WS2K8 reference

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb310558

SCCM training

http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/configurationmanager/en/us/virtual-labs.aspx

http://smsug.ca/blogs/garth_jones/archive/2009/10/27/what-virtual-labs-labcasts-and-webcasts-are-there-to-help-you-with-preparing-for-microsoft-system-center-configuration-manager-2007-exam-70-401.aspx

http://blogcastrepository.com/level5/sccm/rss.aspx?Tags=SCCM+Training+Videos&AndTags=1

http://www.filesonic.com/folder/309a8cfe49f0f6ea9

http://www.ahmedgroup.co.uk/articles/47/1/Step-by-step-guide-installing-SCCM-2007-Part-1/Page1.html

http://blogs.technet.com/b/deploymentguys/archive/2008/03/20/sccm-2007-and-microsoft-deployment-toolkit-video-walkthrough.aspx

SharePoint logs location

SP 2007 - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\LOGS

SP 2010 - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\14\LOGS

SCCM logs

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/lxchen/archive/2009/04/03/a-list-of-sccm-log-files.aspx

Get list of data locations for SQL databases

Select name, physical_name from sys.master_files

Check which Update Rollup version is installed on CRM

Browse to the CRM website.

Click on the “Help” button on the top right side of the window.

Click on “About Microsoft Dynamics CRM”

Get the build number displayed

Check build number with link below

http://crmdynamo.com/2010/03/check-which-update-rollup-version-is-installed-on-your-crm-environments/

Troubleshoot IIS7

http://mvolo.com/blogs/serverside/archive/2007/07/26/Troubleshoot-IIS7-errors-like-a-pro.aspx

Configuring SMTP mail on Server 2008

http://mscerts.programming4.us/windows_server/Windows%20Server%202008%20%20%20Configuring%20SMTP%20(part%201)%20-%20Installing%20the%20SMTP%20Server%20Feature.aspx

Edit the dynamic client port range for outgoing connections

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929851/

Rename a SQL server

Check the server name:

Select @@ServerName

For a server with a default instance:

sp_dropserver 'old_name'

GO

sp_addserver 'new_name', 'local'

GO

For a server with a named instance:

sp_dropserver <'old_name\instancename'>

GO

sp_addserver <'new_name\instancename'>, local

GO

Restart the SQL Server instance

Get list of VMs on physical host

1. Run the VMM powershell module
2. Get-VMMServer -ComputerName VMMserver.domain.com
3. Get-VM -VMHost hostservername.domain.com | Format-List -property Name > output.txt

Restore iPhone without passcode

1. Connect to iTunes
2. Hold the Power and Home buttons for 10 secs.
3. Release Power but keep holding Home for another 10 secs.
4. iTunes should detect the phone in recovery mode, and prompt to restore.

List of SQL Server versions

http://www.sqlteam.com/article/sql-server-versions

Event ID: 4007 DNS Server error

The DNS server was unable to open zone _msdcs.nwtraders.msft in the Active Directory from the application directory partition ForestDnsZones.nwtraders.msft. This DNS server is configured to obtain and use information from the directory for this zone and is unable to load the zone without it. Check that the Active Directory is functioning properly and reload the zone. The event data is the error code.

Remove the offending zone entries from:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DNS Server\Zone

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311354

Get MAC address remotely

Run from a command prompt: getmac /s (hostname)

To specify which user account to run under: getmac /s (hostname) /u (username) /p (password)

Unknown device driver

http://thelazyadmin.com/blogs/thelazyadmin/archive/2011/02/11/determine-driver-for-unknown-device.aspx

WSUS update errors

Failed to contact server with 0x8024402c or Error 0x8024402c occurred while downloading update; notifying dependent calls:

Open elevated command prompt:

sc stop bits
sc stop wuauserv

rmdir /s "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution"
mkdir /s "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution"
cacls "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution" /G Everyone:F

gpupdate /target:computer

sc start bits
sc start wuauserv

wuauclt /detectnow

DNS refreshing on client and server

If you are having issues contacting a client from a DNS server as the IP address is outdated and you cannot wait til scavenging takes place, you will need to clear the IP address manually:

1. Delete the offending DNS entry from the DNS console
2. Clear cache on DNS server: dnscmd /clearcache
3. Re-register client on DNS server: ipconfig /registerdns

