Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

From Henk's blog (and sponsors) we wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! Hope you liked all information last year about Microsoft System Center and Windows Intune.

Jalasoft

Veeam

Expect more to come in 2014 again!
#HappyHolidays

Multiple anti-malware policies visible in Endpoint Protection 2012 R2

In SCCM 2012 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) with Endpoint Protection (SCEP) it was needed to look in registry when multiple anti-malware policies were active. More about that here: Prepare ConfigMgr client for Sysprep or Master Image.
It mentions: The policy name in SCEP will be named "Antimalware policy" by default. All SCEP policies applied can be found in registry: "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\CCM\EPAgent\LastAppliedPolicy"

In SCCM 2012 Release 2 (R2) this isn't needed anymore. This because multiple anti-malware policies are displayed in the SCEP client now. Much better this way isn't it!?

Anti-malware platform update for Endpoint Protection clients

As you can see a new Endpoint Protection (SCEP) update is available for System Center (SCCM) 2012 R2 installations. This is the third update available for SCCM 2012 R2 till now. In this blogpost an overview of all R2 hotfixes.
 
1) An update is available for the "Operating System Deployment" feature of System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
2) Per-computer variables for imported computers are not read in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
3) November 2013 anti-malware platform update for Endpoint Protection clients

This article describes an anti-malware platform update package for the following clients:
- SCCM 2012 R2 Endpoint Protection clients
- SCCM 2012 (SP1) Endpoint Protection clients
- Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) 2010 clients

These packages update Endpoint Protection client services, drivers, and UI components.

Microsoft regularly releases anti-malware platform updates to guarantee consistency in protection, performance, robustness, and usability in a malware landscape that is constantly changing. This update package is dated November 2013.

You can download the Hotfix here: Microsoft Support

SCCM 2012 SP1 Offline Servicing - Failed to install update

Last week I did a deployment on a Windows 7 (with offline updates integrated), created in ConfigMgr 2012 SP1. Because of new installation, I want to deploy the image with ConfigMgr 2012 R2. During OS deployment (installing system components) the following error message was seen in mini-setup: Windows could not configure one or more system components. To install Windows, restart the computer and then restart the installation.

After reboot another error message was displayed: The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click "OK" to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.

Lucky me I found the issue reading the following post:

SCCM 2012 SP1 Offline Servicing - Failed to install update
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/9c34add1-5261-4dcf-b3f6-7c26ef4fcd28/sccm-2012-sp1-offline-servicing-failed-to-install-update?forum=configmanagerosd
It mentions: I have seen this, best I can tell, whenever offline servicing fails, you end up with a corrupted image and get the errors above.  Only solution I found is, use the bak WIM file that the offline servicing process to rollback.  Then you can retry offline servicing until it finally works without errors.  Then your WIM should work again.

After creating a new image (copy of install.wim from installation media) and importing updates by offline servicing again, everything went fine. Still strange that offline servicing can (sometimes) break your deployment image! Anyone?

Reminder: Xian NM Webinar

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Topics to be covered:

• Architecture
• SNMP monitoring
• Discovering a device
• Applying rules and policy templates
• Netflow monitoring
• Adding a source
• Creating a filter
• Creating a rule
• OpsMgr
• Events
• Alerts
• Performance graphs
• Reports
• UI integration

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Download Driver packages for Dell, HP and Lenovo systems

Good news! When you are using MDT and/or SCCM/ConfigMgr and want to create driver packages, you can download them for Dell, HP and Lenovo systems. That saves a lot of time, because to need to download every single driver available. Let's have a look at the different methods for companies.

