How to Copy Path of a File to the Clipboard in Windows 7 or Vista

Windows Vista and 7 provides a very useful option "Copy as Path" which appears whenever you right-click on a file/folder. All you have to do is hold down the shift key, and right-click the file... Choose the Copy as Path from the menu. This option automatically copies the full path of selected file/folder which can be used anywhere else.

Here’s an example of what’s on the clipboard after clicking that:

“"E:\CVX Mail\Mail 2007.pst"”

Note: This will also allow you to copy the path of a folder, file, image, ..... to the clipboard.

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SQL Server: Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 On Windows 2008R2 (SP1) System

   This is a simple step-by-step guide to installing Microsoft's newest version of SQL Server with Reporting Services in stand-alone mode (the alternative is SharePoint Integrated, I'll deal with all the steps necessary to do that installation separately in a few days/weeks time).

   The first step is to install your Windows 2008R2 box and get it fully upgraded to the latest patch levels (SP1). Then you can run the setup.exe on the installation DVD;

SQL Server 2012: Installation Centre

Select "Installation" from the list of options on the left;

SQL Server 2012: Installation Options

Select "New SQL Server stand-alone installation ..." which is the top option on the right. After a few seconds wait (but I guess that probably depends on the speed and power of your system!) the following dialog appears;

SQL Server 2012: Setup Support Rules

The installation program has checked your system and, on the system I'm using, found nothing that prevents the installation from proceeding. If you are interested in seeing the "Detailed Report". Once you've got a good set of passes click "OK". A "please wait" dialog will appear and after a few seconds the next dialog;

SQL Server 2012: Product Key

You now need to enter your Product Key. If you are using the MSDN edition then it will be pre-populated, if you don't have one when you can just select one of the "Free" editions. Once you've entered the details click "Next";

SQL Server 2012: License Terms

No installation process would be complete without a 20-page Licensing Agreement and this one is no different. After you've read the entire document (you do do that right? *cough*) click on the "I accept the license terms". I also select the "Send feature usage data to Microsoft" and if you don't you'll only have yourself to blame when the features I use and tell them about are prioritised for improvement and the features you use but keep secret about aren't ... ;-) Click "Next";

SQL Server: Install Setup Files

This dialog will only appear for a few seconds, as soon as the installation files have been successfully installed you are presented with the next dialog;

SQL Server: Setup Support Rules

Again I've made the Detailed Report for this check available via Google Docs here. As you'll see there is one Warning related to the "Windows Firewall", I'm going to ignore this and just move on. Click "Next";

SQL Server: Setup Role

The default option, "SQL Server Feature Installation" is the one I'm after so I'll just click "Next";

SQL Server: Feature Selection

And this is the part where things start to get complicated. What exactly do you want your SQL Server to be doing? I'm going to install pretty much everything except the SharePoint integrated features (the first two shared features; Reporting Services - SharePoint, and Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint Products). Click "Next";

SQL Server: Installation Rules

So we now have another check, the third, to make sure the system is capable of running the options I've selected. And now it "Failed" as "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 is required". The instructions for enabling this feature I have also blogged about, click here. When I did this no-reboot was required. After you've enabled the feature click on "Re-run" in the dialog;

SQL Server: Installation Rules (Attempt 2)

As you can see the check that had previously failed has now passed. The Detailed log is available (via Google Docs) here. Click "Next";

SQL Server: Instance Configuration

There isn't anything here I need to change so just click "Next". There will be a brief pause while the installation program checks to see if sufficient disk space exists to install the options you have selected. After a few seconds a report will be displayed;

SQL Server: Disk Space Requirements

Click "Next";


SQL Server: Server Configuration

It's pretty unlikely that you'll want to change anything here (all these are services you can always change later). The one thing you might want to check if you are deploying to non-English customers is that the correct options are selected under the "Collation" tab - this is especially true if your system will be used to store multi-byte data such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. characters. Click "Next" when you're done;

SQL Server: Database Engine Configuration

I always use "Windows authentication". I usually add in a few AD groups representing the entire company (we are an IT Service company) on the basis that I never know who I might want to share it with. This is your chance to secure the system either as tightly or loosely as you wish. Click "Next";

SQL Server: Analysis Services Configuration

And the same again really. You need to enter the users who will have access to the Analysis Services. Once you're happy with this click "Next";

