Microsoft has released the new version of its web browser, Internet Explorer 9, but with everything new, there are always a few bugs. Some special or custom written websites often need time to have their code updated before they become fully compatible with new browsers.
Luckily for you, Microsoft created a tool called “Internet Explorer 9 Blocker Toolkit” to stop it from automatically updating your desktop without your permission. The toolkit has no expiration date and can be configured either by running the registry file on the client machines or through Group Policy in domain joined environments.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (SCCM) can be a vital tool in an administrator’s arsenal to manage workstations and devices. SCCM has the ability to deploy operating systems, applications, 3rd party applications and updates, Windows updates, reporting services and asset intelligence. That brief list won’t cover the full list of features found in SCCM but they will certainly aid in managing hundreds or thousands of computers in multiple sites.
Software distribution is my favorite feature of the SCCM package. It’s relatively easy to create a package in the SCCM console and deliver it to the entire group of computers or to a select group of users.
Take Office 2010, for example.
There are times when you may come across an old install of Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition that was managed through a company server, and the software on the server is no longer present or accessible. Administrators can set passwords on the client installs to prevent removal by users or anyone else. Since it is important to remove this software if you are going to install a different antivirus, you need to find a way around this uninstall password.
Many times, they are left at the default “symantec” but not always. There is another trick you can try that involves editing a registry key to remove the password set for the software:
Display Port is the latest standard in digital display interface technology. Dell originated this design in 2003 and submitted it to VESA in 2005. It was later published as the new industry standard in 2006.
The display port is designed to replace the previous analog and digital interfaces including VGA, DVI and HDMI. One of its biggest advantages is that it uses a network-like interface, making it very easy to implement into today’s chipsets.
On June 8th, 2011 (World IPv6 Day - http://isoc.org/wp/worldipv6day), a number of the Internet's largest sites will make themselves reachable via both IPv4 and IPv6. Sounds great, right?
Maybe not so much…
The problem isn't that they'll be reachable via IPv6, but rather that when DNS is queried both, an A record (IPv4) and AAAA record (IPv6) will be returned. If the computer is properly configured for IPv6 it will communicate with the web server using IPv6. If the computer is not configured at all for IPv6 it will communicate with the web server using IPv4.
Cisco has a bug in their Unity Express 8.0.1 version that will randomly lose voicemail about 10% of the time. The caller will leave a voicemail like normal, but the system will just randomly lose it. There doesn't seem to be any pattern that can be identified at this time. We have experienced this on our UC560 system, and it has been very frustrating.
You can read more about the issue and get the fix here:
Here’s a quick and easy way to “cheat the system”. Recently, we found a SQL 2005 installation on a computer that was present before the computer was made into a domain controller. Once the DC promotion process happened, it removed all local SQL groups from the machine.
When attempting to upgrade to SQL 2008, we ran into issues with the installation looking for the existing SQL Group SIDs and its inability to find them. Without these valid SIDs, SQL 2008 would not upgrade the SQL 2005 databases or environments.
In this day and age, computer virus contraction and the subsequent need for removal are very common. Those who author malicious software are always using new tactics to propagate, strengthen and increase the longevity of their programs. These tactics can cause headaches for the users who are unfortunate enough to become victims.
A frequently seen component of malicious software is one that forcibly changes the registry to run an infected file every time an application is executed or, sometimes, instead of the intended application. This is most often seen in rogue antivirus programs that pose as legitimate programs urging the user to purchase the full version of the software in order to remove a list of (actually false) threats.
Ninite is one of the quickest utilities for installing or updating software on the fly. I remember years of rebuilding PCs and having to add several programs to them. It would take me hours of clicking next and entering in each URL to get all the programs I needed. With Ninite, I can now do all of this in a fraction of the time.
Ninite is a website that allows me to choose from a large list of programs. Its content includes web browsers, messaging systems, media players, runtime programs, imaging programs, document editors, security/antivirus programs, file sharing and more.
All you have to do is go to www.ninite.com and choose the programs you wish to install. On the bottom of the page click “Get Installer” and run the program. After that, you just click “Run” for each program and Ninite will install or update each program automatically. Enjoy!
There is nothing worse than accidentally deleting a file from your computer. That sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize you deleted the wrong thing. Then there is also the terrible feeling that hits you when you discover that something you needed is missing. You didn't delete it, so one of your team must have. While there are backups, restores can sometimes be complicated and time consuming. Restoring Active Directory objects requires special care and consideration. I was faced with this daunting task a while ago, and a free piece of software came to my rescue.
