RSAT: the server AdminPak for Windows Server 2008 /2003

RSAT: the server AdminPak for Windows Server 2008 /2003

An AdminPak (a.k.a AdminPack, Admin Pack) for Windows Server 2008 has been released. Windows Server 200x administrators are familiar with the "Administration Tools" or adminpak.msi that they used to install on their management workstations for connecting remotely via MMC to servers instead of having to login them via RDP.

Windows Server 2008 did not have the adminpak built in to the RTM media. These are called the "Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT)" and were released separately on March 24. The RSAT are available as a free download at Download Center.

RSAT contains the following tools:

Role Administration Tools:

• Active Directory Certificate Services Tools
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools
• DHCP Server Tools
• DNS Server Tools
• File Services Tools
• Network Policy and Access Services Tools
• Terminal Services Tools
• Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools

Feature Administration Tools:

• BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools
• Failover Clustering Tools
• Group Policy Management Tools
• Network Load Balancing Tools
• SMTP Server Tools
• Storage Manager for SANs Tools
• Windows System Resource Manager Tools

The following tools are fully supported for managing computers running Windows Server 2003:

• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools
• Active Directory Certification Authority Tools
• DHCP Server Tools
• DNS Server Tools
• Terminal Services Tools
• Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools
• Group Policy Management Tools
• Network Load Balancing Tools

An immediate thought: Managing computers running Windows Server 2008 Server Core is now easier. Once the server has been set up and configured to allow remote MMC connections, all you need to do is install RSAT on your workstation and connect to your Server Core machine using the RSAT tools. Your non-GUI Windows Server now has a remote GUI

The 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0' provider is not registered on the local machine /windows Vista

I recieved the following error The 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0' provider is not registered on the local machine on my Vista 64 bit machine today. I made no code changes since I run it on a 32 bit OS.

Aparantly there is not a 64bit Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0' provider and you have to force your build to 32 bit.

In the settings for the project under the Build Tab you must set Platform target to x86 instead of Any CPU

c# - An example of setting NTFS Directory / File ACLS /Folder Permissions inheritance/

Below is a simple c# console application that shows how you can set the NTFS ACLs for a directory.

You are probably aware of the DirectoryInfo object which you can use to get details on a folder, but there is also the ability to get and set the NTFS file ACLs (Access Control List Entries)

No special reference need to be made in order to use the code.

using System.IO;
using System.Security.AccessControl;

namespace DirectoryPermissions
{
  internal class Program
  {
      private static void Main(string[] args)
      {
          string ADDomain = "Domain";
          string ADUser = "Chris";
          string Path = @"c:\temp\chris";

          if (Directory.Exists(Path) == false)
              Directory.CreateDirectory(Path);

          // Remove any inheritable permissions from the path
          RemoveInheritablePermissons(Path);

          // Add the access control entries for the path
          AddDirectorySecurity(Path, ADDomain + "\\" + ADUser, FileSystemRights.Modify,
                               InheritanceFlags.ContainerInherit | InheritanceFlags.ObjectInherit,
                               PropagationFlags.None, AccessControlType.Allow);
          AddDirectorySecurity(Path, ADDomain + "\\Domain Users", FileSystemRights.Delete, InheritanceFlags.None,
                               PropagationFlags.None, AccessControlType.Deny);
          AddDirectorySecurity(Path, ADDomain + "\\Domain Admins", FileSystemRights.FullControl,
                               InheritanceFlags.ContainerInherit | InheritanceFlags.ObjectInherit,
                               PropagationFlags.None, AccessControlType.Allow);
      }


      // Adds an ACL entry on the specified directory for the specified account.
      public static void AddDirectorySecurity(string FileName, string Account, FileSystemRights Rights,
                                              InheritanceFlags Inheritance, PropagationFlags Propogation,
                                              AccessControlType ControlType)
      {
          // Create a new DirectoryInfo object.
          DirectoryInfo dInfo = new DirectoryInfo(FileName);
          // Get a DirectorySecurity object that represents the 
          // current security settings.
          DirectorySecurity dSecurity = dInfo.GetAccessControl();
          // Add the FileSystemAccessRule to the security settings. 
          dSecurity.AddAccessRule(new FileSystemAccessRule(Account,
                                                           Rights,
                                                           Inheritance,
                                                           Propogation,
                                                           ControlType));
          // Set the new access settings.
          dInfo.SetAccessControl(dSecurity);
      }

