Windows 10 Create a WMI Filter for Group Policy
KB ID 0001267 Problem I was messing around with some GPO’s for client today to replace ‘Edge’ as the default browser, (with IE11). To make the whole process more efficient, I wanted to use a WMI filter toapply the policy only to Windows 10 machines. Before this used to be simple enough, you just set the Windows version in a WMI query. But because it searches for a string e.g. 6.1 (for Windows 8.1), that’s...
Cisco ASA – Remote IPSEC VPN With the NCP Entry Client
KB ID 0001260 Problem I’ve covered Cisco IPSEC Remote VPNs a long time ago, and I’ve also blogged about the Cisco IPSEC VPN Client Software. Yes you can get the Cisco VPN Client Working on Windows 10, but can you imagine rolling that out to a few hundred users? The bottom line is Remote Cisco IPSEC VPN is a dead technology, Cisco, (and Me!) want you to use AnyConnect. For a couple of users you can use the work arounds...
Migrating Local Profiles to Domain Profiles
KB ID 0001235 Problem Moving a machine onto a Windows domain, is a simple task, I’ve done this for a lot of clients. The main complaint (post migration,) is that something is missing. This is because your-account-name on your PC or laptop, and your-account-name in the domain are TWO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS, (even if they have the same name). Microsoft have produced some tools help you, but I challenge you to start reading the USMT...
IIS – Cannot Download File From Website (With Extension .xyz)
KB ID 0001223 Problem I first saw this problem a few months ago, when I wasted to download some .bin and .pkg files from a web server running IIS, into a Cisco firewall. Then again this week I needed to get a large .iso file into a clients network so I put it on a publicly accessible web server running IIS, and had the problem again. Solution On the IIS server, open administrative tools > Internet Information Services (IIS)...
Windows Server – Disk Performance Missing From Task Manager?
KB ID 0001203 Problem If your machine is struggling, a good place to look first is the performance tab on ‘Task Manager’ Here you can see CPU and Memory Stats and how our network cards are performing, but wheres the disk stats? Solution Before you can see them you need to enable them, open a PowerShell, (or an administrative command window). and run the following command; diskperf -y Now re-open task manager and go to...
Windows – Suppress the ‘First Run’ Welcome to Windows Animation
KB ID 0001186 Problem I don’t like ‘first-run’ dialogs, Internet Explorer is annoying enough, Now Windows and Office insist on playing me a film clip when they start for the first time. I’m a busy guy I have things to do, stop asking me questions and making recommendations! It takes this long to create a user profile? I don’t think so. Solution You can do this by local policy on the machine, but domain...
Windows 10 – Installing IIS
KB ID 0001158 Problem I needed to get a web server up and running today, so I could upload some files into a firewall via http. I have a copy of Windows 10 running on my mac in VMware fusion, so that’s what I thought I would use. Solution Open a command window and run appwiz.cpl > Turn Windows features on or off > Internet Information Services > OK > Follow the instructions. Now to test, open a browser window and...
Windows Firewall – Enable ‘Ping’ / ICMP Echo Reply
KB ID 0001134 Problem By default all modern distributions of Windows come with their client firewall enabled. Which is a good thing, most corporate networks simply disable it using the rationale that they have a corporate firewall and security software etc. Again thats fine, but what if you want to leave it on, and still be able to ping that host to see if its alive. Solution The firewall exception is already written for you, you...
Windows 10 – Transparent Command Window
KB ID 0001123 Problem Not really a problem, more of a cosmetic requirement. With Windows 10 you have the option to set your command windows as ‘transparent’ by adjusting their opacity. Solution With a command window open right click the title bar of the windows and select properties > Colours > Adjust the slider. You can also do the same with the PowerShell window. Related Articles, References, Credits, or External...
Windows – ‘Sorry, there was a problem mounting the file’ With ISO Files
KB ID 0001122 Problem Seen on Windows 10, and Server 2012, when attempting to open or mount an ISO file, (even downloaded direct from Microsoft). You get the following error; Note: Can also been seen with .VHD files. Couldn’t Mount File Sorry, there was a problem mounting the file. Solution Before you try anything else simply COPY the iso file to the root of your C: drive, and try again. 99% of the time simply copying the file...