Here's what looks like a great tool for all SQL Managers/Develppers and it is FREE.
Get it at sqlmanager.net
Today at the Microsoft Management Summit, Bob Muglia announced the new name for our new task-based command line shell and scripting language: Windows PowerShell (What do you think - like it?) Formerly known under the code-name "Monad", Windows PowerShell is now at the Release Candidate (RC1) milestone and will be fully baked in Q4 of 2006. However, you can download and evaluate the RC now.[Source Windows Server Division WebLog]
How to install SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and Windows SharePoint Services Service Pack 2 in a deployment that uses SQL Server 2005 as the database back end
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) introduces support for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. This article describes a supported method that you can use to install SharePoint Portal Server SP2 and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Service Pack 2 (SP2) if you use SQL Server 2005 as the database back end.
Read the article at Microsoft.com
Robert McMillan wrote at Computerworld :
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 is slated for launch in 2007. Microsoft Corp. plans to give customers a peek at the next version of its Windows Server Update Services software at the Microsoft Management Summit conference in San Diego next week.Read the full article at Computerworld.com
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0, which is expected to be released in the first half of 2007, will include a more dynamic user interface based on the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) framework and will have several features designed to make the software easier to use, according to Joseph Dadzie, a Microsoft group program manager.
Get it at Microsoft.com
Now CRN reports Microsoft is working on a new product called Virtual Server Manager (codename Carmine):
Microsoft is preparing a Virtual Server Manager code-named Carmine that will enable users to add, move and manage virtual machines on its virtualization platform.Read the whole article at CRN.
The product, currently called Microsoft Virtual Server Manager, will allow broad support for administration via "Monad," Microsoft's next-generation scripting platform for Window Longhorn Server and Exchange 12, according to Microsoft's Web site.
An Open source mediacenter !
Why do we need Windows XP Media Center again ?
Here's a great tool to replace Windows Event Viewer : Event Log Explorer
What i like about it :
- Better search and filter
- Display details on the same window
- IT IS FREE !
Get it at www.eventlogxp.com
UPHClean is a service that once and for all gets rid of problems with user profile not unloading.
You are having profile unload problems if you experience slow logoff (with Saving Settings for most of the time while logging off), roaming profiles that do not reconcile, or the registry size limit is reached.
This is a microsoft tool available at www.microsoft.com/downloads
This tool saved my life. Before installing it, my computer was taking 4 to 5 minutes to logoff, now everything is normal.
Dowdload this free ebook from Microsoft.
As part of a major revamp of its Web site, McAfee on Monday introduced the McAfee Threat Center, a new section offering security information, tools and insights. It includes details on the latest malicious software, vulnerabilities, spam activity and phishing scams. The McAfee Threat Center is similar to Symantec's Security Response site, CA's Security Advisor and others.
The Windows Vista Product Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the innovative features and functions that make Microsoft® Windows Vista™ the next-generation Windows client operating system and successor to Windows XP. This guide also provides information the benefits Windows Vista offers diverse users as well as information about the different editions (SKUs) available. It's about 300 pages, and contains a lot of really great information about Windows Vista. Definitely a must-read!
You can find direct download links to the Windows Vista Product Guide and the XPS Viewer on Fred Pullen's blog.
Have you ever wanted a Windows CD that would install Windows by automatically putting in your name, product key, timezone and regional settings? And have it merged with the latest Service Pack to save time? Followed by silently installing all your favourite applications along with DirectX 9.0c, .Net Framework 1.1 and then all the required hotfixes, updated drivers, registry tweaks, and a readily patched UXTheme.dll without any user interaction whatsoever? Then this guide will show you how you can do just that!
This is the ultimate guide, yo will find all the infos and tools (nLite) you need to create a slipstream CD.
Visit unattended.msfn.org
We all know that FireFox doesn't allow you to display ActiveX Controls. But do you know that there is a plug-in that can allow you to use ActiveX on FireFox ?
Look at Plug-in For Hosting ActiveX Controls
Note : I didn't have time yet to test it myself.
Here's a nice little tool that offer a graphical interface to Robocopy.
The official home page does not seem to be working anymore but you can still download it from www.gratilog.net.
If you own an Epson printer you will fall in love with this little utility that allow you to do amazing thing with your Epson Printer :
- Work directly with CSIC in Epson Stylus printers cartridges.
- Reset or rewrite any chip using special addon device.
- Freeze internal ink counters.
- Reset internal ink counters even with empty cartridges.
- Separate cleaning of color and black heads for all Epson inkjet printers, powerful cleaning mode.
- Hot swapping of cartridges supported.
- Resetting of protection counter (even then it is already full).
- More then 100 different Epson printers supported
When a Win2K or later client that already has a DHCP lease tries to boot, it attempts to renew its lease with its previous DHCP server by sending a DHCPRequest packet. If the DHCP server responds with a DHCPAck packet, the client renews its lease. If the DHCP server responds with a DHCPNack, the client restarts the lease process. If the DHCP server doesn't respond, the client pings the default gateway defined in the current lease. If the Ping succeeds, the client continues to use its current lease, attempting to renew at 50 percent of its assigned lease time. If the Ping fails, the client autoconfigures the IP address and continues to attempt to find a DHCP server in the background
Learn how to configure clients to release leases on shutdown at WindowsItPro.comDid you know that Windows Server 2003 offer out-of-band management thru a serial port ?
Read about it at Microsoft.com
While it may seem odd to think about purposefully causing a Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD), Microsoft includes such a provision in Windows XP. This might come in handy for testing and troubleshooting your Startup And Recovery settings, Event logging, and for demonstration purposes.
Here's how to create a BSOD:
- Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
i8042prt\Parameters. - Go to Edit, select New | DWORD Value and name the new value CrashOnCtrlScroll.
- Double-click the CrashOnCtrlScroll DWORD Value, type 1 in the Value Data textbox, and click OK.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.
When you want to cause a BSOD, press and hold down the [Ctrl] key on the right side of your keyboard, and then tap the [ScrollLock] key twice. Now you should see the BSOD.
If your system reboots instead of displaying the BSOD, you'll have to disable the Automatically Restart setting in the System Properties dialog box. To do so, follow these steps:
- Press [Windows]-Break.
- Select the Advanced tab.
- Click the Settings button in the Startup And Recovery panel.
- Clear the Automatically Restart check box in the System Failure panel.
- Click OK twice.
Here's how you remove the BSOD configuration:
- Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
i8042prt\Parameters. - Select the CrashOnCtrlScroll value, pull down the Edit menu, and select the Delete command.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.
Note: Editing the registry is risky, so make sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.
Source : psacake.com
XXCopy is a remplacement for Xcopy and Robocopy. It offers more features and it's available as a Freeware.
Check it at www.xxcopy.com
Look at this great tool from the GPOguy. This is a command line utility to remotely refresh Group Policy on Win2K, XP or Server 2003.
You will find it at GPOGUY.comDownload the Virtual Machine Additions for Linux, available from Microsoft Connect, to improve the experience of running qualified Linux distributions on Virtual Server 2003 R2.
See Microsoft.comYes you for FREE.
Today Microsoft announced that Virtual Server 2005 R2 is now available as a free download. This also will apply to the forthcoming service pack 1 of Virtual Server 2005 R2.
Read more at Microsoft