October 2009 - Posts

[MS KBs] New KB Articles At Microsoft 28 Oct 2009 - Weekly Summary

Internet Explorer 6.0


976749 You receive a VBScript "Type Mismatch" script error message in Internet Explorer after you install cumulative security update 974455


Outlook 2003

975123 Description of the Outlook 2003 hotfix package (Outlooknminus1.msp): September 23, 2009


SQL Server 2005

974648 Cumulative update package 6 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3

974205 FIX: Error message in the SQL Server 2005 Errorlog file after the SQL Server service stops responding: “Timeout occurred while waiting for latch”

974647 Cumulative update package 16 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2

974777 FIX: Database restore operation may fail during the recovery phase when the database uses query notification in SQL Server 2005

974985 FIX: A "DBCC CHECKDB" statement or a "DBCC CHECKTABLE" statement reports errors after you rebuild an XML index in SQL Server 2005

974247 FIX: You receive an error message when you run a SQL Server Compact 3.5-based application after you install the 32-bit version of SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5 Service Pack 2 Beta on an x64 computer

974296 FIX: A deadlock occurs when you perform an operation that cleans up the security cache in SQL Server 2005

973643 FIX: The synchronization of a merge publication that uses Web synchronization takes a very long time to finish after the initial synchronization in SQL Server 2005

975681 FIX: The database mirroring session is suspended when you add more than one log transaction file to a folder on the principle server that does not exist on the mirror server

974067 FIX: You use the COUNT function on a column that is returned by a subquery that returns no rows in SQL Server 2005, and an incorrect result is returned

975090 FIX: Deadlocks may occur when multiple concurrent query notification subscriptions are fired on same objects in SQL Server 2005

974785 FIX: An API cursor plan that is created by a plan guide is not reused when the cursor is active

972926 FIX: The connection to a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services catalog database encounters an error, and the connection is not reset

975134 FIX: Capitalization and accent changes on a column of user-defined data type are not propagated in SQL Server 2005 merge replication

200360 Schema changes are repeatedly enumerated by merge agent during synchronization operation of merge replication in SQL Server

975417 FIX: A SELECT statement returns an incorrect result set if a linked server is being used in SQL Server 2005

975860 FIX: A full backup with snapshot may cause SQL Server 2005 to stop responding

976041 FIX: You receive an incorrect result when you run a query that uses a parallel execution plan in SQL Server 2005

975089 FIX: The restore operation takes a long time when you restore a database that has query notification enabled in SQL Server 2005

975230 FIX: You receive an incorrect result when you run a query that uses a ranking function on a partitioned table in SQL Server 2005

974319 FIX: Error message when you use database mirroring in SQL Server 2005, and an assertion failure occurs intermittently: "SQL Server Assertion: File: , line=823 Failed Assertion = 'result == LCK_OK'."

975159 FIX: For SQL Server Compact Edition (CE) Subscribers, only schema without data is replicated for newly added articles to an existing Merge Publication using “ExchangeType.Upload”

974130 FIX: A memory leak may occur if you use a linked server query to retrieve a sql_variant column from a remote server in SQL Server 2005


Windows Server 2003

200413 IEEE 1394 Asynchronous Requests Complete With Incorrect Data or Status and Time Out Under High Transfer Rates

973871 An application may encounter an access violation exception when it uses the Hbaapi.dll module to query information from a DVD drive or a CD drive that is attached to an HBA adapter on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 SP2

976647 The migration of hotfixes may fail after the installation of a Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP service pack

976826 Upgrading a member server to Windows Server 2008 R2 does not fully remove FRS


Windows Server 2008

974971 Error message when you use the CryptAcquireContext function to request a handle to a third-party CSP on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008: "0x800b0100 (Invalid Signature)"

975710 Operating system deployment over a network by using WDS fails in Windows Server 2008

976160 Converting an active lease to a reservation causes the lease to become inactive on Windows Server 2008

974504 The Windows Remote Manager (WinRM) service does not start after you uninstall WinRM 2.0 on Windows Server 2008 or on Windows Vista

