Based on Updating Windows Defender signatures (only) » twm’s blog (thanks Thomas!), I found it would not work on all my Windows systems.
So I wrote a small batch file that works on my Windows 8.x, 7 and XP systems: Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Windows’ Category
Updating Windows Defender signatures (only) on Windows 8, 7 and XP (via: twm’s blog)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/04/08
Posted in Power User, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows XP | Leave a Comment »
Windows: setx sets environment variables in a persistent way (from values on cmd-line, registry or text files)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/04/02
Wow, I totally missed the introduction of SETX.
From TechNet:
SETX:
Creates or modifies environment variables in the user or system environment, without requiring programming or scripting. The Setx command also retrieves the values of registry keys and writes them to text files.
Even better, is that it allows you take values from these sources so it is easy to get those into environment variables:
- Command-line parameter
- Registry key
- Text file (with some filtering/search options)
From a bit of searching around, I think it got introduced in a Windows Resource Kit, and got included by default starting Windows Vista.
Excellent addition to my toolset (:
–jeroen
via Setx.
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Posted in Batch-Files, Development, Power User, Scripting, Software Development, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista | Leave a Comment »
ECC vs non-ECC RAM: The Great Debate (via: Nex7’s Blog). Use the ECC dude.
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/30
Read this very nice post on Nex7’s Blog: ECC vs non-ECC RAM: The Great Debate.
There is no debate. Use ECC dude.
Use ECC especially for server side things (storage, virtualization, databases, etc) where you employ some kind of redundancy/correction in the storage (ZFS, RAID, etc) side of things.
And think about using ECC for the rest of your stuff, especially when things stay in memory for a longer period of time (in-memory processing of data can speed up things a lot, but also increase the risk).
Summary:
There is no debate here. None.
[…]
if you think non-ECC RAM can compete with ECC RAM, you are mistaken. If you think there’s a risk/reward analysis here, you’re correct. The risk is not gigantic, and there’s a real cost to alleviating that risk. You have to decide if that cost is worth alleviating that risk.
[…]
If you believe there’s a risk/reward plan where you can take the reward and apply to to mitigate the risk, you are back to being mistaken. The only benefit of non-ECC RAM (and thus the only reward in its choice over ECC RAM) is it will make the solution cheaper. There is not, however, any way (that I’ve heard of, yet) you can use the cost savings to mitigate the risk using non-ECC RAM will introduce.
[…]
If you choose to use non-ECC RAM, you open yourself up to a new vector for data corruption/loss/downtime/errors/etc,
one that could (rarely) even cause you to lose your entire filesystem, and one ZFS does not (cannot) resolve for you. Indeed, one it likely can’t even see at all. If you choose to employ non-ECC RAM, or are forced to do so because of circumstance or environmental constraint, that’s potentially understandable (and even acceptable) – but do not then attempt to validate or explain away that choice with pseudoscience or downplaying the risk you’ve added. You are using an inferior solution with an extra vector for data corruption/loss that ECC RAM solutions simply do not have. It is that simple.
[…]
Hint 3: There’s a reason we’re so gung-ho about using ECC RAM for ZFS, and it’s not just because we’re paranoid about data loss (which goes hand in hand with being a ZFS zealot, really). It is because you likely don’t realize how at risk you are. Due to the nature of how ZFS handles writes, your incoming (write) data is at risk of RAM-related bit errors for likely significantly longer than traditional storage solutions or alternative filesystems. 5, 10, 30, 60 or more seconds in a state where it is at risk.
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Posted in *nix, ECC memory, Endian, ESXi4, ESXi5, ESXi5.1, ESXi5.5, Hardware, Hyper-V, Linux, Memory, Power User, SuSE Linux, VMware, VMware ESXi, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 | Tagged: ECC RAM, ZFS | Leave a Comment »
Installing VMware vSphere Client 4.1-5.5 on Windows 8 or 8.1 (via: tech :: stuff)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/29
Until recently, I had all my VMware vSphere Client installations inside a Windows XP VM because Windows XP: relatively light weight, but (as of writing almost) End-of-Life.
