How to Split ghost image file .gho using Hiren’s Boot CD and Ghost Explorer

 To split Ghost image please do following:

• Boot your laptop with Hiren’s CD. Hiren’s CD must contain Ghost32 program. Ghost Explorer also called “image Explorer” is installed alongwith Ghost32 by default. Therefore you don’t have to search for it on Net.
• The laptop HDD must contain server2008 ghost image file .gho
• In ghost32 menu you will find a utility “image explorer”
• Open .gho file in that utility
• Select options from tools menu and specify file size (span size), also check both check boxes given in dialog box.
• Click on and select “compile” from File menu.
• Restart and u will get split gho file into the same folder that contain original ghost image file.

How to reduce disk size of Virtual Machine in using VMWare converter.

Using VMWare Converter:

1. Turn off the virtual machine;
2. Start the VMWare Converter application;
3. Open the wizard;
4. Select ‘standalone virtual machine’ as the source and destination system;
5. Choose ‘Select volumes and resize to save or add space’;
6. Enter a new size and voilá, you’re done!

Move WSUS Database to another Server

 

 

Purpose

This article gives the steps to move the Windows Software Update Service server database (SUSDB) from on database server to another.

Steps

1. Stop IIS and WSUS services on WSUS server

   1. net stop W3SVC && net stop wuauserv && net stop WsusService

2. Detach SUSDB from current location
3. Copy files to new database server
4. Attach SUSDB database on new SQL server
5. Add <domain>\<wsus server hostname> SQL account if missing
6. Edit registry on WSUS server to point to new SQL server

   1. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\UpdateServices\Server\Setup\SqlServerName

7. Start WSUS services

   1. net start W3SVC && net start wuauserv && net start WsusService

8. Test

Migrating WSUS

1. Change the WSUS server identity The WSUS server identity on the destination server must be changed. Performing this step guarantees that WSUS-managed clients are not affected during the migration process. If both source and destination servers run with the same identity and any change is made to one of the servers, then client/server communications will fail. To change the WSUS server identity Open a Windows PowerShell session with elevated user rights on the destination server: To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Windows PowerShell, right-click Windows PowerShell, and then click Run as administrator. In the Windows PowerShell session on the destination server, run the following script to change the server identity of the destination server: [Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName(“Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration”) $updateServer = [Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.AdminProxy]::GetUpdateServer() $config = $updateServer.GetConfiguration() $config.ServerId = [System.Guid]::NewGuid() $config.Save() As soon as the server identity is changed, run StartServer.exe (located in %ProgramFiles%\Update Service\Setup\) to create a new encryption key: .\StartServer.exe /Installmode=1

2. Copy WSUS update binaries to new server using Robocopy

3. wsusutil.exe movecontent    (OPTIONAL -)

4. Copy Metadata from the Database on the old WSUS Server to the new WSUS Server ** To export metadata from the database of the old Microsoft Windows Server Update Services Server, follow these steps: At a command prompt on the old Microsoft Windows Server Update Services Server, navigate to the folder that contains WSUSutil.exe. (usually located at c:\Program Files\ Update Services\tools\). Type the following: wsusutil.exe export packagename logfile …(For example: wsusutil.exe export export.cab export.log) The package (.cab file) and log file name must be unique. WSUSutil.exe creates these two files as it exports metadata from the WSUS database. Move the export package you just created to the new Microsoft Windows Server Update Services Server. To import metadata into the database of the new Microsoft Windows Server Update Services Server, follow these steps:. Note: It can take from 3 to 4 hours for the database to validate content that has just been imported. Please be patient. At a command prompt on the new WSUS server, navigate to the directory that contains WSUSutil.exe. Type the following: wsusutil.exe import packagename logfile (For example: wsusutil.exe import export.cab import.log). WSUSutil.exe imports the metadata from the old WSUS server and creates a log file of the operation.

5. Point your Clients to the new WSUS Server Next we’ll need to change the Group policy and make it point top the new server.  To redirect Automatic Updates to a WSUS server, follow these steps: In Group Policy Object Editor, expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expandWindows Components, and then click Windows Update. In the details pane, click Specify Intranet Microsoft update service location. Set the intranet update service for detecting updates box and in the Set the intranet statistics server box. With the new server details and port For example, type http(s)://newservername :Port in both boxes.

Import .nk2 file into Outlook2010

To import .nk2 files into Outlook 2010, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the .nk2 file is in the following folder:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook

Note The .nk2 file must have the same name as your current Outlook 2010 profile. By default, the profile name is “Outlook.” To check the profile name, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Mail.
3. In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.
4. Click Start, and then click Run.
5. In the Open box, type outlook.exe /importnk2, and then click OK. This should import the .nk2 file into the Outlook 2010 profile. 

   Note After you import the .nk2 file, the contents of the file are merged into the existing nickname cache that is currently stored in your mailbox.

Note The .nk2 file is renamed with a .old file name extension on the first start of Outlook 2010. Therefore, if you try to re-import the .nk2 file, remove the .old file name extension.

Post Installation Checklist

Change language to English Ireland

Change location to Ireland

Set proper keyboard layout

Connect to LAN / WiFi

Activate Windows & Office

Join Domain

Install Ninite Offline updates

Install O365 updates

Setup AV quick scan settings

Associate 7z files to 7zfm.exe

Restart

Login with user id

Open IE and setup basic options, show menu bar and favourites bar

Show MyComputer icon on desktop

Install Network printers

Create Shared folders shortcuts

Setup Synctoy

Create Scheduled task for Synctoy. Select Synctoy from Program Files.

Configure outlook + signature

Login with ladmin and create restore point “fresh”

Encrypt laptop

Install any 3rd party software required.

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