976161 PCI bridge device firmware actions do not run when PCI configuration space becomes available

974759 Stop error message on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista: "0x00000027 RDR_FILE_SYSTEM"

975702 Error message when you change security settings for a folder that contains a child object for which you do not have access permission: "Access is denied"

200411 The HRA snap-in is missing after uninstalling and re-installing the HRA Role service

974522 A LDAP simple bind action fails on a domain controller that is running Windows Server 2008 if the distinguished name of the user account exceeds 256 characters

972145 "Internet Explorer" is mentioned in several UI phrases for Windows Media Player even though you disable Internet Explorer in Windows Vista

959757 You receive a "1402" error when you use RemoteApps to deploy Windows Installer packages to thin clients from a server that is running Windows Server 2008


Windows Vista Enterprise

976982 When installing updates using Windows update or Microsoft Update you may receive Error 0x643 or 0x80070643

961741 An update that adds RemoteApp support is available for Windows Vista-based virtual machines that are running on Windows 7-based computers

[ConfigMgr] Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2

The Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Management Pack adds support for monitoring Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 in a 64-bit environment with Operations Manager 2007 R2 or Operations Manager 2007 SP1 with hotfix (KB971541) installed. This enables the Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Management Pack to work with either the 32-bit or the 64-bit Operations Manager 2007 agent. Except for the 64-bit support, the other features and guidance for Configuration Manager 2007 Management Packs remain intact.
This management pack includes:

  • Detection and monitoring of all Configuration Manager servers and dependent services
  • The alert driven state
  • The site hierarchy diagram
  • Performance and backlog monitoring and configuration
  • Performance and availability reports

Before you install the Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Management Pack, read the Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 Management Pack User's Guide. The guide includes the instructions you need to correctly deploy, configure and use the management pack.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a8443173-46c2-4581-b3b8-ce67160f627b

[MS Security Bulletin] Major Revisions Issued: October 28, 2009

Summary
The following bulletins have undergone a major revision increment.
Please see the appropriate bulletin for more details.
  * MS09-062 - Critical

Bulletin Information:
* MS09-062 - Critical
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-062.mspx
- Reason for Revision: V2.0 (October 28, 2009): Added Microsoft
    Office Visio Viewer 2007, Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2007
    Service Pack 1, and Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2007
    Service Pack 2 as affected software, and added SQL Server
    2008 and SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 to the Non-Affected
    Software table. Also added notes to the Affected Software
    table for SQL Server 2005 customers with a Reporting Services
    SharePoint dependency; corrected the MBSA detection entries
    for Microsoft Report Viewer; and corrected the log file and
    registry key verification information for Microsoft Internet
    Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 when installed on Microsoft Windows
    2000 Service Pack 4. 
- Originally posted: October 13, 2009
- Updated: October 28, 2009
- Bulletin Severity Rating: Critical
- Version: 2.0

[ConfigMgr] TechNet Webcast: Automating Windows 7 Deployments Using System Center Configuration Manager (Level 300)

Whilst we’re on the subject of webcasts here’s another one that’s happening on the 11th November (my birthday :-)

Language(s): English.

Product(s): Windows,Windows 7.

Audience(s):  IT Generalist.

Duration: 60 Minutes

Start Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Event Overview
We focus on automating Windows 7 operating system deployments using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager in this webcast. First, we cover how to automate hardware and software inventory using Asset Intelligence to determine what applications and hardware are needed for deploying Windows 7. Next, we examine deploying Windows 7 packages, and we discuss how to add Windows 7 packages to System Center Configuration Manager and then the deploy packages to bare metal machines and existing Windows Vista clients across the enterprise.          

Presenter: Kevin Remde, Senior IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation

Prolific blogger, Kevin Remde shares his thoughts, ideas, and tips on the TechNet Events Bloggers Web site and the IT Professional Community Web site. As a webcast presenter, he has landed on the Microsoft top 10 webcast list several times. Kevin has worked as both a developer and an IT professional, so he loves sharing helpful new solutions and technologies with his IT peers. At Microsoft, Kevin relishes the opportunity to generate fresh ideas and run with them. He received his bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!), where he also studied music theory and composition.