Dell has a website available for Driver CAB files for Enterprise Client OS Deployment. This can be used for WinPE (5.0 also!), XPS systems, Venue systems, Latitude systems, Optiplex systems and Precision systems. There are also combo packs available. They can be found here: http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/w/wiki/2065.dell-driver-cab-files-for-enterprise-client-os-deployment.aspx
Just use "Dell Client Integration Pack" to import Driver CAB files in a easy way: http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/os-applications/w/wiki/2565.dell-client-integration-pack.aspx

HP takes the next step and provides ready-made driver packages for MDT and SCCM for the business models of notebooks, desktops and workstations. The packages can be obtained via SoftPaq Download Manager (SDM) or from the HP support website. It appears they are primarily for the current generation of products. To get the download manager, navigate to the HP manageability website: www.hp.com/go/easydeploy or directly to www.hp.com/go/sdm

Lenovo has a website available for "Microsoft SCCM and MDT Package Index". This can be used for ThinkCentre systems, ThinkStation systems and ThinkPad systems. Packages provide the device drivers in .inf form for, in order to allow you to deploy Windows images with SCCM by importing the device drivers. These driver packs are also supported with MDT. They can be found here: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=HT074984

Really great to see that known vendors has support for MDT and/or SCCM/ConfigMgr now!

Update: HP Client Integration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 R2

Manage Windows (RT) 8.1 devices in Windows Intune

Yesterday I want to enroll Windows Intune (integrated in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager) on a Surface 2 Pro (Windows 8.1 Pro) and Surface 2 RT (Windows RT 8.1). Unfortunately you must have certificates for both devices available for doing an enrollment to deploy any custom apps. This must be done in ConfigMgr (because this is my Mobile Device Management Authority) from now on.

For Windows Phone there is a Support Tool for Windows Intune Trial Management of Window Phone 8 available. More about that one in this blogpost. Let's have a look in ConfigMgr now. Within Software Library "Windows RT Sideloading Keys" can be created. These are not available for trial purposes as far as I know?

This is needed for both Windows RT, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows 8.1 which are not domain-joined. When devices are domain-joined (when possible and/or supported) a certificate is not needed. Within Windows Intune Subscription properties an Code-signing certificate (CER or CRT file) is needed to get the job done.

Why Microsoft has choosen for this, while Apple and Google has better (and cheaper) ways? To do this you must supply an Enterprise Agreement (EA) Sideloading key, which can be obtained from your Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center provider. Pity I can't manage my new Surfaces now! Anyone?

Update 15-1-2014: When looking for a workaround on Windows RT sideloading keys have a look at this blogpost.

Exclude software updates from Automatic Deployment Rule

Hi, today I get a request if it's possible to exclude a specific software update from an Automatic Deployment Rule. This because functionality was broken between Skydrive Pro and our SharePoint 2010 server. The following update must be excluded which is malefactor on this. Let's do a query on Software Updates first. With Criteria you can search (for example) on Title. My search is on KB2837652. You can see that the update is downloaded and deployed.

Software Update is active


You can choose to use "Edit Membership" and remove the update, but because of Automatic Deployment Rule, the software update will be deployed again after next run. A better way is to change the Automatic Deployment Rule query. Let's have a look on that one. Normally I use values on Product, Required and Superseded here. 

Automatic Deployment Rule query

This time I added a new value, named Title. When you add a random name with a "-" before it, it will be excluded from software updates. When you don't use the "-" it will be added to the already chosen updates query. When you start "Run now" on the Automatic Deployment Rule the above configuration will be active.

Software Update is non-active

Great to see that the chosen update is non-active now! I added a title on "Update for Microsoft SkyDrive Pro" and "KB2837652". This time no need to use "Edit Membership" anymore. The update will be ignored from now on! Happy customer :)

The "Black Friday" of software is coming to you

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Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (WUDT) is unable to copy files

Yesterday I want to create a Boot media with Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. This Boot media came from ConfigMgr 2012 R2, which is based on Windows PE 5 (Windows 8.1). Everything seems fine, but creating the Boot media was getting stuck on 98%. Created the Boot media a few times again, but without any luck. Finally found a nice blogpost with more information about this issue.

This post explains why the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (WUDT) is unable to copy the install files to the USB drive in some cases. It mentions: If you have problems Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool you can try the free alternative Rufus. Rufus is a small utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys/pendrives, memory sticks, etc.

