Had a clean install of Windows Server 2008 R2 fail to add any roles and features.  It appears TrustedInstaller is failing.  Lots of blogs talking about corrupt MSU files. The bottom line, install the following patch: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821 It clears the problem without requiring a server reboot.

Having been asked to setup and configure a fine grained Active Directory password policy the hard way using the technet article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770842(WS.10).aspx I found a easier option by using a GUI tool created to make the policy and apply to groups/users located at: http://blogs.chrisse.se/blogs/chrisse/archive/2009/01/11/fine-grain-password-policy-tool-1-0-2300-0-rtm.aspx It worked and provides a simple interface instead of using adsiedit.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx

VBScript program to output all users in the domain with the date and time that each last changed their password. If passwords expire for all users, this program can be used to identify old unused accounts that can be disabled and eventually deleted. This program uses the pwdLastSet attribute to determine when the password was last set. Because this attribute …

http://matthom.com/archive/2004/09/10/fast-rounded-corners-in-photoshop

Imaging the server in VmWare or by othe means leaves the WSUS client session cookie in the registry.  Once the new imaged server/workstation is then connected back to WSUS the session cookie points the orginal computer object.  The following script resolves this be resetting client WSUS settings outside of GPO enforced WSUS location: REM stop the Automatic Updates service net …

Exchange 2010 appears to have new command to allow the checking of free space within EDB file (whitespace). This can be checked with the following Exchange 2010 powershell command: Get-MailboxDatabase mbx* -status | fl name, databasesize, availablenewmailboxspace An example of command results: Name : MBX1 DatabaseSize : 218.6 GB (234,757,357,568 bytes) AvailableNewMailboxSpace : 63.58 GB (68,263,870,464 bytes)

Hit a problem with webdav and BITS not being enabled for SCCM install on Windows 2008 R2.  The following instructions details changes need before SCCM will install. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc431377.aspx Craig. How to Configure Windows Server 2008 for Site Systems

Just to outline how to migrate WSUS 3.0 to a new server using a local SQL Express instance and without downloading all of the updates again. 1. Install WSUS on new server with local express database. 2. During configuration wizard choose “Synchronize from another WSUS server…”, enter the name of the existing WSUS instance you are migrating from, and then choose …

Having problems finding a way to use integer8 values from Active Directory ldap in a VB.net Application, I thought i’ll show a simple function written to check the AD uSNChanged. Just call the function with the DN of the object to check. Must include: [vb] Imports System.Reflection [/vb] Function code: [vbnet]Private Function _ADObjectUsn(ByVal xDN As String) Dim xLdapConnection As New …