markwilliamson2001

I am seriously looking at this for a primary school's website! You can easily setup google calendar, which intergrates with the website you can create. There are several website templates you can use, and other google apps that integrate with the site. Its also very simple and user friendly (being a google app, this is quite normally the case). It seems to be a free viable alternative to MS sharepoint, but without the major costs!). Just wondering what other people's thoughts were on this? M.

I know vmware converter can use Norton Ghost images to change them directly to vm's. I don't fancy buying Ghost just to do this, as we use WDS (legacy) normally, so might go down my previous route, maybe using Ubuntu, as I have experience of that at home.

I knew about VMware converter, but it only works on Windows physical and some third party formats (Norton save and restore) not linux. I suppose the easiest thing would be to install a new webserver in virtualised format (as Linux from CD or ISO) and then copy the webserver files across (using rsync) or some other way. Thanks anyway. Mark

Hey guys, we recently had our servers installed, and thr guy putting them in, moved all our old servers from physical to virtual volumes using ESXi from VMWare. However, we still have some other "servers" running on older equipment, as well as desktop machines, which I would like to put somewhere else around the place. One of the desktop's is running our webserver, running on Linux. I have zilch Linux experience, and was wondering if anyone had virtualised linux using ESXi? Regards Mark

Just thought it would be worthwhile mentioning that you need a fire and data proof safe, as even in the event of a fire, the data would be lost, so essentially it is useless!!! Otherwise we do something similiar... Mon-Thursday Friday1, 2, 3 Month 1, 2 We had one tape drive for both curric and admin. Each tape drive covered 2 servers, until today, when we have had one tape drive for each curric server now. HTH Mark

Thanks for your help... It was infact due to me not using a 'proper' Windows disk, (not my SP2 VLK homemade disc). Got it working fine now, and have slipstreamed the SP1 Windows disc with SP3 using Nlite. The only other issue that arose was to do with having both SP2 and SP3 flat images in the same "Setup" folder within the REMINST share. Once I moved the SP2 images to the root and renaming the folder containing them, it worked fine. Just meant I had to redo all computer images using the SP3 flat image, but this isnt always a problem, since I get the latest updated drivers etc etc and fix any glitches. Cheers M

I have this same problem, it takes forever to download the user list, whether that option is ticked or not! I am now going to upgrade the RAM on the server to see what happens, but it was fine on V6, even with SQL 2005. I don't know if this is something that Print Manager is aware of, or it is something to do with SQL server (or both). I will report back to you in a few days on what happens! Mark

I have never used SBS 2003, but if it is anything like Standard or Enterprise edition, then you can easily lock down the C: drive for a particular set of users using Active Directory. You will need to setup an organisational unit (OU) (or basically a 'special' folder in active directory with the restricted users within it). I would keep one adminstator user seperate from this organisational unit/folder. You can then add a group policy object (GPO) on this folder where you can setup (though special settings) to stop them gaining access to the C:\ Drive. You can also do loads of other things that lock down xp clients using just one GPO, including rolling out software, logon scripts, startup scripts etc etc etc, as well as mapping printers!! I can find out what the GPO setting is if you like for the C: drive tommorow morning as I am at work (can't remember what it is off the top of my head). This by using GPO, you can affect hundreds of users at the click of a button. (usefull stuff in a school with 2000 users!). HTH Mark

Hi, We currently have an XP only environment, and are using WDS in legacy mode(RIS mode) to deploy XP SP2 from the RIS server. This currently works fine, and I have some new laptops and desktops to setup for September. I can currently setup the new laptops and desktops with XP SP2, both flat and with drivers (I try and deploy all apps through GPO and MSI). I can also update these images with SP3, riprep them and have an updated SP3 image with drivers for the new laptops and desktops. What I currently cannot do, is create a new flat image that contains SP3. I have managed to slipstream SP3 into a SP2 CD, but when I try and add the new image to \\risserver\REMINST\Setup\English\Images\, using RISetup, it just says "media fail, cannot use Upgrade version". From what I have read, I think this is because I currently have an XP2 flat image (with a risstnd.sif file). Do I need to remove this (or put all the XP2 images into a different location or folder named SP2_Images or something) and create a fresh Images folder with no images in, then create a new SP3 flat image, using Risetup? Help!! (please...) Mark

Hi, We currently use WDS to deploy images and all seems fine currently while deploying XP SP2 images. I am now trying to look at SP3 deployed through images rather than caning our WSUS server, but am struggling with it. So far I have successfully imaged a laptop with a working SP2 image, and I can succesfully install SP3 onto the laptop. I then run riprep from the WDS server, and the machine seems to go through the process of capturing the image without issue. However, I get the message, cannot find file "C:\Windows\system32\config" when I try to deploy the captured SP3 image.... Anyone else had this? Mark

I cocked this up on my deploy (it was late friday night and I was knacked) so I added the msi to the GPO, then for some reason, I set it to update the 8.1.2 full adobe install (wot a n00b) so this morning, some pc's had cocked up, because it removed adobe 8.1.2, then tried to install the patch afterwards, and failed. (however it only happened on a few machines...) My advice, just install it as well as 8.1.2, NOT as an upgrade. Mark

I just give them loads of credits, whatever, if they seem that bothered to come and see me about not having enough printer credits, then it MUST be important lol... Seems to work okay, I don't get that many peeps, except during cousework handin week! M.

