ScriptLogic SMBIT - All Posts

Article: Reparse Points and Symbolic Links: A Windows 7 All-Points Bulletin

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:44:00 GMT

Learn how to manage and take advantage of reparse points and hardlinks in Windows 7.

Blog: How can I ensure that access to files and resources is audited?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:47:00 GMT

Set up file auditing before you have a problem, protect your sensitive files and shares from the bad guys - inside or outside the company.

Video: Turning on Windows File Auditing in Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:02:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will share some of the myths and facts around auditing and how you can use Group Policy to help.

Article: Group Policy Auditing: Myths & Facts

Jeremy Moskowitz — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:22:00 GMT

This little how-to tutorial will bust some auditing myths, gave you some guidance on some facts, and helps you get closer to your goals!

Blog: One Active Directory or Two, That is the Question

Avril Salter — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:31:00 GMT

Can you survive with just one Active Directory?

Video: Recover a Deleted Active Directory Object from the Tombstone Container

Avril Salter — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:45:00 GMT

In this video, Dr. Avril Salter gives you a closer look at how you can recover an accidentally deleted object in Active Directory using tombstone.

Article: Can You Recover Active Directory from a Disaster?

Avril Salter — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Find out what it takes to recover from an Active Directory disaster as well as what you can do to back it up.

Blog: Could Packaging Software Mean the Return to the 40-hour Work Week?

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Tired of Next, Next, Finish? Wanna’ get back to the long-lost forty-hour work week? Here’s how.

Article: Why Do I Need a Software Packaging Tool?

Greg Shields — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:19:00 GMT

Ever hear that voice in your head saying, “There’s got to be another way.” Check out the voices in Greg’s head in this article.

Blog: One of These GPOs is Not Like the Other

Don Jones — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:15:00 GMT

Have you ever needed to compare two GPOs? Why? How did you go about it?

Video: Using PowerShell as a Starting Point for Comparing GPOs

Don Jones — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:58:00 GMT

In this video, you’ll see how PowerShell provides a starting point for comparing two GPOs.

Article: Native Methods for Comparing Group Policy Objects

Don Jones — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:36:00 GMT

Learn how GPO comparison works using Windows’ native tools, and what you might be missing.

Blog: Trust Me! Authentication of a Different Type

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:59:00 GMT

When other authentication mechanisms fail see how you can still use PowerShell remoting.

Video: Using Command Line Tools to Troubleshoot Kerberos Authentication

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:25:00 GMT

In this video, Jeff Hicks will show you how to peek behind the curtain to see what Kerberos is up to.

Article: Taming the Three-Headed Beast: Kerberos

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:47:00 GMT

Kerberos is a mission critical component of Windows networks, yet most IT Pros lack the knowledge and skills to troubleshoot problems. Do you know how?

Blog: How Can You Turn Raw Log Data into Something Meaningful?

Avril Salter — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Everything you need to know about who is using your IT resources is in your log files.

Video: Filtering Active Directory Log Files & Creating Custom Views

Avril Salter — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:29:00 GMT

How to get meaningful data out of your log files by filtering your data, creating custom views, and exporting your log files.

Article: Find the Who, What, Where and When of Your Active Directory

Avril Salter — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:59:00 GMT

Need to know who is assessing your network and computer resources? This information could be in your log files. Get yourself on the right track by reading this Active Directory article from Dr. Avril Salter.

Blog: What to do when a standard software install just won't work?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:35:00 GMT

MSI files are great if your installation is standard and everyone gets the same settings. But what do you do when that doesn't work? This post introduces you to the MST.

Article: Deploying MST Files Using Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:24:00 GMT

MSI software packaging works great, except when it doesn't. How do you use Group Policy to deploy software when you need to customize the installation? Try an MST file.

Video: Deploying Microsoft Office using a Microsoft Transform File

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:35:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz explains what a Microsoft Transform File (MST) is and how you would use it to customize an installation of Microsoft Office.

Blog: Are Group Policy Preferences Windows Most Powerful Administrative Tool?

Greg Shields — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:12:00 GMT

Might Group Policy Preferences be the ultimate Windows tool? If so, why aren’t more people using it?

Video: How to Use Group Policy Preferences to Configure Outlook Settings

Greg Shields — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:36:00 GMT

Need a common email experience for every Outlook 2010 user? Greg uses GPPs to enforce a default email font and theme in this video.

Article: Enforcing a Default Font and Theme in Outlook 2010 with Group Policy Preferences

Greg Shields — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:27:00 GMT

Curious about how Group Policy Preferences might enforce Outlook 2010 settings? This article uses them to solve two common needs.

Blog: Why Windows Permissions Aren’t Role-Based Access Control

Don Jones — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:42:00 GMT

Role-based access control is a security buzzword, but how is it any different from Windows groups?

Article: Role Based Access Control: Why Groups Aren't Enough

Don Jones — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:43:00 GMT

Learn how Windows groups don’t provide true RBAC functionality, and find out how you can get real RBAC in your environment.

Video: Why Windows Groups are not a RBAC Solution

Don Jones — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:17:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones shows you why Windows groups do not an RBAC solution make.

Blog: Get the Time in No Time - Snapshot System Time Config

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:34:00 GMT

Use Windows PowerShell to gather time-related settings and configuration to identify potential problems before they become big time headaches.

Article: Managing Time Settings for Domain Members

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:45:00 GMT

Learn how to better manage time settings for your domain members to keep everything running like clockwork.

