Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• What is a Microsoft hotfix?

  Hotfixes can solve an array of problems in your enterprise, but they have certain limitations and need to be managed properly. Continue Reading

• Using Group Policy to lock down the Control Panel

  Preventing unauthorized changes to Windows systems is a basic security precaution. Group Policy settings can keep users from messing with the Control Panel. Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot a Windows system that won't shut down

  Tracking down what's keeping a Windows desktop from sleeping requires looking at power management. Our expert helps you tackle the problem. Continue Reading

• Simple steps to securing Terminal Services communications

  Enabling certain features in Windows Server 2008 -- like network-level authentication -- can improve the security of your terminal servers. Continue Reading

• Using Windows 7's BranchCache to optimize WAN bandwidth

  The BranchCache feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 is designed to improve WAN bandwidth for end users. Find out how to configure it in distributed mode or hosted mode. Continue Reading

• Top 10 command-line commands for managing Windows 7 desktops

  Admins don't always need fancy software to manage Windows 7 desktops. Here are 10 command-line utilities that can help you handle scripting tasks.Continue Reading

• How to install a clean version of Windows 7

  Installing a clean version of Windows 7 on your desktops may be easier than upgrading from Windows XP or Vista. Migrate to Microsoft's newest OS with these steps.Continue Reading

• Five network security resolutions for 2010

  Tighten your enterprise's network security this year with these simple steps, which include regularly changing passwords, keeping patches up to date and talking to end users.Continue Reading

• Checklist for upgrading from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7

  While there's no single method for all enterprises to upgrade machines to Windows 7, these steps can help if you choose to migrate from Windows XP to Vista and then to Windows 7.Continue Reading

• What can Windows 7's AppLocker do for you?

  Control applications on individual workstations more efficiently with AppLocker, an improved application management feature in Windows 7.Continue Reading

• Top 5 registry keys for Windows 7

  Use these helpful Windows 7 registry keys to manage user account control, prevent the computer from rebooting after installing patches and more.Continue Reading

• Group Policy tricks to secure network endpoints

  There are thousands of Group Policy settings available -- lock down your network endpoints with these favorites.Continue Reading

• Underlying causes of inconsistent patch management

  Think your business is secure? Think again. Many environments, including those with patch management systems, are missing critical patches. Learn how to secure your organization.Continue Reading

• Top 5 registry keys for Windows XP

  Systems administrators may not know about useful registry keys for Windows XP. Learn how they can help you secure your network, create drive shares, manage passwords and more.Continue Reading

• Manage the desktop image lifecycle to limit work, ensure security

  An image lifecycle management plan makes it easier to balance the need to limit the number of desktop images with the need to keep up with security patches and new software.Continue Reading

• Should you switch to the Office 2007 file format?

  Are the benefits of the Open XML file format in Microsoft Office 2007 significant enough to make switching a high priority? Consider your businesses' needs.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Office 2010: At a glance

  With Microsoft Office 2010 on the horizon, but no public betas as of yet, information on the new release is scattered across the Internet. Get everything you need to know here.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Microsoft WSUS connectivity issues

  Microsoft Windows Server Update Services may impede your system updates because of IIS and Group Policy settings issues. Find out quick solutions to these WSUS errors in this tip.Continue Reading

• Four Internet Explorer 8 Group Policy security settings

  Internet Explorer 8 doesn't have nearly as many new security mechanisms as its predecessor; however, there are four Group Policy security settings for IE8 worth mentioning.Continue Reading

• Should administrators use hard disk compression?

