Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Import and export .PST files in Exchange Server 2007

  Users can have difficulty importing and exporting .PST files in Exchange Server 2007. Our expert gives his advice on the matter. Continue Reading

• Hyper-V gains new resiliency features with Windows Server 2008 R2

  Live Migration is just one of the key improvements made to Hyper-V with Windows Server 2008 R2. Find out what else Microsoft has added to the second version of its server virtualization technology. Continue Reading

• Don't do that with SharePoint

  Steer clear of these traps to save yourself hours of unnecessary work in your SharePoint environment. Continue Reading

• Sort Microsoft Outlook email messages by original date

  Separating Microsoft Outlook emails by date can be difficult if you've copied them to a hard disk. See how our expert solves this problem. Continue Reading

• Evolution of change management process: From monkey to man

  Is your change management process highly developed? Learn about the stages in change management's evolution and how each stage teaches successful practices. Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Windows print spooler crashes

  Wondering why your print spooler keeps crashing? This tip teaches you to troubleshoot and repair print spooler problems and issues for Windows networks.Continue Reading

• Five truths you must know about SharePoint and Exchange

  Dispelling the myths about Exchange email-archiving with SharePoint will improve content and document management efficiency.Continue Reading

• Windows server hardening: How much is enough?

  There are a lot of different definitions for server hardening out there – none of which are technically right or wrong. It all comes down to doing what's best for your business without going overboard. Here you'll find some basic best ...Continue Reading

• How to forge an IT consulting career

  Before building your IT consulting career, review these six factors to learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.Continue Reading

• File server migration tips for Windows Server 2008

  The Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit greatly simplifies the migration process for admins, but there are still certain criteria that must be met before moving forward.Continue Reading

• Disable ActiveSync in bulk with Exchange Management Shell commands

  With this Exchange Management Shell script, you can disable 5,000 or more ActiveSync device users in Exchange Server 2007, securing sensitive data from potential loss.Continue Reading

• Terminal Services grows up with Windows Server 2008 R2

  Terminal Services in Windows 2008 R2 comes with a brand new name and enhanced functionality such as Remote Desktop Virtualization and fair share CPU scheduling.Continue Reading

• Planning for scalability in Microsoft SharePoint governance

  Learn how to develop a solid SharePoint governance plan that will cover tomorrow's performance needs as usage grows.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting your toughest Windows server crashes

  Learn to debug some of the toughest Windows server outages by using crash dump analysis and a few simple commands to locate faulty drivers.Continue Reading

• Does Microsoft SharePoint make a good email archiving solution?

  After overhearing one Exchange Server administrator mention that he was using Microsoft SharePoint for email archiving, contributor Brien Posey wondered if this was a good idea. Read about how one Exchange Server expert set up SharePoint as an email...Continue Reading

• Use third-party tools and resources to streamline help desk processes

  Help desk admins often have to act quickly and efficiently to resolve issues. Learn about third-party applications that can streamline help desk processes.Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot IIS metabase corruption in Outlook Web Access

  IIS metabase corruption can cause Outlook Web Access (OWA logon issues. In this tip from Microsoft Exchange Server expert Brien Posey, you'll learn how to clean up IIS metabase corruption to fix OWA logon problems.Continue Reading

• Planning a file server migration to Windows 2008

  There is a lot more to migrating file servers than simply running a migration utility. Check out these best practices to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.Continue Reading

• Integrating document management systems into Microsoft SharePoint 2007

  Want to make MOSS 2007 your primary document management system and keep your existing content too? Learn how with these three approaches for document management system integration.Continue Reading

• How a bare-metal restore affects Microsoft Outlook 2007 performance

  To fix a workstation and laptop that were both running out of hard disk space, Microsoft Exchange Server expert Brien Posey performed a bare-metal restore. Read about the issues he encountered and what steps he took to repair Microsoft Outlook 2007 ...Continue Reading

• Common Active Directory security oversights

  There are several areas of Active Directory security that admins should never overlook, even if they might want to. Learn about some common AD security holes and how to plug them up.Continue Reading

• Eight steps to accomplishing your IT career goals

  Stand out from your colleagues. These eight steps can help you achieve your IT career goals and take control of your career.Continue Reading

• Performing a remote wipe on ActiveSync devices in Exchange Server 2007

  Exchange Server 2007 natively supports remotely wiping of ActiveSync mobile devices. This capability required an add-on to Exchange Server 2003 and the final result was not nearly as polished and easy to use as it is in Exchange 2007. Learn ...Continue Reading