SQL Server: Reporting Services Configuration

The default option, "Install and Configure", is the option I'm interested in so just click "Next";

SQL Server: Distributed Replay Controller

Whilst appearing to be exactly the same as other "Pick the users" dialog box this one is subtly (invisibly!) different; you cannot select groups. If you try when you click "Next" you get an error;
The specified account 'XX\YYYY' for setting 'CTLRUSERS' is a group account. You can only use a user account. Add in the users for this feature and click "Next";

SQL Server: Distributed Replay Chat

Enter the name of your controller (or leave blank) and then click "Next";

SQL Server: Error Reporting

 I always check this check box (to send error reports to Microsoft) so that errors I encountered will hopefully be dealt with in future releases! Click "Next" when you're done and another round of checks will be executed and after a few seconds you will be presented with a report;



SQL Server: Installation Configuration Rules

Click "Next";

SQL Server: Ready To Install

Click "Install" to begin the install process. The installation itself on the development system I was using took around 25/30 minutes. After the install is complete you will see the following dialog;

SQL Server: Computer Restart Required

 Click "OK" and under this is the final installation report;


SQL Server: Complete (Install Report)

A restart is required, after the restart running Internet Explorer and pointing to the the SQL Server Reporting Services URL will (after logging in) take you to the standard webpage.

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Windows 2008R2: Installing .NET Framework (Enabling the Feature)

     2008R2 includes the .NET Framework as a feature that needs to be turned on when required. Numerous installation programs (for example SQL Server 2012) require it and will mostly just error and tell you to turn the feature on.

     The blog post is intended as a step-by-step guide to switching the feature on.

     Go to the start menu and type "Feature" into the search box, choose the option "Turn Windows Features on or off". The Server Manager will then be displayed;


Windows 2008r2: Features

    Click on "Features" in the tree-view on the left;

Windows 2008r2: Select Features Dialog

     If you already have any features installed they will be listed here. Click on "Add Features" on the right;     Expand the top node in the list (.NEW Framework 3.5.1 Features) and select the first item ".NET Framework 3.5.1). Click "Next";



Windows 2008r2: Confirm Installation Selections

    Expand the top node in the list (.NEW Framework 3.5.1 Features) and select the first item ".NET Framework 3.5.1). Click "Next";

Windows 2008r2: Confirm Installation Selections

    Click "Install", the next dialog actually shows the installation process which should take about 30 seconds (depending on how powerful your system is!) then you will see the following;

Windows 2008r2: Installation Results

    Presuming you have "Installation succeeded" in the dialog click on "Close" to complete the process.

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How to use GPO to remotely install software in Windows Server 2008

       You can use Group Policy to assign or to publish software to users or computers in a domain. Additionally, it is useful to be able to deploy software based on group membership. A Group Policy object (GPO) is usually applied only to members of an organizational unit (OU) to which the GPO is linked.

Create a Distribution Point
       To publish or assign a computer program, you must create a distribution point on the publishing server:

1. Log on to the server computer as an administrator.
2. Create a shared network folder where you will put the Microsoft Windows Installer package (.msi file) that you want to distribute.
3. Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package.
4. Copy or install the package to the distribution point. For example, to distribute Microsoft Office XP, run the administrative installation (setup.exe /a) to copy the files to the distribution point.

Assign a Package
       To assign a program to computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows XP Professional, or to users who are logging on to one of these workstations:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Group Policy tab, select the group policy object that you want, and then click Edit.
4. Under Computer Configuration, expand Software Settings.
5. Right-click Software installation, point to New, and then click Package.
6. In the Open dialog box, type the full Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the shared installer package that you want. For example, \\file server\share\file name.msi.
   
   Important Do not use the Browse button to access the location. Make sure that you use the UNC path to the shared installer package.
7. Click Open.
8. Click Assigned, and then click OK. The package is listed in the right pane of the Group Policy window.
9. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then quit the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
10. When the client computer starts, the managed software package is automatically installed.

