How to Tell if Windows is 32 or 64 bit

KB ID 0000153

Problem

If you want to know what version (x64 or x86) of Windows you are running, then this is the simplest way to find out.

Solution

Under accessories run system information;

Under System Type: If it says x86 then it’s 32 bit.

However if it says x64 then it’s 64 bit.

Windows XP and Server 2003

1. Click Start > Run > sysdm.cpl {enter} > General Tab.

Windows XP x32 (x86) and Windows XP x64

Windows Server 2003 x32 (x86) and Windows Server 2003 x64

Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Server 2008

1. Start > Control Panel > System.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

Windows Server 2008

 

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NA

Event ID 2937

KB ID 0000448 

Problem

Event ID 2937

Process edgetransport.exe () (PID=6156). Object [CN={mailbox database name},CN=Databases,CN=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT),CN=Administrative Groups,CN={domain},CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC={domain},DC=com]. Property [PublicFolderDatabase] is set to value [{domain}.org/Configuration/Deleted Objects/Public Folder Store (EXCH2K3) DEL:b60ef8b9-09dd-41c5-9aec-af2a4cc4f33e], it is pointing to the Deleted Objects container in Active Directory. This property should be fixed as soon as possible.

In my case I had a mailbox database that was looking at a public folder database, that no longer existed. (It was on the old/removed Exchange 2003 server).

Solution

Disclaimer: OK this error comes in a lot of forms, and references lots of different processes other than edgetransport.exe. I tried all the stuff I found online to try and fix the problem. But non of them worked, (this error gets logged when the Exchange services start).

In the end I fixed it myself, and it was annoyingly easy.

1. Look in your error message to see the “Mail Database” that’s complaining, (In this example it’s called “Mailbox Database 1507786053”).

2. Launch Exchange system Manager > Organization Configuration > Mailbox > Database Management > Select the offending database > Right click > Properties > Client Settings.

3. Under “Default Public Folder Database” > Browse > Locate and select a live public folder database.

4. Then restart Exchange services (Or reboot).

 

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NA

Windows Server – Migrating DHCP Scopes

KB ID 0000447

Problem

Normally you can just create a new scope on your new DHCP server, but if you have a lot of reservations that you don’t want to have to recreate (for printers network devices etc), then it’s a better option to migrate/copy the scope to the new server.

Solution

1. Copy all the DHCP settings to a text file with the following command;

[box]

netsh dhcp server export C:\dhcp.txt all

[/box]

2. Stop and disable the DHCP Server service on the OLD DHCP server.

3. Move the text file to the NEW server, and import the settings with the following command;

[box]

netsh dhcp server import c:\dhcp.txt all

[/box]  

If it says the command is unsupported see the link below!

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Windows Server – Change a DHCP Scopes Subnet Mask

Windows – Create ‘Multiple Version’ Install Media(x32 and x64 bit)

KB ID 0000164 

Problem

When Microsoft released Windows Vista and Server 2008 they had the brilliant Idea of putting all the versions you would require in the same install media. With Windows 7 they have changed their approach, and the install media is specific to the version that is going to be installed. Well actually that’s not true the version is decided by a file in the installation media called ei.cfg and all versions are STILL in there.

What they still do, is have their x32 bit and their x64 bit Operating Systems on different media. If you do a lot of installs you might want them all on one DVD. Below are two walkthroughs, the first shows you how to make an x32 and x64 bit install DVD with all the versions* on it, the second shows you how to unlock your exiting install media so that all the versions on it are accessible.

Create an x32 and x64 bit Windows 7 Multi Install Media DVD

Create an x32 or x64 bit Windows 7 Multi Install DVD.

*When I say “all versions” I’m NOT including Windows 7 Enterprise, that comes on separate media, and is just for open value subscription customers, or customers with software assurance.

Solution

Create an x32 AND x64 bit Windows 7 Multi Install Media DVD

1. Download your Windows 7 ISO Images (x32 and x64), from VLSC, Technet, or MSDN etc.

2. Make two Directories on your Machine’s C: Drive called Master and Images.

3. Using 7Zip open the x32 bit ISO file you have downloaded, and extract the sourcesinstall.wim file to the C:Images folder.

4. Then rename the file you just extracted to x32.wim.

4. Using 7Zip open the x64 bit ISO file you have downloaded, and extract the sourcesinstall.wim file to the C:Images folder.

