Step by Step guide to setup Active Directory on Windows Server 2008

This tutorial will explain how to install AD on server 2008. This will valid for windows 2008 R2 as well.
Requirement:
Minimum: Single processor with 1.4 GHz (x64 processor) or 1.3GHz (Dual Core)
Minimum: 512 MB RAM
Minimum: 32 GB or greater

• The first step is to assign a ip to the server that you going to deploy the AD. Its nessary to install it as DNS server too. So its better to have fixed ip it doesn't mean you cannot install AD without fixed ip address but it will solve lot of issues if you used fixed ip.

In here the server ip is 10.0.0.14. Since we going to make it as DNS server too you should use the same ip as the preferred DNS server.

• Next step is to install the Active directory roles. Unlikely the older version of windows servers Microsoft highly recommend to use server manager option to install roles before you run dcpromo.

• Click on start menu and select the Server Manager

• Select the roles from the right hand panel and click on add roles option.

• From the roles list select the "Active Directory Domain Services" role and Click "Next"

• Review the confirmation and click on "Next"

• Review the installation confirmation and click on "Next"

• It will take few minutes to complete and when its done you will get this confirmation. And then click on "Close"

After that you will need to do a reboot.

• After reboot please open up the "server Manager" again. And then click on "Roles" there you will see the "Active Directory Domain Services" is successfully installed in there. click on it then you will get a window like below.
  
  
  
  In their please pay attention to the message
  
  
  
  So please click on that link and it will start the DCPROMO wizard.
  
  
• So next step to go through the DC promo wizard.
• To start the installation click on "Next"

• Click on "Next"

• Since we going to install New domain Controller in new forest please select the option "Create a new domain in new forest" option and click on "Next"

• Now we have to provide the name for our domain controller. It must be FQDN. In our case I used rebeladmin.com as the domain. Please click "Next" after it.

• In this window it will ask to select forest function level. If you going to add server 2003 domain controller to your forest later don't select the function level as server 2008. If you going to use full features of 2008 Ad you must select forest function level as server 2008. In my case I used server 2008. Click on "Next" after the select.

• In next window since it's the first DC we should make it as DNS server too. Leave the default selection and click on "Next"

• If the wizard cannot create a delegation for the DNS server, it displays a message to indicate that you can create the delegation manually. To continue, click "Yes"

• In next window it will show up the database location. It its going to be bigger AD its good if you can keep NTDS database in different partition. Click on "Next" after changes.

• In next window its asking to define a restore mode password. Its more important if you had to do a restore from backup in a server crash. Click on "Next" after filling it.

• Next window is giving you a brief of the installation. Click on "Next"

• Then it will start the installation of the AD. It will take some time to complete. After complete of the installation perform a server reboot.

• After the reboot now you can login to the domain. Please use the login as following example

User name : your domain\administrator
Password : XXXXXXXX

• Now its done and you can view the active directory options on administrative tools menu

Hope this tutorial is clear for you guys.

How can I enable multiple users login at a time in remote system

 

1. Log into the server and open MMC.exe.
2. File → Add/Remove Snap-in → Group Policy Object → Add → Finish → OK.
3. Double click Local Computer Policy → double click Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Session Host → Connections.
4. Limit Number of Connections = 999999.
5. Restrict Remote Desktop Services users to a single Remote Desktop Services session =DISABLED.

 

Enable Task Manager disabled by Administrator or Virus in Windows

Windows Task Manager is used to view details about processes running on your computer. Since it can be used to terminate programs that are misbehaving or are viruses disguised in the form of harmless programs, most spyware and viruses disable it to prevent themselves from being closed through it. Some administrators also disable Task Manager to prevent users from closing important security programs like antiviruses and anti-malwares.

In such situations, running the Task Manager will give the "Task Manager has been disabled by Administrator" error. However, there are some techniques you can use to re-enable task manager and close those harmful programs manually. This article contains few such simple techniques you can use to regain access to Task Managing privileges.