      // Removes an ACL entry on the specified directory for the specified account.
      public static void RemoveDirectorySecurity(string FileName, string Account, FileSystemRights Rights,
                                                 AccessControlType ControlType)
      {
          // Create a new DirectoryInfo object.
          DirectoryInfo dInfo = new DirectoryInfo(FileName);
          // Get a DirectorySecurity object that represents the 
          // current security settings.
          DirectorySecurity dSecurity = dInfo.GetAccessControl();
          // Add the FileSystemAccessRule to the security settings. 
          dSecurity.RemoveAccessRule(new FileSystemAccessRule(Account,
                                                              Rights,
                                                              ControlType));
          // Set the new access settings.
          dInfo.SetAccessControl(dSecurity);
      }

      // Removes an ACL entry on the specified directory for the specified account.
      public static void RemoveInheritablePermissons(string FileName)
      {
          // Create a new DirectoryInfo object.
          DirectoryInfo dInfo = new DirectoryInfo(FileName);
          // Get a DirectorySecurity object that represents the 
          // current security settings.
          DirectorySecurity dSecurity = dInfo.GetAccessControl();
          // Add the FileSystemAccessRule to the security settings.
          const bool IsProtected = true;
          const bool PreserveInheritance = false;
          dSecurity.SetAccessRuleProtection(IsProtected, PreserveInheritance);
          // Set the new access settings.
          dInfo.SetAccessControl(dSecurity);
      }
  }
}

Win Vista : Connect to a secure network:

Choose Connect Tto from the Start menu. This starts the Connect to
a Network Wizard.
Click the network you want.
Click Connect.
Type the security key or the passphrase that was assigned
to you, or insert the USB
portable device that contains
the network settings.
Click Connect.
Specify whether you want to save the network connection or whether you want it to start automatically whenever you start Windows.
Click Close, and use the network.

Win Vista : Change Windows Defender settings:

Online protection.
Windows Defender.

Windows Defender helps automatically safeguard your computer against pop-
ups, slow performance, and security
threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software.
Change Windows Defender settings:
Click the Start button, type defend in the Search box, and click Windows Defender.
Click Ttools in the Windows Defender window.
Select Automatically scan
my computer to use
Windows Defender.
Make any adjustments to the schedule.
Check boxes for Check for updated definitions before scanning and Apply default actions to items detected during a scan.
Select any other options you want, and click Save.

Win XP : Windows Complete PC Backup and Rrestore.

Protecting your computer.
Windows Complete PC Backup
and Rrestore.
Few things can hurt a business more than systems crashing and losing valuable business and customer data. With Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore, you not only can back up your personal documents and files, but also you can back up all of your operating system files and programs—everything on your hard disk drive. In the event of a catastrophic hardware failure, you can use Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore to get your entire computer back to normal in one easy step.

Back up your computer:
Select Complete PC Backup and Rrestore from the Maintenance
file under All Programs on the Start menu.
Click Back up computer.
Select a back-up device (DVDs, external hard disk, etc.).
Click Next, and follow the prompts.

Restore your computer:
Boot from the Windows Vista Ultimate DVD.
Select your language.
Select the Rrepair your computer option.
When you get to the Windows Recovery Environment screen, you will select the Complete PC and Rrestore option and follow the prompts to restore your system.

Theories of tidal action

Although the Sun is larger than the Moon, the Moon is closer to
Earth and, therefore, has a greater influence on Earth’s ocean tides. The
Moon’s gravity pulls on the ocean water on the near side of Earth. This
force causes the water, since it is able to flow, to form a slight bulge outward,
making the water in that area slightly deeper.
At the same time, on the opposing side of Earth, a second tidal bulge
occurs that is the same size as the first. This second bulge forms because
the force of the Moon’s gravity pulls the solid body of Earth away from
the water on Earth’s far side. The result is that two lunar tidal bulges exist
on Earth at all times—one on the side of Earth facing the Moon and
another directly opposite to it. These bulges account for the phenomenon
known as high tide.

The formation of these two high tide bulges causes a belt of low
water to form at 90-degree angles to the high tide bulges. This belt, which
completely encircles Earth, produces the phenomenon known as low tide.
In addition to the lunar bulges, the Sun forms its own tidal bulges.
However, due to the Sun’s much greater distance from Earth, its tidal effect
is approximately one-half that of the Moon.
Every 14 days, the Moon and Sun are in line with each other (new
moon and full moon). Their gravitational forces combine to produce a
maximum pull on Earth. The tides produced in such cases are known as
spring tides. The spring high tide produces the highest high tide and the
spring low tide produces the lowest low tide.

