Disable UAC using registry editor

If you would like to turn on/off User Access Control feature in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista, you can go to Control Panel > User Accounts. Beside going to control panel, you can also turn it off/on using registry editor, you can find the UAC key in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

EnableLUA (DWORD)= change the value to 1 (On) or 0 (Off)

By the way, try not to disable UAC feature, as this will reduce the security enhancement to protect your workstation and servers in the future

Windows 7 beta is available for download!

Great news for all beta tester! Steve Ballmer now announce availability of Windows 7 beta for download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx. You will need to provide your live ID to download this.

For the Technet Plus Subscriber, you can get it at below URL:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/default.aspx?pv=36:350

Just go and grab it now!

Below is the URL for the announcement:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/jan09/01-07CES09PR.mspx

If you want to know more about Windows 7, please visit the URL below:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows7

How to restore NTBackup (.bkf) file on Windows Server 2008

Some of the IT pro may not aware that NTBackup is already remove from Windows Server 2008 & Windows Vista. If you try to restore a previous NTBackup backup file (.bkf) on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista, Windows Explorer will return you unknown file format and ask you to choose a program to open it. If you try to access Windows Server 2008 backup tool, you still unable to browse for the backup file and restore on other location.

Another question will come to your mind, if this is the case, IT pro will not be able to restore NTBackup file on Windows Server 2008, should I need to setup another Windows Server 2003 or below just only to restore NTBackup file in the future? The answer is No. You will still be able to restore it on Windows Server 2008 by using a tool called Windows NTBackup - Restore Utility. Once you install this tool on your Windows Server 2008 box, you will be able to restore a NTBackup file on Windows Server 2008. For those who are interested, please get the tool from below link:

Windows NTBackup - Restore Utility

Note: You will need to enable Removable Storage Management feature in order to run Windows NTBackup - Restore Utility

Disable Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration (IE ESC) for Windows 2008

Nowadays, new laptop is always equip with Hyper-V enabled hardware, such as virtualization enabled processor, 64-bit system. Some of you may want to install Windows 2008 on top of your laptop to try out Hyper-V. During this testing period, you may consider to perform your daily task on your laptop such as accessing your webmail, browse Internet for information etc. But when you try to open IE and accessing a website, IE will always prompt you for security warning and you always need to manually add in the URL for the website you browse into a trusted zone.

Previously in Windows 2003, you may remove this IE Enhanced Security Configuration from Add/Remove program, but when you try to look into Windows 2008 Program and Features, it was missing from there... Can we still be able to disable this setting?

Yes, you still can. For Windows 2008, IE Enhanced Security Configuration setting is resided in Server Manager. After you launch server manager, at the right pane Server Summary page, under the Security Information panel, click on the Configure IE ESC link. After that, a windows will prompt out as below:



Just edit the necessary setting and click on OK. Restart your IE browser, you will find all the security warning is missing, if you go to Internet Options -> Security tab, you will be able to tweak the security level for Internet zone. Last but not lease, please remain the original IE security settings for your production server. This is always the best recommendation from Microsoft.

Virtualization support

Recently, met up with few customer that interested with microsoft virtualization solution. However, they have different opinion and understanding. To share with you guys:

1) Yes, you will need Windows 2008 CAL to run Windows 2008 Hyper-V - however you need to understand this CAL is not just for Hyper-V - you can then run Windows 2008 other features, eg: Domain controller with RODC, serverCore +++

2) Lots of people did mention that Hyper-V do not support Windows 2000 as its virtual machine. It does, you will need SP4 and only support 1 proc. Check the guest operating system supports for Hyper-V:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954958/en-us

3) Other Microsoft product supported in other virtualization technology? Well, hopefully all in the near future. See what Microsoft would say: Its support policy.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897615/

Windows 2008 launch in Malaysia

Guys,

Something to share with you - 8th April will be the launch of Windows 2008 in Malaysia.

We will participate, together with Exchange Team in Malaysia. We will run few demos on Windows 2008 Hyper-V, Exchange 2007 on Win2K8 ++.

See you there. More info? Please visit http://www.heroes.com.my/

Attached the launch Video for your first view- Heros in Malaysia...

Windows 2008 Termimnal Services Web - RC0

One of the hot topic about Windows 2008 is the terminal services Web.

Tested in the RDP, it rocks. However, one thing we found out for RC0, which is not in Beta bits: it will need Windows XP SP3 and above, Vista SP1 and above to run. Personal thinking, it is not good as lots and lots of machines out there not be able to use this cool feature.

Hope MSFT will allow RDP ver 6.1 for download, instead of WinXP SP3 and Vista SP1.

Want to know more?

http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/10/17/client-requirements-for-ts-web-access-in-windows-server-2008-release-candidate-rc0.aspx

Windows 2008 Virtualization - in RC0

Guys,

Long time have not update this blog. Recently, participating a Early Adoptor of Windows 2008, code name Longhorn. One of the customer is eager to look into Virtualization, cool!

