Adding Network Shares as a Library Location

Is it possible in, Windows 7, to add a network share as a library location?

If you have your music files stored on a server on your network. When you try to add the share \\ServerName\Share as a libray location you get the error ”This folder cannot be included because it is on a share that is not indexed.”

The help link in the error message does not provide usefull information regarding this.

If you have you media files stored on a Microsoft Server you can add the share to the library if you install Microsoft Windows Search 4.0.

Once installed do not try adding the share to the library until the indexing has been completed. (You get a glowing magnifying glass in the right of the task bar.

If you use a NAS device that can not run the latest Windows Indexing service then the following may help.

"ISA server cannot load the properly page"

When you try to run Microsoft ISA Server the following error may be displayed "ISA server cannot load the property page" error detail is 0x80004005 unspecified error.

The ISA Server though maybe still working, if you restart the server you will probably still have the same problem.

Solution:
Managment console view maybe corrupt.
You need to clear out the console view settings by going to:
File>Options>Delete Files button. I then shut down the console and restarted the ISA Server Managment console and everything was back to normal.

In case youre wondering how to get into the managment console even though you get an error, just keep clicking continue until the console loads up.

Test a port is open

Taken from the following JTB World - Blog

One way is to use old telnet.exe like this to find out if a port is open.
Syntax: telnet [hostname or IP address] [portnumber]
Example: telnet myserver 27000

You can also try the IP of the computer, server or host. You must be able to Ping that address.
If the window hangs while saying "Connecting ..." and then goes away, the port is not accessible. If the window instantly goes away, the port is probably not accessible. If the window display text, like "220 ESMTP spoken here" or just shows an empty window the port is open.Or if run in a command window:C:\>telnet myserver 27000Connecting To myserver...Could not open connection to the host, on port 27000: Connect failed

But if you have Windows Vista you probably don't have telnet because it is not installed as default.

Click Start, Control Panel, Programs, and then Turn Windows Features on or off. In the list, scroll down and select Telnet Client. Click OK to start the installation. Or you can just run: start /w pkgmgr /iu:"TelnetClient"

Now you should be able to check if a port is open or closed or not accessible. If it is not accessible start checking if the firewall is the issue.

Here are some usable links:
How to manually open ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
Open a port in Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Additional comment by Matt

The telnet approach works pretty well for a single port. If you know what you're doing you can even use it to send POP/SMTP/ETC commands.

But you ought to try "Angry IP Scan" http://www.angryziber.com/ipscan/ for when you need a broader scan (multiple ports or multiple hosts or both).

Problems with IE 8

When you are using Windows Internet Explorer 8, you cannot browse specific Web pages. You have determined that this problem is not related to compatibility issues. Beginning or intermediate users may want to begin by viewing the following Microsoft Help and Support topic:
Internet Explorer 8: Web sites do not display or work correctly

More advanced users may want to review the following methods to resolve the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967897


If all else fails start IE 8 with out Add-in and then reset Internet Explorer

1. Run Internet Explorer in No Add-ons mode
   Browser add-ons can sometimes interfere with or conflict with other software on your computer. Start Internet Explorer without add-ons to see whether the problem is resolved. To do this, follow these steps:
2. Click Start, and then type Internet Explorer in the Start Search box.
3. Click Internet Explorer (No Add-Ons). Internet Explorer opens without add-ons, toolbars, or plug-ins.
4. Test Internet Explorer to verify that it works correctly.
5. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
6. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
7. When Internet Explorer finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then clickOK two times.
8. Close Internet Explorer, and then reopen it. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer.

Installing additional drivers at setup via USB floppy

Installing Windows Server 2003 can fail if the disk controller hardware is relatively new and the drivers are not contained within the Windows Server standrad driver set. (i.e. SATA)

You will need to download the driver from the manufactures website and then copy the matching .sys, .cat, .oem and .inf drivers to a floppy disk.