Video: Using Command Line to Find & Resolve Time-Sensitive Problems

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:35:00 GMT

In this video, you’ll see how to identify and resolve a potential time configuration problem using simple command line tools.

Blog: For WSUS Patching, When is the Best Reboot Window?

Greg Shields — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:08:00 GMT

Greg asks the question, “What is the best scheduled reboot window?” Share what’s worked for you.

Video: Demystifying Settings for WSUS Patch Implementation in Group Policy

Greg Shields — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:38:00 GMT

WSUS’ Group Policies are long in names and complicated in meaning. Greg Shields demystifies in this video.

Article: Best Practices in Scheduling Patch Installation for Minimal User Impact

Greg Shields — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:12:00 GMT

Worried you’re not patching Windows in the smartest way possible? Greg shares his best practice in this article.

Blog: What is Group Policy Software Installation?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Group Policy can install software? If you're asking yourself that same question, read this blog post to learn the specifics.

Video: Deploying MSIs Using Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:38:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will show you how to use the Group Policy Software Installation to deploy an MSI file.

Article: The Guide to Deploying Software Using Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:28:00 GMT

Group Policy can do a little bit of magic when deploying software, well maybe it's not magic, but it sure seems like it. Read this guide to find out how.

Blog: When Copying Files, Don’t Forget These Three Tips

Don Jones — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:20:00 GMT

Do you need to migrate files from one server to another? Here are three tips to make things easier.

Video: Migrating Files: The Limitations of Using PowerShell

Don Jones — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:52:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones will show you how even PowerShell doesn’t always provide an ideal file copying and migration solution.

Article: Copying Files: Shouldn't this be Simple?

Don Jones — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:19:00 GMT

Learn how file copying – which should be simple – can be a nightmare of manual effort, and how to avoid the pain.

Blog: Back Me Up, Scotty: Back Up User Data to a VHD

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:42:00 GMT

What tools or techniques do you use for protecting a user’s local files? In this blog you’ll see how you can use a VHD and PowerShell to keep everyone happy and employed.

Video: Use PowerShell to Create a VHD and Backup User Data

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:14:00 GMT

In this video, you’ll see how to use a PowerShell script to create a VHD and backup a user’s documents folder to it.

Article: Tips & Tricks for Protecting User Data on Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Backup at the client level always seems to be a second class citizen. But it doesn’t have to be. Discover a variety of backup tools and techniques in Win7.

Blog: Managing Life Changes is Like Managing Active Directory Changes

Avril Salter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:32:00 GMT

Managing group policy changes in Active Directory is like managing your life.

Video: Delegating Responsibility for Group Policy Objects

Avril Salter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:47:00 GMT

In this video, Dr. Avril Sater will show you how to delegate group policy object administration in the Group Policy Management console.

Article: 6 Best Practices in Setting Up & Managing GPO Changes

Avril Salter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Changing GPOs in Active Directory is a great job for people that like to do logic puzzles.

Blog: Why MSIs are Your Silent Friend

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:32:00 GMT

Three major installation methods – MSI, EXE, and diff – and only one reigns supreme. Which one is it?

Video: Use Orca to Identify Properties for Silent MSI Installation

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:43:00 GMT

An Orca is an animal. It’s also a powerful tool for interrogating MSIs. Greg Shields shows you an introduction in this video.

Article: The Complete Guide to MSI Switches for Silent Software Installation

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:07:00 GMT

Looking for the Bible of MSI Switches for Silent Installation? Greg wrote it, here.

Blog: What Do You Do When Something Goes Wrong with Group Policy Preferences?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:29:00 GMT

Group Policy Preferences are great, but they aren't perfect. This blog post will show you what you need to do to isolate the issue when problems arise.

Video: How to Troubleshoot Group Policy Preferences

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:36:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will show you how you can troubleshoot Group Policy Preferences using an extension called Group Policy Tracing.

Article: Tips for Troubleshooting Group Policy Preferences

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:56:00 GMT

If you're having issues with Group Policy, bring out the big guns and begin logging Group Policy. This article will tell you about Group Policy Preferences Tracing and give a lot of detail about Group Policy extensions.

Blog: I Can See Clearly Now – Checking Video Settings with PowerShell

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:16:00 GMT

 If a user is complaining about their display, read this blog entry to learn how to peek at their video configuration without a trip to their desktop using PowerShell and WMI.

Video: Gather Local & Remote System Drivers in Windows 7 with Command Line

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:33:00 GMT

In this video, you’ll see how to discover device information using a simple command line tool and no scripting.

Article: Troubleshooting Devices in Windows 7 & Server 2008 R2

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:56:00 GMT

Learn how manage and report on the myriad devices in you Windows 7 desktops using interactive GUI-based tools as well as from a command prompt.

Blog: “Big Data”, Analytics and Reports

Avril Salter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:16:00 GMT

Is your Active Directory part of your "Big Data" problem or are you keeping essential security information?

Video: Setting an Audit Policy in Active Directory

Avril Salter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:32:00 GMT

The Active Directory Group Policy Management Console is an invaluable tool in understanding how you are securing user access to your valuable computer resources. This video puts you on the path to effectively use this great tool

Article: Selecting the Right Active Directory Security Reports for Your Business

Avril Salter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:19:00 GMT

Worried you are not getting the security reports from Active Directory that you need? Read this article from Dr. Avril Salter to put you on the right path.

