Author Archive

Policy’s to deploy in MDT ( Default start bar and file Assoc )

Research

File Association

FileAssoc.wsf

<job id="ZTIDefaultAssociations">
   <script language="VBScript" src="../../Scripts/ZTIUtility.vbs"/>
   <script language="VBScript">
' // ***************************************************************************
' // 
' // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
' // 
' // Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Solution Accelerator
' //
' // File:      ZTIDefaultAssociations.wsf
' // 
' // Version:   6.3.8443.1000
' // 
' // Purpose:   Use Dism to force apply start screen layout.
' // 
' // Usage:     cscript ZTIDefaultAssociations.wsf [/debug:true] [/UDI]
' // 
' // ***************************************************************************
Option Explicit
RunNewInstance
'//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'//  Main Class
'//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class ZTIDefaultAssociations
  '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  '//  Main routine
  '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Function Main
 
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Declare variables
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dim iRetVal
    iRetVal = Success
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Copying OEMDefaultAssociations.xml file
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oLogging.CreateEntry "Copying OEMDefaultAssociations.xml to Windows\System32.", LogTypeInfo
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\OEMDefaultAssociations.xml", oEnv("WinDir") & "\System32\OEMDefaultAssociations.xml", true
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\fz-a2_specsheet.pdf", oEnv("SystemDrive") & "\Users\Public\Desktop\fz-a2_specsheet.pdf", true
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\fz-q2_specsheet.pdf", oEnv("SystemDrive") & "\Users\Public\Desktop\fz-q2_specsheet.pdf", true
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\Toughbook.url", oEnv("SystemDrive") & "\Users\Public\Desktop\Toughbook.url", true
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Specify to use OEMDefaultAssociations via Registry
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oLogging.CreateEntry "Import DefaultAssociationsConfiguration Reg Key.", LogTypeInfo
    iRetVal = oUtility.RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\DefaultAssociationsConfiguration", oEnv("WinDir") & "\System32\OEMDefaultAssociations.xml")
  End Function
End Class
    </script>
</job>

 

 

DefaultAssociations.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefaultAssociations>
  <Association Identifier=".3gp2" ProgId="WMP11.AssocFile.3G2" ApplicationName="Windows Media Player" />
  <Association Identifier=".acrobatsecuritysettings" ProgId="AcroExch.acrobatsecuritysettings" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".fdf" ProgId="AcroExch.FDFDoc" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".htm" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".html" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".MP2" ProgId="WMP11.AssocFile.MP3" ApplicationName="Windows Media Player" />
  <Association Identifier=".mpeg" ProgId="WMP11.AssocFile.mpeg" ApplicationName="Windows Media Player" />
  <Association Identifier=".oxps" ProgId="Windows.XPSReachViewer" ApplicationName="XPS Viewer" />
  <Association Identifier=".pdf" ProgId="AcroExch.Document.DC" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".pdfxml" ProgId="AcroExch.pdfxml" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".pdx" ProgId="PDXFileType" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".shtml" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".tif" ProgId="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" ApplicationName="Windows Photo Viewer" />
  <Association Identifier=".tiff" ProgId="PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff" ApplicationName="Windows Photo Viewer" />
  <Association Identifier=".txt" ProgId="txtfile" ApplicationName="Notepad" />
  <Association Identifier=".url" ProgId="IE.AssocFile.URL" ApplicationName="Internet Browser" />
  <Association Identifier=".webp" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".website" ProgId="IE.AssocFile.WEBSITE" ApplicationName="Internet Explorer" />
  <Association Identifier=".xdp" ProgId="AcroExch.XDPDoc" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".xfdf" ProgId="AcroExch.XFDFDoc" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier=".xht" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".xhtml" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".xps" ProgId="Windows.XPSReachViewer" ApplicationName="XPS Viewer" />
  <Association Identifier="ACROBAT" ProgId="acrobat" ApplicationName="Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" />
  <Association Identifier="bingmaps" ProgId="AppXp9gkwccvk6fa6yyfq3tmsk8ws2nprk1p" ApplicationName="Maps" />
  <Association Identifier="FTP" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="http" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="https" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="IRC" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="mailto" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="MMS" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="NEWS" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="NNTP" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="SMS" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="SMSTO" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="TEL" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="URN" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="WEBCAL" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
</DefaultAssociations>

 