  Should admins use hard disk compression? There's no right or wrong answer. Weigh the pros and cons of hard disk compression and learn when compressing the hard drive can be harmful.Continue Reading

• How to move hard drives and transplant system drives between servers

  Moving hard drives can be tricky; but it may be faster and more cost-effective than re-imaging. Learn how to remove hard drives and transplant system drives.Continue Reading

• Combining folder redirection with roaming profiles

  Using roaming profiles and folder redirection can prevent corporate data loss and streamline network management processes.Continue Reading

• Using Sysinternals tools in security management scenarios

  Discover three valuable Sysinternals tools and common Windows security management scenarios in which these tools would be used.Continue Reading

• Sysinternals tools: A must-have for every Windows security toolbox

  Learn about the free Sysinternals tools that make managing and troubleshooting Windows-based PCs almost effortless for administrators.Continue Reading

• AppLocker improves on software restriction policies

  AppLocker, Windows 7's updated and rebranded version of software restriction policies, could reduce the headaches caused by unauthorized applications in Windows systems.Continue Reading

• Check IT List: Five steps for rootkit detection

  Rootkit detection and removal is no easy task. Here are five steps to help you identify and prevent rootkits on your systems.Continue Reading

• Unauthenticated vs. authenticated security testing

  Security testing as a user signed into the network can yield different results. Use unauthenticated and authenticated testing and learn the pros and cons of each method.Continue Reading

• The 10 most common Windows security vulnerabilities

  Most Windows networks, including yours, have a number of security holes. Fortunately, though, many of these holes can be filled quickly and easily before they pose a major threat to your business-critical data. In this tip, learn what security ...Continue Reading

• How to use Group Policy to control wireless access

  Group Policy can be used to control wireless access in Windows networks. Find out which Group Policy settings you should create to accomplish this in this tip.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting IEEE 1394 bus devices for Windows machines

  FireWire (or 1394) devices work well most of the time, but when things go wrong, troubleshooting techniques can vary depending on what's causing the problem.Continue Reading

• How to recover from lost BitLocker PINs and startup keys

  Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption makes it possible to encrypt your system drive, but permanent data loss can occur if you forget the PIN or lose the startup key. This article explains some steps that you can take to regain your lost data.Continue Reading

• Metasploit 3.1 updates improve Windows penetration testing

  Metasploit has long been a popular tool to use to conduct Windows penetration testing. Well, just this January, the latest version, Metasploit 3.1, was released. Learn about the new features and updates of this cool tool, which include a true GUI ...Continue Reading

• Windows XP Troubleshooting Tutorial

  Need help troubleshooting Windows XP? This tutorial features tons of tips and tricks that admins can use to solve a variety of system and network problems, with advice on troubleshooting Windows XP system startup issues, printer problems and more.Continue Reading

• Have my Windows patches actually been installed?

  Sometimes, knowing if a machine has been properly patched is not as easy as you would like it to be. Do you have to reboot? Have any of your programs changed the way they operate? Were the updates automated? This kind of thing can be a real mystery....Continue Reading

• How to create a Windows Vista boot CD with WinPE

  Using WinPE, admins can launch Vista from a disk and use the deployment to create and restore images.Continue Reading

• Windows 2000 batch file command reference

  Check out this reference guide to batch file commands for Windows 2000, based on Microsoft documentation, but rewritten to increase usefulness and readability.Continue Reading

• Password cracking, network rights and Windows Firewall expert advice

  Our experts share advice on cracking Windows passwords, managing folders and permissions in Windows and how to manage Windows Firewall in the top expert advice from 2007.Continue Reading

• Disabling annoying Windows XP startup programs

  Some applications and services can cause problems when booting Windows XP. Fortunately, there are several tips and tricks that admins can use to solve these bothersome startup issues.Continue Reading

• Use the Last Known Good Configuration option to roll back changes in Windows XP

  So you've made an incorrect configuration change and now Windows won't boot properly. What do you do? The Last Known Good Configuration option can be a valuable tool for rolling back catastrophic configuration changes.Continue Reading

• The last resort for troubleshooting hardware resource conflicts

  Brien Posey explains how to use the Windows Device Manager to manually reallocate system resources. Be careful, though, or you may be forced to reinstall Windows from scratch.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Windows XP Device Manager error codes continued

  Brien Posey expands on the error codes he described in his first article on Windows XP Device Manager. Here are more error code explanations, starting with error code 10, which relates to the device driver.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Windows XP Device Manager error codes

