vSphere: Downgrading Guest ‘Hardware Version’
Aug20

vSphere: Downgrading Guest ‘Hardware Version’

KB ID 0001458 Problem I always assumed this was either not possible, (without using VMware converter,) or at least very difficult. I downgraded one of my test ESX boxes from 6.5 to 5.5 this week, and needed to lower the hardware versions on some of my VMs accordingly. Solution Connect to the host ESX server via SSH, then navigate to the VMFS volumes; cd /vmfs/volumes Change directory so you are in the right ‘datastore’,...

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Windows – Force into Safe Mode or”Cannot Boot into Safe Mode”
Nov17

Windows – Force into Safe Mode or”Cannot Boot into Safe Mode”

KB ID 0000521 Problem With modern PC’s, the boot time is a LOT less than it used to be. There was a time when you would have a few seconds to press F8 when a Windows machine started and it would boot to “safe mode”. Now even with the reflexes of a fighter pilot, you are hard pushed to press the key before it says “Starting Windows”. Solution 1. Boot Windows normally, and in the search/run box type...

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Windows: How To Remove the ‘Shortcut Arrow’
Nov17

Windows: How To Remove the ‘Shortcut Arrow’

KB ID 0000178  Problem Whenever I build a new machine, one of the first things I do, is open Regedit > Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > lnkfile and remove the “IsShortcut” Value, and voila! the annoying shortcut arrows are gone. DONT DO THAT! If you do, you will notice that you can no longer add shortcuts to the “Windows Explorer Favorites” (well you can but you can’t see them), also it disables (Grays...

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Exchange – ‘The certificate status could not be determined because the revocation check failed.’
Nov17

Exchange – ‘The certificate status could not be determined because the revocation check failed.’

KB ID 0000484  Problem Seen on Exchange (with or without service packs) when you access the internet through a proxy server. Note: Exchange does NOT take its proxy settings from Internet Explorer. Solution 1. To prove that the proxy is the problem drop to command line and issue the following command: netsh winhttp show proxy   If it says “Direct Access (no proxy server)” and you have a proxy server then that’s...

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Factory Reset Juniper SRX Firewall
Nov17

Factory Reset Juniper SRX Firewall

KB ID 0001003  Problem If you manage to stuff up your firewall, or you have just done some testing and want to revert back to ‘as new’ here is how to do it. Solution 1. Connect to the firewall either by console cable or via SSH, go to CLI mode then configuration mode. login: PeteL Password: ************ — JUNOS 12.1X47-D10.4 built 2014-08-14 22:21:50 UTC PeteL@Petes-SRX> cli PeteL@Petes-SRX> configure Entering...

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