[EDIT] 09-04-2013 : As described in my blog post, this script has become unnecessary for most people. This is because Microsoft to allow almost every Flash site by default. [EDIT]
[EDIT] 13-01-2013 : Apparently for Windows RT, the script doesn’t seem to be working yet. Unfortunately I have no Windows RT to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. [EDIT]
Windows 8 and Windows RT include support for Flash in Internet Explorer 10.
In Windows 8 there are however two version of Internet Explorer 10 that handle flash websites differently. First there’s Internet Explorer 10 Desktop, which is similar as the Internet Explorer you’ve been used to with previous versions of Windows. Then there’s also Internet Explorer 10 (non Desktop), which is the Internet Explorer in the new modern/Windows interface (Metro) that is full screen.
Internet Explorer 10 Desktop allows Flash for all websites. Internet Explorer 10 (Metro) only allows Flash for websites that have been whitelisted.
Especially for Windows tablets, Flash support can be a selling point because most other tablets don’t have Flash support. It is however confusing for regular consumers that not all their websites will work. By example a friend of mine who’s a hairdresser, uses http://www.kapperssite.nl to show her customers hair models and their haircuts. The site is however completely in Flash and that it is not working by default is very annoying.
The websites that have been whitelisted are defined in your local appdate folder. By example: “C:\Users\Bjorn\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml”. This file also contains information about websites and which compatibility mode should be used for each. The segment between <flash> and </flash> contains the websites that have been whitelisted for flash. You can manually modify this file as described here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1961793
Basic steps include:
- Modifying the iecompatdata.xml to add the websites you want to whitelist for Flash. Wildcards don’t work unfortunately.
- Open Internet Explorer 10 Desktop, press ALT, Tools, “Compatibility View setting”. Then Disable “Download updated compatibility lists from Microsoft”. This way Microsoft won’t overwrite the updates you’ve made in step 1.
- Delete the IE10 browser history. The disadvantage of this method however is, that you won’t be taking advantage of future compatibility updates because you’ve disabled the update functionality. Leaving it enabled however means that you you would have to keep re-adding sites you want to whitelist for Flash.
As a workaround, I’ve created this script that will automatically perform these tasks:
- Disable “Download updated compatibility lists from Microsoft”
- Close all internet explorer processes.
- Download the latest iecompatdata.xml to the appropriate folder. Currently the latest version is: https://iecvlist.microsoft.com/ie10/201206/iecompatviewlist.xml
The script however will dynamically look for the latest versions by modifying the date in the url.
- Combine the data from the latest iecompatdata.xml with websites you want to whitelist for Flash (specified in “C:\Users\Bjorn\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\flashsitestoadd.txt).
- Backup the original iecompatdata.xml and store the modified iecompatdata.xml
- Clear the Internet Explorer browsing history.
Because automatic downloading of updated compatibility lists has been disabled, I advise to schedule the script to run on a regular basis (by example monthly). For instructions read this blog post: http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2012/08/11/weekend-scripter-use-the-windows-task-scheduler-to-run-a-windows-powershell-script.aspx Keep in mind that this will clear your Internet Explorer browsing history though.
Tags: automation, Compatibility list, Flash, Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 10, Powershell, Script, Scripting, Whitelist, Windows, Windows 8, Windows RT
Many companies and people in the past have encountered where they lost users, groups or other resources from Active Directory either by disaster or human error. Since Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use the Active Directory Recycle Bin to easily recover from this.
The AD Recycle Bin features requires a forest functional level of Server 2008 R2 or higher and is disabled by default. Also, once it has been enabled it cannot be disabled.
With Windows Server 2008 R2 you could only enable the AD Recycle Bin using Windows PowerShell and you could also only restore objects using CLI. With Windows Server 2012 you can both enable and restore very easily from the GUI using Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC).
The script can be found here.
The script basically performs the following steps:
- Determine the current forest.
- Use parts of the current forest name to dynamically generate a command that is appropriate for every environment to enable the Active Directory Recycle Bin Feature.
- If the Active Directory Recycle Bin Feature hasn’t been enabled yet, enable it.
