Block Access to My Computer Properties Menu in Windows 7 and Vista

Posted on October 30th, 2009 in GPO, Microsoft, Vista, Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

In System properties window you can various information about  Windows system .
You may wish to block it to prevent users from accessing it  and do changes.

You can easily disable access to My Computer context menu through AD Group Policy.
This solution doesn’t block access to menus, only hides it from right click. Menu  can still be accessed Windows key + Pause/Break key.

To disable it Open Group Policy Manager
Navigate to User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Desktop
Double Click on “Remove Properties from the Computer icon context menu” and change it to “Enabled”

Remove Properties from the Computer icon context menu

Windows 7 Trial Download

Install Windows 7 From Usb

Posted on October 29th, 2009 in Microsoft, Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

How to Create Windows 7 USB Bootable installation

To make Windows 7 deployment easier Microsoft has released a small utility that allows you install Windows 7 from a USB flash drive.

The Windows 7 USB/DVD utility allows you to create a copy of your Windows 7 installation ISO file on a any USB flash disk  or a DVD.

Windows 7 USB/DVD Utility System Requirements:

  • Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) CPU
  • 50MB of free disk space
  • DVD-R drive or 4GB removable USB flash drive

You can download Windows 7 USB/DVD utility from here

After you run the tool there is 4 steps wizard .

In step 1: You are providing full path to ISO image.

Windows 7 USB/DVD utility Step 1

In step 2: You chose USB Device.

Windows 7 USB/DVD utility Step 2

In step 3: You select the USB device and press Start Over.

Windows 7 USB/DVD utility Step 3

That’s it.
Enjoy your Windows7 USB boot disk

You can download windows 7 trial version from here

Prevent users from disjoining from domain using GPO

Posted on October 29th, 2009 in Active Directory, GPO, Microsoft, Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP by Gil Kreslavsky

 

There is no 100% foolproof  solution that blocks local admin users access the option of disjoining their computer from domain , but you can make it harder to get to system menu.

I remove the "properties" from when you right click on my computer.
Then i also remove system applet from control panel menu ,and disable registry editing.

To disable right click on my computer go to Group Policy.
Navigate to  User Configuration>Administrative templates>Desktop
Locate “Remove Properties from the My Computer context menu” and set it to “Enable

You should check also How disable  Right Click Properties on my computer on windows 7/Vista

Remove Properties from the My Computer

Than navigate to User Configuration>Administrative templates>Control PanelLocate “Hide specified Control Panel applets”Set it to “Enabled” and add Sysdm.cpl to the list of disallowed Control Panel applets.

list of disallowed Control Panel applets

To block Sysdm.cpl  from executing

Navigate to User Configuration>Administrative Templates>System

Navigate to “Don’t run specified Windows application” set it to “Enabled” and add Sysdm.cpl  to the list of disallowed applications

Don’t run specified Windows application

Top Windows 7 Icons Download Sources

Posted on October 28th, 2009 in Vista, Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

 

After I installed windows 7 I was looking to make my icons prettier and found those sources for Windows 7 icons
To ensure your applications look up to date and in line with Windows 7, you need to update their graphical style with new icons. Fortunately, Windows 7 icons are no different from those used in Windows Vista. Check out that top 7 sources for quality icons.

1. Download NhatPG 535 Windows 7 Icon Pack

 
Windows 7 icons

2. Download Cheemster  Windows 7 Icon Pack

Windows 7 icons

3.Download ~Freak180 Windows 7 Folders Icon Pack

Windows 7 icons

4.Download RedmondPie Windows 7 Icons

Redmond Icons

5. Download dkszone  Windows 7 icons for Windows XP 

dkszone windows icons

6. Download alkhan Windows 7 base Icons 

alkhan windows 7 icons

7. Download SevenVG Windows 7 Icon Pack

sevenVG

More Downloads

http://www.deviantart.com/download/102529828/Windows_7_M3_PNG__s_by_Mheltin.rar
http://www.deviantart.com/download/111902021/Windows_7_1_Folders_final_no_6_by_gandiusz.rar

