Active Directory Naming Conventions

This KB article includes the Active Directory naming conventions

• Allowed characters
• Disallowed characters
• Minimum name length
• Maximum name length
• Reserved names
• Best practices

for

• Computers
• NetBIOS computer names
• DNS computer names
• Domains
• NetBIOS domain names
• DNS domain names
• Sites
• OUs

Anti Spyware Applications

• Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
• Super Anti Spyware

Note Taking Applications

• Evernote
• Springpad
• Diigo

SQL Server Database Version List

This web page lists each SQL Server version number (from SQL v.6.5 to 2008 R2) and its patch level.  It is useful to compare your installed version with the latest version available.

This is another web site with the similar information.

Install Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on Windows 7 with Service Pack (SP1)

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 7 cannot be installed on computers that are running Windows 7 with Service Pack (SP1).  The error message is “This update is not applicable to your computer”.  This is because Service Pack 1 includes updates components for RSAT.

The resolution is to install RSAT tools before installing Service Pack 1 for Windows 7.  If SP1 is already installed, uninstall SP1, install RSAT tools, and then reinstall SP1.

According to RSAT download site, RSAT for Windows 7 with SP1 is scheduled for release in Spring 2011.

Windows Update Scanning Error Fix

If the Windows Update database and manifest corrupted, Windows Update scan can take a long time or crash.  The following may fix this problem.

1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
2. Run the System Update Readiness Tool
3. Run the System File Checker (sfc) from Administrator Command Prompt. “sfc /scannow”
4. Rename and recreate the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders
• Stop the Windows Update service and its related services
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop bits
• net stop cryptsvc
• If the Windows Update service can not be stopped, change its startup type to Disabled, then reboot the computer.
• Rename %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
• Rename %windir%\system32\Catroot2
• Start the Windows Update service and change its startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start).
5. Re-register all the Windows Update DLLs (stop wuauserv, bits, and cryptsvc services first)
• regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\vbscript.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\mshtml.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msjava.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\jscript.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\msxml.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\actxprxy.dll /s
  regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\shdocvw.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuapi.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
  regsvr32 wucltui.dll /s
  regsvr32 wups2.dll /s
  regsvr32 wups.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuweb.dll /s
  regsvr32 Softpub.dll /s
  regsvr32 Mssip32.dll /s
  regsvr32 Initpki.dll /s
  regsvr32 softpub.dll /s
  regsvr32 wintrust.dll /s
  regsvr32 initpki.dll /s
  regsvr32 dssenh.dll /s
  regsvr32 rsaenh.dll /s
  regsvr32 gpkcsp.dll /s
  regsvr32 sccbase.dll /s
  regsvr32 slbcsp.dll /s
  regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll /s
  regsvr32 Urlmon.dll /s
  regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll /s
  regsvr32 Msjava.dll /s
  regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll /s
  regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll /s
  regsvr32 Mshtml.dll /s
  regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
  regsvr32 msxml2.dll /s
  regsvr32 msxml3.dll /s
  regsvr32 Browseui.dll /s
  regsvr32 shell32.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuapi.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll /s
  regsvr32 wucltui.dll /s
  regsvr32 wups.dll /s
  regsvr32 wuweb.dll /s
  regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
  regsvr32 atl.dll /s
  regsvr32 Mssip32.dll /s

Juniper SSL-VPN Network Connect Error 23787

When try to launch Network Connect inside Juniper SSL-VPN portal, get an error “cannot start the network connect service, please reinstall network connect, nc.windows.app.23787”.

Uninstalling or reinstalling the Juniper Network Connect works, but the error comes back after restarting the computer.

Solution: verify “Juniper Network Connect Service” service is started on the computer, and the Startup Type is Automatic.