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032416867&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Posted by Cliff Hobbs - MVP | with no comments

[ConfigMgr] TechNet Webcast: Technical Overview: System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2 and R3 (Level 200)

Just a reminder this is taking place next Tuesday, 3rd November:

Language(s): English.

Product(s): Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.

Audience(s):  IT Generalist.

Duration: 60 Minutes

Start Date: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Event Overview
With the release of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems, new capabilities and usage scenarios are emerging for system management. Economic, regulatory, green IT, and security issues continue to be the challenges organizations face. In this webcast, we provide a technical update and overview for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. We focus on Service Pack 2 and R3 enhancements, market capabilities, and describe our near-term release road map.

Presenter: Jeff Wettlaufer, Senior Technical Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032428200&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Posted by Cliff Hobbs - MVP | with no comments

[Events] SQLBits - Thursday 19th - Saturday 21st November, Newport, Wales

We are pleased to announce SQLBits goes West, the 5th instalment of SQLBits conferences. We are making it even bigger and better than last time, now spanning 3 days, and still keeping everything that has worked so well at previous events.

The event will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport South Wales, just off the M4 motorway.

This is the biggest event yet, with 3 days of top quality SQL Server content. It starts with the pre-conference training day on Thursday 19th, more details coming soon. We have had a lot of feedback about weekday versus weekend during previous events so this time we have added a paid conference day on the Friday 20th, with a SQL 2008 and R2 theme. Finally we have the free Saturday community day, with speakers from around the world covering all manner of SQL Server topics.

http://www.sqlbits.com/default.aspx

[MDT] MDT 2010 Wizard Example: Role Selection

From Michael Niehaus’ blog:

We have seen lots of requests over the past couple of years for a wizard pane that allows you to select from a list of roles that should be applied to a machine, where those roles are defined in the MDT database.  There are a few examples of this available on the web, implemented in different ways.  I’ll throw another one into the mix, this one using an ADO.NET Data Services web service to get the needed data.  (If you didn’t read my previous posting about this setup, click here.)

Continued at:
http://blogs.technet.com/mniehaus/archive/2009/10/28/mdt-2010-wizard-example-role-selection.aspx

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[MDT] New Version of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) Wizard Editor Now Available

Michael Niehaus has just released a new version (v2.1.0) of his MDT Wizard Editor:

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MTD) Wizard Editor is a simple .NET 2.0 application designed to assist with the process of editing the wizard XML manifest files used by the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. While it does not presently help much with the authoring of each wizard pane's content, it does simplify the more tedious parts of editing the XML manifest and the HTML embedded within each wizard pane.
Features available in the current release:

  • Editing. The Wizard Editor can open an wizard, add and remove panes, change and preview a pane's HTML, and change a pane's settings.
  • Testing. The Wizard Editor can execute a wizard, simulating the environment in which it would normally be used.


With version 2 of the wizard editor, the following enhancements have been added:

  • Adds the ability to modify task sequence variable values before running the wizard.
  • Shows the task sequence variables after the wizard completes.
  • Properly encloses XML definition file entries in CDATA tags so that special characters do not cause issues.
  • Works with MDT 2010. (This version has not been tested with MDT 2008, but should probably work with it too.)

 

Here’s the Release Notes for the latest version:

This release contains miscellaneous changes:

  • Added support for copying and pasting panes with new context menu items. When copying, the pane definition is placed on the clipboard. When pasting, a new pane will be added after the currently-selected pane. (You can also paste text from the clipboard as long as it looks like a valid pane, e.g. starts with "<Pane" and ends with "</Pane" and is valid XML.)
  • Fixed the behavior of text editing windows to allow tabs and returns.
  • Added an icon and cleaned up other UI behaviors.

 

To find out more/ download this tool goto:

http://mdtwizardeditor.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=35062

Posted by Cliff Hobbs - MVP | with no comments

[MDT] Using the MDT database from a web service without writing code

I saw this over on Michael Niehaus’ blog. I’m no programmer (“Hello World” is about my limit), but this stuff DOES seem to get be easier as time goes on. Now if only I had something like the Access Report Creator where I could drag and drop stuff round, point buttons at fields to do “stuff” etc. then that WOULD be cool.

