Slow boot on Windows 7?

Great article on troubleshooting slow bootup times in Windows 7:

http://itexpertvoice.com/home/what%E2%80%99s-taking-so-long-how-to-fight-slow-startup-times-in-windows-7/

Moving data directories in SQL Server 2005

If you ever need to move the data directories in SQL Server 2005 after the install, here's how:

1. to set up a new location for new DBs only, open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) --> rightclick the instance --> Properties --> Database Settings --> change the default data and log directories.
2. for any user DBs already created, you can use 'detach and attach' in SSMS - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187858(v=SQL.90).aspx
3. for system databases, it's a bit more tricky but at least it's well documented, try this: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345408(v=SQL.90).aspx

Easy!

Connect to Windows server from Mac

If you need to connect to a Windows server from a Mac, open a Finder window --> Go --> Connect to server --> 'smb://servername/servershare'

Presto!

Supply alternate Windows credentials to SSMS

If you need to log into SQL Server Management Studio with a different set of credentials to the one you are already logged into, it is possible to run SSMS from a CMD prompt with a different username:

>runas /user:DOMAIN\USERNAME “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE\Ssms.exe”

Type in the associated password when it prompts you and voila!

Update Security State Assesment Report for ForeFront

Sometimes you need a PC to update its status to the FFS server so that it can update its status to the report

To do this, go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Forefront\Client Security\Client\SSA on the local PC and run FcsSasOnDemand.exe. Check taskmgr for the process, it should take around 18MB of RAM while it's running. Give it about 2-3mins then the RAM usage should drop down to about 500KB or so.
Once that is done, refresh the report and it should be updated!



Use this when you have updated any outstanding issues on a PC and need to see/print an updated report.

init.js - library not registered?

Java error?
Trying to open a Sharepoint 2007 site?
Running IE?
Have Office 2010 64-bit installed?
If you're getting a init.js - library not registered error, try this:

Open a CMD prompt, and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14.

Type regsvr32 name.dll--> Enter.

Restart IE.

Done!

Need to know which host a VM is on?

Check this registry key, couldn't be easier, the host does need to be running Hyper-V though:
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Virtual Machine\Guest\Parameters]

More info, including Powershell script here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/hyper-v-how-to-find-the-host-of-a-vm.aspx

Good article on Windows Server Backup on Server 2008 R2

http://searchsystemschannel.techtarget.com/generic/0,295582,sid99_gci1514371,00.html

IPv6 > IPv4

http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/847019-internet-will-soon-run-out-of-addresses

While this has been known for quite a while by most IT Professionals, it's not really something you would expect to be in a circular like the Metro whose core audience is not technical. Maybe a move to finally get things moving over to IPv6, but by who? Government, IT industry, or tech companies who can hope to gain by the sudden interest in IPv6? Who knows...

The future of Windows

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows-7/Windows-7-Deployment-Trends.aspx

Sounds about right.. especially with Exchange, SharePoint, Lync (aka OCS) flying in the cloud plus InTune and App-V/VDI getting more traction with IT staff.

Getting input from user in VBS script

If you need to get some input from a user (from a CMD prompt) to store in a variable, use:

Wscript.StdOut.Write "Enter text: "
strVariable = Wscript.StdIn.ReadLine

Easy!

Find an email address in Active Directory

If you have ever needed to find an email address being used by a user/contact/distribution list/etc in AD, then read on:

1. Open your ADUC MMC, rightclick Saved Queries --> New --> Query --> type a name and description (if you want) --> Define Query
2. In the Find dropdown box, select Custom Search --> Advanced --> type '(proxyAddresses=smtp:email@domain.com)' (substituting the email address you are looking for) --> OK --> OK
3. Create as many as you need, or just create one and edit the query as you need it.
   

SQL Server install and File & Folder Compression

If you need to install SQL Server on a volume and have enabled File & Folder compression on it, the installer will not allow you to continue as a 'compressed volume does not guarantee sector-aligned writes which is needed to guarantee transactional recovery in some circumstances.' Got that? Good.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231347

Great resource for the 70-642 exam

http://kissdeath.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/70-642-resources/

Re-Installing Daemon Tools Lite (and SPTD) on Windows 7

Steps to re-install SPTD on Windows 7:

1.) Open regedit. And find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sptd.
2.) Delete that folder "sptd" in the registry. If you can't, just right-click the folder, and click Permissions. Ask for "Full Control". Do this also to a sub-folder of "sptd" namely "cfg" (i actually already deleted it so i forgot). Just find ways to delete the "sptd" folder in the registry.
3.) Now rename or delete the 'sptd.sys' file found on Windows\system32\drivers.
4.) Download the newest SPTD Layer version "http://www.duplexsecure.com/en/downloads". Install and wait for confirmation to reboot.
5.) After reboot. Try opening the SPTD layer installer again and see if it tells you that SPTD layer is already installed. If it says so, continue on installing your Alcohol 120 or Daemon Tools.

64-bit?

Open regedit and look for this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPTD, try to delete it. If you can’t, try this: go folder by folder (0000 and control), open the permissions dialog, go to advanced, Owner and take ownership of the folder. Don’t try to apply the owner recursively, you have to set it on each individual folder. Then, in the security tab grant full control to “everyone” (again, folder by folder). Now you should be able to delete it. I also deleted the same entry in ControlSet001 and ControlSet002.

Finally, just in case, delete this entry too: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\eventlog\System\sptd

Now run SPTD setup again, you should be able to install it and after a reboot install Daemon Tools.