  Windows XP Device Manager alerts you if a system's hardware malfunctions, but often you need an advanced degree in unraveling cryptic code in order to understand the problem. Device Manager's error codes may be puzzling, but once you crack them, ...Continue Reading

• Limit Windows Remote Desktop users' server rights

  How can you manage access to Windows Explorer and the DOS command prompt to control Windows Remote Desktop users network rights?Continue Reading

• Conquer forgotten Windows passwords with Password Reset Wizard

  Password Reset Wizard is a tool used to help mobile employees reset their own passwords, and it can be a big help to forgetful road warriors. But there are a couple of caveats.Continue Reading

• Use Driver Query to resolve device driver problems

  The Driver Query utility may not be perfect, but it can help to compile a device driver usage history.Continue Reading

• Can I delete certificates from the CA?

  Learn how you can manage Microsoft security certificates and improve Internet Information Services (IIS) security.Continue Reading

• How do I apply a Group Policy Object at the OU level?

  Learn how to apply a Group Policy Object at the organizational unit (OU) level with this advice from Wes Noonan.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting generic error messages related to EFS

  When Encrypting File System (EFS) has trouble decrypting a file, Windows usually displays a generic error message that is fairly meaningless. This article discusses what some of the more common error messages mean so you'll know where to begin the ...Continue Reading

• Windows pagefile security risks and how to avoid them

  Learn about the security risks involved in using Windows pagefile, and avoid putting your sensitive data in harm's way.Continue Reading

• Interpreting the five disk-related Blue Screen of Death errors

  A dreaded Blue Screen of Death error message can provide insight into the root cause of the failure. Here you'll learn what the five most common disk-related BSOD Stop messages mean.Continue Reading

• A guide to power converters for laptop use overseas

  If one of your users is heading overseas with his laptop, you'll need to do your homework on power converters.Continue Reading

• How to use GPOs to deny folder permissions

  You can use a Group Policy Object (GPO) to deny folder permissions in Windows. Find out how to manage folder permissions with GPOs with this advice from Kevin Beaver.Continue Reading

• How can I detect IP addresses that connect to IIS?

  If you've ever wanted to detect IP addresses that try to connect to your IIS (Internet Information Services) servers, this advice can help.Continue Reading

• Windows offers quick fix for apps that are invisible or offscreen

  Many Windows applications retain some memory of their window size and placement onscreen. This sometimes creates a problem where the window size is spuriously set to zero, or the window is placed entirely offscreen. A fix exists in Windows that will...Continue Reading

• Fast Reboot: quick reboot utility for Windows

  Windows' shut down/reboot process is not that snappy; it can take a couple of minutes for everything to terminate and be written to disk. You can initiate a reboot quickly with a tool like Fast Reboot, which performs the usual quick-reboot/shutdown ...Continue Reading

• BareGrep: Barebones search utility for Windows

  The Unix grep command-line tool is a way to search iteratively through files and folders for a particular string to match against a filename or the contents of a file. Many ports of grep have been written for Windows. Now there's a simple search ...Continue Reading

• Prevent copying files from shared folders to remote computers

  It's a tricky issue -- how to stop users from copying files from shared folders. Learn how to manage a user's file and folder copying rights with this advice from Windows security expert Kevin Beaver.Continue Reading

• Secret Windows command line tools can boost security

  Believe it or not, you've already paid for -- but may not know about -- a bunch of command line tools that will broaden the security of your hard drives, remote hosts, connections, directories and more. Check out this list of easy-to-use commands ...Continue Reading

• Metasploit 3.0 security testing tool -- free, easy and improved

  An easy and free security testing tool for Windows users, Metasploit 3.0 is Kevin Beaver's recommendation for you. Read why in this security expert's tip.Continue Reading

• Use RunAs to run Explorer window with elevated privileges in IE7

  In IE6, admins who use the secondary logon (RunAs) when logged on as a user with limited rights were able to run an Explorer window with elevated privileges. But this feature no longer exists in Internet Explorer 7. Here's a workaround.Continue Reading