After using Rufus everything went fine, and USB Boot media was finally working. Hope it helps!

Ultimate New Year’s Resolution from Veeam

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New ConfigMgr 2012 R2 Policy Hotfix available

Yesterday a new ConfigMgr 2012 R2 Policy Hotfix is released. This because Per-computer task sequence variables that are defined for imported computers are filtered out of client policies. This prevents the variables from being read during task sequence execution. This problem does not affect per-computer variables that are defined for existing clients.

This update applies only to Primary sites.
Important Per-computer task sequence variables have to be recreated if they were created after System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager was installed but before this update is applied.

You can download the Hotfix here: Microsoft Support

Support Tool for Windows Intune Trial Management of Window Phone 8

When using Windows Intune for demo usage and want to test Windows Phone 8 a certificate is needed. This can be resolved by using "Support Tool for Windows Intune Trial Management of Window Phone 8". This tool facilitates Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager admins and Windows Intune admins to try out Windows Phone 8 software distribution scenarios during the Trial period.

The downloaded support tool contains a script that populates a sample Application Enrollment Token in the Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager environment, a sample Windows Phone 8 Company Portal app, and two sample applications that can be used for WP8 software distribution scenarios.

Operation is finished successfully

Download link and Install instructions: Microsoft Download Center

How to Set Mobile Device Management Authority

In Windows Intune you can choose to set the Mobile Device Management Authority for Mobile Device Management. The Mobile Device Management Authority can be set to Windows Intune OR System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM/ConfigMgr). Consider carefully whether you want to manage mobile devices by using Windows Intune only or SCCM with Windows Intune Integration. After you set the mobile device management authority to either of these options, this cannot be changed.

In Windows Intune you can set the Mobile Device Management Authority from within the Admin Console. More information about this choice can be found on Microsoft TechNet.

1.Open the Windows Intune administrator console.
2.In the workspace shortcuts pane, click the Administration icon.
3.In the navigation pane, click Mobile Device Management Setup.
4.In the Tasks list on the Policy Overview page, click Set Mobile Device Management Authority.
5.The Set Mobile Device Management Authority dialog box appears, and it prompts you to choose whether to use Windows Intune to manage the mobile devices in your account. Do one of the following: Click Yes to use Windows Intune to manage mobile devices for your account. If you set Windows Intune as the management authority, you must manage mobile devices by using the Windows Intune administrator console.
Important: If you plan to use SCCM to manage mobile devices for your account, do not set the mobile device management authority to Windows Intune. To set the mobile device management authority to SCCM, you must use your organizational account to create a Windows Intune subscription from within the SCCM console, and select the option to allow Configuration Manager to manage the subscription.

In SCCM you can set the Mobile Device Management Authority from within the Administration pane. More information about this can be found on Microsoft TechNet.

1.In the Configuration Manager console, click Administration.
2.For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1: In the Administration workspace, expand Hierarchy Configuration, and click Windows Intune Subscriptions.
For System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager: In the Administration workspace, expand Cloud Services, and click Windows Intune Subscriptions.
3.For System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1: On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Windows Intune Subscription.
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager: On the Home tab, click Add Windows Intune Subscription.
4.On the Introduction page of the Create Windows Intune Subscription Wizard, review the text and click Next.
5.On the Subscription page, click Sign in and sign in by using your Windows Intune organizational account. Select the Allow the Configuration Manager console to manage this subscription check box. When you select this setting, you will only be able to manage mobile devices by using the Configuration Manager console. To continue with your subscription, you must select this option.
Important: Once you select Configuration Manager as your management authority, you cannot change the management authority to Windows Intune in the future.

In case of bad decision it's possible to contact Microsoft Support on this to reset the Mobile Device Management Authority for your account. In that case all managed computers and/or mobile devices must be removed from Windows Intune. After the reset it's possible to set the Mobile Device Management Authority again.