Even though it has become very easy to do using the GUI in Windows Server 2012, automating is Always better. Therefore I also added it to the script I used in: Home LAB Setup guide – 04 Configuring Server 2012 VM as DC with DNS and DHCP using PowerShell
Tags: Active Directory, active directory recycle bin, AD, AD Recycle Bin, automation, Powershell, recycle bin, Script, Scripting, Windows
In the first part of this LAB setup guide, I described the hardware selection process.
In the second part, I described the hypervisor selection and installation.
In the third part, I described VM guest considerations and preparations.
In the fourth part, I described Configuring Server 2012 VM as DC with DNS and DHCP using PowerShell
In the fifth part, I described easily creating (many) proper AD users with PowerShell
In this post I will describe creating a local PowerShell v3 Help Repository.
First of all, let me explain what a local PowerShell v3 Help Repository is and why you might want it. With PowerShell v3 not all help files are included. You can however always selectively download the latest versions of the help files (for specific commands). This saves space and also makes for a more flexible system where help files can be updated more easily.
Downloading the updates to the help files requires an internet connection however, and this might not be possible or desirable in many situations. Also if every server would download these files from the internet, this would waste internet bandwidth. Microsoft realizes this and provides you with the option to create a local PowerShell v3 Help Repository.
My script to create this local PowerShell v3 Help Repository can be found here. The basic steps include:
- Create a folder where the Help files will be stored.
- Share the folder.
- Create a scheduled task to daily update the help files in .the share
- Create a file in the share that contains the command that needs to be run from another server to update its help files using the local repository (so you don’t have to remember the command).
As stated in step 4, you can manually update the help files. Personally I prefer creating a GPO that creates a scheduled task on every other system to update the help files on a regular basis using the local repository share you just made. This way when you need the help files, you don’t have to wait until the update has been completed and you also don’t have to rely on internet access.
Personally I would have preferred it if Microsoft also offered an option to deploy the help file updates using WSUS. But for now, this will have to do.
Tags: account, automate, help, help files, Help Repository, ICT, lab, Powershell, Powershell 3.0, Powershell v3, scheduled task, Script, share, update, update help files, Update-help
In the first part of this LAB setup guide, I described the hardware selection process.
In the second part, I described the hypervisor selection and installation.
In the third part, I described VM guest considerations and preparations.
In the fourth part, I described Configuring Server 2012 VM as DC with DNS and DHCP using PowerShell
In this post I want to share with you this great blog post “How to use PowerShell to populate Active Directory with plenty enough users for SharePoint” by Wictor Wilén – SharePoint MCA, MCM and MVP.
What you basically do is:
- Use http://www.fakenamegenerator.com to create x number of users from countries you specify and containing fields/data that you specify. This will be sent by mail for free as a .csv
- Use PowerShell to import the CSV and create the user accounts in AD.
What I like about the method is that besides creating many users, it also uses user data that you could encounter in real-life. Also you can modify the user data to more closely match your desired environment. By example by specifying that you want to have Dutch and US names only. For testing purposes, it can be good to include names with strange characters as well, because when these work well …. chances are that everything works well.
[UPDATE 25-01-2014]
Since there were some issues with the original source, I decided to store a cached version as PDF as well (just in case) : How to use PowerShell to populate Active Directory with plenty enough users for SharePoint
It is best to visit the original site though, if it’s available.
[UPDATE 25-01-2014]
[UPDATE 24-03-2016]
An alternative method is displayed here: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Create-Real-Fake-Names-e1635ef4
[UPDATE 24-03-2016]
Tags: account, Active Directory, Active Directory Domain Services, AD DS, automate, DC, Domain Controller, fake name generator, ICT, lab, name generator, Powershell, Script, user, user data
In the first part of this LAB setup guide, I described the hardware selection process.
In the second part, I described the hypervisor selection and installation.
In the third part, I described VM guest considerations and preparations.
In this post I cover quickly configuring a Server 2012 VM as DC with DNS and DHCP by using PowerShell.
The steps I do take less than 10 minutes in my test lab now. Here’s a short description:
- Create a VM that uses your previously made parent disk.
- Configure the server name and IP addressing and reboot the computer.
- Install AD DS (domain controller) including DNS forward lookup zone and reboot the computer.