• Organize metadata in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 by content type

  Previous SharePoint versions lacked metadata organizational capabilities, but MOSS 2007 has added that to its otherwise strong management functions, allowing sorting of metadata by content type.Continue Reading

• Using SharePoint search in the enterprise

  Rediscovery, research and prediction are three ways you can use SharePoint search to make applicable information to users as they need it.Continue Reading

• Mailbox viewing problems after migrating to Exchange 2007

  If recently created mailboxes are not displayed in the GAL after a migration to Exchange 2007, Active Directory (AD) has yet to replicate the information.Continue Reading

• Migrating mailboxes across domains with the Exchange Management Console

  If you are migrating mailboxes across domains after an upgrade to Exchange Server 2007, you will need to update the Exchange Management Console.Continue Reading

• Migrating to MOSS 2007 from WSS 3.0: What administrators need to know

  Thinking about migrating to MOSS 2007? Learn the benefits of doing so. This article guides you through the process to ensure SharePoint migration success.Continue Reading

• How a proper data capacity planning strategy aids in disaster recovery

  When dealing with a capacity crisis in a complex situation, be sure to address the correct problems with appropriate short-term solutions and long-term capacity planning strategies.Continue Reading

• Fix 'Service unavailable' errors and other common OWA login problems

  Common Outlook Web Access (OWA) logon errors involve unavailable service or inheritance errors. Causes for these errors can range from the use of mismatched ASP.NET versions on an OWA Server to incorrect user permissions. This tip explains why users...Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2008 R2: Not your father's R2 upgrade

  While Windows Server 2003 R2 failed to live up to its own hype, Microsoft's next R2 release is in many ways a completely different OS. Find out what's new in Windows 2008 R2, and why some of the new features and improvements could be well worth the ...Continue Reading

• How to keep IIS logs from filling up your server hard drives

  IIS log files can take up a lot of space on your servers' hard drives if you don't clean them up regularly. But who has time for that? Check out this simple script to automatically delete IIS logs and clear space on your Windows servers.Continue Reading

• Will a degree or certification help enhance your IT career?

  Before you plunk down tuition fees to enhance your IT career, here's some advice on education options, cost considerations and on keeping your sanity when time constraints rule your world.Continue Reading

• Enabling encryption with digital certificates on BlackBerry devices

  If you are using digital certificates to encrypt email in Microsoft Outlook 2003, find out how to use the same certificates for email on your BlackBerry devices.Continue Reading

• Installing Exchange Server 2003 and a domain controller on the same hardware

  Discover the complications that could arise from installing Exchange Server 2003 and the domain controller on the same hardware.Continue Reading

• Five notable third-party change management applications for Windows

  Why perform change management tasks manually when there are tools to help you get the job done? Here are five third-party change management applications that help you keep track of changes made to Windows systems.Continue Reading

• Accessing SharePoint calendars through Microsoft Outlook 2007

  Many Microsoft Exchange organizations manage large-scale projects using SharePoint 2007's document libraries and calendaring capabilities. Although SharePoint's calendar feature is useful, it's a bit different than an Outlook 2007 calendar. Here, ...Continue Reading

• A seven-step disaster recovery planning checklist for Windows

  This disaster recovery planning checklist will help Windows shops build a solid DRP to avoid data loss and comply with a wide range of laws and industry standards.Continue Reading

• How to install the Change Request Management template in MOSS 2007

  Integrating change management into SharePoint 2007's document library can be a little easier if admins install the change request management template.Continue Reading

• Self-healing NTFS keeps admins one step ahead of data corruption

  While it's not perfect, the new self-healing NTFS has several benefits over past Windows file systems. Learn to avoid data corruption with this new feature in Windows Server 2008.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Microsoft Outlook Web Access logon issues

  Are you experiencing problems logging into Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA)? Although OWA isn't the most complicated application, its numerous deployment options can cause problems. In this tip, Exchange Server expert Brien Posey explains ...Continue Reading

• Defining system stability helps improve change management processes

  Keeping track of changes made to Windows can be difficult, especially if there's no way to determine the system's stability. Fortunately, there are guidelines IT managers can use to define policies, practices and procedures to proactively ensure ...Continue Reading