Reminder: Xian NM Webinar

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Visitors to henkhoogendoorn.blogspot.com

Today I'm using ClustrMaps for a year now! This because with Blogger it isn't possible how many visitors you get. Great to see where visitors are coming from. Let's have a look at statistics now.


Visitors last year

Visitors from all over the globe

Top 10 Visitors by Country

Hope to welcome more visitors next year!

SCEP updates pushed out to clients through SCCM 2012

Last week I had an issue on my ConfigMgr server with local WSUS installation. After fixing WSUS in a earlier blogpost, Definition Updates didn't install on my systems. This because of a Group Policy (GPO) which was set by a colleague ;) The following was seen in the WUAHandler log: Group policy settings were overwritten by a higher authority (Domain Controller). The GPO just had the server name and port (SCCM01:8530) and SCCM had the FQDN and port (SCCM01.Contoso.local:8530).

Sample from WindowsUpdate.log

 

Sample from WUAHandler.log

 
Lucky me I found the issue reading the following post:

EP updates pushed out to clients through SCCM 2012
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/forefront/en-US/a9bb6c1c-1473-4fe7-bf1d-a689792c8100/ep-updates-pushed-out-to-clients-through-sccm-2012?forum=FCSNext
It mentions: It looks like there was a conflict on how the WSUS server was defined in Group Policy versus what SCCM had (GP just had the server name and port and SCCM had the FQDN and port). Once I removed the GP setting all together and updated the policy etc then it seemed like things started to happen. In the UpdateDeployment.log I was seeing these errors:
Job error (0x87d00692) received for assignment ({76d342f7-e312-4c6d-9c60-29be10cc5212}) action
The setup recommends the short name for your GPO but I wasn't seeing deployments reach any of the endpoints. Changing to the FQDN of the server in the GPO fixed the issue and I'm now seeing percentage completed stats and deployments working.

What you have to do is use a GPO with only "Specify intranet Microsoft update service location" (FQDN) & "Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation". When using FQDN for update management above error messages are gone. This time it will work fine again!

WSUS Post Deployment Configuration Fails on Windows Server 2012

Last week I had an issue on my ConfigMgr server with local WSUS installation. The WSUS (Windows Update) service couldn't be started and Server Manager (in Windows Server 2012) RTM gives an error message also: The WSUS content directory is not accessible. In this case no (new) update management is possible anymore.


Sample from Event Viewer

Lucky me I found the issue reading the following posts:

WSUS Post Deployment Configuration Fails on Windows Server 2012
http://blogs.technet.com/b/reshard_sharps_blog/archive/2013/08/18/wsus-post-deployment-configuration-fails.aspx
It mentions: When using SQL for your database instance you must specify the name of your SQL server. One would assume if the database is local the wizard would find the instance without specifying the SQL server name. If you select Check Connection without specifying a server name it will return Successfully Connected to server. Despite this misleading result, it was not successful. The server name value it expects when running the Post Deployment step will be empty and will cause Post Deployment to fail.

WSUS install on Server 2012 Fails
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/91e45363-bbf7-414a-8932-779b1c170c3e/wsus-install-on-server-2012-fails?forum=winserverwsus
It mentions: I solved this issue by opening IIS Manager and deleting the old WSUS web site, then running the Complete WSUS Installation again.

What you have to do is uninstall WSUS, remove the IIS website manually, keep the WSUS database (it won't be removed after all) and reboot the server. After reboot install WSUS again, choose to check connection with the SQL server filled in, and start Post Deployment. This time it will work fine again!

