vShpere 5 - Creating a Schedule task

This is something I have been using a fair bit over the last month to help stop having to dial in late at night.

In your vSphere Client connect to your vCentre server and go to:-

Home > Management > Scheduled Tasks 

Click on the "new" button and select the task you would like to preform:-

In this example I have picked "Create a snapshot of a virtual machine" I have select the virtual machine I would like to snapshot.

Enter name that will appear manager

 This name will appear in the "Scheduled Tasks", and fill in when you would like it to run:-

If you want it to email you once it has complete fill this section in with an email address (SMTP will need to be configured to do this):-

Click finish to complete:-

When the job has completed you will see the "last run" section is populated.

Thanks

Mark

P2V - Post migration issue with NIC cards

Hello,

I have done quite a few Physical to Virtual (P2V) migrations over the years and one of the first "gotchya" was around P2V'ing a physical machine with a static IP address.

Once the physical machine had finished migrating, when starting the new VM (Virtual Machine) the original physical NIC still exists on the VM, with the IP assigned to it. If you try and add the same static IP to the new VMNic you will get a IP conflict message.

To delete the original hidden physical NIC (ghost NIC) follow the below:-

1. From the command prompt type: - set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices = 1

2. Start the search. Type: - start devmgmt.msc

3. From the Device Manager list the devices: Select: - View > Show hidden devices.

4. De-install the listed devices: - Select the device and uninstall it from the Device Manager.

I hope this has helped.
Mark

Finding the Power Shell version

Open power shell and type either

$PSVersionTable or Get-Host ... take a look at the screen shot for each output.

Installing Windows 8 on HP 7320

When we tried to install windows 8 on HP TouchSmart 7320 PC there was a problem using the touch screen. Here is how we fixed it:-

• After installing Windows 8, go to "Device Manager"
• Right Click on the "Other Devices" and "Update Driver Selection"
• Select "Search automatically for update driver software". This will update the drivers and once you have done them all touch screen should work.
• To get the touch screen working you will need to update the "USB Composite Device" there is usually 3 so update all 3.

How to shutdown Windows 8

An easy task right? you go to the "start" button ... ah ... hang on .... no start button

 "Settings" > "Power" > "Shut down"

or

Press Ctrl+F4

When I first start playing with Windows 8 it took me a good 20 minutes to find it.

thanks
Mark

Show hidden files in Windows 8

Another quick tip, here is how you show hidden files in Windows 8 

Open exporer > View > Options > View (tab)

Select - Files and folders > Hidden Files and folders > show hidden files, folders or drives

Windows 8 - Windows Activation after Imaging

One of the problems I found when doing some testing on Windows 8 after deploying an image (using acronis) on to a PC, was issues with the windows activation and not been able to change the activation key.

After an hour of searching I came across this quick little fix:-

1. Open a command Prompt (CMD)
2. Type:- slmgr.vbs -ipk Enter-Product-Key-in-Here
3. Press Enter

Have you got a different way of doing this? leave a comment and let me know.

Mark

Windows 8 - Removing the Lock Screen

Hello

I have been looking at Windows 8 and deploying it into a production environment over the couple of months (crazy I know). I have found bit around the web so I thought it might be useful to put some of it together on my new blog to help other crazy fools.

There is a lot about Windows 8 I am not a big fan of and one thing I want to remove was the lock screen, here is how I got rid of it:-

Open a command prompt (CMD)

Type > gpedit 

Go to the following location:-

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Template -> Control Panel ->

And then enable:-

Personalization Do not display the lock screen – Enable

Once you have rebooted you should see the lock screen is no longer enabled.

Any Questions/Comments?

Thanks
Mark Spencer

Welcome

Welcome to my new IT Blog this is my first attempt at blogging on IT related subjects, so please feel free to leave your comments and advice.

I have worked in IT for 13 years at various levels of support, implementation and infrastructure design. I have mostly working in finance but now working in a production environment.