IT bits and pieces

I’ve struggled to get rid of the first screen (asking for language, time zone and keyboard) when performing an install of Windows 2008 R2, using an answer file created with WAIK. It looks like I wasn’t the first to hit this problem. Windows will display forms where it hasn’t got the right answers. In my case I had to pay attention to the following:

• UILanguage which needs to be en-US
• InputLocale = 0809:00000809
• TimeZone = GMT Standard Time

once the answer file is complete an image can be generated using the deployment tools command prompt so it can be mounted together with the windows iso:
oscdimg -n c:answer c:answer.iso

there are many reasons why a mailbox move may faile in exchange 2003
– "MAPI call failed. MAPI or an unspecified service provider" this is a generic error and one of the reasons in my case was that the mailbox being over the limit

I want to get some of the basic MCSE certs this year. I have been working in IT for a while now, but never got the time or the energy or maybe the talent to get certified. So this summer I want to change all that. I tend to make notes when I read, but this time I’ll do this online, on this page.

DCpromo:

– promotion -> converts member servers to DC’s

– demotion -> converts DC’s to member servers

Terminal Services -> are now called Remote Desktop Services

winrs – windows remote shell; can be retrofited in xp and W2k3 – Microsoft kb: 936059

wevtutil.exe – command line version of eventviewer

SMB – “Server Message Block” – name of windows file server service

SYSVOL – builtin file share on every DC – keeps AD information (group policy and logon scripts among other things)

printer drivers attach themselves to the printer spooler service. So if a driver fails, it takes down the whole of the spooler service and all the other drivers with it. W2k8 R2 allow to isolate printer drivers within their own individual process.

64-bit builds of Windows require digitally signed kernel mode drivers – the operating system will allow you to install them with a warning, but those drivers will never actually load (however this can be disabled by: press F8->Advanced Boot Options->Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

DVD installation allows only a clean install not an upgrade

winver.exe shows version of windows installation.

RODC does not store passwords

Import-Module Servermanager – enables servermanager in powershell

-restart – automates restart in powershell (a restart will happen automatically if necessary)

there are various shortcuts:
ncpa.cpl – brings up network configuration
ctrl+shift+esc -> task manager

command line reference guide: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772390%28WS.10%29.aspx

Permission Override:
– deny overrides allow
– explicit allow overrides deny

set-up networking:

netsh interface set interface name="local area connection" newname="Internal"
netsh interface ipv4 set address name="Internal" source=static address=192.168.1.11 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.254 
netsh interface ipv4 add dnsserver name="Internal" address=192.168.1.10 index=1 
 

rename the computer:
netdom renamecomputer /newname: /userd:[] [/passwordd:[ | *]] /usero:[] [/passwordo:[ | *]] [/reboot[:]] [{/help | /?}]

netdom renamecomputer %computername% /newname:newdc1

I was using a script to make an outlook signature based on AD details. All well and good, but outlook was displaying the signature with double spacing. The character to use which solves the problem is Chr(11)