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ServiceEx is a freeware Windows application that allows a normal program to run as a Windows service. Currently it is command line only. A version with a GUI is forthcoming. In the meantime, configuration options are specified via an .ini file that must be created prior to running ServiceEx.

[From: ServiceEx – Run Applications as a Service]

SafeMSI lets you install and remove apps in Safe Mode.

From an elevated command prompt, execute the following commands:

> TAKEOWN /F [Directory Name] /R

> ICACLS [Directory Name] /grant Administrators:F


Native VHD boot in this release does not support BitLocker, or hibernation which includes resuming from hibernate.

via No hibernation on Windows 7 when booting from VHD.

Boot from VHD is a new technique for installing and maintaining operating system environments. Unlike virtual machines, the operating system that is running from a “boot from VHD” environment is using the actual hardware instead of emulated hardware. This means a developer could easily use WPF and the full GPU processing power of a high end graphics card. In another scenario, this technology makes it easy to setup and run Windows Server 2008 R2 with the Hyper-V role, thus supporting 64 bit virtualization workloads.

The Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) is the container for the installed operating system. Because everything is inside a single file, there are a number of benefits that can be realized for data center server environments, as well as managed desktop environments. The following article dives into the technical details of implementing two operating systems. Both are installed in a VHD file and can easily be booted by selecting the preferred environment at power on. This could easily be scripted and automated.

Boot your machine with a blank hard drive using the Windows 7 DVD.
Click next on the language screen if English is appropriate.
SHIFT+F10 to launch a WinPE command console. Although the commands below are in upper case, the commands are not case sensitive. I am only using upper case for readability here.
Enter DISKPART to run the utility.
LIST DISK to see the available disks in your system. I am assuming a single raw disk.
SEL DISK 0
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK
LIST VOL
ASSIGN
LIST VOL
CREATE VDISK FILE=c:\windows7rc.vhd MAXIMUM=200000 TYPE=EXPANDABLE
SELECT VDISK FILE=c:\windows7rc.vhd
ATTACH VDISK
CRE PART PRI
FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK
ASSIGN LETTER=V:
LIST VOL
LIST VDISK
exit DISPART
exit WinPE command console
Install to the newly created 200GB (fuzzy math) virtual hard disk which looks just like a partition to Windows Setup
Repeat steps 11-18 for the Windows Server 2008 R2 VHD but with the obvious changes for the vdisk filename, size, etc.
[From: Keith Combs’ Blahg : Dual Boot from VHD Using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2]

Talking about Scott Hanselman’s Computer Zen – Less Virtual, More Machine – Windows 7 and the magic of Boot to VHD

Less Virtual, More Machine – Windows 7 and the magic of Boot to VHD