Dave's Tech Blog
Microsoft
VBScript – Disconnecting Network Drive and Reconnecting with User Name in the Path of the Network Drive.
Jan 7th
The below VBScript will get the current user that is logged into the computer, then disconnect and reconnect a failed network drive. In this case the user name is a part of the path to the user’s personal drive, \\spksan\users\davidh\ for example. It then displays a pop up stating that it’s done.
On Error Resume Next
userName = “”
strComputer = “.”
Set objWMIService = GetObject(“winmgmts:\\” & strComputer & “\root\cimv2″)
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery(“Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem”,,48)
For Each objItem in colItems
userName = objItem.UserName
If InStr(objItem.UserName, “\”) Then
userNameArray = Split(objItem.UserName, “\”)
userNameCounter = 0
For Each userNames In userNameArray
If userNameCounter = 1 Then
userName = userNames
End If
userNameCounter = userNameCounter + 1
Next
End If
Next
Set objItem = Nothing: Set colItems = Nothing: Set objWMIService = Nothing
If Not userName = “” Then
Set objShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Set objNetwork = CreateObject(“WScript.Network”)
objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive “U:”, “\\spksan\users\” & userName
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
objNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive ”U:”, true
WScript.Sleep 10000
objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive “U:”, “\\spksan\users\” & userName
End If
End If
WScript.Echo “Done fixing U Drive”
Determining Parent Container of Objects Found by Searching in Active Directory Users and Computers
Jan 7th
Problem
When you perform a search for objects such as Users, Computers, Contacts, and Groups in the Active Directory using the Find command, an administrator may need to identify where the objects are located within the Active Directory structure. This article describes how to display and interpret this additional information. This one has stumped me for years and I finally figured it out.
When Users, Contacts, and Groups Are Found
- On the View menu, click Choose Columns in the Find Users, Contacts, and Groups dialog box.
- In the Columns Available box, click X500 Distinguished Name, click Add, and then click OK.
Depending on how many levels deep the User, Contact, or Group is located, there may be multiple parent containers. Levels of hierarchy in the DN and separation of leaf objects from container objects are identified by commas. To identify the direct parent of the object found, locate the first comma. The most immediate parent container is to the right. The name of the container may be preceded with “OU=” in place of “CN=,” identifying it as an Organizational Unit.
For example, if the user “administrator” is found, the X500 Distinguished Name may display the following information, indicating that the “Administrator” account resides in the “Users” container directly beneath the root of the domain:
CN=Administrator,CN=Users,DC=Microsoft,DC=Com
However, if the user had been moved to an Organizational Unit used for the purpose of delegating permissions, this path might be:
CN=Administrator,OU=Security Admins,DC=Microsoft,DC=Com
Or, there may be several parent containers:
CN=Administrator,OU=Seattle,OU=Security Admins,DC=Microsoft,DC=Com
When Computers Are Found
The process to display the parent container for Computer objects found is very similar to the above steps, except for the attribute name to display and the format used.
- On the View menu, click Choose Columns in the Find Computers dialog box.
- In the Columns Available box, click Published At, click Add, and then click OK.
The path to the object displayed in the “Published At” column is presented in Canonical Name format. The path is read right to left, starting with the object found, separated by forward slashes.
For example, if the computer “Server1″ was found, the “Published At” column may display the following information, indicating that the “Server1″ computer account resides in the “Computers” container directly beneath the root of the domain:
ntds://microsoft.com/Computers/SERVER1
Determining the parent container for other objects in the Active Directory is very similar to the process outlined above. When a column is added to the view, this setting is saved (per user) for the next time the snap-in is used.
Using search operators to find pictures, music and videos in Windows Vista
Jan 6th
Question
I am looking for the option to search for Pictures, music or video like we had in Windows XP. It appears that the option is removed in Windows Vista. How do I search for Pictures, music and videos?
Answer
Although the “Pictures, music or video” search option is non-existent in Windows Vista, search is much more organized in Windows Vista. To accomplish what you want, you use advanced search operators. To search for pictures, music and videos at a stretch, type the following in the Instant Search box.
kind:music OR kind:pictures OR kind:videos
It should list all music, picture and video files present in the search location(s).