If you are installing to a machine with out a floppy disk driver you will need to use an external USB floppy disk drive.

During the installation after you have configured the partitions, the installation will request the driver files again if the driver fails to load it may be that the driver .OEM is not optimised to look for the USB floppy drive.

You will need to edit the TXTSETUP.OEM file adding the following information:

[HardwareIds.scsi.MSAS2K3]
...
...
id = "USB\VID_03F0&PID_2001", "usbstor" #--HP
id = "USB\VID_054C&PID_002C", "usbstor" #--Sony
id = "USB\VID_057B&PID_0001", "usbstor" #--Y-E Data
id = "USB\VID_0409&PID_0040", "usbstor" #--NEC
id = "USB\VID_0424&PID_0FDC", "usbstor" #--SMSC
id = "USB\VID_08BD&PID_1100", "usbstor" #--Iomega
id = "USB\VID_055D&PID_2020", "usbstor" #--Samsung
id = "USB\Vid_0930&PID_6540", "usbstor" #--MY USB KEY

Internet Explorer 7 open multiple tabs

Internet Explorer 7 does not support a built-in command to open multiple tabs at startup, and Group Policy only allows you to configure one home page.
Although you can specify multiple URL’s as default homepages, this might not be what you want.A solution to open several tabs at once for only one time, can be made with Windows Scripting Host, or wscript.

First, create a new text document with Notepad or some other text editor and add the following content:

var navOpenInBackgroundTab = 0x1000;
var oIE = new ActiveXObject("InternetExplorer.Application");
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.itexperience.net");
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.google.com", navOpenInBackgroundTab);
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.whatismyip.org", navOpenInBackgroundTab);
oIE.Visible = true;

Save the file as launchie7.js (so change the extension from *.txt to *.js) to your C:\ drive

To launch Internet Explorer with multiple tabs, run the following command from Start - Run:
wscript.exe C:\launchie7.js


Taken from http://www.itexperience.net/2008/09/30/open-multiple-tabs-in-internet-explorer-7/

Make a bootable USB drive to install Windows 7

Update for previous blog, from the following garyshort.org

Step 1 – Create a bootable USD Drive

1. The first thing you need is a USB drive. (Ensure you backup an existing USB drive as you will be wiping the drive.)
2. Open a command prompt as administrator.
3. Get the drive number by typing:
   diskpart
   list disk
   On my machine the USB disk was number 1.
4. Format the drive by typing:
   select disk 1
   clean
   create partition primary
   select partition 1
   active
   format fs=NTFS
   assign
   exit
5. Mount the Windows 7 iso using Daemon Tools or similar.
6. Navigate to the boot directory cd E:\boot
7. Using bootsect, make the USB drive a bootable NTFS drive, ready for a Windows 7 image (my drive was labeled G):
   bootsect /nt60 G:
8. We are finished with the command prompt now, so you can close it.

Step 2 – Copy the installation files from the mounted Windows 7 iso to the USB drive. (All files)

Step 3 – Install on the Netbook

1. Plug in the USB drive and turn on the netbook
2. On start up press to select the bootable drive (On ASUS Eee PC press Esc at boot up for Boot selection.)
3. Select the USB drive and press return
4. The netbook will boot from the USB drive and the installation will begin
5. Install as normal.

Links:

See this blog for additional information on Windows 7 on Asus Eee PC 901.

How do I turn off the autocomplete function in Word 2007

Start Microsoft Word

Press Alt+F11 to show the Visual Basic Editor. Press Ctrl+G to activate the
Immediate window. Type

Application.DisplayAutoCompleteTips = False

and press Enter.

Close Visual Basic editor.

MSTSC /admin

In both Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, the Remote Desktop Program has been updated to version 6.1 (6.0.6001) and one of the changes is that the functionality previously associated with the /console switch is now called the /admin switch.

If you use "mstsc /v:servername /console" in a script file then the /console will be ignored (with no warning) and you will be connected to a normal session that is not the server console.

