Tag Archives: Microsoft

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Sample WMI Filters for GPO in AD

Hereafter listed few filters I keep using on my projects.

Almost every client I’ve worked with had these filters implemented in their Group Policy Console of Windows Active Directory.

So I keep it here for faster access, and easier than searching for it every time on different sites on the the web.

FILTER 1: Select DCs & Member Servers

Namespace: root\CIMv2

Query: select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType=”3″ OR ProductType=”2″

FILTER 2: Select Domain Controllers (DCs) Only

Namespace: root\CIMv2

Query: select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType=”2″

FILTER 3: Select Member Servers Only

Namespace: root\CIMv2

Query: select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType=”3″

FILTER 4: Select Workstations Only

Namespace: root\CIMv2

Query: select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType=”1″

FILTER 5: Select Win 2008 Member Servers Only

Namespace: root\CIMv2

Query: select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType=”3″ AND Version like “6.%”

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What to Do? Exchange Server ContentIndexState Failed or Unknown with DAG

Yep, you’ve seen so many like this one, mostly they will suggest you to stop Exchange searching services, then delete the indexing folder (located inside the database folder) and then restart the searching services.

Well, that would work if you don’t have DAG.

Again, mostly you’ll find suggestions to use the update-mailboxdatabase with -catalogonly key

Yeah, that would work if any of the DAG members have a healthy catalog. Now what if all DAG members doesn’t have it?

You’ve two options, but both are risky and I have no responsibility what so ever happens to your data.

Option 1:

Remove one of the copies of the database from one DAG member

Delete the database folder copy from that member’s disk

Add the database copy again to the DAG member

Database index shows crawling for few hours, then healthy

Finally, you can use this new catalog to update other DAG members

Option 2 (have downtime):

Dismount all database copies on all DAG members

Shutdown Exchange searching services (two services) on all DAG members

Delete the catalog folder from all copies on all members

Restart Exchange searching services (two services) on all DAG members

All servers will start crawling

HTH

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Import Using CSVDE with Unicode Switch Error

This is an old method, yeh I know. But not everyone moved on to the PowerShell yet.

Anyway, if you’re trying to import a CSV file to Active Directory, and got the error  message says:
Invalid file format. DN Attribute not defined

Just try to remove the Unicode switch “-u” from your command. If that works, then re-save (save as) the CSV file using Notepad, and make sure to select the unicode option, NOT the UTF-8

HTH some1

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Reset Exchange Logs without Backup

USE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK

You may come to a situation where the client is unable to use an Exchange aware backup solution, and for temporary situation, they cannot use the Windows backup. So basically you need to reset the Exchange LOGs without performing any actual backup.

This is applicable to Exch 2010 & 2013 on Windows 2008, 2008R2, 2012, and 2012R2
It works with single server, as well as DAG setups

Open elevated CMD

Run Diskshadow
Type “add volume E:”
(considering E: is the drive where LOG files exists)
Type “begin backup”
Type “create”
(This action will take some time, depending on the number of LOG files exist, and connection speed)
Type “end backup”

You should notice now the LOGs are being deleted

Make a full backup after this to protect the data

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Server Busy Issue with MindMapper

When trying to export the mindmap to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint you may get into a situation where the system behave like it hangs.

A message says “Server Busy”, press “switch to” or “retry”, or something like that.

In other cases, the MindMapper simply hangs, and you don’t know why. If you show the desktop (force minimize all windows) then open any simple app (like Task Manager) you’ll notice a “Save As” window appears which was hidden behind other applications. The window is asking to save the template again.

There are two parts for this issue:

First, it seems the templates folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\MindMapper12\Templates) created with funny permissions and attributes.

You’ll need to set “Users” permissions to “Full Control”, and remove the “Read Only” attribute from the folder and the files in it.

Additionally, before your retry, please make sure to close all office apps (using kill process option in Task Manager) because the moment you got the above annoying message you already stuck with hang processes of Office apps.

And finally, uncheck the option to open the office application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) in the export window to avoid running the app before the exporting is completed.

HTH someone.