DELL
"What is Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and what should I know about its deployment?" DELL-specific info. More..

How to install Service Pack 1 for SBS 2003
MS have made a bit of a disaster of this SP. More...

SQL Server 2000 Licensing Recommendations for Citrix
" In Citrix Presentation Server environments, SQL Server can be licensed based on the number of end users accessing the system or based on the number of CPUs running SQL Server software. SQL Server can not be licensed based solely on the number of Citrix Presentation Servers that access the SQL Server." More...

Create A Bootable/Slipstreamed Windows XP Installation CD
Great Article from The Elder Geek. More...

Exchange - Copying mailstore to remote server
Ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\temp\FirstStorageGroup.bks" /n
"FirstStorageGroup" /d "FirstStorageGroup" /v:no /r:no /rs:no /hc:off
/fu /m normal /j "FirstStorageGroup" /l:s /f
"z:\ExchBackup\ExchBackup2005-05-24.bkf"

Exchange - Forwarding Mail
How to configure a mailbox to forward mail to a mail-enabled contact. More...

Exchange - Defrag?
Is an offline defragmentation really worth it? More...

Free TS Tools
Includes a Bandwidth Analysis Tool. More...

Defragmenting Disks the Windows 2003 Way
"In Windows Server 2003, you can use WMI to check the defragmentation status on remote computers; in fact, you can even use WMI to defragment those remote machines." More...

FAQs on Spyware and Malware
Good link for educating clients. I've given up asking them to stop using IE. More...

WPA2 update for XP SP2
WPA2, the second generation of WPA, was certified in September 2004. It is backward-compatible with WPA, and confirms that a computer's wireless software is compatible with the 802.11i wireless standard created by the IEEE. More...

SQL Resources
Outstanding - part of MVP's site. More...

Tasks for initial switch configuration
Some good advice on what to do including security and how to start optimizing the configuration. More...

REG.EXE
"We have all worked with software that requires certain settings to be adjusted while the software's user is logged in to the system. This can be very frustrating when more than one person uses a system." More...

Freeware Utilities
By MVP, Yizhar Hurwitz. Includes NUTS (Network UTilities Set), some for TS. More...

Patch Experience Database
"This database is designed to allow you to share your tips, tricks or horror stories deploying patches". More...

Top 100 Microsoft Windows 2003 Terminal Services KB Articles
By Jim Kenzig More...

M0n0wall
Freeware firewall, based on FreeBSD. Useful in a pinch! More...

Citrix - determining Which Server Contains the Data Store
"An administrator is unfamiliar with the farm structure and needs to identify which server contains the Access or SQL data store." More...

SQL Server Performance Tuning
Excellent SQL Advice. More...

Spamihilator
Free anti-spam engine for use with stand-alone POP clients. More...

Common Mistakes When Upgrading a Windows 2000 Domain To a Windows 2003 Domain
Excellent pointers by an MVP. More...

Tips on backup and restore technologies
Problems, Classifications, Windows VSS, Windows-powered NAS. More...

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit
The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit for Windows XP, including Service Pack 2, and Windows Server 2003 contains the tools and documentation you need to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying on these platforms. More...

Run Netsh in a graphics mode
In XP, this is handy for end user support, run the following at a cmd prompt:
Netsh Diag GUI

Bluetooth Security Review, Part 1
Problems are similar to most other wireless technologies More...

Spyware Guide
From basics to advice and white papers from Searchsmb.com.
For example, the top 10 Spyware threats:

1. CoolWebSearch (CWS)
CoolWebSearch may hijack any of the following: Web searches, home page, and other Internet Explorer settings. Recent variants of CoolWebSearch install using malicious HTML applications or security flaws, such as exploits in the HTML Help format and Microsoft Java virtual machines.

2. Gator (GAIN)
Gator is an adware program that may display banner advertisements based on user Web surfing habits. Gator is usually bundled with numerous free software programs, including the popular file-sharing program Kazaa.