You now use /admin instead of /console.

Detailed discussion on the the change here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/12/17/changes-to-remote-administration-in-windows-server-2008.aspx

Installing Windows 7 via USB or SD Media

You can install Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista from USB or whatever other removable media your computer can boot from? Insert your removable media into a Windows XP or Vista PC and run the following commands from an elevated command prompt.

1. diskpart
2. list disk (find the disk number for the removable media)
3. select disk #
4. clean
5. create partition primary
6. select partition 1
7. active
8. format fs=fat32
9. assign letter=y (or any free drive letter)
10. exit

Once that is complete mount the ISO and run the following command.

xcopy x:\*.* /s/e/f y:\

Where “x” is the drive letter of the mounted ISO. Once complete boot off the device and install the OS. When a new Windows 7 or 2008 R2 build is released, simply delete the contents, rerun the xcopy command and you are ready to go again.

Link: http://thelazyadmin.com/blogs/thelazyadmin/archive/2009/01/08/installing-windows-7-via-usb-or-sd-media.aspx

Windows 7 and Asus Eee PC 901

Problem with the Black screen during boot up.

There is a conflict with the Asus BIOS and Windows 7. This occurs because the Operating system does not use the Netbooks screen as the first option during the login phase.

Quick Fix:
When the black screen has been displayed for a short while, lightly press the power button. This puts the Netbook to sleep. Lightly press the power button again wakes the Netbook and displays the login box.

Longer term fix:
Set the User account to auto login (Not recommended for secure systems.) and run a script to display the screen on the monitor.

Auto Login For Window 7 (and Windows Vista)

1. Go to start
2. Type netplwiz in the search box
3. Select the user from which you want to login automatically and uncheck the box “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer”.
4. Enter the password of the account in the box.
5. Click ok

Setup the display script

1. Just open notepad and save this code as a .bat file in the startup folder found in the start-menu:
   
   displayswitch /extend
   displayswitch /internal
   
   
2. Start menu location:
   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Links: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=58307

How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003

This article describes how to transfer Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles (also known as operations master roles) by using the Active Directory snap-in tools in Microsoft Management Console (MMC) in Windows Server 2003.

FSMO Roles

In a forest, there are at least five FSMO roles that are assigned to one or more domain controllers. The five FSMO roles are:

• Schema Master: The schema master domain controller controls all updates and modifications to the schema. To update the schema of a forest, you must have access to the schema master. There can be only one schema master in the whole forest.
• Domain naming master: The domain naming master domain controller controls the addition or removal of domains in the forest. There can be only one domain naming master in the whole forest.
• Infrastructure Master: The infrastructure is responsible for updating references from objects in its domain to objects in other domains. At any one time, there can be only one domain controller acting as the infrastructure master in each domain.
• Relative ID (RID) Master: The RID master is responsible for processing RID pool requests from all domain controllers in a particular domain. At any one time, there can be only one domain controller acting as the RID master in the domain.
• PDC Emulator: The PDC emulator is a domain controller that advertises itself as the primary domain controller (PDC) to workstations, member servers, and domain controllers that are running earlier versions of Windows. For example, if the domain contains computers that are not running Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows 2000 client software, or if it contains Microsoft Windows NT backup domain controllers, the PDC emulator master acts as a Windows NT PDC. It is also the Domain Master Browser, and it handles password discrepancies. At any one time, there can be only one domain controller acting as the PDC emulator master in each domain in the forest.

You can transfer FSMO roles by using the Ntdsutil.exe command-line utility or by using an MMC snap-in tool. Depending on the FSMO role that you want to transfer, you can use one of the following three MMC snap-in tools:

• Active Directory Schema snap-in
• Active Directory Domains and Trusts snap-in
• Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in

If a computer no longer exists, the role must be seized. To seize a role, use the Ntdsutil.exe utility.

