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Run Add Printer Wizard as Admin
OK, so I just logged in as the user and she needs a printer set up. I go to the Add Printer link in the Printers and Faxes window only to find out that she doesn’t have the correct privileges to install a local printer (what’s a user going to do hack the company database with an HP Laserjet 4?). Here’s what Josh Schwartz, LAN Admin from Saltillo, MS suggests…
Step 1 open the printers and faxes window. Step 2 goto tools on the menu bar and select folder options. Next in the general tab the first grouping of options is Tasks. Select the radial button next to Use Windows classic folders. You should now see an Add Printer icon at the top of the page. While holding down the shift key, right click the Add printer icon and select Run As. Supply the correct administrative credentials and you can now add a local printer without logging off and back on as an admin.
Awesome idea.
Via TechRepublic
Gmail Tips and Tricks ala The Geek Stuff
I subscribe to “The Geek Stuff’s” RSS feed. 1 of only 3 or 4 so it has to be pretty good. The latest installment is an article outlining “15 Awesome Gmail Tips and Tricks” all very useful to someone I’m sure…
15 Awesome Gmail Tips and Tricks by The Geek Stuff
Windows Update Domain Policy
I have to search for this everytime I’m asked to make a setting so here’s how I do it.
To turn on Windows Update for domain users.
Start – Run – type “mmc” – ok -> This opens Microsoft Management Console.
File – Add/Remove Snap-in.
In the “Available Snap-ins” list select “Group Policy Management Editor and click “Add.”
Select “Browse” – from the “Select Group Policy Object”
Highlight “Domain Controllers.domainName.com” and click “OK” and “OK” and “OK” once more to get to the Console Root
Click the plus signs next to “Default Domain Controllers Policy,” “Computer Configuration,” “Policies,” “Administration Templates: Policy definitions,” and “Windows Components.” Go to the bottom of that list to find “Windows Update.” In the the window to the right you’ll find all the settings that can be enabled to make client PCs update automatically. Not all are beneficial and a few are very annoying so to avoid making your users mad… Double click on a setting and go to the “Explain” tab to read the consequences of enabling or disabling a setting. If you don’t know what you’re about to do, leave it “Not Configured.”
Microsoft Website Prefers Firefox
In 2007 I went to a Vista launch event and recieved a free version of Office 2007. I just moved from a desktop to a laptop so I needed to reinstall. They didn’t give a CD, only a license key and a link to download the software. Well, after so much time has passed the original download site is no longer there. So, you just download the trial version and use the old key; no biggy. Except, that I just went to download the trial with IE8 and kept getting an error message. Tried it in Firefox and the process went straight through without a hitch. Way to go MS for making your site work with Firefox, now if you could just get it to work with your own browser.
Windows File Corruption
With all the malware I’ve been cleaning lately I’ve noticed a rise in windows file corruption. There’s no way to tell if the problem is from the infection or from the cleanup. Probably a little of both but I’d rather blame the infection.
To clean up the file system I do 2 things:
- A hard disk scan: go to My Computer – right click on the C:\ drive and select Properties. In the properties sheet choose the Tools tab. In the Error Checking section click Check Now. In the window that pops up check both selections. You will get a warning that says something like “the check can’t be performed now, do you want to schedule for the next time you reboot” click yes and restart your computer.
- sfc -scannow This command checks all the files in your Windows installation and makes sure they are the same files that were installed originally and that they have not become corrupted. To run click on the Start button and select Run. In the text box type “sfc -scannow” (without the quotation marks) and click ok. If the scan needs to rebuild or recopy a file you’ll need a copy of the Windows cd that is the same version that you have installed.