Vista: Creating an Ad Hoc Wireless Network

If you don’t have a wireless access point,
Vista enables you to set up a temporary
network between two or more computers.
This is an ad hoc connection, and it’s useful
if you need to share folders, devices, or an
Internet connection temporarily. Note that
the computers must be within 30 feet of
each other for this type of connection to
work.
Here are the steps to follow to create an ad hoc wireless network:
1. Open the Manage Wireless Networks window, as described earlier.
2. Click Add. Vista displays the How Do You Want to Add a Network? dialog
box.
3. Click Create an Ad Hoc Network. Vista displays the Set Up a Wireless
Ad Hoc Network dialog box.
4. Click Next.
5. Provide the following data to set up the network (see Figure 7.3):
Network Name. The name of the ad hoc network.
Security Type. The security protocol used by the ad hoc wireless network.
Select No Authentication (Open) if you want the network to be
unsecured.
Security Key/Passphrase. Type the key or password required for
authorized access to the ad hoc network.
Save This Network. Activate this check box to save the network in the
Manage Wireless Networks list.
6. Click Next. Vista sets up the ad hoc network.
7. If you want to share your computer’s Internet connection, click Turn on
Internet Connection Sharing.
8. Click Close. Windows Vista adds the ad hoc network to your list of networks
in the Manage Wireless Networks window

Now, other people within 30 feet of your computer will see your ad hoc network
in their list of available wireless networks, as shown in Figure 7.5. Note
that the network remains available as long as at least one computer is connected
to it, including the computer that created the network. The network is
discarded when all computers (including the machine that created the network)
have disconnected from it.

Windows Vista : Connecting to your network.

For smaller home and business networks, use the Network and Sharing
Center to visually check the connection status of computers and devices and
to troubleshoot connection problems from a single interface, without additional
IT support.
Network and Sharing Center•
Connect to a network computer:
1 1
1.
Choose Network from the Start menu to display the Network window.
2.
Double-click the computer that contains the iles or folders you want
to access.
3.
If the Connect to dialog box appears, enter your user name
and password.
4.
Double-click a folder to access its contents.
Explore your network:
1.
Choose Network from the Start menu to display the Network window,
and click Network and Sharing Center.
2.
If Network Discovery is not shown as On, click the down arrow to display
the options, choose turn On Network Discovery, and click Apply.
3.
Click View Full Map.
4.
Examine the computers that are on your network.

Windows Vista : Optimizing performance.

Shadow Copy helps you easily recover previous versions of iles and documents
that have been accidentally changed.
restore a previous version of a ile:
Shadow Copy•
1.
Right-click the ile you want to restore.
2.
Select Restore Previous Versions.
3.
Find the previous version based on the date.

Preview the ile to determine which one you want to restore.
4.
Restore the ile by dragging the ile to a folder, or select it and click
5.
Restore to restore it to its original version.

Windows Vista : Back up your computer and Restoring

Back up your computer:
Select Complete PC Backup and restore from the Maintenance 1.
ile under All Programs on the Start menu.
Click Back up computer.2.
Select a back-up device (DVDs, external hard disk, etc.).3.
Click Next, and follow the prompts.4.
restore your computer:
Boot from the Windows Vista Ultimate DVD. 1.
Select your language. 2.
Select the repair your computer option. 3.
User Accounts•
When you get to the Windows Recovery Environment screen, you will 4.
select the Complete PC and restore option and follow the prompts to
restore your system.

Windows Vista : Setup Parental Controls.

Parental Controls.
With Parental Controls, you can manage the rules for your children’s computer use. You can set time limits for use and also manage their access to the Web and to computer games.

Set up Parental Controls:
Choose Control Panel from the Start menu, and in the
User Accounts and Family Safety section, click Set Up
Parental Controls.
Click the account you want to apply the controls, or if the user does not have one, click Create a New User Account.
In the User Controls Window, select the On, Enforce Current Settings option.
Specify whether you want Windows Vista to keep a record of computer activity.
Click Windows Vista Web Filter to display the Web
Restrictions window

Windows Vista : Configuring Windows Firewall.

Windows Firewall.
Provide the critical first line of defense. A smarter, more easily configured, and automatically running Windows Firewall helps protect you against many types of malicious software.
Configure the Firewall:
Choose Control Panel from the Start menu, and click Security Center. Under Windows Firewall, click Tturn Windows Firewall On or Off to display the dialog box.
On the General tab, verify that the Firewall option is set to On.
On the Exceptions tab, select the programs you want to grant full access to your network and/or the Internet through the firewall, and clear the check boxes for any programs that you want to prevent access to through
the firewall.
If the check box for displaying a notice when a program is blocked or is not selected, select it.
Click OK.

