Deploying UltraVNC within an Active Directory environment using Group Policy

29 May 2012 by

Scenario

You’ve tried several different VNC applications and have decided UltraVNC meets your humble Remote Support needs. Now you want to centrally deploy and manage UltraVNC in your domain.

The default installer creates unwanted shortcuts on the user’s desktop, so you need to modify this before rolling out to all client PCs. In addition to this, there are separate installers for 32-bit and 64-bit PCs, so this will have to be accounted for.

Here is how to achieve remote desktop nirvana using UltraVNC:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: , , ,

Reset offline files cache in Windows XP

29 May 2012 by

If you ever have issues with the Offline Files feature in Windows XP – eg. clients keep trying to sync with old servers – you can reset the offline files cache and database using these instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230738

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With:

Migrating SYSVOL replication from NTFRS to DFSR using Windows Server 2008 R2

21 May 2012 by

Scenario

You’ve raised the domain functional level to take advantage of several new features, one of them being DFS Replication for SYSVOL. You now need to enable this feature.

Here’s how to migrate SYSVOL replication from NTFRS to DFSR:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: ,

Raising the Domain Functional Level using Windows Server 2008 R2

21 May 2012 by

Raising the Domain Functional Level (DFL) is easy to do and can enable many new features.

Read about them here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/understanding-active-directory-functional-levels(v=ws.10).aspx

To raise the DFL, follow these simple steps:

  1. From Active Directory Users and Computers, right-click your domain and select Raise domain functional level:
  2. Select the required DFL, then click Raise:
  3. Read the warning and click OK:
  4. This confirmation message should then be displayed:
  5. Job done!
Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: ,

Migrating print queues + troubleshooting WMI issues

20 May 2012 by

Just read an excellent post on migrating print queues: http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2012/04/03/migrating-print-queues-quickly-using-printbrm-configuration-files-and-the-generic-text-only-driver.aspx

Also, there’s a great post on troubleshooting WMI issues using WMIDiag: http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2012/02/03/wmidiag-2-1-is-here.aspx

Filed Under: Microsoft, Printing Tagged With:

Force replication on a Domain Controller via command prompt

16 May 2012 by

Scenario

You want to force replication to all Domain Controllers, across sites, but you also want to see the actual server names, and abort if any servers are unavailable.

Solution

Run the following command:

repadmin /syncall /d /e /a

Then run this to check everything replicated ok:

repadmin /replsummary

More info can be found here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc835086(v=ws.10).aspx#BKMK_examples

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: ,

Updating all Local Administrator passwords across the domain

14 May 2012 by

Scenario

You used to use startup scripts to update all Local Administrator passwords throughout your domain, but now that you think logon scripts are the Devil’s work, you need another way of doing it.

I mean, look at the code…it’s not heavenly is it:

Set SatanNet = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
strComputer = "."
Set LuciferUser = GetObject("WinNT://" & strComputer & "/Administrator,user")
LuciferUser.SetPassword "PASSWORD'o'HELL" ' Enter new password between brackets
LuciferUser.SetInfo

Here’s a nicer, flame-resistant solution:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: ,

How to create a Group Policy Central Store

3 May 2012 by

Scenario

You have downloaded or created your own Group Policy Administrative Templates, and would like them to be stored centrally, opposed to individually on each Domain Controller.

Here’s how to create a Group Policy Central Store:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: ,

Cannot remove partitions using Windows Disk Management after using HDDs for VMware ESXi

30 April 2012 by

Scenario

You’ve used a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to install VMware ESXi on. It worked perfectly, but now you need to reuse the HDD for other purposes. You start to install a Windows Operating System like Server 2008 R2, only to find that the installation routine fails as you cannot remove the partitions made by ESXi.

Here’s how to remove the partitions, and restore peace to your troubled server:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Microsoft, VMware

Windows cannot locate the server copy of your roaming profile and is attempting to log you on with your local profile

30 April 2012 by

Problem

Several users were recently getting the following error when logging into one of our Terminal Servers:

Windows cannot locate the server copy of your roaming profile and is attempting to log you on with your local profile. Changes to the profile will not be copied to the server when you logoff.

Solution

Go into the Group Policy Editor on the Terminal Server (gpedit.msc) Computer Config > Admin Templates > System > User Profiles > Only Allow Local Profile – Enable.

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: , , ,
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