Publish a Package
       To publish a package to computer users and make it available for installation from the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Group Policy tab, click the group policy object that you want, and then click Edit.
4. Under User Configuration, expand Software Settings.
5. Right-click Software installation, point to New, and then click Package.
6. In the Open dialog box, type the full UNC path of the shared installer package that you want. For example, \\file server\share\file name.msi.
   Important Do not use the Browse button to access the location. Make sure that you use the UNC path to the shared installer package.
7. Click Open.
8. Click Publish, and then click OK.
9. The package is listed in the right pane of the Group Policy window.
10. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then quit the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
11. Test the package:

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
         a. Log on to a workstation that is running Windows Vista or Windows 7 by using an account that you published the package to.
         b.In Windows 7, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
         c.Double-click Program and Feature, and then click Add New Programs.
         d.In the Add programs from your network list, click the program that you published, and then click Add. The program is installed.
         e.Click OK, and then click Close.

Note if you upgrade or modify the package, you can redeploy a software package

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force proxy setting via group policy(GPO)

       We are using GPOs to apply proxy settings in our domain. Works fine and gives us the flexibility we need. GPOs are applied at system startup or user login. Take a look into the refresh policy. Changed GPOs will not be applied before the refresh interval takes place (in case the user remains logged in).

This article describes how to force proxy setting via group policy.

• Click Start – All programs – Administrative Tools – Group Policy Management.
• Create or Edit Group Policy Objects.
• Expand User configuration – Policies – Windows Settings – Internet Explorer Maintenance – Connection.
• In right Pane Proxy Settings.

For some security reasons maybe administrator need to prevent end users from change their proxy settings. You can do it with group policy follow this steps:

• Click Start – All programs – Administrative Tools – Group Policy Management.
• Create or Edit Group Policy Objects.
• Expand Computer Configuration – Administrative Templates – Windows Components - Internet Explorer – Internet Control Panel
• In right Pane Disable the Connections page (Enabled)

       Removes the Connections tab from the interface in the Internet Options dialog box. If you enable this policy, users are prevented from seeing and changing connection and proxy settings. If you disable this policy or do not configure it, users can see and change these settings. When you set this policy, you do not need to set the following policies for the Connections tab, because this policy removes the Connections tab from the interface

Use GPORESULT (resource kit) to check if a GPO will be applied or not.

More info...

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How to Disable USB Storage Devices ports in Windows 7

      USB storage devices are so common these days almost everyone owns USB storage device in shape of small flash drives, external hard disks, mobile phones, cameras, and lots of other portable devices. So if you want to secure your computer from stealing data, viruses or any other risks then simply disable the USB ports for USB storage devices / disk drives. To block the USB storage devices just follow the given steps below.

Note: this method just block the USB drives (Flash drives, External HDD, Mobile Phones, etc.) not the USB mouse, Keyboard, etc.

How to Disable USB ports
Press Windows + R from keyboard, type “regedit” in the “Run” window and hit Enter.

Explore the registry editor folders
 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR
in the right pane double click to open “Start” DWORD value as shown below.

Change its value to 4 and click “OK” button to save changes. Close the registry editor and plug in any USB storage device to check.

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How to find who is accessing shared folder/files on network

       Windows allows us to easily share files and folders with other people on our network but some of us may want to know when someone else is accessing our shared files and folders. I am going to show everyone for How to find who is accessing shared folder/files on the network.

Computer Management

      For all its faults, Windows has a lot of features. In fact, many people outside the tech circle don't even know most of them. Computer Management is one of these features. From Computer Management, users can do many things. Amongst these "many things", users have the ability to

1. See all the folders they are sharing (Computer Management -> System Tools -> Shared Folders -> Shares);
2. See who (from their network) is connected to their computer (Computer Management -> System Tools -> Shared Folders -> Sessions);
3. What shared files are opened (Computer Management -> System Tools -> Shared Folders -> Open Files).

        You also have the ability to create new shares, stop sharing specific shares, disconnect anyone connected to your computer, or disconnect access to just the opened files. If you want can also right click on "Computer Management (Local)" -> "Connect to another computer" to monitor the shares of another computer (if you have access).

      To access Computer Management, simply find it under Control Panel, or open Start Menu -> Run and type in compmgmt.msc (Windows Vista and Win7 users can just type compmgmt.msc in their search box instead of going to Run).

ShareWatch

       ShareWatch is a very small (77 KB) free, portable, and standalone application which monitors all shared folders and files on your computer. Like Computer Management, it allows you to disconnect a user's access to your computer or to a file at will. While you can't add new shares with ShareWatch, you can stop sharing a share. Like Computer Management, ShareWatch allows you to monitor the shares of a remote server or computer (if you have permission/access to do that).
      ShareWatch only watches folders that are shared out using the Windows folder sharing feature.  This is usually how people share files and printers with each other on a home or corporate network.  It can watch the shares of local and remote Windows computers, assuming you have the correct permissions to watch shares on a computer.  ShareWatch will show you the users connected and what files are in use by each user.  It will also let you close files, disconnect users, and remove shares.

