There are times when a problem with your Outlook profile can manifest itself in many ‘annoying’ ways. Sometimes the simplest thing to do is to put your Outlook profile to one side, and create a fresh new one.
Solution
Ensure Outlook is closed, open Control Panel > Set the view to ‘Small icons’ > Mail > Show Profiles.
Add > Give the new profile a sensible name > OK.
Configure you mail account, (if using Exchange, it should auto-configure for you) > Finish
Change the settings to ‘Prompt for a profile to be used’ > Apply > OK.
Open Outlook and select the new profile.
Make sure everything loads up and syncs correctly > Close Outlook again.
Once you’re happy, go back to the ‘Mail’ Settings, and change it to always use the new profile. You can delete the old profile if you wish > Apply > OK.
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If you are struggling with the new Windows UI, then routine tasks like joining a domain can be hard to locate.
Solution
Before you start, I’m assuming there are no problems with your domain and the Windows 8 client can resolve the domain name with DNS.
1. Press Windows Key+X to bring up the advanced context menu > Control Panel > System and Security.
Technical Ninja Tip: You can launch the run command (Windows Key+R) and run the sysdm.cpl shortcut, then jump straight to step 3.
2. System.
3. In the ‘Computer name and workgroup settings’ section > Change Settings > Computer name tab > Change > Select domain and type in the domain name > OK.
4. Provide domain credentials that have the rights to join the domain > OK. (You can also change the computer name on this tab).
Note: A domain user has the right to join ten machines to a domain, but most people use an administrative account.
5. Providing Windows 8 can resolve the domain name, and the credentials you supplied are correct it should join the domain successfully > OK > OK > Reboot the machine.
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We have had UAC since Windows Vista, and it is less annoying now than it was then, but still one of the first things I do is turn it off. Yes I know it’s there for a reason – but as far as I’m concerned if the annoyance outweighs the benefit, then its getting turned off.
Solution
Option 1 (Disable UAC via MSCONFIG)
1. Press Windows Key+R > type msconfig > OK.
2. Tools tab > Change UAC Settings > Launch.
3. Drag the slider all the way to the bottom > OK
Option 2 (Disable UAC via User Account Settings)
1. Press Windows Key+X > Control Panel.
2. Small Icons > User Accounts.
3. Change User Account Settings.
4. Drag the slider all the way to the bottom > OK
Option 3 (Disable UAC via Group Policy)
1. Press Windows Key+R > type gpedit.msc > OK.
2. Navigate to;
[box] Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options [/box]
Locate ‘User Account Control: Behaviour of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode’ > Set it to ‘Elevate without prompt. ‘.
3. Locate ‘User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation’ > Set it to Disabled.
4. Locate ‘User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode’ > Set it to Disabled.
5. Locate ‘User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations’ > Set it to Disabled.
6. Exit the policy editor and reboot.
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A few weeks ago my boss asked me to take a look at Microsoft Lync. Because he was interested in the Lync Client (formally Microsoft Communicator) for instant messaging.
Decent info is a bit thin on the net, and I don’t have the patience to read stupidly long PDF files. So to redress the balance I thought I would publish my findings below.
Solution
Note: The following procedure is carried out on Server 2008 R2 with Windows 7 Clients, on my VMware test network.
Walkthrough
I know a lot of people don’t like watching videos so heres my notes:
Pre-Requisites
1. Download and install, Microsoft Silverlight. (link)
2. IIS (Roles > Add Roles > Web Server IIS) > Next.
Also add:
i. ASP.NET
ii. Logging Tools
iii. Tracing
iv. Client Certificate Mapping Authentication.
v. Windows Authentication
vi. IIS Management Scripts and Tools
Next > Install > Finish.
3. RSAT Tools (Features > Add Features > Remote Server Administrative Tools > ADDS and LDS Tools) > Next > Install > Close > Select Yes to Reboot > Post Reboot Installation will continue > Close.
4. Have a Certification authority set up in your domain. OR a certificate ready for the Lync Server to import.
Install
1. Run Setup > It will ask to Install C++ let it do so.
2. Once it’s finished, It will ask for the install location > change if required > Install.
3. Accept the EULA > OK.
4. When the Deployment Wizard starts > Select “Prepare Active Directory”.
5. Prepare Schema > Run > Next > Finish.
6. Allow domain replication.
7. Prepare Current Forest > Run > Select Local Domain > Next > Finish.
8. Allow domain replication.
9. Prepare Domain > Run > Next > Finish.
10. When all are completed, add your administrators to the newly created AD group CSAdministrators > Then click “Back” to return to the main page of the Deployment Wizard.
11. Prepare First Standard Edition Server > Next > SQL Express will install > Finish.
12. Install Topology Builder > It installs very quickly and gets a green tick when complete.
13. Start > All Programs > Microsoft Lync Server 2010 > Lync Server Topology builder > When promoted select > New Topology > OK.
14. Save the topology as requested.
15. Under “Primary SIP Domain” > enter your domain name > Next.
16. Enter any additional domains if required > Next.
11. Give the site a name and description > Next.
12. Enter site details > Next > With the option to “Open the new front end wizard..” selected > Finish.
13. At the “Define a new front end pool” wizard > Next > Enter the FQDN of the server and select Standard Edition > Next.
14. Select features (Everything except PSTN, because I don’t have a PSTN gateway) > Next.
15. Choose to Collocate Mediation Server > Next.
16. Don’t add any further server roles > Next > Next.
17. Let it create a new share > Next.
(Note manually create the share and make sure it has appropriate permissions).
18. Set external URL if required > Next > we are not adding PSTN > Finish.
19. On the Topology Builder Select > Edit Properties > Central Management Server.
20. Add in the admin URL (Note: Make sure this resolves in DNS), and FQDN of the server > OK.
21. Select Publish Topology > Next > Next > Finish.
22. Re-launch or swap back to the Lync Server Deployment Wizard > Select Install or Update Lync Server System.
24. Run step one “Install Local Configuration Store” > Select “Retrieve directly…” > Next > Finish.
25. Run Step two “Setup or Remove Lync Server Components” > Next > (If you get a Prerequisite installation failed: Wmf2008R2 click the link) > Finish.
26. Run Step three “Request, Install, or Assign Certificates” > Request > Next > Send request immediately > Next.
27. Select your CA > Next > Next > Next.
28. Choose a friendly Name > Next.
29. Fill in your Organisation information > Next > Enter country > State and City > Next > Next > Next > Next > Next > Next > Finish. > Close.
30. Run Step 4 “Start Services” > Next > Finish.
31. Check the service status if you wish.
32. Close the deployment wizard.
Launch “Lync Server control Panel” and Configure
1. Launch the ” Lync Server Control Panel” > Log in with an admin account (created above at step 10).
2. Navigate to Users > Add.
3. Add in your users and assign them to your pool.
Post Install Tasks
1. You need to create a DNSSRV (Service Location) so the client can locate the Lync server:
i. service: _sipintenaltls
ii. Protocol: _tcp
iii. Port Number: 5061
iv. Host offering service: the FQDN of the Lync Server.
Install the ‘Lync Client’ on the client machines.
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