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I wanted to setup a virtual lab with a Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 server and a PXE client in Virtual Box. I finally got it to work !

The main problem is that the Intel PRO/1000 network card in VirtualBox does not seems to work with PXE (I dont know why) and the PCnet-FAST adapter is not supported (by default) in Windows PE (and no driver available in x64).

My solution is to simply define 2 network adapters in your virtual machine (the PXE client) :

mdt-1

PXE will use the first adapter (PCnet-FAST) and Windows PE will use the Intel PRO/1000 because it doesn’t know about the other one (no driver).

Here’s a step-by-step guide :

Ensure that the boot order of you VirtualBox machine allow it the boot from the Network :

mdt2b

You should also check that APIC is ON (Windows PE wont boot without it).

Boot you virtual machine, a screen like this should appear :

MDT-3

Open your "Windows Deployment Services” (WDS) console and approve the new pending device :

mdt-4

To avoid confusion in Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) I prefer to use the Computer UID instead of the MAC address to identify the computer (because we have two network adapters). To get the Computer UID at this stage, open “Active Directory Users and Computers” and display the properties of the new Computer object that WDS created when you approved the pending device.

mdt-5

On the Remote Install tab, copy the ‘Computer’s unique ID’ without the bracelets {}.

Open the ‘Deployment Workbench’ and create a new computer in the database (Advanced Configuration)

mdt-6

Enter a description and paste the ‘Computer’s unique ID’ in the UUID field. Complete the computer configuration the match your MDT setup (Assign a role or a TaskSequenceID).

That's it, reboot your virtual machine and your deployment should start.

Note : This article does not cover all your MDT/WDS setup, you have to install and configure those by yourself before using this solution. But if you used MDT before that should not be a problem.

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When it comes to building a virtual datacenter, perhaps no topic is as controversial as domain controller placement. Server virtualization has been around for a long time now, and with several mature virtualization products on the market, one would think that the ground rules for virtualizing network servers would have been firmly established by now. For the most part there are clear and concise guidelines for server virtualization. This is not necessarily the case when it comes to virtualizing domain controllers though. It absolutely amazes me how many different philosophies there are as to how domain controllers should be dealt with in a virtual environment. Since there are pros and cons associated with each of these different philosophies, I decided to take a critical look at domain controller placement in a virtualized environment.

Source : www.virtualizationadmin.com

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Thanks you all for your patience waiting for the full set of deployment walkthrough videos to be posted on TechNet Edge. As per my previous post, over the past few months I have been updating the deployment walkthrough videos and I am pleased to announce that the whole video series has now been posted. In all there are seven videos (around 10 hours of content) - you can see the full list of videos here or you can link to the individual videos below:

DEPLOYMENT PLANNING:

OFFICE DEPLOYMENT: IMAGE ENGINEERING AND SERVICING: IMAGE DEPLOYMENT:

Source : The Deployment Guys

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Visio shapes to use to create models of server deployment environments.

Download this zip file of Microsoft Visio stencils to create your own diagrams for models of server deployments. For examples of how the IT pro content publishing team for Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Microsoft Project Server 2010, Microsoft Search Server 2010, and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation used these shapes, see these pages:

Download details Visio shapes for SharePoint Server, Project Server, Search Server, and Office Posters

Source : Bink.nu

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Browse, edit, and create new code-snippets in rich UI without leaving your scripting IDE – this is what you can now do with the add-on just posted by Denniver here:

Source : Dmitry's PowerBlog: PowerShell and beyond

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SQL injection attacks have been increasing over the last three years, mainly because of automated tools. Since these automated attacks were first noticed in December 2007, very little has changed in the way that they work. Attackers use automated tools to query search engines for interesting URLs and then submit various SQL injection payloads to each. The goal is to inject malicious JavaScript into all string columns in SQL database tables.