Find the Microsoft Outlook temporary OLK folder
Jan 6th
Where does Microsoft create the Outlook Temporary folder (better known as the OLK folder)??? Or, where does Microsoft store temporary data such as attachments? Where the heck is that PESKY OLK folder??
Answer:
Depending on the operating system, version of Outlook AND user logged in, the OLK temporary folder will be created in a different spot. To find where it’s been created, open the Windows registry using regedit32.exe and use the MAP below:
| Outlook 97 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Outlook\Security |
| Outlook 98 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.5\Outlook\Security |
| Outlook 2000 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Security |
| Outlook 2002/XP | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security |
| Outlook 2003 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security |
| Outlook 2007 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Security |
BackGround:
When you open file attachments that are considered safe, Outlook places these attachments in a subdirectory under the your Temporary Internet Files directory as an extra precaution. When Outlook first tries to use a temporary file, it examines the registry to determine whether or not the TEMP OLK folder has already been created. If yes, it uses the folder. If no, it creates a random folder then stores the path in the registry location mentioned above.
For example:
Let’s say your running Windows XP and Outlook 2003. When you open your first attachment your computer will create the following sub-folder to temporary store the attachment:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLKxxx
In this example, username is the user name that is used by the person who is currently logged on to the computer.xxx is a randomly generated sequence of letters and numbers.
This information can be very useful and potentially dangerous. For instance, let’s say you open an attachment, make a bunch of changes then forget to save it…. Chance are, you can probably find the OLK folder and recover the document (if you have autosave on).
Now the bad news, let’s say you open an attachment which contains sensitive or confidential information. While reading the document, Outlook unexpectedly closes. In this scenario, the attachment will remain in the Outlook Temporary folder indefinitely because Outlook cannot remove the temporary file while it’s open. Now let’s say your PC is stolen…… Yup, all your documents are just sitting there for anyone to open. Believe me? Just go look. If you’ve been using your computer for any length of time I bet you will find 1-2 dozen files sitting there for anyone to open and read.
At work, I use Outlook ALL DAY. When I upgraded my PC to Microsoft Vista and Office 2007, I immediately began looking for the EVER important OUTLOOK TEMPORARY FOLDER in order to 1: Encrypt it using EFS and 2: Find a document which I wrote and somehow lost. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I found the document AND encrypted it without an issue.
Windows: Access Every Windows 7 Setting at Once (FREEWARE)
Jan 4th
For everyone who made the big switch to Windows 7 here is the ultimate Desktop Tool.Windows7 in a Box .Windows7 in a Box was designed to help guide you through the brand new operating system from Microsoft .Everything from Theme settings to Parental Controls.Sits on your desktop,easy to navigate,and puts an end to all the frustration of endless searching for settings.Spyware,Adware,and Malware free.Windows7 in a box can make the complete novice seem like a pro in just seconds.No need to install anything.Sits on your Desktop or wherever you place it(it even runs off of a thumb drive).Just locate what your looking for and click! It cant get any simpler than that.
http://www.big-daddy-design.com/windows7inabox.htm (you will need a program called WINRAR to open this file)
Clear the Outlook Email Address Auto Complete Cache
Jan 4th
Background: Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 has a feature called Email Address Auto Complete. As you type in an email address into the TO: or CC: field (and BCC: field I imagine) outlook will display a list of matching email addresses from the outlook auto-complete cache.
As convenient as the Auto Complete feature is, there are times when you need to remove these cached email addresses from the cache. Perhaps you just sent an email and you found out you made a typo….. Unfortunately that typo will remain in you cache until you delete it.
Solution: The fix is easy:
- Type the email address you wish to clear from the cache until outlook displays it as shown above.
- Press the down arrow key to select the email address and press the delete button.
- All Done
Solution #2 : Another option if you want to delete all addresses in the cache file (outlook.nk2):
- Close Outlook
- Open Windows Explorer or IE and Paste%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook into the address bar.
- Delete the file Outlook.nk2 file in this folder
- All Done
Solution #2 is comparable to the the “Nuclear Bomb” being that it will delete ALL your cached email addresses. It should only be used if you want to wipe the file clean or if you have corruption issues with your .nk2 file. Once you delete the .nk2 file, the next time you open Outlook it will automatically create a new .nk2 cache file and Outlook will once again begin caching the email addresses you use.