3. 180search Assistant
180search Assistant is an adware program that delivers targeted pop-up advertisements to a user’s computer. Whenever a keyword is entered into a search engine or a targeted Web site is visited, 180search Assistant opens a separate browser window displaying an advertiser's Web page that is related to the keyword or site.

4. ISTbar/AUpdate
ISTbar is a toolbar used for searching pornographic web sites that, when linked to, may display pornographic pop-ups and hijack user homepages and Internet searches.

5. Transponder (vx2)
Transponder is an IE Browser Helper Object that monitors requested Web pages and data entered into online forms, then delivers targeted advertisements.

6. Internet Optimizer
Internet Optimizer hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own controlling server at http://www.internet-optimizer.com.

7. BlazeFind
BlazeFind may hijack any of the following: Web searches, home page and other Internet Explorer settings. BlazeFind may redirect Web searches through its own search engine and change default home pages to www.blazefind.com. This hijacker may also change other Internet Explorer settings.

8. Hot as Hell
Hot as Hell is a dialer program which dials toll numbers in order to access paid pornographic Web sites. Hot as Hell may disconnect a user’s computer from a local Internet provider and reconnect the user to the Internet using an expensive toll or international phone number. It does not spy on the user, but it may accrue significant long distance phone charges. It may run in the background, hiding its presence.

9. Advanced Keylogger
Advanced Keylogger, a keystroke logger, has the ability to monitor keystrokes and take screen shots.

10. TIBS Dialer
TIBS Dialer is a dialer that may hijack a user’s modem and dial toll numbers that access paid, pornographic Web sites.

CurrPorts
"Displays the list of all currently opened TCP/IP and UDP ports on your local computer. For each port in the list, information about the process that opened the port is also displayed, including the process name, full path of the process, version information of the process (product name, file description, and so on), the time that the process was created, and the user that created it. In addition, CurrPorts allows you to close unwanted TCP connections, kill the process that opened the ports, and save the TCP/UDP ports information to HTML file , XML file, or to tab-delimited text file. CurrPorts also automatically mark with pink color suspicious TCP/UDP ports owned by unidentified applications (Applications without version information and icons)" More...

Guide to Rootkits

Be afraid. Be very afraid... More...

Unlocker
When installed, it creates a right-click context menu in Explorer that provides you with a list of what processes are holding a lock on a particular file. Select the processes, click Unlock, and the locks are freed up. You are then free to move, delete or modify the file. More...

Network Notepad
A Freeware program for creating interactive network diagrams. More...

Reset local administrator passwords with VBScript
Via login script. You can do this via Group Policy of course but that would affect only Windows 2000 or higher workstations. More...

Freeware Backup Tools
Useful for workgroups or those on a budget. SyncBack is rated highly here. More...

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
I seem to remember that TweakUI used to have something like this. More here.

Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager
"Use this application to backup and restore presentation, pictures, songs and applications from and to USB Flash Drive devices and take them with you. Use USB Flash Drives to store personal data, to keep your network configuration and to share information with your friends. Microsoft USB Flash Drive" XP only and needs .NET 1.1 framework.
Do you want to know more?

Local Security Utility.exe
For changing a local admin passwords. Very Cool!
Do you want to know more?

Small, Fast, Clean.
"Foxit PDF Reader is a free reader for PDF (eBook) documents. You can view and print PDF documents with it."

How to patch SQL Server
Step-by-Step Guide Guides: Part 1 and Part 2.

UserLock
A 3rd party tool - prevents simultaneous logons etc. More info

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
The tool is an MS-version of Stinger targeting common malware.

IIS Diagnostics Toolkit
Microsoft has combined four of the most commonly-used IIS troubleshooting tools into a single download called the IIS Diagnostics Toolkit
- Authentication & Access Control Diagnostics 1.0
- Log Parser 2.2
- SMTP Diagnostics 1.0
- SSL Diagnostics 1.0