However, something that we found that would like to share it our here. As for now, only Windows 2008 RC0 that support virtualization, not other versions.

You also would be good to know:

- Not all the hardware is supported by W2008 V. There are lists of the hardware manufacturer in Microsoft website, so, do check it out before rolling out.
- W2008 Ent 32/64 bit support V.
- Only support 8 logical processor
- Max 64GB Ram
- Do not support more than 1 virtual SCSI controller (Means do not support cluster within V)
- Windows6.0-KB939854-x64.msu and Windows6.0-KB939853-x64.msu must be install to allow V to be in Server Management
- You cant install AD in the host OS
- You cant run VPC, VS in the physical machine together with Hypervisor
- Hypervisor do not support dynamic disk...beware or you will need to reinstall your OS

Lastly, when we try this out, our machine has multiple IPs, which results we can't log in using VMC. You can only have one primary IP, everything will then work fine.

Lots of things huh? Hope this will change in the near future :)

Windows 2008 - the default installation

Do you know that by default, when you install Windows Server 2008, the following is default?

• The computer name is randomly assigned
• The computer is joined to WORKGROUP by default
• Windows Update is turned off by default
• All network connections are set to obtain IP addressesautomatically by using DHCP
• Windows Firewall is turned on by default.
• File Server role is installed by default.
• The Administrator account password is blank by default

So, do remember to alter any configuration to suite you.

Happy reading.

Active Directory Service Server Roles

Guys, a share on Windows 2008 Active Directory - you can now break down to roles, just setup whatever you need for Directory Services. Below are the breakdown. We will share more, this is only intro :)

ADCS (Active Directory Certificate Services)
This server role enables creation and management of digitalcertificates for users, computers, and organizationsas part of a public key infrastructure.

ADDS (Active Directory Domain Services)
It's functionality has been carried forward into Windows Server 2008, along with an improved setup wizard. This also provide new management options for ADDS features such as read-only domain controllers (RODCs) - the hot topic in Windows 2008 AD.

ADFS (Active Directory Federation Services)
A feature that provides an identity access solution giving browser-based clients (inside or outside your network) single sign-on access to protected, Internet-facing applications.

ADLDS (Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services)
A LDAP directory service provide the functionality that was provided byActive Directory Application Mode (ADAM), and provides data storage and retrieval for directory enabled applications, without the dependencies thatare required for ADDS. It also do not store security principle, which store by ADDS.

ADRMS (Active Directory Rights Management Services)
Works with Rights Management Services applications to help safeguard digital information from unauthorized use. Organization can define exactly how a recipientcan use the information, such as who can open, modify, print, forward, or take other actions with the information. It can be applied directly to information such as financial reports, customer data, and e-mail messages!

RODC (Read Only Domain Controller)
A new type of domain controller in the Windows Server 2008 operating system. With an RODC, organizations can easily deploya domain controller in locations where physical security cannot be guaranteed. This solved lots of issues where we consult/discuss with our customer, which do not have security in branches offices. An RODC hosts a read-only replica of the database in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) for a given domain. The RODC is also capable of running the Global Catalog Role! Cool huh? We will focus only to RODC in next few postings.

Happy Reading.

Designed and Certified for Windows Server

Recently, there are few of the companies evaluating softwares/applications to increase HA and productivity, and for sure, how to lower down TCO.

Just a 2 cents advise on evaluating the hardware and software, working with Microsoft OS or Apps. Just mark this website down, add to favourite. You will need this one day.

http://www.windowsservercatalog.com/

Quoted from the website:

"The "Designed for Windows Server 2003" and "Certified for Windows Server 2003" logos help customers identify products that deliver a high-quality computing experience with the Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 operating system.

Hardware, software and device drivers can qualify for the logo by meeting the requirements published in the Windows Logo Program. Hardware vendors must test their own products using a downloadable test suite and submitting passing test results to the Winqual website. Software vendors must submit their products to an independent 3rd party testing authority to ensure they meet the testing requirements for the Windows Logo Program. "

Windows 2008 - System Requirements

Windows 2008 release is around the corner. Lots of people is asking, do i need 64bit server to run? Windows 2008 support 32 and 64 bit. Recommendation? For performance, 64 bit.

To clear the air, lets discuss about system requirements:

RAM
Minimum: 512 MB (for both the Server Core installation and full installation options)
Recommended: 1 GB (full installation option)
Optimal: 2 GB or more (full installation option) or 1 GB (Server Core installation option)

Processor
Minimum: 1 GHz (full installation option)
Recommended: 2 GHz (full installation option)
Optimal: 3 GHz or more (full installation option)

Disk space
Minimum: 8 GB (for both the Server Core installation and full installation options)
Recommended: 40 GB (full installation option) or 8 GB (Server Core installation option)
Optimal: 80 GB (full installation option) or 40 GB or more (Server Core installation option)