Aaron Tiensivu's Blog

A very handy hotfix for those people lucky enough to own an ASUS EEE PC. I will own one eventually, I am sure. Probably when they adopt the newer die-shrunk powersaving Intel chips.

In the meantime, if you have applied KB 923293 and/or KB 934428 (for SDHC support), and still have trouble with your SD cards, give KB 946629 a try. It looks like the files were built on Christmas Eve, 2007.

Based on build numbers, it looks like you can safely use this KB in place of the other two previously released.

As always, please don't e-mail me for the hotfix - use the handy link on the right side of this blog to request the hotfix from Microsoft directly.

Typically I always associated Microsoft Transporter with Lotus Notes migrations to Exchange.

Coworker Britt Baubie pointed out that Microsoft updated the suite a few days ago and they now support migrating non-Lotus POP3 and IMAP servers to Exchange 2007.

As seen in the release notes here, here are the details:

Transporter Suite for Internet Mailboxes
A whole new console and tools for migrating POP/IMAP Mailboxes

Migration of mailbox content from generic servers through POP or IMAP to Exchange 2007.
Preserves all messages and folder structures.
Preserves rich content including formatting, message flags and even calendaring through iCAL.
Exposed through GUI and a rich set of PowerShell tasks

It looks like migrating to Exchange 2007 just got easier for a lot of software packages.

FCS uses the MOM infrastructure for event and alert gathering. The version of MOM 2005 included with Forefront Client Security is stripped down and customized quite a bit during the installation of the collection server role. This is part of the reason why you cannot use your existing MOM 2005 infrastructure for FCS v1.

A few important notes:
1. If you have an existing MOM infrastructure, you cannot use it for FCS. Your existing MOM infrastructure and FCS's use of MOM are completely separate.

2. If you do have MOM, you cannot share the One Point (Operations DB) or SystemCenterReporting (Data warehouse DB) with FCS. The two pairs of DB's must always remain separate!

3. If you have an existing MOM infrastructure, you can still monitor those machines using FCS (MOM supports multi-homing the agents).

It may be easier to not think about MOM as a separate prerequisite (like SQL), as the FCS setup handles all the MOM configuration details. If you already have MOM, just remember that you can't use it for FCS and if you don't have MOM, you don't have to worry about installing it, as the setup handles that for you.

Originally gleamed from here, with some of my own notes added.

Due to the way the packages are handled, and due to their exclusion from Windows XP SP3, it is typically a good idea to install the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) High Definition Audio class driver version 1.0a hotfix (KB 888111) if you are using a newer HD audio chipset. If you are in a pinch to download this hotfix, you can find it on Lenovo's site here.

If you want to enable LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discovery) responder support, install KB 922120, and then install SP3.

This blog entry is due to me trying to install both of these hotfixes after installing one of the latest XP SP3 builds and discovering that their install routine blocked their installation after I put SP3 on the machine. I simply uninstalled the SP3 build, installed the hotfixes in question, and then reinstalled the new SP3 build. Time consuming, but at least I know it works. I am hoping at some point that Microsoft will release updated versions of these hotfixes that can be applied to SP3.

I am actually a little surprised that they are not included with SP3.

... but I'm still alive and well.

Just buried in real life and work life - figuratively and to a certain extent, literally, due to the ice storm/snow storm we had last night.

I'll be posting again soon.

Sometimes I forgot what roles does what with FCS v1, especially if I haven't touched it for a few weeks. Based on a post in the Forefront forums here, I've developed this little cheat sheet.

Management role
This hosts the MOM, FCS consoles and signature service. Populates the console drop downs with the latest malware threats.

Collection role
This hosts the customized/specialized MOM 2005 installation and is the collection point for data coming up from machines and for sending tasks to machines.

Collection DB role
This hosts the OnePoint database used by the MOM service.

Reporting role
This hosts the SQL Reporting Services/MOM reporting and generates all the FCS reports.

Reporting DB role
This hosts the SystemCenterReporting database. Used by MOM reporting and stores all the long-term data.

Distribution role
Hosts WSUS and is used to distribute signatures and the FCS client package. For small installations, Windows Update can be used instead for updates.