New ConfigMgr 2012 R2 OSD Hotfix available

A few days ago a new ConfigMgr 2012 R2 OSD Hotfix is released. This because many customers couldn't PXE boot anymore. Have a look at these forums for more information about the issue:
Microsoft Technet, Windows Noob & MyITForum

This update resolves the following issues:
Issue 1
After you enable the PXE Service Point role on an instance of a specific distribution point, or you select the Deploy this boot image from the PXE-enabled distribution point property of a boot image, the Windows Deployment Service (WDS) stops running. Additionally, entries that resemble the following are logged in the Windows Application log:

Faulting application name: svchost.exe_WDSServer, version: 6.3.9600.16384, time stamp: 0x5215dfe3
Faulting module name: MSVCR100.dll, version: 10.0.40219.1, time stamp: 0x4d5f034a
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000005f61a
Faulting process id: 0xae4
Faulting application start time: 0x01cec5d767184634
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\bin\x64\MSVCR100.dll

Note This problem affects only distribution points that are installed on site servers.

Issue 2
When operating system image files are downloaded to Configuration Manager 2012 R2 clients, you may find that the download takes longer than it did in previous versions of Configuration Manager 2012 clients. You may see this behavior when the target client is running Windows PE or a full Windows operating system.

You can download the Hotfix here: Microsoft Support

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Creating multiple dashboards in OpsMgr 2012 R2

As mentioned before I did a Operations Manager (OpsMgr) 2012 R2 installation already. One of the great items in OpsMgr (for myself) is creating dashboards. In OpsMgr dashboards can be created multiple ways. Some can be created in OpsMgr by default, some can be created with additional software needed. It's not my point to describe how to build them, but to point you in the right direction which is possible. Here we go!

Dashboards can be created mutiple ways, following is possible:
-Default dashboards (which can also be a Service Level Dashboard or Summary Dashboard)
-Microsoft Visio dashboards (which is published in SharePoint)
-Savision Live Maps (many possibilities, but additional licenses needed)
-Distributed Applications (chain monitoring of .NET applications)

Default dashboards are created with a layout and widgets. Widgets are powerful objects which can be used many ways. First decide how to build the framework, you can choose between:

-Column Layout (enables up to 5 vertical columns to displayed in a row)
-Grid Layout (allows layouts of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 9 cells)
-Service Level Dashboard (shows the data for a pre-configured SLA)
-Summary Dashboard (adds 3 default widgets in a 3-cell configuration)

Widgets can be choosen from the following list:
-Objects by Performance Widget (sort of Top 10 dashboard)
-Object SLA Widget (group that has an SLA applied to it)
-Performance Widget (creates a performance graph)
-State Widget (can be based on multiple configurations)
-SLA Widget (shows the data for a pre-configured SLA)
-SLA Configuration (Service Level tracking)
-Alert Widget (allows the display of alerts)
-Details Widget (shows the details of selected alerts)
-Instance Details Widget (show details of a selected group or instance)
-SLA Configuration Note (monitor Service Level Objectives)

Microsoft Visio dashboards are created with SharePoint 2010 using Microsoft Visio 2010 and SharePoint 2010 Extensions for System Center 2012. Just make sure you have SharePoint 2010 Enterprise edition installed, because only this edition has the Visio Web Service available. Within Visio a dashboard can be created and used in SharePoint with Extensions. That way a graphical dasboard can be created with OpsMgr Health Explorer access on all items. Have a look here for installation: http://blog.scomfaq.ch/2013/07/10/scom-2012-sp1-publish-visio-dashboard-in-sharepoint-2010-walkthrough/

Live Maps for System Center is the enterprise visualization solution for Microsoft System Center. Their interactive dashboards, maps and diagrams add business context to every alert and incident, making sure your limited resources can focus on the things that really matter to your business. Live Maps is ready for R2! The upcoming release of Live Maps is compatible with System Center 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1. The release will be available on October 18. No SharePoint 2010 or Visio 2010 are needed with Live Maps. Just install the product and get started. All objects in OpsMgr will be automatically available for dashboard creation.