Exchange 2007 ADD Powershell CmdLets

Posted on October 28th, 2009 in Excahnge 2007, Microsoft by Gil Kreslavsky
  • Add- AD Permission – Used to add permissions to an Active Directory directory service object.
  • Add-AvailabilityAddressSpace – Used to define the access method and associated credentials that are used to exchange free/busy data across forests.
  • Add-ContentFilterPhrase – Used to define custom words for the Content Filter agent
  • Add-DistributionGroupMember – Used to add a user recipient to a email distribution group
  • Add-ExchangeAdministrator – Is used to add a user or group to a particular Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 administrator to one of the following roles “OrgAdmin | RecipientAdmin | ServerAdmin | ViewOnlyAdmin | PublicFolderAdmin”
  • Add-IPAllowListEntry – Used to add an IP or range of IP’s to the IP Allow list for the Connection Filter agent on a on the Hub or Edge server role.
  • Add-IPAllowListProvider – Used for creation of  a new IP Allow List provider on Edge Transport or HUB  server role .
  • Add-IPBlockListEntry – Used to block an IP or range of IP’s to the IP Allow list for the Connection Filter agent on a on the Hub or Edge server role.
  • Add-IPBlockListProvider – Used for creation of a Deny  IP List on Edge Transport or HUB  server role .
  • Add-MailboxPermission – Command is used for adding permissions to a specific mailbox
  • Add-PublicFolderAdministrativePermission – Is used to add administrative permissions to a public folder.
  • Add-PublicFolderClientPermission – Is used to assign permissions to users on public folders.

Read more at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124413.aspx

Windows 7 Editions Compared

Posted on October 25th, 2009 in Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 is getting out with various distributions and you can easily get confused.
The current table shows the differences between various New Windows 7 Versions.

The features bellow are available in all Windows 7 versions

Aero Snap, Windows Flip, Jump Lists, more granular UAC,
Action Center, Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, Parental Controls,
Windows ReadyDrive, Windows ReadyBoost, SuperFetch, 64-bit support,
Uunlimited processor core support, Windows Backup, System Image, disk defragmentation,
create and attach VHD, IE 8, Windows Gadgets and Gallery, basic games, Windows Photo Viewer,
basic photo slideshows, Windows Media Player 12, AAC and H.264 decoding, Device Stage,
Sync Center, 20 SMB connections, Network and Sharing Center,Projector Connectivity,
RDP Client, and RSS support.

Feature Starter Home Basic Home Premium Professional Enterprise
Ultimate
Windows Basic UI

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Standard UI

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Aero UI No No Yes Yes Yes
Aero Peek No No Yes Yes Yes
Aero Shake No No Yes Yes Yes
Aero Background No No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Flip 3D No No Yes Yes Yes
Live Taskbar Previews No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fast User Switching No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Number of CPUS 1 1 2 2 2
Maximum RAM (32-bit) 4GB 4GB 4GB 4GB 4GB
Maximum RAM (64-bit) 8GB 8GB 16GB 192GB 192GB
Backup to network No No No Yes Yes
BitLocker No No No No Yes
Premium Games No No Yes Yes Yes
Snipping Tool No No Yes Yes Yes
Anytime Upgrade Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Windows Media Player Remote Experience No No Yes Yes Yes
MPEG-2 decoding No No Yes Yes Yes
Dolby Digital compatible No No Yes Yes Yes
DVD playback No No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Media Center No No Yes Yes Yes
Windows DVD Maker No No Yes Yes Yes
HomeGroup sharing Join only Join only Yes Yes Yes
Remote desktop to host No No No Yes Yes
IIS Web server No No Yes Yes Yes
Internet Connection Sharing No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Offline files No No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Mobility Center No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Windows Sideshow No No Yes Yes Yes
Tablet PC capability No No Yes Yes Yes
Multitouch capability No No Yes Yes Yes
Join to domain No No No Yes Yes
XP Mode licensed No No No Yes Yes
Boot from VHD No No No Yes Yes
Branch Cache No No No No Yes
Direct Access No No No No Yes

Windows Logo Key Shortcuts in Windows 7

Posted on October 24th, 2009 in Microsoft, Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

 

 

