Bart’s Blog

If you use Windows Search Server 2008 or MOSS 2007 as an enterpise search solution than you can easily use this search engine via Vista search or Windows desktop search. To integrate your enterprise search in Vista configure the policy Instant Search policy setting via local policy (gpedit.msc) or Active Directory GPO.     Or [...]

Having trouble uninstalling an application via control panel? In that case you can try the “Windows installer cleanup utility”.

  When trying to create a Vista reference image via an SCCM Operating System install package, my Task Sequence kept failing on the “Configuring Windows and ConfigMgr” task. Vista setup returned “error 31″ (boot critical device driver issue).  The setupapi log showed that the system was failing on ICH7USB.INF. Apparently the driver references USBUI.DLL. This [...]

You can download hotfixes from the Microsoft hotfix self-service site if you know the related KB number. Use following URL format: http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=KBNumber&kbln=KBLanguage Example: http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=958011&kbln=en-us

  If you need to remove sync partnerships with systems that are no longer available, or if you want to recover from a corrupt CSC cache then you can use the following procedure to re-initialize the offline cache. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC Point to New, and then click Key. Type Parameters in the [...]

User account control is one of Vista’s interesting new security features. It offers so much more than the (for some anoying) elevation prompt when administrative privileges are required.   Many administrators disable UAC but this also disables all underlying technology: Mandatory Integrity Control (MIC) User Interface Privilege Isolation (UIPI) Internet Explorer protected mode Virtualization Installer [...]

Windows Powershell delivers a shell environment where you can use a bunch of different objects (WMI, COM, .NET framework) and their methods and properties from a command prompt. The shell provides strong output formatting and redirection. Finally you won’t have to switch to Perl anymore to make use of stuff like regular expressions. As a [...]

OK, I finally uploaded the IT Forum 2006 pictures to the Gallery section… It’s about time, I know. Yet again, our yearly trip to the top event for Microsoft infrastructure professionals was a success. Lots of interesting new products and technologies are coming our way (recently released or in beta): Windows Vista Longhorn Server Sharepoint [...]

During my beta tests with Windows Vista I discovered this nice freeware CD/DVD drive emulator tool. Daemontools didn’t do the trick anymore under Vista, so I had to look for an alternative. Virtual Clonedrive is a product of SlySoft. Just mount your ISO’s and access them from a virtual drive.   Features Supports all common [...]

With Windows Vista going into the Release Candidate stage I decided it was about time for some real beta testing. I decided to migrate my main home PC and see how usable this OS already was. I’m using a self made PC based on the following hardware: Mainboard: ASUS P4B533 (Intel 845E). Processor: PIV 2400 [...]