You would think that I would learn but it seems that I am doomed to create the same mistakes again and again. The particular mistake that I am talking about now is the tendency I have to change Windows settings without thinking through all the consequences.

Yesterday I was trying to set up Office Communicator to use my USB headset and microphone. I could only get the sound to come out of the computer speakers. I could see that the sound was set to the default device which were the computer speakers. Since I had been playing my Zune through them that made sense. I tried changing the settings to the headset but it wouldn't reset the default nor allow me to choose the headset. I thought I would just disable the internal speakers and then it would work. When I disabled the speakers there was no sound at all from the computer. I was in a little panic as I am supposed to be recording some stuff this weekend and not being able to play it back and hear what I did would be a big problem.

I tried going into the device manager to re-enable the device. That didn't work. Although I could see other disabled devices the disabled sound device had disappeared. I tried re-installing the drivers but that didn't work either.

I finally reverted to the Vista System Restore points. I went back to the last daily restore point before I had disabled the sound device. After about a half an hour of intensive disk activity the machine rebooted and I heard sound again.

I have some minor complaints about Vista but things like the System Restore that protect me from my own stupidity are proof to me that Microsoft is listening to their customers and the pains they have.

So if you haven't been living in a cave you have been hearing about the Microsoft ads with Jerry Seinfeld. I have even blogged about it. Well with the news that Jerry wouldn't be appearing any more there was a lot of talk about the campaign failing and Microsoft changing direction.

Now there are a few new commercials on http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/windows/videoGallery.aspx along with an executive video by Bill Veghte explaining more about the "Life Without Walls" strategy.

If you want you can get into the act as well by uploading your video that explains why you are a PC and why you are proud of it.

There was a lot of comment about the Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld commercial. There are now two more "yet to be aired" commercials posted at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/windows/. You can also see them as one big commercial (4:33) at http://www.windows.com. I am not a marketing genius although I have been accused of being a marketing professional (and have the e-mail to prove it). I am not sure I know exactly where they are going but I think I start to see a glimmer and my guess would be that we will start seeing things like the xBox, Live Mesh, the Tablet PC, and yes, Windows Vista start showing up more often in the ads. If nothing else it is nice to see Bill Gates not taking himself seriously.

OK, so the press releases went out yesterday about the RTM of Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP1. According to the schedule I saw I should be able to start downloading it from MSDN subscriber downloads. If you don't have an MSDN subscription then you have to wait until later (up to 6 weeks) to get the service pack. How long depends on whether you are a volume license customer, download it from Microsoft, or wait for it to show up as an update from Windows Update. Of course retail availability will take a while as it still takes time to print boxes and press DVDs. Here is the schedule that I have seen

I expected a big outcry over the delay between the RTM and when it will be an automatic download. I haven't been seeing that in the press releases. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I would like to see everyone have the latest patches as soon as they are available. On the other hand I can see large organizations wanting to have time to test the changes and make sure they are right for them. I remember the special tool to block IE from automatic downloads for people who didn't want it. I guess this is the best of both worlds in that it gives you the option to download it as soon as you can while also giving large organizations the ability to test.

Also, another more technical and better reason for the delay in Vista SP1 is that some drivers that were not developed following Microsoft's guidelines might cause issues. I haven't seen what those issues are and by all accounts they don't stop the installation but by having the download available for the more technical type audiences with an IT department first it might pressure the writers of those drivers to update the drivers and get them out to the general public before they start seeing whatever issues there might be.