Start Menu Layout

<job id="ZTIStartLayoutConfig">
   <script language="VBScript" src="../../Scripts/ZTIUtility.vbs"/>
   <script language="VBScript">
' // ***************************************************************************
' // 
' // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
' // 
' // Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Solution Accelerator
' //
' // File:      ZTIStartLayoutConfig.wsf
' // 
' // Version:   6.3.8443.1000
' // 
' // Purpose:   Use Dism to force apply start screen layout.
' // 
' // Usage:     cscript ZTIStartLayoutConfig.wsf [/debug:true] [/UDI]
' // 
' // ***************************************************************************
Option Explicit
RunNewInstance
'//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'//  Main Class
'//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class ZTIStartLayoutConfig
  '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  '//  Main routine
  '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Function Main
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Declare variables
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dim iRetVal
    iRetVal = Success
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Copying StartLayout.xml file
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oLogging.CreateEntry "Copying StartLayout.xml to Windows\System32.", LogTypeInfo
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\StartLayout.xml", oEnv("SystemDrive") & "\Windows\System32\StartLayout.xml", true
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Copy Desired lnk files to %ALLUSERSPROFILES%
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oLogging.CreateEntry "Copy Desired lnk files to %ALLUSERSPROFILES%.", LogTypeInfo
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\File Explorer.lnk", oEnv("AllUsersProfile") & "\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk", true
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\Internet Explorer.lnk", oEnv("AllUsersProfile") & "\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk", true
    oFileHandling.CopyFile oUtility.ScriptDir & "\Google Chrome.lnk", oEnv("AllUsersProfile") & "\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk", true
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    '//  Apply start screen layout using Dism
    '//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    oLogging.CreateEntry "Importing StartLayout.xml using Powershell's Import-StartLayout cmdlet.", LogTypeInfo
    iRetVal = oUtility.RunWithConsoleLogging("powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -Command ""Import-StartLayout -MountPath " & oEnv("SystemDrive") & "\ -LayoutPath " & oEnv("WinDir") & "\System32\StartLayout.xml""")
  End Function
End Class
    </script>
</job>

 

StartLayout.xml

 

<LayoutModificationTemplate
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
    xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
    xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
    xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
    Version="1">
    <LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />
    <DefaultLayoutOverride>
        <StartLayoutCollection>
            <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout">
                <start:Group Name="Panasonic Apps" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
                    <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk" />
                    <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk" />
                </start:Group>
            </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
        </StartLayoutCollection>
    </DefaultLayoutOverride>
    <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">
        <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
            <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
                <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk" />
                <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk" />
                <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk" />
            </taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
        </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
    </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

 

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Updating VCenter : Cannot validate target appliance configuration as not enough information from the source appliance can be collected. For more details check out the server logs

Research

Trying to upgrade Vcenter 6.5 to 6.7 , The following error comes up

Cannot validate target appliance configuration as not enough information from the source appliance can be collected. For more details check out the server logs

Fix

SSH into new 6.7u1 applicance:

“software-packages install –url –acceptEulas”

and then

“shutdown reboot -r “patch reboot””

 

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Powershell Script to Export Exchange mailbox to smaller PST Chunks

Research

Powershell Script to Export Exchange mailboxes in 20GB PST allotments for upload to Mimecast

 

Import-Module activedirectory

$TargetUserName="jsmith"
$Useremail="jsmith@domain.com
$Location = "\\10.1.10.18\ArchiveExport\"

$FirstEmail = Get-MailboxFolderStatistics $TargetUserName -IncludeOldestAndNewestItems | ? {$_.OldestItemReceivedDate} | Sort-Object OldestItemReceivedDate | Select -ExpandProperty OldestItemReceivedDate -First 1
$FirstEmail = $FirstEmail.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy")

$finish = $FirstEmail

#The end date of when the last email wants to be exported , if using Mimecast this will be the date of enabling archiving
$startdate = Get-Date

$startofmonth = Get-Date $startdate -day 1 -hour 0 -minute 0 -second 0

$endofmonth = (($startofmonth).AddMonths(1).AddSeconds(-1))

$pstnumber = 1

do {
$startvalue = Get-Date -format d -Date $startofmonth

$endvalue = Get-Date -format d -Date $endofmonth

New-MailboxExportRequest $TargetUserName -ContentFilter "((Received -gt '$startofmonth') -and (Received -lt '$endofmonth'))" -FilePath $Location$Useremail".pst" -Confirm:$false

