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Windows 7 Hotkeys

02 May 2010 • by Bob • Windows

I put together this list for my brother when Windows 7 launched. I got the information from a variety of sources, thereby living up to the old adage that "Copying from one person is plagiarism, copying from a hundred people is research." Some of these are new to Windows 7, while others have been around a little while. In any event, here are some notes that explain how to interpret the keystrokes:

• A plus symbol (+) between keys means to press the keys at the same time, whereas a comma (,) between keys means to press the keys one after another.
• [Right] text stands for the right cursor key, [Left] for the left cursor key, etc.

Taskbar Modifiers

Managing Windows

Starting Programs

Logging In And Out

Viewing Folders With Explorer

eWeek Reviews for IIS 7.5 and FTP 7.5

23 September 2009 • by Bob • IIS, FTP, Windows

One of my coworkers, Vijay Sen, just forwarded the following eWeek review of IIS 7.5 to me:

The review was written by Jim Rapoza, and he said some great things about IIS 7.5, which ships with both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 client. But what really made my day was the following things that he said about FTP 7.5:

Another welcome change in IIS 7.5 is the elevation of FTP as a full-fledged part of the server. In previous versions, setup and management of an FTP server in IIS were done pretty much separately from Web server management. In IIS 7.5, FTP administration is fully integrated into the IIS Management Console.

I found this to be a very good implementation of FTP, making it possible to quickly set up secure FTP servers and tie them to my Websites. Especially nice was the ability to easily use virtual host names for the FTP sites. All in all, the FTP implementation in IIS 7.5 is one of the best I've seen, even when compared with dedicated FTP server products.

It's great to see all of our hard work being recognized!

My thanks once again to everyone on the FTP and IIS feature teams that helped make this version of the FTP service: Jaroslav, Emily, Daniel, Umer, Suditi, Ciprian, Jeong, Dave, Andrew, Carlos, Brian, Wade, Ulad, Nazim, Reagan, Claudia, Rick, Tim, Tobin, Kern, Jenny, Nitasha, Venkat, Vijay. (I hope that I didn't leave anyone out!)

Note: This blog was originally posted at http://blogs.msdn.com/robert_mcmurray/

Batch File: Delete Duplicate Files

24 December 2008 • by Bob • Windows

Using this Batch File

Some time ago a friend of mine gave me a bunch of JPG files, but for some reason she had two copies of every image in the collection. The names of the images had all been randomized, and since there were hundreds of files in the collection it would have taken hours to find and delete the duplicates. With that in mind, I wrote the following batch file that loops through the collection of files and does a binary comparison to find and delete duplicate files.

To use the example code, copy the batch file code from below into Notepad and save it as "_del_dupes.cmd" in the folder where you have duplicate files

Note: As with many utilities that I write - this is a destructive operation, meaning that it will delete files without prompting, so you should always make a backup just in case something goes terribly wrong... ;-]

Batch File Example Code

@echo off

dir *.jpg /b > _del_dupes.1.txt

for /f "delims=|" %%a in (_del_dupes.1.txt) do (
   if exist "%%a" (
      dir *.jpg /b > _del_dupes.2.txt
      for /f "delims=|" %%b in (_del_dupes.2.txt) do (
         if not "%%a"=="%%b" (
            echo Comparing "%%a" to "%%b"...
            fc /b "%%a" "%%b">NUL
            if errorlevel 1 (
               echo DIFFERENT
            ) else (
               echo SAME
               del "%%b"
            )
         ) 
      ) 
   )
)

del _del_dupes.?.txt

Testing IIS 7 for Yourself

30 October 2006 • by Bob • IIS

The momentum for IIS 7 is gradually building, and I keep seeing great things in the press and several blogs about it. You can read a few details below:

• IIS 7 Shows Continued Security Push
  http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1988880,00.asp
• IIS 7
  http://pluralsight.com/blogs/fritz/archive/2004/09/14/2262.aspx
• IIS 7.0 Learns a Few Tricks from Apache
  http://www.betanews.com/article/IIS_70_Learns_a_Few_Tricks_from_Apache/1126807433
• IIS 7 details released
  http://www.tomrafteryit.net/iis-7-details-released/

IIS 7 contains a number of great features, and there are a couple of ways that you can get your hands on it for testing without installing the Vista or Longhorn Beta:

• Microsoft is offering free virtual labs using IIS 7 on a virtual machine at the following URL:
  http://virtuallabs.iis.net/
• MaximumASP is hosting free web sites on IIS 7 at the following URL:
  http://iis7.maximumaspbeta.com/

Have fun!

