Decommissioning Domain Controller

Use of DCPROMO is still the proper way to remove a DC server in an Active Directory infrastructure. Certain situations, such as server crash or failure of the DCPROMO option, require manual removal of the DC from the system by cleaning up the server’s metadata. The following detailed steps will help you accomplish this: Step … Read more

Removing Lingering Objects in AD Using the LoL GUI Tool

Lingering objects in Active Directory can disrupt replication and introduce directory inconsistencies. Microsoft provides a graphical utility called the Lingering Object Liquidator (LoL) that simplifies detection and removal without relying solely on command-line tools. This guide outlines a structured troubleshooting approach and safe use of the LoL GUI tool. Understanding Lingering Objects Lingering objects occur … Read more

Repadmin Commands — Quick Reference and Use Cases

Repadmin is a command-line utility used to diagnose and manage Active Directory replication. It allows administrators to view topology, monitor health, force synchronization, and troubleshoot complex directory issues. It is installed with: Run from an elevated command prompt. Displays the master command list and syntax help. Command Categories 1️⃣ Forest & Domain Overview Replication Summary … Read more

Fixing Start Menu & AppX Failures in Windows Server 2019 RDS

If your Windows Server 2019 RDS hosts suddenly experience broken Start Menus, unresponsive modern apps, or AppX registration failures, the root cause may be something that usually goes unnoticed: notification registry bloat. This issue is especially common on heavily used RDS servers where many users log in and out daily. Over time, Windows accumulates thousands … Read more

Recreating the SUSDB and WSUS Content Folder in WSUS (Windows Server)

Maintaining your WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if the SUSDB is cluttered with old or unnecessary updates, or the Content folder has become bloated due to accidental settings changes. At times like these, starting fresh with a clean database and content repository can be the most efficient solution. Here’s your … Read more

Resolving ADFS Site Unreachability (Accessible Only via Localhost) by Adding SSL Binding to 0.0.0.0:443

When working with Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), one common pain point is SSL bindings and how ADFS responds to requests via hostname vs. raw IP. Recently, I encountered the following scenario: This caused both the Load Balancer (LB) and ADFS Proxy (WAP) to mark the server as offline. The Root Cause ADFS relies on … Read more

Patching OpenSSL on Windows running Apache

Step 1 Create a backup of the whole server. Step 2 Visit this website for the latest OpenSSL ZIP: https://kb.firedaemon.com/support/solutions/articles/4000121705 Step 3 Extract or browse for the x64/bin directory from the ZIP file Step 4 Open another File Explorer and go to C:\XAMPP\APACHE\BIN directory Step 5 Rename the following files: openssl.exe, libcrypto-3-x64dll, libssl-3-x64.dll Step 6 Copy … Read more

🔐 Essential Windows Commands for Managing Passwords

Whether you’re a system admin, helpdesk technician, or a curious power user, password management is something you’ll deal with often. Here’s a neat little collection of powerful Windows command-line tools you can use to reset, set, and manage passwords—without opening a single window or GUI. 🔁 1. Reset a Password for an Active Directory User … Read more

How to Disable 3DES and Blowfish and Enable AES via Group Policy (GPO)

This step-by-step guide will show you how to configure your Windows Server to disable 3DES and Blowfish ciphers while enabling and prioritizing AES, all through Group Policy (GPO). By implementing this configuration, you can enhance the security of your servers and meet modern cryptographic standards. Step 1: Open Group Policy Management Step 2: Configure SSL … Read more

How to Disable Widgets in Windows 11 Using GPO

Widgets in Windows 11 can be distracting or unnecessary in certain environments. You can disable them through Group Policy Objects (GPO) by using the “News and Interests” ADMX and ADML files exported from a Windows 11 device. This guide outlines the steps to copy the necessary files, import them into the Active Directory (AD) server, … Read more

Fix for the error “The ws-management service cannot process the request. the service is configured to not accept any remote shell requests” when we Install any roles or features in windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022.

We are trying to install the “Bit locker feature” in the Windows Server 2019. In the last step of installation from the Add roles and features, the installation will stop with the error “The ws-management service cannot process the request. the service is configured to not accept any remote shell requests. “ To fix this … Read more

Access a Azure VM without RDP Licensign server.

Error when we try to access an Azure VM which was unable to communicate with the RDP Licensing server If the below error occurs, continue with the troubleshooting steps. Since Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) isn’t available and the server is in Azure, you’ll need to use PowerShell remoting or the Azure Serial Console to access … Read more

Remove the GPO locally on a client device with admin previlages.

To remove a server from all GPOs locally on the server itself without modifying anything in Active Directory, you can use the following methods: 1. Disable Group Policy Processing (Local Group Policy): You can prevent the local machine from processing any Group Policies by modifying the local Group Policy settings: 2. Delete Local Group Policy … Read more

Unable to run the “Net user” command with the “Access Denied” Error

Sometimes, we may encounter this issue even after rolling back the group policy that was previously set to restrict users’ access via group policy. To Fix this issue Trusted installer NT account needs to be added with full control for the net.exe and net1.exe located under C:\windows\system32. Also, the ownership needs to be given to … Read more

Retrieve Active Directory User List from OU with Group Memberships

In this article, we’ll explore a PowerShell script to retrieve a list of users from a specified Organizational Unit (OU) in Active Directory (AD). This script also includes information about the groups to which each user belongs. Prerequisites PowerShell Script # Define the OU where the users reside$OUpath = ‘OU=Disabled user,DC=example,DC=com’# Define the path for … Read more