I’d like to introduce a new author to the blog! Please welcome Victor Loiacono. We work for the same company, and I wanted to get him going on here to

At work, I took it upon myself to migrate our print server.  We were using an outdated Windows Server 2000 solution and I felt it was time to upgrade.  After the new Windows Server 2003 R2 was implemented, I was wondering how to get all the existing printers on there in the easiest manner.  Solution: Printer Migration tool 3.1 found here!  It is a simple stand alone application that is easy to use.  You can run it remotely as well.  So from my desktop, I choose a target machine to pull the printers from, in this case the Server 2000 box.  Once targeted, you choose where to backup the .CAB file it creates.  Run the program and Voila, after a few minutes you have the .CAB file.  Now you target the new server, in my case, the Server 2003 server, and you restore the .CAB file to it.  I did run into a couple of issues, but they were easily solved.  They are described below.

Symptom:
When using the printmig.exe tool to migrate print queues
from a Windows2000 server to a Windows 2003 server.  It
can backup OK.  When doing any kind of restore, even
a restore to itself the following error message occurs:

FAILURE – Can’t get printer driver directory:  1722

Solution: To enable Client Connections.
the RPC listening endpoint is not set on Server 2003 until one adds a shared
printer or turns on the RPC endpoint in gpedit.msc.  Printmig should work
locally but will always fail remotely on a fresh install.

follow these steps to fix this:

1. Run Local Group Policy by going to Start > Run and type gpedit.msc

2. Explorer Computer Configuration,

3. Select Administrative Templates,

4. click Printer.

5. On the Right pane, right-click on “Allow Print Spooler to accept client connections.”

6. Select Properties and check Enable.

7. Click OK to close the Local Group Policy.

Symptom:
When trying to restore printers using Printer Migrator on a windows 2003 server, you may receive this message: “WARNING: Kernel Mode Drivers (version 2) are blocked on the target machine. Disable Kernel Mode driver blocking and re-run Printer Migrator…”

Solution: To disable  Kernel Mode driver blocking, following these steps:

1. Run Local Group Policy by going to Start > Run and type gpedit.msc

2. Explorer Computer Configuration,

3. Select Administrative Templates,

4. click Printer.

5. On the Right pane, right-click on “Disallow installation of printers using kernel mode drivers”

6. Select Properties and check Disabled.

7. Click OK to close the Local Group Policy.

I decided today would be a good day to dual-boot my laptop with Windows 7 RTM. I figured with all of the hype around it, being faster and better than Vista, a trial run wouldn’t hurt. Worst case, I boot back into XP and delete the second partition. Since I’ve only been using W7 for an hour or so, I’m only going to touch upon some of the immediate highlights.

Installation. The installation is DVD-based, and just like Vista, it’s colorful (GUI). It also supported by USB wireless mouse and keyboard! The speed and ease of the installation is fantastic. I should have timed it, but I really don’t think it took more than 20 minutes. It felt quicker, but I’m sure it wasn’t.

Initial boot-up & log in. After adding the computer to the domain where I work, restarts, log-in’s, and desktop loads (to the point where all programs have finished loading) were extremely fast. Also, Microsoft has removed all of that fluff that’s included when you initially log into a Windows XP machine. The desktop is clean of clutter, and it already includes a cool background.

Device Manager – check device drivers. I figured as with all previous Microsoft operating systems, there’s bound to be a few devices that need the manufacturer driver. This was true for the video and sound driver. No big deal though, as I went to Dell’s website and downloaded what I needed. Obviously it was lucky for me that Dell has Windows 7 drivers for this laptop! After loading up both drivers, I did a quick reboot, and things started looking more clearly.

Antivirus. We run Symantec Endpoint 11 MR4, but it wouldn’t install properly. We downloaded MR5, and it loaded perfectly.

