January 2013 - Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

IOS/Exchange/Calendar syncing
by Barry Toner 24 Jan '13

24 Jan '13

Hi folks, I'm scratching my head over this one. I'm heading our Mobile Device Management in work. I've been using a great MDM solution, http://www.meraki.com Everything's working great, accept an engineer's just come to me because their calendar isn't synchronising. I've checked under settings/mail, calendar, contacts, it's turned on. I've checked under the calendar app and selected the Exchange server. Their mail and contacts are coming over fine. I don't' have anything configured under their MDM profile through Meraki to restrict this. On my personal iPhone I've the ability to select what calendar I want to use under settings/mail, contacts, calendar, but I suspect this is because I've two mailboxes set up? I don't expect this to be related to the profile because the Exchange settings were entered manually, and after the profile was loaded. Anyone got a suggestion? Barry. Barry Toner ICT Assistant ICT Department Clanmil Housing Northern Whig House 3 Waring Street Belfast BT1 2DX Tel: 02890 876000 Fax: 02890 876001

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32 and 64 bit xp/7, multi-boot or vm?
by David Mehler 22 Jan '13

22 Jan '13

Hello, This is going to be quite interesting to try to explain. I've got a friend who had an older box, still good, it was a 32 bit athlon64 machine. It ran xp something I can't remember which was left on it and as I said the sata drive is good. He got a new box, also sata, this one a 64 bit also an AMD processor, this one a multi-core. This one is running 7 home premium. He wants to have both systems available. I reconnected the old sata drive and that's browsable so he can get to his old files, but he was wanting to try something else. I don't think doing this next would make the old drive stable, but if I set up a multiboot configuration, which I haven't done since the 98 dys, where he gets a boot manager and selects which OS he wants, would it be possible to put in the needed 64 bit drivers for chipset, motherboard, video, audio, networking, basically so the new drive would operate on the new hardware, and make it stable? My gut says no this is not doable. Failing that, can I somehow get this drive to run in a vm like vmware server? Thanks. Dave.

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32 and 64 bit xp/7, multi-boot or vm?
by David Mehler 22 Jan '13

22 Jan '13

Hello, This is going to be quite interesting to try to explain. I've got a friend who had an older box, still good, it was a 32 bit athlon64 machine. It ran xp something I can't remember which was left on it and as I said the sata drive is good. He got a new box, also sata, this one a 64 bit also an AMD processor, this one a multi-core. This one is running 7 home premium. He wants to have both systems available. I reconnected the old sata drive and that's browsable so he can get to his old files, but he was wanting to try something else. I don't think doing this next would make the old drive stable, but if I set up a multiboot configuration, which I haven't done since the 98 dys, where he gets a boot manager and selects which OS he wants, would it be possible to put in the needed 64 bit drivers for chipset, motherboard, video, audio, networking, basically so the new drive would operate on the new hardware, and make it stable? My gut says no this is not doable. Failing that, can I somehow get this drive to run in a vm like vmware server? Thanks. Dave.

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securing a standalone xp machine
by David Mehler 22 Jan '13

22 Jan '13

Hello, I'm needing to secure as much as possible a standalone xp pro machine. First of all, currently it auto logs in as administrator, which I need to change. I need to give the admin a password. Would that be: net user administrator * and enter a password twice? If that admin user then logs out they're presented with a list of accounts on the box. One of them, while he was logged on as administrator, gave his account admin rights. This was bad enough, but he then proceeded to trash the box, it's performance frankly is abysmal right now. The first thing I need to do is clean said box, it needs both a software cleaning as well as an open the box and clean it out inside. Next, I'd like to prevent this from happening again, securing the admin account is the first step, having everyone else change their passwords is second, downgrading this user from admin in local users and groups is third. Which group do you recommend I place this user in? I want to limit his ability to do much to this box. Finally, and I don't know if this is doable, I'd like to lock just that user down with a GPO. For example, I don't want him to be able to even see certain icons in control panel, or on the desktop and I'd really like to put him in a box. I only want this to effect this one user, not the others, is this doable? I do not think it is but I'd love to be proven wrong. Thanks. Dave.

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securing a standalone xp machine
by David Mehler 22 Jan '13

22 Jan '13

Hello, I'm needing to secure as much as possible a standalone xp pro machine. First of all, currently it auto logs in as administrator, which I need to change. I need to give the admin a password. Would that be: net user administrator * and enter a password twice? If that admin user then logs out they're presented with a list of accounts on the box. One of them, while he was logged on as administrator, gave his account admin rights. This was bad enough, but he then proceeded to trash the box, it's performance frankly is abysmal right now. The first thing I need to do is clean said box, it needs both a software cleaning as well as an open the box and clean it out inside. Next, I'd like to prevent this from happening again, securing the admin account is the first step, having everyone else change their passwords is second, downgrading this user from admin in local users and groups is third. Which group do you recommend I place this user in? I want to limit his ability to do much to this box. Finally, and I don't know if this is doable, I'd like to lock just that user down with a GPO. For example, I don't want him to be able to even see certain icons in control panel, or on the desktop and I'd really like to put him in a box. I only want this to effect this one user, not the others, is this doable? I do not think it is but I'd love to be proven wrong. Thanks. Dave.

