How to change from Evaluation to the real stuff in Windows Server 2012 R2

Yes it is possible to perform with no strange tools at all. Before you start you need to have your product key (either a MAK or a KMS client key)

Step-by-Step

• Start an elevated command or powershell prompt.
• Execute “slmgr /dlv” to get information on the current status.

• Execute “dism /online /get-currentedition” to get the current edition, it should be an Evaledition

• Execute “dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /productkey: /accepteula”
• The key in this case is the KMS Client key for Windows Server 2012 R2 and you can get all those keys from
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx

• Restart the server (it will reboot twice)
• Done

VIPRE Agent "Not Communicating" after 1 - 5 days

VIPRE admin console will start reporting agents with a status of "Not Communicating" after 1 - 5 days.  Restarting the computer will change the status from "Not Communicating" to "Protected" but the issue will come back anywhere from 1 - 5 days after the restart.  This is a known issue, and there are 2 ways to fix this:

1. Use the Private Release

Issue is fixed in a private release (VIPRE Agent 7.0.5746)

To apply the patch do the following.

1. Open the VIPRE Business Console

2. Open Site Properties and select "Updates"

3. Uncheck "Automatically download Agent Software Updates"

4. Apply the change, select OK, and close the Console

5. Stop the VIPRE Business Premium Site Service

6. Download the Private Release below:

· Standard http://go.threattracksecurity.com/files/support/VIPRE_Business/Patch874/SBVEA_401_EN.msi

· Premium http://go.threattracksecurity.com/files/support/VIPRE_Business/Patch874/SBVEA_402_EN.msi

Note To find out if you are running standard or premium, go to the list of agents, right-click on the affected machine and choose Agent Details.  Near the upper left, you will see the Agent Type.

7. Save & Replace the file(s) in the Volatile Data's SoftwareUpdate folder:

• C:\ProgramData\VIPRE Business\SoftwareUpdate (Default)

8. Start the VIPRE Business Site Service

Once finished, deploy the Private Release agent to affected machines. 

2. Workaround: can be applied to 7.0.5711 and 7.05725 agent if upgrading is not desired.

• Set AP to "Execution Only" (Confirm End-Users don't control AP) 
• Ensure all Email Clients are Unchecked inside Email Protection 
• Ensure Email Client Ports are both set to "0" 
• Close all instances of Outlook and unregister VIPRE's "SBAMOutlook.dll" file 

Note: All users must have outlook closed to unregister "SBAMOutlook.dll"  If possible perform these steps when no one is logged into the machine.

Unregistering VIPRE's SBAMOutlook.dll:

1. If possible: Log-out all other users 
2. Close Outlook, if it's open 
3. Open an Administrative Command Prompt 
4. Change Directory to the Agent's Installation Folder 
5. Run the following command: regsvr32 /u 'C:\Program files (x86)\VIPRE Business Agent\SBAMOutlook.dll" 

Note: There should be a dialog confirming success

VOIP Dial Plans

Universal:
x.T|*xx
Default without having to dial 9 for a four digit extension:
[0-8]xxxT3|911|411|611|011xxx.T3|1xxxxxxxxxx|[2-9]xxxxxxxxx|*xxx.T3
The default but with the ability to test providers by dial 55 then phone number:
[0-8]xxxT3|55xxx.T|911|411|611|011xxx.T3|1xxxxxxxxxx|[2-9]xxxxxxxxx|*xxx.T3

Sources
http://apetec.com/voip/Polycom-DialPlan.htm
http://blog.voipdiy.com/2012/10/what-is-dial-plan.html
https://wiki.asterisk.org/wiki/display/DIGIUM/Dial+Plans
http://wiki.voip.ms/article/Dial_Plan_for_Linksys_ATAs
http://voipstuff.net.au/dial-plans/

VMware blogs

http://www.vladan.fr

http://www.virten.net

HP Customized ESXi Image and HP Server Support Matrix

As of 3/27/2015

• ESXi and vSphere:
  • vSphere 6.0 March 12, 2015 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.5 U2 Nov 2014 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.5 U1 Dec 2014 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.5 June 2014 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.1 U3 Dec 2014 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.1 U2 Nov 2014 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.1 U1 Sept 2013 - Download here
  • vSphere 5.1 Feb 2013 - Download here
  • ESXi 5.0 U3 Nov 2014 - Download here
  • ESXi 5.0 U2 Sept 2013 - Download here
  • ESXi 5.0 U1 Oct 2012 - Download here
  • ESXi 4.x - Download here
  • Contents of above images available here