Enable Task Manager from Registry in Windows 8, 7, XP or Vista

Registry Editor is an inbuilt Windows tool that is used to modify registry keys which tell Windows how it should work. A simple registry modification can be used to bypass the Task Manager block. To do so, just follow the steps:-

1. Click on Start. Go to Run. If you use Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista, go to Search.
2. Type regedit and press Enter. Registry Editor will start. If Registry Editor is also disabled, you will first need toenable registry editing.
3. Through the left hand navigation pane, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\ Current Version\Policies\System. If the System key is not there, you will need to create it.
4. In the work area, locate "DisableTaskMgr". If this value is not there, you will need to create a new DWORD value called DisableTaskMgr. Double click on it. A window will pop up.
5. Enter its value data as 0 and press OK.
6. Close Registry Editor. If Task Manager is still disabled, restart your computer.

Enable Task Manager from the Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc)

Windows Task Manager in Windows 7

Group Policy Editor is a feature in Windows which is used to edit local policy settings. It can also be used to enable Task Manager. To do so, just follow the steps given below:-

1. Open Start Menu. Windows XP users click on Run. Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Vista users, go to Search.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. Group Policy Editor Window will show up.
3. From the navigational pane at the left hand side, go to: User Configuration>Administrative Templates>System>Ctrl+Alt+Del Options.
4. In the work area, double click on "Remove Task Manager" and set its value to Disabled or Not Configured.
5. Restart your Computer or Log Off and Log back On to apply the changes.

Group Policy Editor is not available on home editions of Windows.

Enable Task Manager by Running a CMD Command

Command Prompt can also be used to directly enable Task Manager. 

1. Open Notepad.
2. Copy the code given below and paste it.

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System  /v  DisableTaskMgr  /t REG_DWORD  /d /0 /f

3. Save the File as TaskManager.bat.
4. Run TaskManager.bat as Administrator if you use Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista. In Windows XP, simply open the file. A command prompt window will flash for a second and then disappear indicating successful execution. After running the batch file, you will be able to again use Task Manager. If Task Manager is still not available, restart your computer.

Create a Registry(.reg) file for enabling Task Manager

If you are unfamiliar with manually editing the Registry, you can create a Registry file which will automatically modify the Registry Key to re-enable Task Managing. To create one such file:-

1. Open Notepad or any other text editor.
2. Copy the code given below and paste it as it is in it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System] “DisableTaskMgr” =dword:00000000

3. Save the file as Enable Task Manager.reg or *.reg.
4. Open the file by double clicking on it.
5. Registry Editor will ask you for confirmation. In the confirmation Window, click Yes.
6. Task Manager would immediately be accessible. If it is not, restart your computer.

Installing And Configuring Windows Deployment Services

 In this post we will see how to install and configure Windows Deployment Services. Windows Deployment Services is a technology from Microsoft for network-based installation of Windows operating systems. In windows server 2003 it was called as Remote Installation Services (RIS). The purpose of WDS is to remotely deploy the windows operating systems, Windows Deployment Services role in server 2008 R2 enables you to efficiently deploy Windows operating systems, particularly Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Deployment Services role can be used to set up new computers through a network-based installation without the IT Professional having to be physically present at each computer and without having to install directly from CD or DVD media.

Lab Setup – I have setup 2 virtual machines, the first virtual machine is installed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise SP1 OS and its our domain controller. The second virtual machine is installed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise SP1 OS and its our WDS server. The DHCP server role has been installed on the domain controller, this DHCP service will provide IP addresses to the other machines.

On the server where you are installing Windows Deployment Services role, launch the Server Manager, right click on Roles, click on Add Roles. On the Server Rolespage, select Windows Deployment Services. Click on Next.

On the Role Services page, the Deployment Server and Transport Server roles are checked by default. Click on Next.

Once the installation is complete click on close.

If you are looking for command line installation of WDS server, then use the below command.

Open the powershell and run the command ServerManagerCmd -install WDS.

Click on Start, click on Administrative Tools, click on Windows Deployment Services. On the WDS console, expand Servers, right click on the WDS server and click on Configure Server.

Read the requirements once before you click next.

Choose the Remote Installation Folder location on other drive. The folder contains the boot images, install images, so make sure this drive has enough space to hold the data. Click on Next.

Select Respond to all client computers (known and unknown). Click on Next.

Uncheck the checkbox for Add images to the server now. We will add the images in the next step. Click Finish.

In this step we will add Boot Image and Install Image. Boot images are images that you boot a client computer into to perform an operating system installation. To add the boot image, right click Boot Images and click on Add Boot Image.

