Windows Small Business Server 2008 Repair Guide

I came across this when troubleshooting an SBS 2008 problem, and I just wanted to keep this link as it may be helpful in the future:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/sbs-2008-repair-guide(v=ws.10).aspx

DFS replication status indeterminate

In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012, if your DFS replication closes abnormally (or so it thinks) for some reason, the replication will stop.  If you run the Diagnostic Report from the DFS Management Console, you'll see the status for the replication group is 'indeterminate' as noted below:

If you look in the DFS event log, you should see event id 2213.  It notes the problem and gives you the exact command you need to run in an elevated command prompt to fix the issue.

Run the command and you're back in business.  To make sure that files are not inadvertently overwritten by older versions, Microsoft recommends that you back up the share that was out of contact before putting it back in place.  Frankly, to be super duper safe, you should back up all the shares.

removing Dell battery message "Your battery is able to charge normally. However it is reaching the end of its usable life"

By design, Dell laptops will warn you as their battery life starts to decline.  When you log in, Windows will display this message "Your battery is able to charge normally. However it is reaching the end of its usable life"

My comment on this message is typically this:

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All rechargeable batteries have a limited life span. It varies from battery to battery, but a battery typically loses 25% of its life per year (so a 2 year old battery lasts half as long as it did when it was new).

While it’s typical for a battery to last less long, it’s not so much of a problem unless the battery life no longer meets your needs. If you say the word, I’ll begin the process of requesting a new battery on your behalf.

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I found this elegant way to remove the warning which seems to work on all E series Dell Latitude laptops.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19317355/20118960.aspx#20118960

In short, download and install the Dell Feature Enhancement pack:
64 bit version:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/driverdetails?driverid=MHVWP

32 bit version:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/bm/en/19/driverdetails?driverid=DV6XM

The follow these steps:

1. Copy all *.admx files in C:\Program Files\Dell\Feature Enhancement Pack\policydefinitions to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions

2. Copy all *.adml files in C:\Program Files\Dell\Feature Enhancement Pack\policydefinitions\en_US to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US

3. Run Group Policy Editor - Click Start button and in the Search box type gpedit.msc and click the result

4. Browse to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Dell -> Feature Enhancement Pack -> System Events and double click Battery in the right pane

5. Select Enable radio button and put a check mark for "Battery health degraded"

6. You can get rid of any other massages there as well

7. Click OK

backing up a Mac to Google Drive

I was setting up a Mac for a client and looking for a super cheap method for backing it up.  With a 30 GB quota for Google Drive, it seems logical to use Google Drive.  I can simply create a startup batch script on a PC to copy desktop, documents, and other important folders to c:\username\google drive on a PC.

On a Mac, I found a good method using "Automator," which is much easier than using AppleScript.  As far as the method I used, I basically followed option 8 here:

http://mac.tutsplus.com/tutorials/automation/10-awesome-uses-for-automator-explained/

The nice thing about the above steps is that it sets up an automated running of the script on dates/times.