Install Integration Components on 32-bit Server Core VM

If you are having issues installing the Integration Components package on a Server Core install of Windows Server 2008 32-bit while using Virtual PC then:

1. first shutdown the VM
2. open the VMC file for the VM (will be in the location that you specified when creating the virtual machine)
3. open file in Notepad and disable the soundcard(sound_adapter)
4. Restart the VM then install IC as normal

WDS logs on client

During install: Shift F10 to open cmd prompt > notepad > browse to x:\windows\panther > check setupact.log and setuperr.log

After install: c:\windows\panther > check setupact.log and setuperr.log

Service stuck on 'Stopping' state

If you have a service that is stuck on the 'Stopping' state and can't be restarted, stopped etc, normally restarting the machine will resolve the issue but if it's a production machine then you obviously want to avoid this.

To restart a service stuck in the 'Stopping' state, open a command prompt > taskkill /PID XXX /F (replacing XX with the PID of the offending service. Locate the PID in taskmgr > Services > PID).

Missing or corrupt hal.dll file

If you are getting a boot error relating to a 'missing or corrupt \system32\hal.dll. Please re-isntall a copy of the above file.', then follow the steps below:

1. Boot from a Windows install CD/DVD > open Recovery Console

2. Select the Windows installation > enter Admin password

3. At the C:\Windows prompt > cd system32 > map (to get the drive letter of the CD/DVD drive)

4. 'expand <>:\i386\hal.dl_'

5. 'exit'

Setup SSL on IIS

http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/144/how-to-set-up-ssl-on-iis-7/

Failed to initialise TPM error

If you get an error (0x80070005) when initialising TPM for Bitlocker and you have GP set to 'Save the recovery key to AD' then make sure the computer object has Write permissions to itself in AD.

Best practice for Windows Server

http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/Rules/RulesToBetterNetworks.aspx

SMTP testing

Good Technet article if you need to test SMTP connectivity:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323350

Error when opening Server Manager MMC snap-in

If you are getting {18ea3f92-d6aa-41d9-a205-2023400c8fbb} when trying to open Server Manager on Windows Server 2008. Go to C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\CONFIG folder > rename current machine.config file > make copy of current.machine.default file > rename it to machine.config

Enabling PIN at startup when Bitlocker is already enabled

If you have Bitlocker already installed on your drives but would now like to require a PIN at startup, follow these steps:

1. Check Group/Local policy (Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Bitlocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives)
2. Make sure that 'Configure TPM startup PIN' is set to 'Require Startup PIN with TPM' in 'Require additional authentication at startup'
3. Suspend Bitlocker
4. From CMD, run 'manage-bde -protectors -add c: -tpmandpin xxxxxx'
5. Reboot and it will prompt you for the PIN you specified.

Enabling disabled Local Admin account in Windows 7

Even if Bitlocker is enabled.

http://www.grouppolicy.biz/2010/10/how-to-enable-a-disabled-local-administrator-account-offline-in-windows-7-even-when-using-bitlocker/

Check OS version in VHD file

If you need to check the version Windows on a VHD file without turning it on, use the /Get-CurrentEdition switch of the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool.

Link

PerformancePoint 2010 config

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee748643.aspx

Remove email forwarding on server

If you need to remove email forwarding to a mailbox manually that is already configured NOT to forward (nothing set in AD Exchange, not set in Outlook, etc), you can use MFCMAPI for this:

1. Open Mailbox withMFCMapi on the Exchange server
2. Configure Outlook profile of the mailbox where forwarding needs to be removed
3. Double click the mailbox to open
4. Expand Root Container > Top of the information store >Inbox folder
5. Right-click Inbox folder > Display Rules Table
6. Delete the offending rule

Exporting VMs to a network share

When trying to export VMs to a network share and you keep getting a 'General access denied (0x80070005)' error, check the following:

1. Make sure the exporting host server has Full Control rights on the share, this includes Share permissions AND NTFS permissions. These need to be set explicity.
2. Check the network share does not already have a folder in it with the same name as the VM to be exported.

PerformancePoint Server 2007 install guide

http://www.devx.com/enterprise/Article/37939

Sharepoint 2010 Install guide

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint/ee518643.aspx