular. Mostly I'm thinking about the questions...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/12/2005
"I don't read instructions..."
Yesterday, while I was watching a usability session, the participant mentioned that he prefers to...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/11/2005
Executive chat: "System Center Data Protection Manager Revealed"
Please join our execs for a live chat on DPM on Thursday, October 13th, at 10:00 A.M. (Pacific). See...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/10/2005
Talking to tomorrow
One of the most interesting aspects of working on the next version of DPM is that we -- the writers...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/07/2005
Kicking off another set
Now that DPM 2006 has been released, it's time to do it all again. We had our content kickoff this...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/05/2005
ASR* and DPM
*ASR = Automated system recovery In our documentation, we recommend, "To ease recovery in the event...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/04/2005
The next Office interface
I must confess that I am not an early adopter of software upgrades. I like a high degree of comfort...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 10/03/2005
Process flows and content design
Yesterday I sat in with some folks working on the next version of SMS to observe their approach to...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/30/2005
Today's 'duh' moment: Outlook
After using Outlook for so many years, I thought I'd figured out all of the shortcuts and tricks I...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/29/2005
"80/20" and content
"80/20" is a ubiquitous principle (formula, law, etc.) that lends itself to statements such as "80%...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/28/2005
Check out our new TechNet page!
The DPM TechNet page is sporting a new look and lots of new links. There's the usual "Contact us"...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/27/2005
DPM's MVP*
*MVP = Most Valuable Professional I planned to introduce the MVP for DPM, Joseph Bittman, in this...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/26/2005
Status: DPM FAQ and beta upgrade instructions
I mentioned that the DPM FAQ would be published shortly and that it would contain the instructions...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/24/2005
Can ignorance serve a purpose?
Perhaps a more precise question would be, can technical knowledge impede a technical writer's...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/24/2005
The path of an error message
We all want error messages to be useful. Here's a look at how a single DPM error message changed as...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/22/2005
DPM Ops Guide goes live!
Data Protection Manager 2006 will be launched next week. And we made our commitment: the DPM...
Author: Jeanie Decker (MSFT) Date: 09/22/2005