Transfer the Schema Master Role

Use the Active Directory Schema Master snap-in to transfer the schema master role. Before you can use this snap-in, you must register the Schmmgmt.dll file.

Register Schmmgmt.dll

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Click OK when you receive the message that the operation succeeded.
   

Transfer the Schema Master Role

1. Click Start, click Run, type mmc in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the File, menu click Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. Click Add.
4. Click Active Directory Schema, click Add, click Close, and then click OK.
5. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Change Domain Controller.
6. Click Specify Name, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
7. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Operations Master.
8. Click Change.
9. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.
   

Transfer the Domain Naming Master Role

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
2. Right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
   NOTE: You must perform this step if you are not on the domain controller to which you want to transfer the role. You do not have to perform this step if you are already connected to the domain controller whose role you want to transfer.
3. Do one of the following:
   In the Enter the name of another domain controller box, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
   -or-
   In the Or, select an available domain controller list, click the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
4. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Operations Master.
5. Click Change.
6. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.

Transfer the RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master Roles

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
   NOTE: You must perform this step if you are not on the domain controller to which you want to transfer the role. You do not have to perform this step if you are already connected to the domain controller whose role you want to transfer.
3. Do one of the following:
   In the Enter the name of another domain controller box, type the name of the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
   -or-
   In the Or, select an available domain controller list, click the domain controller that will be the new role holder, and then click OK.
4. In the console tree, right-click Active Directory Users and Computers, point to All Tasks, and then click Operations Master.
5. Click the appropriate tab for the role that you want to transfer (RID, PDC, or Infrastructure), and then click Change.
6. Click OK to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click Close.

Installing and Configuring Eeebuntu on to an Asus Eee PC

Website with download and Forum: http://eeebuntu.org/

How to create a bootable USB memory stick with the Operating system ISO file.
Using UNetbootin for Linux or Windows.
http://www.liliputing.com/2008/12/how-to-install-eeebuntu-with-a-usb-flash-drive.html


Partitioning The Disk (preparing disk space screen)

You need to make some decisions here. Some Information about the Asus Eee 901:
/dev/sda is the 4GB onboard SSD
/dev/sdb is the internal removable SSD (8GB windows, 16GB Linux)
/dev/sdc is the SDHC/SD/MMC card if you have one in there
/dev/sdd is your USB Stick (if the SD slot is empty it's /dev/sdc)

I manually partitioned the eee. Here is the partition scheme I used:
/dev/sda1 is the entire 4GB section. I am mounting it as "/" and using ext2
/dev/sdb1 is 15002 MB of sdb. I am mounting it as "/home" and using ext2
/dev/sdb2 is the remaining 1135MB of sdb and is swap space. The swap space is large to allow for hibernation.
You can use ext2 to to lessen the number of writes to the SSD. Of course using a journaled files system is generally better



Switching between Ubuntu Netbook remix and the standard desktop

1. Right click on the Ubuntu circular icon in the top right, and click Edit Menus.
2. In the Menu section select Preferences under the System menu.
3. In the Items section scroll down and tick the Sessions option.
4. Then click Close.
5. Expand the System menu optin then Preferences and select Session.
6. In Startup Programs
7. Look for NETBOOK LAUNCHER, untick it then click close
8. Reboot your machine and you'll get a standard Desktop.

Converting Video

Basic steps to convert almost any video to avi xvid(for DVD Divx Players or portable players) or mp4 h264(for IpoD, PS3, Xbox 360, etc) using avidemux.

1. Load your video file.


2. Under Video choose the video codec, for avi choose xvid and if making mp4 or mkv choose x264


3. Under Video->Configure and under Encoding type change to Two Pass Video Size if you want to change the output file size.
   


4. Under Video->Filters->Subtitle add the subtitle filter and load your srt,sub,ass file. (extract subtitles from mkv files using mkvextracgui or ogmdemuxer)


5. You might have to downresize the video resolution/frame size, for DVD Divx Player use a resolution under 720x576, for portable devices use the max resolution that it supports, for PS3, Xbox 360 yoú can keep HD resolution(1920x1080 or lower). Under Filters add the Resize filter and resize.