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Live Xp.
by Ernesto Fdez 22 Jan '13

22 Jan '13

Hello: I need to create a LiveCD of WXp with NVDA and some diagnostic tools to work in different PCs. What Live Xp Project recommend me? Best regards, Ernesto -- Este mensaje le ha llegado mediante el servicio de correo electronico que ofrece Infomed para respaldar el cumplimiento de las misiones del Sistema Nacional de Salud. La persona que envia este correo asume el compromiso de usar el servicio a tales fines y cumplir con las regulaciones establecidas Infomed: http://www.sld.cu/

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first time used nvda over rdp
by Vincent van Itallie 13 Jan '13

13 Jan '13

Hi all, A while ago a friend of mine posted something about a project of him, creating a solution to use nvda in a remote desktop environment. LAst week I was fortunate to have a look at the first results. I was given the task of running windows update on a windows 2008 server somewhere remote. With some instructions I was able to edit the registry and logging on to the machine. I've loaded nvda and from there everything went very smoothly. THe only configuration change in nvda I had to make was changing the synth to my personal local driven synth in stet of the e-speak which was running on the server. I've installed the updates and successfully rebooted the machine which came back up nice and working. As far as I know, braille is not yet supported in the remote situation. THought to let you all know this. ANy questions? Don't hesitate to ask me. All the best, Vincent.

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mounting a drive under windows
by David Mehler 12 Jan '13

12 Jan '13

Hello, This is on an xpsp3 pro system. I've got a second drive that I'm wanting to mount under the my documents folder area. I've copied everything from that folder on to the drive and gone to disk management, selected the needed drive, first removed the drive letter, second tried to mount it under a path vs. a drive letter. All I'm getting is by drive letter which is not what I want. I read this was doable. Thanks. Dave.

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wireless router testing?
by David Mehler 11 Jan '13

11 Jan '13

Hello, What do you all use for wireless testing? I've got a home router, its's a belkin f5d7234 I believe it is, and it's starting to give me concern. It's an n router, but it can do g, which is good since the card in my laptop is g. I also have an n USB card. Two days ago I got back after a weeks absence. I was told of an internet problem that required resetting the router, unplugging it for 30 seconds. I got back, couldn't get on the net, yesterday I got on to a box, wired in to the router and checked it out. It had reset itself to first day experience, default wpa security password wish I knew what that was, and no admin password. Well, not thinking of it I reset everything. Today, it did the same thing, I couldn't get on wirelessly. Instead of saying wireless which is my network's SSID it reverted once again to Belkin.a1c. So, I got back on that box and looked again and again it had gone back to day one settings. This time I just gave it a new wireless password so I could get on. The router is maybe 1.5 to 2 years old but probably closer to 1.5 years. The distance between my laptop which is the only wireless device on, the others are wired and do not have the problem, is from back room of a one bedroom apartment to front room distance wise say 40 to 50 feet. I'd like to know if this thing is going bad how to test and to know it's going bad before I get it replaced. Thanks. Dave.

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Keeping stock levels, & identifying products
by Barry Toner 11 Jan '13

11 Jan '13

Hi folks, As part of my role I've been asked to keep track of our printer Toners. I've created a Spreadsheet with column headings, Toners, Printers , Stock Level Keep in stock , Order I've created a formula that tracks Stock levels, and Keep In Stock to automatically link to the Order column. I've a list of companies to get quotes from for Toners and I am clear on the ordering process. When the post arrives in we have a reception that takes delivery and brings the items to members of staff. Now for the tricky part.... I need to be able to ideally, independently issue out the Toners on request. Have any of you suggestions on how I can identify the boxes I am handing out? I do have working eyes around me, but I want to cover myself as to not get pulled up for the 5 seconds it takes for me to ask a sighted person to read the Toner ID, eg. 2055 (05a). Bureaucracy being what it is this is bound to happen at some point. In due course I will be given an area to store the Toners, so I can organise these into shelves etc, but this still leaves me with the issue identifying the Toners by myself. I'm thinking possibly a barcoding app for my iPhone. Suggestions of apps to try welcomed, and any other methods most welcome! Thanks, Barry. Barry Toner ICT Assistant ICT Department Clanmil Housing Northern Whig House 3 Waring Street Belfast BT1 2DX Tel: 02890 876000 Fax: 02890 876001

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