The biggest challenge for me (as I’m it is for most people), it too many things we WANT to be doing Vs too many things we SHOULD be doing with too little time. Anyway, enjoy:

One of the new features in the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is ADO.NET Data Services.  This enables you to expose the contents of a data source, e.g. a SQL Server database, through something that looks roughly like an RSS feed, accessed in a similar manner to a web service.  That’s nice but why do you care as an IT pro?  Well, it’s a convenient way of making the contents of the MDT database available to programs or scripts without forcing them to use ADO to access SQL Server directly.

The best part of ADO.NET Data Services:  You really don’t need to write any code.  Just walk through a few Visual Studio 2008 wizards and you’re done – almost.  There are two lines of code that I added, one to day that all the selected tables and rows can be accessed read-only, and a second that generates detailed errors if something doesn’t work.  The basic process is described at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/cc745957.aspx.  (So I lied – you have to write two lines of code.)

The harder part of this is deploying the resulting ADO.NET Data Services project to an IIS server.  You need to have .NET 3.5 SP1 installed, then IIS and ASP.NET need to be installed.  You might need to run “ServiceModelReg.exe –i” to get the ADO.NET Data Services and WCF logic registered in IIS, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms732012.aspx for details.  You will definitely need to edit the database connection string in the Web.Config file to point to your server (and optionally the instance) as well as the database (Initial Catalog) that needs to be used.  And you might need to grant access to SQL Server, the database, and the database tables and views.  (See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms998320.aspx if SQL Server is on the same machine.)  Really, it’s not that bad :-)

The actual ADO.NET Data Services files need to all be dropped in a directory.  After doing this, set up an application in IIS that points to this directory.  At that point, if everything is set up right, you should be able to access the the web service via a browser.  To test it out, try a URL like this:

http://yourserver/YourApplicationName/MDTDatabase.svc

If that gives you a list of objects available in the database (you might need to tell IE not to display the result in RSS Reader view to see the real contents – in IE8, that’s configured on the “Content” tab from the “Feeds and Slices” settings dialog), you know at least IIS, .NET, and ADO.NET are fine.  Then try a more specific URL to request all the computer records:

http://yourserver/YourApplicationName/MDTDatabase.svc/ComputerIdentity

That should result in something that looks like this:

image

Yes, kind of weird looking, but pretty easy to consume in a script.  So that’s the next step – making use of this data.  More on that in the next posting.

The full solution (Visual Studio project, source, binaries, etc.) is attached.

http://blogs.technet.com/mniehaus/archive/2009/10/27/using-the-mdt-database-from-a-web-service-without-writing-code.aspx

Posted by Cliff Hobbs - MVP | with no comments

[MS Security Bulletin] Major Revisions Issued: October 27, 2009

Summary
The following bulletins have undergone a major revision increment.
Please see the appropriate bulletin for more details.
  * MS09-043 - Critical

Bulletin Information:
* MS09-043 - Critical
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-043.mspx
- Reason for Revision: V2.0 (October 27, 2009): Bulletin revised to
    communicate the rerelease of the update for Microsoft Office
    2003 Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components
    Service Pack 3 to fix a detection issue. This is a detection
    change only; there were no changes to the binaries. Customers
    who have successfully updated their systems do not need to
    reinstall this update. 
- Originally posted: August 11, 2009
- Updated: October 27, 2009
- Bulletin Severity Rating: Critical
- Version: 2.0

[Hyper-V] Installing Virtual CD Software in a Virtual Machine

Useful information from the Virtual PC Guy’s blog on using ISO’s in Hyper-V:

Like many Hyper-V users, I have created ISO images of most of my CDs / DVDs (and in the case of my MSDN software – have downloaded in ISO format to begin with).  I then have these images stored on a file server.