Blog: Get Free IT Tools now on SMB IT Simplified!

Jayson Gehri — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:41:00 GMT

We want to help IT admins get their jobs done more easily - what better way to do that than offer free tools?

Blog: Finding out Who has Access to What in SharePoint

Don Jones — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:16:00 GMT

Who has permission to what in SharePoint? Can you use PowerShell to find out?

Video: How to Report on SharePoint User Permissions

Don Jones — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:54:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones will attempt to get a permissions report in SharePoint using Windows PowerShell.

Article: SharePoint Security Reporting using PowerShell

Don Jones — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:09:00 GMT

Learn how PowerShell accesses SharePoint permission definitions, and whether or not that can form a permission reporting tool.

Blog: I’m Really Thinking Privilege Management Might Solve Every IT Problem

Greg Shields — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:01:00 GMT

Could a Privilege Management solution solve every IT problem? Greg thinks so. Do you?

Video: Whiteboard – Solving Privilege Management Problems

Greg Shields — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:45:00 GMT

In this video, Greg Shields pulls out the whiteboard to discuss privilege management’s utility in this enlightening video.

Article: 3 Big IT Problems Solved by Eliminating Administrator Rights

Greg Shields — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:46:00 GMT

Greg Shields brings out the story time with three great tales of IT problems easily solved by Privilege Management.

Blog: Where Do I Look for Group Policies in Windows 7?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:16:00 GMT

Running Windows 7? Running into Group Policy issues? Read on to find out where you should be looking.

Video: How to Find Problems with Windows 7 and Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:05:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz shows you where you should look in Windows 7 if you are having trouble with Group Policy.

Article: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:15:00 GMT

If Group Policy goes wrong on a Windows 7 machine, you've got to be able to handle it. This article will show you where to look.

Blog: Put User Profiles in Their Place

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:25:00 GMT

Don’t let profiles become a problem. See how easy it is to delete obsolete user profiles from your desktops and member servers.

Video: Use PowerShell & WMI to Manage User Profiles

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:31:00 GMT

In this video, Jeff Hicks will show you how to use PowerShell to manage pesky user profiles.

Article: Manage & Purge Local Windows User Profiles

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:13:00 GMT

Learn how to better manage user profiles from reporting on their age and disk usage to removing them across your organization.

Blog: Plan, Plan, Plan! Here’s how you Can Avoid a Network Outage

Avril Salter — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:25:00 GMT

Virtualization, cloud computing and big data are radically changing the way IT services are being delivered. Learn how a good network plan can help you avoid issues like a network outage.

Video: Use Microsoft Event Viewer to Review Network Messages

Avril Salter — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:23:00 GMT

In this video, Dr. Avril Salter shows how you can use Microsoft Event Viewer to look beyond the client or server and examine network events.

Article: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Your Network

Avril Salter — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:09:00 GMT

The network is the critical glue between the users and their cloud services, and it needs to change and embrace new architectural concepts. Before you undertake these changes you need to read this paper by Dr. Avril Salter as she explains how to avoid the top network planning mistakes.

Blog: How to Automate Software Installation in Three Easy Steps

Greg Shields — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:23:00 GMT

Want to eliminate the Next, Next, Finish out of your life? You can, with a little effort. Greg’ll get you started.

Video: Converting EXE Software Install to MSI Software Install

Greg Shields — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:30:00 GMT

Do you know the secret trick that’ll instantly convert some nasty EXEs into easy-to-silence MSIs. Greg Shields shows you how in this video.

Article: Packaging Software: Making Software Install Silently

Greg Shields — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:43:00 GMT

Making it run silently is a key task in automating software installation, but seeking silent mode requires tips and tricks. Greg shares his very best.

Blog: Troubleshooting Group Policy. What Ails You?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:15:00 GMT

Group policy is powerful, it's built into the OS and it generally works. What do you do when it doesn't?

Video: Common Group Policy Troubleshooting Techniques

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:22:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will demonstrate some of the most common ways you can troubleshoot problems with Group Policy.

Article: The Top 4 Problems with Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:05:00 GMT

Learn the top reasons why Group Policy may not be working and what you can do about it.

Blog: Is your Database too Big? Shrink it!

Don Jones — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:11:00 GMT

Does your SQL Server use more disk space than you’d like? Think about some compression options.

Article: Saving Space in SQL Server

Don Jones — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:58:00 GMT

Learn about options for reducing SQL Server disk space consumption, and the performance price you can expect to pay.

Video: Methods for Compressing a SQL Database

Don Jones — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:25:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones will explore some of the options for compression in SQL Server 2008.

Blog: I’m Stuffed! Tips for a Hard Disk Diet

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:09:00 GMT

An easy tip for recovering a lot of disk space when bits get tight.

Video: Methods for Clearing Space on a Hard Drive

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:43:00 GMT

In this video, Jeff Hicks will show you how to recover disk space by selectively compressing files using a graphical PowerShell script.

Article: 10 Tips for a Cleaning Up a Hard Drive

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:44:00 GMT

Learn 10 steps you can take to put a hard drive on a crash diet when disk space disappears

Blog: Gathering the right network information to avoid data overload

Avril Salter — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:00 GMT

Are critical network warnings and events at risk of being ignored? Is your operational staff suffering information overload? Read on to find out how you can narrow down to the information you need.