I am upgrading that install now, and actually making two installs:
- on Windows Server 2003 R2 (the main VM management VM)
- on Windows 8.1 (my main Windows work laptop)
Of course I needed the installers for vSphere Client 4.1, 5.0, 5.1 and 5.5. The easiest os to get them through the direct download links at VMware: Vsphere Client Direct Download Links | tech :: stuff Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in ESXi4, ESXi5, ESXi5.1, ESXi5.5, Power User, VMware, VMware ESXi, Windows, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows XP | Tagged: VMware, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows XP, Windows XP SP2 | Leave a Comment »
When FINDSTR drives you nuts (via: batch file – Stack Overflow)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/29
The upside of findstr is that it is included with Windows since a long time (at least since Windows XP, later: indeed since Windows ME) and supports a form of regex.
But often it drives you crazy.
When it does, read What are the undocumented features and limitations of the Windows FINDSTR command? – Stack Overflow.
–jeroen
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Posted in Power User, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows ME, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP | Leave a Comment »
smallestdotnet.com via: shanselman/SmallestDotNet (thanks @shanselman)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/29
Brilliant piece of open source:
SmallestDotNet – SmallestDotNet.com is a single page site that does one thing. It tells you the smallest, easiest download you’d need to get the .NET Framework on your system.
Even on Mac OS X it is helpful and recommends Mono and on iOS it recommends looking at MonoTouch.
Thanks Scott Hanselman for making this available!
–jeroen
via:
- shanselman/SmallestDotNet.
- What version of the .NET framework is installed on Windows XP, Vista, and 7? – Stack Overflow.
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Posted in .NET, .NET 1.x, .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5, .NET 4.0, .NET 4.5, Apple, Development, Mac, Mac OS X / OS X / MacOS, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, MacBook, MacBook Retina, MacBook-Air, MacBook-Pro, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Power User, Software Development, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP | Tagged: .NET Framework, scott hanselman | Leave a Comment »
How to Mount and Unmount ISO Files in Windows 8+ (via: TheUnlockr)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/27
Sound of facepalm hitting my head, as I totally by accident found out that as of Windows 8 (un)mounting of ISO files is built into Windows.
Mounting
- Open the folder where you’ve stored your ISO file.
- Right-click on the ISO and select Mount
- You’ll now see the ISO mounted inside your Computer.
- That’s it!
Unmounting:
- Open Computer on your PC.
- Right-click on the virtual drive that was created while mounting ISO file and select Eject.
- The drive disappears after the ISO image is “ejected”.
- That’s it!
–jeroen
via: How to Mount and Unmount ISO Files in Windows 8 | TheUnlockr.
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Posted in Power User, Windows, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 | Leave a Comment »
Windows CSC reset: How to re-initialize the offline files cache and database (via MS Support)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/27
Every once in a while, the local synchronization of offline files mismatches the actual files.
Time for a CSC reset.
Note: you need to be Local Administrator on the machin in order to reset the CSC cache.
Use Reg.exe
You can also automate the process of setting this registry value by using the Reg.exe command line editor. To do this, type the following command in the Reg.exe window:
REG.EXE. REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\NetCache" /v FormatDatabase /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
–jeroen
via: How to re-initialize the offline files cache and database.
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Posted in Batch-Files, Development, Power User, Scripting, Software Development, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8 | 2 Comments »
Computer History Museum Makes Historic MS-DOS 1.1+.20 and Word for Windows 1.1a Source Code Available to the Public (via: Computer History Museum | Press)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/25
Cool: now for download at the Computer History museum:
- We are today releasing the source code of MS-DOS version 1.1 from 1982, and of version 2.0 from 1983.
- We are today revealing the technical magic by releasing the source code to version 1.1a of Word for Windows.
–jeroen
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Posted in Development, Office, Power User, Software Development, Windows, Word | Leave a Comment »
How to install/upgrade to Windows 8.1 RTM without a Microsoft account (via: Super User)
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/03/23
I’ve bitten by this too many times, so here is the link: How to install/upgrade to Windows 8.1 RTM without a Microsoft account.
And the steps:
- Almost af the bottom of the “Sign in to your Microsoft account” screen is a seemingly disabled “Create a new account” clickable area.
Click it! - Then you get into a new screen with a deceiving “Create a Microsoft account” title, but also a “Sign in without a Microsoft account” clickable area.
Click there. - Now create a new local account that is not bound to any email address.
Thanks magicandre1981 for the pictures in the linked post: very helpful!
–jeroen
via: How to install/upgrade to Windows 8.1 RTM without a Microsoft account – Super User.
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Posted in Power User, Windows, Windows 8.1 | Leave a Comment »
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 