Download Pick: WiseSoft Password Control 2.3 now Available

WiseSoft has released an updated version of its FREE password control utility. Many new features have been added including a user account Bulk Modify tool. See:

http://www.wisesoft.co.uk/Products/PasswordControl/default.aspx

New Features in version 2.3
Bulk Modify - This is the main addition to Password Control. Bulk Modify is a tool that allows you to update user account attributes for many user accounts. Updates to user attributes are fully logged and the application supports a rollback feature if you need to undo and modifications. If you prefer helpdesk staff not to have access to this tool, you can choose not to install this component.
As part of the Bulk Modify tool, you can also move accounts to a new OU. e.g. You could query for expired user accounts and move them to a specified OU.

Account menu - An "Account" menu (see above image) is now available in the main Password Control application. In previous versions of Password Control you could automatically force a user to change their password after it is reset. Although this option could be enabled, a method was not provided to turn it off if it was set by accident. The "Account" menu allows you to toggle this setting and also change other account options. The application config file can be modified to remove access to this feature if required.

Properties To Load dialog has been improved - you can now click a checkbox to hide/display various attributes in the Password Control treeview and Bulk Password Control grid.

Multi-Valued attributes are now shown in the Bulk Password Control dialog. The default separator character is a semi-colon.

A default setting can now be applied to the "Force Password Change at Logon" checkbox.

Image Gallery - For those of you storing user images in Active Directory, an image gallery feature has been added that might assist with verifying user identity. The Bulk Modify tool mentioned earlier can also be used to upload photos into Active Directory
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Link Pick: UpickU

Hi All,

Here is a good link to Check out. Citrix Labs, Gus Pinto and others have uploaded Videos on Citrix technologies to uTipU. A new site that has a program called TipCam that is a screen recorder and lets you store the videos on the site.

Check out the Citrix Videos at:

http://www.utipu.com/app/tips/search/citrix/

Also check out this search on RDP stuff (hint FlipRDP)

http://www.utipu.com/app/tips/search/rdp/

or

http://www.utipu.com/app/tips/search/remote+desktop/
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SP3 for Windows XP on Technet/MSDN

I see the bits for Windows XP Service Pack 3 are out on the top downloads on the home page of Technet and MSDN. If you are a subscriber you can go get them. Pity that it is an ISO (or should that be PITA that it is an ISO?)
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Some tidbits (non NDA of course!) From the 2008 Microsoft MVP Summit

Hi Everyone,
I just got back from the Microsoft MVP summit and it was 5 intense days of chatting with some of the highest level of Geeks from around the world. *self included.
This is good stuff...
Tidbits:
-Just starting a new Virtualization/blade project? You may be able to get a savings on your utility bills. One caveat, you must call your utility company prior to beginning the project. See: http://www.goodtobegreen.com/FinancialIncentives.aspx
Hope it saves you some money!

-There is new screen Zoom Utility in the MS Sysinternals toolset called Zoomit that lets you screen zoom and annotate technical presentations.
See: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897434.aspx

-Have you heard of Twitter? Twitter is a quick way to keep updated with what your friends are doing. Have a look and give it a try at: http://www.twitter.com Look on the right column of this blog to see my Twitter postings.

-Go out and get the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit for 2008 to get an updated version of AppCompat among other things. (GPO for Vista SP1 etc)
See: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3bd8561f-77ac-4400-a0c1-fe871c461a89&DisplayLang=en
And while you are at it...
-If you have a Microsoft connect account see if you can see anything new for TS under it. If you can go for it! That is all I am saying. All disclaimers apply.

-Seattle Radio plays some interesting songs. One such one I heard was by a band called CAKE from 2001 named Short Skirt and Long Jacket.
You can hear it on this YouTube Video.. kinda catchy..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivASA9nZmNo
(I told you this would be good)

-This one is just funny.. the Zunephone ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRKIDdIaFyE

-Microsoft Surface is a REAL THING! I got to see one and play with it and it truly is exciting Technology! And to all you Apple Loving Microsoft Haters out there..Uh Surface has been in development for several years BEFORE the iPhone...AT&T plans to have them soon in their stores. These are not for the home user guys..YET! See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr1O917o4jI

-If you are looking for a product to Remote Control your Vista PC's (requiring no interaction from user and you can actually view their session without elevating their priveleges) have a look at DameWare Mini Remote Control:
http://www.dameware.com/products/dmrc/
Note to Microsoft: Please consider buying these guys and give us better remote control for help desk administration. RDP isn't it and trying to get a user to learn how to do remote assistance is like pulling teeth. We need to connect QUICKLY to their desktop and fix the problem before they start getting upset! Lets stop making them jump through hoops and UAC prompts!

-I got hinted at a good registry tweak to spead up the RDP client connection (note use at your own risk.. all disclaimers apply.. don't mess with the registry if you are an imbecile blah de blah de blah) called MinSendinterval. Here are the details:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
XP and above clients, you can reduce the time between mouse move messages sent via RDP by setting a reg key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Terminal Server Client

DWORD Value MinSendInterval 10-1000 (value is in milliseconds)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Go out and knock yourself out and have fun with it, just don't come crying to me if you break your computer. I warned you!