A Distributed Application in OpsMgr is an application that is comprised of multiple objects. These objects may be defined by different management packs and may be managed on the same agent or on different agents. The purpose of the distributed application is to provide an overall health for an application that is comprised of different objects. Distributed applications do not provide any additional monitoring for the objects in an application. Instead, they include objects that are already being monitored. The value of the distributed application is to provide a relationship between the health of objects that are part of a single application. You can create distributed applications using the Distributed Applications Designer in the Operations console.

A few examples on this:

Summary Dashboard in SharePoint 2010

 

A Distributed .NET Application

 

MAP View with Active Locations

 

Integration with Microsoft Visio

 

Performance Widget - Grid Layout

 

Service Level Dashboard

 

Network Monitoring

 

SLA Widget - Grid Layout

 

They look just great isn't it? Possibilities are many on this point.
Want to know more? Just leave a comment on this post.


Moving a Distribution Point to another Drive

In ConfigMgr packages on a Distribution Point are placed on the drive with most free space. Sometimes this can be the System drive also. This can be prevented by using a hidden file. More about that can be found here: Controlling Configuration Manager 2012 Using Hidden Files. But what to do when the Distribution Point is already placed on the wrong drive? Just follow steps in this blogpost for that.

Assuming that you're using ConfigMgr 2012 SP1, just download "System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 Component Add-ons and Extensions". When installed open "Tools Command Prompt" and go into the ServerTools folder. Enter ContentLibraryTransfer.exe -SourceDrive <current drive letter> -TargetDrive <new drive letter>. For Example: ContentLibraryTransfer.exe -SourceDrive C -TargetDrive D

It will take a while (depending of the size on the Distribution Point) but the tool will do ALL for you. Just wait till it's ready and you're done. Much easier then with ConfigMgr 2007 a long time ago ;)

After copying data, SCCM services are stopped, DP shares are deleted, Permissions are set, WMI and Registry is updated, SCCM services are started again, old DP content is removed, and virtual directories are updated. All is done by the tool, so no worry about that. Quite cool that one single tool and command is doing ALL for you.

Hope it helps!

System Center Advisor integration in OpsMgr 2012 R2

Last week I did a Operations Manager (OpsMgr) 2012 R2 installation already. One of the new features in Release 2 (R2) is System Center Advisor integration. OpsMgr now includes Advisor as an Attached Service, which will allow you to add Advisor monitoring to Windows management servers in your SCOM environment. Sounds nice isn't it?

Since March 2013 Advisor is free of charge and without the Software Assurance (SA) coverage requirement. Al you need is a Microsoft or Organizational account to start the integration. Then decide which servers will be monitored by Advisor. In OpsMgr console there will be Advisor alerts from now also. Just great to have this integration!

The following workloads are analyzed:

• Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012
• Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2:
• Active Directory
• Hyper-V Host
• General operating system
• SQL Server 2008 and later
• SQL Engine
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
• Microsoft Lync Server 2010
• Microsoft Lync Server 2013 (new in October 2013)
• System Center 2012 SP1 – Virtual Machine Manager (new in August 2013)
• Source: Welcome to System Center Advisor

Just some information on System Center Advisor (http://www.systemcenteradvisor.com) is an online service that analyzes installations of Microsoft server software. Advisor collects data from your installations, analyzes it, and generates alerts that identify potential issues (such as missing security patches) or deviations from identified best practices with regard to configuration and usage. Advisor also provides both current and historical views of the configuration of servers in your environment.

Latest Release: What’s new on Xian Wings 2.0

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With Xian Wings for OpsMgr you have a real client application for your smartphone, which means states, alerts, performance graphs, and more are always at your fingertips. Find out what the Xian Wings 2.0 improvements are in this blogpost.

With Xian Wings HD for iPad you can run PowerShell and prompt commands directly from your iPad against the OpsMgr server or another computer. This is called "Remote Shell". No need to get connected to the computer that is experiencing the issues anymore. Sounds like a great feature to me.

With Xian Wings for Windows Phone there is support for both Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7 devices added. As a Windows Phone 8 user myself I really like this one ;) There will be support for Android and iPhone devices of course also. That way most mobile platforms are supported now.