Browse to the location where the operating system installation files are stored. In this example we will importing boot.wim from windows 7 professional SP1 64 bit DVD as boot image. The boot.wim file can be found under folder named Sources. Select boot.wim and click on Open.

Enter the name for the boot image. Click on Next.

We have imported or added a boot image to our WDS server. Click on Finish.

The boot image can be seen under Boot Images folder.

To add the Install image, right click Install Image, click on Add Install Image, provide a name and create a new Image Group. Click on Next.

Now we have to select and add the Install image. Install images are the operating system images that you deploy to the client computer. Click on Browse and the select Install.wim. Click on Open.

In the below screenshot we will select all the editions of windows 7 that are listed. click on Next.

Click on Finish to close the Add Image Wizard.

Lets configure the WDS server properties now. Launch the Windows Deployment Services Console, right click the WDS server and click on Properties. Click onBoot and make sure Require the user to press the F12 key to continue the PXE boot is selected for known and unknown clients.

Click on PXE Response and make sure that Respond to all client computers (known and unknown) is selected. Click on Apply and Okay.

In the next post we will look at steps to deploy an image using WDS and also to capture it.

 

How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With 

Integrated Updates:

 

What You’ll Need

To do this, you’ll need Windows 7 installed on your computer. You’ll also need to download and install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) for Windows 7 from Microsoft – RT Se7en Lite is a more user friendly frontend to WAIK.

WAIK is 1.7 GB, so the download may take a while if you have a slow Internet connection. After downloading it, extract it with a file extraction program such as 7-Zip.

Run the StartCD.exe file, select Windows AIK Setup, and follow the instructions on your screen to install Windows AIK.

You’ll also need a Windows 7 installation source – either a physical disc or ISO file.

Next, download and install RT Se7en Lite from here – it’s free and donation-supported. Download the appropriate version for your version of Windows — x86 if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows or x64 if you’re using a 64-bit edition.

Using RT Se7en Lite

First, click the Browse button and provide your Windows 7 files – if you have an ISO file on your hard drive, click Select ISO file and navigate to it. If you have a Windows disc, insert the disk, click Select OS path, and navigate to the disc.

If you provide an ISO, you’ll have to specify an extraction path where the ISO’s files will be extracted to – you’ll need several gigabytes of space on your hard disk for this.

The files will be automatically extracted after you provide your ISO.

After selecting the edition of Windows 7 you’re customizing, RT Se7en Lite will load the image. If you have a Windows 7 disc without Service Pack 1 integrated, click the Slipstream Service Pack option in the “Select an image to configure” window and you’ll be able to integrate SP1.

Click over to the Task pane and select the tasks you want to perform after the image is loaded. You can manually check the check boxes or select a preset. Selecting one of the check boxes will activate the corresponding configuration pane at the left side of the window.

The integration pane allows you to integrate Windows updates, drivers, language packs, and even third-party applications into your installation disc. To integrate updates, you’ll have to download their installer files and load them into RT Seven Lite with the Add button.

On the Features Removal or Components tab, you can permanently remove components from your Windows installation disc and control which Windows features are installed by default. For example, you can remove the included games from your Windows installer disc, or force Windows to install the IIS web server by default.

The Tweaks tab allows you to customize the default settings for the Windows Control Panel, Desktop, Explorer, and a variety of other Windows components. You can even add custom registry settings to tweak other settings that aren’t present in the list.

The Unattended section allows you to create an unattended installation disc – you provide answers to installation questions beforehand and Windows will install without asking you these questions during the installation process.

For example, you can enter your product key ahead of time so Windows won’t ask you for it. The other tabs allow you to control other settings – for example, selecting the hard disks that Windows will install on. If you complete enough of these settings, Windows will install automatically without asking you any questions during the installation, allowing you to perform an unattended Windows installation.

The Customization pane allows you to add custom screensavers, wallpapers, themes, documents, and even logon screens to your Windows 7 disc.

On the ISO Bootable pane, you can create a ISO image from your customized installation disc. You can also burn it to a DVD or copy it to a bootable USB drive.

RT Se7en Lite’s developers recommend booting your custom Windows 7 image in a virtual machine and installing it in the virtual machine before you use it on a physical computer, just to make sure everything is working properly.