How to Record Logon Activity in W3C Extended Log File Format using WSH

11 June 2002 • by Bob • Windows

Many years ago I put together a bunch of information about logging system activity in W3C format by using Group Policy Objects and Windows Script Host. All of that information was supposed to become Microsoft KB article 324414, but I changed teams and I eventually lost track of its status. Recently I had a need for the information in that KB article and discovered that it was never published, so I had to look for my notes to reconstruct what was supposed to be in the KB article, and I thought that all that effort would make a good blog post.

(Note: This blog post has been updated a few times since it was first posted in order to keep it up-to-date.)

IN THIS POST

• SUMMARY
• MORE INFORMATION
  • Step 1 - Create the Sample Logging Script
  • Step 2 - Copy the Sample Logging Script to your Group Policy Folders
  • Step 3 - Configure the Script to Record LOGON/LOGOFF Activity
  • Step 4 - Configure the Script to Record STARTUP/SHUTDOWN Activity
• TROUBLESHOOTING
• REFERENCES

APPLIES TO

• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows 7
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2000

SUMMARY

The steps in this blog post will show you how to configure your network for additional logon/logoff information for all domain clients by using a sample Windows Script Host (WSH) script to create log files that conform to the W3C Extended Log File (ExLF) Format.

The W3C Extended Log File Format is currently used on Windows servers by the various web services that install with Internet Information Services. These log files are kept in your %SystemRoot%\System32\LogFiles or %SystemRoot%\Inetsrv\Logs\LogFiles folder. By configuring this sample logging script through a domain-level Group Policy, a new folder named Activity will be created under the %SystemRoot%\System32\LogFiles folder containing log entries formatted like the following example:

#Description: Log file for all LOGON/LOGOFF activity
#Date: 2002-01-01 21:28:50
#Fields: date time s-computername cs-username cs-method
2002-01-01 21:28:50 MYCOMPUTER LOCALHOST\SYSTEM STARTUP
2002-01-01 21:32:55 MYCOMPUTER MYDOMAIN\userone LOGON
2002-01-01 21:45:58 MYCOMPUTER MYDOMAIN\userone LOGOFF
2002-01-01 21:47:00 MYCOMPUTER MYDOMAIN\usertwo LOGON
2002-01-01 21:52:02 MYCOMPUTER MYDOMAIN\usertwo LOGOFF
2002-01-01 21:53:09 MYCOMPUTER LOCALHOST\SYSTEM SHUTDOWN

Since there are a wide variety of applications that can process log files in the W3C Extended Log File Format, recording logs in this format allows domain administrators to use tools they are already familiar with when analyzing network logon/logoff information.

NOTE: The W3C Extended Log File Format requires that all times must be kept in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). As such, all logon/logoff activity recorded by the script in this article will be listed in GMT. This allows a uniform standard for large-scale networks that traverse multiple time zones.

MORE INFORMATION

Step 1 - Create the Sample Logging Script

1. Log on to your Windows Domain Controller as a Domain Administrator.
2. Open Windows Notepad by clicking Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, and then Notepad.
3. Type or paste the following WSH code into notepad:

   Option Explicit
   On Error Resume Next
    
   ' declare all variables
   Dim objFSO,objFile
   Dim objNet,objShell
   Dim objProcess,objArgs
   Dim strFolder,strFile
   Dim blnFileExists
   Dim objDateTime,lngTimeZoneOffset
   Dim strYear,strMonth,strDay
   Dim strLongDate,strShortDate
   Dim strShortTime,strMethod
   Dim strComputerName,strUserDomain,strUserName
    
