Controlling Outlook personal folder PST file

Sometimes you may wish to control the end users to create the personal folder file, here are some solutions:

To disable end users' personal folder (.pst), add the registry key on client

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\
Value name: DisablePST
Data type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1 ( 1 to disable, 0 to enable)

Note that .PST files already located in a user's email profile will still be functional. Therefore you need to disable the growth of pst file or manually delete it.

To disable personal folder growth

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\PST
Value name: PstDisableGrow
DAta type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Client computer connects to remote computer by using alias

When a client computer connects to a remote computer by using their alias name, the client may receive the error:

System error 52 has occurred.
A duplicate name exists on the network.

This problem occur when you try to connect to the server by using a CNAME alias that is created in the DNS zone, and the server is not listening on the alias, and therefore is not accepting connections to that name.

To solve this problem, add a registry key to disable the name checking
1. Create the CNAME record for the server on the DNS server (if CNAME record is not exist)
2. Add the registry key on that server.
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LammanServer\Parameters
Value name: DisableStrictNameChecking
Data type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
3. Restatr you computer.

Email Blacklist check

http://www.spamhaus.org/
http://www.mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx

How to backup System State only in Windows Server 2008?

Ntbackup is deprecated in Windows Server 2008"coded name Longhorn" and is replaced by Windows Server Backup.

To backup the System State in Windows Server 2008, you have to use the command line "WBADMIN"

The exact command like this:

C:\>WBADMIN START SYSTEMSTATEBACKUP -backuptarget:E:

Click "Y" to start the backup

Using GPO to disable USB storage device

By default, Group Policy does not offer a facility to easily disable drives containing removable media (USB storage). However, Group Policy can be extended to use customised settings by applying an ADM template. The ADM template here allows an Administrator to disable the respective drivers of these devices, ensuring that they cannot be used.

1. Create your ADM template. (rename .txt to .adm)









2. Import the administrative template using GPO Editor








3. In order to show the self customized template, you have to uncheck the Only show policy settings that can be fully managed in the Filtering option







4. The Disable USB option appear and you can control the USB storage through the GPO
   
   

MCP Exam second shot again

MCP Exam second shot is back!

On September 15th, Microsoft will be launching Second Shot offer! Get a free retake on your next Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam.
This is a limited offer so plan now! If you register for the Second Shot offer starting September 15, 2007, prior to taking any exam, you will receive a free Second Shot exam if you don't pass on your first try.

Here's how it works:

• Step 1: Register for Second Shot on the Microsoft site and receive an exam voucher number.
• Step 2: Using the voucher number, schedule and pay for your initial exam via Prometrics's web site, call center or test center locations. (You must have the voucher number available prior to registering.)
• Step 3: Take your exam.
• Step 4: If you fail, register for your free retake exam via Prometric's web site, call center or test center locations using the same voucher number. NOTE: Please wait one day after the failed exam to register to allow for test results to be entered into the system.

For details, visit Microsoft Learning or Prometric

Create a bootable USB drive?

It's EASY.

Simply download the HP Drive Key Boot Utility and install it, you can make your USB drive bootable.

How to determine your Computer is 32/64 bit?

For Windows

Go to Device Manager, right click the Processors




For IBM AIX

Use the getconf command to show the machine hardware:
# getconf HARDWARE_BITMODE
64

Windows Server 2008 Timing Update

WS2008 RTM and the certifications

WS2008 release to manufacturing (RTM), now scheduled for 1st quarter of 2008 instead of end of year 2007. As a result...

1. The transition exams 70-648 and 70-649 will be available on October 29, 2007, now. They were scheduled for September 20, but the changes/slip in technology mean some items on our exams are affected, too.
2. If you took the beta for either of these exams (71-648 or 71-649), your result should be available no later than October 29 (or a few weeks before).
3. The MCTS exams are still scheduled for RTM +30 days; the MCITP exams are still scheduled for RTM +60.

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-621, 70-622, 70-623

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-621
Pro: Upgrading your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support
(Beta period: March 29 - April 12, 2007)

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-622
Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support - ENTERPRISE
(Beta period: March 16 - March 30, 2007)

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-623
Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support - CONSUMER
(Beta period: March 22 - April 5, 2007)

Your Participation in Microsoft Certification Beta Exams 71-621 and 71-622

Dear customer,

You recently participated in a beta for Windows Vista exams 71-621: Upgrading Your Microsoft Certified Desktop Support (MCDST) Certification to a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Support Technician and/or 71-622: PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Microsoft Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians. As you may know, we have had to make the decision to re-engineer these exams. As a result there will be a second beta for 71-621 and 71-622.