Windows Key + What it does

Windows key 

Display or hide the Windows 7 Start menu (same as clicking the Start
button on the Windows taskbar)
Windows key +Pause/Break Open the System Control Panel window
Windows key +D Toggle between displaying the Windows 7 desktop by hiding all open
windows and then redisplaying all minimized windows (same as clicking
the Show Desktop button on the Windows taskbar)
Windows key +M Minimize all open windows on the desktop
Windows key +Shift+M Redisplay all minimized windows on the desktop
Windows key +E Open Computer in an Explorer window
Windows key +F Open Search Results in an Explorer window
Windows key +L Lock the computer or switch users
Windows key +R Open the Run dialog box
Windows key +T Cycle through programs open on the Windows taskbar
Windows key +Tab Cycle through open windows in Flip 3-D
Ctrl+Windows key +Tab Enable you to cycle through open windows in Flip 3-D using your
arrow keys
Windows key +spacebar Preview the desktop by making all open windows transparent except for
their outlines
Windows key +U Open the Ease of Access Center Control Panel window
Windows key +X Open the Windows Mobility Center
Windows key +[number key] Open the window attached to the Quick Launch button on the taskbar corresponding
to the number you press, so that when you press Windows key +1,
Windows opens the Internet Explorer window because Internet Explorer is
the first Quick Launch button (to the immediate right of the Start button)
and pressing Windows key +2 opens the Libraries Window Explorer window because
the Windows Explorer button is the second Quick Launch button on the
Windows 7 taskbar

Windows 7 Calculator modes and features

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 in Windows 7 by Gil Kreslavsky

Windows 7 have a new , much more advanced calculator than in previous windows versions.
To open the calculator (Start>All Programs>Accessories>Calculator
Or you can run it by typing “calc” in search.

Keep in mind that you can enter your numbers and mathematical operators into
the Windows Calculator directly from the keyboard using its number keys or
numeric keypad rather than always clicking the numbers and operation symbol
buttons in the Calculator window.

Windows Change Calculator modes:

Statistics (Alt+1):Basic mode

Windows 7 Basic Calculator

Scientific (Alt+2): Adds keys for performing trigonometric calculations —
great for all the engineers out there.
Windows 7 Scienfitic Calculator

Programmer (Alt+3): Adds keys for performing programming calculations
in different number systems, including hexadecimal, octal, and binary number
systems, along with the usual decimal system using different word and byte
sizes.

Windows 7 Programmer Calculator

Statistics (Alt+4): Adds keys for doing statistical calculations involving
linear regression.

Windows 7 Statistics Calculator

In addition to the basic configuration — perfect for doing straightforward
computations — the Calculator also offers the following specialized configurations
(also available from the View menu) designed for more complex
calculations:

Unit Conversion (Ctrl+U): Adds fields for converting all sorts of measurements
(angles, pressures, temperatures, weights, time, velocities, mass,
and so on) from one set of units to another.

Windows 7 Unit Conversion Calculator
Date Calculation (Ctrl+E): Adds fields for performing calculations between
two dates.

Windows 7 Date Calculations

Ctrl+F4 to return to the basic configuration
from any of the other available configurations.

Windows 7 trial version can be downloaded from here

Install virtual guest services grayed out on Hyper-V cluster

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 in Hyper-V, Microsoft, Server 2008, Virtualization by Gil Kreslavsky

 

If “Install virtual machine guest service installation” is unavailable and grayed out, don’t panic. Just shut down the guest machine and it will become available.
It is not a bug, it is by design.

Install virtual machine guest service installation

Setup Failed due to insufficient permissions – Exchange 2007 Installation Error

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 in Excahnge 2007, Microsoft, Server 2008 by Gil Kreslavsky

 

During Installation you receive the “Setup Failed due to insufficient permissions.  Please make sure that the current User has local administrator permissions.  Error: The source was not found, but some or all event logs could not be searched. Inaccessible logs: Security.” error.

setup failed due to insufficient permissions

The reason is “UAC – User Account Control in Server 2008” You must turn it off from control panel or run setup.exe as administrator.
Read here how to disable User Account Control in Server 2008

Next Page »