Alexander’s Blog

Microsoft has released a list of applications that are affected by Windows Server 2003 SP1. Microsoft also released a list of applications that passed the application compatibility test. The solutions or possible workaround are documented in KB article 896367. The Windows Application Experience test teams tested 127 server applications on Windows Server 2003 SP1 computers. The goal of the test teams was to verify that the server applications maintained the same level of functionality that was verified for Windows Server 2003. All tests were performed by using the default settings in the English version of Windows Server 2003 SP1. An application passed if no failing functionality regression was found when the functionality of the application in Windows Server 2003 with SP1 was compared to the functionality of the application in Windows Server 2003.

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Do you know exactly which processes are running on your computer? What about all the services running in each of those processes? It’s important to know exactly which processes are running on your computer, not just for security reasons but also for troubleshooting. The problem is sometimes it’s hard to tell if a process is really needed or the service with which it’s associated. The example in the following script displays a list of processes and all the services running in each process. This script can be useful to determine not only the processes and the services running in those processes but also to determine the exact service that’s associated with each “svchost.exe” listed in the Task Manager. Here are a few examples to help you understand how this script can be useful.

Let’s say your Task Manager shows you a process running called Rtvscan.exe with a Processor ID (PID) number 536. Running the script will show you the process ID 536 is associated with Symantec AntiVirus Client. Or you might see a process CDANTSRV.EXE with a certain PID number. The script will show you the process is part of C-DillaSrv, which is a part of MacroVision safeCast copy protection software. The service is used to provide software activation services and CD Key verification services for anti-piracy reasons and it is bundled with several products. It also increases the amount of popups you receive on your computer. Most people will disable this service, unless the service is required for certain games.

You may have noticed several processes called svchost.exe, each with its own PID number. Running the script will show the exact services running under each of those processes. For example, one process may only be running Remote Procedure Call (RPC), while another svchost.exe could be running close to 30 different services. Once you know what processes and services are running, you may want to shut down the ones you don’t need.

Copy the contents of the following script to Notepad and save it with .vbs extension. To execute the file, logon to the computer with an Administrator account and double-click the filename.

set objIdDictionary = CreateObject(“Scripting.Dictionary”)
strComputer = “.”
Set objWMIService = GetObject(“winmgmts:” & “{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\” & strComputer & “\root\cimv2″)
Set colServices = objWMIService.ExecQuery (“Select * from Win32_Service Where State <> ‘Stopped’”)
For Each objService in colServices
If objIdDictionary.Exists(objService.ProcessID) Then
Else
objIdDictionary.Add objService.ProcessID, objService.ProcessID
End If
Next
colProcessIDs = objIdDictionary.Items
For i = 0 to objIdDictionary.Count – 1
Set colServices = objWMIService.ExecQuery (“Select * from Win32_Service Where ProcessID = ‘” & colProcessIDs(i) & “‘”)
Wscript.Echo “Process ID: ” & colProcessIDs(i)
For Each objService in colServices
Wscript.Echo VbTab & objService.DisplayName
Next
Next

This script is supported on Windows 2000/XP/2003. It is also supported on Windows NT 4.0 computers that have Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) installed.

ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer (IE) browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a Web page. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of Web-based text entry (e.g. Web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your Web application already includes spell-checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application.

The program installs as a new button in the IE toolbar (as well as a new menu item under “Tools”) – after filling in a form, just hit the ieSpell button and it pops up a dialog, similar to the MS Word spell-check. ieSpell also works (right-click menu only) on other IE based browsers such as SlimBrowser, CrazyBrowser, MSN, MyIE, etc.

ieSpell is not spyware or adware. It’s free for personal use only. All other use requires a commercial license. See Licensing for more information.

Click here to download this tool.

Microsoft will add a new high-level certification, the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA), to its credentialing program in the near future. The certification, which will verify IT professionals’ ability to develop and implement enterprise-level IT solutions, will be divided into industry architect standards (comprising 75 percent of the program) and Microsoft technology (25 percent).

We feel that we’re responding to a very clearly articulated customer need and very well understood job role that’s already in the industry, but really lacks a recognized accreditation around it, said Al Valvano, business and product strategy group manager for certification and assessment operations at Microsoft Learning. In this case, we’re trying to validate a very influential, very high-impact and very technically challenging job role: architects working at enterprise organizations who are tasked with the infrastructure, the overall technology road map. The skills domain that you have to measure to accurately credential that is very, very broad.

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