6. Under audio choose mp3 for DVD Divx Player playback, aac audio for mp4.


7. Set the output format, avi or mp4


8. Click Save to start the encoding, save the video with the file extension like video.avi or video.mp4

Link: http://avidemux.sourceforge.net/

Media State: Authentication failed

Network card status reports error Media State: Authentication failed.

In Microsoft Windows Vista, a user reported an error on the network card.

If the domain network is not using a radius connection you may need change the Authentication settings of the network card.

In the properties of the network card click on the Authentication tab and unselect Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication.

How to Create a Custom Windows Installation DVD - for UMPC

Using the free software vLite, you can create a completely custom, bootable Windows Vista install DVD. Remove the parts of Vista you don’t want/use, change some of the default settings, include Service Packs and Windows Updates, and more. Keep reading for complete step-by-step instructions on using vLite.

Guide for Vlite
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=271701

Full instructions are available from:
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/06/04/how-to-create-a-custom-windows-vista-installation-dvd/

Vlite is available from:
http://www.vlite.net/

Wireless Vista machines connecting to a Domain

This specifc case referes to Microsoft Vista workstations and users who are connecting to a Windows radius server, though it will be of use to users who are using other authenticating technicnologies.

The Radius server and workstations require a server certificate, this can be generated by using the SelfSSL obtained from the IIS Resource kit.

How To Install:

1. Download IIS 6.0 Resource Kit Tools (requires Windows Server 2003, Windows XP)
2. Install the resource kit (If you want hand-holding through these steps, read these instructions with screenshots by Jonathan Maltz)
3. From the Windows Start Menu, go to the "\Programs\IIS Resources\SelfSSL" folder and select "SelfSSL".
4. Instructions will be listed in a command prompt. Type "selfssl" to run the program.
5. Type "y" to confirm overriding/installing the certificate on the given site.
6. Test that it worked by visiting https://localhost/.
   

Additional instructions are available from the following blog.

We are going to manage the wireless connection at the workstations via Microsoft Group Policies.

"Wireless and wired clients running Microsoft® Windows Vista™ or Windows Server 2008 and wired clients running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 support enhancements that can be configured through Group Policy settings that are supported by domain controllers running Windows Server® 2008. To support these enhancements for an Active Directory® directory service environment consisting of domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2003 R2, the Active Directory schema must be extended."

Use the following guide to extend the schema:
Active Directory Schema Extensions for Windows Vista Wireless and Wired Group Policy

Edit the Group Policy using Group Policy Management Console.

1. Create a Group Policy Object for the computers you want to configure wireless access. (i.e. called Wireless workstation settings)
2. Edit the Group Policy Object.
3. Expand Computer Configuration, Policies, Windows Settings, Security Settings.
4. Select Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies.
5. Click the right hand mouse button, in the right hand window and select Create a new Wireless Policy.
6. Enter an appropriate name and description, tick the Use Windows WLAN AutoConfig service for clients.
7. Click Add, then select Infrastructure.
8. In the Profile name enter an approprate name and the correct SSID
   Tick - Connect automatically when this network is in range.
   and tick - Connect even if the network is not broadcasting.
9. Click the Security tab
   In Authentication select WPA-Enterprise
   Encryption select - TKIP
   In Select a network authentication method: select Microsoft: Protected EAP (PEAP)
   Click on Properties:
   Tick on Validate server certificate
   In Trusted Root Certification Authorities - select your certificate. (Ensure it has been installed.)
   In Select Authentication Method: select Secured password (EAP-MSCHAP v2)
   Click Configure - In When connecting ensure Automatically use my Windows logon... is selected. - Click Ok, click OK on Protected EAP Properties.
   In Authentication Mode: select User re-authentication
   Max Authentication Failures: is set to 3.
   Tick Cache user information.
   Click Advanced.
   Ensure Enforce advanced 802.1x settings is not selected.
   Tick enable Single Sign on
   Select Perform immediatly before User Logon
   Max delay for connectivity set to 30
   Tick Allow additional dialogs to be displayed. Click Ok, click Ok to close Wireless network properties.
10. In the Network Permissions tab
11. Ensure the correct Network Name and network type is set with the permission set to Allow.
12. Tick the following - Allow user to view denied networks and Allow everyone to create all user profiles. - then click Ok.
13. Add the Group Policy object to the appropriate workstations.

