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To back up System State data using a command line:

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. To backup the System State data, type: ntbackup backup systemstate

Value Description
systemstate specifies that you want to back up the System State data.

When you select this option, the backup type will be forced to copy.

For information about additional backup options, see the ntbackup command-line utility.

For example, to create a backup job named “Backup Job 1″ that backs up the System State data to the file C:backup.bkf, type:

ntbackup backup systemstate /J “Backup Job 1″ /F “C:backup.bkf”

All other options will default to those specified in the Backup program.

Notes:
To open command prompt, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

ntbackup /

If you do not specify the other backup options, ntbackup will use the backup program’s default values for the backup type, verification setting, logging level, hardware compression and any other settings.

Windows Backup, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

Windows Backup, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

You are in trouble!

Your monitor is blank, ideally because you are in power save mode. However the reality is that the console session may not be locked. You may still be logged in and it’s just the monitor.

Out of habit you inadvertently hit Ctrl+Alt+Del keys. Doomed!

Because in the above scenario, if you have a password that ends with the letter “S” or “L,” you’ll actually be sending the command to shut down or log off when you hit Enter. Once the monitor comes online, you’ll see your logged-on session will either be logging off or shutting down the server on you.

To recreate this issue, log onto a server using its console (aka the keyboard and monitor connected directly to the server). When you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, the Windows Security dialog box appears. Now hit either the “S” or “L” key. It will activate the appropriate button. Then a final corresponding “Are you sure you want to do this action?” window appears. If you hit Enter, that action is applied.

VIA: TechTarget

Windows Admin, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

Windows Admin, Windows Server, MSTalkOnline, Alpesh Nakar

These step-by-step guides help IT Professionals learn about and evaluate Windows Server 2008.
These documents are downloadable versions of guides found in the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library.

What command do you use for copying of files from the command line? COPY would be the most obvious answer for single-item copying of files.

For copying multiple directories you would use XCOPY command, since it preserves the attributes as well. What about preserving NTFS extended attributes such as access control lists and alternate data streams? Use Robocopy. It is available as part of Windows Resource Kit, designed to overcome unreliable network conditions or other possible interruptions of service—e.g., for copying files to drives mapped across WAN links or via wireless networks.

Robocopy is now a a standard-issue item with Vista, meaning it’s all the easier to get hold of and work with.

Derk Benish,systems engineer in Microsoft’s MSN Search Group, has a simple GUI for Robocopy! Maybe because Robocopy is a command line utility and has not gained as much ground as it should have.

The GUI is divided into six tabs, each dealing with one aspect of the Robocopy command set:

• Path allows you to set the source and target paths for the copy operation, or use the standard Windows folder-picker to select them manually. The “Map Drive?” box lets you map to a folder on a remote server if needed.
• Copy Options lets you set all the needed switches for the copy operation. If you don’t know what each switch does, hover your mouse over them for an explanation.
• Drive Mapping allows you to provide a target server name, username, password and domain if you’re using the drive-mapping option in the Path tab.
• Filters defines any file-filtering operations (again, as described by the program’s command switches). Hover your mouse over any of the options for an explanation.
• Logging lets you enable any logging options for Robocopy.
• Monitoring enables real-time monitoring for the copy operation.

Save the configuration to a script that can be reused, so the GUI doesn’t create a dependency on the GUI in order to make Robocopy functional. Use this GUI to learn how Robocopy works and slowly move to using the command line.

Till now, what did you use to copy files/folders?

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If you want an answer to this burning question, especially if you’re planning a new PC purchase and weighing the pros and cons of the x86 and x64 architectures, this article is worth a read.

George Ou has a very nice introduction to the differences between 32-bit and 64 bit Windows.

He has summarized the situation for you:

• Almost all new servers sold within the last two years from AMD or Intel will have x64 capability.
• Most mid- to high-end desktop processors from AMD or Intel within the last year have x64 capability.
• Some higher-end Semprons have x64; lower-end Semprons do not.
• No AMD Durons have x64.
• All AMD Opteron processors have x64.
• All AMD X2, FX, and Athlon64 chips have x64.
• All Intel Pentium D and Celeron D chips have x64.
• All AMD Turion notebook processors have x64.
• All Intel Core 2 processors (mobile, desktop, and server) have x64.
• No Intel Core Duo notebook processors have x64
• No Intel Pentium M notebook processors have x64.

Have a read. Its worth it.

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When you install Windows Server 2003 and start to place applications on that server, it’s absolutely astounding how many programs are actually there. If you’ve used msconfig, you’ve gotten a partial look at a list of these programs. Msconfig provides you with a small subset of the actual executables that are loaded when you use a Windows server. Using the AutoRuns utility, available for download from Microsoft’s Web site, you can get the complete list of programs and executables that are loaded when a Windows server boots or when you run certain applications.

AutoRuns looks at every known location that houses boot files, including the StartUp folder, the Run and RunOnce registry keys, Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, autostart services, and a number of other locations. AutoRuns displays each item in the order that Windows processes the item, and provides a Properties page that matches the page you get if you locate the executable file on your own and bring up the Properties page.

AutoRuns also provides a Jump To link that takes you directly to the location that loads the executable. For example, if you use the Jump To link on an entry that is loaded from the registry, AutoRuns will load the registry editor and browse to the key. You can also configure AutoRuns to look at the entries that are loaded for a particular user.

AutoRuns also comes in a command line variety, named Autorunsc.exe. Use autorunsc /? to get information from particular startup locations.

VIA TechRepublic