Video: Applying Filters to Network Data

Avril Salter — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:33:00 GMT

In this video, Dr. Avril Salter will show you how to apply filters to captured network data using Microsoft Network Monitor.

Article: 5 Steps to Avoid Network Alert Overload

Avril Salter — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:50:00 GMT

You cannot afford to miss this article by Dr. Avril Salter as she will explain why storing all your event logs, network monitoring and packet captures is the wrong approach.

Blog: Need server management info? Avoid the walk, get it remotely.

Don Jones — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:15:00 GMT

Have you ever needed to quickly query management information from a few servers? Here’s a quick tool that can do it for you.

Video: Customizing a PowerShell Script that Retrieves WMI Info

Don Jones — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:31:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones will show you how to customize a tool that retrieves information from one or more servers.

Article: Building a Quick PowerShell Info-Checking Tool for Servers

Don Jones — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:12:00 GMT

Learn how to use PowerShell to quickly build and customize a tool that queries information from one or more servers.

Blog: We Must Control Every Application!

Greg Shields — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:21:00 GMT

Yes you can! Bring control to your applications, and stop the misbehavin’!

Video: Controlling App Behavior with Registry Settings

Greg Shields — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:57:00 GMT

Wanna’ be an application configuration detective? Greg Shields shows you how in this video.

Article: Lock Down Apps & Reduce Help Desk Calls with Registry Policies

Greg Shields — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:45:00 GMT

Greg explains the art and science behind application lockdowns in this useful article. Control can be yours!

Blog: The Big Easy File Transfer

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:32:00 GMT

If you need to rebuild or reload a user’s desktop, do you have a process for migrating documents and settings?

Video: Windows 7 Easy Transfer Tool Walkthrough

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:26:00 GMT

In this video, you’ll see how simple it is to save a user’s files and program settings so they can be restored later on a different computer or the even the same computer after an OS rebuild.

Article: The Guide to Migrating Windows User Files & Settings

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:07:00 GMT

Discover how easy it is to migrate or move a user’s files and program settings between computers or to survive a reload with Windows Easy Transfer.

Blog: Can't predict the future? Try Group Policy Modeling

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:42:00 GMT

Learn how easy it is to find out what the results of your group policy changes will be before you even make them.

Video: Calculate Group Policy Changes with Group Policy Modeling

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:07:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will explain the purpose of Group Policy modeling to predict changes in Active Directory environments and will demonstrate an example of changes made to a user.

Article: Predict Changes with Group Policy Modeling

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:18:00 GMT

Learn how Group Policy Modeling can help you forecast and prepare for the inevitable changes that will occur in your environment.

Blog: Can’t Connect to Wireless? Try These Steps

Avril Salter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:49:00 GMT

The Wi-Fi connectivity guide that you cannot afford to leave home without.

Article: 6 Methods for Troubleshooting WiFi Connectivity

Avril Salter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:29:00 GMT

You use Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet , then you need this “get connected guide”.

Video: Setting up WiFi Security Settings in Windows 7

Avril Salter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:07:00 GMT

In this video, Avri Salter will show you how to set up the wireless security settings on a Windows 7 client.

Blog: Use Scripts to Build Active Directory Reports

Don Jones — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:08:00 GMT

Need to quickly audit Active Directory?

Video: How to Build Active Directory Reports Using Queries & Scripts

Don Jones — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:41:00 GMT

In this video, Don Jones shows you how to build queries and use PowerShell to build reports for Active Directory elements.

Article: The Guide to Building an Active Directory Auditing Script

Don Jones — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:44:00 GMT

Auditing Active Directory with a do-it-yourself script.

Blog: Not Getting the Whole Story? Show Users how to Recreate Problems

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:05:00 GMT

Get a taste of the new Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7 and learn why it matters to your help desk.

Article: Problem Steps Recorder for Windows 7 Troubleshooting

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:26:00 GMT

Sometimes the bigger problem with a help desk ticket is the user’s attempt at describing the problem. Discover how to use the new Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7 and integrate it into your help desk.

Video: How to Find & Use the Problem Steps Recorder

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:39:00 GMT

In this video, Jeff Hicks will show you how to recreate problems in Windows 7 by finding and using the Problem Steps Recorder.

Blog: Geographic Location and Automatic Printer Mapping, Harder than You’d Think

Greg Shields — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:02:00 GMT

Geolocality’s impact on printing. A big word that’s a powerful time-saver.

Video: Creating Logon Scripts for Mapping Printers Based on Location

Greg Shields — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:23:00 GMT

In this video, Greg Shields will show you how to create a logon script framework so that you can automatically map the appropriate printer when users switch between different Active Directory sites.

Article: Logon Scripts: Automatically Connecting Printers Based on User Location

Greg Shields — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:16:00 GMT

Connect those printers, based on “who” and even “where”. It’s all in your logon scripts.

Blog: All about Group Policy Reporting

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:31:00 GMT

Learn a little about the tools available for generating group policy reports.

Article: Utilities for Group Policy Reporting

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:24:00 GMT

Are your Group policies running well or are they falling apart? A few reports would help you figure that out...

Video: How to Use Group Policy Reporting

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:36:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz shows you all about Group Policy Reporting on Windows XP and Windows 7.

