Windows Update fix for corruption errors like 0x80070002

Microsoft KB 947821 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821)

If you’ve gotten one of those cryptic 0x800xxxxxx Windows Update errors, Microsoft finally has a fix for Vista and higher, no XP solution.

Fix Windows Update corruption errors such as 0x80070002 and 0x80070057

Windows Update corruption errors prevent Windows updates and service packs from installing. For example, an update might not install if a system file is damaged. If the error you see is in the following list, try the solution in this article.

0x80070002 | 0x8007000D | 0x800F081F | 0x80073712 | 0x800736CC | 0x800705B9 | 0x80070246 | 0x8007370D | 0x8007370B | 0x8007370A | 0x80070057 | 0x800B0100 | 0x80092003 | 0x800B0101 | 0x8007371B | 0x80070490

 

Windows 8.x and Server 2012 Rx

To resolve this problem, use the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search. Type Command Prompt in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Type the following commands. Press Enter after each command.
   Note It may take several minutes for each command operation to be completed.
   • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
   • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
3. Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.

DISM creates a log file (%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log) that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. %windir% is the folder in which Windows is installed. For example, the %windir% folder is C:\Windows.

 

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008

See the KB link for the download you need. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

HVRemote updated for Hyper-V v.3 including Windows 8, 8.1, Server 2012, and Server 2012 R2

HVRemote has been updated for Hyper-V v.3  for supported use with Windows 8.x and Windows Server 2012 and R2.

HVRemote reduces the manual configuration steps needed for Hyper-V Remote Management down to a few simple commands, and can diagnose common configuration errors.

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsdesktop/Hyper-V-Remote-Management-26d127c6

Supported Servers:

• Windows Server 2008 SP1 with Hyper-V RTM update applied (KB950050), Core & Full installations
• Windows Server 2008 SP2, Core & Full installations
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 SP1 (already contains Hyper-V RTM update)
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 SP2
• Windows Server 2008 R2, Core & Full installations
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Core & Full installations
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Windows Server 2012 Core & Full installations (Version 1.x or later)
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 (Version 1.x or later)
• Windows 8 Pro & Enterprise x64 with Hyper-V enabled (Version 1.x or later)
• Windows Server 2012 R2 Core & Full installations (Version 1.08 or later)
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 (Version 1.08 or later)
• Windows 8.1 x64 Client Hyper-V (Version 1.08 or later)

Why does Windows 8 Hyper-V require SLAT?

Since Windows 8 is designed as a desktop/workstation or client OS, the requirement for SLAT makes a lot of sense for most users.

The lack of SLAT (Intel EPT and AMD RVI) was a big issue when using Hyper-V and a Windows 2008 (r1 and r2) system equipped with a high-end video card as a workstation (as opposed to a server).  When 2008r2 became able to use SLAT, the video performance issues were just resolved.

VPC Guy Ben A has an excellent selection of blog posts on SLAT and Hyper-V.

Issue: Video performance may decrease when a Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 based computer has the Hyper-V role enabled and an accelerated display adapter installed

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961661?wa=wsignin1.0

Expanded explanation of why it happens:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/11/16/understanding-high-end-video-performance-issues-with-hyper-v.aspx

SLAT resolution:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2011/01/17/using-hyper-v-for-a-high-end-desktop-computer.aspx?Redirected=true

 

Removing the status bar and standard buttons tool bar from the Remote Desktops MMC

Two things that have always bugged me with the Remote Desktops Administrative Snap-in was that there were no options on the menu to customize the view, specifically, the status bar and standard buttons toolbar. 

I’ve googled around trying to find a fix, then it dim 20W bulb went off in my head.  Look at a standard MMC console and make one how I want it and copy the config to the TSMMC file.

It was pretty simple.  The key line from the tsmmc.msc is:

<ViewOptions ViewMode="Report" ScopePaneVisible="true" NoStatusBar="true" NoStdButtons="true" DescriptionBarVisible="false" DefaultColumn0Width="200" DefaultColumn1Width="0"/>
    </View>

By adding NoStatusBar=”true” and NoStdButtons=”true” I was able to get more remote desktop “desktop”.

On my secondary monitor, my TS screen is now 1768×1000 vs. 1768×953.  Not a big deal on a 1920×1080 monitor, but 47 pixels on smaller screens makes a big difference.

Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 SP1 wins gold medal!

Searchdatacenter’s 2011 product of the year award for System Management is SCVMM 2008 R2 SP1!

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/guide/SearchDataCenter-Products-of-the-Year-Systems-Management-winners-2011

SCVMM 2012 public beta available

Download available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e0fbb298-8f02-47e7-88be-0614bc44ee32

From the link: 

Feature Summary

• Fabric Management
  • Hyper-V and Cluster Lifecycle Management – Deploy Hyper-V to bare metal server, create Hyper-V clusters, orchestrate patching of a Hyper-V Cluster
  • Third Party Virtualization Platforms – Add and Manage Citrix XenServer and VMware ESX Hosts and Clusters
  • Network Management – Manage IP Address Pools, MAC Address Pools and Load Balancers
  • Storage Management – Classify storage, Manage Storage Pools and LUNs
• Resource Optimization
  • Dynamic Optimization – proactively balance the load of VMs across a cluster
  • Power Optimization – schedule power savings to use the right number of hosts to run your workloads – power the rest off until they are needed
  • PRO – integrate with System Center Operations Manager to respond to application-level performance monitors
• Cloud Management
  • Abstract server, network and storage resources into private clouds
  • Delegate access to private clouds with control of capacity, capabilities and user quotas
  • Enable self-service usage for application administrator to author, deploy, manage and decommission applications in the private cloud
• Service Lifecycle Management
  • Define service templates to create sets of connected virtual machines, os images and applica tion packages
  • Compose operating system images and applications during service deployment
  • Scale out the number of virtual machines in a service
  • Service performance and health monitoring integrated with System Center Operations Manager
  • Decouple OS image and application updates through image-based servicing
  • Leverage powerful application virtualization technologies such as Server App-V

Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2 available for public download

Microsoft is now offering iSCSI software targers for W2K8R2 for free.  You can install the iSCSI software target on a 2008 R2 system and use it as shared storage.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2011/04/04/microsoft-iscsi-software-target-3-3-for-windows-server-2008-r2-available-for-public-download.aspx