   ' create all objects
   Set objNet = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
   Set objFSO = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
   Set objProcess = objShell.Environment("PROCESS")
   Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments
    
   ' process arguments
   If objArgs.Count <> 1 Then WScript.Quit
   strMethod = UCase(objArgs(0))
    
   ' perform date operations
   lngTimeZoneOffset = GetTimeZoneOffset()
   objDateTime = Now() - lngTimeZoneOffset
   strYear  = CStr(Year(objDateTime))
   strMonth = Right("00" & CStr(Month(objDateTime)),2)
   strDay   = Right("00" & CStr(Day(objDateTime)),2)
   strLongDate = strYear & "-" & strMonth & "-" & strDay
   strShortDate = Right(strYear,2) & strMonth & strDay
   strShortTime = FormatDateTime(objDateTime,4) & ":" & Right("00" & CStr(Second(objDateTime)),2)
    
   ' get network information
   strComputerName = objNet.ComputerName
   If Len(strComputerName) = 0 Then strComputerName = "LOCALHOST"
   strUserDomain = objNet.UserDomain
   If Len(strUserDomain) = 0 Then strUserDomain = "LOCALHOST"
   strUserName = objNet.UserName
   If Len(strUserName) = 0 Then strUserName = "()"
    
   ' get windows directory name
   strFolder = objProcess("WINDIR")
    
   ' check for and create "System32" folder
   strFolder = strFolder & "\System32"
   If objFSO.FolderExists(strFolder) = False Then
     objFSO.CreateFolder(strFolder)
   End If
    
   ' check for and create "LogFiles" folder
   strFolder = strFolder & "\LogFiles"
   If objFSO.FolderExists(strFolder) = False Then
     objFSO.CreateFolder(strFolder)
   End If
    
   ' check for and create "ACTIVITY" folder
   strFolder = strFolder & "\ACTIVITY"
   If objFSO.FolderExists(strFolder) = False Then
     objFSO.CreateFolder(strFolder)
   End If
    
   ' set up log file name
   strFile = "ex" & strShortDate & ".log"
    
   ' check if log file exists
   blnFileExists = objFSO.FileExists(strFolder & "\" & strFile)
    
   ' open or create the log file
   Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFolder & "\" & strFile,8,True)
    
   ' write headers if new file
   If blnFileExists = False Then
     objFile.WriteLine "#Description: Log file for all LOGON/LOGOFF activity"
     objFile.WriteLine "#Date: " & strLongDate & " " & strShortTime
     objFile.WriteLine "#Fields: date time s-computername cs-username cs-method"
   End If
    
   ' write the log data
   objFile.WriteLine strYear & "-" & strMonth & "-" & strDay & " " & _
     strShortTime & " " & _
     strComputerName & " " & _
     strUserDomain & "\"  & _
     strUserName & " " & _
     strMethod
    
   ' close the log file
   objFile.Close
    
   Function GetTimeZoneOffset()
     On Error Resume Next
     Dim tmpShell,tmpOffset
     Set tmpShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
     tmpOffset = objShell.RegRead("HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation\ActiveTimeBias")
     If Len(tmpOffset) = 0 Then
       tmpOffset = objShell.RegRead("HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation\Bias")
     End If
     ' set a default offset if none can be determined
     If Len(tmpOffset) = 0 Then tmpOffset = "0"
     ' calculate offset in hours
     tmpOffset = (CLng(tmpOffset) * -1) / 60
     ' calculate offset in 1/24 of a day
     tmpOffset = tmpOffset / 24
     GetTimeZoneOffset = tmpOffset
   End Function

4. Save the file:
   • Click the File menu, and then Save.
   • When the Save As dialog appears, choose your desktop as the destination.
   • Enter activity.vbs for the File name.
   • Click the Save button.
5. Click the File menu, and then Exit to close Notepad.

