Computer Tips and Tricks
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Thursday 25 February 2010

Delete a Service from a Windows PC/Server

Occasionally when removing software, services remain installed on the PC/Server that are no longer required. These can be removed with a simple procedure.

First you will need to make sure the service is NOT running, by checking in the "Services" console. Stop the service if it is running. Then you will need to get the "Service Name" by viewing the service's properties.


Tuesday 23 February 2010

Disable Skype Supernoding

Skype is one of the most popular pieces of VoIP and IM software available.  It is fast, free, good quality, fairly reliable and seems to work almost anywhere. It is also one of the few more secure pieces of communication software, using basic PGP Encryption for calls and instant messaging.

Skype operates on a peer to peer model, rather than a server to client model using is own Skype Protocol and proprietary VoIP Network. This means that the user directory is scattered between "nodes" in the network, rather than using an expensive, centralised infrastructure.

Each client has a list of "nodes" called the "host-cache." This is a list of IP Addresses and Port Numbers of "supernodes."

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Viewing PDF's in Browser when more than one version of Adobe Reader is installed

Error: "The Adobe Acrobat/Reader that is running cannot be used to view PDF files in a web browser..."

The above error can occur when you have more than one version of Adobe Reader/Acrobat installed. For instance this may be because you have the Professional Version and the Free Reader on the same PC.

There is a simple fix by editing the registry setting that tells the web browser where to find Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

Monday 15 February 2010

Exporting and Importing File Screen Settings for Server 2008

Included in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 is "File Server Resource Manager" which enables Network Administrators to set up Disk Quotas and File Screening. File Screening is particularly useful for protection against known viruses and preventing users from storing certain file types.


There are several File Screen groups and Templates already configured if you choose to use them.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Install SCOM 2007 R2 Agent to vSphere 4 (ESX) Servers

SCOM 2007 R2 includes agents for UNIX/LINUX servers, and we therefore decided to push these out to our ESX Hosts, running vSphere 4. All looked easy enough at first, go into administration, run a discovery, select “Unix/Linux computers”, enter host name/IP/IP Range and off you go.

This is a Microsoft product communicating with a Linux OS, so as expected its not as easy as that. All discovers OK and the install starts on the Hosts, the agent gets partially installed but then fails with a “Not Enough Entropy” error.