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Breaking into a Windows System

Do you ever get that sinking feeling, when you’ve forgotten the root password to your test lab?  Again?

I hate it too!  So I decided to figure out a way around it, using a work around…

Windows Backup Mail Report Script

Updated version available: This article covers v4.1 of the script (2016). A fully rewritten v5.0 is now available, compatible with Windows Server 2025 and using the SendGrid REST API instead of the deprecated Send-MailMessage.Read the updated article: Windows Server...

Windows Server 2025 Backup reports with PowerShell and SendGrid

A modernised rewrite of the popular WBAdmin email report script, now compatible with Windows Server 2025 and using the SendGrid REST API instead of SMTP for reliable, credential-free mail delivery.

Change the Azure AD Sync Schedule

I finally I got some time to play with the new Azure Active Directory Sync tool and its configuration.

The installation was very straight forward. The step-by-step instruction are provided on MSDN. The administration tools and scripts are located in difference places compared to DirSync which was little confusing in the beginning.

Uninstall all Java versions

I received an inquiry from one of my mid-size (100-200 users) customers today. They’ve been planning on implementing a new online service which requires the latest Java version.

The clients have a large quantity of outdated versions of Java, which needed to be uninstalled before we deployed the newest version.
They are currently running Windows 7 and Windows 8, so somewhat modern operative systems.

Could not find an available image BootImageID

Could not find an available image BootImageID

After setting up Windows 7 x64 I was asked to verify that SCCM would work for 32-bit aswell. However after pressing F12 the TS would not start.
When checking SMSPXE.log I found the following…

RDP dying after Windows 2008 R2 SP1 update

RDP dying after Windows 2008 R2 SP1 update

Ran into this problem this morning when installing Service Pack 1 for Windows 2008 R2. Service Pack installs successfully, but after we couldn’t login via remote desktop services. The fix was easy to deploy…

Volume Shadow Copy and DHCP issue

Volume Shadow Copy and DHCP issue

After installing DHCP on Windows Server 2008 R2, you may start to see an error message in the event logs. Inspection of the detailed tab of the event log entry will show information about the process that generated the error…

Setting Option 66 and 67 for DHCP

Setting Option 66 and 67 for DHCP

To get PXE working on a server that is running both DHCP and WDS you need to enable option 66 and option 67. These settings will help your connecting clients to find the appropriate PXE server.

SCCM 2012 Back-end scripting

SCCM 2012 Back-end scripting

Here is the back end script that does all of the work. I’ve made some comments on the script in efforts to keep this post less wordy and more scripty.
Again if you have any specific questions please let me know.

MDT 2012 Update 1 released!

MDT 2012 Update 1 released!

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1 was released yesterday.
Some of the key changes in MDT 2012 Update 1 are added support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012…