-Ever hear of Windows Storage Server?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/wss2003/default.mspx

-We are looking at spam filtering devices.. current Barracuda which seems to be working quite nicely. I've also decided we might check out St. Bernard as overheard at MVP summit. See:
http://www.barracudanetworks.com/ns/?L=en

http://www.stbernard.com/default.asp

-The Seattle Public Library is pretty awesome(not as awesome as Cuyahoga but awesome enough) Check out my pictures I took while there at:http://picasaweb.google.com/jkenzig/SeattlePublicLibrary


-Guess that's all of I can think of for now..as if that isn't enough to get your heart pounding fast. : )

Download Pick: PDF on Hyper-V from MS

Microsoft has posted a good PDF explaining some of the ins and outs and features of HyperV at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a5002c32-c053-4ffa-be09-71b82b9f51fe&DisplayLang=en

Pictures from MVP Keynote

http://picasaweb.google.com/jkenzig/2008MVPSummitKeynote

Gus Pinto even got to ask Ray Ozzie a question. I was in front row along with Gus, Rich and Thomas and Steve G was behind us so the TS MVP's got premium seating!
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My photos from the 2008 Microsoft MVP Summit

Download Pick: TSLogins

The folks at CTRL-ALT-DEL Consultancy have another free download for you. This one is called TSLogins and helps you control logins on your terminal server.

JK

Hi All

Another handy utility to quickly enable or disable session logins on multiple servers - TSLogins. Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy now has over 25 free utilities to assist the Thin community in simplifying day to day tasks. As always download TSLogins or any of our other free applications from http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au/CAD_TSUtils.htm.

*******************************************************************************************

TSLOGINS is a command-line tool to set the status of remote logins

on Citrix or Terminal Server servers.

This utility was written to replace the command CHANGE LOGON currently

found in the MS Windows Operating System. This utility offers the ability

to enable or disable remote sessions to a single server or host of servers

located in a domain, with one command.

TSLOGINS will only function when executed by a user with ADMIN rights.

This utility is FREEWARE and was written by Warren Simondson of

Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy , Australia . www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au

Thankyou to the WINDOWS SDK available from http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads

Usage:

TSLOGINS [/QUERY] [ /ON | /OFF ] [/SERVER:servername] [/?]

/ON Enable remote user login from sessions.

/OFF Disable remote user login from sessions.

/SERVER:servername [Optional] Specifies the Terminal server to apply

the login status setting. (default is current).

/SERVER:* [Optional] Specifies ALL Terminal servers to apply

the login status setting (Applies to current Domain).

/QUERY Query the status of remote logins.

/? This help information.

TSLOGINS with no parameters displays this help information.

E.G. TSLOGINS /ON

This command will enable remote logins on the current TS or Citrix Server.

E.G. TSLOGINS /OFF

This command will disable remote logins on the current TS or Citrix Server.

Use QUSER.EXE to locate Session ID.

E.G. TSLOGINS /SERVER:MyServer /ON

This command will enable remote logins on the MyServer Server.

E.G. TSLOGINS /QUERY /SERVER:MyServer

This command will query the remote login status on the MyServer Server.

E.G. TSLOGINS /OFF /SERVER:*

This command will disable remote logins on all Citrix Servers and

Terminal Servers in the current domain.

The freeware version is offered AS IS. Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy has made

every effort possible to ensure that TSLOGINS is free of any bugs or errors,

however in no way is TSLOGINS to be considered error or bug free.

You assume all responsibility for any damages or lost data that may result

from any errors or bugs in TSLOGINS.

IN NO EVENT WILL CTRL-ALT-DEL IT CONSULTANCY BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY GENERAL,

SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF

THIS PRODUCT.

Warren Simondson

Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy Pty Ltd

Download Pick: Microsoft Accounting Express FREE!

Microsoft is offering the Express version of their Office account software for FREE!
Microsoft® Office Accounting Express is an easy to use accounting package that works with other Office applications you already know.

Get it at:

http://www.ideawins.com/express.aspx

Download Pick: New Version of Veem FastSCP

Just got the following from Veem Software the makers of FastSCP. FastSCP is a product that lets you connect into a VmWare ESX server (sort of like FTP) and upload and download files to the server. It is an easy way to back up your VMDK files (however the VM must be powered off to back it up)
JIM

Hello Everyone
We at Veeam are honored to have all of you as registered users of FastSCP. Some of you have just joined the FastSCP user community recently, and others have been working with us since the tool was launched in October 2006. You've been the pioneers, and your involvement and contributions have made FastSCP the de facto standard for file management in ESX environments. Thank you!
This week we're announcing that FastSCP has been downloaded more than 30,000 times. We're celebrating that milestone with the release of a new version offering additional features you've asked for. And don't worry, FastSCP is still free, and will remain so.

What's new in FastSCP:

• Disk space preallocation for VMDK files
• Scheduled copy capabilities
• Integration with Veeam Backup, the 2-in-1 recovery solution
• Other small, but welcome, improvements

Download

The new version of FastSCP is ready for download
If you want to blog about or otherwise share the news about FastSCP, we'd appreciate it. But please use this link publicly: http://www.veeam.com/vmware-esx-fastscp.html.