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Archive for Windows – Page 13

Updating DNS Root Hints on SBS 2011

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 30 2012

By default, on an SBS 2008/2011 server, DNS is configured to use Root Hints for Internet resolution. I have previously posted about potential issues with resolving domain names on an SBS server.

If you are using Root Hints, it may be necessary to update your root hints from time to time, as my good MVP friend, Mick, recently reminded me. And it’s fairly simple to do:

First, you need to access a list of known root servers and note the IP address of one of them. I’m going to use 192.228.79.201

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From your SBS server, open up DNS –> right click on your Server –> click Properties —> then click on the Root Hints tab to see the current list of root DNS servers.

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Go ahead and click the Delete button to delete ALL the listed root hints.

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Then click on the “Copy from Server” button and enter the IP address you selected, and click OK.

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The list of Root Hints will be populated. Click OK and then restart DNS Services!

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Categories : SBS, Servers, Windows
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Add Windows Media Center to Win8 Pro for free

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 29 2012

You bought Windows 8 Pro, and now you want to watch and record live TV? image

Surprise! Windows 8 Pro does NOT come with the Windows 8 Media Center Pack.

But, for a limited time only, you can request from Microsoft a free product key that will enable Windows 8 Media Center Pack on your computer.

So, get busy and request it now!

  1. Go to this link:
    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs
  2. Fill in your email address, security code and click ‘Send my product key’.
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  3. Within 24 hours you will receive an email from Microsoft with the Media Center product key
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Categories : News, Windows
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Join.me Remote Control

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 26 2012

There are so many choices when it comes to accessing a computer remotely.

For my SBS customers, they have Remote Web Access (RWA), which was formerly called Remote Web Workplace (RWW). For my non-SBS customers that I support on a regular basis, I use the free version of LogMeIn on their workstation, and I use LogMeIn Central  and LogMeIn Ignition to connect.

I’ve tried CrossLoop with reasonable success. And TeamViewer is on my radar, as I have heard great things about it.

But today, we’re going to check out LogMeIn’s Join.me. Three EASY steps!

Step 1: From the remote computer, the user will:

  • Go to https://join.me
  • Click on Basic, then click on the orange arrow button
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  • After approving any security warnings for installing the background app, they should then see the following toolbar on their screen:
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  • They should note the nine (9) digit number

Step 2: From your support computer, you will:

  • Go to https://join.me/
  • Enter the nine (9) digit number from the remote user, and click the green arrow button
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  • At this point, you can view the user’s computer but not access it.

Step 3: From the remote user will give you control of their computer:

  • Have the user click on the orange mouse button (“Share Control”) and then click on “Viewer 1”
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  • They will then see the following window display:
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  • To end sharing, click on the orange mouse button that now has an “X” displayed on it
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Categories : SBS, Windows
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Microsoft’s Surface Video

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 16 2012

Microsoft has been talking about their upcoming Windows 8 tablet, called Surface, for some time now.

Here’s a video ad posted on YouTube.

YouTube Surface video

The retail prices for the 10.6” Surface has not yet been posted, but several sites today (CNET, for example) has said the price will be in the $499 to $699 range

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Categories : Tablet, Windows
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List of Malware Tools I use

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 16 2012

I’m sure everyone has their own personal “go to” list. I’d be interested in what others have found to be indispensable in their arsenal of malware-fighting utilities.I’m only focusing on SOHO and very small businesses or residential workstations.

For day-to-day protection, for residential sites (family and friends),  I will suggest they install, at a minimum, these three FREE utilities:

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For Small businesses (less than 10 workstations), I use the same three tools. MSE is now licensed for use in small businesses. MalwareBytes and CCleaner can be purchased for use in a business environment, and provide additional features over their free version counterpart.

For workstations that need further cleaning up, I will use one or more of the following tools:

image   image   image   image

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Categories : Malware, Tools, Windows
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Creating a Shared Email Alias in Office 365

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 11 2012

Most businesses, large or small, use alias emails, such at sales@contoso.com or support@contoso.com. If some cases, the alias is only managed by a single person (e.g. sally@contoso.com).

But what if you want to assign the alias email address to a group of users, that is, a distribution group?

The simple answer is ‘Yes, it can be done’. However, there is no wizard to do this from the Office 365 Admin portal page. So, you will be required to define the shared mailbox using PowerShell commands.

There are three basic steps required:

  1. Create a distribution group, and assign users
  2. Create a shared mailbox using PowerShell commands
  3. Have each user add the shared mailbox to their Outlook 2010/OWA app

Rather than describing each of these steps, Microsoft provides a very clear, step by step, set of instructional videos for each of these steps:

Create a public email alias in Office 365

E-mail messages

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Categories : Exchange, Office 365, SBS, Windows
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Hyper-V Replication Hangout

by KW · Comments (0)
Oct 01 2012

The replication feature of Hyper-V 2012 is getting a lot of attention recently. This Thursday Oct 4th, 2012 at 6pm EDT some of the SBS MVP’s will be discussing Hyper-V replication for small businesses:

We’re hosting a hangout to talk about Hyper-V Replication for Small Business with Boon Tee. Boon wrote a great series of blog posts which I shared in an early post on this blog. We’re hosting a hangout so you can ask Boon questions, live! We’ll talk about the technical aspects as well as how to talk to your small business clients about Hyper-V Replication.

Click here to RSVP, and please plan to join us!

P.S. It is not necessary to have a Google+ login in order to watch and listen!

Click to RSVP for this free session

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Categories : Hyper-V, SBS, Servers, Windows
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Hyper-V Replica for Small Businesses

by KW · Comments (0)
Sep 27 2012

Boon Tee, my good friend and fellow MVP’er from Australia, has posted several articles recently on his blog site addressing how to install and use Hyper-V core, and implement a Hyper-V replica environment for disaster recovery. These are well written articles with step-by-step instructions. Thanks, Boon!

 

Disaster Recovery with Hyper-V Replica for Small Business on a Budget

How to set up Hyper-V Replica for Small Businesses

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Comments (0)
Categories : Backup, Hyper-V, SBS, Servers, Windows
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Paradise Montana Style with Bing

by KW · Comments (0)
Sep 27 2012

Just a quick diversion from the I.T. issues of the day. I use the Bing Desktop on my workstation, and I am blown away by the gorgeous daily photos I get to enjoy.

Today, the background image on my desktop is an autumn scene taken from Paradise Valley in Montana.

SNAG-0118

All I can say is “Wow”, which is short for “With Out Words”!

To install the free Bing Desktop on your Windows 7 desk, go to http://www.bing.com/explore/desktop

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Categories : Windows
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SBS 2008 Update Rollup 6 Released

by KW · Comments (0)
Sep 25 2012

Are you running or supporting a Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 network?
Are you planning to introduce Windows 8 clients to your SBS 2008 network?

If you answer YES to both questions, then you will want to take a look at installing SBS 2008 Update Rollup 6 (KB 2729101) to your server.

Specifically it addresses/fixes 3 issues:

  • Allows Windows 8 workstation to be joined to an SBS 2008 domain using the client deployment tools
  • Windows Store apps now work on a Windows 8 workstation after joining it to the SBS domain
  • Allows connecting to a Windows 8 client workstation from the Remote Web Access web page

As always, it is strongly recommended that you have a good backup of your server before applying updates.

Step 1 – Approve update either through WSUS or MU

WSUS:

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Microsoft Update:

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Step 2 – Install update – this takes less than a minute to install

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Step 3 – Restart your server

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Categories : News, SBS, Windows, WSUS
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