A while back, a customer complained that Outlook always marked emails as read when he clicked over to another email, and wanted to know if there was a setting that would change this behavior. As it turns out, there is. Here’s how you do it:
Category: Tech support
Look up AD User Password expiration date
A little while ago, I had a user call in and ask when their password would expire. Luckily, this information is readily accessible if you know where – and how – to look. Here’s how:
SCCM: Find client BIOS information
With some regularity, I find myself needing to fetch information from the BIOS of a client computer, preferably without having to go onsite to do so. This may be because I need to know what BIOS version the client is running, the serial number of the computer, or when it was manufactured. If you’re running… Continue reading SCCM: Find client BIOS information
Identifying the version of a Windows client
Back in December, I showed you how to install RSAT on a Windows client. As you will have seen, the method depends on what version of Windows the client is running, which means that correctly identifying the version running is somewhat important (although trial and error does work – eventually).
Evolution – a critical part of technical support
Improvise, adapt, overcome has for a long time been a mantra within armed forces around the world who, when faced with gruelling challenges and little or no epuipment, have improvised to face the challenge, adapted to the challenge and lastly overcome the challenge.
AD: Inspecting object attributes
A little while ago, I was asked about when a specific user last logged in with their active directory (AD) user account. While looking up that information was easily done, finding out how to look up the information was a mite more challenging. There are a number of ways of achieving it; including command line… Continue reading AD: Inspecting object attributes
Installing RSAT on a Windows client
You may, for one reason or another, need to install Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on your Windows client computer. You may want to perform administrative tasks in Active Directory Users and Computers, administer Certificates in Active Directory Certificate Services, or administer DNS or DHCP in DNS or DHCP Server Tools.
View message headers
For most users, the message headers of any given email are irrelevant; the email has arrived, and that is all there is to say about that. It does, however, have applications both in IT support and in information security. While those applications are outside the scope of this article, accessing the message header is not.
Software Spotlight: Spacemonger
Some software comes and goes, and other software is there for you for the long term. Spacemonger is one of the latter category. Simply put, it scans a hard drive and shows you what’s on it using blocks to represent relative file/folder size, like so:
Why techies start with first principles
As a tech support specialist, I often have to guide the end user through basic troubleshooting, and this often resolves the issue. I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating, in particular because it reinforces the lesson.
Five tips for giving better tech support
Having worked in tech support for fifteen years, I find I still enjoy my work. Yes, at times, I feel like a target at a live fire exercise, but at the end of the day, I still find fulfillment in knowing that I am able to help my users. Here are five tips to giving… Continue reading Five tips for giving better tech support