Thanks to the author of the program leaving a note on my original HOWTO blog post on custom presence. You can check out the program here.

If you are unsure of what I am talking about, read my original post.

Two worldwide FCS promotions in Open & Select:
25% off FCS Subscriptions
35% off FCS Subscriptions for SMS/SCCM Customers

Your LAR (Large Account Reseller - someone like CDW) will have information on the promotion including part numbers. The promotion ends July 31st, 2008.

Full details can be found in the Promotion Data Sheet.

Originally spotted here.

A quick post which takes advantage of a new Windows 2008 Server feature to workaround the lack of tools available today.

Need to admin your Server 2008 Server from Vista? Publish the Server Manager and/or MMC from the server as a RemoteApp.

I know a lot of you might be thinking, "Thanks Captain Obvious" but it can come in handy if you haven't thought about it. It also works for Server Core installs.

The only caveat I can think of is that I think you might need a Terminal Service license to do this for longer than 120 days.

The Administration Tools Pack allows administrators to install the Windows Server 2003 SP2 management tools onto a computer running Windows XP Professional or a Windows Server 2003 family operating system to perform remote server management functions.

Although it doesn't seem to mention what has changed in this release, it was updated on 1/14/08. It also notes that this is the final version, which makes me wonder if this is the last release they will do, especially considering the direction that Windows 2008 is going with RSAT (remote server administration tools)/etc.

You can download the updated x86 version here and the x64 version here.

You can read about the known issues here. Unfortunately, it looks like they still haven't added 'official' support for Vista.

Hopefully I will be posting more later this week. I have a backlog of goodies but no time to post them. This entry was actually written a few days ago.

Microsoft headsets and webcams are optimized for Windows Live Messenger through the Call Button. Until now, there has not been a simple means to configure the Call Button to start Office Communicator. The goal of the Call Button Integration Support kit is to change that.

By setting a Group Policy (or registry setting) and installing the kit, Microsoft headsets and webcams can be set up to start Office Communicator instead of Windows Live Messenger.

The kit is intended for use by workgroup or enterprise administrators in organizations that are using Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007.

The kit enables an organization-wide change in the configuration of Microsoft LifeChat (headset) and LifeCam (webcam) software so that the Call Buttons on the headsets and webcams start Office Communicator instead of Windows Live Messenger.

This kit requires the following Microsoft Hardware Product versions:
LifeChat v1.2 (headsets)
LifeCam v1.4 (webcams)

This kit requires Office Communicator 2007. Earlier versions of Office Communicator are not supported.

Download the kit here.

Originally spotted here.

WebGuide for Windows Home Server enables you to remotely access, listen, watch and stream your music, photos and videos stored on your home server while away from home.

1. Integrates with Windows Home Server remote website via homepage link and single-sign on.
2. Access your photos with thumbnails, "zoom" and EXIF-data.
3. Browse your music library and listen to it via the web.
4. Stream your videos/movies at multiple resolutions and bit-rates.
5. Mobile access to your music and videos from Windows Mobile devices.

Download it here.

Originally spotted here.

You can download it here.

This is the v.744 build I was talking about the other day. I will be posting more soon hopefully. Last week and this week have been very hectic, to say the least.

Now we just need more driver writers to adopt 64-bit Windows. Download it from here using a web browser that identifies itself correctly as a 64-bit browser, such as the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer.

If you want to download the 64-bit version directly without relying on the problematic website detection routine, grab the new 64-bit edition directly from here.

Mild rant: I hate websites that to try be clever and do not let you manually specify what version of a program you want to download. I know it tends to make it easier for end users but there are many times when I am on a 32-bit OS and need to download a 64-bit program.

Update: A reader named Mark left an excellent link in the comments page of this blog that shows how to install iTunes and iPhone support on Windows XP 64-bit. I really wish Windows XP 64-bit had better support when it was launched because I suspect we'd have more Vista and Windows 2008 64-bit drivers by now.

Curious how to interpret the "v.744" tacked onto the end of the version you see when you run winver?



Take that number, and add 16384 to it. So, for the Vista SP1 RC Refresh, it is build 17128.