Blog: Building a Wireless Network? Here's What You Need to Know

Avril Salter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:30:00 GMT

There’s plenty the experts never told you about planning your wireless network…until now…

Video: Configuring 802.11 Wireless LAN Settings on Clients

Avril Salter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:23:00 GMT

In this video Dr. Avril Salter will show you how to configure the wireless settings on your client devices to get the best performance out of your wireless network.

Article: 10 Things You Were Never Told about Wireless Network Planning

Avril Salter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:12:00 GMT

Get the top ten mistakes people make when deploying Wi-Fi networks and how to avoid them.

Blog: Top Tricks for Server Logon Scripts

Don Jones — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:00:00 GMT

A Logon Script for Your Servers?

Video: Using PowerShell to Track Server Logons

Don Jones — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:01:00 GMT

In this video, Jon Jones explains how easy it is to use PowerShell to set up logon scripts on your servers. In this example, he sets up a script that will track logon activity.

Article: 4 Ways to Use PowerShell for Server Logon Scripts

Don Jones — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Many organizations use logon scripts for their users. Those scripts map network drives, install software utilities, and much more. But have you ever considered writing a logon script that applies to your servers?

Blog: Head off Help Desk Calls by Policing User Passwords

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:17:00 GMT

Learn how easy it is to get a handle on user passwords before they become a problem.

Article: Track User Password Expiration using Active Directory

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:01:00 GMT

There is probably no bigger help desk problem than a password problem. Learn how to get ahead of the curve and get a handle on user passwords using Windows PowerShell and Active Directory.

Video: How to get a Handle on User Passwords Remotely

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:15:00 GMT

Jeff Hicks will demonstrate how to use the Active Directory Administrative Center to remotely access a domain controller and get a handle on user passwords.

Blog: Group Policies, GPPs, and a Desire for Better Policy Targeting

Greg Shields — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:54:00 GMT

You can improve the targeting of your policies, with these simple tips.

Video: Using WMI to Target Desktop Policies in Group Policy & Preferences

Greg Shields — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:47:00 GMT

In this video, Greg Shields will show you the differences between Group Policy and Group Policy Preferences, and how they use WMI as their database for targeting policies.

Article: Five Desktop Policy Constraints You Need to Implement Now

Greg Shields — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:35:00 GMT

Yes, now. Just keep clicking, because…well…you’ll thank me.

Blog: What is the Difference between a Group Policy and Preference?

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:14:00 GMT

Confused about how a Group Policy is different than a preference? Read on to find out the facts.

Video: 3 Myths About Group Policy Preferences

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:21:00 GMT

In this video Jeremy Moskowitz will remove the mystery around Group Policy Preferences by explaining 3 of the myths and facts surrounding preferences.

Article: Group Policy Preferences: Myths & Facts

Jeremy Moskowitz — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:06:00 GMT

Make use of Group Policy Preferences by understanding what they can and can't do. Read on to find out the top 5 myths and the real deal about preferences.

Blog: Tips for Implementing and Troubleshooting your 802.11n Network

Avril Salter — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:01:00 GMT

There’s more than meets the eye with 802.11n wireless. Learn the implementing and troubleshooting tips here.

Video: Wireless Site Planning – Avoiding Interference & Maximizing Coverage

Avril Salter — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:11:00 GMT

Avril Salter will show you how to take measurements from your wireless access points to test interference and data transfer rates so that you can plan the location of your wireless access points in your wireless network.

Article: Smart Tactics in Designing 802.11n Wireless Coverage

Avril Salter — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:45:00 GMT

802.11n network not meeting your expectations? Learn some smart tactics in designing wireless coverage.

Blog: Control Change and Prevent Malware on Windows Server 2008R2

Don Jones — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Would you use AppLocker on a Server?

Video: Enabling & Using AppLocker to Control Server Software

Don Jones — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:56:00 GMT

Don Jones will show you how to set up AppLocker in Windows Server 2008R2 so that you can control or audit the software that is installed and run on your servers.

Article: AppLocker: Locking Down Servers is a Good Start

Don Jones — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:22:00 GMT

AppLocker: Better security for server software (and easier to setup than on clients!)

Blog: Don't Delay - You can Watch for Critical Events and Take Action Immediately

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:17:00 GMT

Get a taste of how to wait and watch for things to happen in Windows and take action when they do.

Article: Tools for Proactive Troubleshooting in Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:13:00 GMT

In a Windows system, things happen…all the time. But sometimes you want to wait and watch it happen. Learn how to leverage events in Windows 7 using command line and graphical tools.

Video: Using PowerShell to Monitor Events in Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:27:00 GMT

In this video Jeff Hicks will demonstrate how we can use Windows PowerShell to monitor events that might happen, either locally, or on remote computers.

Blog: Apps are expensive, don't waste money unnecessarily

Greg Shields — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:05:00 GMT

The meters should be running on your applications, or you might be wasting money. Here’s how.

Article: Save Money by Metering Application Use

Greg Shields — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Discover how (and how not) to meter your application use. It’ll save you money.

Video: Meter Software Using Windows PowerShell

Greg Shields — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:10:00 GMT

Everybody likes saving money. But everybody needs software, right? Not necessarily. Find out how to meter application usage in this useful video. Greg Shields shows you how to use PowerShell and creative coding to meter software usage on a system.

Blog: Use Central Store to Get on the Same Page

Jeremy Moskowitz — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:44:00 GMT

How do you know if you have all the latest GPO settings? You don't - unless you enable a Central Store. Read on to find out how.

