USB - Usb deview Tool

It might happen that an USB device is no longer recognized and driver reinstall procedure end with error.

There is an interesting tool, in my experience, that permit you to clean any driver reference  and permitting you to start a clean driver installation.

Tool name is USBDeview provided by Nirsoft

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

Other tool features are:

• All USB devices that are and was connected/used on your device are show with full  devices information.
• USB devices uninstallation, disconnection and driver cleanup (both used and old connected devices as well)

Here they are two blog articles that mentioned USBDeview.

Tips - Problema Windows 7 64 Bit vs HUAWEI E172

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/05/tips-problema-windows-7-64-bit-vs.html

Manutenzione - Programmi utili da Hiren's Boot CD

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/01/manutenzione-programmi-utili-da-hirens.html

Antivirus - cacaoweb.exe and removal procedure

During these time period we noted (through network checks/tools) on single client several bandwidtch usage.

We checked client device physically and we found that these process was using several network resources.

Antivirus was unable to locate it but searching on internet this .exe was cathegorazied as malware/adware

cacaoweb.exe

more details are indicated at below link:

https://malwaretips.com/blogs/cacaoweb-exe-virus-removal/

Removal was done Installing, running and cleaning with AdwCleaner

https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Consider that similar solution was already mentioned through these old blog articles.

Antivirus - How To restore Internet connection after Virus/malware action - AdwCleaner

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2015/09/antivirus-how-to-restore-internet.html

Tips - Rimuovere Iminent

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/06/tips-rimuovere-iminent.html

Backup - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows/Linux 3.0

During previously years I already wrote some blogs posts about Veeam Agent for Windows/Linux.

Veeam - Veeam Endpoint Backup Free - Free version released
Backup - Veeam Backup for free v.2.0 for Client/Laptop

It is a very interesting backup software that permit to schedule bare metal backups for physical clients and Servers.
Backups can be done to external Hard Drives, NAS, shares, cloud or to Veeam B&R repositories.

There are 3 versions (Windows Product Edition Comparison - Linux Product Edition Comparison):

1. Free. (no VSS, limitations about scheduling &Targets repositories, retention, Veeam B&R integration and technical support)
2. Workstation. (no VSS, limitations about scheduling, retention, B&R integration)
3. Server: that permit centralized Endpoint backup managements from Veeam B&R console (excellent feature)

Here it is Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 3.0 home page , Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 3.0 help center and all related guides/pdf.

Here they are some applicative aspects with relative hyperlinks:

• Backup & Restore features.
• Bare-metal restore & Bootable recovery media creation.
• Backups with passwords.
• Additional features:
• Password Reset about built-in Administrator account.
• Startup repair.
• Memory diagnostics.

Here it is Veeam Agent For Microsoft Windows Datasheet for which I highlight some interesting features:

• Transaction log backup for databases.
• Full support for Microsoft Windows Server 2019 and Microsoft Windows 10.
• Instant recovery to Microsoft Hyper-V VM.
• Back up directly to Veeam Cloud Connect.
• Veeam Restore to Microsoft Azure.
• https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/vaw_automate.html?ver=30
• Source-side encryption.
• Email notifications.
• Centralized Endpoint backup managements from Veeam B&R console with Veeam B&R Server License.
• Restricting Network Connections Usage
• Endpoint protection for mobile users: Back up to a local cache when the target is not available and sync with your cached backups once the connection has been re-established, for this point here it is an interesting screenshot:

TIPS - rotated drives with Veeam Agent Windows - Free mode

Latter part of this article is dedicated to feature that is available with free edition:

Backup on rotated drives is performed in the following way:

1. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows creates a backup chain on an external drive that you use as a backup target. The backup chain consists of the first full backup and a set of subsequent incremental backups.

2. When you swap drives and attach a new external drive, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows creates a separate backup chain on the new drive.


3. After you swap drives again, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows detects if there is a backup chain on the currently attached drive. If the backup chain exists, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows continues the existing chain: it creates a new incremental backup file and adds it to the existing backup files."

Here it is Veeam article and few screenshots for configuration:

Backup to Rotated Drives

[APPENDIX]

Here it is an interesting Veeam Article that explains differences between Synthetic vs Full backup

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/archive/backup/95/vsphere/synthetic_full_backup.html

"In free mode you can create only a single scheduling but you can use rotated drives as a target location for backups. This scenario can be helpful if you want to store backups on several external hard drives (for example, USB or FireWire) and plan to swap these drives between different locations regularly.

Azure - Windows 10 Enterprise for Virtual Desktops & Azure

Today I would like to share some information about Virtual Desktop feature provided by Microsoft through Azure.

For the moment I did not have time to better eviscerate this environment but it is an interesting alternative to VDI managed through RDS Microsoft feature or Citrix as well.

