Windows Disk Performance

The best initial indicator of disk performance on a Windows host is obtained by using the “\Logical Disk(*)\Avg. sec/Read” and “\Logical Disk(*)\Avg. sec/Write” performance monitor counters. These performance monitor counters measure the amount of time that read and write operations take to respond to the operating system. As a general rule of thumb, average response times greater than 15ms are considered sub-optimal. This is based on the typical seek time of a single 7200 RPM disk drive without cache. The use of logical disk versus physical disk performance monitor counters is recommended because Windows applications and services utilize logical drives represented as drive letters wherein the physical disk (LUN) presented to the operating system can be comprised of multiple physical disk drives in a disk array. Use the following rule of thumb when measuring disk latency on the Windows host using the \Logical Disk(*)\Avg. Disk sec/Read or \Logical Disk(*)\Avg. Disk sec/Write performance monitor counters:

1ms to 15ms = Healthy
15ms to 25ms = Warning or Monitor
26ms or greater = Critical, performance will be adversely affected

Unblock Multiple Downloaded Files

http://superuser.com/questions/38476/this-file-came-from-another-computer-how-can-i-unblock-all-the-files-in-a

To recursively remove this stream for all files, follow these steps :
1.Download the Streams CLI executable from Microsoft
2.Put the streams.exe executable in your Windows directory (or anywhere that the system can find it)
3.Run this line in the command line :

streams -s -d directory

Some Useful DOS Commands

Some useful commands I don't use often enough to remember:

• CLS - Clear Screen
• WMIC QFE List Full - List Windows Service Packs and Patches
• Help - DOS Commands Help
• SystemInfo - System Info
• Dir "filenamesearch" /s - Search for filenames with string
• FindStr "filecontentsearch" *.* - Search within files for string
• NET Session - connected sessions
• NET LocalGroup - local groups
• WhoAmI /all - Information about current user, environment etc.

Install Telnet Client

To install Telnet Client by using a command line
1.Open a command prompt window. Click Start, type cmd in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

2.Type the following command:

pkgmgr /iu:"TelnetClient"

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771275(WS.10).aspx

Shutdown Command Switches

Putting this here as I can never get the switch syntax right first time round:

shutdown /r /d p:2:18 /c "Windows Updates"

Extending Windows Server 2008 Disk with diskpart

Launch cmd as Administrator:

diskpart
rescan
list volume
select volume N (where N is chosen from the list)
extend

Using Remote Desktop with Dual Monitors

Not sure how I've managed without this before, but was frustrated trying to use Visual Studio via RDP on a single monitor. Had a quick Google and discovered the /span switch for MSTSC. So now I can run "mstsc /v:machinename /span" and we have RDP across dual monitors!

Source: Using Remote Desktop with Dual Monitors

User Account Control (UAC)

UAC enables users to perform common tasks as standard users and as administrators without having to switch users, log off, or use Run As. When an administrator logs on the user is assigned two separate access tokens containing their group membership and authorization and access control data. Without UAC an administrator account can be utilised by malicious software for silent installation or infection of core operating system files. The full administrator access token is not invoked until the user attempts to perform an administrative task.

To request an application to run elevated one time

Start an application that is likely to have been assigned an administrative token, such as Microsoft Windows Disk Cleanup. A User Account Control prompt is displayed. Verify that the details presented match the request you initiated then click Continue to start the application

To configure an application to always run elevated

Right-click an application that is not likely to have been assigned an administrative token, such as a word processing application. Click Properties, and then select the Compatibility tab. Under Privilege Level, select Run this program as an administrator, and then click OK.

The behaviour of UAC can be configured by Group Policy, however UAC and its Admin Approval Mode are enabled by default.

To turn off UAC

1. In Control Panel, click User Accounts.

2. In the User Accounts window, click User Accounts.

3. In the User Accounts tasks window, click Turn User Account Control on or off.

4. If UAC is currently configured in Admin Approval Mode, the User Account Control message appears. Click Continue.

5. Clear the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box, and then click OK.

6. Click Restart Now to apply the change right away, or click Restart Later and close the User Accounts tasks window.

To disable Admin Approval Mode

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

3. From the Local Security Settings console tree, double-click Local Policies, and then double-click Security Options.

4. Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode.