• Restricting user permissions in folders

  If you have a question about managing the permissions of a folder in your domain, this advice from Jonathan Hassell tells you how to set those permissions and prevent users from deleting that folder.Continue Reading

• Cracking a hard drive password

  Windows hardening expert Jonathan Hassell explains what to do if you can't boot up a system equipped with Windows software and how to crack Windows passwords for hard drives.Continue Reading

• What to do if system hangs when building DMI pool

  When powered on, a PC creates the DMI pool, which shows the devices available to the BIOS. If a PC hangs at this point, here are some possible culprits.Continue Reading

• Making a Windows folder read-only

  Windows hardening expert Jonathan Hassell explains how to make a Windows folder that multiple users share read-only.Continue Reading

• Prevent users from deleting files in shared folders

  Jonathan Hassell explains one of the functions of using Advanced Permissions.Continue Reading

• Virus causing sound and video problems?

  Are your sound and video problems a result of a virus? Even though anything is possible with malicious code, says site expert Kevin Beaver, that might not be the problem you're experiencing.Continue Reading

• Essential elements of a good security assessment report

  Security guru Kevin Beaver outlines the six steps you can take to put together a solid assessment report.Continue Reading

• Harden your file servers with Windows wizard tool

  Jonathan Hassell explains how to secure your file servers that are running Windows Server 2003 using the Security Configuration Wizard; both in an automated fashion and through manual tweaks to the configuration.Continue Reading

• Remove bots from your system -- a four-step process

  Kevin Beaver outlines four steps you can take to balttle the bot, malware's most notorious villain.Continue Reading

• Device drivers: Installation and configuration

  To install hardware devices on Windows servers, admins must install the appropriate device drivers first. Here are some guidelines for installing, configuring and troubleshooting device drivers.Continue Reading

• Setting permissions for a shared Excel file

  Do you get the "read only file" error message when trying to save changes in a shared Excel file?Continue Reading

• An introduction to Google Hack Honeypots

  A Google hack is a way hackers can use Google's query tools to find information exposed by insecure Web applications. According to Microsoft MVP Brien Posey, you can use a Google Hack Honeypot to acquire information on would-be hackers employing ...Continue Reading

• Clear the hard drive BIOS password

  Kevin Beaver explains how to clear the hard drive password in the BIOS.Continue Reading

• Patch management tools: Different types, different approaches

  Patch management tools seem pretty simple, but there are a couple different types with unique functionalities. Contributor Serdar Yegulalp takes a look at different types of tools and offers advice to companies trying to settle on a single product.Continue Reading

• Step 2: RunAs command line

  Administrators need admin privileges, but not all the time. Learn how to work securely by only elevating your privileges as necessary.Continue Reading

• The difference between antivirus and antispyware/malware software

  Windows security threat expert Kevin Beaver provides a thorough description of the differences between antivirus and antispyware/malware software.Continue Reading

• Understanding Windows XP file systems FAT32 and NTFS

  When installing Windows XP from scratch, you are prompted to select from two different file systems: FAT32 and NTFS. Find out how to make this choice.Continue Reading

• Preventing domain admins from logging onto domain controllers

  Windows network security expert Wes Noonan explains how to control who can log onto domain controllers.Continue Reading

• Running System Restore from the Recovery Console (well, sort of)

  Recovery Console has no built-in way to run System Restore. If the Registry is corrupted, it is possible to do a manual restore, to revert the system to a previous Registry version. But the method is far from perfect.Continue Reading

• Rolling back patches

  Patches and hotfixes can break as much as they fix. Contributor Serdar Yegulalp looks at some of your options when the need to roll back patches arises. He details the procedures for a roll back by hand and System Restore and provides the pros and ...Continue Reading

• Tricks for optimizing WSUS performance

  Dealing with the monthly rollout of patches can grind an organization to a halt. Contributor Brien Posey shares some tricks for optimizing performance by carefully adjusting WSUS settings.Continue Reading