Step 2 - Copy the Sample Logging Script to your Group Policy Folders

To use the sample script with the Default Domain Policy Group Policy Object (GPO), you first need to determine the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) for the GPO. To do so, use the following steps:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). To do so, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Right-click your domain, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Group Policy tab.
4. Highlight the Default Domain Policy, and then click the Properties button:
   • The GUID for the GPO will be listed as the Unique name property in the Summary section of the properties dialog.
   • The Default Domain Policy GUID will always be {31B2F340-016D-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9}, if you choose enable logging in a different policy this will be a different GUID.
5. Click the Cancel button to close the GPO properties dialog.
6. Click the Cancel button to close the domain properties dialog.

To use the sample script with the GPO, you will need to copy the activity.vbs script on your desktop to each of the following paths:

%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\<DOMAIN>\Policies\<GUID>\USER\Scripts\Logon
%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\<DOMAIN>\Policies\<GUID>\USER\Scripts\Logoff
%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\<DOMAIN>\Policies\<GUID>\MACHINE\Scripts\Startup
%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\<DOMAIN>\Policies\<GUID>\MACHINE\Scripts\Shutdown

Where <DOMAIN> is the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of your domain, (e.g. mydomain.local ), and <GUID> is the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) for the Default Domain Policy GPO.

Step 3 - Configure the Script to Record LOGON/LOGOFF Activity

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). To do this, click Start , point to Programs , point to Administrative Tools , and then click Active Directory Users and Computers .
2. Right-click your domain, then click Properties .
3. Click the Group Policy tab.
4. Highlight the Default Domain Policy , then click the Edit button.
5. In the console tree, click the plus sign (+) next to the Windows Settings under User Configuration , then highlight Scripts (Logon/Logoff) .
6. Add the Logon script:
   1. In the right pane, double-click the Logon item.
   2. Click the Add button.
   3. Click the Browse button.
   4. Highlight activity.vbs , then click the Open button.
   5. Type LOGON in the Script Parameters box.
   6. Click OK to add the script.
   7. Click OK to close the Logon scripts dialog.
7. Add the Logoff script:
   1. In the right pane, double-click the Logoff item.
   2. Click the Add button.
   3. Click the Browse button.
   4. Highlight activity.vbs , then click the Open button.
   5. Type LOGOFF in the Script Parameters box.
   6. Click OK to add the script.
   7. Click OK to close the Logoff scripts dialog.
8. Close the Group Policy Editor.
9. Click OK to close the domain properties dialog.

Step 4 - Configure the Script to Record STARTUP/SHUTDOWN Activity

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). To do this, click Start , point to Programs , point to Administrative Tools , and then click Active Directory Users and Computers .
2. Right-click your domain, then click Properties .
3. Click the Group Policy tab.
4. Highlight the Default Domain Policy , then click the Edit button.
5. In the console tree, click the plus sign (+) next to the Windows Settings under Computer Configuration , then highlight Scripts (Startup/Shutdown) .
6. Add the Startup script:
   1. In the right pane, double-click the Startup item.
   2. Click the Add button.
   3. Click the Browse button.
   4. Highlight activity.vbs , then click the Open button.
   5. Type STARTUP in the Script Parameters box.
   6. Click OK to add the script.
   7. Click OK to close the Startup scripts dialog.
7. Add the Shutdown script:
   1. In the right pane, double-click the Shutdown item.
   2. Click the Add button.
   3. Click the Browse button.
   4. Highlight activity.vbs , then click the Open button.
   5. Type SHUTDOWN in the Script Parameters box.
   6. Click OK to add the script.
   7. Click OK to close the Shutdown scripts dialog.
8. Close the Group Policy Editor.
9. Click OK to close the domain properties dialog.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If the Logon Script does not run, you may need to check your network connection speed as the script may not run when you first log on to the network. For additional information on this issue, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

302104 The Logon Script Does Not Run During the Initial Logon Process

REFERENCES

For more information on the extended log file format, see the specification in the W3C Working Draft at the following URL:

http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-logfile

For additional information on assigning Logon/Logoff Scripts, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322241 HOW TO: Assign Scripts in Windows 2000

For additional information on the Extended Log File Format, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

194699 Extended Log File Format Always in GMT

271196 IIS Log File Entries Have the Incorrect Date and Time Stamp

242898 IIS Log File Naming Syntax

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