SBSC & MSP Buzz

New Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit

Since many of my readers are MS Partners that either use or should be using the BTAT I thought I would relay the following in case your filters caught the original message.

Important information: As of Thursday, November 6^th, 2008 the new version of BTAT will not update from your current version. In order to use the new 3.5 version please uninstall the existing version 3.0.0.7 (instructions below), install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (if not installed already) and then install the tool from https://partner.microsoft.com/global/salesmarketingsection/smsalessassessment/sabtat

The Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit Assess the business and technology needs of your small and midsize business prospects using our step-by-step approach. By getting to know your customers’ business needs, you can recommend targeted solutions to help them meet their objectives. You’ll be on your way to closing deals faster and securing long-term customer relationships.

The latest version of the toolkit offers a range of new features such as:

• New assessments to evaluate your customers’ server, mobile, desktop, and Exchange needs and to help you identify solutions based on Windows Small Business Server 2008 , Windows Essential Business Server 2008,  Windows Mobile 6 , the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 technologies.
• A product-driven customizable question bank that enables you to better tailor assessments to your customers’ specific needs, based on your product and solution expertise.
• A Windows-based platform that’s compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and 64-bit processors.
• New decision tree functionality to better guide a customer in choosing which solution –Windows Small Business Server 2008, Windows Essential Business Server 2008, or stand-alone Windows Server
• New report generation for partners to customize and give to their partners

Steps to uninstall the BTAT Toolkit version 3.0.0.7 and install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and the new tool.

Windows XP instructions:

1. Go to Start Menu, Select Control Panel

2. Go to Add/Remove Programs

3. Select Microsoft Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit

4. Click Add/Remove features.

5. Click Continue

6. In the Add/Remove features list, confirm that the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is installed.

7. If it isn’t, close the Add/Remove features list window and all other application windows.

8. Click http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en to begin the install.

o .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 will take approximately 15 minutes to install and will prompt you to reboot.

9. After rebooting, install the new tool from https://partner.microsoft.com/global/salesmarketingsection/smsalessassessment/sabtat

Windows Vista instructions:

1. Go to Start Menu, Select Control Panel

2. Under Programs, Click Uninstall a Program (Control Panel Home view) or Double-Click Programs and Features (Classic View)

3. Select Microsoft Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit

4. Click Uninstall/Change

5. Click OK to the “Remove the application from this computer” prompt.

6. In the Uninstall or change a program list window, confirm that the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is installed.

7. If it isn’t, close the Uninstall or change a program list window and all other application windows.

8. Click http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en to begin the install.

o .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 will take approximately 15 minutes to install and will prompt you to reboot.

9. After rebooting, install the new tool from https://partner.microsoft.com/global/salesmarketingsection/smsalessassessment/sabtat

If you have any questions please email btat@microsoft.com

Thank you from the Business and Technology Assessment team.