Monday 29 April 2013

Adding user to ubuntu Server

sudo -s
sudo adduser "username" 



    visudo  

as root to make the relevant and correct changes, or ask your sysadmin.

You usually want something like,

    username    ALL=(ALL) ALL  

or,

    %groupname  ALL=(ALL) ALL



Friday 26 April 2013

IPAD Roll-out program (at School)

Once Ipads are delivered....

1. Setup xls spreadsheet with 
1.1 Ipad Serial number 
1.2 Attach photograph of the back of the Ipad (for insurance purposes)
1.3 Allocate Asset ID

2. Setup a Charging station - I had to use a 5 port multiple adapter and it worked very well

3. Setup the Ipad Covers 

3.1 Label the Ipad Covers - I use "School abbreviation Ipad X" as we sign-out Ipad X to Student X everyday, it keeps the process nice and controlled.

4. Switch on the Ipad

5. Run through the setup questions - Ipad name "School Student X" language, location, Itunes login, icloud, location services enabled - email address studentipadX@domain.com

5.1 Follow these instructions if you haven't already setup an Itunes account
5.1.1 Follow the prompts, setup new email address
verify Apple ID
Verify email address

6. Connect to Itunes (I currently use a Windows 7 station and it works well)

7. Stop Itunes syncing

8. Update iOS - if its your first iPad - update, install all software and backup the setup as "Master Ipad" or something of the sort - some distinct name.

8.1 in rare occassions the new batch of Ipads (if you get different batches) might have a different firmware version and you wont be able to use your Master Restore copy - in this case, just download the latest/correct firmware version and then try a restore.

Apple software update location ----> C:\Users\****\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPad Software Updates\

9. Make sure all Apps installed after Restore

10. Login to Itunes on the Ipad

11. Make sure Ipad name is correct

12. Charge up

13. Remember to login to icloud and try and test the GPS via "find my ipad" .

NOTE: I found that on some Ipads (4 out of 10) I had to go into Maps on the Ipad and "allow access to my location" even though Location Services are switched on, as if you don't do this you will find that you might not always be able to track your Ipad via "Find my Ipad" service. But going into Maps the first time and "allowing access" works a charm.

Friday 12 April 2013

Meet your new Best Friend "ADplus"

Print spooler on my Win2008 R2 box keeps on crashing...

View Diagnostics:

Server Manager - Diagnostics - Event Viewer - Applications and Services Logs - Microsoft - Windows - Printing Service

So I'm now going to monitor it to see what happens.. I am using Adplus to create memory dumps everytime I have a crash or hang

STEPS

1. Install Windows Debugging Tools SDK 
2. Install the symbols
3. setup the symbol path ie:

I added the symbol path: srv*c:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
4. Install winDBG

Open cmd in c:\program files\debugging tools for windows (x64)

Run

adplus.vbs -crash -quiet -pn spoolsv.exe -o c:\debug

adplus.vbs -hang -quiet -pn spoolsv.exe -o c:\debug


You will be presented with a message


"Attaching to 1556 - spoolsv in Hang mode 04/12/2013 09:06:41
Logs and memory dumps will be placed in c:\debug\date_time_hang_mode




Thursday 11 April 2013

Windows 7 "Unable to add printer" (Network printer)


Unable to add printer to windows 7 it just bombs out saying the print spooler isnt' running.
Restart spooler but it just shuts itself down again almost immediately.

1. Check spooler dependancies 
2. Stop spooler
3. Navigate to c:\windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\  --> delete everything
4. Restart spooler service
5. Add network printers

My issue is a corrupt printer driver.


 

Memory diagnostic Tool (Build-in)

Diagnosing memory problems on your computer

If Windows detects possible problems with your computer's memory, it will prompt you to run the Memory Diagnostics Tool.

Running the Memory Diagnostics Tool

When you receive a notification about a possible memory problem, click the notification to choose between two options for when to run the Memory Diagnostics Tool.

Picture of the Memory Diagnostics Tool dialog boxThe Memory Diagnostics Tool gives you two options

If you choose to restart your computer and run the tool immediately, make sure that you save your work and close all of your running programs. The Memory Diagnostics Tool will run automatically when you restart Windows. It might take several minutes for the tool to finish checking your computer's memory. Once the test is completed, Windows will restart automatically. If the tool detects errors, you should contact your computer manufacturer for information about fixing them, since memory errors usually indicate a problem with the memory chips in your computer or other hardware problem.

Advanced options for running the Memory Diagnostics Tool

We recommend that you let the Memory Diagnostics Tool run automatically. However, advanced users might want to adjust the tool's settings. Here's how:

  1. When the Memory Diagnostics Tool starts, press F1.

  2. You can adjust the following settings:

    • Test mix. Choose what type of test you want to run: BasicStandard, or Extended. The choices are described in the tool.

    • Cache. Choose the cache setting you want for each test: DefaultOn, or Off.

    • Pass count. Type the number of times you want to repeat the test.

  3. Press F10 to start the test.

To run the Memory Diagnostics Tool manually

If the Windows Memory Diagnostics tool doesn't run automatically, you can run it manually.

  1. Open Memory Diagnostics Tool by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typeMemory, and then click Diagnose your computer's memory problems. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

  2. Choose when to run the tool.



 
" Change your thoughts and you change your world" ~ Unknown

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Error connecting to Printer (Windows 7) Error Code 0x00000003

Windows 7 PC - no Printers from GPO installed

When trying to install printers - "Error connecting to Printer" even though you can manually install the printer on LPT1 

So Error code 0x0000003 - the "3" means its looking for a directory called "3"  (this is my own analysis...if I'm wrong, sorry about that but it worked for me)

I also had error messages where it seems like I cannot add the printer drivers from the server.

So I went to my Server 

SERVER

c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\x83\3\

Removed user permissions - re-added user permissions.

Now, Able to install the printers and GPO can now install printers


 
" Change your thoughts and you change your world" ~ Unknown