Posted on

Nov 2009 KYSBSUG #69 – SBS 2008/Hyper-V

You’re invited to attend the November 2009 KYSBSUG meeting next week:

KYSBSUG logo Group: Kentucky Small Business Server User Group
(KYSBSUG)
Meeting #: 69
Date: Wednesday November 18, 2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM Eastern (GMT -5)
Location: Money Concepts
Address: 323 Townpark Circle, Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40243 USA
Map: Click here for map on Bing.com

Topic: SBS 2008 Build in Hyper-V
Presenters: Lee Johnson & Tim Barrett

Description:

This month we’re doing a live build of Windows Server 2008 R2 on physical hardware, installing the Hyper-V role, and then installing Windows Small Business Server 2008.

While the SBS build progresses we’ll also have another Hyper-V box on hand to show various operating systems, including Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 & Ubuntu, plus some Hyper-V best practices.

We’re also bringing a copy of Beatrice Mulzer’s new book for you to check out:

Book - 70-653 Configuring Windows Small Business Server 2008MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-653): Configuring Windows Small Business Server 2008
http://www.amazon.com/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-653/dp/0735626782/

Registration URL: Registration is not required for this event.

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
Posted on

Microsoft is Coming to Louisville 12/02/2009

  • Microsoft TechNet logo Microsoft TechNet Event
    Primary Target Audience: Microsoft Partners
    Start: Wed 12/2/2009 8:30 Eastern
    End: Wed 12/2/2009 12:00 PM Eastern

    Venue: Kentucky Intl. Convention Center
    Address: 2210 Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202
    Registration: Free

    Agenda:
    Session 1: Introducing Windows 7
    Session 2: Introduction to Windows Server 2008 R2
    Session 3: Introducing Exchange Server 2010

    Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032429190&Culture=en-US

    Door prizes: 
    Register and attend for your chance to WIN*!
    – Netbook!  Dell Mini 10 – US $329.00 (ARV) Approximate Retail Value
    – Zune!  Zune HD 32gb – US $289.00 (ARV)
    – Games!  "Halo 3 ODST" for Xbox 360 – US $59.99 (ARV)
    – Books!  Windows 7 Inside Out – US $49.99 (ARV)
     
     

  • Microsoft MSDN logo Microsoft MSDN Event
    Primary Target Audience: Microsoft Developers
    Start: Wed 12/2/2009 1:00 PM Eastern
    End: Wed 12/2/2009 4:30 PM Eastern

    Venue: Kentucky Intl. Convention Center
    Address: 2210 Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202
    Registration: Free

    Agenda:
    Session 1: Taking Your Application to the Next Level with Windows 7
    Session 2: Light up Your Application with Graphics, Multi-touch and Ribbon on Windows 7
    Session 3: What’s New and Changed in Windows Server 2008 R2

    Registration URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032429198&Culture=en-US

    Door Prizes:
    Register and attend for your chance to WIN*!
    – Netbook!  Dell Mini 10 – US $329.00 (ARV) Approximate Retail Value
    – Zune!  Zune HD 32gb – US $289.00 (ARV)
    – Games!  "Halo 3 ODST" for Xbox 360 – US $59.99 (ARV)
    – Books!  Introducing Windows for Developers – US $39.99 (ARV)

*No Purchase Necessary. Open only to registered event attendees. Game ends day of event. Must be present to win. For full Official Rules, see event registration desk.

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
Posted on

Windows 7 Media Center Missing TV Signal Menu

Windows Media CenterI was customizing a new Windows 7 Media Center PC for a friend and I ran across an interesting problem that was driving me nuts. This brand new PC has an internal tuner card and is connected to a 10/100/1000 network with an HDHomeRun dual-tuner on the LAN as well. So with the one internal and two external tuners it should be able to record 3 shows at the same time. Pretty cool!

After the initial Windows 7 setup with a mouse & keyboard which I got from qwertybro site plugged in, I decided to use my fancy multi-monitor setup and Remote Desktop to finish configuring & patching the PC before taking it on-site. I remotely installed the AV software, updated all of the drivers, etc. However, when it came time to configure Windows Media Center I was in for a bit of a surprise.

When I opened Windows Media Center | Tasks | Settings | TV, the menu was missing some options.