On the workstation you need to install the certificate into the Trusted Root Certificate Authority.

On the workstation load the MMC and load Certificates and install the manually created certificate.

Links:
The Cable Guy - Wireless Group Policy Settings for Windows Vista

Acer Aspire One - Linux - installing VLC

The Acer Aspire One (Linux edition) runs a version of Red Hat/Fedora Linux V8.

The built in media player has a limited set of CODECs and so can not play all the available video formats (i.e. Divx & Xvid video formats). You can install the VLC video player which will play a large selection of different types of video files.

Firstly, we need to open up the interface to allow extra software to be added.

1. Go to the green Files pane at the bottom right of the screen and left-click on My Documents.
2. Now left-click on File & Terminal – you'll see a text window open with a $ prompt.
3. Type in xfce-setting-show and press Enter – up pops the Xfce Desktop Manager.
4. Left-click on Desktop, then select the Behaviour tab. Now tick Show Desktop Menu on Right Click.
5. Type Exit to close a Terminal screen.

Now, if you close all those open windows & get back to the standard Aspire One desktop, you'll find that, if you now do a right-click, you'll get a Menu appear!

Installing the VLC video player.

1. Right-Click on the Desktop and select Terminal and type in the following lines at the $ prompt.
   nu -
   (Your appropriate password)
   sudo yum install fedora-release
   sudo rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-8.rpm
   sudo yum install vlc python-vlc mozilla-vlc
2. When prompted answer Y & Enter, when complete close all open windows.
3. Right Click anywhere on the Desktop and go to MultiMedia -> VLC Media Player. (You might need to restart your Netbook.

Adding Icons to the Aspire One

It's all very well having the Advanced Menu, but for some apps you'd also like the fast access provided by the desktop. Here's how you make them appear. Press Alt-F2, type in xterm to open the command line (Terminal) window - and click on Run...

At the command line, type:
sudo mousepad /home/user/.config/xfce4/desktop/group-app.xml and hit Enter. This calls up the desktop's configuration file. Scroll through and you'll see how the entries are arranged.

Add to the Fun desktop section (Possibly 7) the following line to add a link to the VLC player.

"/usr/share/applications/livna-vlc.desktop"

Remembering to select a unique sequence number the number describes the order of the applications.

Save the file then restart your Acer Aspire. Click on the right-arrow button in the Fun section, and you should see a new VLC icon. Drag and drop it higher in the list if you prefer.

Links:
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/
Ten tweaks for a new Acer Aspire One.

Check the Capabilities of your Processor

SecurAble probes the system's processor to determine the presence, absence and operational status of three modern processor features: .

• 64-bit instruction extensions.
• Hardware support for detecting and preventingthe execution of code in program data areas.
• Hardware support for system resource “virtualization.”

http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

Network adapter priority in Vista

If you have multiple network cards in your Vista machine it is recommended to configure the wired domain network card as the first in the list.

On the Advanced menu, on Advanced settings, you can change the order which Vista uses different adapters.

To access the Advanced Settings, go to the Network and Sharing center, click Manage Network Connections - 5th down under task on the on the left then press ALT to make the menu appear.

Information and link to: http://blogs.technet.com/jamesone/archive/2007/04/03/network-adapter-priority-in-vista.aspx