First off, there a few commands and output that will give you a good starting point.

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Software licensing service version: 6.1.7600.16385

Name: Windows Server(R), ServerStandard edition
Description: Windows Operating System – Windows Server(R), RETAIL channel
Activation ID: 039998e3-3ef5-4adf-b758-mnbvczxlkjjhh
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-lkdaskdjaskl
Extended PID: 00477-4444-444-000000-00-1033-7600.0000-3482009
Installation ID: 006386735361234567898785803475982043689521915735258065
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88342
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88343
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88345
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88344
Partial Product Key: 2YYCD
License Status: Initial grace period
Time remaining: 43200 minute(s) (30 day(s))
Remaining Windows rearm count: 2
Trusted time: 4/27/2010 11:09:12 AM

Or its equivalent with less information slmgr /dli.

In that case, it seems that KMS client is not even set here.

First off, you may want to tell the server where to look to get Keys using the following commands.

To know which server should be register you may want to check the DNS record that

C:\Windows\system32>nslookup -type=srv _vlmcs._tcp.xxxx.net
Server:  rrrpdcad02.xxxx.net
Address:  10.9999.15

_vlmcs._tcp.xxxx.net   SRV service location:
priority       = 0
weight         = 0
port           = 8081
svr hostname   = rrrmskms01.xxxx.net
rrrpmskms01.xxxx.net   internet address = 10.99.98.97

With this information you can now register for this server.

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs /skms rrrpmskms01:1688
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Key Management Service machine name set to rrrmskms01:1688 successfully.

You will then need to enter a valid key if not already done with you unattended install. Please check the below table with MS provided keys for activation using KMS.

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs -ipk YC6KT-GKW9T-YTKYR-T4X34-R7VHC
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Installed product key YC6KT-GKW9T-YTKYR-T4X34-R7VHC successfully.

then trying the activation using the command below I would get another error.

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs /ato
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Activating Windows Server(R), ServerStandard edition (039998e3-3ef5-ddasdasdass8-d25fa0128ff4) …
On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run ‘slui.exe 0x2a 0x80072EE2′ to display the error text.
Error: 0x80072EE2

Using the mentioned command I would find that 0x80072EE2 means that the operation timed out. Very well, then I may facing some communication errors.

Indeed, as you may have noticed I made a mistake above not using the right port. I used 1688 which the default port instead.

You can also check on your KMS for a status using the slmgr /dlv command:

Key Management Service is enabled on this machine
Current count: 50
Listening on Port: 8081
DNS publishing enabled
KMS priority: Normal

Be sure to use the port that is given by the volume license DNS entry and make sure it communicates. As you may have guessed there are 2 ways a new server where a KMS is install will register. Of course after changing to the right port and can try -ato (activation) again.

1. by using the DNS to automatically locate the KMS
2. or just register it manually using the commands above

When rightfully registered the /dli or /dlv will give you something like that:

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs -dli
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Name: Windows Server(R), ServerStandard edition
Description: Windows Operating System – Windows Server(R), VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Partial Product Key: R99HC
License Status: Licensed
Volume activation expiration: 259200 minute(s) (180 day(s))

Key Management Service client information
Client Machine ID (CMID): 70e4de42-rewa-4c93-gf45-a6d372bc0a19
Registered KMS machine name: rrrpmskms01.xxxx.net:8081
KMS machine extended PID: 55041-009999-313-09999-03-1033-6002.0000-3442009
Activation interval: 120 minutes
Renewal interval: 10080 minutes
KMS host caching is enabled

Activation Keys table (taken from here)

First I could not get into that VM remotely as it appeared as offline. This said, VI showed the VM as healthy and online.

Trying to get to it using the Console from VI showed the following error:

As you can see I was afraid that some of the SAN path were down or some kind of painful problem with the SAN. No, no a quick ssh in showed that the mentioned volumes were online, accessible and all SAN paths were up.

So I do power off and restart the VM: no success. Restart the ESX (after vmotioning all VMs): no success.

Eventually I find that in the settings of the VM, there was  a reference of some floppy image pointing to a volume (not even on the same volume). I changed that option to Client Device and voila everything was back to normal.

Looking that information up on the VMware KB or community forum  doesn’t provide any solution.

Enabling HA gave the error:
“Cannot complete the configuration of HA agent on the host. See the task for details for addional information. ”

Without much details I was almost ready to blame it on ESX4i. However after checking everything I found out that my DNS servers settings were wrong.

Changing my DNS to the right IPs and HA configuration worked like a charm.

Obviously my sticky keys did not help but of course stressed out the reminder that HA relies on DNS heavily.

For this recipe, you will need:

• adrestore, a great tool from our friend Mark
• Admin rights on AD, to perform what you have to do

For your sake, AD keeps deleted record for 30 days by default. If it was an important account, there are great chances you notice it is missing before the 30 days. Past those 30 days, you will need to use the “standard authoritative” AD backup method.

