logon info does not retain last user in Windows 7

Recently I noticed a few Windows 7 workstations, that came up with blank fields after logging off and logging on. I’ve found that this is due to the “Interactive logon: Do not display last user name” policy settings be enabled.
To allow Windows to retain the last logged on user, go to start > run, type in gpedit.msc and hit enter. Now navigate into the following location (see path below) and change it to be disabled.

Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options

If you run a domain policy, you will want to address this change on the domain gpo to ensure it reaches all client machines. *If this is something you want disabled*
Cheers!
Joe

Blackberry OS Update

Before updating your Blackberry device OS, check for and download the latest OS version for your device. Save it local to your PC. After you have downloaded the OS package to your local machine, install it by running the package *.exe. (installing the software update local, will speed up the OS update)

Check for OS updates at the following link:
http://us.blackberry.com/support/apps-and-software/desktop-and-device-download-sites.html

Download the latest Blackberry Desktop Software, if you have not already at the following location:
http://us.blackberry.com/software/desktop.html

Now that you have your updated OS downloaded and installed locally, and the latest version of the Blacberry Desktop Software. Let's start the upgrade.

1. Launch BDS and connect your blackberry device.
2. Select the Device dropdown and choose Update…
  

3. The next box will display available OS updates, including the one installed locally. You want to select the local OS, but if you do not see these options. Select View other versions
  

4. Now you can select the OS platform to update to and click install. Notice I have selected the "local" OS installation for my device.
  

5. Select the appropriate update options and click the Install update button, to begin updating the device.

After the update completes, the device will reboot and then you can provision the device with your organizations BES, or other mobile device management solution.

KIP Print

For those using KIP plotters, and the new KIP Print software. Here is a helpful heads up on how to silently deploy this out to your clients.

Start by running through the installation on a client machine. Add your plotters, and pen settings, etc. After you have one client machine setup with all of your customizations.

On 64bit clients, navigate into - C:\ProgramData\IPS\IPSPRINT

Copy the IPSPrint.ini file into your working folder for your deployment script. Next copy out your pen setting file, from - C:\ProgramData\IPS\IPSPRINT\PENS out.

Now that you have the customized settings file, along with your pen settings, you can setup your silent deployment package.

Start by installing the product with defaults silenty using;
call "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\files\KIPPrint_v.7.4.502.exe" /s /v/qn

For those running a mixed architecture environment, you will want to check the OS architecture. We can by using the following to check for x64.
"%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"=="AMD64"

If you are running a mixed archtitecture, you will want to push the custom settings out to the correct location on the x86 clients. Below is an example of a full script. You will see the OS arch check, then the custom settings *.ini file being copied into the correct location.

call "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\_SilentDeploy\files\KIPPrint_v.7.4.502.exe" /s /v/qn

if not "%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"=="AMD64" goto x86

xcopy "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\files\nj\default.pen" c:\ProgramData\IPS\IPSPRINT\PENS /e /q /y

xcopy "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\files\nj\IPSPrint.ini" c:\ProgramData\IPS\IPSPRINT /e /q /y

goto pen

:x86

xcopy "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\files\nj\default.pen" "%allusersprofile%\Application Data\IPS\IPSPRINT\PENS" /e /q /y

xcopy "\\serveranme\_SilentDeploy\files\nj\x86\IPSPrint.ini" "%allusersprofile%\Application Data\IPS\IPSPRINT" /e /q /y

:pen

If you do not want to overwrite the default files, you can use the rename command to rename the files prior to overwriting them.

 

That's all there is to preparing kipprint for silent deployment to multiple machines. This can be packaged and deployed through SCCM also, if your organization uses SCCM.

MS updates and ESRI ArcGIS - be aware!

Critical Information Regarding Microsoft Update and ArcGIS

A recent Microsoft update (deployed as KB 2732673, KB 2775511, or KB 2824408) may result in data corruption when using ArcGIS on a Windows 7 system and writing data to remote data storage on a Windows Vista, 7, 2008/2008 R2, or 2012 system. This data corruption appears as truncation of a write request and has shown up in file geodatabases and shapefiles. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem, identified the affected component as RDBSS.sys, and provided further details. Esri and Microsoft are working closely to understand what has changed in the RDBSS.sys component and how to resolve the problem. Microsoft recommends not installing the above-referenced updates. How Microsoft Made These Updates Available KB 2732673 and KB 2824408 are hotfixes to address specific issues. The KB 2775511 update is a cumulative update that is available exclusively at http://catalog.update.microsoft.com. Because it is available only through the Windows update catalog, the KB 2775511 update is not considered a security update by Microsoft and is not being deployed broadly. What You Need to Do If you have not yet installed the patches listed above, do not install them, per Microsoft's recommendation. If you have installed the patches listed above, Microsoft recommends uninstalling them until a solution is found.  See Esri Knowledge Base article 41119 for further information and updates. See Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for more information on Microsoft updates: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2732673 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2775511 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2824408

Adding Custom Rosters to ESPN NFL 2K5 PCSX2 on PC

Adding custom rosters:
Setup a memory card, then navigate to it ie. Documents\PCSX2\memcards
Download the roster files, unpack them into a folder location
Download mymc-alpha-2.6 app (google it)
Launch mymc-gui.exe, then navigate to and select the memory card you created ie. 2k5.ps2
Click the import button, then navigate to the roster.max file, click ok and it will be on your memory card

Close the mymc-alpha-2.6 app
Launch the game and go into options, load/save, select the roster file and load it

That's it, now you have loaded custom rosters.

Enjoy!

Outlook 2010 Instant Search encountered a problem

Clients attempting to search a public folder that is in a mixed Exchange 2003/2010 environment may encounter the following information message, and will not be able to search the public contacts, etc. ERROR: CAUSE: Side effect of having public folders in a mixed exchange 2003/2010 environment. WORKAROUND: The only “bandaid” workaround I have found is to add the pub contacts, etc. into favorites, then put the outlook client in cached mode, enabling the cache mode option to download public folder favorites, and making that public folder a favorite. Inside email accounts, server settings enable the use cached exchange mode Inside “More Settings”, enable the checkbox for download public folder favorites Clients will be able to search the pub fixed contacts, etc. after outlook is restarted and has finished updating the local offline file.

iPhone, iPod stuck after loading cydia app

If you are one of the unfortunate ones, that experiences your device stuck in an endless hung state after installing an app from cydia. This happens when a bad/corrupt package is installed and does not play nice with the device.

To fix the device that is hung trying to respring, simply download and install iFunBox. ( http://www.i-funbox.com/)

Next connect your device to your laptop/pc, open ifunbox, then navigate into the following folder.

/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/

Find the last package you tried installing that caused the respring to hang and delete those files, then power cycle the device and it will be back to normal.