Video: How to Create a Group Policy Central Store

Jeremy Moskowitz — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:06:00 GMT

Jeremy Moskowitz will show you how to create the Central Store. The Central Store’s job is to give a one stop shop repository for the files that constitute the ability to create stuff in Group Policy.

Article: Centralizing Group Policy with Central Store

Jeremy Moskowitz — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:26:00 GMT

Creating the central store doesn’t have to be a difficult procedure. Just one drag-and-drop later, and .. boom! You’re done !

Blog: What we Hate about GPO Management

Don Jones — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:45:00 GMT

GPO Management: Better, But Not Perfect

Video: Practices & Tools for GPO Management

Don Jones — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:08:00 GMT

Group Policy objects: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t live without ‘em. Don Jones suggests some practices and tools for making GPO management easier and more effective.

Article: The Guide to Easier Group Policy Management

Don Jones — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:42:00 GMT

GPO Management: What's Missing from the Box, and Why You Need it

Blog: Use Network Data to Quickly Create a Network Map

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:13:00 GMT

Not all maps are created equal, but boy don’t you wish they were. Learn what your network’s map needs here.

Video: Build a Network Map with Native Windows Tools

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:37:00 GMT

You can gather data and build a network map using built-in Windows tools. Mike Danseglio will show you the approaches to use in Windows 7.

Article: Fast & Simple Network Mapping

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:12:00 GMT

Network mapping is simpler, cheaper, and more helpful than you can imagine.

Blog: Reach Out and Help Someone - With Remote Management

Jeffery Hicks — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:20:00 GMT

Get an overview of remote management and troubleshooting tools in Windows 7.

Article: Tools & Techniques for Remote Help Desk Support

Jeffery Hicks — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:18:00 GMT

Windows 7 offers a variety of tools and techniques for working with computers remotely. Some are graphical and some command line. Discover which tool is best suited for resolving that pesky help desk ticket.

Video: Remote Management Using Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:02:00 GMT

In this video, Jeff Hicks will show you a few things in Windows 7 that will help you reach out and touch computers on your network so that you do not have to leave your desk.

Blog: Stop Users from Running Junkware, Spyware and anything YOU don’t approve

Greg Shields — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:32:00 GMT

SRPs, AppLocker, and more. You can prevent inappropriate software, with the right tools and techniques.

Video: How To Whitelist Apps with Applocker

Greg Shields — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:13:00 GMT

Every network has its inappropriate applications: Whether streaming video apps that kill bandwidth, games that kill productivity, or quasi-legitimate business apps you haven’t licensed, part of your job is preventing those apps from running. You can accomplish that task automatically. Greg Shields shows you how.

Article: The Right & Wrong Ways to Prevent Inappropriate App Execution

Greg Shields — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Streaming video. Elf bowling. Unapproved instant messaging. Find out the right and wrong ways to prevent software execution.

Blog: Don't Step on Toes! Group Policy Delegation

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:30:00 GMT

There's no need to trip over each other when working in Active Directory or Group Policy. There are a few ways you can set up delegation and I'll show you how. Read on.

Article: Two Ways to Use Group Policy Delegation

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:45:00 GMT

Active Directory has a built-in delegation model for you to use. It’s not hard to do, and doesn’t take a lot of work to set up or maintain. In this article, we’ll explore the Group Policy delegation model – and the two tools you can use to make the magic happen.

Video: The New and Old Way to Handle GPO Delegation

Jeremy Moskowitz — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:40:00 GMT

Group Policy delegation can be confusing because there is both a new and an old way to do it. Jeremy Moskowitz is going to show you both ways to handle GPO delegation.

Blog: Network Playback and Traffic Generation as a Troubleshooting Tool

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:24:00 GMT

Network playback is like watching the same movie over and over. Eventually you’ll figure out what went wrong.

Article: Testing Network Performance with Real Traffic

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:20:00 GMT

When is a network tester not really a network tester? When it’s not analyzing real data. Get real in this article.

Video: Troubleshooting a Network with Traffic Simulation

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:15:00 GMT

Testing a network to the point of failure is a great way to validate a configuration and discover weak points now that may cause problems later. Mike Danseglio walks you through a few methods.

Blog: We're going social! Connect with us and Win!

Jayson Gehri — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:45:00 GMT

Join us on our social media groups or sign up for our newsletter before August 16th to win $30. Read to learn more...

Blog: Windows Can’t Do It—Building Your Own Logon Tracking

Don Jones — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:25:00 GMT

Perhaps one day Microsoft will extend Windows to automatically track logon information in a default AD attribute, and we’ll all be happy. Until then... here's how you can do it.

Video: How To Build Your Own Workstation Logon Tracking

Don Jones — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:15:00 GMT

Learn how to answer the question, “where is so-and-so logged on,” or “who was the last user to log on to this workstation?” Don Jones shows you how to build your own scripts to track workstation logons.

Article: Tracking Workstation Logons

Don Jones — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:36:00 GMT

Want to Know Who's Logging On to Your Client Computers? Here's a Way.

Blog: Ping, Poke and Peek: Peeping Tom or Network Tests?

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:17:00 GMT

Discover how easy it is to use a few simple command line tools to test and resolve network-related problems.

Article: A 5 Step Network Health Report

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:43:00 GMT

Learn how to use the 5 networking tools (many command line based) that every Windows administrator needs to know. These tools are often used to troubleshoot connectivity and other network-related problems.