Why are we re-engineering the exams?
In the interest of producing a technically accurate exam and a consistent, meaningful credential, we made the difficult decision to re-engineer exams 70-621, 70-622, and 70-623 to include coverage of several topics that were errantly left out of the original exam Objective Domain (OD). As a result, we must re-run the betas and delay the release dates for these much anticipated exams.

We regret this inconvenience; we know many of you invested time and energy into preparing and have been looking forward to your results.

What this means to your score on 71-621 and/or 71-622.
Your first beta exams will be scored based on the results of the second beta (i.e. the final scoring model will be based on the re-engineered exams) and will be available in late May 2007. Because results from the first beta are dependent on the outcomes of the second, you will not have your results before the second beta takes place. You are not obligated to re-take the beta, but choosing to do so may increase your chances of a passing result on the final scoring model, which will include additional components.

If you take the second beta, your first results will be dismissed; you will only be scored on your second result. See below for how to participate.
If you do not take the second beta, you will receive a score for the exam you have already taken. If it is a passing score, you will receive credit for the exam on your transcript. No action required.
In either case, Microsoft will provide you with an exam voucher should you need or choose to re-take the exam in its live form.
If you were registered for 71-623, you will receive an exclusive invitation to re-register on approximately March 15.

How to participate in the second beta.
All candidates will receive an invitation to re-take the beta(s) via e-mail from Microsoft, with an exclusive 72 hour window to register before the invitation is distributed more broadly. If you choose to retake the beta, please register immediately upon receiving your invitation. Here is when to expect your invitation.

Exam Beta Invite Beta Start Live Date
621 March 22 March 29 May 17
622 March 9 March 16 May 10

Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience.However you choose to proceed, we would like to offer you an exam voucher for use on any of the related Vista exams (70-620, 70-621, 70-622, 70-623, or 70-624) in recognition of your valuable time and contribution to Microsoft Certification. Microsoft Learning respects your time and sincerely appreciates your participation in our exam development process; we regret any inconvenience to our customers due to our mistake. Instructions on how to claim your free exam voucher will be sent to you in your beta re-take invitation(s); see table above for dates.

Once again, we appreciate your participation in the beta process and hope you will continue to partner with us in creating excellent Microsoft Certification exams.

If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Service Center.

Regards,
The Microsoft Certification Team

新安裝電線顏色有改

香 港 使 用 的 電 線 顏 色 將 會 改 變
1. 新 電 線 的 顏 色 何 時 改 變 ？
2. 此 改 變 有 何 需 要 留 意 地 方 ？ 會 否 影 響 現 有 電 線 ？



機 電 署 回 覆 ：
1. 現 時 本 港 固 定 電 力 裝 置 內 使 用 的 電 線 顏 色 （ 圖 ） 為 紅 、 黃 、 藍 （ 火 線 ） 、 黑 （ 中 性 線 ） 及 黃 綠 相 間 （ 水 線 ） 。 由 2007 年 7 月 1 日 起 ， 新 安 裝 、 加 裝 及 改 裝 的 固 定 電 力 裝 置 ， 可 使 用 新 顏 色 電 線 ， 即 棕 、 黑 、 灰 （ 火 線 ） 、 藍 （ 中 性 線 ） 及 黃 綠 相 間 （ 水 線 ） 。 由 2009 年 7 月 1 日 起 ， 所 有 新 安 裝 、 加 裝 及 改 裝 的 固 定 電 力 裝 置 ， 則 必 須 採 用 新 顏 色 電 線 。

2. 市 民 應 留 意 以 下 有 關 更 改 電 線 顏 色 事 項 ：
． 更 改 只 適 用 於 在 新 安 裝 、 加 裝 及 改 裝 的 固 定 電 力 裝 置 內 的 電 線 ， 現 有 電 力 裝 置 及 電 氣 產 品 內 使 用 的 電 線 則 不 受 影 響 ；
． 採 用 新 顏 色 電 線 不 會 引 致 額 外 的 工 程 費 用 ；
． 任 何 電 力 工 程 ， 必 須 由 註 冊 電 業 承 辦 商 及 持 有 適 當 級 別 的 註 冊 電 業 工 程 人 員 進 行 。

完 成 工 程 後 ， 承 辦 商 及 工 程 人 員 須 簽 發 完 工 證 明 書 ， 以 確 認 電 力 裝 置 符 合 法 例 的 安 全 規 定

Change in US Daylight Saving Time

Beginning in 2007, daylight saving time (DST) will be extended in the United States. DST will start on March 11, 2007, which is three weeks earlier than usual, and it will end on November 4, 2007, which is one week later than usual. This results in a new DST period that is four weeks longer than in previous years. Unless certain updates are applied to your computer, the time zone settings for your computer's system clock may be incorrect during this four-week period.

Do you have to update your computer?

Click here for IBM products or here for Microsoft products.