Set an RDS Session Host to stop new connections until a reboot

Forgetting to put an RDS session host back in the pool can cause overloading of the remaining hosts.

Using the following admin cmd commands (also works in PowerShell) can help. Especially drainuntilrestart as this is not an option in Server Manager.

To set a RDS Session Host not to allow new logins but revert to allowing them after a reboot.

change logon /drainuntilrestart

 

To check the logon availability.

change logon /query

 

You can also set the simple disable/enable statuses.

change logon /enable
change logon /disable

 

Windows 10 context menus by default in Windows 11

Get rid of the terrible context menu in Windows 11's Explorer. Run the following in CMD running in admin mode then launch Explorer and restart it in task manager.

reg add HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 /ve /d "" /f

Expand VHDX without Hyper-V

Look up the VHDX filename including the path.

In admin cmd

1. diskpart
2. select vdisk file="E:\EXAMPLE.vhdx"
3. expand vdisk maximum=40000
4. exit

Now mount the VHDX in Disk Management to expand the partition fully, remember to detach the VHDX.

The value 40000 will give 40GB

SQL Script to display sizes of all MS SQL databases in both MB and GB.

 SELECT d.NAME

    ,ROUND(SUM(CAST(mf.size AS bigint)) * 8 / 1024, 0) Size_MBs

    ,(SUM(CAST(mf.size AS bigint)) * 8 / 1024) / 1024 AS Size_GBs

FROM sys.master_files mf

INNER JOIN sys.databases d ON d.database_id = mf.database_id

WHERE d.database_id > 4 -- Skip system databases

GROUP BY d.NAME

ORDER BY d.NAME

Upgrading a HP ProBook 450 G6 from 768p to 1080p

The LCD panel used in the ProBook 450 G6 has a 30pin connector which is very common in HP laptops, after suffering the 768p screen and finding some websites don't produce horizontal scroll bars when needed, I decided to do some research. 

The ProBook 450 G6 also has a 1080p option, so is it just a case of changing the LCD panel?

Yes it is. I looked up the replacement panel for the 1080p model and bought one, I also needed stretch-release tape strips to mount the panel in the laptop case, I got these from Amazon.

There are numerous guides by HP on replacing the panel and stretch-release tape.

Key points to remember are matching the size, connector, and type (tabbed or tabless panel).

Use Excel to split a column of text

Say you have a list of names and need to copy out the first name, last name and also combine them as a username for example first.last.

1. Copy the list of names to a column in Excel.
2. In the cell to the right of the first entry, type the first name again and press enter.
3. You are now in the cell to the right of the second entry, Hold Ctrl and press E
4. The column will auto-fill with the first name for each row.

You can use this same process for usernames by typing the first and last names with a dot rather than a space then use Ctrl+E to complete the rows below.

Adding SQLSERVERAGENT permission on certificate private keys

The format to use is NT Service\SQLSERVERAGENT

Set the Location to the local machine rather than the domain.

Scheduled Wake on LAN (WoL) via crontab on Mango router

I wanted my pc to boot up each workday at 08:50, so decided to use my Mango router as it's already on the network and runs OpenWRT.

1. Install etherwake via: http://<mango-IP>/cgi-bin/luci/admin/system/opkg
   
   
2. Use: https://crontab.guru/#50_8_*_*_1-5 to find the crontab timing.
   
   
3. SSH to the Mango router and run the following command to find the name of your LAN interface that can see the target PC.
   IP a
   
   
4. In http://<mango-IP>/cgi-bin/luci/admin/system/crontab add the following line.
   50 8 * * 1-5 etherwake -b -i br-lan <MAC address of target PC>
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cannot resize Azure VM due to Accelerated Networking being enabled

 You decide to drop the size of a D series Azure VM to B series and are told it's incompatible with Accelerated Networking, perhaps you don't care.

Here's how to disable Accelerated Networking, no reboot required!

In Azure Portal, find the relevant info for your VMs 'network interface name' and 'resource group name', use those in place of the <placeholders> and run the command in Azure CLI from the icon in the top-right of the portal. 

Your VM will continue to run and will not drop the network connection. Once the command has completed you can resize your VM.

az network nic update --accelerated-networking false --name <network interface name> --resource-group <resource group name>

Outlook Room Finder does not load data/work

The error message: We can't open the Room Finder right now. Please try again later.

For Room Finder to load data in Outlook 'Edge Webview2' is required to be installed, this appears not to happen on RDS Session hosts.

Webview2 can be installed on a user-by-user basis or for all users if installed by a local admin. The Evergreen edition is recommended in most cases.