Category: Microsoft

Microsoft release a cool tool named Disk cleanup on Windows 7 Sp1

Microsoft released an update yesterday for the Disk cleanup utility. The problem Windows keeps copies of installed updates from Windows Update, even after installing newer version of updates. So the older versions of updates that are no longer needed and taking up space.

In Windows XP era the uninstalls were just hidden folders under Windows directory so easy to clean. Since Windows Vista this is now stored in the Windows Services folder WinSXS.

The space used by WinSXS can grow significant. In the past you could remove Service Pack uninstall files which helped, but Service Packs are not so common anymore. I think Windows 7 will never see SP2, yet the updates keep filling the WinSXS folder every month.

After the update is installed (no reboot needed) and you run Diskcleanup:

cleanup1

and when you click “Clean up system files”

You’ll see new options:

cleanup2

This update of diskcleanup delivers a new option Windows Update cleanup which deletes older versions of updates that are no longer needed and just taking up space.

The update is available through Windows Update as important or direct download at KB article posted below:

KB2852386: Update is available that enables you to delete outdated Windows updates by using a new option in the Disk Cleanup wizard in Windows 7 SP1

Now unfortunately this update is not available for Windows Server 2008 R2, while there are plenty scenarios where cleaning up WinSXS folder is helpful there too!

Bink.nu

KMS Update adds support for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 clients to Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 KMS hosts

This update extends the Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 to enable the enterprise licensing of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
KMS provides support for the following KMS client activations:

  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows Server 2012 R2

KMS uses a KMS host key to activate itself on a KMS host and to establish a local activation service in your environment. This update extends support for KMS to provide activation for Windows 8.1 and for Windows Server 2012 R2.

Click here for the downloads

High CPU usage Windows Update (svchost.exe) in Windows XP SP3

I had to do a fresh Windows XP SP3 installation and Windows Update has been using almost whole CPU. Very strange!

 

I fixed that problem by installing Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-069 update  from Microsoft web.

Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release

We’re very excited to announce another free ebook offering from Microsoft Press. Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release (ISBN 9780735682931), by Mitch Tulloch with the Windows Server Team, introduces new features and capabilities, with scenario-based advice on how the platform can meet the needs of your business. Get the high-level overview you need to begin preparing your deployment now. This book is based on the Preview release and will be updated to cover Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM.

Download the PDF version of this title here (108 pages, 5 MB). UPDATE: The EPUB format is here and the MOBI format is here.

Watch for the lengthier RTM edition of this ebook later this year!

If you prefer a hard copy of the book, you can order it here.

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Exchange 2013 and .NET 4.5 fixes KB2803754 & KB2803755

Microsoft published an important hotfix for .NET 4.5 earlier this year. It wasn’t picked up on by many, therefor a quick write up on the matter.

Since Exchange 2013 is built on top of .NET 4.5, it is recommended to install the hotfix on all Exchange 2013 Mailbox and Multi-Role servers. The hotfix will reduce the memory consumption of the store worker processes.

If you’re using Windows Server 2008 R2, the hotfix is KB2803754 and can be requested here; when using Windows Server 2012 the hotfix is KB2803755 which can be requested here.

After installing the hotfix, you need to do one of the following things:

  • Set the following registry key:
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\.NETFramework\DisableRetStructPinning=1 (REG_DWORD)
  • Set the COMPLUS_DisableRetStructPinning environment variable to 1

I’d prefer the first option. Note that you need to restart the server for the change to become effective.

Thanks to EighTwOne

Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Protocol Workloads Poster

Learn how Lync Server can help your organization provide instant messaging, web conferencing, application sharing, and voice communication.

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Supported Reverse Proxy for Lync 2010 & Lync 2013

This lists the server reverse proxy products that have completed solution testing with Lync Server. While any reverse proxy is expected to work with Lync Server, the reverse proxies listed below have completed extensive testing and are posted with detailed deployment white papers to assist in configuration.

Qualified for Lync 2013 & Lync 2010 

Vendor

Qualified Product

Software Version Tested

Vendor’s Lync Page

Microsoft

Internet Information Services Application Request Routing  (IIS ARR)

v2.5

IIS ARR Config Guide

Microsoft

Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) **

2010

Setting up Reverse Proxy Servers with TMG

** In November, 2012, Microsoft ceased license sales of Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010, or TMG. TMG is still a fully supported product, and is still available for sale on appliances sold by third parties.

Updated Release of MS13-061 Security Update for Exchange Server 2013

On August 14th, ExchangeTeam announced the removal of the MS13-061 Security Update for Exchange Server 2013 due to an issue where the patch changed settings for the search infrastructure, placing the content index for all databases into a failed state.  As of today, we have released updated security updates for both Exchange 2013 RTM CU1 and Exchange 2013 RTM CU2.

Download links for MS13-061:

    Exchange 2010 SP3 Rollup 2 en Exchange 2010 SP2 rollup 7

    The Exchange 2010 SP2 RU7 update contains the changes for MS13-061.  For more details, see the MS13-061 security bulletin.

    The Exchange 2010 SP3 RU2 update contains fixes for a number of customer-reported and internally found issues, as well as, the changes for MS13-061. For more details, including a list of fixes included in this update, see KB 2866475 and the MS13-061 security bulletin. I would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

        • 2837926 Error message when you try to activate a passive copy of an Exchange Server 2010 SP3 database: “File check failed”

        • 2851419 Slow performance in some databases after Exchange Server 2010 is running continuously for at least 23 days

        • 2855083 Public Folder contents are not replicated successfully from Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007 to Exchange Server 2010

        • 2859596 Event ID 4999 when you use a disclaimer transport rule in an environment that has Update Rollup 1 for Exchange Server 2010 SP3 installed

        • 2860037 iOS devices cannot synchronize mailboxes in an Exchange Server 2010 environment

        • 2861118 W3wp.exe process for the MSExchangeSyncAppPool application pool crashes in an Exchange Server 2010 SP2 or SP3 environment

        • 2863473 Users cannot access Outlook mailboxes that connect to a Client Access server array in an Exchange Server 2010 environment

    Exchange 2007 SP3 rollup 11

    The Exchange 2007 SP3 RU11 update contains two fixes in addition to the changes for MS13-061. For more details, including a list of fixes included in this update, see KB 2873746 and the MS13-061 security bulletin. We would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

    • 2688667 W3wp.exe consumes excessive CPU resources on Exchange Client Access servers when users open recurring calendar items in mailboxes by using OWA or EWS
    • 2852663 The last public folder database on Exchange 2007 cannot be removed after migrating to Exchange 2013
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