Windows Update - While updating my computer I get an error message 8024A006

Simple fix potentially for this one,

Run, services.msc, right click on Windows Update, stop 
Run,% windir% \ SoftwareDistribution, erase everything 
Run, services.msc, right click on Windows Update, start 


This has fixed this problem for me with not only Vista and Windows 7, but also Server 2008 and 2008 R2 as well!

Add a machine to a domain on the other side of a VPN connection...

The problem probably is that the computers in the remote office can't "find" the domain because they are on the other side of a routed interface...  You can get around that by putting entries in the HOSTS and LMHOSTS files on the 2 remote computers to point to the resources in the other office...

Let's assume the following (customize for your network)

Domain Controller name: SERVER
Domain mane: MYDOMAIN
Domain Controller IP Address: 192.168.0.100

On the remote PC's add to the HOSTS file the following line:

192.168.0.100    SERVER

In the LMHOSTS file add the following:

192.168.0.100   #PRE   #DOM:MYDOMAIN

Those files can be found in the c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc folder.  Depending on the operating system, you may need an elevated command prompt (if your modifying them from the command prompt) or need to change permissions if your using Windows 7 or Vista.

Once you've added those entries to those files, from a command prompt as an Administrator, type the following command:

nbtstat -R

That will reload the netbios name space and your should now be able to contact the domain to add the machine to it.  Oh, one more thing, you want to make sure that those workstations are pointing to the domain controller as their DNS server, that is requies so that they can find the service records for the Active Directory services (such as Kerberos and LDAP).

Create a bootable WinPE USB drive...

I love this, I was able to create a bootable USB thumb drive with Windows PE and put tools on it to get to a local file system and reset the local admin passwords!  Take a look at the following...

Creating A Bootable WinPE 2.0 USB Key

Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE) 2.0 is a slimed down version of Windows (hence all the MiniNT references) that used to be the exclusive domain of OEM's providers. Microsoft has wisely chosen to offer this to the masses as part of the Windows AIK. USB keys can be found just about anywhere these days for next to nothing. Combine the capabilities of WinPE with the portability of a USB key and you just made a very powerful troubleshooting, imaging, and data recovery tool. Here is a quick step by step on how to do just that:
Step 1. ) Get USB Key
You probably already have a few and if not you can purchase these just about anywhere, so I won't tell you where to get one.  You should get a USB 2.0 device of at least 512mb in size, but if you plan on putting a lot into a custom PE install or plan on using it to transfer data too then you are better served getting a larger size (2.0-4.0GB)
Step 2.) Download and Install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK)
This deployment oriented tool set contains Windows PE 2.0.
Step 3.) Format the USB key
Note: This must be done from Windows Vista or 7
Start a command prompt and run the following. This set of commands assumes your USB key is detected as disk 1, you should double check that by doing a list of the disks before cleaning it. If you have multiple hard drives you could end up wiping your second drive using this command. You have been warned.

• Diskpart
• list disks
• select disk 1 (where disk 1 is your thumb drive)
• clean
• create partition primary
• select partition 1
• active
• format fs=fat32
• assign
• exit

Step 4.) Setup Windows PE

• In this step you will create and customize WinPE for your disk. From the machine that you installed the Windows AIK go to the start menu and select "Windows PE Tools Command Prompt" from under the Windows AIK program folder.
• Run Copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86
• you can create an 64-bit version by changing the architecture from x86 to amd64
• Add customizations to WinPE
• copy any tools you want available to the C:\winpe_x86\iso folder such as imaging tools if you want to use this for capturing images (imagex, wimscript.ini)

Step 5 .) Copy Windows PE to USB Key
Insert the USB key into the machine that you have WinPE on and run the following command to copy the contents to the USB Key

xcopy c:\winpe_x86\iso\*.* /s /e /f e:\
change c: to reflect the drive your files on and e: to be your USB key.

There you have it...a quick way to make a handy USB version of WinPE that you can take with you anywhere.  These can be used in almost any modern computer that supports USB booting. More information on this and other great things you can do with Windows PE are located in the Windows AIK.

I love some of these mac/pc parodies

Some parodies are better than others, but I love this one :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7JH1FT_yM

An attempt to prepare the storage group '' for backup failed because the storage group is already in the process of being backed up. The error code is

This event is logged when a VSS backup operation fails in Exchange 2007, because: 
1. VSS uses the Microsoft Jet database engine to freeze or thaw a snapshot backup.
2. The Jet database engine encounters an error.
3. The Jet database engine silently frees all storage groups from the snapshot session when the error occurs.

Solution?  Dismount the Stores and restart the Information Store service....

Really?  Come on Microsoft, I'm going to dismount my stores and restart the information store service before I backup my database every night?  I don't think so...

Password Recovery on Cisco VPN 3000 Concentrator

This describes the password recovery procedure for the following Cisco Virtual Private Network (VPN) products running version 2.5.1 or later.

Cisco VPN 3002
Cisco VPN 3005
Cisco VPN 3015
Cisco VPN 3030
Cisco VPN 3060
Cisco VPN 3080

Note: For concentrators running code version 2.5 or earlier, contact the Cisco TAC for password recovery assistance.

Default Password
The factory default passwords for the Cisco VPN 3000 Series are:
username: admin
password: admin

Step-by-Step Procedure

Follow the steps below to recover a password.

• Connect a PC to the VPN Concentrator via a straight-through RS-232 serial cable between the console port on the VPN Concentrator and the COM1 or serial port on the PC (Cisco supplies the cable with the system).
• Start a terminal emulator (HyperTerminal) on the PC. Configure a connection on COM1 with port settings of:
  • 9600 bits per second
  • 8 data bits
  • no parity
  • 1 stop bit
  • hardware flow control
  • Set the emulator for VT100 emulation, or let it auto-detect the emulation type.
• When the Concentrator boots, and after the power-up diagnostics check is complete, a line of three dots (…) appears on the console, a sample of which is shown below for reference. Press Ctrl-C within 3 seconds after seeing these dot. This displays a menu that lets you reset the system passwords to their defaults.

Boot-ROM Initializing...
Boot configured 128Mb of RAM.
...
Loading image ..........
Verifying image checksum ...........
Active image loaded and verified...
Starting loaded image...
Starting power-up diagnostics...
...

!— At this second set of three dots, press Ctrl-C.

Main Menu Options
-----------------
1 - Reset Passwords
Q - Quit Main Menu

What gives AT&T? I'm staring at a tower, have full signal, and still can't make a call?

Now I understand that there are times when any technology will have problems, but seriously?  AT&T, I was driving by, staring at a cell tower with full signal on my phone, and I couldn't complete a call?  I tried two different numbers five different times and finally got my Verizon phone to make the call...

AT&T, Less bars in More Places!