I have been toying around with different configurations here using the free VMWare server package. I decided I would take another look at the Microsoft VM solution (Now known as Hyper-V)

In the past I have been underwhelmed by the truly abysmal state of Microsoft's Virtual Machine server software. Last time I tried it out I believe it was called Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. I had so much trouble getting it to work I vowed to never allow it on my system again - in fact Virutal Server caused so much trouble I had to reformat and reload the host PC that I had installed it on.

Come back to today...three years later. I was installing a fresh copy of Windows 2008 as a new domain controller. I saw the option to install Hyper-V, or not to install it. I figured I would give it a spin (And work on my new DC later)

I ran automatic update right after my fresh copy of Windows 2008 was installed. This brought me from a pre-release version of Hyper-V to the final version. Once my updates were complete I opened up the server manager and drilled down to the...

A time ago we had a customer who struggeled with slow domain logon from Windows XP clients. Logon process was taking more than 20 minutes to complete with logon process hanging on "applying computer settings". We finally go the problem pinpointed;

ACTION:
Users are logging onto Windows XP workstations.

RESULT:
The logon process was taking more than 20 minutes to complete.
The logon process was hanging for approximately 15 minutes when “applying computer settings”.

CAUSE:
The Message Queuing Service (MSMQ) was in a start pending state during startup.

The services database was locked, waiting on MSMQ to start and also making other services like Computer Browser, Security Center and Network Location Awareness (NLA) to hang therefore blocking group policy.
The Message Queuing Service has a timeout of 900000 milliseconds, i.e. 15 minutes, so only after this time the other services were able to proceed so as logon to complete.

The message queuing service was failing to start up because it was receiving an 0xc000101d error status when attempting to initialize the MSMQ log
The error “0xc000101d” is reported when the log is corrupt.


RESOLUTION:
The following actions resolved the problem:

1. Ran MQBKUP.EXE to backup

...

Firefox 3 one of the maximum downloaded open source browser which has set a Guinness world record. Their were Over 8,000,000 downloads in 24 hours!. Along with Firefox 3 Spreadfirefox also got new cool look.

Firefox 3 about:config file is the core configuration file of Firefox. By editing about:config file we can get amazing hacks for Firefox 3. Firefox allows the users to change many preferences in the about:config file so it’s totally ethical to do it.Here is list of 21 Firefox 3 hacks & tweaks.

To get the Firefox 3 configuration file type “about:config” at address bar.

Here is List of about:config hacks for Firefox 3

1) Disable Extension Compatibility Checks

extensions.checkCompatibility = False
extensions.checkUpdateSecurity = False

2) Location Bar (Set number Auto Complete URL at Address Bar)

This is a good hack to trim down that huge auto-complete list on your URL bar. By default it displays maximum 12 URL

browser.urlbar.maxRichResults = #

Enter Number at # (3,10,12 etc)

3) Stop Displaying Website Icon (Favicon) in Address bar & On Tab

...

Here is a tip on how to reset the ILO password for the Administrator user or create a new userlogin. You will need access to the computer via console or RDP to be able to complete this.

Download
HP Lights-Out Online Configuration Utility for Windows Server 2003/2008
HP Lights-Out XML Scripting Sample for Windows

Install the Configuration Utility and extract the XML scripts to the installation folder.

Reset the Administrator password
Open the Administrator_reset_pw.xml in notepad and change the Password value to what you want;

<PASSWORD value="123456"/>

Save the .xml file and run this command from CMD;

HPONCFG.EXE /f add_user.xml /l log.txt > output.txt

You can now log in with the new password.

To create a new user
Open the Change_Password.xml in notepad and change the MOD_USER USER_LOGIN and Password value to what you want;

<MOD_USER USER_LOGIN="testuser">
<PASSWORD value="123456"/>

Save the .xml file and run this command from CMD;

HPONCFG.EXE /f add_user.xml /l log.txt > output.txt

You can now log in with the new username and password.

What a sidebar package. This ocean themed side package includes a clock, radio, stats, shutdown, email, recycle bin, network, cpu, feedreader, calendar and more. I love the blue colors and light feel to all the gadgets.

Title: Ocean Gadgets
Author: gersma
Download:

Download Ocean Gadgets Sidebar Here

Now this is a cool Vista theme. I like the choice of the background image and the side bar. The start menu looks great with its black look and really mixes well with the transparency effect. The start orb looks great too. This theme is not heavily modified, which is nice because it doesn’t need to be. Great job to the creator on a fantastic design.

Are you still using Windows XP? If you are then visit our FAQ page to download our XP Theme Patcher. If you’re using Windows Vista, you don’t need the Theme Patcher.
Title: AeroStatic
Author: Canflip
Download:

Download Vista AeroStatic for Vista Here