• The efficacy of backup-as-a-service solutions

  Online backup services can lower costs and help eliminate the administrator's worst nightmare – the lost backup. But is BaaS right for your organization?Continue Reading

• Planning global enterprise SharePoint deployments

  When planning for SharePoint deployment, administrators should evaluate their deployment options and understand when to use them.Continue Reading

• Keeping Windows shops in compliance with data protection laws

  While using production data for testing and development purposes is discouraged, at times it is necessary. Learn the actions Windows managers can take to ensure that their shops comply with data protection laws and protect personally identifiable ...Continue Reading

• Scripting domain controller installations: A must for Server Core

  DC installation scripts have always been around, but only now are admins likely to use them. Learn how to install a DC from the command line in Windows Server 2008.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Microsoft's DPM 2007 agent deployment process

  Data Protection Manager 2007 agent deployment problems are common in Exchange Server 2007. Read about common factors that contribute to agent deployment failures and what you can do to combat them. You'll also learn how to create a DPM protection ...Continue Reading

• Group Policy Object modeling simplifies network security

  Group Policy modeling is a great security tool for troubleshooting Group Policy settings and testing GPOs before they are applied with Windows Server 2008.Continue Reading

• How sticking to the basics can help enhance your IT career

  In this economy, it's not uncommon to look for ways to stay ahead of the IT curve. And while it may be tempting to adopt new techniques that promise employment stability, sometimes going back to basics may be the real key to enhancing your IT career.Continue Reading

• Server Message Block 2.0: A new protocol for the millennium

  Microsoft's Server Message Block was certainly due for an upgrade with Windows Server 2008. Learn how the new protocol can benefit your Windows network.Continue Reading

• Implementing change management in the Windows server environment

  Creating a baseline server configuration and documenting all updates thereafter are two techniques admins can use to implement change management in their Windows server environment. Learn the steps involved in creating a standard server ...Continue Reading

• Four steps to creating practical SharePoint governance standards

  Many of the qualities that make SharePoint accessible can also cause problems for those responsible for governance. To keep their SharePoint environment under control, IT managers should create SharePoint governance standards. Learn how to do so in ...Continue Reading

• The bottom line on Microsoft Hyper-V

  Will Hyper-V really change the virtualization game? Check out this overview of Hyper-V features, licensing considerations and deployment strategies.Continue Reading

• Using WBAdmin to create backups in Windows Server 2008

  Who needs a GUI? Check out how the WBAdmin command allows you to perform Windows Server Backup functions from the command line.Continue Reading

• SharePoint enterprise search gets boost from governance planning

  SharePoint enterprise search can be improved by forming a solid governance plan and a knowledgeable search governance committee to oversee and implement the plan. Here, learn what the governance plan should address and who should be a member of the ...Continue Reading

• Taming the LSASS.exe process for Active Directory performance and security

  Many admins have trouble understanding how the Local Security Authority Subsystem works. This article breaks down the purpose of LSASS and explains why it can sometimes result in network performance problems.Continue Reading

• Migrate Exchange Server mailbox data to a .PST file

  Discover how to migrate Exchange Server mailbox data to a .PST file using either Microsoft Outlook's built-in Export feature or the ExMerge utility.Continue Reading

• What are the pros and cons of a hosted Exchange Server deployment?

  Microsoft offers traditional Exchange Server licenses and cloud computing-based Exchange Server subscriptions. This raises the question of which licensing model makes sense for your enterprise. Is it better to use a traditional Exchange Server ...Continue Reading

• Prompt Microsoft Outlook users to save sent email messages

  Discover how to program Microsoft Outlook into prompting users to save each of their sent email messages.Continue Reading

• Does Microsoft Hyper-V fit in the dynamic data center?

  Server virtualization has made the prospects of the dynamic data center a reality for organizations interested in minimizing costs. But does the first iteration of Hyper-V have what it takes to support it?Continue Reading

• Configure a POP3 connector to receive external email on SBS 2003

  Find out how to configure your POP3 connector and external email server to receive email on Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 with Exchange 2003.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Outlook Web Access issues on a 64-bit system

  If you can't send email from Outlook Web Access on a 64-bit machine running Windows Vista, update Internet Explorer patches and OWA controls. Find out how.Continue Reading

• A quick guide to Server Manager for Windows Server 2008

  New to Windows Server 2008, the Server Manager feature can be a huge benefit to admins – once they figure out where to find everything. This article gives you a crash course on everything Server Manager has to offer.Continue Reading