HP Server Support Matix for VMware
http://h17007.www1.hp.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/supportmatrix/vmware.aspx


Source
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/servers/solutions.html?compURI=1499005#tab=TAB4

Moving Firefox profile to new computer

1. Completely close firefox on your old computer
2. Copy the profile folder on old computer (C:\Windows\Profiles\\Application Data\Mozilla)  to the location where you want to new computer C:\Windows\Profiles\\Application Data\Mozilla.
3. Start the Profile Manager by typing the following in Start firefox.exe -P
4. Click on the "Create Profile..." button.
5. In the dialog that opens, enter a descriptive name for the profile.
6. Click on the "Choose Folder..." button. A "Browse for Folder" dialog will open.
7. Select the profile folder you copied and click OK.
8. Review the path shown in the "Completing the Create Profile Wizard" dialog to make sure it is correct, then click "Finish" to create the new profile.
9. Select the new profile and press the Start button to start Firefox using the moved profile.

Source
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder

Excel or Outlook takes a long time opening file

1. Click Start then click Computer.

2. Click Organize.

3. Select Layout, and then click to clear Preview pane.

4. Open the Excel workbook and test.

If the error continues to occur, go to the next method.

Windows Explorer:

1. Right click on Start button

2. Click Open Windows Explorer

3. Click Organize | Layout

4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane

Excel:

1. Click File | Open

2. Click Organize | Layout

3. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane

Outlook:

1. Open a new e-mail

2. In the "Include" group on the Ribbon, click Attach File

3. Click Organize | Layout

4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane

Source
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2779852
http://geniustechbar.blogspot.com/2013/03/excel-cannot-complete-this-task-with.html

CodeTwo Active Directory Photos

A nice free tool for importing photos into Active Directory.  The tool can be run from any computer which were the user is logged int an account with administrative rights.

CodeTwo Active Directory Photos
http://www.codetwo.com/freeware/active-directory-photos/

How to Unprotect an excel sheet without password

In Excel on the Developer Tabs press View Code

Copy and paste the following.  When Done press F5 to Run code.  The sheet is unprotected now.

Sub PasswordBreaker()
    'Breaks worksheet password protection.
    Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
    Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
    Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
    Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
    On Error Resume Next
    For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
    For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
    For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
    For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
    ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
        Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
        Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
    If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
        MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
            Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
            Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
         Exit Sub
    End If
    Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
    Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub

Sorce
http://uknowit.uwgb.edu/page.php?id=28850

Unable to print or view the print preview of a webpage in Internet Explorer

The problem prints a blank page with a footer  displaying the following line: “file:///C:/Users/userprofile/AppData/Local/Temp/Low/randomfilename.htm”.

You maybe missing the "Low" folder.  Verify that is is there, if not re-create it.

1. Close all open IE windows.
2. Click on Start and then type in %temp% in the search box and click on the Temp folder in the list.

3. Now create a new folder called Low.

4. Once you’ve created the Low folder, close Explorer, re-start IE and try to print the web page again.

Alternatively you can use Microsoft's Fix it
Fix this problem
Microsoft Fix it 50676

Source
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/973479
http://www.datacorps.com/2012/how-to-fix-internet-explorer-printing-blank-pages/

HP & VMware Links

Nice page as of 8/30/2014 with HP & VMware related links.

http://www.v-front.de/p/hp-vmware-links.html


Some notable info

General links

• VMware from HP - ProLiant Server VMware Support Matrix
• HP Service Pack for ProLiant (latest version)
  (bootable ISO for firmware updates with HP Smart Update Manager)
• HP Maintenance Supplement Bundle for SPP 2014.02.0(B)
• Current VMware FW and Software Recipe (Compatibility Matrix)
• HP ProLiant Offline Array Configuration Utility 9.40.12.0 (19 Feb 2013)   [alternate link]
• HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM)
  (for monitoring HP hardware health incl. alerting)
• HP Insight Control (incl. Insight Control for VMware vCenter Server)
  (integrates HP SIM into vSphere client)

HP customized VMware ESX(i) installation ISOs

• ESXi 5.5 U1 - Mar 2014
• ESXi 5.1 U2 - Feb 2014
• ESXi 5.0 U3 - Feb 2014

HP Online Depot for ESXi 5.x

• For usage with VMware Update Manager and Image Builder: http://vibsdepot.hp.com
• Download HP drivers and bundles for ESXi 5.x from http://vibsdepot.hp.com/hpq/. (Change to the latest subdirectory e.g. feb2014 or mar2014-550)

VMware template for Windows Server 2008 R2

Great step by step for making a VM template

http://sjpl.org/blog/vmware-template-windows-server-2008-r2

All mailboxes in an Exchange database are disconnected and/or your account has been disabled in OWA

This was for an issue which occurred on Exchange 2010 sp3 rollup 5.