5. Then rename the file you just extracted to x64.wim.

5. Install the WAIK on your machine (instructions here).

6. Check the x32 image for the “Image Index” (these are the numbers of all the Windows versions in this image), Yours will probably be identical, but you may have different media so check! Launch the “Deployment Tools Command Prompt”

To check the image index, execute the following command;

[box]
imagex /info C:Imagesx32.wim
[/box]

You can see (above) this image has five images within it, scroll down and you can see them.

Mine is structured as follows;

Image 1 – Starter Edition
Image 2 – Home Basic
Image 3 – Home Premium
Image 4 – Professional
Image 5 – Ultimate

7. Create a new image from all these Windows 7 x32 images, by executing the following commands;

[box]

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx32.wim 1 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Starter x32”
IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx32.wim 2 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Home Basic x32”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx32.wim 3 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Home Premium x32”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx32.wim 4 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Professional x32”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx32.wim 5 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Ultimate x32”

[/box]

8. Now check the x64 image (Note: There is NO x64 bit Starter Edition).

To check the image index, execute the following command;

[box]
imagex /info C:Imagesx64.wim
[/box]

You can see (above) this image has four images within it, scroll down and you can see them.

Mine is structured as follows;

Image 1 – Home Basic
Image 2 – Home Premium
Image 3 – Professional
Image 4 – Ultimate

9. Create a new image from all these Windows 7 x64 images, by executing the following commands;

[box]
IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx64.wim 1 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Home Basic x64”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx64.wim 2 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Home Premium x64”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx64.wim 3 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Professional x64”

IMAGEX /Export C:Imagesx64.wim 4 C:ImagesInstall.wim “Windows 7 Ultimate x64”
[/box]

10. Extract the contents of one (I used the x32 bit one) of your ISO files to the C:Master Directory.

11. Delete the C:MasterSourcesei.cfg file.

12. Copy the C:ImagesInstall.wim to c:MasterSources (Select Yes to Overwrite).

13. Create a new ISO file, by executing the following command;

[box]
oscdimg.exe -lMulti-Windows-7 -m -u2 -b”C:MasterBootetfsboot.com” C:Master C:Multi-Windows-7.ISO
[/box]

14. Test your new install media (Note: if you want to Burn a DVD from this ISO use ImgBurn (it’s free).

Create an x32 OR x64 bit Windows 7 Multi Install DVD.

So if you have the installation media in .iso format you can change it so you can see the other install versions. On THIS site there are some utilities to help you – the “eicfg removal utility” removes the pointer to the file (which means you can install any version by picking it from the install menu (like you did with Windows Vista). Or you can swap your version with the second tool “Windows 7 iso image edition switcher”. I deploy a lot of machines so the former is a much better option for me.

1. Drop the windows 7 .iso file somewhere you can get at it (i.e. on your desktop).

2. Download eicfg removal utility, Extract it and run the eicfg_remover.exe

3. Browse to your .iso file > Open.

4. Now if you boot with this media you will get a choice of which version you want to install.

 

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Original article written 02/01/10

Installing Windows From USB

KB ID 0000191

Problem

This weekend I needed to install Windows 7 on my shiny new Acer HTPC, but having no internal CD/DVD drive I needed to do this via USB.

Quite a few times now I’ve needed to install Windows (Particularly Server 2008), on a machine that has no DVD Drive. You can now install both products from a bootable USB drive by doing either of the the following.

Note: You will need a USB Drive with enough free space on it to hold the Windows setup files (Windows 7 and Server 2008 require 4GB ish, depending on versions).

Solution

Option 1 (The quick and dirty techie way!)

1. Pop in your USB Drive > open a command windows and execute the following commands:

[box]diskpart {enter} [launches the disk partition program]
list {enter}[Displays all the disks you can work with]
select disk x {enter}[Select the USB Drive number]
clean {enter}[Wipes the USB Drive][/box]

2. Execute the following commands:

[box]create partition primary {enter} [Creates a new primary partition]
select partition 1{enter}[Select the partition you have just made]
active {enter}[Makes the partition bootable]
exit {enter}[Closes diskpart][/box]

3. Now use a utility like 7-Zip to extract the Windows Install media .ISO file to your USB drive.

4. Now boot your device from USB, (Enter the BIOS boot section and change the boot order), or press the key the machine says will load the boot options when you first turn it on.

Note: Some machines require you to change USB emulation before you can boot from them like so.

Option 2 (The lazy way!)

Download Novicorp WinToFlash

7-Zip

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Also see Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool (Thanks to Fred de Jonge)