Windows Virtual Desktop Essentials | Intro and full tour

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/overview

With Windows 10 Enterprise 1809 (2018 November update) release (*) there is an installation way that permit to use same O.S. from more user connected via RDP protocol.

(*) Properly licences are required:

 About more details:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2019/03/21/windows-virtual-desktop-public-preview/

https://www.nicolaferrini.it/ita/blog/1268-windows-10-enterprise-per-virtual-desktops.html

<==============>

Here it is an old blog post related Windows 10 keyboard shortcut to switch between virtual desktops:

Tips - Win 10 e virtual desktop

Hacker - How to find local Wireless Password

If you have necessity to find Wi-Fi password stored on your windows device (mainly Windows 10) there are several ways to obtain this result:

METHOD 1

1. start --> cmd with administrative rights
   
2. C:\WINDOWS\system32> wlan show profiles
   
   identify WiFi profile name shown for which you need password xxxx
   
3. C:\WINDOWS\system32> NETSH wlan show profiles xxxx key=clear
   
   Password will be displayed in this section
   Security settings --> Key Content

METHOD 2

1. You should download and launch, with administrative rights, this application
   WirelessKeyView
2. Usage is very simple and shown on producer web site

METHOD 3

1. On Windows 10 click on start --> windows logo on icon '⚙' --> "Network & Internet" -->  'Manage known networks'
   
2. Once you click,  all of your saved WiFi names will be shown and listed in a new window.

METHOD 4 (work only on wifi where you are connected to)

1. start --> ncpa.cpl with administrative rights --> Network and Sharing Center --> Connections: Wi-Fi
   
2. From the 'General' tab, click on 'Wireless Properties'.
   
3. Now from the 'Security' tab, you will see saved WiFi password.
   
4. You must tick on 'Show characters' to view the password.

Tips - How to execute shortcut with Administrative rights

If you have to launch a shortcut (referring to an application) with Administrative rights you could proceed in this way:

1. Enable UAC. (without UAC you have to create a proper scheduled task that execute program with Administrative rights)
2. Enable Administrator local account and define password.
3. Create a New desktop shortcut including below text (be aware changing clientname, Administrator, and x:\yyy\zzz.exe) with your details:
   runas /user:ClientName\Administrator /savecred “x:\yyy\zzz.exe“

[referral Articles]

Avviare programmi come admin senza password

Auto login su macchina windows già appartenente a dominio

Create Administrator Mode Shortcuts Without UAC Prompts in Windows 7 or Vista

How To Create a Shortcut That Lets a Standard User Run An Application as Administrator

Excel - SUBTOTAL function

In previously old post I indicated interesting Excel function.

Excel - Find Vertical

Today i would like to indicate SUBTOTAL function that permit you to apply any sort of formulas like:

AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNTA, SUM...

ignoring hidden rows by a filter or ignoring manually hidden rows.

About more details and examples you might refere to these two links:

SUBTOTAL function

SUBTOTAL function EXAMPLE

Extra IT - B&B Le Terrazze isola di Sant'Antioco

Oggi vorrei menzionare il B&B Le Terrazze isola di Sant'Antioco.

Se decidete di prenotare un appartamento oppure un Bed & Breakfast, apprezzerete la loro grande familiarità, professionalità, attenzione ad ogni dettaglio, l'eccellente pulizia e la piena disponibilità per fornirvi qualsiasi tipo di aiuto.

Gli appartamenti sono molto funzionali e il prezzo include (aspetto raro), pulizia finale, sacchetti di plastica, lenzuola e asciugamani, zucchero, sale, spugne da cucina, shampoo, bagno schiuma, detersivo per i piatti, sapone da bagno oltre molti altri dettagli.

Considerando tutti questi dettagli, insieme al prezzo e alla loro piena disponibilità, il voto finale non puo' essere inferiore a 30/30 con lode.

Qui sono i dettagli di contatto diretti:

Nello Melargo: leterrazze.sardegna(at)yahoo.it

Mobile Phone: +39 347 962 6992

WebSite: http://www.leterrazzesantantiocobb.com/

<======================>

Today I would like to mention B&B Le Terrazze isola di Sant'Antioco.

If you would decide about Apartement or Bed & Breakfast booking you would appreciate their great familiarity, pro activity, great details attention related to each apartment aspect, excellent cleanness, full availability to provide you any sort of help.

Apartment are very functional and price includes (rare aspect), final cleaning, plastic bags,
sheets and towels, sugar, salt, kitchen sponges, shampoo, gel douche, dish/bath/liquid soap and several other details.

Considering all these details, in conjunction with price and their full availability, final vote could not be less than 30/30 with laud.

Here they are direct contact details:

Nello Melargo: leterrazze.sardegna(at)yahoo.it

Mobile Phone: +39 347 962 6992

WebSite: http://www.leterrazzesantantiocobb.com/

<==============>

Here they are some photos about apartment:

Mobile - Some useful apps

Technology has given us several benefits and disadvanges at the same time.

