if (ms) blog++;
Random bits of (hopefully) useful technical information on Windows, with a focus on understanding and troubleshooting.
Hyper-V Data Exchange Service & “Error 87: The parameter is incorrect” on startup
Recently we came across a case where Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 servers running...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 01/21/2010
Remote Desktop Client & credentials saved in UPN format
Another potential head-scratcher from a recent case… Consider the situation where you have a client...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 01/19/2010
HTTP.SYS / Cryptographic Services / LSASS.EXE deadlock [addendum]
NOTE: This issue has been subsequently fixed in KB237901 for Windows Vista/Server 2008 SP2 (x86 and...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 01/16/2010
End of an era… in 6 months
On July 13th 2010 2 significant things happen: 1. Windows Server 2000 is no longer supported 2....
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 01/15/2010
Pre-mortem debug analysis
We’ve looked at generating dumps of processes, the kernel or the entire set of used physical memory...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 01/13/2010
Hyper-V Virtual Networks
The most common questions that I get on Hyper-V setups relates to the networking configuration, and...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 12/06/2009
Booting from USB to install Windows 7 (take 2)
Previously I have mentioned a method to make a USB memory stick bootable in order to install...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/23/2009
Patches – now served hot and cold
Maintenance (updates, bugfixes) for Windows has typically been through hotfix packages, but these...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/13/2009
Terminal Services roaming profiles & password change at logon
NOTE: The issue described below has been subsequently fixed in KB971388 for Windows Server 2008 SP2...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/02/2009
Capturing network traffic in Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2
Previously a capture filter driver had to be loaded in order to intercept and record all the packets...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 09/10/2009
Network layer tweaks in Windows Server 2008
KB article 951037 describes some of the new features in the OS related to the network layer, some...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 09/09/2009
Windows Server 2003 (x86) tuning for performance based on role
Yes, this is rather late in the day to start talking about W2K3 as we’ve had 2 new versions of...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 09/03/2009
Installing Windows 7 from a bootable USB memory stick
During the beta testing of Windows Vista I used DVD-RW discs to burn daily builds every few days to...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 09/02/2009
Invisible Windows
This is a quick tip on how to resolve what can be a totally baffling experience, at least the first...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 08/31/2009
Windows NT History
As it has just turned 16 years since the release of the first “NT” version of Windows, I thought it...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 08/04/2009
Managing a standalone R2 Hyper-V from domain-joined Windows 7 client
After doing an in-place upgrade of my Windows Server 2008 SP2 Hyper-V host to bring it up to Windows...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 07/30/2009
What's So Special About The Pool?
One of the tools we use to troubleshoot pool memory corruption is the gflags.exe option...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 07/15/2009
Tweaking for Performance (Disks & Volumes)
There are plenty of people that like to tinker with the operating system to “tune” it and hopefully...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 06/21/2009
Service Packs – Levels vs Installers
Following the question left on the previous blog entry Branching Out, I need to clear something up...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 05/29/2009
On Bandwidth and Latency
High bandwidth = good. Low latency = good. There is, however, no direct relationship between the two...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 05/26/2009
Branching Out
Following on from the previous entry regarding hotfix packages and the branches, here is a...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 05/18/2009
GDR, QFE, LDR... WTH?
Update 2012-04-16: Later related blog entries (as the topic grew in its scope and version...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 05/14/2009
Who is more the spool – the spool or the spool who follows the spool?
The Print Spooler service (spoolsv.exe) in Windows is a very simplistic process with an important...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 04/24/2009
The Ubiquitous Pagefile
Windows works with virtual memory - the sum of physical RAM installed and the current size of the...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 03/13/2009
"Memory Camping"
On occasion, Windows may report a failure to start a new process due to insufficient virtual memory,...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 12/22/2008
Virtualization in Vista
Before I begin: this section is not related to Virtual PC, Virtual Server, Hyper-V, App-V or any 3rd...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/25/2008
Don't Trust All Your Eyes Tell You... (hard links in Windows Vista)
There are times when the Windows shell gives you incorrect information - not because it likes lying,...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/25/2008
Genesis
Since 2004 I have worked at Microsoft – starting as a Support Specialist in the Networking team at...
Author: Paul Adams (ex-MSFT) Date: 10/01/2008