Windows Server – Sysprep
KB ID 0000729 Problem I don’t deploy large amounts of servers at once, so Windows Server sysprep is not as important as it is with the client operating systems I deploy. But I do need to create virtual machine templates, (mostly for testing), but some clients like to have server templates. I prefer to manually sysprep and shutdown a server then either convert or clone it to a template. Thankfully sysprep is in the same place as...
Exchange 2000 / 2003 – Exporting Mail to .pst files with ExMerge
KB ID 0000091 Problem ExMerge has been around for a long time, its used (as the name implies) to merge pst files into existing mailbox’s. However its also a great tool to export/backup users mail box’s if you’re doing a migration, or if you have got your “Disaster Recovery” hat on. The following is a run through of how to export from a mail store to pst files – Note on a live system this can take...
Windows Server – Install and Configure NDES
KB ID 0000947 Problem NDES, is the name for what we used to call MSCEP, which was an ‘add-on’ for the Server 2003 family of servers. In Server 2008 it was renamed to NDES. It is a role service that runs on a Certificate Services Server, and is used to create a registration authority (RA) that can issue certificates from your PKI infrastructure to network devices, i.e. Routers, Firewalls and Switches. Solution Installing...
How to Join Windows 11 to a Domain
KB ID 0001764 Problem If you need to join Windows 11 to a domain, then this is the procedure. How To Join Windows 11 to a Domain (Local Domain) Windows Button > Settings. Scroll down to the ‘About’ section and expand it. In the ‘Device Specifications’ section (at the bottom) select ‘Domain or Workgroup’. If you’re used to older versions of Windows, this should look familiar > Change >...
Find The Azure AD Join Type
KB ID 0001597 Problem I recently did a post about Joining Azure AD. while working on that I found out there were three different Azure AD ‘States’ (see below). But how do you pingd out your Azure AD Join Type? Azure AD Joined: Aimed at Corporate owned machines joined to Azure AD, (or CYOD devices). Azure AD Registered (Was called Workplace Joined, and still is if you work in PowerShell). Aimed at BYOD devices. Azure Hybrid...
Windows: Join Azure AD (AAD)
KB ID 0001596 Problem With more people looking at Microsoft 365 (as opposed to Office 365), then the amount of people who want to Join Azure AD with their Windows machines is only going to go up. This is how to join your Windows and BYOD client devices to Azure AD. There are essentially 3 WAYS to Join Azure AD. Azure AD Join: Used for corporate assets. Windows Only! (Can be managed by Intune) Users log in with their Azure AD account...
In Place Upgrade Windows 2016 to Windows 2019
KB ID 0001761 Problem Note: Also See In Place Upgrade of Window Server For the last twenty years or so I’ve said “In place upgrades are a bad idea”, my rationale has been that if something is broken we are simply migrating that problem, and we are relying on a lot of factors, (some of which may be unknown.) That we will just have to ‘trust that it will work’. Most modern servers are virtual so we can...
Use Azure MFA With Microsoft NPS (RADIUS) Server
KB ID 0001759 Problem I was in a forum last week and someone asked, “Can I enable Azure MFA, on my RADIUS server, to secure access to my switches and routers etc”. It turns out if you want to enable Azure MFA with Microsoft NPS it’s actually quite simple. So, I’m using RADIUS auth (above) on my NPS server, and it’s simply checking the authenticating user is a member of a domain security group....
A Reboot From a Previous Installation is Pending
KB ID 0001755 Problem You may see the “A Reboot From a Previous Installation is Pending” error when either attempting to install Microsoft Exchange or apply a cumulative update, (which is basically a reinstall anyway!) You may also see this if you are only installing the management tools. At command line; A reboot from a previous installation is pending. Please restart the system and then rerun Setup. Or if you are running...
macOS: Microsoft Outlook Search Broken
KB ID 0001754 Problem I’ve had to contend with Outlook Search Broken on Windows clients many times, but not being able to search my ‘sent’ and ‘deleted’ items has a detrimental effect on my productivity. Outlook Search Broken Fix This can happen if the folder/drive that your Outlook profile is in is Blocked/Prevented access by ‘Spotlight’ but in my case that wasn’t the problem. Close...