I was delivering a quick session on the wonder that is Multi-Server Management for WIndows Server 2012 and I got asked the question – What Ports are required to be open when managing a system remotely. ARGH… I always forget the port number – as it’s a non-standard port in the 5000 range. Well –…
Category: Helpful Tech
New things in Group Policy for Windows Server 2012
I was on point for The Edge Show recently and decided to talk with my buddy Zach Alexander a PM on the Group Policy team on what’s new and cool in Group Policy these days. Three things immediately came to mind: Infrastructure Status Remote Update on client systems Improved Resultant Set of Policy. I helped…
How to: Force IE to open in Desktop Mode on Windows 8
If you’ve used Windows 8 for any length of time, you’ve probably clicked on a link to open a website in an email or document and it’s opened in the “UI that was formerly known as Metro” version of IE. It may not have rendered correctly – which you rectified by opening up the site…
Windows PC SCAM help via Microsoft Canada
Even though I moved to the “Mother Ship” here in Redmond back in January – I still get emails, texts, Tweets and Facebook Updates about someone who has had a relative / friend who has unfortunately been scammed by some FRICKIN’ A** Holes social engineering their way into their PC. The “technicians from Microsoft” are…
HowTo: Bootable USB Stick for OS Install
A bootable USB stick – AGAIN? This has been covered in many places, but I am still surprised that not everyone knows how to do this. First off: find yourself a large enough and fast enough USB stick to use as your bootable media. I prefer my OCZ Rally 2 myself – 8 GB and…
Create and Boot from VHD for Windows 7, “Server 8”, Windows Server 2008 R2
Note: I have no idea what the next version of Windows Server will be called – I am just using “Server 8” as a short version of the Developer Preview of Windows Server from the Build conference – downloadable from MSDN It’s simple enough – people have been asking how to do this for a…
HowTo: Sync Documents / Photos between PCs
I’ve been helping out the Consumer division at Microsoft Canada with training and Evangelizing the benefits and awesomeness of Windows 7 especially when you light it up with Windows Live Services. It’s been a lot of fun and a change from the regular stuff I talk about in the Enterprise space. I figure it was…
HowTo: Optimizing your Home Wireless Network
So now that we have Joey figured out in the last article – I got pinged by @kjb_Photography on twitter yesterday – asking about extending coverage in his home wireless networking environment. I could take the consultant answer easy out and reply “it depends” but hey – this is a learning environment, let me share…
How to re-broadcast a public WiFi network
I was catching up with Joey the @AccordionGuy earlier today – chatting over coffee. He used to work on the same team as me at Microsoft before heading out on his next adventure. His current gig has him living in a luxury furnished bachelor pad here in Ottawa with all the amenities – including Big…