2008 Server R2 – WTF? Where’s my WI-FI?

So configuring 2008 Server R2 on my laptop and would like to connect to a WLAN.  After verifying that the driver was functional, there was no way to connect to a network, WTF?

So it looks like you need to install the Wireless LAN Service to work.  Seriously?

Open Server Manager > Click on Features > Add a Feature > Locate Wireless LAN Service and install.

No reboot required, now your WNIC is able to connect to a WLAN.

That took way too long to figure out…

Backup Exec Error: 0xe000848c – Unable to attach to a resource

*NOTE*

According to Microsoft this issue was resolved with Rollup 4 for Exchange 2007 SP1.  If you have installed this update, do not perform this work around.

Recently I was working with an Exchange 2007 setup where Backup Exec was giving me the generic error, “unable to attach to a resource” when trying to do a GRT restore to an Exchange 2007 mailbox.

Now there are hundreds of issues out there when you search on this error.  Here is what happened to me:

The environment previously had an all in one Exchange 2007 server.  To stabilize we pulled the mailbox role off leaving a CAS/HUB server running on 2003 Server and a Mailbox Server running on 2008 Server.  Prior to this the customer was able to perform GRT restores without problems.

The issue started because 2008 Server likes to use IPv6 as a preferred protocol over IPv4.  Exchange 2007 listens on ports 6001, 6002, and 6004 on the IPv4 stack, but only listens to ports 6001 and 6002 on the IPv6 stack.

The DSProxy listens on port 6004 and is not listening on IPv6.  So ::1:6004 goes unanswered.  You can work around this by adding the following entries to the host file of the server to force it to see itself:

127.0.0.1              localhost
::1           localhost
192.168.x.xxx     hostname
192.168.x.xxx     FQDN

Restart Backup Exec services and try restore again.

See Symantec documentation here.

NewSID breaks Windows Server 2008 R2

Testing 2008 R2, I learned that SysInternals NewSID breaks the VM.  Yuck.

My work around, run sysprep.  Start > Run > Sysprep

Doubleclick on Sysprep to run the application

Choose System Cleanup Action: Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) and check Generalize.

If you miss the Generalize check, sysprep will not generate a new SID.

Click OK.  Sysprep will now prepare the VM and shutdown/reboot.

After rebooting, it takes quite a while to get to the OOBE.  But at least it works.  Besides, Microsoft stopped supporting OS’s that have been prepared with NewSID some time ago.  So I guess this is a good thing then.  Maybe.

Get CRM 4.0 for Outlook to work on Windows 7

I cannot live without CRM at work.  To be able to run Windows 7, I had to work out a few kinks to get CRM for Outlook to work properly.

To get CRM for Outlook to work, it needs to be able to pop open IE windows on the fly.  By default, you are able to get the windows to open, however, they are blank.  An error may appear that says you need to disable your pop-up blocker.  This does not work.  Adding your CRM URL to the trusted sites, also does not work.

I had to cripple IE to get it running.  Open Internet Options, then go to the Security tab.

Uncheck: Enable Protected Mode for the Internet Zone

Restart IE and Outlook.

CRM 4.0 for Outlook now works normally.

I hope that the RTM of Windows 7 will allow you to add your CRM URL to the Trusted Sites so you can enable IE’s Protected Mode and have CRM for Outlook still work.  Not that I will ever use it, but still.  It would be nice.

Windows 7: First Impressions

I have been running Windows 7 now for two full days.  So far no BSOD.  Impressive how Microsoft has finally released a Beta that is usable.  Thank you…

Here are some of my first impressions while getting up and running on Win7:

• The install took about 20 minutes before I was able to start getting updates and putting it on the domain.
• Windows 7 had a driver for everything in my Latitude D630.  Even had an updated driver for a few things via Windows Update.
• I expected this: Office 2007 installs perfectly and quickly.
• Our company lives off of CRM.  Each client runs CRM for Outlook, which is a monster in itself.  To get CRM 4.0 for Outlook to function, you have to cripple IE.  Turn off IE’s Protected Mode to allow content to load in the IE pop-up windows from Outlook.
• 
• 2003 Admin Tools installed flawlessly.  I cannot live without these.  My custom RDC MMC works great.  This would be a deal breaker for me.
• Trend Micro is not ready for Windows 7.  I did not expect that it was.  Installed it on a test VM first, resulting in a BSOD every 2 min or so.  I am currently running ClamWin 0.94.1 (big fan, BTW) without issue.  The Windows Action Center does not recognize it as virus software, so I had to turn off messages reminding me I had no virus software running.
• Performance is good, I do not notice any slower speed than when I was running Vista.  Boot-up time is great!  30 seconds to log-in screen.
• When replying to an email in Outlook 2007, the aero title bar has a bug.  I loose the minimize, maximize and close buttons.  This seems to be the only place it happens.
• Live window preview from taskbar!  Video is actually watchable!  Nice touch!

My Wish List:

• The new task bar is cool.  Reminds me of an OSX dock.  What would be nice is if there was a way to know weather a program is running or not.  OSX puts a little triangle below the icon to show that the program is running.  There really is no way to determine if it is running or not.
• A built in keyboard shortcut for the Snipping It tool.  I fixed it by creating my own, but a quick and easy say, Windows Key + S would be sweet.

Here, you will like this Windows 7 comic from xkcd