• Cleaning up items in Startup menu can help PC run faster

  Cleaning up items listed in your Startup menu can help your PC run faster.Continue Reading

• Office 2003 Setup copies installation files

  Microsoft Office 2003's ability to copy the installation files to a hidden folder on the hard drive can be a huge help to anyone who supports an Office deployment. Now an alternative version of Setup adds two features that make it even more useful.Continue Reading

• SUS, WSUS, SMS and beyond

  Microsoft is discontinuing support for Software Update Services next year, and you have to come up with an alternative plan. This article compares patch management options like WSUS, SMS and other third-party contenders.Continue Reading

• WinDump: The tcpdump tool for Windows

  WinDump, the Windows version of tcpdump, can help you analyze network traffic to look for signs of active malware. Contributor Serdar Yegulalp explains how to use WinDump and some of its applications.Continue Reading

• How to automate desktop folder synchronization

  Keeping folders in sync is the job every administrator hates. No matter whether it's synchronizing files between a network file share and a desktop computer or a USB thumb drive and a laptop, the job is a major hassle. Rather than do it manually (...Continue Reading

• Does your computer reboot when using PowerPoint?

  Your computer keeps rebooting -- but only when you run Microsoft Office applications. In this response, site expert Kevin Beaver helps troubleshoot your rebooting computer woes.Continue Reading

• Setting 'log-on-to machines' in Active Directory

  Many enterprise environments need to limit systems access by setting account options. In this response, site expert Jonathan Hassell explains more about the "set log-on-to machines" feature.Continue Reading

• How to automate Windows software updates

  When it comes to automating Windows software updates, administrators have a choice of several third-party tools.Continue Reading

• Patching non-Microsoft products

  We all know we need to keep Windows and Microsoft applications patched, but don't forget to patch those non-MS products. Microsoft MVP Brien Posey provides some ways to get those third-party patches deployed.Continue Reading

• Checklist: Measuring patch management metrics

  How effective is your patch management program? In this checklist, patch management expert Jason Chan recommends the most important patch management metrics to track.Continue Reading

• Metasploit: A penetration testing tool you shouldn't be without

  Penetration testing is an invaluable way to make sure your systems are secure as well as prove to management that they aren't and you need to increase your security budget. In this article Kevin Beaver examines a useful penetration testing tool ...Continue Reading

• How attackers install backdoors and what to do about it

  How did that backdoor get there? If you've ever had this thought, there are a couple things you should know, according to Tony Bradley. In this article, he looks at how backdoors are installed, how to keep them from being installed and how to track ...Continue Reading

• Fast User Switching and privilege elevation in XP

  Fast User Switching in Windows XP can provide occasional elevated privileges, but it is not a cure-all, according to Serdar Yegulalp. His tip explains how to use Fast User Switching as well as some of its limitations.Continue Reading

• Default passwords for Windows 2000 and Windows XP

  With or without administrator access, resetting a particular account's password could be difficult. Site expert Kevin Beaver suggests Proactive Password Auditor or NTAccess to solve this authentication problem.Continue Reading

• Step-by-Step Guide: How to deploy a successful patch

  This step-by-step guide explains how to deploy a patch, and provides the tools you will need to mitigate the risk of a compromised computer.Continue Reading

• How can I restore my search engine to its default?

  I keep getting unwanted search engines appearing as a default when looking for a site. How can I set my default search engine and keep it set that way?Continue Reading

• How to Bypass BIOS Passwords

  BIOS passwords can be a liability if a user forgets his password. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help to bypass or reset the BIOS password on most systems.Continue Reading

• Creating a testing environment for hotfixes and patches

  Testing patches and hotfixes in a live environment ensures a more successful deployment process. Site expert Jason Chan describes how to set up a testing environment.Continue Reading

• Patching Windows compared to Linux

  When it comes to Windows versus Linux, patching vulnerabilities is an often overlooked arena of comparison. In many ways, though, ease of patching can determine overall security, says security guru Jonathan Hassell. In this article, Hassell compares...Continue Reading