Remotely restarting my 'stuck' server

Saturday afternoon, found some alerts.. Yikes! one of the server refuses to replicate backup across the WAN!

Started my mRemoteNG and tried connecting... found out my dear server is 'stuck' with a blank console with no icons and no way to restart 'explorer.exe'.

Solution?

1. Used my virtual machine to VPN into the network using PPTP VPN (already set-up of course). I had to use my virtual machine as I am downloading couple of stuff and I'd hate to get it interrupted. :)
2. Go to start >> Run >> \\(server name)
3. Key in administrator's username and password, once you can get access to the server shared folders, you may then close the screen.
4. Run command prompt, and type the following command: shutdown -f -r -m \\(server name)
5. Note: If VPN doesn't allow access to the server via Computer Name, use the IP address. It'll work.

The screen will look like this below:

The first error, access is denied, happened because I haven't yet log-in to the server.
The second one initiated the shutdown-restart all-right. 
That worked! I can now login to the server back-to-normal using my mRemoteNG!

Customizing Windows Themes for a personal 'touch'

I have always like leaving a fingerprint unique to my taste on the services that I offer. It could be with a documentation that I have generated or a way that users can remember that I've done this job with an extra mile and-a-smile. :)

While waiting for my colleague to take some awesome photos to be used for our systems that we've 'overhauled', I realize I could use the awesome Windows Theme Packs to personalize the systems we set-up!

Theme packs for free, are available from: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-SG/windows/themes 

Some of my Favorites:

1. Carribean
2. Painted Skies
3. Forestry
4. Magic Landscapes 

These are the least intrusive and relaxing themes that I'd like to see. The beauty of applying these:

• Less stressed out users
• Gives more interesting colors to desktop
• Changes wallpaper all the time! :)

Ps. My apologies for the lack of updates. I promise to update more on this blog for 2013 onwards!

Issues with Outlook Message Recall

Message recall function in Outlook doesn’t work with any normal condition. It requires a few things in place:

1) Senders and Recipients must be on Exchange Server environment

2) Senders and Recipients must have Outlook 2003-2010 that supports message recall

3) Senders and Recipients must have Outlook opened or running in the background when message was sent/received.

Therefore,we can conclude that at this point, message recall is only useful for internal organization message recalls especially for people who are more desk-bound, as message recall will run successfully on the sender if Outlook is opened on the recipient side.

A little weird, but it’s true.

More info:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/how-message-recall-works-HA001091760.aspx

Randomizing and Reset TeamViewer ID

* do not do this to infringe copyrights for usage of teamviewer!*

While trying to use teamviewer for home, sometimes i came across the alert stating that teamviewer suspects usage of teamviewer in corporate environment. Eventually, you'll not be able to use Teamviewer anymore!

A work-around would be to do 3 things:

1. Delete teamviewer files
2. Delete teamviewer registry keys
3. Randomize your MAC address
4. Rerun teamviewer

I have created the necessary tools to allow the reset here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gkaah687znai5co/Teamviewer%20Restart.7z

Enjoy!

Asus EEE PC, BIS configuration

This is an update on the EEE PC Findings we have and research.
I will update this on our blog, but I thought its good to send you guys an update first.

EEE PC With N-Lite installation is good, we referred to this site and followed ‘almost’ everything…
Site:

On Bill’s EEE PC, 9” Linux Version (4GB, 16GB)
- Drivers have to use the Support CD version of it.
- Downloaded sound drivers DEFINITELY will NOT work.

On Juliana’s EEE PC, 7” Linux Version
- When it gets hot, the mouse will go crazy

Our ISO files have included the following:
- Dial Up Networking
- Themes for Windows

Our ISO files have left out the following:
- Media Player WMV Codec Pack
- DIVx Codec Pack
- Modem Drivers Pack (Needed for Wireless Broadband Modems)

To Re-configure:
- CD-Key for Windows XP Home
- PC Name and Workgroup name

Lesson in PING

I found a way where you can trace a connection to a server more thoroughly than just tracert and ping...

in your command prompt, type: pathping -n (ip address)
eg. pathping -n 205.216.112.157

this will give you a technical result like:

Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Lost/Sent = Pct Address
0 192.168.1.102
21/ 100 = 21% |
1 2ms 25/ 100 = 25% 4/ 100 = 4% 192.168.1.10
0/ 100 = 0% |
2 324ms 25/ 100 = 25% 4/ 100 = 4% 218.186.176.1
0/ 100 = 0% |
3 302ms 28/ 100 = 28% 7/ 100 = 7% 172.20.12.65
0/ 100 = 0% |
4 244ms 23/ 100 = 23% 2/ 100 = 2% 172.26.12.1
0/ 100 = 0% |
5 293ms 28/ 100 = 28% 7/ 100 = 7% 172.20.8.137
0/ 100 = 0% |
6 287ms 25/ 100 = 25% 4/ 100 = 4% 203.116.9.101
0/ 100 = 0% |
7 248ms 26/ 100 = 26% 5/ 100 = 5% 203.118.3.228
0/ 100 = 0% |
8 452ms 21/ 100 = 21% 0/ 100 = 0% 157.130.211.153
0/ 100 = 0% |
9 476ms 28/ 100 = 28% 7/ 100 = 7% 152.63.48.246
0/ 100 = 0% |
10 557ms 22/ 100 = 22% 1/ 100 = 1% 152.63.21.110
0/ 100 = 0% |
11 559ms 24/ 100 = 24% 3/ 100 = 3% 152.63.24.69
0/ 100 = 0% |
12 551ms 21/ 100 = 21% 0/ 100 = 0% 157.130.24.238
1/ 100 = 1% |
13 528ms 27/ 100 = 27% 5/ 100 = 5% 205.216.112.82
0/ 100 = 0% |
14 535ms 22/ 100 = 22% 0/ 100 = 0% 205.216.112.157

Trace complete.

based on these results, i can see that there is definitely a connection problem!
on the average, 20% of my connection gets dropped and that affects connection stability.

Problem with accessing Java Sites (dbs,ocbc) banking in Internet Explorer 7.0

Hi Everyone,

I found a problem with accessibility of banking websites in IE 7.0 when Java has to be activated.

Firefox will not have a problem, therefore, you may use Firefox as a work-around emergency solution.

For IE to work, in Vista, you must make sure that the TOOLS > Manage Add Ons > Check enabled Add-Ons > look for Add ons that run without requiring permission.

look for Java. make sure all JAVA related add-ons are enabled.

After that, restart IE.

IE must be running when doing this config.

You will then have to go into Control Panel > JAVA > look for Advanced > Go to Either Applet Tag support or Default Browser for Java.

Make sure Internet Explorer is TICKED. Click APPLY

After which, you will be prompted an error stating that you do not have permission.
click ok, then a box will appear by Vista system, stating that you can run the dialog box with the Vista option. Select the first of the prompt, and then..

go into Control Panel > JAVA > look for Advanced > Go to Either Applet Tag support or Default Browser for Java AGAIN.

Click APPLY. this time round, there will not be a prompt, then restart your Internet Explorer 7.0

This should resolve the problem with Java.

Thanks!