Windows Vista : Communicating with e-mail.

Communicating with e-mail.
Windows Vista Ultimate gives you many options for sending and receiving e-mail. Using Windows Mail you are able to open, compose, and send e-mails.

Here is how to create, save, receive, and forward messages. Windows Vista Ultimate also makes it easy for you to send files via e-mail—Microsoft Office Word documents, Excel® spreadsheets, PowerPoint® presentations, photos, or other files.
Create a message:
Choose Windows Mail from the Start menu. Click Create Mail.
Type the recipient’s e-mail address. To add more names, use a semicolon (;) between your recipients’ e-mail addresses.
In the Cc… field, type the e-mail addresses of recipients who are to receive a copy of the message.
Type the subject of the message in the Subject line.
Type your message.
Do either of the following:
Click Send.
Choose Send Llater from the File menu to leave the message in the Outbox until you are ready to send it.
Choose Save from the File menu, if you want to save a draft. If a message box appears, click OK.
7. When you have composed all the messages you want to send, Click Send/Receive to send the message in the outbox to your mail server.

Windows Vista : Organizing contacts.

Organizing contacts.
It is important to keep your business and personal contacts close by, and Windows Vista Ultimate helps you do just that. You are also able to create group contacts to assist with communicating with groups or teams.
Create a new contact:
In Windows Mail, click the Contacts button to display the
Contacts folder.
Click New Contact to display the Properties dialog box.
On the various tabs of the Properties dialog box, enter the information you want to record. You can even include an identifying picture. However you will need a unique name and e-mail address if you intend to send e-mail to that contact.
Click OK.
Create a group:
In Windows Mail, click the Contacts button to display the
Contacts folder.
In the Contacts folder, click New Contact Group to display the
dialog box.
On the Contact Group tab, type a descriptive name for the group.
Click Add to Contact Group.
Select the names of the people or add e-mail addresses for people you want to include in the group.
Click Add.
Add any further information to the Contact Group Details tab.
Click OK.

Windows XP Tips And Tricks, Winsock 2 repair

Windows XP Tips And Tricks, Winsock 2 repair

Posted: 07 Jul 2009 07:19 AM PDT

Winxp Tips And Tricks, Winsock 2 repair

WinXP Tips & Trix - Winsock 2 Repair

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repairing Damaged Winsock2

The symptoms when Winsock2 is damaged show when you try to release and renew the IP address using IPCONFIG...

And you get the following error message:

An error occurred while renewing interface 'Internet': An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket.

Also Internet Explorer may give the following error message:
The page cannot be displayed Additionally, you may have no IP address or no Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, and you may be receiving IP packets but not sending them.

There are two easy ways to determine if Winsock2 is damaged:

From the XP source files, go to the Support / Tools directory

Winsock Test Method 1
Run netdiag /test:winsock

The end should say Winsock test ..... passed

Winsock Test Method 2

Run Msinfo32
Click on the + by Components
Click on the by Network
Click on Protocol
There should be 10 sections if the Winsock2 key is ok
MSAFD Tcpip [TCP/IP]
MSAFD Tcpip [UDP/IP]
RSVP UDP Service Provider
RSVP TCP Service Provider
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...

If the names are anything different from those in this list, then likely Winsock2 is corrupted and needs to be repaired.
If you have any 3rd party software installed, the name MSAFD may be changed.
There should be no fewer than 10 sections.

To repair Winsock2

Run Regedit
Delete the following two registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2

Restart the computer
Go to Network Connections
Right click and select Properties
Click on the Install button
Select Protocol
Click on the Add button
Click on the Have Disk button
Browse to the \Windows\inf directory
Click on the Open button
Click on the OK button
Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Click on the OK button
Reboot

Windows XP System Response, restart whitout actual restart

Have you ever been using your computer and your system sudddenly stops responding in ways like it if you try to open something it just hangs? One time I tried deleting a folder and it said it was in use, but it really wasn't. If this ever happens to you, you can follow these simple steps to 'restart' your computer without 'restarting' it.

Press CRTL + ALT + DEL

Goto the 'processes' tab and click explorer.exe once and then click 'end process'.

Now, click File > New Task and type explorer.exe

Everything should be fine now! If the problem is major, I would recomend actually shutting down then starting up again.