IT Knowledgebase Articles

How can I work with Query-Based Distribution groups in Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003? Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 have a new group type called “Queries-Based Distribution groups”. With the new Queries-Based Distribution groups we can now create new types of distribution groups that are different from the regular type of…

Windows Vista comes with a new and shiny user interface. Most of the things we’ve gotten used to in Windows XP are still there, in one way or another, but there are also many new features that need getting used to. One of the most noticeable changes is the way the Windows Vista Explorer, in…

  A snapshot is a shadow copy—created by the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)—of the volumes that contain the Active Directory database and log files. With Active Directory snapshots, you can view the data inside such a snapshot on a domain controller without the need to start the server in Directory Services Restore Mode. Windows…

Network protocol analysis is a technique used to view, in real time, the raw data sent and received over a network interface. This is useful for troubleshooting network configuration and network application problems. It is also useful when developing new network protocols. In this article, I’ll go over the very basics of troubleshooting a network…

What are the Windows XP supported update paths? You can upgrade most Windows client operating systems directly to Windows XP Professional. If you upgrade instead of doing a new installation, you will not lose the existing settings and applications on the partition. When preparing for an upgrade, you should first complete the tasks listed on…

How can I slipstream service packs into the Windows XP media? This scenario explains how to create an integrated installation of Windows XP and the corresponding service pack in a shared distribution folder on a network. This integration is called “Slipstreaming”. The integrated process installs the service pack during Windows XP Setup, so when the…

You should consider installing Service Pack 2 as soon as possible On August 9, 2004, Microsoft released SP2 for Windows XP. SP2 is the latest collection of updates for Windows XP. Download Windows XP SP2 Network Installation (266mb) See the Windows 2000/XP SP Slipstreaming page for info on how to integrate SP2 into your existing…

  What’s SP1a and what’s the difference between SP1 and SP1a? On February 3, 2003, Microsoft released SP1 again as SP1a. Just like SP1, SP1a is a collection of updates for Windows XP. Windows XP SP1a is the same as Windows XP SP1 except that the Microsoft virtual machine (VM) is removed in SP1a. There…

You should consider installing Service Pack 2 as soon as possible On August 9, 2004, Microsoft released SP2 for Windows XP. SP2 is the latest collection of updates for Windows XP. Download Windows XP SP2 Network Installation (266mb) See the Windows 2000/XP SP Slipstreaming page for info on how to integrate SP2 into your existing…

What’s SP1? The service pack is a collection of updates for Windows XP. These updates address: Security issues (including the Windows XP Update Package) Operating system reliability Application compatibility Windows XP Setup Note: If you have not yet installed the Windows XP Update Package, you only need to install Service Pack 1 because the security…