MS: You Can't Access The User List In A Trust with error 'The Server Is Not Operational'

When you create a external trust between Windows 2000 and/or Windows 2003, you can't access the user list with error "The Server Is Not Operational"
This condition will happen if there are no SRV records in DNS on the the trusting domain for the DCs in the trusted domain. To fix this condition:

1. Open the DNS snap-in in the trusting domain.
2. Expand the server.
3. Right-click Forward Lookup Zones and press New Zone.
4. Press Next.
5. Press Standard secondary and then press Next.
6. Type the trusted domain name and press Next.
7. Create a new file named Domain.dns and press Next.
8. Press Finish.
9. Open the DNS snap-in in the trusted domain.
10. Expand the server.
11. Select the Properties of the trusted domain's forward lookup zone. Select the Zone Transfers tab.
12. Check the Allow zone transfers box.
13. Select Only to the following servers and type the IP address of the trusting domains DNS server.
14. Press OK.
15. On the DNS server in the trusting domain, open the DNS snap-in.
16. Expand the server.
17. Expand the Forward Lookup Zones.
18. Right-click the secondary zone and press Transfer from master.

BETA: Microsoft releases another build of Windows Vista RC1 (Build 5728)

Microsoft releases the second (public) build (5728) of the Release Candidate 1 of Windows Vista in september 23th. This build work much better than then previous RC1 build (5600).
This build is available in x64 and x86 versions.

BETA: Microsoft Windows 2003 SP2 Beta Refresh 1 Build 2786

Microsoft announce the release of Beta Refresh 1 (build 2786) of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition customers.

Here is the list of releases:

* 32-bit x86 standalone update: English, German and Japanese
* x64 standalone update: English and Japanese
* Itanium standalone update: English, German and Japanese

BETA: Microsoft releases another build of Windows Longhorn Server (Build 5600)

Microsoft releases this week another build (Build 5600) of Windows Longhorn Server for both platforms (x86 and x64), so I give a try and found this build very estable, faster and small than Vista RC1 (around 6 GB of hard disk space in x86 build).

BETA: Microsoft releases Windows Vista RC1 (Build 5600)

Microsoft releases the Release Candidate 1 (build 5600) of Windows Vista the first week of september, finally I got same free time from my projects in Avanade and install the x86 and x64 in 3 machines (one is my everyday Dell notebook).
Well, this build work much better than previous builds (Beta2, and Pre-RC1) and Office 2007 works amazing, but I still have some problems with Wireless networks, VPN connectivity and serveral applications and devices, so I need to keep my Windows XP partition to run same applications.

MS: Unattended Install

Unattended install .NET Framework v1.1/v2.0 (this appy to .NET Framework Language Pack too)

dotnetfx.exe /q:a /c:"install.exe /qb /l"

Unattended install .NET Framework v1.1 SP1

NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe /q

Unattended install Windows Media v9.0

MPSetup.exe /q

Unattended install Windows Media v10.0

MP10Setup.exe /q

Unattended install DirectX 9.0c

Download DirectX 9.0c Redistributable, extract the file (using WinRAR for example) and then

DXSETUP.EXE /silent

MS: Disable Windows XP SP2 Firewall using GPO

To disable Windows XP SP2 Firewall using GPO you will need to modify these settings:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Network Connections\Windows Firewall\Domain Profile\

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Network Connections\Windows Firewall\Standard Profile\

Windows Firewall: Protect all network connections = Disabled

MS: Print Migrator

Print Migrator is a utility, which automates the backup and restore of print configuration data on print servers running Microsoft Windows NT 4, Microsoft Window 2000 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Print Migrator 3.1 continues full support for print servers running Microsoft Cluster Services; support for migration between different version of Windows (for example, Windows NT 4 to Windows Server 2003); and support for conversion of line printer remote (LPR) ports to the Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. This paper is designed for systems integrators, administrators, and architects who are planning, deploying, or managing Windows Print Servers.

You can download from here

Sometimes you will get this error:

"WARNING: Kernel Mode drivers (version 2) are blocked on the target machine. Disable Kernel Mode driver blocking and re-run Printer Migrator"

To fix that error:

1) Open Run and type gpedit.msc
2) Open Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Printer.
3) On the Right click on the policy labeled "Disallow installation of printers using kernel mode drivers"
4) Set it to disabled.

You may have to reboot, but you should now be able to install Kernel Mode Drivers.

MS: Move DHCP Database

How to move a DHCP database from a computer that is running Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003 to a computer that is running Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325473

How to move a DHCP database from one server to another in Windows NT 4.0 and in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/130642

MS: How to use netsh to configure TCP/IP settings from the Command Prompt

In order to configure TCP/IP settings such as the IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, DNS and WINS addresses and many other options you can use Netsh.exe.