5. Select the Disabled option, and then click OK.

6. Close the Local Security Settings window

To disable UAC from prompting for credentials to install applications

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open text box, and then click OK.

2. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then Security Options.

3. Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation.

4. Select the Disabled option, and then click OK.

5. Close the Local Security Settings window

To change the elevation prompt behavior for administrators

1. Click Start, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then Security Options.

3. Scroll down to and double-click User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators.

4. From the drop-down menu, select one of the following settings:

5. Elevate without prompting (tasks requesting elevation will automatically run as elevated without prompting the administrator)

6. Prompt for credentials (this setting requires user name and password input before an application or task will run as elevated)

7. Prompt for consent (default setting for administrators)

8. Click OK.

9. Close the Local Security Settings window.

To change the elevation prompt behavior for standard users

1. Click Start, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then Security Options.

3. Scroll down to and double-click User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users.

4. From the drop-down menu, select one of the following settings:

5. Automatically deny elevation requests (standard users will not be able to run programs requiring elevation, and will not be prompted)

6. Prompt for credentials (this setting requires user name and password input before an application or task will run as elevated, and is the default for standard users)

7. Click OK.

8. Close the Local Security Settings window

See: User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide

Windows 7 / Server 2008 - Where's ProxyCFG?

ProxyCfg.exe has been deprecated from Vista / Windows 2008 onwards and replaced with the NetSH command:

NetSH WinHTTP Set Proxy proxy-server="PROXY.COM:8080" bypass-list="SERVER.COM"

See: Configure Proxy Settings for WinHTTP and ProxyCFG on Vista and Win2008

Find Friendly Program Name for DCOM Config

In RegEdit do a find (Ctrl-F) for the CLSID e.g. {0C0A3666-30C9-11D0-8F20-00805F2CD064} . The CLSID should be within the folder with the friendly application name.

Windows XP / Server 2003 Search Within Files Issues

Search for 'a word of phrase in the file' ignoring some of your files?

Check that the file types you want to search have the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zzz\PersistentHandler\(Default) = {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

More details here: Using the "A word or phrase in the file" search criterion may not work

Windows 7 / Server 2008 Shortcuts

Some handy keyboard shortcuts here: http://www.courtneyelizabeth.com/2010/10/03/windows-7-shortcuts/

Think I agree that the New Folder shortcut is my favourite. Also like the Taskbar shortcuts - they will probably get me to make more use of the new Taskbar functionality.

Install Windows 7 from USB Drive

Just used the guide here to re-install Windows 7 from a USB drive onto a goosed netbook without a CD/DVD drive:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

Missing Word/Excel Application in DCOMCNFG

Was struggling to find Excel.Application or Word.Application in DCOMCNFG on Windows 2008 R2 - followed the workaround on this post (http://www.sevenforums.com/microsoft-office/56884-microsoft-excel-application-entry-missing-dcomcnfg.html) and it seems to work...

1. go to DCOMCNFG
2. In the left tree structure, right click on My Computer and select Properties
3. Click on COM SECURITY tab
4. Give Permissions to Network Service and Users in the "Access Permissions" and "Launch and Activation Permissions" by clicking the Edit Default buttons.

Well-known security identifiers in Windows operating systems

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/243330

More runas examples

Computer Management with administrative credentials
runas /user: ComputerName \administrator "mmc %windir%\system32\compmgmt.msc"

Active Directory Users and Computers with domain administrative credentials
runas /user: DomainName \administrator "mmc %windir%\system32\dsa.msc"

Active Directory Users and Computers in another forest
runas /netonly /user: DomainName \ UserName "mmc %windir%\system32\dsa.msc"

Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781769(WS.10).aspx

runas for Windows Explorer

When using a runas with Windows Explorer on Windows Server 2003 nothing was happening... the following runas command which opens explorer in a separate process works a treat!

runas /user:domain\username "explorer /separate"