Email flow had been working for years.  All of a sudden email flow stopped. Email server was restarted and email flow worked only for mailboxes located in one  specific Exchange database.  Mailboxes located in the other Exchange databases didn't have total email flow.  Mailboxes of affected users were unable to open Outlook.

When a working mailbox sent an internal email to an affected mailbox they would receive an undeliverable bounce back with the following message:
"Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups". "There's a problem with the recipient's mailbox. Please try resending this message. If the problem continues, please contact your helpdesk."

OWA was up but any mailbox in an affected database would receive a message "Your account has been disabled".  Among some of the details of the error message was:
Exception type: Microsoft.Exchange.Data.Storage.AccountDisabledException
Exception message: Cannot open mailbox

The issue stems from an Active Directory issue which caused the Exchange server to either get out of synch or to be caching information and not updating.  Below is how the issue was resolved.

Steps summary:

1. Try to reconnect disconnected mailboxes.
2. Check DNS server Exchange is using. (Note that this might not be a necessary step but it was part of resolution)
3. Clean Exchange database.
4. Fix any mailboxes stuck in Disconnect Mailbox folder.

Steps detail:

1. Try to reconnect disconnected mailboxes.

In Exchange Management Console (EMC) navigate to Microsoft Exchange -> Microsoft Exchange On-Premises -> Disconnected Mailbox.
Right click Connect.
Choose matching user.
Click OK.

2. Check DNS server Exchange is using

In Exchange Management Console (EMC) navigate to Microsoft Exchange -> Microsoft Exchange On-Premises -> Organization Configuration.
Right click and select "Modify Configuration Domain Controller"
Select Specify a domain controller
Domain = the domain the Exchange server resides on.
Configuration domain controller = make note of current selection and then choose a secondary domain controller.
Click OK.
Repeat above steps but this time Configuration domain controller = the original or primary domain controller.
Click OK

3. Clean Exchange database

In Exchange Management Shell (EMS) run the following cmdlet

Get-Mailboxdatabase

Make note of any database listed under Name column

Now run the following cmdlet. Replace the "DBNAME" with the database name from above. Run the cmdlet on each database.

Get-Mailboxdatabase –Identity “DBNAME” | Clean-Mailboxdatabase

4. Fix any mailboxes stuck in Disconnect Mailbox folder

In Exchange Management Console (EMC) navigate to Microsoft Exchange -> Microsoft Exchange On-Premises -> Disconnected Mailbox.
Click Refresh.
If any mailbox is still listed, right click and select Connect.
Choose matching user.
Click OK.

Bonus step that was not performed but might be necessary.
If mailbox does not appear after replication, Run Get-Mailboxdatabase | Clean-Mailboxdatabase.



References
http://exchangeexpertscommunity.blogspot.com/2013/07/your-account-has-been-disabled-error.html
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/exchange/en-US/b8c55f32-eebb-4c85-80b4-03b40d53db1d/exchange-2010-sp2-owa?forum=exchangesvrclientslegacy

Network printer won't print even though it is online

If a network printer won't print even though it is online. A driver may have become corrupted.  Try the following steps to resolve:

1. Run printui.exe /s /t2
2. Highlight unnecessary/old printers and click Remove
3. Select Remove driver and driver package and click OK
4. Repeat above steps and perform the same for the network printer having issue
5. Stop Print Spooler and repeat above step for network printer
6. Open Registry (regedit) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3
7. Highlight network printer and press delete entry
8. Start Print Spooler
9. Re-install network printer driver

How to remove/delete old updates on WSUS server

This How-To is designed to show you how to most effectively clean your WSUS server of old, depreciated or superceded updates. This how-to assumes that you have already selected the correct update classifications, products, and languages for your environment. If you still need to do that, see this How-To here: http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/2572

