Dual Monitor RDP 6.0

In the command prompt type:

mstsc /span

This will open up the rdp connection wizard, and connect as normal, but now rdp will spread over your 2 screens!

The catch:

1) Both monitors need to be running exactly the same resolution
2) Both monitors need to be set up level

Edit NTUSER.DAT file

Open regedit

Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

File > Open Hive

And select the .dat file

Type a suitable name and edit away!

ITIL v3 Foundation - Passed!

VZVolumeMount Parallels Virtuozzo Error

I was encountering an error:

C:/vzctl start Starting VPS ...


Virtuozzo API function call 'VZVolumeMount' failed err = 183Virtuozzo API function call 'dq_mount' failed

Cannot set disk quota for VPS This happened to be the service container bringing the entire node down... This error occurs whern vzagent cannot calculate the size of the .edf file and/or the quota for the container.
 
To fix this, manually set the quoaa on the container in question:
 
vzquota setlimit [ct id] -B -–drive C:
 
This sets the ct quota manually, and with:
 
vzctl start --skiplock
 
Should start the container sucessfully.

Rebuild Parallels Virtuozzo Service Container

If you're service containers currupts or has pretty much any issues - inc no connection to PIM or PMC the easiest way is to rebuild the service container:

Firstly, check that services.cpl is closed

CMD 

net stop ipnat
net stop sharedaccess
net stop policy agent


vzsveinstall -s [ip address of service container] -w -f

Within the concole it will provide a step by step menu of commands

GPO's

Looking at domain wide GPOs today.

The picture below can describe exactly what i've done:

Find Open Ports on XP/7/03/08

netstat -a  | Displays all connections and listening ports

netstat -e | Displays all ethernet stats

In ITIL v3 training

GPupdate Tags

A few useful Tags....

[/Force]
Causes all policy settings to be reapplied, not just the changed settings.

[/Wait:nnn]
If you omit this switch, the maximum wait time to complete the processing, and proceed to the next command, is 600 seconds. A nnn of 0 eliminates any wait, while an nnn of -1 will wait until policy processing is finished. If the wait time is exceeded, the next command is processed, but policy processing continues in the background.

[/Logoff]
This switch will log you off when policy processing finishes. It should be used if you apply a policy that is only applied during logon, like Folder Redirection. If no such policy was applied, the switch is ignored.

[/Boot]
This switch will restart the computer, if you apply a policy that can only be applied during startup, like computer-targeted Software Installation. If no such policy was applied, the switch is ignored.

Server 2008 sp2 Hanging on "Preparing your Desktop"

This is casuing me some serious chimp ball ache...

For some reason, when running in terminal services, Server 08 sp2 enterprise "lags" on "Preparing your deskop" when logging in:

So much so, the mouse even stop working! Then, after about 30 seconds, it "unfreezes" and displays the desktop as usual...  weird.

This happens with all levels of users, from admins to standard users.. but only within teminal services.

To be continued...I hope!

Free Exchange Monitor

Monitor your exhange server from your workstation.. for free!

• Monitors essential services
  
• Mail queues
  
• CPU Usage
  
• Hard drive space

Download Here (freeware)

The simple (and geeky) way to create local accounts & Groups

Create Local User

Open CMD

net user (username) (password) /add

Enter

To create Local Group

Open CMD

net local group (groupname) /add

Enter

Its as simple at that!

TIP: gpresult command

Quick tip:

From the command console, run:

gpresult

This willl show you:

• All of the policies appied to the computer
• Groups the computer is in
• Groups the current user is in
• The last time gp was updated

Give it a go!

XP power managment - Save ££££ (or $$$$$)

Vista (booo) and 7 have built in gpos for centralised power managment, yet XP doesn't.

Save technicans time and the power bill by using Energy Stars free GPOs for Windows XP.

Get them here and start saving today/tonight!

Taking control over processes

I've often wanted to know what is taking up a load of memory or CPU on a slooow pc.. and have found the windows process manager a limited.. for example.. what is svhost.exe actually executing?!

But fear not...

Process Explorer v12 is here. 

Firstly, it is 110% freeware.

Secondly, you canexpand processes in a "tree" like fashion to see whats actually going on with the PC in question.

Thirdly, check it out, for free, here (1.66mb)

Joining a client to the domain.. without being connected to it?!

A new feature for Server 2008 R2 DCs & Windows 7 clients is Offline Domain Join.

The computer object is created on the DC, stored in meta data, and then sent to the client. Then the client computer can join the domain witht he meta data, even if no active connection to the DC.

To get you started, used the command Djoin.exe /? on the DC.

I have yet to think of a real life situation of when this would be useful... but anyway.. im sure it will come in useful for someone!

.

IE 9 (boo) beta available to download

The IE 9 beta is available to download here:

http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/

One important point to note... i'ts not compatible with Windows XP - Only Vista ,7 and WS2008

HP Prolient DL380 G6 - Randomly rebooting?!

Check out this beauty: (For specs click here)

I've been really impressed with this HP.. until it occasionally started to "randomly" reboot!

After much reasearch a fix from HP is aviaible here:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c019555034

It looks like an issue with Programmable Logic Device was to blamem and only affecting those shipped before 01/09/2010. 

It requires a cold reboot but apart from that it has fixed the issue.