All posts by Admin

ESXI 5.5: How to install the vCenter Appliance on an existing Host

If you just have ESXi 5.5 installed and you manage it with the vSphere client, you might want to install vCenter, which has some benefits (vSphere Web Client, get ESX alert emails and many others). Be aware that while ESXi 5.5 is free, the vCenter has a license cost. Also, make sure that the vCenter you install is always a newer or the same version than the ESXi you have. You can either install the vCenter to run on an existing Windows Server or you can just import a virtual appliance (based on Read more [...]

Blackberry 10: Remove Anti-Theft Protection from Device

With OS version 10.3.2, Blackberry has introduced Anti-Theft Protection (the company was required to do so by law). It did this by integrating Anti-Theft functionality in its "Blackberry Protect" offering. While this might reduce the number of stolen devices, it is a horror for people that have forgotten their Blackberry ID password. Their Blackberry has turned into a useless brick and Blackberry support was in many cases less than useful. But there is now a method to remove Anti-Theft Protection. Read more [...]

Windows: How to generate a SAN certificate via Web enrollment

In environments where you have a Microsoft PKI Infrastructure (AD CA) setup, you can create new certificates via web enrolment: https://ca-server/CertSrv This is straight forward for single-name certificates. If you wish to have multiple names for a certificate (Subject Alternative Names = SAN), you need a certain syntax in the "Atrributes" field of the web page: san:dns=corpdc1.fabrikam.com&dns=ldap.fabrikam.com You can add as many names as you want, separated by "&". Important: Read more [...]

Active Directory: Reset Expiry Date of an expired Password

Many companies have a policy that require their users to change their passwords regularly (e.g. every 90 days). In Active Directory, this is normally enforced via Group Policy. This works well, but can be problematic if the user is out of the office while the password expires. An example: If he or she is using a mobile phone to access company emails via ActiveSync, the access will be blocked once the password has expired. ActiveSync does not support password changes, so the user has no way to Read more [...]

Windows: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup Support Files cannot be uninstalled

I recently wanted to uninstall SQL Server 2008 R2 completely after I have upgraded to SQL Server 2014. The uninstall of the "SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup Support Files" did not work and produced the error: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup Support Files cannot be uninstalled because the following products are installed: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RsFx Driver Strangely, the "Add/Remove Programs" section did not list the "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RsFx Driver". To uninstall this "hidden" Read more [...]

Outlook 2010/2013: How to find the folder path of a message

I frequently do a mailbox wide search in Outlook. Sometimes, it is important to find out where exactly that email is located in Outlook. The search results list doesn't indicate the folder, unfortunately. Solution 1 (reveals the folder name, but not the sub-folder structure): If only the name of the folder is important to you, you can determine this by opening the “classic” Properties dialog of a message via the keyboard shortcut ALT+ENTER. This works for an email that you have selected Read more [...]

Blackberry OS 10: How to mute the dial pad on the phone

When you dial a number on a Blackberry OS 10 device like the Classic or the Z30, you hear the typcal "dialling" sound, also called DTMF. Unfortunately, there is no switch to turn that off. The only way to do this is to switch your sound profile to "Silent" or "Vibrate", but that mutes any other notifications as well. Here are the instructions to turn the dial pad tone off but still hearing other notifications: Settings > Notifications Make sure, the active profile is "Normal" Under Read more [...]

Windows Time service doesn't start automatically on a workgroup computer

On a workgroup computer that's running Windows 7/8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2/2012 R2, the Windows Time service stops immediately after system startup. This issue occurs even after the Startup Type is changed from Manual to Automatic. Additionally, the following event is logged in the System log: Log Name: System Source: Service Control Manager Event ID: 7036 Level: Information The Windows Time service entered the running state. Log Name: System Source: Service Control Manager Event ID: Read more [...]

IIS 7.5: How to enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2

In IIS 7.5, which is installed on Windows 2008 R2 servers, only SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0 are enabled for HTTPS encryption by default. To enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 and disable the insecure SSL 3.0 protocol, add the following keys to the Registry of the server: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\SSL 3.0\Server] "Enabled"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.0\Server] "DisabledByDefault"=dword:00000000 "Enabled"=dword:ffffffff [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS Read more [...]

Malicious Software Removal Tool (MRT): How to disable the monthly download and run via Windows Update

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MRT) is downloaded and run with the monthly Windows Update cycle on many Windows versions (e.g. Windows 7, 8.1, 10, Windows Server 2012 R2 and others). It always uses the same KB/Patch number: KB890830 You can disable this in Windows Update by hiding the update, but it will be re-offered next month. To permanantly disable the offering via Windows Update, change this registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT] "DontOfferThroughWUAU"=dword:00000001 It's Read more [...]