Windows Server – Enable Multiple RDP sessions
KB ID 0000471 Problem Server 2012/2008 R2 unlike their predecessors, comes with the multiple remote desktop session restriction enabled. If you are only connecting to a server for remote administration purposes that can get a bit annoying, especially if you have a generic administrative account that multiple techs are using, and you keep kicking each other off the server. Just as with earlier versions of Windows server you CAN have...
Windows Server 2008 R2 Deploying Applications with RemoteApp
KB ID 0000528 Problem RemoteApp is a solution for delivering applications to your users from a Remote Desktop Services Server. Why would you want to do this? Imagine you only had one copy of office to update in your entire organisation when a new service pack or security update is released., or Adobe bring out a new version of Dreamweaver that’s on all your machines – you simply update the master copy on the RDS server, or...
Remote Desktop Services – License Server ‘Greyed Out’
KB ID 0000837 Problem I changed the IP addressing of a new client a few weeks ago. They have a remote site that uses Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services). By the time I got to the remote site to set everything back up again I was greeted with this. The remote session was disconnected because there are no Remote Desktop Licence Servers available to provide a license. Please contact the server administrator. I assumed this was...
Deploying Certificates via ‘Auto Enrollment’
KB ID 0000919 Problem SHA CERTIFICATE WARNING: Note This article was written some time ago, ensure your CA environment does NOT use SHA1 for your certificates, if it does, Please visit the following link for migration instructions; Upgrade Your Microsoft PKI Environment to SHA2 (SHA256) I need to setup wireless authentication based on computer certificates, I’ve done similar jobs before by manually issuing certificates for Cisco...
Adding a 2003 Domain Controller to a 2000 Domain
KB ID 0000256 Problem If you have an existing Windows Server 2000 domain, and you would like to add a Windows Server 2003 Domain controller, there’s a few extra hoops to jump through. Solution Before you start, make sure all your domain controllers are at AT LEAST Service pack 2, though there’s no reason not to be at Service Pack 4. If you are running Exchange 2000 READ THIS first! 1. If you do not already know which...
Windows – “Don’t Display Last Login User Name” via GPO
KB ID 0000460 Problem By default Windows will display the last user that successfully logged on, on shared machines or in a secure domain environment you might not want this.. Solution On a Single (stand alone) machine. 1. Click start and in the run/search box type gpedit.msc{enter} 2. Navigate to > Computer Configuration > Windows settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options >...
Prevent Users changing Desktop Wallpaper with Group Policy
KB ID 0000461 Problem If you need to lock down your client machines desktops and prevent your users from changing the wallpaper, then here’s a run through on how to do it. Solution 1. On your domain controller , Start > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management Console > Either create a new policy and link it to your targeted USERS or edit an existing one, then navigate to; User Configuration > Administrative...
Remove the Recycle Bin Via Group Policy
KB ID 0000463 Problem You might ask “why would I want to do this?” But if your users do not have access to local drives, then nothing’s going to get put in the recycle bin anyway, so it’s one less thing they can fiddle with. Solution 1. On your domain controller , Start > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management Console > Either create a new policy and link it to your targeted USERS or edit an...
Disable “Ease of access” Settings from the Windows Logon Screen via GPO
KB ID 0000462 Problem Did a migration of a school the other week, afterwards it seems the “little darlings” had discovered that they could (from the logon screen) access the “Ease of access” settings and enable “High Contrast”, which is obviously hilarious, but annoying for their teachers. Ease of Access, is designed as part of the accessibility options, and as such has no GPO settings, (I’m...
Change the default Shutdown / Log Off Option via GPO
KB ID 0000465 Problem Out of the box, the default power option presented to your users is shutdown. People with multiple users on their machines, may prefer the log off option to be the default. Note: You can also set the default option to: Shutdown Sleep Log off Lock Restart Switch User (Unless blocked by other policy then it will revert to shutdown). Hibernate Solution 1. On your domain controller , Start > Administrative...