$ExportStats = Get-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox $TargetUserName
$ExportStatus = $ExportStats.Status

Do{
Start-Sleep 10
$ExportStats = Get-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox $TargetUserName
$ExportStatus = $ExportStats.Status
} while ($ExportStatus -eq "Queued" -or $ExportStatus -eq "InProgress")

Start-Sleep 30

Get-MailboxExportRequest -mailbox $targetusername -Status "Completed" | Remove-MailboxExportRequest -Confirm:$false

Start-Sleep 30

if((Get-Item $Location$useremail".pst").length -gt 20gb) {
Rename-Item $Location$Useremail”.PST” $Location$Useremail”.“$pstnumber”.PST”
$pstnumber++
}

$startofmonth = (($startofmonth).AddMonths(-1))

$endofmonth = (($startofmonth).AddMonths(1).AddSeconds(-1))

Start-Sleep 30

}

while ($startofmonth -ge $finish)
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Refresh Azure AD auth token

Research 

# Revoke tokens in Azure AD, existing application and browser windows with access token needs to be terminated to revoke the access token

Get-AzureADUser -SearchString user@domain.com | Revoke-AzureADUserAllRefreshToken

Set-User -Identity user@domain.com -AuthenticationPolicy "Allow Basic Auth for ActiveSync" -StsRefreshTokensValidFrom $([System.DateTime]::UtcNow) 

Set-User -Identity user@domain.com -AuthenticationPolicy "Disable Basic Auth" -StsRefreshTokensValidFrom $([System.DateTime]::UtcNow)
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Mimecast Synchronization Engine : exchange mailbox validation failed, code: MailboxUnreacheable

Research

Recently trying to install the Mimecast mimecast synchronization engine on an Server with Exchange 2013 Machine , since Exchange 2013 ,

  1. Made sure impersonation was setup https://community.mimecast.com/docs/DOC-1734
  2. Made sure OWA was working with the Mailbox

Error exchange mailbox validation failed, code: MailboxUnreacheable

EWS restricts you running API requests locally by default.

Try running this software from another machine

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Account locked due to too many failed attempts – Nutanix

Research

Recently trying to login to the PRISM gui for the Nutanix after a new setup brought the error

Account locked due to too many failed attempts.

Logging in via SSH to the CVM IP worked with the same username and password.

I waited 10 minutes for the account to auto unlock, however in the end I had to restart the Node to be able to log back in again

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Whats the difference between Date Modified\Date Modified\Date Access and Content Created \ Date Last Saved

Research

File Dates Provided By The Operating System

These are added to a file when the Operating System accesses it for the first time of makes a change. This will get reset when it gets copied to a new computer

 

 File Dates Embedded in Metadata Of Files via Application

These Dates are added to the file via the Application like Microsoft Word

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Adobe Acrobat – Showing White Bar Across Screen

Research

Recently a user kept getting the above happen on Adobe Acrobat. Turns out its an incompatibility with Intel and Adobe Acrobat to do with Scaling

  1. Right Click on an empty space on your Desktop and go to Intel Graphic Settings
  2. Go to Display Settings > Advanced display settings
  3. Click on “Display adapter properties for Display #” (Choose the affected screen in case you have two monitors or do the following steps for both monitors).
  4. In the adapter properties, go to “Intel HD Graphics Control Panel” tab
  5. In the “Scaling” setting choose “Maintain Aspect Ratio”
  6. Save settings if it gives you the option or just close out.

 

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How to Switch to new Delivery Controllers and Storefront Servers

Research

  1. Upgrade existing Datacollectors
  2. Upgrade existing Storefront
  3. Add New Datacollectors to Cluster
  4. Add new Existing Storefronts to Replication Group
  5. Use DigiCert SSL tool to export and import Certificates from Old SF to New SF
  6. On a server change the DNS entry via localhost of the load balanced DNS Address point at one of the new SF Servers and test all working
  7. Move Storefront to new servers

  9. Move Delivery Controllers to new servers


  10. Change Internal Load Balancer

    Add a new Service group with new SF servers and make sure all Green



  11. Bind this to the new Virtual Server

  12. Change STA Servers for External

  14. Similarly the NetScaler itself is configured with the STA details. 

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