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Two Minute Drill: Introduction to XPerf
27 June 08 06:00 AM

Hi there, this is Mark with the Windows Performance Team.  This post is a quick introduction to a new performance tracing tool called XPerf.  Moving forward with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, this powerful tool will hopefully be utilized Read More...

Postedby timothyn | 1 Comments    

Filed under: performance, troubleshooting, windows server 2008, vista, two minute drill

Two Minute Drill: Overview of SMB 2.0
30 May 08 06:00 AM

The Server Message Protocol (SMB) is the file sharing protocol used by default on Windows-based computers. Although file sharing and network protocols are primarily supported by our Networking team, it is important to understand how SMB works given its Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: networking, windows server 2008, vista, two minute drill

Two Minute Drill: Find /3GB without using boot.ini
27 May 08 06:00 AM

We've talked a lot about the /3GB switch and its effect on system resources in previous posts.  Today we are going to discuss how to determine whether or not /3GB is enabled on a 32-bit system without looking at the boot.ini file or using MSCONFIG.EXE.  Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 5 Comments    

Filed under: memory management, performance, troubleshooting, debugging, two minute drill

Two Minute Drill: RELOG.EXE
20 May 08 06:00 AM

Following on from our last Two Minute Drill, today's topic is the RELOG.EXE utility.  RELOG.EXE creates new performance logs from data in existing performance logs by changing the sampling rate and / or converting the file format.  RELOG.EXE Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 1 Comments    

Filed under: performance, troubleshooting, windows server 2008, vista, two minute drill, windows xp

Two Minute Drill: LOGMAN.EXE
13 May 08 06:00 AM

Today we are continuing on with our Two Minute Drill series. Our topic in this post is one that we discuss quite frequently with customers - namely the automation of creating Performance Monitor and Trace Logs. Most administrators are comfortable creating Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: performance, server core, troubleshooting, windows server 2008, vista, two minute drill, windows xp

Two Minute Drill: System Diagnostics Report
02 May 08 06:00 AM

Something many of our readers have asked for is a quick overview of new and useful tools and features in Windows. Today we are launching a new series, called our “Two Minute Drill” – these will be brief posts that provide a high-level view of tools and Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 3 Comments    

Filed under: performance, troubleshooting, windows server 2008, vista, two minute drill

WMIC: Leveraging the power of WMI
18 April 08 06:00 AM

We’ve covered different pieces of WMI in previous posts, but we have yet to discuss the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line (WMIC) in detail.  The WMIC provides administrators easy access to the WMI infrastructure.  Prior to Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: WMI, two minute drill

Startup Programs on Windows Vista: Inside the Box
28 March 08 06:00 AM

In prior versions of Windows, especially if the installation had many applications installed over the years, it was not easy to run a program or navigate the system shortly after booting.  I remember fighting with my mouse or looking over at the Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 6 Comments    

Filed under: architecture, performance, vista, two minute drill

Group Policy Logging on Windows Vista
11 March 08 02:00 PM

Although the bulk of Group Policy Processing and Troubleshooting is handled by our Directory Services team, we often collaborate on these issues - mainly when the issue relates to a user logging in and not being presented with their desktop environment Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 1 Comments    

Filed under: troubleshooting, vista, GPO, two minute drill

Key Principles of Security
07 March 08 06:00 AM

OK, so today's isn't really something "Performance" related, but nevertheless, I think we can all safely agree that this is something that all administrators should be aware of.  During our Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 posts we've Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 1 Comments    

Filed under: security, two minute drill

BHO's, Security and Shell Extensions
11 December 07 06:08 AM

Today we're going to wrap up our overview of Browser Helper Objects with a look at BHO's and Security as well as similarities between BHO's and Shell Extensions.  If you recall from our first post on BHO's , a BHO is an extension to Internet Explorer Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 1 Comments    

Filed under: security, troubleshooting, internet explorer, two minute drill

The Basics of Browser Helper Objects
07 December 07 06:00 AM

In our last few posts on Internet Explorer, we've looked at ActiveX Controls.  Today we're going to take a look at the Basics of Browser Helper Objects (BHO's).  We're not going to cover BHO's and Security in this post, that will be covered Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: security, troubleshooting, internet explorer, two minute drill

WMI Troubleshooting: Impersonation Rights
16 October 07 07:50 AM

Today we're going to take a look at an issue that is fairly common when dealing with WMI failures.  Starting with Windows XP, WMI providers are hosted in a separate process called WMIPRVSE.  Most of the time this provider host runs in the context Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: troubleshooting, WMI, two minute drill

Kernel-Mode Print Drivers: Gone the Way of the Dinosaur
14 September 07 06:15 AM

If you have been around since the days of Windows NT, then you are probably all too familiar with Kernel-mode Print Drivers and the devastating effect that problems with those drivers can have on system stability. In the majority of environments, these Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 4 Comments    

Filed under: architecture, printing, troubleshooting, two minute drill

WMI Troubleshooting: Permissions
14 August 07 06:14 AM

Back in June, we published our post on Basic WMI Testing . Today we're going to go over some common issues and ways that you can troubleshoot and recover from them - specifically rights and permissions. We're not going to get into troubleshooting scripts Read More...

Postedby CC Hameed | 2 Comments    

Filed under: troubleshooting, WMI, two minute drill