Microsoft has provided guidance (http://blogs.technet.com/swi/archive/2008/05/29/sql-injection-attack.aspx) and some tools (www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/954462.mspx) to combat these attacks. Microsoft has also started tracking these automated SQL injection attacks during the last one year and provides the information in the Microsoft® Security Intelligence Report.

Today I would like discuss another technique that one can use to block automated SQL injection attacks against web applications that use Microsoft SQL Server® as the back-end processor. (Note: These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in web applications; there are no known security vulnerabilities in Microsoft SQL Server). Before I describe the technique, I would like to reiterate that using parameterized queries is the best way to mitigate SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications. You can read this Quick Security Reference: SQL Injection that details various classes of SQL injection vulnerabilities and how to address them in the design, development, and testing phases.

Source : Microsoft Security Tips

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… a significant and obvious drop in the interior quality – even the non-VW faithful will notice how cheap the door panels look …

Volkswagen has long attempted to make hay from the perception that German automakers build driver's cars, but the 2011 Jetta is less so in any of the currently available U.S. trims

the seats are still widely adjustable, though less so compared to past Jettas

Electric power steering is numb and strangely weighted, like there's a coupling made of rubber bands somewhere.

Drivers looking for the old Jetta formula of near-premium feel for near-economy price will find the 2011 Jetta is Volkswagen's New Coke, though others will remind you that the updated formula actually tasted better. This new Jetta is a different flavor that appears to be more tasty to shoppers, despite leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the Jetta faithful.

Source : Autoblog

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Today we released a recommended update for all Internet Explorer 9 Beta customers via Windows Update (KB2448827). This update includes stability fixes for the beta build. It is not a new Internet Explorer 9 Beta build. Another update shipped today (KB2452648) resolves issues between the IE9 send feedback feature on 64-bit machines with Windows-Live-Essentials 11.  These updates apply only to Internet Explorer 9 Beta.

Customers who have automatic updating enabled will not need to take any action because this update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871. 

Source : IEBlog

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www.virustotal.com will allow you to upload a file and check it against 43 antivirus engines. Oh and did I mentioned it is totally FREE !

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How effective is free antivirus software? I had a chance to see a real, in-the-wild example just this month, and the results were, to put it mildly, unexpected. Microsoft’s free antivirus solution found and removed a threat that two well-known paid products missed.

Source : Ed Bott's Microsoft Report Blog RSS | ZDNet

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Our initial opinion of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta went something like this; nice enough vehicle that still outpaces the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, but the cost-cutting is evident. Soft touch materials have been replaced with harder plastics that don't feel particularly good and almost look as bad. But the U.S. Jetta starts at a class-competitive $15,995, and chopping thousands off of an MSRP doesn't come without sacrifices. But will these cost-cutting measures fly in Europe, where a higher premium is placed on an upscale interior and sporting characteristics?
Fortunately for the folks overseas, they apparently won't have to worry about it. Automotive News reports that the Euro Jetta, which launches in March 2011, will feature a more upscale interior and a four-link independent rear suspension instead of the lower cost 'built for comfort' beam axle setup we have in the U.S.-spec sedan. Source : Autoblog

I envy them :-(

Source : www.autoblog.com

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Web-browser cookies, you either love or hate them. There is no in between. Well, get ready to be either more in love or more upset. Read more

Source : Micheal Kassner (TechTepublic.com)

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450samg421s

I now have a new external monitor with my Thinkpad. Unfortunately Windows 7 is missing some tools to optimize this setup (dual monitor). Here’s what I use :

DisplayFusion

The free version of DisplayFusion is a must have for everyone with two monitors or more. It will allow you to have a different wallpaper (background) on each monitor. You can also add keyboard shortcuts to move your Windows from one monitor to another.

Good Wallpaper sites

If you want to span a single wallpaper through all your monitors you need big wallpapers. Here’s a list of good sites where you can find those special wallpapers :

Ref :

Best Places to Find Multi-Monitor Wallpaper
Make the Most of Your Dual Monitors
Customize Your Dual Monitors with Display Fusion

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This download consists of a list of sites that are most likely to be displayed better in Compatibility View in Windows Internet Explorer 8.