Legacy applications. We use Numara Track-It for our Helpdesk, which installed with no issues.  In addition, we use the typical Server Administrative Pack tools (for Windows servers). In Vista and Windows 7, the standard adminpak.msi found on Windows 2003 servers no longer works. I had to track down the new version, called Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) made especially for Windows 7 RTM. That dropped a nice shortcut in Control Panel that included all of our beloved tools. Even the once-hated Windows UAC has backed down quite a bit during all of these software installations and system changes.

So far, I’m very impressed with Microsoft’s new OS. Some will call it Microsoft’s redemption, some will continue to be haters. Take it for it is, and for what it’s worth! As I get to test out W7 in greater detail, you’ll read about it here. Below are screen shots of my system config, for your information.

Finally got around to adding the Wordpress application to my Blackberry and iPod Touch. Now I can post from anywhere!

As much as I love the Blackberry’s and how far they’ve come in just a few years time, they just can’t seem to get it right! The latest buzz is revolving around the Tour and the redesigned trackball. The redesign has been out for some time in the new Curve 8900 (from T-Mobile) and the Bold 9000 (from AT&T). However, the latest model to use the phone (from Verizon and Sprint) is the Tour 9630. The trackball looks and works the same, so that begs the question, is it really the trackball or something else? I posted previously that changing the theme seemed to have helped the issue, but time will tell what the real problem is.

Jump over to this CNET article to read the latest.

For years now, more and more retail stores are offering wireless Internet access to their customers. Companies such as Optimum provide larger Wi-Fi outdoor access at places such as train stations, supermarket locations, etc. With all of these various places to get a wireless signal on your mobile device, why do we still refer to finding such locations as “going to Starbucks for wireless”? It’s funny to think back to them being one of the first retail chain stores to provide such a service, and probably because of so, we still refer to that type of commodity as “going to Starbucks”!

Some Blackberry users at my work were recently upgraded to the new Blackberry Tour 9630 from Verizon Wireless. This phone is a great addition to the Verizon Wireless family because it includes 3G support, which was previously found only in the Storm. However, it lacks Wi-Fi, so if you can’t get Verizon Wireless service (or the appropriate abroad carrier), you’re out of luck. That shouldn’t be a big problem because Verizon Wireless has a huge coverage area in the lower 48 states and their affiliates around the world.

After configuring two of these phones today, one right after the other, I noticed some considerable “trackball lag”, as it’s being referred to on the Web. Basically it appears as if the phone is locked up for a few seconds, then responds to trackball movements and keyboard input. Forums talk about utilizing the Memory Scrubbing feature, or having the phone replaced all together. One option that I found was to change the theme, which so far seems to be working well. The phone comes with two themes – VZW and Precision Zen. If you’re experiencing this “trackball lag”, try changing the theme. The layout is basically the same, except for a different background (of a cool looking arched bridge).

The phone seems to be a winner in other aspects though. It’s slim, feels solid in your hand, and takes cues of all the new Blackberry case designs. Comes with a 2GB microSD memory card, a global SIM card, international charging adapters, and a belt-clip style holster. It’s very close in size to the new Curve 8900, with a similar keyboard to that of the 8800 models – just “refreshed” for the new Blackberry designs, and of course the latest trackball design.

If you’re looking for a new Verizon Wireless Blackberry with international and 3G features, but can live without Wi-Fi, get your hands on the Tour. And if you’re eligible, VZW is offering a “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” of any Blackberry!

Jump over to LinkedIn below and take my poll!

http://polls.linkedin.com/p/53898/vepxt

The Chinese government is at it again. Could you imagine having such control over communications? They can shut down the Internet at will, block sites like Twitter so users can’t post updates about a riot in progress. It just seems so unreal!

http://www.cio.com/article/496575/Internet_Twitter_Blocked_in_China_City_After_Ethnic_Riot?taxonomyId=1436

Best part is, they call the guy who made the purchase “clinically insane”! He paid $17,500 for a rare NES video game that Wikipedia reports only 26 were made back in 1990. He apparently got a deal on it, because Ebay reports other copies of this game going for $25,000!

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-17-500-video-game/1332488