MattHarwood

I have a batch script for this. PM me your email if you'd like a copy!

I think the SLT should consider why they are requesting this. DPA? Even then there is a case for access to actually administrate the network. If they can't trust staff, they need to assess recruitment procedures. My 2p ;-)

Squid proxy should do what you need.

Hi all! I'm wanting to activate DFS on one of our server 2008 machines and replicate it over to one or two Linux-based machines, probably running either Ubuntu Server or Arch. Does Samba work with DFS? Or should I use something else? Thanks in advance

Thanks @elsiegee40 and Luke! I have an old old tower and monitor hanging about too. Could you email me what I'd need to do please Luke? [email protected] Thanks!

Hi all, I have a decommissioned and bruised dell 3010cn laser printer to dispose of. Can anyone recommend a free service please? Thanks

If you think it's brilliant now (and it is).. The next version is a full Windows desktop. Rendering on their huge server farm. With a gazillion gigabit connection. Drool.

Appreciate the help, David! I'm pretty sure it is "fake RAID" now, after realising the card I thought I saw was definitely not RAID related (told you I was a hardware noob! ;-) ) I've took the CMOS battery out for a little while and I can now get in to BIOS settings, choose drives to boot, and boot from CD again! However, when booting to either HDD I just get a blinking cursor and no action. I've tried to install Fedora instead now, and I made a boot partition on sda. I still get the blinking cursor when choosing either drive to boot. So we're nearly there (by the feel of it!) but it just wont boot the OS.. any ideas? Thanks again

It's soul destroying... and happens at the end of every half-term... "Sir, the DVD isn't working". Walk in to 60 pairs of 7 year old eyes pleading for it to be fixed. You start fiddling and the drive is acting up or the software is useless, whatever it is. You can feel the sorrow building... Teacher: "Well, we might have to get our exercises books out in a minute children..." THANKS FOR THE EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!

Thanks for the replies! I forgot to mention this is a hardware RAID, but the case is such a mess I can't quite see the RAID card through the clumps of dust just yet... From what you've both said I have a niggling feeling I installed grub to the incorrect drive. Where should I of put it? I put it on /dev/sda (Port 0). The RAID controller finds and registers the drives fine, or as far as I can tell, it feels like it just doesn't know what to do after. I can't get in to the RAID config tool or any other menu - I press the keys but it does nothing (or, more accurately, I think the menus tend to appear after the point at where it hangs) Thanks again, would really like to figure this out.. learning curves ey!

Hi all, Traditionally, I'm a software guy, and I'm not too hot hardware wise. So, of course, I decided to have a mess around.. We have an old decommissioned server that had Server 03 on it. I wanted to set it up as a box for me to "play around" with, and stuck an Ubuntu disk in and installed, totally forgetting it was configured with RAID (which type of RAID I'm unsure of). I reboot after installation, and the boot process now hangs after "registering" ports 1 and 2 (the two drives I imagine?). It won't enter the BIOS setup, or boot menu, or anything. I've tried to take the CMOS battery out, but it's jammed in a really hard place and I'm sure I'll break something... Could anyone suggest ideas please? I'm a little out of my depth here! Many thanks!!

Hi all, I'm in need of a replacement for a dead Dell 3010cn. Looking for a colour laser around £200 with compatible toners available for a max of £35/40 each. I quite like HPs but am open to suggestions, anyone have a favourite they could recommend please? Thanks!

Using NECs here. Very few problems, though the lamp life doesn't seem amazing to me (have little to compare to though). Reasonable pricing!

I have one batch file that runs all the install files for Reader, Flash etc. so if I'm "cleaning up" a system and it's easier than reaching for PDQ Deploy, I'll run that locally. Also have one on login to add printers and shared drives, but I don't like doing that. It's something that was already here. Also have our login/logoff logs as batch files. PM me if you'd like a copy of them. As for learning a language - DO IT! It's extremely rewarding and useful. It's the equivalent of learning to grow and make your own food, not dependant on other people. Can't find an app to do something? Code it!

Think you pretty much have it down. Mega pixels don't mean an awful lot over 5/6MP, the human eye can't tell much difference going upwards. My teachers main concern was the colour.. I've just ordered 15 Fuji's from Novatech at £39 ex. and they're great, if you need a tip. (Primary school though, top quality wasn't needed)

The cake is a lie! Maybe I'm cynical, but receiving "free printer" this and "everything is free apart from when you pay for it all" that day after day I don't believe anyone any more Oh, and the old "you've ordered from us before" trick...

I've no experience with the company, but any organisation using tactics like that are automatically on my ban list. If they had a good product/service, they wouldn't need to resort to gimmicks/tricks..

For Windows I suggest WampServer for ease of use: WampServer, the web development platform on Windows - Apache, MySQL, PHP For Linux, just install and configure Apache (or Litespeed), MySQL and PHP. Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?

I used Hostgator around 7/8 years ago, can't remember any huge issues. These three (I'm not 100%) are all not UK based though, and also oversell (basically, they guess you aren't going to use what they give you, and cram more users on the same server).

Avoid 1&1 like the plague. They are a terrible company with terrible service. I personally use Hydro Host who have given a very personal, friendly and knowledgeable service over the years. You can install Wordpress automatically through CPanel, and are notified when updates are available. Updates are installed through 1/2 clicks in WP Admin panel. I tend to register .UK domains through LCN as I buy and sell domains often, they give me preferred rates. Very simple system to register there. They do hosting too, with one-click installs, but I haven't used it so cannot say either way. Other great hosts include MKHosting and United Hosting. All mentioned are UK based. Just please avoid 1&1, Namesco, Fasthosts. -- P.S. The reason for my hatred of 1&1 is that apart from frequent downtime, they do not charge you when you think. They set up a direct debit for a couple of months' time. If you cancel your account, you will be presented with demands for payment, which are very quickly sold off to debt collectors. Even if you legitimately cancel your account. -- P.P.S I have been a professional web designer/developer all my life, so if you need any help with anything at all, please PM it's no trouble!

I apply the upgrades through SOLUS. They're running Vista/XP, no Win7 machines in there at the moment. Could I just check - SIMS definitely doesn't need admin rights to operate day-to-day, it's just for the updating procedure? Many thanks for all your help - appreciate it!

Fantastic, thanks Mcshammer! I'll make a new OU for them then. Appreciated!

Hi all, This is my first role within a school environment, and so my first opportunity to get to know SIMS.net. Yay! When I arrived, things were in a bad shape. Let's just say, I've now removed Domain Admin rights from the entire SLT. I have just noticed that the office personnel also have admin rights (local). Is this needed for SIMS? Can I demote them without SIMS breaking? Many thanks in advance Matt

- Continuing on-going mission to never leave a computer behind, and revive some old laptops - Staring at SIMS/Solus without a clue what it's doing (or not doing, more to the point) - Setting up entire InfoSec policy for admin network as my predecessor didn't consider it at all. - Comparing online remote backup solutions - Slurping coffee, of course..

General bits and bobs: Novatech, Play.com (very cheap and free delivery!) Ink: Internet-Ink.co.uk Haven't had a supplier quote cheaper than the above which all turn out great quality.. :-)