Windows 7 + RemProf = Windows XP + Delprof

It has been a while since I have been looking for a remote profile deletion utility for Windows 7. Microsoft provided Delprof for Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 but it doesn’t work on any OS beginning with Vista. We are in the process of transitioning to Windows 7, out user support guys make heavy use of Delprof as we use Roaming Profiles which get corrupted or have other issues at time or we simply need to clean a workstation. So in the absence of Delprof our user support needs to login to the workstation to clear profiles on a workstation or login to a XP virtual machine and use the command prompt for remote profile deletion.

While  looking for a solution I found the following freeware utility

RemProf download and look at the help file for more info.

Using it with PsExec one can achieve what Delprof does and more. It makes a better Delprof alternative.

for example if you need to delete only one users profile from a workstation, you can user the following command

psexec \\computername \\uncpath\remprof /L username

there are many more options, following is from the help file that comes with it.

Usage:
REMPROF [/LIST|username|/A|/D:days|/AD:days] [/EXCLUDE:usernames] [/?]

  /LIST    - List all user profiles currently not in use (Default).
  username - Delete user profile based on username.
  /A       - Delete all user profiles that have no username association
             including abandoned profile folders.
             i.e. The username has been deleted in Active Directory but
             a profile still exists in form of a SID or the profile did
             not unload correctly and a residue profile folder exists.
  /D:days  - Delete all user profiles equal to or older than the number of
             days specified. NB: /D: without a number is equal to /D:0.
             /D:0 will remove CURRENT user profiles not in use.
  /AD:days - Delete all user profiles that have no username association
             and are equal to or older than the number of days specified.
             NB: /AD: without a number is equal to /AD:0.
  /EXCLUDE:username/s - Exclude particular users from being deleted.
                        Can accept multiple entries, seperated by comma.
                        Must be last command line argument.
                        Unassociated profiles cannot be excluded.
                        Do not include the Domain Name.
  /?       - show this help file

REMPROF without parameters will execute the /LIST switch by default.

I find it a very useful tool, hope it helps you too.

Cannot install an application over the network on Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2

When you try to install of run an application from a network share you get the following error

Application Error: The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000000f). Click OK to close the application.

to resolve this issue, download the following hotfix. Install it and restart the computer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978869

Error while importing option “6.” while moving DHCP database from Windows Server 2008 to another Windows Server 2008/2003 or 2008 R2

 

To move DHCP from one server (2003/2008) to another you can use the following steps

1. At the command prompt type netsh dhcp server export C:\dhcpdata.txt all , and then press ENTER.

Note: You must have local administrator permissions to export/import the data.

Configure the DHCP server service on the server that is running Windows Server 2008

1. Add DHCP Server Role
2. Make sure to Authorize DHCP while installing the Role.

Import the DHCP database

1. Copy the exported DHCP database file to the local hard disk of the Windows Server 2008-based computer.
2. At the command prompt, type netsh dhcp server import c:\dhcpdata.txt all and press ENTER

If might receive the following error

“Error while importing option “6.” “This option conflicts with the existing option “” An Internal Error Occurred.”

It is because by default when you install DHCP Server Role, it puts the following entries in Server Options.

006 DNS Server
015 DNS Domain Name

To fix the Error –> Just delete the above two entries from Server options and Run the Import DHCP database command again.

Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 logon delays

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a computer that is running windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
• You set a solid color as the desktop background.
• The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is running.
• You log on to the computer locally.

In this scenario, the Welcome screen is displayed for 30 seconds during the logon process.

So if you like a plain desktop, its not necessarily what Microsoft thought was the case.  One of the reasons why you might face the issue of delayed logons can be that you have chosen a solid color for your desktop.

see the following link for more details and a hotfix.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/977346