May 11

Running Windows 8 / Server 2012 on Vsphere

 

Have you got this?

Then you probably got an old version of ESX(i). Update to latest and choose Server 8 as profile for your VM and you should be good to go!

May 03

ConfigMgr 2012 console crash after .Net Framework 4.0 Client Profile Updates

Allright, I´m starting to find issues with ConfigMgr 2012 during my first installations. For instance, if you decide to install updates to your 4.0 Framework Client Profile you might find that your Configuration Manager 2012 console will crash (stop working).

These are the updates I installed.

And this is the error message I got.

I also could not run my SQL 2008 setup, as that aslo failed with a similar message.

Well, don´t panic. The solution is to repair your .Net Framwork 4.0 installation. To do this, simply download the .Net Framework 4.0 standalone installation, run it, and chose to repair your installation.

This will also fix the issue with SQL 2008 setup.

You can find the .Net Framework 4.0 Standalone installer here.

Apr 30

Problems changing password through Remote Desktop Services?

Do you get this error message when you create an account and set thechange password at next login?image

Well, then I got “good” news for you. This will be fixed in Service Pack 2 of Windows Server 2008R2 / Windows 7. In the meantime you can install 2 hotfixes. One on the server and one on the client. And they are of course 2 different hotfixes… Smilefjes

 

Client-side hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2648397
Server-side hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2648402

Also note that the server-side hotfix requires you to have both the RDS Host role and the Web role to be installed.

A lot of hotfixing in order to change the password during first time logon……

Apr 23

RDP not working after applying SP1 on Windows 2008 R2

After you install SP1 on Windows 2008 R2 SP1, you may encounter problems with RDP after reboot. This happens if http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667402 is already installed.

Fix: Uninstall http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667402 before installing SP1J

If you already have installed SP1 with KB2667402 already installed you must uninstall KB2667402 and then re-apply it. You can uninstall it remotely with following command:

wmic /node:<SERVER>  process call create “powershell wusa /uninstall /kb:2667402 /quiet /forcerestart”

Apr 17

Deploying Windows Server 8 Consumer Preview with MDT 2012

I tested MDT 2012 to deploy Windows Server 8 as a domain controller. Had a small issue with product key missing. I tried to find a product key for Windows Server 8 on the Microsoft Pages, but could not find it. I ended up finding it on the installation media.

Mount the iso file or extract it to a folder. Then browse your way into the sources folder. Look for the product.ini file, here you will find the different “default” product keys that is used during a standard DVD installation.

image

 

I found the key I needed and updated my customsettings.ini file with

ProductKey=HMG6P-C7VGP-47GJ9-TWBD4-2YYCD
(Yes, I am installating Standard edition)

It then comes to almost the end of the installation and I received this error:
image
Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml for pass [specialize]. A component or setting specified in the answer file does not exist.

I first thought this was the product key that was wrong. But after hitting Shift+F10 and browsing c:\windows\panther folder and looking at the unattend.xml file I noticed that the product key was injected just fine.

I started the deployment workbench and got up properties on the task sequence.

image

And then I edited the unattended.xml file. (This takes some time the first time since it needs to generate a catalog file)

image
I deleted the amd64_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral from the 4 Specialize phase. Then I saved the XML file.

 

And voil’a the server 8 deployed just fine.

I still have not got the roles and services to work, since this is no yet supported with Server 8. Will have to create a Powershell script to automate that part (later). Smilefjes

Apr 10

Nice Windows 8 Import Certificate feature

I imported a Trusted Root certificate on a Windows 8 PC. And finally we can choose install the certificate on Current User or Local Machine storeJ. No need to open MMC à Add/remove Snap-in etc….

 

 

Mar 27

HP driver packs (FINALLY)

The day has finally come that HP has decided to create driver packs for SCCM. As we all know this has been a Dell thing until now. Johan Arwidmark blogged a post about it:
http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Blog/tabid/62/EntryId/55/HP-takes-the-next-step-and-provides-ready-made-driver-packages-for-MDT-and-SCCM.aspx

 

Here is a screenshoot from my Softpaq Downloader:
image
I must say that this is exciting. I have spent very much time dealing with HP drivers for various models.
Let’s give it up for HP! I hope they invest further in this. Smilefjes

Mar 22

Windows 2008 R2 Terminal server stops responding after Outlook attachment error

I experienced a very strange issue on a Windows 2008 SP1 R2 Terminal Server. When a user attached an attachment from a network share in Outlook 2010, a dialog box came up stating the attachment was downloading. Outlook was slow, and both Outlook and Explorer.exe was getting “application errors”.

The server was slower and slower, and events like this showed up in the log:

EVENT ID:50 TermDD

The RDP protocol component X.224 detected an error in the protocol stream and has disconnected the client.

EVENT ID: 56 TermDD

The RDP protocol component X.224 detected an error in the protocol stream and has disconnected the client.

EVENT ID: 7011 Service Control Manager

A timeout (30000 milliseconds) was reached while waiting for a transaction response from the “servicename”

The only solution was to force “dirty shutdown”.

Things I tried:

  1. Installed http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2465772
  2. Latest patches/firmware was installed
  3. Antivirus – Disabled
  4. Many other thingsJ

Finally I checked TCP offloading, this was already turned off. Just in case I also did:

  1. netsh int tcp set global chimney=disabled
  2. netsh int tcp set global rss=disabled
  3. netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

 

And guess what. That did the trickJ I turned the settings on again, and once again the server crashed. Turned it off again, and attachments worked perfectly.

Other notes:

  1. Physical server (IBM System x3550 M3 7944 K3G
  2. Windows 2008 R2 SP1, Office 2010 SP1
  3. PDF attachment was the only attachment type I tried

Mar 20

Dell TechCenter Rockstar

Got a surprise mail from Dell Techcenter today, I got an invite to be one of the TechCenter Rockstars. More info about the program can be found here: Fostering the people: TechCenter Rockstars

I accepted and are really looking forward to be a part of the program, and to be able to give my feedback

 

 

Mar 08

Configuration Manager 2012 on Windows Server 8 (beta)

Yes, it works (and no, it is not supported).

Configuration Manager 2012 on Windows Server 8 (beta)

I just set up Configuration Manager 2012 on Windows Server 8 (beta) using Windows 8 Consumer Preview as a client.

The only REAL issue I encountered is the SQL Server version you need to make ConfigMgr 2012 install. I used SQL Server 2008 R2, and had several tries before I got it working. Basically, what you need to install is the following (in this order):

  • SQL Server 2008 R2
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB 2528583)
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 CU4 (KB 2633146)

If you are using some other version of SQL, here are the correct versions you need.

There are also a some posts on how to deploy Windows 8 Consumer Preview using Configuration Manager 2012 laying around the Internet. Check them out.

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