Change Printer Spooler Service Recovery options to Restart
sc failure spooler reset= 60 actions= restart/600/restart/600/restart/600

Backing up an MSDE Database
osql -E -Q “BACKUP DATABASE mdss TO DISK= ‘C:\BB_DB_Backup\mdss.bak’”

Copy Database and then Appending with Date
copy t:\plandata.mdb C:\PlanDataBackup /Y

For /F “Tokens=1-8 Delims=.:/ ” %%a In (‘Echo %Date%’) Do (Set All=%%d-%%b-%%c)
@For %%a in (“plandata.mdb”) do rename %%a “%%~na-%All%.mdb”

Deleting Old OWA Logs
forfiles -p “C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles\W3SVC1″ -c “cmd /c echo del \”@FILE\” & del \”@FILE\”" -d -21

I thought I’d be using Notepad++ or TextPad, both fine in their own right, but instead found PowerGUI. This PowerShell editor which finds syntax errors, includes definitions and much more; all for the low, low price of free. This seems to be a community supported by Quest Software who has a bunch of fine (not so free) tools for SysAdmins.

I’m now able to work on, and run, the script off network (read: at home). It’s a helluva deal for the price, try PowerGUI for your next PowerShell outing.

One of the many benefits of this tool is the ability to script a program or patch installation using the available command-line switches, e.g.: adobe_reader.msi /qn which will install the application quietly without a UI. This can be key when making a batch file to install numerous applications and patches on a new system.

For the many available switches to use check out the full list from Microsoft.

(Disclaimer: Make sure you have up to date virus scan and check with the sender when receiving an unknown file. You have been warned.)

Many sites offer a list of file extensions describing the file type, but the one I like to use is Openwith.org because it also provides a link to the appropriate application for viewing or editing the file.

And in case you are curious, an XXE file is a Compressed ASCII Archive and can be opened with WinRAR.

Many times I need to change settings or install/remove software on someones PC without logging them out of the system, in which case I will go to %windir%\system32, shift+right-click CMD.exe and choose Run As…

Once I’ve opened a Command window with an account in the administrators group, I can start the Services MMC (services.msc), Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) or Computer Manager (compmgmt.msc), plus many more useful consoles from the command line. Often times I need to remove software or make a change to network settings which involves Control Panel Applets. These also can be run at the command-line (or Run… prompt if you’re already logged in as an administrator), some of my favs are listed below.

Appwiz.cpl – Add/Remove Programs (or Programs and Features in Vista or Windows 7)
Ncpa.cpl – Network Connections (for changing IPs and DNS)
Powercfg.cpl – Power Options (perhaps for turning off Standby or enabling the Performance setting)
Sysdm.cpl – System Properties (lots to find here: Remote Desktop, Pagefile, System Restore settings, etc.)
Wscui.cpl – Security Center (change Automatic Updating, the Firewall and Malware monitoring)

Want more? Check out the Wiki page.

AroundMe – For lunch near a client site
Citibank – Business finance
Coffee Finder - For Starbucks near a client site
Free RSS – To stay on top of my favorite blogs
Free Wi-Fi – Who doesn’t need free WiFi?
LinkedIn – To stay connected with business associates
MileBug -  To track my mileage (the only App I’ve purchased, $1.99)
RDP Lite – Remote Desktop client
Restaurants – Shows calories at chain restaurants (a.k.a. what not to eat)
Skype – Communicating with customers
SubnetIT – Subnet calculator
Units – Conversion of Power, Data Storage, etc., from one metric to another
Urbanspoon – For lunch near a client site
WordPress – Keep an eye on this blog

I guess Google doesn’t need the business since they are pretty much just printing money at this point.

Just install the small app on each of the computers you wish to keep synchronized and it does the rest. I really wish I would’ve found this earlier; years of copying and sorting on numerous computers left my bookmarks a mess.

After one long flight to Chicago I cleaned up most of the redundant and disorganised mess. Once I got back online, Xmarks replicated the changes to its online database and updated my two other computers within minutes of bringing them online.

And did I mention it’s free for Windows, Mac and Linux?

1. The Network Sucks – Unless bandwidth is good and no one is running BitTorrent or the like problems will ensure. (VoIP anyone?)

2. There’s No Protection from Government Spooks – The government can get access to all of your data anytime. Do they even need a search warrant anymore?

3. Industrial Espionage is Easy – Depending on the vendor it may or may not be “easy”, but how many public companies and public institutions have been hacked in the last few years?

4. It’s Too Expensive – It’ll start cheap or free, but goes up from there. Anyone that has witnessed an SAP implementation knows this well.

5. It’s Not Mechanisable – People like shrink-wrap, cool graphics and shiny boxes. I suppose the electronics store could have a card to take to the register similar to buying Sudafed.

6. Users Have No Sense of Ownership – People like having things, like books, boxes, disks, etc. It’s just not the same printing a receipt from a website.

7. When Online Software Companies Go Under, So Does Your Software – And you are left with a unusable backup of your data; maybe thousands can be spent getting it converted. Where did the data go the XDrive.com was storing. I had data there, albeit just to test the service, and received no notice when they closed down.

8. Users Are Subservient to Terms-of-Service Agreements – Imagine getting shutout because you violated line 2419 of the service agreement, will you still be in business by the time it gets sorted out. What if a new uglier agreement comes along?

9. Users Have No Control Over Versioning – You get upgrades whether you like them or not. If they break your application or the way you use it, where are you in the support queue? I’m sure they’ll treat a small company the same as a multi-million dollar customer…

10. Potential for Gouging – Sort along the lines of number 4, but if they have you over a barrel and you don’t have the resources to switch to a new provider (or worse they are the only one who offers the service) then start coughing up more money.

Again, I don’t think SaaS and Cloud Computing is inherently bad, but it is something that needs strong consideration before putting all the company eggs in someone elses basket.

At first I tried Twobile, but the interface was a bit lacking and the it could’ve been little quicker.

I’ve since settled on Pocketwit, another free client, this time from Google. The interface is elegant and the usability is top notch. If you’re using a Windows Mobile phone, I highly recommend trying this out.