1.	Open the Windows Update Services MMC
2.	Select the All Updates View Set the display to show the Approval status of 'Any except Declined' with a Status of 'Any'. Click Refresh.
3.	Display the Supercedence Column Right-click the column headers and select Supercedence.
4.	Sort by Supercedence Left-click on the Supercedece Column.
5.	Select and Decline the Superceded Updates The updates to be declined have one of two particular flowchart symbols for their updates pictured in the attached image. Select the correct updates and Decline them by either right-clicking the selected updates and clicking decline or by pressing the decline button in the action pane.
6.	Run the Server Cleanup Wizard Make sure you have all options selected in the wizard and let it run. It will delete the files from the declined updates.
7.	OPTIONAL: Automatic Approval Options In the automatic approval options, under the advanced tab, there is an option to automatically approve update revisions for previously approved updates and subsequentially decline the now expired updates. I suggest you select them.

Source

http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/2563-clean-your-wsus-server

Steps to updating Sonicwall firmware

Connect the computer to the x0 interface.

1- Get a paper clip and push and hold for 15 seconds on the reset button *wait till the wrench light starts to flash.

2- Go to your local nic settings in your computer (start>run>ncpa.cpl) IP 192.168.168.25 (anything except for 168) Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 Default gateway will be 192.168.168.168

3- The wait about a minute and then open a browser and go to 192.168.168.168 Go into the Sonicwall boot options and choose firmware (?) with factory defaults.

4- Once it restarts, go to the Sonicwall and log in Default username is admin Password is password.

5- Go to system>settings import settings.

6- Then remove the static ip from your computer and set it to dynamic if that is its original configuration

7- Register your firewall with your mysonicwall.com account.

Recommended Sonicwall Global VPN Client

As of 2/3/2014

For Windows 7: 4.6.4.0114

For Windows 8: 4.7.3.0403

They can be downloaded here
https://www.mysonicwall.com/firmware/previousversions.aspx?CF=14&SG=5317&PG=FD&LC=EN

How to monitor Sonicwall for FTP traffic

On Sonicwall, navigate to System->Packet Monitor
Click Clear
Click Configure
On the Monitor Filter tab
    Ether Types: IP
    IP Types: UDP, TCP, ICMP
    Destination IP Address: (public IP of FTP server)
    Check "Enable Bidirectional Address and Port Matching
On Advanced Filter tab
    Check all boxes
Click OK

Click Start Capture
Click Stop Catpure when done captureing

How to allow a specific public IP through Windows Firewall

Navigate to Start->Administrative Tools->Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

In left navigation left click Inbound Rules

In the Right navigation left click New Rule…

Click Custom and Next

Click All programs and Next

Select Protocol Type and ports or choose Any and All

Click Next

In Which remote IP addresses does this rule apply to click “These IP addresses” and click Add…

Enter public IP and click OK

Click Next

Click Allow the connection and Next

Choose when rule applies and Next

Give the rule a name and description.  Click Next.

Click Finish.

You can also add a rule from the command line.  The below example adds a rule to allow Remote Desktop services from public IP 209.172.32.36 with the rule name of RDesktopRule.

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="RDesktopRule" action=allow remoteip=209.172.32.36 protocol=TCP dir=in localport=3389

Sources

http://terenceluk.blogspot.com/2013/09/enabling-tls-for-exchange-server-2010.html
http://www.rackspace.com/knowledge_center/article/creating-an-inbound-custom-allow-rule-for-windows-firewall-windows-2008

http://kb.iweb.com/entries/23487308-Authorizing-an-IP-Address-in-Windows-Firewall

Unable to remove or disconnect network drive

 

When trying to disconnect a network drive the following error message is presented

“This network connection does not exist"

or

"Z:\ refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.”

Perform the following steps to correct:

Run->Start
Regedit

Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints
In this folder, delete anything with ## in front of it.

Run Task Manager
On Processes tab, highlight Explorer and click End Process
File->New Task (Run…) and type
Explorer

Below is a possible script to automatically fix the registry.  Save the following as .vbs

identify subkeys with "##" and remove them

const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
strComputer = "."
 
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
strKeyPath = "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2"
oReg.EnumKey HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath, arrSubKeys
 
For Each subkey In arrSubKeys
    If CBool(Instr(subkey,"##")) Then
        oReg.DeleteKey HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath&"\"&subkey
    End If
Next