Category Archives: Windows

Windows: "The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel"

I recently had a problem on an Office Web App Server (Windows Server 2012 R2). To show a document in Web View, it had to fetch it from another server via HTTPS. This failed. The ULS log showed: "The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel" When I used Internet Explorer from the Office Web App Server, I could connect to the other server via HTTPS no problem. So the certificate was not the problem, it was trusted on the Office Web App Server. After hours of searching, I Read more [...]

Windows Server: Synchronize the Time via Internet (Command Line)

If you need to synchronize the time via the Internet on a Windows Server, it is best to configure this via command line. Find below the commands you need (Open CMD as Administrator):

w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"pool.ntp.org" /reliable:YES /update

w32tm /config /update

w32tm /resync

"pool.ntp.org" is just an example, of course you can use other time servers.

Windows: Check Time Synchronization

If you are not sure if the time of your Windows Server or Client is synchronized properly or if you would like to know which is the time source, you can use the following command lines (Start cmd with Administrator privileges): net start w32time w32tm /resync w32tm /query /status You should see something like this: C:\Users\Administrator>w32tm /query /status Leap Indicator: 0(no warning) Stratum: 2 (secondary reference - syncd by (S)NTP) Precision: -6 (15.625ms per tick) Root Read more [...]

Windows Server: How to force a certain Lock and Logon Screen

To avoid the picture on the Win Server Lock and Logon Screen, use the following procedure: Start the Group Policy Editor: gpedit.msc Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization Open Force a spcific default lock screen and logon image Enable it and set the path to the lock screen image to: C:\Windows\Web\Screen\img105.jpg Tick Turn off fun facts Click on OK to save the changes Read more [...]

Windows 10: How to remove items from the Start Menu

The Windows 10 Start Menu is not as customizable as it used to be in Windows 7. While the part on the right (the tiles) can be easily removed and added by right-clicking them, the traditional part on the left (folders and shortcuts) is not customizable any more. In Windows 7, you could right-click on a shortcut and then delete or rename it. Not any more in Windows 10. There are tricks to modify the Windows 10 Start Menu shortcuts anyway. Find the instructions to do so below: Traditional Applications The Read more [...]

Windows 10: How to disable System Apps

Some Windows 10 apps cannot be uninstalled, even not with Power Shell commands. One example is the Edge browser. But you can disable those apps by renaming the folder that they are stored in. The system apps can be found in C:\Windows\SystemApps Find below the list of folders that I have renamed without any problem: ContactSupport_cw5n1h2txyewy = Get Help CortanaListenUIApp_cw5n1h2txyewy DesktopLearning_cw5n1h2txyewy DesktopView_cw5n1h2txyewy EnvironmentsApp_cw5n1h2txyewy holocamera_cw5n1h2txyewy holoitemplayerapp_cw5n1h2txyewy InsiderHub_cw5n1h2txyewy Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyewy Microsoft.AccountsControl_cw5n1h2txyewy Read more [...]

Windows Server: Sample uses of SETSPN

SPN means "Service Principal Name". In Active Directory you can set an SPN with the command line tool SETSPN. Find below some usage examples which I use often: setspn -Q http/www.mywebsite.com ==> Check if the SPN "http/www.mywebsite.com" exists setspn -L MyServer ==> Show all SPNs for MyServer setspn -X ==> Search for duplicate SPNs in the current domain setspn -S http/www.mywebsite.com MyServer ==> Set the SPN for a specific Server object in AD. This also checks for duplicate Read more [...]

Windows 10: Disable Picture on Lock Screen

On the Windows 10 Lock Screen, you can have either a picture or a slide show. If you would like to have a solid background, there is no option for this. Here is what you need to do: Click on the Start Menu and then type lock screen Choose "Lock screen settings" Make sure that under "Background" you have chosen "Picture" Under the pictures, choose "Browse" Browse to C: > Windows > Web > Screen Choose the blue solid picture (this is called "img105.jpg" on my machine). Click Read more [...]

Windows 10: Can't type in Search field

After I had done some changes in Windows 10 to make it faster and less "chatty" to Microsoft (switch off Telemetry, switch off error reporting etc.) I could not use search any more. Symptoms were: Can't type into Cortana search field Can't type to search in Start Menu Can't type to search in Win 10 App Store Can't type in taskbar search Can't type in Settings search There are lots people with the same or similar issues as can be seen from a simple Internet search "win 10 taskbar Read more [...]