Your application using the deleted account will complain and a query on AD reveals it is not there. Not a problem, just follow the 4 easy steps below:

1. Restore the missing account
adrestore.exe -r MissingAccount
Enumerating domain deleted objects:
cn: MissingAccount
DEL:eab4d5e6-493b-4a64-aae8-360e730a5938
distinguishedName: CN=MissingAccount\0ADEL:eab4d5e6-493b-4a64-aae8-360e730a5938,CN=Deleted Objects,DC=rgare,DC=net
lastKnownParent: OU=Service Accounts,OU=Users,OU=Montreal (MTL),DC=COMPANY,DC=net

Do you want to restore this object (y/n)? y

Restore succeeded.

Found 1 item matching search criteria.

2. Query to check its existence
dsquery user -name MissingAccount
“CN=MissingAccount,OU=Service Accounts,OU=Users,OU=Montreal (MTL),DC=COMPANY,DC=net”

3. Reset Password as restored account comes back empty
net user /domain MissingAccount Password

4. Activate Account
dsquery user -name MissingAccount| dsmod user -disabled no
dsmod succeeded:CN=MissingAccount,OU=Service Accounts,OU=Users,OU=Montreal (MTL),DC=COMPANY,DC=net

At this point and under 3 minutes, the deleted account is restored and ready to be used. It even kept its SID but you will have to repopulate some of its attributes such as Description and so on.

I think it is easier to understand if you look back in the past and see how those were used.

RM systems were first developed to manage paper files. They could also manage other physical records, such as microfilm and photographs. RM systems help you perform the
following tasks:
• Opening, closing and registering files, folders, dockets, and individual documents.
• Tracking the location of files.
• Charging files out to users.
• Classifying records.
• Indexing records.
• Searching for records using keywords and other search criteria.
• Managing the active and semi-active retention of the records.
• Managing the disposal of records.
• Managing access to and security of records.
Newer versions of RM systems can capture and manage finished electronic records.
They streamline many of the most time-consuming records management tasks. Using an RM system makes it easier to search for records, transfer them to the records centre, and dispose of them.

RM systems were created to make it easier to manage paper records. In contrast, DM systems were created to make it easier to use electronic records. DM systems are designed to keep track of changes to electronic records, share them, and route them to different people.
DM systems integrate with most software packages that you use to create electronic records.
Typically, when you try to send an e-mail message or save an electronic record, the DM system will prompt you to fill out a profile form. The electronic record is saved into the DM system and stored on a DM server. You must go through the DM system to retrieve the record.
DM systems have several strengths, including:
• Capturing electronic records at the point of creation.
• Full text searching of documents.
• Tracking of different versions of the same document.
• Monitoring who has viewed a document.
• Capturing document images from a scanner.
• Passing documents along a workflow. This is useful where a document must be passed
through several people for editing, response, review, or approval.
Early DM systems did not manage records. They had limited ability to classify records and they could not apply retention and disposition schedules.

To Sum Everything Up
Records Management:
• Management of the record is more important than the content of the record
• The record never changes (although its properties might)
• Records require access controls, lots of them

Document Management/Collaboration:
• Without content there is no document
• The document changes a lot, that’s the whole point of collaboration
• Access controls restrict and impede collaboration, the fewer there are the better

1. In Outlook, Select View>Folder list
2. Right-click on “Outlook Today” and select “New Folder”.
3. Call the folder whatever you chose to name it or Spam for lack of imagination. When prompted add an Outlook shortcut to the shortcut list. The shortcut will be placed on “My Shortcuts” but can be moved to the other Shortcut lists as necessary.
4. Right click the “Spam” folder, select “Properties”.
5. Select the “Home Page” tab in the Properties window.
6. In the address window type the following URL and select the checkbox labeled “Show home page by default for this folder”:
7. http://login.postini.com
8. Click “Apply” and “OK”.
9. Click on the Spam folder, login to your Message Center and if desired, select “Remember my Address and Password”
10. Close Outlook

The next time Outlook is opened and the Spam folder is selected, the Message Center should appear within Outlook.

I will probably be sharing a few basic tips for daily life using powershell on your computer.

Today is  a substitute to the old:

dir /s *filename*

So if you are looking for a file or directory in your file system try something simple like this:

dir -recurse -filter *filename* | sort name | ft directory, name

In fact, dir doesn’t even exist anymore, dir is an alias of get-childitem.

I am not sure I should debate about this feature as MSFT does that very well on technet.

Just to sum up it is in fact a very powerfull search tool.

Windows XP would not start as some system hive was corrupt.

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SYSTEM or its log or alternate

CAUSE
This issue can occur if the System or Software hive for the Windows XP installation is missing or damaged.

Microsoft does describe the issue very well and it appears quite simple to fix. You want to check this KB for more info.

The fixing process is fairly easy and requires to use the recovery console to make a copy of the current corrupted system files (or not if they are totally missing) and replace them with a backup that windows does.

We are talking about files on c:\windows\system32\config to be replaced by copies.

Everything would have been easy and neat if everything was there as said. Yes, windows is to backup those up into the repair folder. But sometimes it happens.

I was interested in that SYSTEM file, but it was not there. The remaining option would have been to reinstall windows XP offer and have quick and dirty fix.