The TV Setup menu looks like this…
RDP Windows 7 Media Center
Fig. 1 Windows 7 Media Center via RDP

When it should really look like this…
Hyper-V Windows 7 Media Center
Fig. 2 Windows 7 Media Center via Hyper-V

Or even this…
Console Windows 7 Media Center
Fig. 3 Windows 7 Media Center via Console

As you can see in Fig. 1, the TV missing the Set Up TV Signal option. I searched all over the Internet and couldn’t find an answer to this problem. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Windows Media Center feature:
Uninstall Windows Media Center featue in Windows 7

That didn’t fix it.

I even tried Media Center Recovery

Open a Command Prompt

Type CD \windows\ehome [Enter]

Type mcupdate.exe –MediaCenterRecoveryTask [Enter]

How to reset Media Center to factory defaults

That did reset Media Center, but it didn’t fix the ‘no tuner option’.

So I checked one of my Windows 7 virtual machines running on my Hyper-V test box, and it showed the Set Up TV Signal option as shown in Fig. 2. I decided to try one more thing and RDP into that exact same virtual Windows 7 box and bingo, the Set Up TV Signal option disappeared right before my eyes!

So, I physically logged in locally on the new Win7 PC with a mouse and keyboard, which can play games like daftar roulette online, restarted Media Center and the menu choice was there! And the choice for “Configure Your TV or Monitor” was there too. Apparently, the Windows 7 Media Center is aware of how you’re logging into the PC.

Once you’ve properly configured your tuner(s) the Tasks | Settings | TV menu should look like this…
Windows 7 Media Center properly configured

I’m sure this is an ‘edge case scenario’ since most people aren’t configuring Windows Media Center on Windows 7 via RDP, but it’s good to know that there are differences in MCE depending on how you login.

My original plan was to install this server in a media closet as a headless unit with all of the other AV equipment. But now that I know some features will be missing with RDP, I’m going to plug a physical monitor into it (or maybe install LogMeIn instead).

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 9.7/10 (9 votes cast)
Posted on

Download – Free Windows Server 2008 R2 eBook

image Title: Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2
Authors: Charlie Russel, Craig Zacker with the Windows Server Team at Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Date Published: © 2010 Microsoft Corporation
Pages: 200
File size: PDF 11 MB / XPS 28 MB
Price: FREE
Download URL: Click here for PDF / Click here for XPS

Description:

Charlie has done it again! Learn about the new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 in the areas of virtualization, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7. Download Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2, written by industry experts Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker along with the Windows Server team at Microsoft.

Contents at a glance:

  • Chapter 1 – What’s New in Windows Server R2
  • Chapter 2 – Installation and Configuration: Adding R2 to Your World
  • Chapter 3 – Hyper-V: Scaling and Migrating Virtual Machines
  • Chapter 4 – Remote Desktop Services and VDI: Centralizing Desktop and Application Management
  • Chapter 5 – Active Directory: Improving and Automating Identity and Access
  • Chapter 6 – The File Services Role
  • Chapter 7 – IIS 7.5: Improving the Web Application Platform
  • Chapter 8 – DirectAccess and Network Policy Server
  • Chapter 9 – Other Features and Enhancements
VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)
Posted on

Webcast – Windows 7: Crystal Meth for Geeks

Join Susan Bradley and I this week as we combine super-forces to to give the following presentation:

Yes, this is my office, and I'm running Windows 7. -Tim Title: “Windows 7: It’s Like Crystal Meth for Geeks”
Presenters: Susan Bradley [SBS-MVP] & Tim Barrett
Date: 10/22/2009
Time: 12:00 PM Noon Eastern (GMT –5)
Host: Third Tier
Link to attend: Click here

Description:
This presentation will help you understand the features of Windows 7. This version of Windows has many, many cool new features that end users are going to love and geeks will become addicted to. Susan and I share our favorite parts of Windows 7, and I’ll try not to act like a goober and embarrass her. Join us for all the fun!

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
Posted on

Changing the Companyweb Timeout in SBS 2008

Another one from the mailbag:

Question – How do I change the timeout in SBS 2008? Users are complaining that Companyweb times out when they get involved in a phone call or when someone walks in their office.

Answer:

  1. Click Start | Administrative Tools | Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager (not IIS 6.0 Manager)
  2. Expand the Server name | expand Sites | click on SBS SharePoint

    Click Server name, Sites, SBS SharePoint

  3. On the Actions pane on the right side of that page, under the Configure section click Limits… 
    Click Limits...
  4. On the Edit Web Site Limits dialog box you can configure your Connection time-out (in seconds), limit bandwidth usage and limit the number of connections. Below is a screenshot of the SBS 2008 default settings for Companyweb / “SBS SharePoint”.
     Choose your timeout length in seconds
  5. Adjust your settings as needed, and click OK.