It is possible to connect a CD ISO image on a file server to a Hyper-V virtual machine, as long as you are working in a domain environment and you are running the Hyper-V management user interface directly on the Hyper-V server.

If you run the Hyper-V management user interface on a remote computer, you will need to enable constrained delegation in order to use ISO images on a network share.  If you are running in a workgroup environment your only option is to enable anonymous access to the file share that holds your ISO images (obviously not a good idea from a security point of view).

Aside: The reason for these conditions is that Hyper-V requires the use of both your personal user credentials and the Hyper-V servers workstation credentials when connecting an ISO image to the virtual machine. 

Your user credentials are used to verify that you personally have permission to use the ISO image in question.  The use of your user credentials is why constrained delegation needs to be enable for remote management to work.

The Hyper-V server workstation credentials are used to ensure that we can start the virtual machine, and connect the ISO image to the virtual machine, even when you are not logged into the server (for example, if the server needs to be rebooted).  Unfortunately workstation credentials only work in domain environments – so workgroup environments need to enable anonymous access.

As I am using Windows Home Server for my file server – which does not support being joined to a domain – setting up a share with anonymous access was the only option for me.  But I found this idea so abhorrent that I would make local copies of ISO files as I needed them instead. 

Needless to say I was far from happy with this arrangement.

Furthermore, as I often use Remote Desktop to connect directly to the guest operating system in my virtual machines, I have found it irritating to need to switch back to the Hyper-V management user interface solely for the purpose of connecting a new ISO image.

Luckily I have found a simple and elegant solution to both of these problems.

What I have done is to install Virtual CD software inside each of my virtual machines.  This allows me to use ISO images that are stored on my Windows Home Server, and I can connect CD ISO images even when I am connected using Remote desktop.  For my virtual machines I am using Alcohol 52%, but other programs to look at for this include Virtual CloneDrive and DAEMON Tools.

This solution will not work for installing operating systems (but I these days I tend to use Windows Deployment Services for that – so that is not an issue for me) but it works for everything you could think of once the operating system is up and running.

Cheers,
Ben

http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/27/installing-virtual-cd-software-in-a-virtual-machine.aspx

Posted by Cliff Hobbs - MVP | with no comments

[MS KBs] Description of Windows Management Framework BITS

INTRODUCTION

This article describes the Windows Management Framework BITS package.

Windows Management Framework BITS

The Windows Management Framework BITS package provides updated management functionality for IT Professionals. This package includes the Background Intelligent Transfer Service 4.0 (BITS) component.
BITS is a service that transfers files between a client and a server. BITS provides a simple way to reliably transfer files over HTTP or HTTPS. Both downloads and uploads are supported. Unlike other protocols that transfer files in the foreground, BITS transfers files in the background by default. Background transfers use only idle network bandwidth in an effort to preserve the user’s interactive experience with other network applications, such as Internet Explorer. Foregound, or normal, transfers are also supported.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960568

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[MS KBs] Description of the Remote Desktop Connection 7.0 client update for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows Vista SP2

INTRODUCTION

This article discusses the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 7.0 client update tha...

This article discusses the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 7.0 client update that enables you to use the new Remote Desktop Services features. These features are introduced in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2. These features are available for computers that are running Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2).
The RDC 7.0 client can be used to connect to legacy terminal servers or to remote desktops as before. However, the new features that are mentioned in this article are available only when the client connects to a remote computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969084

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[MS KBs] Description of the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista

INTRODUCTION

The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows...

The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista are collections of runtime libraries that make it easy for developers to target a wider customer base.
Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008

  • All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 are already included in Windows Server 2008 R2. The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 is not required for Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • To apply the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, you must have Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 installed.
Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Vista
  • All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Vista are already included in Windows 7. The Platform Update for Windows Vista is not required for Windows 7.
  • To apply the Platform Update for Windows Vista, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 2 installed.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971644

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[Virtualisation] Deploying Windows XP Mode

This document and files provides the guidance and scripts necessary to deploy Windows XP Mode in a corporate environment.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f142a1a-a7b7-4d0b-bd56-d9627f39c14f&displaylang=en

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