Our school is currently in the middle of this again.. (for the umpteenth time). I will be having a meeting with the head at the start of next year, so will bring it up with him regarding the issue, since I am always in the middle of sorting out: Teach: "This kids account is disabled/banned". Me: "Yes, he has been abusing the internet on games, and has been banned for a week from yesterday". Teach: "Can you not unban him for this lesson?" Me: "No, that would breach the ban....whats the point in a ban if its lifted for one lesson ?" Teach: "Pwetty Please?" Me: "No, if you don't like it take it up with the network manager.." Teach promptly hangs up... There doesn't seem to be any sort of punishment for this sort of thing (i.e. keeping the student after school cleaning monitors for example thus using his time... lol (and doing something worthwhile). This is also because the head of IT is out of the building by 3.30 everyday f:censored:wit. M.

cheers fellas, will give them a try tommorow. Mark

Hey up, We have a 2003R2 server running WSUS 3.0, and all seems to be well, apart from one group of PC's in a suite, which seemed to have failed a lot of updates (around 57 updates according to the server). Is there anyway of finding out why this is from the server or client, as it wasn't clear from the server console. (I am new to WSUS 3.0, old SUS was a doddle!) I haven't yet tried a gpupdate on the client machines, but I guess I could also have a look at gpresult as well.... to make sure the machines are updating correctly. I suppose that the GPO on the suite could also be suspect, so will compare that to a working suite with a different GPO (we have different GPO's for each area around school, "WSUS C1" for example.) Would deleting the client machines log on the server, then doing a gpupdate on the client force a refresh on the server? Any other ideas? Regards Mark

Hi, We currently have an LTO3 tape drive from HP (Ultrium 960 - 400GB Native), which we use for 2 of our curriculum servers, and has been fantastic. However, we are getting new servers soon, and the current tape drive won't be big enough, so we had originally thought of getting two identical ones, (one for each NEW server). Just got a MISCO catalogue through, and Quantum have a section on tape drives, and they have a 800GB LTO4 drive. Has anyone got any experiences of these drives, as they seem good value. Regards, Mark

I love this site mainly because you find out things that you might never come across if you tried to find them out yourself! Thanks all Mark

Yes we do have 2k3 R2, I never actually thought of putting a software restriction policy on it, although by preventing read, but not write would only allow games to be deposited there, but not played. We did have an issue where students work from office would not save properly unless they had modify permissions on the work hand in share, since office creates temporary files which are a requirement by office, although I don't see why they cant do the work in there area, then copy across afterwards... Mark

Thanks for the replies folks, I always wondered what the creater owner user was useful for??? LOL thanks for clearing that up. I like the idea of write only, not read as that would stop them using it as a games drop area, and using it to chat lol (although why cant they talk to each other in person??) Will try out some of the ideas. Mark

Hi We have a shared area called "Work Hand In" which is used by students and staff to hand in work for a lesson so a teacher can collect/mark it, or use it at a late date to allow students to demonstrate powerpoints to the class. However to allow users to save work to the share, they obviously have to have write access to the share. It then becomes a dumping ground for students rubbish, games etc etc. I would still like it to be used, but in a more controlled state. I had originally thought of having security settings put on the area for domain admins, staff, and then having a new group setup called WorkHandInGroup or something, which the students would need to be a member of to allow them to save work to the share. What I would like to do is: Easily pick out users from AD to add to the group with a few clicks, and then have a script automatically remove them from the group after the lesson has ended. This way, if a teacher wants to use the area, they come to see me first and I add the class pupils to the group before the lesson. The student users are then automatically removed after the lesson, preventing them from messing with the area. I can then check the share for rubbish after the lesson, and find any offending users and ban them! Hope someone can help. Mark

Philips DVD players will only play DVD+R. Also what file extension is the film file on the camcorder? Is it an AVI or WMV or something like that? If so, you will not be able to play this on most common DVD players, but this will play fine on a PC. Last time I converted an AVI to DVD format (basically VOB files), I used DVD Flick, which is free I believe. Works a treat, you can then burn the files using DVD-Video mode in nero to DVD! Try googling it.. Regards Mark

Hey up all, We use SIMS.Net and one of our admin ladies was asking about a problem she is having when printing out Registration certificates from the SIMS Attendance Module. When she produces the report before printing, it 'sometimes' produces 2 or 3 identical pages of the report, thus when she goes to print, she has to adjust the page selection down to page 1. We are a large school, and this would appear to be frustrating. Has anyone else seen this? Mark

Forgot to mention that I will be backing them all up first onto DVD! Yes, good point about other courses/subjects, needs to be checked first. Regards Mark

Hi all, My boss (network manager), has got the crazy idea of emptying student areas for years 7-9 at the end of the year, because the work is not needed for the following year, and should be handed in/in student card folders. This is also to get rid of games, and to save disk space on the servers (fair enough). However I have 600+ students to do, and don't want to delete everything from their areas, just work, pictures, office documents etc. since they have favourites redirected to their home areas. I also don't want to have to setup the shares again, using a script or otherwise. I had thought of using some sort of DEL script, with a list of possible file extensions to include: *.doc *.xls *.fla *.swf *.jpg *.bmp *.gif *.png etc etc etc Has anyone heard of or used a tool, which has extended delete properties over the built in delete command line function? Regards Mark

Yes, must have been the WPA2 patch, because as soon as I slapped SP3 on, it picked up WPA2 in the authentication list.... I always use the latest drivers because I download them before RISing.. Thanks all for your help! Mark