Microsoft Windows
Contents
See also: MicrosoftFrontPage, WindowsSoftware, CommandLine
Documentation
- Real Men Don't Click
- Once upon a time, in spring 2000 to be exact, a merry band of system managers from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology set out on a mission, to apply their well tempered Unix knowledge to Windows 2000. Against all odds, they came back, mission accomplished (sort of) and were still able to tell their story.
Tips and Tricks
Changing Your NTP Server
This works even if you are getting your NTP server from a domain.
C:\>net time /querysntp The current SNTP value is: time.corp.com C:\>net time /setsntp:ronin.spack.org The command completed successfully. C:\>net time /querysntp The current SNTP value is: ronin.spack.org C:\>net stop w32time The Windows Time service is stopping. The Windows Time service was stopped successfully. C:\>net start w32time The Windows Time service is starting. The Windows Time service was started successfully. C:\>net time /querysntp The current SNTP value is: ronin.spack.org
Deleting Stalled Print Jobs in XP
- Open up a command shell by going to "Start - Run" and running the command "cmd"
- Enter the following:
C:\> net stop spooler
- Hit enter
Delete all files in the folder C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers
- Once the spool files are deleted, click Start, and then click Run again:
C:\> net start spooler
- Hit enter.
Via: BrettShand
Source: http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/gizmos/2006/09/tip_plugged_up_.html
Remove Google Updater Service
Google installs their updater service with Picasa, Google pack and now with their new browser Chrome. Using the Google Update uninstaller leaves the service still installed and running, so if you don't like Google running that service on your PC you can remove it by opening a command line - [open][run][command] - and then typing:
C:\> sc delete gusvc
This may not work if you have the service disabled, so return its status to 'automatic' or 'manual' before you try.
Via: BrettShand
Mapping Drives
While strugging with CVS and CvsNt in particular one of the issues we came across was that drives aren't mapped until a user actually logs in to the NT server. We tried a bunch of things to make it work and while all of them failed they are useful tricks none-the-less.
- set Z: = \\netap\cvs
- Set an environment variable and make point to a share's path (totally failed).
- subst Z: \\netapp\cvs /persistent:yes
- Use the subst command to map a drive (works but not until a user logs in)
Querying Active Directory with ldapsearch
- ldapsearch -x -W -LLL -h adserver -D "CN=Administrator,CN=Users,DC=spack,DC=org" -b "DC=spack,DC=org"
- Does a simple bind to the server "adserver" as the user "CN=Administrator" and starting the search at "DC=spack,DC=org".
WINDOWS XP UPDATE ERROR: "Some updates could not be installed"
First show hidden your files, folders, and system files:
Windows XP and Windows 2003
To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:
- Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
- Double-click on the My Computer icon.
- Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
- After the new window appears select the View tab.
- Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Display the contents of system folders.
- Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
- Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
- Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
- Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
- Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.
Then do this - Start > Run > type in
net stop wuauserv
Click OK or press Enter
Back to Start > Run > type in
%windir%\softwaredistribution
Click OK or press Enter
Delete ALL of the subfolders of SoftwareDistribution Close the window
Download and SAVE the latest version of the Windows Update Agent
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
and KB927891
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-404327772E5A
In the dialogue box choose SAVE them, NOT run them from their present location.
When the downloads complete, close the browser and any other open programs.
Install WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe first.
If a message appears that the Update Agent is already installed, browse to the location of WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe from Start > Run > Browse, click Open and then add this command after " in the Open line
/wuforce
So for example, if the file was located in the root drive C:\ the command will look like this - include the quote marks:
"C:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe" /wuforce
Press Enter and it will install.
Then install WindowsXP-KB927891-v3-x86-ENU.exe and restart the system.
When the system is up go back to Start > Run > type in:
wuauclt /detectnow
Click OK or press Enter
That *should* get the updating process started again. It worked for me anyway!
IF Windows Installer still fails to install, go back to Start > Run > type in
%windir%\KB893803v2.log
Click OK and post the above log to someone who knows Windows better than me!
Via: BrettShand
Source: http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=793589
Missing accounts OR resetting NT passwords
If you are having problems resetting a password or have a missing account - ie an account that should be there but isn't showing at the login panel.
Login on any account, go:
<run><control userpasswords2>
and reset passwords form there in the usual way. You will need to shutdown and reboot to have the account reappear.