Category: Windows Server

Tips and Tricks in using and administering Windows server 2003/2000.

How do I upgrade Windows 2000 or 2003 server nework card port speed?

I have already wrote how to upgrade port speed under Red Hat or Debian Linux. If you would like to upgrade or downgrade port speed under Windows 2003 server just use following guideline.

By default, most dedicated hosting service provider or your network administrator will provide you (hook you to) 10Mbps connection to Internet. If you would like to upgrade either of your port speeds to 100mbps or 1000mbps, you need to ask your network administrator to make port upgrade at network switch level. Once the network admin changed the port speed you need to make changes to Windows 2003 networking.

Please note that information outlined here also applies to Windows XP and other version of Windows operating systems.

=> Click on Start button
=> Open Control Panel
=> Select Network connections
=> Select the network interface (if you have multiple network cards) i.e. Local area connection #1.
=> Right click Properties
=> Click on Configure button
=> The driver properties window should open on screen.
=> Select the Advanced tab.
=> Select Link Speed & Duplex from the property list.
=> Select the Value tab to the right and set the port speed you are upgrading to WITH full duplex:

  • For 10 MBS Select: 10Mbps/Full
  • For 100 MBS Select: 100Mbps/Full
  • For 1000 MBS Select: Auto

=> Select the OK Button.
=> Save the changes and close, the network related windows. It may take upto 1 minute for new settings depend upon switch and traffic.

How do I upgrade Windows 2000 or 2003 server port speed?

Windows 2003 server add additional IP address

Many new Windows sys admins are not sure about – how to add additional IP address to a Windows 2003 (2000) server. It is easy to add an IP address. J ust follow the instruction mentioned below.

=> Click on Start button

=> Open Cotnrol Panel

=> Open Network connections

=> Select Local Area Connection (for first Ethernet card)

=> Right Click and select Properties

=> Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

=> Now click on Properties button

=> Click on Advanced tab

=> Now you need to add in an IP address section Enter IP details such as IP address, Subnetmask etc

=> Save the changes and go back to Windows server desktop

How do I verifty that new settings are working?

Open command prompt > Click on Start button

=> Select Run

=> Type cmd and press enter

=> Type the following command at DOS prompt:
ipconfig /all

How to Windows 2003 Server start or stop services

This is quite easy. In order to start or stop a service in Windows 2003:
=> Click on Start
=> Select Admin Tools
=> Select Services

Now you can view the service names, description, status etc.

Task: To start or stop service

=> Select service name
=> Right click on a service name
=> Select Properties.
=> Now select Start or stop per your requirements.

Task: Make sure service start on Window server boot

To start a service when windows server boots, select service name and set type to automatic.

The Windows Event viewer error logs always contain more information about why service failed to start.

Windows XP or 2003: Howto Add Copy To and Move To to Windows Explorer

For some reason, Microsoft decided not to activate the Copy To and Move To menu items in Windows XP Explorer as they did for Send To. This Microsoft Windows Registry hack adds Copy To and Move To to the right-click context menu of Windows Explorer.

Adding Copy To and Move To functionality to the Windows Explorer right-click menu starts with the finding the key in the Windows Registry file.

Read more at http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6115665.html

Windows XP/Server 2003 search and replace registry effectively

Windows registry editor has simple search function. This is not good or powerful tool for power users. In addition, if you want to make bulk find and replace changes to registry, windows registry has no tool or option.

Registry Agent is a tool for bulk find and replace option. It is part of Creative Element Power Tools, which is a collection of productivity tools for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows Me. This includes

Search and replace Registry entries – Perform quick Registry searches, view the results in a convenient list, and optionally search-and-replace Registry keys and values. You can download this tool here (free 1.5MB).

Caution: Before using these tools make sure, you backup the registry and important data.

How do I use Search and replace Registry entries tool?

  • Step # 1: Download Registry Agent
  • Step # 2: Install Registry Agent
  • Step # 3: Open Creative Element Power Tools
  • Step # 4: Click on Start Registry Agent
  • Step # 5: Search the required string or data
  • Step # 6: Click on replace and type replace string
  • Step # 7: Click on Replace button

Here is screen shot of this tool:
Registry agent

I am dam sure after some days later you will love to purchase license for this tool :)

Windows XP – Batch file script to copy all files

This is a small script I use to copy file quickly from source to destination. This script should work under Windows XP, 2000, 2003, 98/95 etc.