Video: How to Verify Network Health and Desktop Integrity

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:16:00 GMT

Learn about the network health and integrity of your desktops with just a few simple tests. Jeff shows you PowerShell and command line tools for the job.

Blog: Is there a way to create an inventory of installed apps?

Greg Shields — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:00:00 GMT

In fact, there is! And its possible with just a single line in PowerShell…

Video: How to Inventory Software Across Several Computers

Greg Shields — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:35:00 GMT

In this video, Greg uses PowerShell and a couple of nifty tricks to inventory applications across many computers at once.

Article: Top Tricks in Inventorying Installed Applications on your Network

Greg Shields — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:45:00 GMT

You’d think a simple application inventory were…well…simple to gather. It can be. Read on.

Blog: Group Policy Backup and Restore 101

Jeremy Moskowitz — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Have you backed up Group Policy lately? You should... and it's pretty easy.

Article: Enable Backup and Restore for Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Don’t let a simple Group Policy deletion or other small problem result in big, big problems because you don’t have a Group Policy backup, let me show you how to easily backup Group Policy.

Video: How To Backup and Restore Group Policy

Jeremy Moskowitz — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In this video, Jeremy Moskowitz will show you how to use the Group Policy Management Console to backup and restore Group Policy.

Blog: Tips and Tools for Unlocking the Secrets of Wireless Networking

Avril Salter — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Unlock the secrets of wireless networking, and get the tips and tools you need for success.

Video: How To Eliminate Conflicts on Wireless Networks

Avril Salter — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Having problems with conflicts in your wireless networks? You’ll learn how to eliminate them completely in this video from Avril Salter.

Article: Wireless Black Magic:The Secret Tips for Monitoring your Wireless Network

Avril Salter — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Problems with your wireless network? It’s not black magic. Get Wi-Fi expert Dr. Salter’s secret tips in monitoring wireless networks.

Blog: Troubleshooting using Advanced System Information

Jeffery Hicks — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:00:00 GMT

See how easy it is to gather system information, both locally and remotely.

Video: How to: Use PowerShell to find hot fixes and updates

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Discover how to use PowerShell and an easy to use cmdlet to discover what hotfixes and updates have been installed on your computer; all with no scripting required.

Article: Help Desk Tip: Get HotFix

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Need to see if a particular hot fix is installed? Use the PowerShell Get-HotFix cmdlet to discover installed hotfixes, updates and patches both locally and remotely.

Blog: The Help Desk Hot Fix

Jeffery Hicks — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Use PowerShell to discover what hot fixes are installed on your computers and create interactive HTML formatted reports.

Article: Troubleshoot Using Event Log Mining

Jeffery Hicks — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Windows event log is a terrific source of information, but the sheer volume is often overwhelming. Learn how to use the Windows 7 graphical and command line tools to seek out and discover critical information.

Video: System Configuration and Performance Reporting in Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:47:00 GMT

This video will demonstrate a few tools in Windows 7 that will offer an amazing amount of detailed and advanced system information which can be critical when troubleshooting a problem or attempting to be proactive and get a handle on issues before they get out of hand.

Article: Using Advanced System Information in Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Windows 7 offers a variety of new tools for gathering vital system information. Many of these tools also work remotely. Learn how to take advantage of these tools from the GUI and command line using Windows PowerShell.

Blog: Monitoring Network Traffic Really Can be Easy

Mike Danseglio — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Learn the tricks the pros use to sniff out the hardest network problems.

Video: How To Examine Traces in Windows Network Monitor

Mike Danseglio — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Though Network Monitor remains a mostly manual-process tool it can still be useful for closer examination of captured network traffic. In this video I'll examine two network trace examples. The first trace is fairly typical network trace including authentication, authorization, and data transfer traffic. The second trace shows an IP fragmentation attack in progress and how easy it can be to identify if you know what to look for.

Article: Simplified Network Traffic Sniffing

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The easy steps for sniffing your network traffic are right under your nose. In fact, they’re right here.

Video: How To Change Service Passwords

Don Jones — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:30:00 GMT

Don Jones explains why changing service logon passwords is usually complicated, and offers a series of manual and automated workarounds.

Blog: VoIP on your network - You can put all your eggs in one basket

Mike Danseglio — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

VoIP’s biggest troublemakers are the source of your bad conversations. Eliminate them.

Article: Mapping Drives in Logon Scripts: Is There a Better Way?

Greg Shields — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

There has to be a better way. Mapping drives in logon scripts just shouldn’t be this hard. The secret: It isn’t.

Article: Calculating Energy Savings by Shutting Down Computers

Greg Shields — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a simple thought: Shut down computers and save money on power. But implementing it might not be as simple.

Article: Group Policies and Validation Logic, What you Really Need

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Validation logic lets you target policies to specific people and computers. If you’re not using them, you’re only missing out.

Article: What You Need in a Password Self-Service Solution

Greg Shields — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Tired of wasting time on those “reset my password” calls? Here’s what you’ll need in a self-service solution.

Blog: Overcome the Decentralized Nature of Windows Security

Don Jones — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:30:00 GMT

Why is Windows Security so Difficult to Manage?

Blog: What to do when hit by a network storm?

Mike Danseglio — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Stopping a network storm doesn’t require weather control. It does, however, require network control. Get that control.

Article: When the Active Directory Recycling Bin Isn’t Enough

Don Jones — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Why the AD Recycle Bin Isn't Actually a Recycle Bin.

