How to Map Network Drive Using Commandline?

This post explains how to map a network drive to your local computer using DOS command prompt. This command will be useful in case you have to map several network drives as a batch job. We can use 'NET USE' command for this purpose.

How to Enable PowerShell on Windows Server 2008 Server Core Edition?

You will not be able to run Powershell on a freshly installed Windows Server 2008 Core Operating System. But this option can be enabled through command line. This post explains how to enable Powershell on Windows Server 2008 Server Core.

Some Useful Guidelines for Safe Online Shopping

With the Internet now being at nearly everyone’s hands, online shopping has become an easy way to browse online ads for new and used items. And most major companies allow you to search their merchandise online and purchase whatever you choose. The great part about online shopping is that you can search classifieds in India all the way from Brazil to find real estate for a retirement or vacation home or search around for the best deal on new and used cars. And while the internet has made this easier, it has also provided some hurdles as well.

MCSE 70-291 Exam Simulation; Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure [Video]

MCSE is still a much sought-after certification among Windows IT professionals.  I am re-posting a video I have made few years back, which will be helpful for those who are preparing to appear for  MCSE exam  paper 70-291 -   Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. This video contains three simulation questions and its answers demonstrated.

Wireless Networks: Difference between 802.11b and 802.11g

You might have seen these numbers while connecting your laptop to your WiFi device. 802.11 is the IEEE standard given for Wireless Local Arean Networks or WLAN.  Today, WiFi devices are abundant in households and offices. But there are various WiFi bands based on its speed and frequency. This post explains basic difference between two WiFi network standards, 802.11b and 802.11g.

How to Add a Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Account in HTC Android Phone?

This post explains how to add your office Exchange mail box in your HTC phone with Android Operating System.  Using this step by step method, you can configure Exchange mail box in HTC Desire, HTC Wildfire or other Android models. You can only add one Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync account on your phone. You can sync with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2(SP2), Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2010.

Error While Resuming Suspended VM Guest; VMWare Workstation Unrecoverable Error: (vmx) Exception 0xc0000006 (disk error while paging) has Occurred.

Issue Description: VMWare virtual machine is throwing error while resuming suspended virtual machine. This is basically related to disc error occurred while paging. A log file can be found at Virtual Machine location with the name ‘vmware.log’.

Active Directory: Intrasite and Intersite Replication Interval

There are two types of Active Directory replication based on site topology. Intrasite and Intersite replication. In intrasite replication, all the domain controllers inside the same site will replicate each other. In Intersite replication, Selected Domain controllers of two different sites will replicate during specified interval. Domain controller which is assigned for replication over the site is called Bridge Head Servers.

How to download and install Windows Server 2003 Support Tools?

As far as  System Admins are concerned, Support Tools are very much helpful for day to day tasks and troubleshooting. SupTools contain command line utilities such as, REPADMIN, ADSIEDIT, NETDOM etc. This post explains how to download  and install Support Tools.

How to find out FSMO handling Domain Controllers using NETDOM command?

This post explains how to find out Domain Controllers handling FSMO roles using command line tool NETDOM. In Active Directory domain environment, particular Domain Controllers will be handling FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operations) or Operations Master roles. As I have explained in my earlier post, there are 5 FSMO roles handled by specific Domain Controllers in the forest.  

iCloud; a brand new cloud computing service from Apple to use with Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Apple announced the release of new iCloud cloud service on June 6, 2011 during Worldwide Developer Conference. Now, iCloud is all set to launch on 12th October 2011 along with Apple iOS 5 and iPhone 4s. iCloud is basically a successor of MobileMe, a subscription-based collection of online services and software, widely used with earlier Apple devices. 

In simple terms, iCloud is a service in which documents are stored in remote Apple servers through Internet, can be accessed through multiple Apple devices such as iPhones, iPods, iPads, Mac OS Computers and even Microsoft Windows desktops.

How to change Metro-style lockscreen image of Windows 8 computer? [VIDEO]

Windows 8 Developer Preview was launched last week, its loaded with plenty of new features, notably the lock screen. This screen is a part of Microsoft's Metro-style User Interface. Here you can customize the Windows 8 lock-screen by changing the default picture to your favorite outdoor photo.

How to Shutdown or Restart a Windows 8 Computer?

Windows 8 is loaded with many exciting features. Even though its initial installation steps are almost similar to Windows 7, configuration steps has got many changes. Notably, your session can be configured for cloud applications using Windows Live ID. At the time of first log-in, we will experience a complete redesign of its GUI, the large icon view of Windows desktop is called Metro view. But if you are going to shutdown or restart a Windows 8 machine, it will be little bit difficult to find  the option, because Microsoft has complete relocated the SHUTDOWN button.

Configuring Virtual Machine for Windows 8 BETA on VMWare Workstation 8

Windows 8 Developer preview cannot be installed on earlier VMWare version. You should download latest VMWare make, VMWare Workstation 8 to support Windows 8. We have discussed how to download and install VMWare 8 in another post. In this post, I will show you how to configure a VMWare virtual machine capable of Windows 8.

Windows 8 installation fails on VMWare Workstation 8 with error note 'No device drivers were found.'

Windows 8 Installation ERROR: "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive please insert it now".

I was much excited to see the new Windows 8 Developer Preview installed in my system. I just downloaded Windows 8 64 bit version in ISO format, and VMWare Workstation 8 evaluation as well. Created new virtual machine with all the required component configurations, and mapped ISO image as first boot device. Initial few steps were loaded smoothly until 'Install Now' option. Once clicked next button, I could see few error messages, as mentioned above, related to 'device driver'.