Syntax
Script accept two command line argument as follows:
mycopy.bat {source} {destination}

Where,
mycopy.bat – This script copies files and directories, including subdirectories using Windows xcopy program. You must pass following two arguments/parameters
source – Use to specify the location and names of the file/directory you want to copy.
destination – Use to specify the destination of the files you want to copy.

How do I use this script?

For example copy all *.doc file from C:\DATA to \\SERVER\BACKUP directory, you need to execute script as follows:
Cd c:\data

mycopy.bat *.doc \\SERVER\BACKUP

OR copy all files from c:\data to z:\

mycopy.bat c:\data\** z:\

mycopy.bat source code

@rem BATCH FILE
@echo off
if "%1" == "" goto error1
if "%2" == "" goto error2
@rem * Copy from source to destination including subdirs and hidden
@rem * File
xcopy "%1" "%2" /S /E /H
goto endofprogram
:error1
echo You must provide source
echo Syntax:
echo %0 source destination
goto endofprogram
:error2
echo You must provide destination
echo Syntax:
echo %0 source destination
goto endofprogram
:endofprogram

Where,

  • Line # 03 and 04 make sure we pass the command line argument.
  • Line # 08 – If both command line arguments (source and destination) are provided it will copy files using XCOPY program.

Download Intel Processor or CPU Identification Utility

Intel Processor or CPU Identification Utility

I had already written about find out CPU speed and type in Windows or Linux system. Now Intel has released an updated version of its Processor or CPU Identification Utility. This utility can be used to verify that you have purchased correct CPU.

The Intel Processor Identification Utility was developed by Intel Corporation to identify the processor inside a system, assuring the processor contains intended technologies and is operating at the tested and rated frequency intended by Intel Corporation.

There are two versions of the utility available. The Windows version of the utility can be used with systems that support the Windows operating system environment. The “Bootable” version of the utility does not require an operating system. You can boot from computer floppy disk.

Download

Visit Intel website to download this utility

Find out my CPU speed and type in Windows or Linux system

There are many ways to detect which CPU you are using (AMD or Intel), speed and other stuff such as cache memory etc.

With following commands/tools, you will be able get following information:
=> Detect CPU cache
=> CPU speed and type (processor speed)
=> CPU Manufacturer (AMD, Intel etc)

Detect CPU speed and make Using Windows XP/2000/2003

  • Goto Desktop
  • Right-click the My Computer icon
  • Select Properties

You will see CPU information at the bottom of dialog box.

Detect CPU speed and make Using Linux

Type the following command:

less /proc/cpuinfo

Detect CPU speed and make Using Third party utilities for Windows system

There are third party utilities which can be used to detect the CPU. Please note that not all programs are free some of them are free or shareware. These programs also provides the system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for CPU, FPU, disk and memory etc. Some program may include additional stuff such as hardware monitoring and diagnostics capabilities. Following are two my favorite programs:

Other free program:

Repair the master boot record (MBR) on Windows NTFS partition

Windows NT /2000/XP or Windows server comes with NTFS partition. However some time you are not able to boot from Windows XP/2003 NTFS boot partition due to some reasons such as corrupted MBR or Linux installation problem.

You need to use FIXMBR to fix the master boot record (MBR) on Windows NTFS partition. However, the fixmbr command is only available when you are using the Recovery Console.

Procedure

a) Set BIOS to boot from CD/DVD

b) Inset your Windows setup CD

c) When prompted select Recovery Console option

d) Now go to C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWS

e) Next type following command:

fixmbr \Device\HardDisk0

f) But how did I obtained the device \Device\HardDisk0 name? The device (drive) on which you want to write a new master boot record can be obtained from the output of the map command. Type following command:

map
fixmbr \Device\HardDisk0

g) Type exit to restart system

exit

h) Remove CD and boot from hard disk.

References