• Restrict access to Outlook Web Access via Exchange System Manager

  Learn how to configure Exchange System Manager (ESM) to restrict certain users from accessing Outlook Web Access (OWA), without limiting users' LAN access.Continue Reading

• Why you should secure Exchange 2007 using administrative policies

  When securing Exchange Server 2007, administrators should look beyond internal security options to administrative policies. These policies dictate how to configure and run the Exchange organization. Typically, administrative policies vary from ...Continue Reading

• Exchange Server public folder rules and memory limits

  If Outlook Web Access (OWA) is not allowing additional rules for public folders, find out about Exchange Server 2003's memory limitation for rules and how to use third-party software to circumvent these issues.Continue Reading

• Analyzing Exchange ActiveSync data from .CSV report files

  Using the Exchange Management Shell (EMS) command, Export-ActiveSyncLog, you can extract valuable Exchange ActiveSync usage data from your Client Access server's Internet Information Services (IIS) logs. The ActiveSync data extraction process ...Continue Reading

• How to run Exchange Management Shell cmdlets in Exchange Server 2007

  Exchange Management Shell (EMS) has a few built-in commands, but you can also create custom cmdlets to automate repetitive Exchange Server 2007 functions. Getting your custom cmdlets to run can be problematic, though. Microsoft Exchange Server ...Continue Reading

• How to copy and transfer a Microsoft Outlook 2007 auto fill list

  Microsoft Outlook 2007 caches all email addresses that a user enters via its auto fill list. But a user loses his or her auto fill list cache after a PC is swapped and Outlook is reinstalled. This tip explains step-by-step how to copy and transfer ...Continue Reading

• Implementing simple Network Access Protection for Windows Server 2008

  The installation process for Network Access Protection in Windows Server 2008 is easier than you think. Learn the basics of implementing NAP in your environment.Continue Reading

• Creating a SharePoint site map using out-of-the-box features

  Giving SharePoint site owners the power to manage their own part of the SharePoint site map frees up administrators to manage more critical areas of the SharePoint environment.Continue Reading

• Can Microsoft Hyper-V meet high availability requirements?

  While Hyper-V does not support live migration, admins can rely on Windows Server 2008's internal tools to avoid service interruptions for end users.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Apple iPhone and Exchange Server integration issues

  Find out how to configure Exchange ActiveSync to synchronize Apple iPhone and Exchange Server email, calendars and contacts. You'll also get tips and advice on how to avoid common iPhone and Exchange Server setup issues; how to mitigate iPhone ...Continue Reading

• How does Microsoft Hyper-V rate?

  While Microsoft Hyper-V is a version 1 product, you might be surprised at how well its virtual machine management tools stack up against VMware's tools.Continue Reading

• Can't create Exchange Server 2007 mailboxes on a second subdomain

  Discover how to troubleshoot Exchange Server 2007 setup issues such as the inability to create mailboxes on a second subdomain.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting why some Microsoft Outlook 2007 email disappears

  Exchange Server users have reported that their Microsoft Outlook 2007 email messages mysteriously disappear and then reappear later from their Sent Items or Deleted Items folders. Is this due to a configuration issue? Is it a latency issue? In this ...Continue Reading

• Network Access Protection in Windows Server 2008: Should you care?

  While Network Access Protection might not be as flashy as some of Windows 2008's other new features, admins shouldn't overlook the security benefits it has to offer.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 database recovery methods

  When an Exchange Server 2003 disaster recovery operation is impeding, your first order of business is to move databases off the failed server to a new server as soon as possible. Most Exchange administrators opt to use recovery storage groups to ...Continue Reading

• Just what does Microsoft Hyper-V have to offer?

  Learn which key benefits Hyper-V has compared with the more seasoned VMware ESX Server, with details on its hardware-sharing architecture, high-availability configurations and more.Continue Reading

• Does your SQL Server database improve SharePoint performance?