Source : Microsoft Download Center

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Watch a couple of interviews that highlight how SharePoint was used to implement solutions for the University of Washington, Foster School of Business and the Lake Washington School District.

Source : Get the 'Point: Posts

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When coding, it's easy to make small mistakes. Usually these types of mistakes have no direct effect; the code runs and everything appears to be OK. That makes this situation so dangerous.

…

If you want to gain a quick overview of potential errors, you can use the free TM VBA Inspector. This add-in lets you browse the entire VBA code of an application for potential errors.

Source : Microsoft Access Team Blog

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MONTREAL – A Montreal man who sent more than four million spam e-mails to Facebook users over a two-month period was ordered to pay the social media giant more than $1 billion in compensation.

Source : cnews.canoe.ca

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The long and the short of it is that, as a general rule, I always leave UAC enabled on Windows and never run as Administrator by default.  But I do have scripts that need to run as administrator from time to time.

Rather than launching PowerShell “as Administrator” (which would result in me running other scripts as administrator – because it would be convenient) I have put together the following chunk of script :

# Get the ID and security principal of the current user account
$myWindowsID=[System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
$myWindowsPrincipal=new-object System.Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal($myWindowsID)
 
# Get the security principal for the Administrator role
$adminRole=[System.Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator
 
# Check to see if we are currently running "as Administrator"
if ($myWindowsPrincipal.IsInRole($adminRole))
   {
   # We are running "as Administrator" - so change the title and background color to indicate this
   $Host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = $myInvocation.MyCommand.Definition + "(Elevated)"
   $Host.UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor = "DarkBlue"
   clear-host
   }
else
   {
   # We are not running "as Administrator" - so relaunch as administrator
   
   # Create a new process object that starts PowerShell
   $newProcess = new-object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo "PowerShell";
   
   # Specify the current script path and name as a parameter
   $newProcess.Arguments = $myInvocation.MyCommand.Definition;
   
   # Indicate that the process should be elevated
   $newProcess.Verb = "runas";
   
   # Start the new process
   [System.Diagnostics.Process]::Start($newProcess);
   
   # Exit from the current, unelevated, process
   exit
   }
 
# Run your code that needs to be elevated here
Write-Host -NoNewLine "Press any key to continue..."
$null = $Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey("NoEcho,IncludeKeyDown")
This means that when you run the script in question – a new window will be opened “as Administrator” (with an appropriate prompt).

Cheers,
Ben

Source : Virtual PC Guy's WebLog

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…VW aimed the sixth-gen Jetta at the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. But going head-to-head with two perennial best-sellers meant dropping the Jetta's base price to just $15,995. In doing that, VW cut some corners, even on the upscale SEL version ($21,895) we spent a day in.

The biggest changes are to the interior, where you'll find a lot of hard, shiny plastic where VW once used more upscale materials. Some of the knobs and switches feel flimsy. Leather is no longer an option. And though the interior is spacious and comfortable, it doesn't have quite the same fit and finish as earlier models.

VW cut costs under the car as well. The base model doesn't get cruise control. The base and SE models get old-school drums brakes at the rear, but to be fair VW says they perform as well as competitors' discs. And only the sporty GLI — available early next year— gets the multi-link independent rear suspension. Everything else uses a less sophisticated semi-independent torsion beam.

Source  : www.wired.com

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No, F1 2010 is not iRacing and does not qualify as a hardcore simulation in any shape or form.

To be honest, I´ve never been more torn regarding a title as I am with F1 2010. There certainly is a lot on the bright side, namely stunning graphics, excellent atmosphere like you won’t find in any other racing title and a rather innovative career mode.

Sadly, the title feels very much unfinished in its current state, being plagued by bugs and a horrible AI system as well as very limited multiplayer options. What makes these problems worse is that, aside from the issues, F1 2010 is a very fun title that shows a lot of promise.

Source : www.virtualr.net

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