- Configure AD and DNS : Enable AD Recycle Bin, Add DNS forwarder, add DNS reverse lookup zone, create DNS PTR record for DC.
- Install + configure DHCP : Install DHCP, Add scope, configure scope, authorize DHCP server in AD.
The scripts I’ve created for steps 2 to 5 can be found here and are based on the great work Stefan Stranger already did in his blog post Installing a new OpsMgr 2012 (SP1) environment the fast way. I added some stuff of my own so it would meet my needs and I tried to keep it as generic as possible so other people can re-use my code as well.
PS: In step 2, IP addressing is not in place yet. To get scripts tot the system, consider:
- Putting the scripts in an ISO file that you can mount.
- Opening Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection to VM and using “Clipboard”, “Type Clipboard Text”.
Tags: Active Directory, Active Directory Domain Services, AD DS, automate, configuration, DC, DHCP, DNS, Domain Controller, Domain Naming System, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, forward lookup zone, forwarder, Hyper-V, hypervisor, ICT, installation, lab, Powershell, reverse lookup zone, Script, Virtual Machine, virtualization, VM
At November 23rd the 1st Dutch Powershell User Group (DuPSUG) meeting will be held in November at Master IT in Eindhoven for free.
Sessions:
- Using Windows PowerShell 3.0 to manage the remote Windows 8 workstation
Ed Wilson (Microsoft Scripting Guy)
- PowerShell and WMI
Richard Siddaway (PowerShell MVP)
- What’s new in PowerShell 3.0
Bert Wolters (Microsoft Certified Trainer with Master it Training)
- Protect your PowerShell scripts with version control
Stefan Stranger (Senior Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft Netherlands)
- From command, to script, to function, to advanced function, to tool.
Jeff Wouters (freelance Technology Specialist at Methos IT)
Read more about the meeting, the sessions and the speakers here: http://www.dupsug.com/
Also keep in mind that the available seats are very limited, so quickly sign up if your interested.
Tags: advanced function, application, Bert Wolters, DuPSUG, Dutch PowerShell User Group, Ed Wilson, function, ICT, IT, Jeff Wouters, Master, Master IT, Microsoft Scripting Guy, power shell, Powershell, Powershell 3.0, Richard Siddaway, Script, Scripting, Stefan Stranger, tool, Version control, WMI
Context
As most people, I often complain about not having sufficient time. It also doesn’t help that I have a lot of hobbies and interests. Because of this I decided to combine my hobbies and interests in such a way it would eventually save me time.
Basically I decided to learn powershell scripting by automating the task of renaming downloaded movies. These need to be in a specific format for reliable use with the movie jukebox called Yet Another Movie Jukebox (YAMJ). As a result this will save me a lot of time in the future.
Concept for the script
The file names of most movies I download are mostly in the following format:
The.Devils.Advocate.1997.UNRATED.DC.720p.BluRay.X264-AMIABLE.mkv
<movie.name>.<movie release year>.<metadata>.<metadata>…..<last.metadata>.<file extension>
What is important for YAMJ to work correctly is basically the movie name and the year (just in case there are movies with the same name, but released in a different year). So basically my preferred output would be:
The Devils Advocate 1997.mkv
To realise this, conceptually the following will be done for all files in a specific folder:
- Determine the current file extension and save it to a variable.
- Remove all dots “.” from the file name.
- Determine if there is a year notation in the file name (by example 1997).
- If there is no year notation found, don’t do anything else (file does not meet the expected format).
- If the year notation is found, remove everything from the file name after the year notation and re-add the file extension.
The script itself
The script itself can be found on my sharepoint list :
http://bjornhouben-web.sharepoint.com/Lists/Scripts/
Closing thoughts
I hope this will help home users to see the advantages of scripts, use them and benefit from it. For ICT professionals I also hope that it will help them get a better understanding of Powershell. Because in my opinion Powershell is getting increasingly important both for Microsoft and non Microsoft products (by example VMware).
I’d love to get feedback about this post and hope to receive some replies.
Tags: automation, File, File rename, Movie, Movies, Powershell, Rename, Script, Scripting, Windows, YAMJ, Yet Another Movie Jukebox
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