  Growing your SQL Server installation beyond a single server, and maintaining proper storage levels can greatly improve SharePoint Server performance.Continue Reading

• How to custom-configure a Microsoft Outlook 2007 install using OCT

  Installing and configuring Microsoft Outlook in an identical fashion throughout your organization gives users a uniform experience when accessing a workstation. Unfortunately, Microsoft's installation wizard doesn't provide many customization ...Continue Reading

• Considerations for virtualizing Exchange 2007 mailbox servers

  I/O intensive applications, such as Exchange 2007's Mailbox Server role, do not make the best starting candidates for virtualization. However, with proper architecture and planning, the Exchange 2007 mailbox server can be virtualized in a production...Continue Reading

• Top Exchange Server performance monitoring and troubleshooting tools

  Maintaining a healthy Exchange server is critical to achieving peak performance. Leveraging the monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities of tools such as the Performance Monitor, which prevents growth-related performance issues through capacity ...Continue Reading

• Breaking down the Windows Server Backup tool for Windows 2008

  A lot has changed with the NTBackup tool in Windows Server 2008 – including its name. Learn how loss of flexibility paved the way for enhanced functionality with Windows Server Backup.Continue Reading

• Can't delete old Microsoft Outlook public folders

  Without proper Exchange Server permissions, an administrator is unable to delete old Microsoft Outlook public folders. Here's a workaround.Continue Reading

• Editing Exchange Server public folder permissions

  Find out how to edit permissions on Microsoft Exchange Server public folders using Exchange System Manager (ESM).Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server Event ID error 6009

  Get advice on troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server Event ID error 6009, an Exchange message transport error involving the SMTP categorizer.Continue Reading

• Creating a SharePoint governance document

  Learn which issues to include in your SharePoint governance document to avoid problems down the road.Continue Reading

• Extracting Exchange ActiveSync data from IIS log files

  Mobile messaging is one of the few Exchange Server features that can have a direct effect on a company's bottom line. Unfortunately, Microsoft Exchange Server lacks native reporting capabilities. Even so, it's possible to extract Exchange ActiveSync...Continue Reading

• How to virtualize Exchange Server 2003

  Get tips on how to virtualize Exchange 2003 servers in a production environment. You'll also learn how to avoid a few Exchange Server 2003 virtualization setup issues such as drive copy errors resulting in the Blue Screen of Death and virtual server...Continue Reading

• Executing an .MSP customization file in Microsoft Outlook 2007

  The Office Customization Tool (OCT) from Microsoft doesn't save Outlook 2007 configuration changes automatically. You must save these changes as an .MSP file. Learn what to do with the .MSP file once it's created and how to install an .MSP file ...Continue Reading

• High-tech solutions for monitoring computer heat

  Excessive heat can be dangerous to your server. Here you'll find creative ways of figuring out if your server is running too hot.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox recovery using database portability

  Consistently backing up your Exchange servers won't save you in the event of a catastrophic server failure. When this happens, you have to know how to restore your Exchange Server backup to a replacement server. Learn how to move an Exchange mailbox...Continue Reading

• Plan an Exchange 2007 standby continuous replication (SCR) deployment

  Exchange Server 2007 SP1 features standby continuous replication (SCR), which works like local continuous replication (LCR) and cluster continuous replication (CCR) but has some benefits and limitations. Learn about these limitations so you can ...Continue Reading

• Can Microsoft really make an impact with Hyper-V?

  With the release of Hyper-V with Windows Server 2008, Microsoft is attempting to carve out its own share of the server virtualization market. But with a 10-year lag behind VMware, can Hyper-V really displace ESXi?Continue Reading

• Creating disk space for an Exchange Server 2003 priv1.edb database

  Running ESEUTIL will compact a priv1.edb Exchange Server database, but first you need to create available disk space. Here's how to do this on Exchange 2003.Continue Reading

• OWA Light vs. Exchange ActiveSync on Windows Mobile devices

  Are you wondering whether to use Outlook Web Access (OWA) Light or Exchange ActiveSync for email messages on your Windows Mobile devices? This tip details how each method affects mobile device battery life, security, ease of use and cost.Continue Reading

• Easing security concerns with Server Core for Windows 2008

  While the Server Core option for Windows 2008 comes secure out of the box, an improper configuration can leave your system vulnerable. Follow these steps to ensure peak security when running Server Core.Continue Reading

• Rookie mistakes to avoid during the SharePoint implementation process

  From choosing the wrong installation to ignoring disaster recovery, beware of these SharePoint implementation blunders.Continue Reading

• Understanding quorum in Windows Server 2008 clustering

  In Windows Server 2008, quorum of server clusters can be determined in several ways. Find out which model to base your cluster on during configuration.Continue Reading