About mobile phones some apps, using image & audio recognization, GPS and internet connectivity, have very interesting features and are mentioned below. This is not intended to be a full list, but just to give an idea about techonology great opportunities:

1.) Flowers, Plants, Animals and trees identification through simple camera photos
             Flora Incognita - Android/Apple
             Flowerchecker - Apple/Android
             Inaturalist - Apple/Android
             PictureThis - Android/Iphone
             PlantNet - Android / Iphone
             PlantSnap - Android/Iphone
             What’s that flower? - Android

2.) Wine app that scans wine labels and provides details about that wine such history, prices, quality etc. etc.

             Vivino - Android/Mac
             Wine-Searcher - Android/Mac

3.) Mushrooms identification in conjunction with mobile photo camera:

             Mushrooms - Android/Apple
             Mushroom Identify - Android/Apple
             Champignouf - Apple/Android

4.) Music identification in conjunction with internet and mobile audio recorder:

             SoundHound - Apple/Android
             Shazam - Apple/Android

5.) Birds sound identification in conjunction with internet and mobile audio recorder:

             BirdNET - Android
             Merlin Bird ID - Apple

6.) Astronomy and Stars identification in conjunction with mobile photo camera, GPS and internet connectivity:

             Mappa Stellare - Android
             NASA app - Apple/Android
             Night Sky Lite - Apple/Android
             Sky Safari - Apple/Android
             Sky View Lite - Apple/Android
             Star Walk 2 - Apple/Android
             Star Tracker - Android
             Stellarium - PC
             Stellarium Mobile Sky Map - Apple/Android

7.) Recognize monuments, paintings and artworks in conjunction with mobile photo camera, GPS and internet connectivity:
             
             Ciceros - Android
             Magnus - Apple/Android
             Mereasy - Apple/Android
             Smartify - Apple/Android
             ViaggiArt - Cultura e Turismo Android
           

Linkedin link:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mobile-some-useful-apps-alessandro-mazzanti/

Windows 10 - How to install RSAT on version 1809

In previous old blog article I already discussed about RSAT installation procedure.:

• Powershell - Manage AD through Command line

Secondly I pointed opportunity to manage server only from your workstation/client executing all server plugin avoiding to connect to each server via RDP (security aspect) and having a single point of management with all rsat tools.

• Server - How to Execute RSAT snapins with different users without server/client logon necessity

With new Windows 10 version (1809) something changed slightly.

Here it is powershell installation procedure:

In any case there are other alternative procedure to get same result:

1. Execute Windows Powershell with administrative rights and launch this command to verify that no RSAT tool is really installed
   Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online
   
2. Using below command information would be formatted in a more readable way:
   
   Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, State
3. To add a single tool you should use below syntax:
   
   Add-WindowsCapability –online –Name “Rsat.ActiveDirectory.DS-LDS.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
   
4. To add all available Rsat tools this is syntax correct:
   Get-WindowsCapability -Name Rsat* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability –Online
   
5. To install only disabled RSAT components, run:
   
   Get-WindowsCapability -Online |? {$_.Name -like "*Rsat*" -and $_.State -eq "NotPresent"} | Add-WindowsCapability -Online
   
6. If you got below error it should be due to Wsus internal server pointing:
   
   Add-WindowsCapability : Add-WindowsCapability failed. Error code = 0x800f0954
   
7. In this case you should execute 
   regedit.exe  --> 
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
   
   Changing  UseWUServer key to 0 and restarting Windows update service.
   
   Restart-Service wuauserv
   
   And then launching this command:
   
   Get-WindowsCapability -Name Rsat* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability –Online
   Afterward rollback previously UseWUServer key value and restarting Windows update service
   
   Restart-Service wuauserv
8. You could execute below powershell command:

• $currentWU = Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" -Name "UseWUServer" | select -ExpandProperty UseWUServer
• Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" -Name "UseWUServer" -Value 0
• Restart-Service wuauserv
• Get-WindowsCapability -Name RSAT* -Online | Add-WindowsCapability –Online
• Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" -Name "UseWUServer" -Value $currentWU
• Restart-Service wuauserv

[Information found on this website]

[Other related blog articles:]

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2016/06/server-mmc-customization-and-add-taskpad.html

Scripting - Eseguire comandi remoti sui pc in rete con PSEXEC

Scripting - Eseguire .vbs ed installazioni programmi su pc remoti in un dominio o un workgroup con PSEXEC

PSexec - How to execute remote commands about .vbs, .exe, microsoft patch installation...

Ad test:

Server – Effettuare il test di AD

Server - Commands to verify Domain Controller/Domain Status, schema version, move 5 PDC roles, export DHCP

PSexec - How to execute remote commands about .vbs, .exe, microsoft patch installation...

Here is article that explain mmc customization process

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/2816.how-to-create-custom-mmc-and-add-taskpad.aspx]