With Xian Wings 2.0 Server there is support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 systems added. That way the Xian Wings server and/or console can be installed on any computer running these versions. No need to use Windows Server editions for this anymore. DotNet Framework 4.5 support is added also.

Hope you like the new features. Want to learn more about Xian Wings 2.0? Contact Jalasoft at 1-888-402-6717 or sales@jalasoft.com

On Friday November 8th, 2013 there is an upcoming webinar on Xian Wings 2.0 also. Don't miss that one!

Free TechSmith Software for Technology Leaders

If you are a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) or Most Valuable Professional (MVP) you can get Camtasia Studio and Snagit for free! That's what someone (another MCT) was telling me earlier this week. Seems that the deal is still active after many years (since 2009). Didn't know that myself actually, so therefore this blogpost as a reminder. Just go to MCT Request Form or MVP Request Form to request an activation key. Very cool as you ask me!
 
Download can be done here:
-Snagit PC or MAC
Record onscreen activity at your desk or in front of an audience and create eye-catching HD-quality training, presentation, and demo videos. Enhance them with editing effects like callouts, transitions and more. Then share for viewers to watch on-demand…anytime, anywhere.

-Camtasia Studio PC or MAC
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@TechSmit Software Thanks for the software and free licenses!
@Kåre Rude Andersen Thanks for sharing knowledge!

System Center 2012 R2 downloadable VHDs available!

Do you want to experience System Center 2012 R2 products?
 
Microsoft have made VHDs available for evaluation:

 
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Service Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Service Manager Data Warehouse– Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Operations Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Orchestrator – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager – Evaluation (VHD) 
System Center 2012 R2 App Controller – Evaluation (VHD)

Just use them to have a look at all the new features!

Update: Password for above VHDs is pass@word1 or Pass@word1 
This cannot be found on internet actually, but because passwords were used on older System Center VHDs before, the're still working. Just make usage of it!

Update 17-2-2016: New download links available!

System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Service Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Service Manager Data Warehouse– Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Operations Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Orchestrator – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager – Evaluation (VHD)
System Center 2012 R2 App Controller – Evaluation (VHD)

Repair Windows 8.x from a bootable USB device

Last week my colleague had an issue with his local Windows 8.1 installation. For this case of emergency, Always make sure you have a bootable USB device with Windows 8.x in your pocket. In this blogpost I explain how to create one. Let's have a look how to repair Windows 8.x from a bootable USB device.

Just start your system with this bootable USB-device for installation/ upgrade or refresh/ reset actions. Then start the following actions:

1. Choose "Language to install", "Time and currency format" and "Keyboard or input method".
2. Then choose "Repair your computer", NOT "Install now".
3. At "Choose an option" select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options".

4. Choose "Startup Repair", Operating System Windows 8.x first, which doesn't actually fixed the issue (Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC).
5. Choose "Advanced options" after the issue instead of shutdown.
6. At "Choose an option" select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options".

7. Choose "Command Prompt" and type the following lines:
-bootrec /fixmbr
-bootrec /fixboot
8. Start your PC again and the issue should be fixed now.

Hope it helps!

Thanks to Frans Oudendorp (@oudendorp) for this one!

Guide to install Windows 8.1 from a bootable USB device

Last week I did an upgrade on my notebook from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. I prefer by doing this with a bootable USB device, Always having the Operating System with me for refresh or reset actions. This because you can use it in case of emergency also. The following steps are needed to get it done.

1) Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool and install it on your Windows device. Download
2) Start the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool and follow the steps. Select the Windows 8.1 ISO and use a empty USB device (4GB min.)

Select the Windows 8.1 ISO file on the hard disk

Use an empty USB device for installing Windows 8.1

Select the empty USB device and start/begin copying

Copy job is done and the USB device is ready to use now!

Just start your system with this bootable USB-device for installation/ upgrade or refresh/ reset actions. You can use it in case of emergency also! I will mention that in my next blogpost.