Archive for Uncategorized

SBS 2008 Backups fail with unknown error.

// May 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I can’t stand stupid issues and an unknown VSS error to me is stupid. So when my backups were failing constantly I needed to figure it out. I narrowed the issue down to the SQL VSS Writer but even registering all the DLLs again didn’t fix the problem. I finally figured it out. I had moved my SharePoint Services databases to a different directory and the Network Service didn’t have rights to the directory. I added full control for the Network Service and now backups are flying through with no problem. I really wish an unknown error would be defined!

Not sure you have Hardware Virtualization Acceleration on your Processor? Microsoft has an App for that!

// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, Virtualization

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0EE2A17F-8538-4619-8D1C-05D27E11ADB2&displaylang=en

Microsoft Patches Windows 7 and 2008 R2 for a Memory Leak

// February 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

If you are using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and experience STOP: 0×0000000A error then here’s a lovely fix for the memory leak from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979444/

A great article on choosing a MSP

// February 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article.asp?item_id=88

Status update!

// January 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I have been so busy with my job and trying to get a business model going that I’ve pretty much abandoned this “project.”  I am fooling with cheap and simple ways to revamp my business web site to give it some flare and I’m struggling between Joomla or using Wordpress.  If anyone has suggestions please just leave a comment!

How to Remotely Administrate Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 in a Workgroup

// September 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

One of the most annoying things with Microsoft is their model of authenticating outside of a domain.  I found out the hard way when configuring Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 and trying to use the remote administration tools.  I kept getting an error that I couldn’t connect to the Hyper-V Service.  Here are the proper steps to get it working.

  1. Make sure to have a user account that is an administrator on the Hyper-V machine with th same user name that you are logged in with.  If you are logged in locally as administrator (bad, bad, bad) on your desktop or laptop then make sure that the password matches on the Hyper-V server.  This works even if you’re in a domain and the Hyper-V server is not.
  2. Install the Remote Administration Tools for Windows 7 or Vista.  You can get the Windows 7 ones here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=48359dd2-1c3d-4506-ae0a-232d0314ccf6&displaylang=en or Vista ones here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9FF6E897-23CE-4A36-B7FC-D52065DE9960&displaylang=en .
  3. Once you install them you have to actually enable the remote administration tools so go to Control Panel and choose Programs and Turn Windows Features On or Off.  Now scroll down and expand Remote Server Administration Tools and add the ones you want to enable by checking the boxes.  The Hyper-V tools are located in the Role Adminstation Tools.
  4. Click Ok and let Windows Configure the installation of the tools.
  5. Now on the local Vista or Windows 7 machine click on Start and in the search type dcomcnfg and hit enter
  6. Expand Component Services until you see My Computer
  7. Now right-click on My Computer and go to properties
  8. Click on COM Security
  9. Under Access Permissions click on Edit Limits
  10. Click on ANONYMOUS LOGON and check the box for Remote Access and hit OK (this actually allows you to connect to the Hyper-V service on the remote server.  This is the part that irritated me the most).
  11. Click OK  twice and close Component Services
  12. Now go to Start – Administrative Tools and launch Hyper-V Manager (or create a custom MMC, whatever makes you happy)
  13. If prompted by the UAC click Yes.
  14. In the left pane right-click on Hyper-V Manager and choose Connect to Server.
  15. Type the name of the server you created and hit OK. 
  16. You should now be able to successfully manage the server remotely.  You can also use Computer Management and other MMC plugins for remote administration.  Provided that you configured the firewall on the Hyper-V server to allow this administration.

Macrim Relfect = Ultra Cheap Image Backups

// September 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

You’re not going to get universal restore capabilities but for $40 for a paid version this is hard to beat.  Top it off with the free version that would work for home users it’s a good alternative to ones like DriveImage XML.

 http://www.macrium.com/default.asp

How to move Documents and Settings to another partition or drive.

// August 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Some people have wondered how to do it so here we go:

  1. Create a new temporary Administrative account, reboot your PC and log-in under the new profile. Include this account in the changes below unless stated otherwise.
  2. Open Regedit and modify the following key to point to your new profile location (e.g. D:\):
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\ProfilesDirectory
  3. Expand ProfileList and modify the following key in each profile (except S-1-5-18), replacing C:\Documents and Settings with the new profile location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\<profile>\ProfileImagePath
  4. Navigate to the key below and modify all string values so as C:\Documents and Settings points to the new profile location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\*
  5. Close Regedit, open Explorer (be sure you can view hidden files, including system) and copy all profiles (except LocalService(XP), NetworkService(XP) and the temporary profile you are using) from C:\Documents and Settings to the new profile location.
  6. Reboot your PC; log-in as Administrator and remove the temporary profile; and then delete C:\Documents and Settings.

Godaddy SSL Deal or Steal for only $13 a year

// July 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Just go to Godaddy.com and click SSL Certificates at the top.  If you buy one of the standard SSL certificates use the following promo code: promossl

I just bought a two year SSL certificate for $25.98 total.  I’ve also heard that if you use the code and renew an existing SSL certificate you can get it for $2.19 for one year, but I have not tested this.

Internet Explorer 8 doesn’t detect Citrix XenApp Client but still works

// July 20th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I find it incredibly annoying it forces someone to choose end detection and then the client works fine.  The fix is extremely easy though.  To fix it just add the URL of the Web Interface to either Intranet Sites or Trusted Sites if you’re internal or just add it to your Trusted Sites if you’re external to the company.  This forces protected mode off in Windows 7 and Vista and then the client works fine.

How to add a trusted site:

  1. Click Tools
  2. Select Internet Options
  3. Click on the Security tab
  4. Click Trusted Sites
  5. Click on the Sites button to the bottom right
  6. Click Add
  7. Click Close and then OK
  8. Now enjoy your lovely freedom of no prompts.

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