Netsh.exe is available on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

With Netsh.exe, you can configure the IP address and other TCP/IP related settings. For example:

The following command configures the interface named Local Area Connection with the static IP address 192.168.0.100, the subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, and a default gateway of 192.168.0.1:

netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" static 192.168.0.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1 1

Netsh.exe can also be used to configure your NIC to automatically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server:

netsh interface ip set address "Local Area Connection" dhcp

You can configure your NIC to dynamically obtain it's DNS settings:

netsh interface ip set dns "Local Area Connection" dhcp

You can configure DNS addresses from the Command Prompt:

netsh interface ip set dns "Local Area Connection" static 192.168.0.200

You can add extra DNS servers using:

netsh interface ip add dns "Local Area Connection" 192.168.0.210

You can configure your NIC to dynamically obtain it's WINS settings:

netsh interface ip set wins "Local Area Connection" dhcp

You can configure WINS addresses from the Command Prompt :

netsh interface ip set wins "Local Area Connection" static 192.168.0.200

If you want you can add extra WINS servers using:

netsh interface ip add wins "Local Area Connection" 192.168.0.210

Example Script to setup a computer:

netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" static 10.150.0.125 255.255.0.0 10.150.0.254 1
netsh interface ip set dns "Local Area Connection" static 10.150.0.10
netsh interface ip add dns "Local Area Connection" 10.150.0.11
netsh interface ip add dns "Local Area Connection" 10.150.0.12
netsh interface ip set wins "Local Area Connection" static 10.150.0.10
netsh interface ip add wins "Local Area Connection" 10.150.0.11
netsh interface ip add wins "Local Area Connection" 10.150.0.12

MS: Troubleshooting an Exchange Server 2000 / 2003 computer with antivirus software installed

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/245822

MS: The version of the Active Directory schema of the source forest is not compatible with the version of Active Directory on this computer

Error message when you run the Active Directory Installation Wizard: "The version of the Active Directory schema of the source forest is not compatible with the version of Active Directory on this computer" in Windows 2003 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917385

MS: Windows 2003 Migration

Actually I'm working in Avanade in a large migration from Windows NT, Novell and Unix systems to Windows 2003/Exchange 2003.

Windows NT to Windows 2003

How to configure the Active Directory Migration Tool to migrate user passwords from a Windows NT 4.0 domain to a Windows Server 2003 domain
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832221/en-us

How to use Active Directory Migration Tool version 2 to migrate from Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326480

Windows NT Server 4.0 Upgrade Guide Windows NT Server 4.0 Upgrade Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/partners/isvs/ntmigrate.mspx

Migrating from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e92cf6a0-76f0-4e25-8de0-19544062a6e6&DisplayLang=en

Tools and Documentation for Upgrading to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/tooldocs

MS: Transfer roles to a Windows Domain Controller

Using Ntdsutil.exe to transfer or seize FSMO roles to a domain controller
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255504/en-us

How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003 / 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801

CERTIFICATION: Microsoft Test 70-292 passed!

Today I passed the Microsoft Test 70-292: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000. I got today the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) en Microsoft Windows 2003 certification.

Exam Statistics:

10 Citrix Exams
04 Citrix Certifications
18 Microsoft Exams
08 Microsoft Certifications

http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

New Job!

I am very excited to announce that I accepted an offer to work for Avanade (www.avanade.com) as System Engineer in Madrid. Avanade is the leading technology integrator specializing in the Microsoft enterprise platform. I think the job is going to be very exciting.

BETA: Microsoft Windows 2003 SP2 Build 2721

Microsoft releases today the pre-beta version of the SP2 for Windows 2003 (x86, x64 and Itanium) and Windows XP 64 bits.

MS: Exchange Server '12' requires Microsoft Management Console 3.0

One issue that seems to come up frequently for those of you that have tried installing Exchange 12 CTP build (Exchange 2007 Beta 1) is the following error at Setup:

"Exchange Server '12' requires Microsoft Management Console 3.0."

This happens even though the final (RTM), released version of MMC is installed on the system.

The problem here is that the CTP build of Exchange 12 setup actually needs a "RC1 refresh" build of MMC 3.0, and as this build is not found - the setup fails with the above error. E12 is looking for a registry key that is not there on the machine that has RTM version of MMC 3.0 installed. This issue is going to be fixed in later builds of Exchange 12 and will definitely not be there in final release version.

You can resolve this problem in 2 different ways:

1. Download and install the RC1 refresh MMC release, see Microsoft Management Console 3.0 Pre-Release (RC1 Refresh).

2. If you would like to run the RTM version instead (as you already installed it) create the following empty registry key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MMC30Core

Thanks to Nino Bilic @ Microsoft Exchange Team Blog (http://msexchangeteam.com)

MS: Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment

The Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) delivers end-to-end guidance for efficient planning, building, testing, and deploying Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 edition, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and Office Professional 2003 Editions. It helps IT professionals realize a quick return on investment while also setting new standards for reliability, performance, security, and ease of use.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/bddoverview.mspx

CTX: Configuring and Securing Citrix Shadowing

Shadowing is a valuable tool released with Citrix Presentation Server, however, taking time to implement and delegate this ability to support personnel often falls to the bottom of the priority list. Enabling your first responders with the shadowing ability, and a basic understanding of Citrix, will help them to identify the source of a problem and thus decrease the amount of escalated calls. This article will go over the different methods of configuring shadowing (including order of precedence), shadowing utilities, shadow logging, and to conclude, a summary of best practices.

http://www.brianmadden.com/content/content.asp?id=583