Download link to the Windows 8 Developer Preview and Installation instructions

Microsoft has recently released the Developer Preview edition of their upcoming Windows Desktop family Operating System, codenamed Windows 8. The new Windows version has moved far away from the traditional appearance of earlier Windows Operating Systems, especially in terms of Graphical User Interface (GUI). The new design of Windows is basically made to support Tablet PCs as well, along with Laptops and Desktops. Microsoft foresees the current trends in the Tablet PC market, since the launch of Apple's iPAD in 2010. Here I have just collected Download links to the Microsoft Windows Developer preview editions.

Accessing Registry of a remote computer in a domain using REGEDIT utility

You can access Registry settings of a remote host using REGEDIT utility. This method is useful when you are unable to RDP to the target host.  

Use below steps to access the registry settings of a target computer.

How to take backup of Windows Registry settings (regedit) before editing?

Editing Registry settings of Windows Server computers is an important task for sysadmins. But this task must be carried out with utmost care because some of the changes could bring vital impact on the behavior of the Operating System.

Backing up the registry settings is always highly recommended before editing Windows Registry. Below instructions will help you to perform backup and restore of the registry.

How to open Network Connections Adapter Settings Window using Run command?

As far as a Windows System Administrator is concerned, working on the Network Connection settings such as IP configuration and network connectivity troubleshooting is a regular task. For a new Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 or even Windows Client computer, you will not be able to view the Network Connection Settings icon at the desktop. It will be as always available at Control Panel. This post will explain how to quickly open the Network Connections window using Run Command.

Active Directory Physical Components; Domain Controllers and Sites Explained

Active Directory is the core component and the central data base of the network based on Microsoft Windows Domain System. Active Directory is the central supervisor of the network objects and security for the Windows Domain System. In a Microsoft Windows Domain environment based on Active Directory, we can find several classifications of its components. Here we discuss the physical components of Active Directory in a domain.

Listing ACL of a share in Windows Server.

We usually view the Access Control List or List of permission sets attached to a folder or file, though Properties -> Security tab of the Share. But this method doesn't help to  generate a list of these permissions sets for backup purpose etc.

Microsoft utility called 'showacls' helps to list the ACL in command mode and it can be copied and saved. It is useful to compare the permissions applied to different shares or to keep a backup of current permission sets applied to a particular share.

How to find if I am using 32 bit or 64 bit Operating System?

There are multiple reasons why we should be aware of the version of operating systems. The Application we download for our OS must be compatible to the version of the Operating System. These days most of the Windows 7 machines are coming with 64 bit Operating System loaded. 

Here we will discuss the methods of finding whether we are using 64 or 32 bit version of Operating System.

How to update changes in Group Policy settings using commands line in Windows Server 2003 / 2008?

Changes made on Group Policy settings will take sometime to get into effect in the client computers of Active Directory Domain. Usually it take effect after a reboot of the machine, or once the user re-log in to his or her account. 

Below command line utilities will help to forcefully refresh or update the changes in Group Policy. Run these commands on the target computer.

Group Policy for beginners; Microsoft white paper on Windows Server 2008 GPMC basics

Microsoft recently released a 26 page white paper about basic concepts of Group Policy based on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. This PDF document is basically a beginners guide on Group Policy Management Console.

The document contains overview of GPMC and essential Group Policy concepts, basic group policy tasks such as creating and editing GPOs.

How to configure Active Directory Domain Service using commands line in unattended mode?

Active Directory Domain Service (AD DS) can be installed in unattended mode using the below command line. This is particularly useful when you  promote a Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation to Domain Controller. 

Windows Server: Configuring IPv4 address using command line

Command line tool ‘Netsh’ can be used to set up IP address and DNS address for the server. This option will be useful especially for Server Core version of Windows Server 2008.

Run the below command line syntax to configure IP address:

Netsh interface ipv4 set address name=”Local Area Connection” source=static address=192.168.10.5 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.10.1

Windows Server: How to rename computer using command line?

Command line tool ‘Netdom’ can be used to rename a computer in a domain. It is particularly useful for Server Core version of Windows Server 2008 as there is no GUI option with it.

Troubleshooting DFS issue from client end

The caching feature of DFS can sometimes cause DFS path access issues from client end. The below commands can be used to clear the DFS cache stored in the client machine.

Open Command prompt and run the below command from the client machine.

Windows Server 2008 R2, Forest functional levels explained

 Windows Server 2008 R2 domain has four forest functional levels. Setting up forest functional levels at the desired levels helps for backward compatibility, advances functionality etc. The functional levels can be configured during the installation of first Active Directory Domain Services in the forest. But if nothing is selected, the default functional level Windows Server 2003 will take effect. 

List of Server Role services in Windows Server 2008 R2

There are 17 Roles listed in the Server Manager of the Windows Server 2008 R2.

The following server roles are available in Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition.

• ·         Active Directory Certificate Services
• ·         Active Directory Domain Services
• ·         Active Directory Federation Services
• ·         Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services
• ·         Active Directory Rights Management Services
• ·         Application Server
• ·         DHCP Server
•           DNS Server
• ·         Fax Server
• ·         File Services
• ·         Hyper-V
• ·         Network Policy and Access Services
• ·         Print and Document Services
• ·         Remote Desktop Services
• ·         Web Server (IIS)
• ·         Windows Deployment Services
• ·         Windows Server Update Services

How to load Initial Configuration Tasks window in Windows Server 2008?

The Initial Configuration Tasks window in Windows Server 2008, by default will load at the start up of the Windows. But we can disable its loading by checking the radio button, 'Do Not Show This Window At Logon'. 

But in case if you want to load it during another time, you can open Run and type 'Oobe.exe' and load the Initial Configuration window.