Some Notes on the Machines

Some articles:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff384840(v=vs.85).aspx).aspx

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/filecab/2014/06/25/the-end-is-nigh-for-frs/

First, set the primary DNS as a static primary, bypassing DHCP for DNS only:

netsh interface ip set dns name="Local Area Connection" static 8.8.8.8 primary

Then, add the secondary DNS:

netsh interface ip add dns name="Local Area Connection" 8.8.4.4 index=2

In the example above, 8.8.8.8 is being set as primary, and 8.8.4.4 as secondary; these are Google’s public DNS servers, quite useful in some circumstances. On many systems the names of the interfaces (above, “Local Area Connection”) will have to be changed, either to “Local Area Connection 2” or something more different for wireless; you can get the names using ‘ipconfig’ (they are prefixed with “Ethernet adapter”, take those two words off and you have it) or GUI.

Microsoft is pushing all of its favorite customers very hard to upgrade to Windows 10, to the point that many are hurting themselves accidentally. Here we have a tool which eliminates the problem:

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

Here’s some good info:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/supress-microsoft-10-upgrade-pop-up/cc481c86-6a94-4b95-babc-9353bd66dcc0

If you see these in event logs, you are seeing the result of a mismatch between the running drivers in your machine and something in Microsoft’s cloud-based driver database. Do this:

1. Control Panel
2. search for Device Installation
3. Change device installation settings
4. No, let me choose what to do
5. Never install driver software from Windows Update.
6. uncheck Automatically get the device app and info provided by your device manufacturer

This is an error common on SBS 2011. A simple fix which sometimes works, on the bottom of this page:

http://blog.mpecsinc.ca/2010/12/sbs-2011-error-wbcommandletinbuilttraci.html

The summary:

DEL C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsServerBackup\WBC*

Some Windows Update issues are permissions problems, which can be fixed using a method involving SUBINACL:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/968003#/en-us/kb/968003

First, from administrative CMD:

wusa /uninstall /kB:3035583
wusa /uninstall /kB:2952664
wusa /uninstall /kB:2976978
wusa /uninstall /kB:3021917
wusa /uninstall /kB:3044374
wusa /uninstall /kB:2990214

Then you need to prevent the same updates from being reinstalled, from the Windows Installer GUI in the Control Panel.

1. Do these in an administrative CMD:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d "1" /f

control userpasswords2

2. Uncheck “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer”, click Apply.

3. Type the username and password, click OK. Use DOMAIN\username if this is not a DC.

The password is stored in the computer in encrypted form.

To determine the version of Internet Explorer via CMD, do this:

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer" /v "Version"