On your SBS 2011 server, do you find a lot of DCOM errors in your System Event Log? These are relatively common on SBS boxes. Microsoft’s guidance is that these can be safely ignored. However, when an error is reported, I expect it to be something that should be investigated. If it can be ignored, [...]
C# Express – Create a Dummy or Placeholder Windows Service for Monitoring
The IT ecosystem is rich with network monitoring systems (NMS). Each NMS has different capabilities, costs, and purposes in life. It is commonplace for me to come into a business that has invested in an NMS that doesn’t fit all their needs. You might ask, “What does this have to do with creating a Windows service?” [...]
Retrieving Password from Application Pool
I came across an undocumented app the other day. For a number of reasons, we needed to restore the password but it wasn’t documented anywhere. Luckily, the service account was setup in an app pool. In IIS 7.0 or 7.5, APPCMD can be used to recover the password. In 6.0, adsutil.vbs can be used. cscript.exe [...]
The Power of Scripting: Finding Morto.A
Here I go on another vbScript tutorial. You might ask why I’m not doing this in powershell yet and it is simple: I still run into 2003 and XP environments. Oh yeah, and this works. I don’t care what scripting language I’m writing in if it gets the job done; you shouldn’t either. My $0.02. [...]
IsConnectible: My vbScript Ping Method
Whenever I am doing large sweeps of the network that require connecting to a large number of workstations (e.g. file copy, wmi query, etc.), I prefer to check to see if I can even see the system. This avoids waiting for (WMI) timeouts and also aids in troubleshooting failures. If the file copy failed, why? [...]
Microsoft Releases Windows 8 Developer Preview
Microsoft has released the Windows 8 Developer Preview. This download is a full version of the pre-beta Windows 8 build and is chock full of disclaimers regarding its stability. Needless to say, I had to download it and give it a shot. The download (2.8GB to 4.8GB) can be found linked off the front page of [...]
Installing Exchange 2010 Service Pack 1 Fails At Mailbox Role: Database is mandatory on UserMailbox.
In a recent incident, an Exchange server had a complete volume failure during testing. Exchange 2010 was reinstalled but when installing Service Pack 1, it failed upgrading the Mailbox Role. Upon reviewing the log, I found the following line: Database is mandatory on UserMailbox. Property Name: Database The error doesn’t explain the problem very well [...]
Exchange 2007+: Aliases have invalid data
Twice in the past two weeks, I have come across Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007 migrations which went uncompleted. In both cases, I received the following error(s) when trying to view the properties of a recipient with spaces in its alias or when viewing the properties of the offline address book: The properties on have [...]
vbScript: Adding and Removing a Domain Group to a Local Group
Yes, I still use vbscript. Someday, I’ll get to work in an environment where everything is upgraded. Until then, I have to rely on the tried and true vbscript. One of the most common uses of a Group Policy startup script is for adding users to the local admin group. Just google it and you [...]
New Fee Is Your Chance To Break Verizon Contract Without Paying Early Termination Fee
The Consumerist ran a helpful article on how to use the most recent TOS and fee change at Verizon to get out of your contract. For those looking to switch to a prepaid plan like the one offered by Virgin Mobile, this is a great opportunity to save some money without the worry of getting [...]
