empty outlook folder pane after Windows updates

Like a good MS supporter (ahum) does is install the Windows Updates every month. last night I updated my Win 8 system with the latest patches and this morning I cam across this beautiful Outlook folder pane:

outlook pane

After uninstalling kb2810009 and kb2817630 the folder pane was back again.

Hopefully Microsoft will fix this bug soon….

Just my 2 cents for today.

Recommended hotfixes and updates for Windows Server 2012-based Failover Clusters

Below is the list of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that describe the currently available fixes. Most of the updates will apply to computers running the Windows Server 2012 operating system. Some updates, like KB 976424, may be needed on computers running the Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008 operating system if they are present in the environment.

Windows Server 2012

Date added Knowledge Base Article Title Component Why we recommend this hotfix
2/27/2013 2813630 Virtual machine enters a paused state or a CSV volume goes offline when you try to create a backup of the virtual machine on a Windows Server 2012-based failover cluster Failover Cluster Service, CSV Filter and NTFS.sys This hotfix prevents a CSV failover by fixing an underlying issue in NTFS and by increasing the overall resilience of the Cluster service and CSV during expected pause states. To avoid CSV failovers, you may have to make additional changes to the computer after you install the hotfix. Available for individual download.
1/23/2013 2803748 Failover Cluster Management snap-in crashes after you install update 2750149 on a Windows Server 2012-based failover cluster Failover Cluster Management snap-in Resolves a crash in the Failover Cluster Management snap-in after update 2750149 is installed on a Windows Server 2012-based failover cluster. Available from Windows Update or Microsoft Download Center.
11/13/2012 2770917 Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 cumulative update: November 2012 Multiple Improves clustered server performance and reliability in Hyper-V and Scale-Out File Server scenarios. Improves SMB service and client reliability under certain stress conditions. Install update 2770917 by using Windows Update in order to receive the cumulative update as described in KB 2770917.
11/13/2012 976424 Error code when the kpasswd protocol fails after you perform an authoritative restore: “KDC_ERROR_S_PRINCIPAL_UNKNOWN” KDCSVC Install on every domain controller running Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 in order to add a Windows Server 2012 failover cluster. Otherwise Create Cluster may fail when attempting to set the password for the cluster computer object with error message: CreateClusterNameCOIfNotExists (6783): Unable to set password on <ClusterName$> This hotfix is included in Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.

Here’s the link to the original article on the  Microsoft website.

Error HP driver not found on 2008 printserver

Ever noticed that on a 2008 print server you install a HP LaserJet 4xxx driver on it but when you open the properties page of the printer you still get the error that the driver wasn’t installed and if you want to install it? I’ve run into it while working on a Citrix Universal Print Server issue and a colleague pointed this out to me (thanks to Kristof Peeters).

Laserjet 4000 series not found Continue reading “Error HP driver not found on 2008 printserver”

RDP 8.0 update for Windows 7 SP1

Microsoft has released RDP version 8 to the web.

You can download and find installation instructions here.

Download the update today to make your Windows 7 SP1 virtual desktop WAN ready with RDP 8 and RemoteFX. Do make sure you download and install update 2574819 before installing the RDP 8.0 update. For further instructions, please refer to  KB2592687.

Internet Explorer Fix it available now – sucurity update scheduled for Friday

Earlier this week, an issue impacting Internet Explorer affected a small number of customers.  The potential exists, however, that more customers could be affected.  As a result, today we have released a Fix it that is available to address that issue.  This is an easy, one-click solution that will help protect your computer right away.  It will not affect your ability to browse the web, and it does not require a reboot of your computer.

Then, on this Friday, Sept. 21, we will release a cumulative update for Internet Explorer through Windows Update and our other standard distribution channels.  We recommend that you install this update as soon as it is available. If you have automatic updates enabled on our PC, you won’t need to take any action – it will automatically be updated on your machine.  This will not only reinforce the issue that the Fix It addressed, but cover other issues as well.

Today’s Advance Notification Service (ANS) provides additional details about the update we are releasing on Friday – MS12-063. We are planning to release this bulletin as close to 10 a.m. PDT as possible. This cumulative update for Internet Explorer has an aggregate severity rating of Critical. It addresses the publicly disclosed issue described in Security Advisory 2757760 as well as four other Critical-class remote code execution issues.

Internet Explorer Administration Kit 10 (IEAK 10) Pre-Release

The IEAK 10 Pre-Release contains programs and tools to help you customize, deploy, and administer Internet Explorer 10 (currently available only with Windows 8) within an organization.

Download the kit today and check out these resources for more information:

Update for Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 available

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2). This article includes information about the contents of the update and how to obtain the update.

Issues that are fixed

This update lets servers that are running Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 SP2 provide updates to computers that are running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

This update fixes the following issues:

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1 is the newest version of MDT, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT 2012 Update 1 supports deployment of Windows 8, Windows 7, Office 2010 and 365, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP.

Overview

Deploy Windows and Office 2010 with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Update 1. MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:

  • Unified tools and processes, including a set of guidance, for deploying desktops and servers in a common deployment console.
  • Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.

Some of the key changes in MDT 2012 Update 1 are:

  • Added support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.
  • Support for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 CTP: Added support in MDT for deploying Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 with Configuration Manager  2012 SP1 CTP, while supporting all new Configuration Manager functionality (offline BitLocker, UEFI, and Assessment and Deployment Kit).
  • Support for DaRT 8 Beta: Updated MDT to support DaRT 8 for Windows 8 deployments, while continuing to support DaRT 7 for Windows 7 deployments.  Added DaRT support for Configuration Manager scenarios.
  • New “Build Your Own Pages” User-Driven Installation (UDI) feature: Enhanced the UDI wizard and designer to enable IT pros to design their own wizard pages with little effort.
  • New System Center 2012 – Orchestrator support: Provided the ability to add steps into an OS deployment task sequence to execute Orchestrator runbooks as part of the deployment process.
  • Other improvements: Added support for Windows PowerShell 3.0, reworked Roles and Features installation logic for Windows 8, improved “boot from VHD” deployment scenarios, and added support for Configuration Manager monitoring.

Continue reading “Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1”

IPD Guide for System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

The Infrastructure Planning and Design team is working on a new guide:System Center 2012 – Operations Manager.

This guide outlines the infrastructure design elements that are crucial to a successful implementation of Operations Manager. It guides you through the process of designing components, layout, and connectivity in a logical, sequential order. You’ll find easy-to-follow steps on identification and design of the required management groups, helping you to optimize the management infrastructure. Continue reading “IPD Guide for System Center 2012 – Operations Manager”