Useful Windows tips, tricks and secrets for end-user and administrator

This article describes some cool Windows key tricks to get you started. Here are some of the best tips and tricks for Windows that may help you support/guide/coach the end user.

Calculate more
     Explore the Mode menu and you'll see powerful new Statistics and Programmer views. And if you're clueless about bitwise manipulation, then try the Options menu instead. This offers many different unit conversions (length, weight, volume and more), date calculations (how many days between two dates?), and spreadsheet-type templates to help you calculate vehicle mileage, mortgage rates and more.

Don't take any Windows 7 applet at face value, then - there are some very powerful new features hidden in the background. Be sure to explore every option in all Windows applets to ensure you don't miss anything important.

CALCULATE MORE: The new Calculator is packed with useful features and functionality

Problem Steps Recorder (PSR.exe)
     Step 1) Click start
     Step 2) Type PSR.EXE in start search area
     Step 3) Press Enter
     Step 4) Use pull down arrow and select settings
     Step 5) Select Start and capture whatever you click on and then select stop and save file Into a single zipped MHTML file
     Step 6)  Double click zip to read it.

The command line DISKPART utility:
     This tool to detach a VHD file, and an EXPAND command to increase a virtual disk's maximum size. Don't play around with this unless you know what you're doing, though - it's all too easy to trash your system.   Shrink and Expand size.  No more for a utility like the old Partition Magic
Open Command Prompt
Type Diskpart.exe /?

Switch to a projector
      Windows 7, 8 now provides a standard way to switch your display from one monitor to another or a projector - just press Win+P or run DisplaySwitch.exe and choose your preferred display. (This will have no effect if you've only one display connected.)

The 19 Best Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
     The Windows key now performs a wide variety of functions. Here are a handful of the most useful ones:

• Win+h - Move current window to full screen
• Win+i - Restore current full screen window to normal size or minimize current window if not full screen
• Win+Shift+arrow - Move current window to alternate screen
• Win+D - Minimize all windows and show the desktop
• Win+E - Launch Explorer with Computer as the focus
• Win+F - Launch a search window
• Win+G - Cycle through gadgets
• Win+L - Lock the desktop
• Win+M - Minimize the current window
• Win+R - Open the Run window
• Win+T - Cycle through task bar opening Aero Peek for each running item
• Win+U - Open the Ease of Use center
• Win+Space - Aero Peek the desktop
• Ctrl+Win+Tab - Open persistent task selection window, roll mouse over each icon to preview item and minimize others
• Win+Pause/Break   Open system properties
• Win+P Adjust Presentation Settings for Display
• Win+ (+/-) Magnifier Zoom in (+) Zoom Out (-)
• Win + TAB  use with AERO to cycle between windows
• Alt+P Display/ hide the Explorer preview pane

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Net Accounts, Net Accounts /Domain Command Details and Examples

You must access a command prompt and be logged on to an account with network administration permissions. Net accounts command allows administrators to control user account logon settings from command line. Below you can find the syntax of net accounts command explained with examples.

C:\>net accounts
Force user logoff how long after time expires?:       Never
Minimum password age (days):                          1
Maximum password age (days):                          42
Minimum password length:                              7
Length of password history maintained:                24
Lockout threshold:                                    Never
Lockout duration (minutes):                           30
Lockout observation window (minutes):                 30
Computer role:                                        WORKSTATION
The command completed successfully.

C:\>net accounts /domain
The request will be processed at a domain controller for domain      git.group.
Force user logoff how long after time expires?:       Never
Minimum password age (days):                          1
Maximum password age (days):                          42
Minimum password length:                              7
Length of password history maintained:                24
Lockout threshold:                                    Never
Lockout duration (minutes):                           30
Lockout observation window (minutes):                 30
Computer role:                                        BACKUP
The command completed successfully.

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Details and Examples net user /domain user info from the command line

Use the command "net user accountname /domain" to display user information
Running that command gives you something like this: net user thinnawutp /domain (2 domain output sample)

 

To obtain a list of domain users and groups you can query the domain controller as follows:
net user /domain > users.txt
net group /domain > groups.txt

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How to logoff remote desktop via Terminal Server Commands "Query session | Reset session"

This is just a quick guide to check the error message "The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections" that you can use this command to figure out what sessions are connected to the server.

Use this command to display information about administrative and client node sessions: query session /server:yourcomputer

To reset the session of user1 by using the session name:
reset session rdp-tcp#1

To reset the session of user1 by using the session ID:
reset session 1

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How to enable ping response in Windows Server with commandline

This is just a quick guide to enabling a server to respond to ping, the default setting in Windows Server is to disable. I would like to recommend this command "Netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8". While running this command, just wait since it takes a little time and this is the result:,

Once enabled you can also simply disable the ping utility also by repeating the same above steps the only difference would be the command name. Open the command prompt in Administrator mode as described earlier. You will have to type “Netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8 disable” in the command prompt.

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How to find MAC address... either locally or across a network

Getmac | I would like to recommend this parameter "getmac /s \\remotecomputer", it helps you can remote to other PCs easily. While running this command, just wait since it takes a little time and this is the result:,

Returns the media access control (MAC) address and list of network protocols associated with each address for all network cards in each computer, either locally or across a network.
getmac
getmac /v

Note: export the output by using this command getmac /s \\remotecomputer >> c:\getmacresult.txt

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Commands Every Administrator Should Know "Driverquery"

Driverquery = Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties. I would like to recommend this parameter "driverquery /s \\remotecomputer" , it helps you can remote to other PCs easily

Incorrect device drivers can lead to any number of system problems. If you want to see which drivers are installed on a Windows system, you can do so by running the driverquery tool. This simple command-line tool provides information about each driver that is being used. The command is:
driverquery

If you need a bit more information, you can append the -v switch. Another option is to append the -si switch, which causes the tool to display signature information for the drivers. Here’s how they look:

driverquery -v
driverquery -si
driverquery /nh

Note: Sample command with export the result... driverquery /s \\remotecomputer >> c:\driverresult.txt

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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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