Net Share Monitor

       Net Share Monitor is another small (636 KB), free, portable, and standalone application which monitors local or remote shares. It tells you who is connected and what files are being access. Just like ShareMonitor and Computer Management, you have the ability to disconnect users or access to files. Two features unique to Net Share Monitor, however, is the ability to log all activity related to shares and play a sound to notify the user a new connection has been opened to the shares. Features lacking in Net Share Monitor include not being able to create a new share or stop sharing a share.
       Now you no longer have to worry about your shared files being accessed by unknown persons on the network. You can make NetShareMonitor to keep eye on your shares while you get down to work. It will alert you on any file access and you can always check the log files for past sessions in case you have missed the alert.



System Tray Share Monitor

       System Tray Share Monitor, while not that small in size, portable, or standalone, is an open source software which pretty much does the same thing as Net Share Monitor: it tells you who is connected and what files are being access, you have the ability to disconnect users or access to files, and you can log all shares related activity. One feature in System Tray Share Monitor not present in all the others is the ability to filter what shares/files you monitor by connected user's username, computer network name/IP, number of files opened, or max idle time.

       Overall which one of the above methods you want to use will depend on your needs. If you want to just occasionally monitor shares, there is no need to download a third party program when Computer Management will do that for you. However if you want to monitor shares on a regular basis, Net Share Monitor is the way to go because not only will it notify you when users connect, but it can also log the activity. Plus Net Share Monitor is portable and standalone, so you don't need to install it and you can take it with you on the go.

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Windows Server 8 will be named Windows Server 2012

      Microsoft officials said during the opening keynote of the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) 2012 in Las Vegas that the final name of Windows Server 8 will be “Windows Server 2012.”

      Windows Server 2012 will include Microsoft's new Resilient File System (ReFS) to handle large volumes, resiliency to corruption, and shared storage pools across machines. ReFS will only be available inside Windows Server 2012 initially, but Microsoft has plans to test it within the server edition and make it available to Windows 8 client users at a later date. Microsoft has also previously promised that the majority of applications that currently run on Windows Server 2008 and R2 "should work" on Windows Server 2012.

      Microsoft's naming strategy for Windows Server 2012 and its indication of a release later this year all but confirms that Windows 8 will be available before the end of 2012. The company has a near identical development timeframe for both operating systems, with a beta copy of both released earlier this year at the same time. Microsoft confirmed this week that the company will ship Windows 8 in a trio of editions, including Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows 8 Enterprise. Special local language-only editions of Windows 8 will also be released in select emerging markets like China. The big naming news of the week was the company's decision to name its ARM edition of Windows 8 as Windows RT. Known previously as Windows on ARM or WOA, the single edition will only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets with ARM processors. Microsoft has not yet announced any intentions for an ARM Windows Server edition yet, despite some OEMs exploring ARM server options recently.

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Configure IP Address and DNS using Command Prompt

In order to configure TCP/IP settings such as the IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, DNS and WINS addresses and many other options you can use Netsh.exe. The requested operation requires elevation (Run as administrator).

The IP address of your computer can be set from the command prompt by running the following commands at an administrative level prompt:

netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" static 146.40.202.222 255.255.255.0 146.40.202.1 1

Local Area Connection is the name of the adapter you want to modify. In single NIC systems it is normally called Local Area Connection.
146.40.202.222 is the IP address you want to set.
255.255.255.0 is the subnet mask.
146.40.202.1 is the gateway.
1 is the gateway metric. You can leave this as 1 for almost all cases.

If you want to enable DHCP you can run:
netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" dhcp

There are two commands for DNS since administrators typically configure a primary and secondary DNS server.
For the primary DNS run:
netsh interface ip set dns name="Local Area Connection" static 146.40.202.9

For the secondary run:
netsh interface ip add dns name="Local Area Connection" 146.40.203.9 index=2

If you want to configure the computer to use DNS from DHCP run:
netsh interface ip set dnsservers name="Local Area Connection" source=dhcp

When you are finished with all of your IP and DNS changes run ipconfig -all to review the new settings.

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