Enable the Local Administrator & Set the Local Administrators Password via Group Policy
KB ID 0000641 Problem Microsoft disabled the local administrators account for a good reason, (its GUID it always the same, and its a well known attack vector into Windows). That said, if you have a problem on the domain, and you want to get into a client machine directly, not having the local admin enabled can be a pain. Note: If you deploy your machines via WDS you can add a local admin account (with a different name) to your...
Microsoft LAPS – Deployment and Configuration
KB ID 0001059 Problem Microsoft have released the Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). What is does is automatically change the load administrator password on workstations, (and servers if required) periodically. It then keeps those passwords securely in AD. Microsoft tried to mitigate attacks from the local admin account back in the days of Windows Vista by shipping with this account disabled, which is fine, but most large...
Running Windows Server 8 in VMware ESXi
KB ID 0000590 Problem The very fist time I tried this was on ESXi 4.1, if you try and install Windows 8 Server on that platform, you will see the following. Your computer ran into a problem and needs to restart. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this code: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED It’s collecting error info and will restart in: x seconds Note: You will also see this in VMware player, and VMware...
Dual Booting Windows 8 with Windows 7
KB ID 0000653 Problem In the next couple of months Windows 8 will go RTM. For those of you with Technet, MSDNor Open Value subscriptions you can already get your hands on it. For anyone not wanting to take the ‘plunge’ and reinstall your OS, you can simply ‘Dual Boot’. Then you can get used to Windows 8 in your own good time. If you suddenly find you need Windows 7 simplify reboot and it will still be there....
Windows Enabling “Show Hidden Files” and “Show File Extensions”
KB ID 0000655 Problem Windows, by.default hides file extensions. Note: Only for files it understands. e.g. In the example below it does not know what a .doc extension is so it shows it (because Word has not been installed yet). Show File Extensions Also hidden files and folders are not shown. Show Hidden Files and Folders Solution I know these are two different things, but I usually set them both together, and they’re both set...