Re-arm trial Server 2008+

While doing labs, applying snapshots and whatnot the licensekey sometimes disappears or you just dont wanna waste an activation on a testmachine.

To re-arm a Server triallicense

Elevated Cmd-prompt

Check current licenselevel

/>slmgr.vbs –dli

Extend the evalution period with another 60 days

/>slmgr.vbs –rearm

Server can be rearmed up to 3 times giving you a total of 240 days.

References:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472

http://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspx

Can’t logoff user

Environment: Server 2008 Remote Desktop Services

Issue: User reports that they can’t login their account on Remote Desktop Services. They’re greated by Loading Notification Message which spins on forever.

Symptom: Disconnect removes user from session. But when logoff is tried nothing happens. Manually killing the only two processes associated with account doesn’t help (taskmgr, rdclip).

Solution:

1. Check the session ID from Terminal Services Manager for the troubleaccount.
2. Run Sysinternals Process Explorer (from http://live.sysinternals.com/procexp.exe)
3. Add the Session ID to columns
4. Kill the winlogon.exe that have the same Session ID as the troubled account.

Solved.

References:

https://forums.citrix.com/thread.jspa?threadID=258251&tstart=105&start=15

Lockscreen shortcut

When bouncing about on different desktops, virtual and otherwise physical its easy to leave a computer unlocked sometimes. This isn’t so good, but shortcuts tends to flip out when accessing remote systems. A good security practice is to create a desktop shortcut that can lock the computer very easily.

So,

1. Create a shortcut

2. Enter: rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

3. Save and change icon to a padlock or something more logical. This among other icons can be found in Shell32.dll under system32

References:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13278-lock-computer-create-shortcut.html

http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_change_the_icon_of_a_desktop_shortcut.html

Error when creating user

Problem: Get error when trying to create a new user in Server 2008 AD.

Keywords: Active Directory Domain Services Windows cannot set the password for the admin because: Error 0x800708c5

kind of cryptic isn’t it?

Solution: Password wasn’t complex enough. Added a big letter and it worked fine. Still not the best errormessage.

IE9 + Outlook 2003 = preview.js

Problem started when installing IE9 on a Remote Desktop Server running Server 2008 with Outlook 2003 installed. 2003 you say? Yes it’s a customer licens and they don’t want to upgrade.

Symptoms: Script error displayed when trying to print an email

Solution 1:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Printing
Create a DWORD and name it "Force RTF Printing" (without the ") and give it the value 1 (hex).

This has to be done for all users, which isn’t optimal.

Solution 2:

Create Fonts catalog in %homedrive%\%homepath%\ In this case h:\Windows\Fonts

This solution seemed easier to automate so went with this.

Rolled out via GPO Preference for this particular RDServer.

Don’t forget checkbox for “Run in logged-on users sec….”.

References:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/mrsnrub/archive/2011/11/03/script-error-res-ieframe-dll-preview-js-trying-to-print-from-outlook-2003-in-a-rs-rds-session-with-ie9-installed.aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2647169

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/2003/print-errors-in-outlook-2003-with-ie9-installed/