Posted by Alex Verboon on 15th June 2010
Issues with installing Windows Updates? Then have a look at the following Microsoft Support Articles:
KB971058 How do I reset Windows Update components?
KB947821 Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Tags: support, Tips, Tools, Vista, Windows 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Update
Posted in Tip, Tools, Update, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 | No Comments »
Posted by Alex Verboon on 13th September 2009
When talking about Hyper-V with customers or colleagues, I notice that there is quite some confusion around the definition of Hyper-V Server and Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V.
Hyper-V Server 2008 / 2008-R2
The Hyper-V Server is a stand-alone product, which contains only the Windows Hypervisor, Windows Server driver model and virtualization components. What’s important to know, the Hyper-V Server comes for FREE!.
No, Hyper-V Server is not just Windows Server Core + Hyper-V, the only thing this server is designed for is virtualization and therefore does not contain any other server roles.
Windows Server 2008 / 2008-R2 with Hyper-V
Here Hyper-V is an enabled server role running on Windows Server 2008 (64 bit) or Windows Server 2008 R2 (note that Server 2008 R2 only comes in 64 bit).
The below table provides an overview of the Hyper-V Server and Windows Server products.
Source: Microsoft
Other Sources:
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Preview (Paul Thurrot)
Microsoft TechNet – Hyper-V
First Look: Hyper-V Server
Tags: 2008R2, Hyper-V, Virtualization, Windows Server 2008
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Posted by Alex Verboon on 2nd December 2008
I just connected to our fresh installed Windows 2008 server that we intend to use as a remote system management console. The server is a member of our Windows 2003 Active Directory domain, not a DC itself.
I wanted to launch the Active directory users and computers console, but did not find it under the Administrative tools. Okay, this must be something similar like with Windows Vista when you install the RSAT tools I thought, and yes it is, you must first enable that feature.
First, on the windows 2008 system open the server manager. Then select Features, Add features as shown in the picture below.

then select Remote Server Administration tools, Role Administration tools, and then enable Active Directory Domain Services Tools. (note the screen shot below was taken after installation, that is why it is shown as installed).
confirm the following message boxes and after a while (including a system reboot) the tools are installed and ready to use. Enjoy AD administration !
Also note that if you want to access the Group Policy Management Console, you must follow the same path, just look out for the GPMC console in the available features list.
Tags: Active Directory, GPMC, Group Policy, Windows Server 2008
Posted in Active Directory, Group Policy, Tip, Windows Server 2008 | No Comments »