Video: Group Policy Capabilities You’re Missing

Don Jones — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Don Jones demonstrates some key management capabilities that are lacking in the native GPO toolset.

Video: How to Quickly Discover VoIP Snags

Mike Danseglio — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Voice over IP can be temperamental and unforgiving of network troubles. These troubles aren't always easy to find. This video illustrates how two commonly used tools can be used to narrow down the culprit and focus your troubleshooting efforts in the right place.

Blog: User Passwords Expire: Why Don’t Services?

Don Jones — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:11:00 GMT

Do You Expire and Change Service Account Passwords?

Video: Saving Money with Power Plans and Group Policy

Greg Shields — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:15:00 GMT

Dialing down the power usage of your computers means dialing down the monthly power bill. In this video, Greg Shields shows how you can save money using Group Policy.

Blog: Targeting Group Policy Settings to Specific Objects

Greg Shields — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:30:00 GMT

Here’s the low-down on how to target Group Policy. Those specific objects’ll never know what hit ‘em.

Video: How To Get the Most Out of the Windows 7 Event Viewer

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:20:00 GMT

Discover how to get the most out of the new event viewer in Windows 7, including filtering and remote computer management. We'll also take a peek at a few PowerShell cmdlets that will also help mine the treasure trove of Windows event logs both locally and remotely.

Blog: It's Time to Revisit Improved Event Logs in Windows 7

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:30:00 GMT

Get a peek at new features in Windows 7 for managing and mining event logs for valuable information.

Video: Restricting Group Policies with WMI Filters

Greg Shields — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:30:00 GMT

Want to restrict which computers get Group Policies beyond just Organizational Units. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. Greg Shields shows you how in this video.

Article: 5 Group Policy Management Capabilities You’re Missing

Don Jones — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When it Comes to GPO Management, You're Missing a Few Key Features

Article: How To: Address Choppy VoIP

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Network problems mean VoIP problems. You can fix choppiness with telephony, and here’s how.

Article: The Power of Troubleshooting Packs

Jeffery Hicks — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:30:00 GMT

Windows 7 offers a new tool for troubleshooting and diagnosing common desktop problems. Learn how to use the Troubleshooting wizard in the GUI and from Windows PowerShell with the Troubleshooting Pack module.

Blog: New in Active Directory - the Recycle Bin

Don Jones — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:41:00 GMT

Is the AD Recycle Bin All You Need for AD Recovery?

Video: How to Show All Your Problems in the Windows Troubleshooting Pack

Jeffery Hicks — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:30:00 GMT

This video offers a brief walk through of the Troubleshooting Pack feature in Windows 7. This wonderful wizard will help you put the wallop on your most common desktop woes.

Video: How to Use the Active Directory Recycle Bin

Don Jones — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:30:00 GMT

Don Jones demonstrates how to use the AD Recycle Bin, and discusses what it can and can't do.

Article: Challenges and Solutions for Expiring Service Passwords

Don Jones — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If User Passwords Expire Every 90 Days, How Often do Service Passwords Expire?

Article: Tracking Down Network Storms

Mike Danseglio — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A storm outside means wet barbeque. A storm in the network means real trouble. Track it down in this deep dive.

Blog: A Network Map isn't the Only Way to Find a Mysterious Computer

Mike Danseglio — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

You’d think that just finding computers would be easy, but translating your domain’s logical space to its physical one requires special skills.

Video: Making Decisions when Mapping Drives in Logon Scripts

Greg Shields — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In this video Greg explains some of the complex decision making options you can use when mapping drives in logon scripts.

Video: Decentralized Windows Security

Don Jones — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:05:00 GMT

Don Jones demonstrates the de-centralized nature of Windows security, and explains the centralization features most organizations would prefer to have.

Blog: You're Using Group Policies, But Something is Missing

Don Jones — Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Is Everything You Need for GPO Management in the Box?

Video: Finding a Missing Server, the Hard Way

Mike Danseglio — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:56:00 GMT

If you've lost a server, or don't know where in the world a given computer is located, there are techniques you can use to begin tracking it down. This video shows the use of some simple and free tools that can be repurposed to, if not pinpoint the lost server, at least start your search in the right direction.

Blog: I Yearn for a Day with No Password Reset Help Desk Calls

Greg Shields — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:20:00 GMT

Yearn yourself for a day when password reset calls are a thing of the past. Here’s how.

Video: Sketching out a Self Service Password Solution

Greg Shields — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Everyone in IT would love to get rid of those password change help desk calls, but a good solution requires some very important features. Greg Shields runs you through the big ones on the white board in this video.

Blog: Why Must Mapping Drives in Logon Scripts Be So Obtuse?

Greg Shields — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Acutely eliminate the obtuse steps in mapping drives, right here.

Article: 4 Steps to Finding a Mysterious Server

Mike Danseglio — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ever spent a day or more just locating a rogue computer? No more with these simple tricks.

Blog: Does it Really Cost $206 a Year to Power a Computer?

Greg Shields — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Yes, it really does. Now figure out how to save that money and be an IT Hero!

Article: 5 Best Practices for Centralizing Security

Don Jones — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Why Windows' Security Architecture Makes it Difficult to Manage Security.

Blog: Troubleshooting Packs for your IT toolbox

Jeffery Hicks — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Discover how easy it is to troubleshoot common problems from the command line with the Windows PowerShell Troubleshooting Pack module.