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Knowledge Base

This page contains some useful information that I've come across over the past few years. Hopefully I will be able to continously add and update this page as I find other useful snippets!

KB01 1608: unable to create installDriver instance, return code: -2147221164

This error is because your version of ISScript is newer that the one supplied with the program you are trying to install. To fix it, find out what version of ISScript you are currently running (look under "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver"), then download it (if you don't have the .MSI already) from HERE. Extract the .MSI file to a directory, then open a cmd prompt, browse to the directory holding your .msi and type MSIEXEC -X ISScript$.MSI ($=version number) press enter. A message will pop up asking if you if you are sure you want to uninstall the program, press Yes/OK, and ISScript will uninstall.
Now you can either install the ISScript version you need, or even easier, just install the program you were originally trying to install, which should contain the ISScript it requires as part of the install.
For more information on this error, try HERE.


KB02 Custom Signature SMTP Event Sink

Have you ever wanted to attach custom signatures, containing unique employee information, to all your outgoing emails? If so, then this custom SMTP EventSink might be for you!

Using VBScript and an LDAP query, it pulls user information straight out of Active Directory, based on the sending users email adddress, and creates both a plain text & HTML signature. You can customise the fields that are pulled from AD by adding/removing the sAttrs field (by default it will pull displayName,description,title,telephoneNumber,mobile).

NOTE: For this script to work, you will need a 2nd SMTP relay/Exchange Server with SMTP connector, due to the way Exchange sends MAPI messages, SMTP EventSinks do not work.
To register an EventSink you will need the smtpreg.vbs file from the Exchange SDK.


KB03 Slipstreaming Service Packs into Windows 2000

Service Packs in Windows 2000 have a new feature to integrate the service pack in the original installation folder (i386). So when you install a Computer with a fresh copy of Windows 2000 it will be directly at the Service Pack level.

On this page are the instructions of making a bootable Win2k CD (Professional or server editions) with the integrated Service Pack and while your at it, you can add extra files, like drivers or Internet Explorer 6 setup files. With unattended scripts (winnt.sif) you could auto install this software.


KB04 Removing Spyware

I've found Spyware has become an increasingly annoying problem over the past few years. Most of it is harmless junk, but I’ve come across some that can do real nasty things to your system.

Install this little piece of software and I bet you’ll be amazed at just how many nasties you have on your system and didn’t even realise it was there!


KB05 Securing Your PC

The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is a tool that allows users to scan one or more Windows-based computers for common security misconfigurations.

MBSA will scan a Windows-based computer and check the operating system and other installed components, such as Internet Information Services (IIS) and SQL Server™, for security misconfigurations and whether or not they are up-to-date with respect to recommended security updates.


KB06 Finding Hardware Drivers

Ever needed a driver for a piece of hard and just couldn't find it. Or maybe you upgraded your O/S and didn't have the correct driver version! Finding the right device driver can be a tedious, time consuming, often impossible task

Well this site has over 100,000 drivers, for every O/S you could need! The Driver Guide was created to make finding driver updates a whole lot easier. With the help of thousands of members, they have compiled a massive database archive of drivers and resources that is by far the largest and most comprehensive on the Web.


KB07 Renaming Multiple Files

This little program is genius! Especially if you have 100s of file that all need renaming!

Rename multiple files with change (very powerful), search/replace, insert, trim and many other batch operations. Features undo, preview, 'change'-operation and can work in sub directories on specified extension. Can also change name to ID3 v1 tags and modify files' ID3 tags which makes it perfect for renaming MP3's.


KB08 Quick Access System Properties

A faster way to open up the Windows 'System Properties' page is to press the Windows key (#Start) on your keyboard and then press Pause/Break at the same time.


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