There had to be another way. Digging into my memory I though about other ways that Windows would have made another copy of those files.  Restore Point snapshot was the answer!

Actually restore point are easily accessibly to the recovery console.

Booting from the XP CD. I started Windows Setup and press R to access the recovery console.
Just using the following command, you can get into the restore point files.

cd c:\
cd  “system volume information\_resto~1″
dir

You’ll see a list of restore point folders with names such as RP1, RP2 and so on. Pick the restore point you wish to use, using the folder date stamps to guide you. Enter the commands:

cd RPx (the restore point you chose)
cd snapshot

This takes you into the folder containing the restore point snapshot files. Then I could just copy what I needed to the target.

copy _Registry_machine_system C:\Windows\System32\Config\System

Sometimes, it is not because you don’t see or if it is not where it is supposed to be that it is not there!

1. My computer’s BIOS supports autostartup, so I have it set to come on at 7:20AM every day (I arrive at the office at 8AM).

2. I use TweakUI to autologin to the computer, use kb315231 otherwise. This gets it starting and lets all the startup programs take however long they need to get going.

3. REMAIN COMPLIANT. I have a shortcut in my startup menu with a target of: %windir%\system32\rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation, which locks the workstation. This way, if anyone tries to power up my computer when I’m not there, they can’t do anything, remember you are an admin.

4. I have a batch program in my startup menu with this command shutdown -s -t 7200 -c “If I’m not here, this computer will shut itself down.” -f, which will shut the PC down in 2 hours. That way, if I’m out sick, the PC isn’t on all day. Of course, if I’m late, I have ’till 9:20 or so to make it to my desk and abort the destruct sequence with #5…

5. I have a subfolder of Startup called Abort Shutdown, with a batch file in it with the command shutdown -a, which will (duh) abort the shutdown when I click it. The folder is open when I arrive, and the batch file is sitting there, waiting to be clicked on.

So, in the 40 minutes before I arrive, everything gets rolling. While 40 minutes might seem excessive, they are other things you may want to have your computer do while waiting for you such as backup or other sync.

This also works well in the middle of the day when a restart is required. I can fire and forget — go get a double-double or something, and I don’t have to come back just to log in and wait some more. By the time I’m back, it’s ready to rock and roll.

There’s a lot of awesome stuff here, with multimedia streaming support, Microsoft Office document editing and HTML e-mail support at the fore. I am still waiting for RIM to tune up its Web browser, though—it’s falling behind the options available on Windows Mobile, Symbian, and the iPhone.

Some of the new features are handheld-only; some require server upgrades. If you’re on BlackBerry Enterprise Server, your IT department will need to upgrade; if you’re on BlackBerry Internet Service, you’ll need to wait a few months for your carrier to upgrade.

bberry-upgrades

I have read a lot of posts and things about how to upgrade its BlackBerry and it sounded somehow dangerous and scary as some users reported some bricking… In fact, it is very very easy. I got tired reading all the bad stories and warnings on forums and decided to get the information from the source. The download section of the blackberry.com site had a comprehensive listing of the good stuff.

My upgrade followed these steps:

• Download and install the latest BlackBerry Desktop Manager. This was the first time for to use it and I found it pretty neat, never had the need for it as a BES user.
• Reboot
• Download the OS update from the very same site. It even checks your PIN so you download the right one.
• Install the OS update. Once done connect you BBerry and follow the update instructions.

I ran into a few issues while upgrading but nothing was relate to the upgrade itself. I got scared when it fails during ROM upgrade. In fact, my usb drivers for my devices were not installed properly and it would not connect to the device as the device “was not working properly” as per windows. this said, the install retry went well as I installed those drivers once and for all – it probably asked me 3 times for the very same drivers.

The only bad things about this upgrade it that it is very slow, if not very very  slow. While the ROM upgrade itself is fast (10min), the first boot up after upgrade is painfully slow and it took my Blackberry about 35 minutes to come back from the upgrading dead.

So what’s new in this new OS revision?

If you have a BlackBerry Pearl 8100 or BlackBerry 8800, you’ll get:

• Spell check
• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest
• Improved media player with play list support and automatic playlist generation
• Voice note recording
• Streaming support for YouTube and Sling Player
• Bluetooth stereo music
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo

If you have a BlackBerry Pearl 8130, you’ll get:

• Automatic play list generation in the media player
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo

If you have any BlackBerry Curve or the BlackBerry 8820 or 8830, you’ll get:

• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest
• Improved media player with play list support and automatic playlist generation
• Voice note recording
• Video recording on Curve models
• Streaming support for YouTube and Sling Player
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo

If you have a BlackBerry 8700 or 8703e, you’ll get:

• Spell check
• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest
• New pictures and ringtones applications
• Voice note recording
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo

Also there are a bunch of BES advantage that I was not able to test as I don’t have full BES authority at work but they list as below:

• Native format attachment downloading
• HTML e-mails
• Over-the-air device upgrades
• Free/busy calendar lookup
• Searching the server for old e-mail messages