Here’s what each setting does:

Element Name

Description

Limit bandwidth usage (in bytes)

Select this option to limit the amount of traffic allowed to a Web site based on bandwidth usage. In the corresponding box, enter a value (in bytes) at which you want to limit the Web site traffic. The value must be an integer between 1024 and 4294967295 (unlimited).

Connection time-out (in seconds)

Type a number in the box to set the length of time (in seconds) before the Web server disconnects an inactive user. This setting guarantees that all connections are closed if the HTTP protocol cannot close a connection.

Limit number of connections

Select this option to limit the number of connections allowed to a Web site. In the corresponding box, enter the number of connections to which you want to limit the Web site. The value must be an integer between 0 and 4294967295 (unlimited). Setting the number to be unlimited circumvents constant administration if your connections tend to fluctuate. However, system performance can be negatively affected if the number of connections exceeds your system resources. Restricting a Web site to a specified number of connections can keep performance stable.

 

Link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731169.aspx

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 8.3/10 (3 votes cast)
Posted on

Rename a VPN Connection in Windows 7

This question comes up a lot, so it’s worth documenting:

Question: How do I rename a VPN connection in Windows 7? There’s no option to rename it in the Network and Sharing Center or on the taskbar.

It’s true that there’s no way to rename a VPN connection on the Network and Sharing center main screen:

Network and Sharing Center

…and if you click the icon in the System Tray and then try to right-click the VPN connection, there’s no rename option under properties either:

Network Connections in System Tray

But the rename VPN option is nearby, tucked away under “Changer Adapter Settings” on the Network and Sharing Center:

Click Change Adapter Settings

Here you will see the familiar wired and wireless NICs and VPN connections listed, since there are different types of VPN services you can get online using a torguard coupon to get the best deals for this. Just right-click the VPN connection here and then click Rename.

Right-click the VPN connection, then click Rename

It’s just one of those easily overlooked or forgotten things.

Disclaimer: Matt isn’t really a poo-poo-head, he actually rocks.

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 8.1/10 (22 votes cast)
Posted on

Download – Handy Computer Hardware Chart

Download the full-size image on the Click here link Title: Computer Hardware Chart
Author: Sonic840
File Size: 24.1 MB
Resolution: 4320 x 6120 pixels
Printed Size: 24×34”
Price: FREE
Download URL: Click here

Description: This handy reference chart includes over 170 different types computer reference pictures, including:

  • Notebook RAM
  • Desktop RAM
  • Power Connectors
  • Hard Drives
  • Ports
  • Processor Card Slots
  • Processor Card Sockets
  • Peripheral Cards
  • Desktop Card Slots
  • and CPU Sockets

Note: The download link for the big picture is on the left of side of that web page. You can also buy prints of that picture from the website, but they’re pretty spendy, when getting a computer then looking for computer mounts is a must.

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 8.0/10 (5 votes cast)
Posted on

Book – SBS 2008 Training for Exam 70-653

Bea Mulzer You know her, you love her, and she’s back! We’re talking about none other than Beatrice Mulzer. Anyone who’s been around the SMB space for a while will remember Bea for her well known books like the Top 15 SMB Consultants the 70-282 Exam Prep and the Small Business Specialist Primer.

Bea is back and this time she’s joined by Walter Glenn and Scott Lowe and has just released a must-have book for those working towards certification on SBS 2008!

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-653) Title: MCTS Study Guide (Exam 70-653): Configuring Windows Small Business Server 2008
Authors: Beatrice Mulzer, Walter Glenn and Scott Lowe
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Published: August 19, 2009
ISBN: 0-7356-2678-2
Retail: $69.99 USD ($44.09 at Amazon.com)
Pages: 640

Description: Announcing an all-new SELF-PACED TRAINING KIT designed to help maximize your performance on 70-653, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Small Business Server 2008, Configuration certification or the Microsoft Small Business Specialist (SBSC) designation.

This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most:

  • In-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content
  • Rigorous, objective-by-objective review
  • Exam tips from expert exam-certified authors
  • Customizable testing options
  • Real-world scenarios
  • Case study examples
  • Troubleshooting labs

Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. This official study guide covers deploying hardware and software for Small Business Server servers, migrating to SBS 2008, joining computers to the domain, modifying Remote Web Workplace (RWW) and RAS, and working with Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) and Exchange server technologies.

  • Assess yourself using 200 practice questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs.
  • Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives.
  • Get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study.

You also get an exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)