Tag: Microsoft

Microsoft release a cool tool named Disk cleanup on Windows 7 Sp1

Microsoft released an update yesterday for the Disk cleanup utility. The problem Windows keeps copies of installed updates from Windows Update, even after installing newer version of updates. So the older versions of updates that are no longer needed and taking up space.

In Windows XP era the uninstalls were just hidden folders under Windows directory so easy to clean. Since Windows Vista this is now stored in the Windows Services folder WinSXS.

The space used by WinSXS can grow significant. In the past you could remove Service Pack uninstall files which helped, but Service Packs are not so common anymore. I think Windows 7 will never see SP2, yet the updates keep filling the WinSXS folder every month.

After the update is installed (no reboot needed) and you run Diskcleanup:

cleanup1

and when you click “Clean up system files”

You’ll see new options:

cleanup2

This update of diskcleanup delivers a new option Windows Update cleanup which deletes older versions of updates that are no longer needed and just taking up space.

The update is available through Windows Update as important or direct download at KB article posted below:

KB2852386: Update is available that enables you to delete outdated Windows updates by using a new option in the Disk Cleanup wizard in Windows 7 SP1

Now unfortunately this update is not available for Windows Server 2008 R2, while there are plenty scenarios where cleaning up WinSXS folder is helpful there too!

Bink.nu

High CPU usage Windows Update (svchost.exe) in Windows XP SP3

I had to do a fresh Windows XP SP3 installation and Windows Update has been using almost whole CPU. Very strange!

 

I fixed that problem by installing Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-069 update  from Microsoft web.

Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release

We’re very excited to announce another free ebook offering from Microsoft Press. Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release (ISBN 9780735682931), by Mitch Tulloch with the Windows Server Team, introduces new features and capabilities, with scenario-based advice on how the platform can meet the needs of your business. Get the high-level overview you need to begin preparing your deployment now. This book is based on the Preview release and will be updated to cover Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM.

Download the PDF version of this title here (108 pages, 5 MB). UPDATE: The EPUB format is here and the MOBI format is here.

Watch for the lengthier RTM edition of this ebook later this year!

If you prefer a hard copy of the book, you can order it here.

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Exchange 2013 and .NET 4.5 fixes KB2803754 & KB2803755

Microsoft published an important hotfix for .NET 4.5 earlier this year. It wasn’t picked up on by many, therefor a quick write up on the matter.

Since Exchange 2013 is built on top of .NET 4.5, it is recommended to install the hotfix on all Exchange 2013 Mailbox and Multi-Role servers. The hotfix will reduce the memory consumption of the store worker processes.

If you’re using Windows Server 2008 R2, the hotfix is KB2803754 and can be requested here; when using Windows Server 2012 the hotfix is KB2803755 which can be requested here.

After installing the hotfix, you need to do one of the following things:

  • Set the following registry key:
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\.NETFramework\DisableRetStructPinning=1 (REG_DWORD)
  • Set the COMPLUS_DisableRetStructPinning environment variable to 1

I’d prefer the first option. Note that you need to restart the server for the change to become effective.

Thanks to EighTwOne

VMware Workstation 10

VMware Workstation takes virtualization to the next level:

  • Support for the latest Guest OS’es like Microsoft Windows 8.1 and various Linux distributions.
  • The new hardware version 10 introduces even bigger and better Virtual Machines
    Up to 16 vCPUs
    64GB of vRAM
    8TB disks.
    vSATA support has been added
    Up to 20 networks can be defined.
    Various USB improvements (usb3 stream support, among other things)
    SSD pass through makes for better support of the underlying hardware platform.
  • New Virtual Appliances created with the Workstation team to quickly run various cloud stacks like Pivotal, Puppet Labs and Vagrant.

The team has included various smaller improvements in the product as well:

  • Better multi-monitor support for up to 4 screens
  • Unity mode has been enhanced to seamlessly work with Windows 8.1 UI changes
  • An updated version of VMware Converter has been built in and adds support for P2V’ing a Windows 8.1 machine
  • New option to display the VM console using VMware-KVM, a ‘screen-only’ window without any bells or whistles.

Supported Reverse Proxy for Lync 2010 & Lync 2013

This lists the server reverse proxy products that have completed solution testing with Lync Server. While any reverse proxy is expected to work with Lync Server, the reverse proxies listed below have completed extensive testing and are posted with detailed deployment white papers to assist in configuration.

Qualified for Lync 2013 & Lync 2010 

Vendor

Qualified Product

Software Version Tested

Vendor’s Lync Page

Microsoft

Internet Information Services Application Request Routing  (IIS ARR)

v2.5

IIS ARR Config Guide

Microsoft

Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) **

2010

Setting up Reverse Proxy Servers with TMG

** In November, 2012, Microsoft ceased license sales of Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010, or TMG. TMG is still a fully supported product, and is still available for sale on appliances sold by third parties.

Cumulative Update 2 for Exchange Server 2013

Exchange Team released Cumulative Update 2 for Exchange Server 2013

This CU contains the following major changes:

  • CU2 increases the maximum number of supported databases per server from 50 to 100 in the Enterprise Edition;
  • Enables silent redirection for Outlook Web App (OWA) to Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2013 when using multiple internet-facing AD sites or alternative ExternalURL settings (i.e. for legacy purposes);
  • Introduces the DAG Management Service which will offload monitoring and reporting from the Replication Service;
  • Shifting several responders from per-server throttling to per-group throttling;
  • Support for updating local help files using the cmdlet Update-ExchangeHelp;
  • Improvements in OWA Search to indicate search hit locations;
  • Introduction of *-MalwareFilterRule Cmdlets to apply custom malware policies to users, groups or domains.

The list of bug fixes in this CU is undisclosed. Microsoft updated the following KB:

  • KB2866064 Can’t load OWA Premium by using Internet Explorer 11 in an Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2010 or Exchange Server 2007 environment
  • KB2846288 Information store worker process crashes when you export mailboxes in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
  • KB2842504 EAS users incorrectly throttled in an Exchange Server 2013 environment
  • KB2830765 “MAPI_E_FAILONEPROVIDER” error when you use a MAPI application in a mixed Exchange Server 2013 and Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2010 environment
  • KB2835562 You can’t disable Outlook Web App access for users in on-premises Exchange Server

You can download Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 2 here. More details about these changes can be found in the original announcement.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Preview

The Client Management team is happy to announce the availability of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Preview. Download the installer file and release notes from the Client Management program on Connect in the MDT group.

New members must first join the MDT group of the Client Management program on Connect.

MDT 2013 Preview includes:

  • Support for the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8.1 Preview. (The Windows ADK for Windows 8.1 Preview is available on the Microsoft Download Center.)
  • Support for deployment of Windows 8.1 Preview and Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview, as well as Windows 7 and Windows 8 families of operating systems.
  • Support for zero-touch integration (ZTI) with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Preview.

We encourage you to download and use MDT 2013 Preview, and then submit suggestions, bugs and feedback via the Connect site

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