Backup and restore the Local GPO

In this post, I would like to introduce the method to backup and restore the Local GPO.
LOCALGPO, A handy tool to apply security setting to non-domain joined computers or Local GPO in your organization.

1. You may download Security Compliance Manager (SCM) from Microsoft.
2. Extract "Security_Compliance_Manager_Setup.exe" to a new folder A via 7zip or WinRAR.
3. Extract the "data.cab" to a new folder B.
4. In the new folder B, add the .msi extension to file named "LocalGPO"
5. Install the new MSI Installer "LocalGPO.msi"
6. Launch command-line here.cmd from C:\Program Files\LocalGPO on 32-bit systems or C:\Program Files (x86)\LocalGPO on 64-bit systems

Export Policy
cscript LocalGPO.wsf /Path:C:\GPObackups /Export
- Exports a GPO Backup based on the Local Policy configuration to a folder in the specified path.

-New GPO GUID folder was created

Import Policy
cscript LocalGPO.wsf /Path:C:\GPObackups\{GPO Backup GUID}
- Applies the contents of the GPO Backup stored in the specified path to the Local Policy of a Windows computer.

Create GPOPack to deploy via Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) or Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)
cscript LocalGPO.wsf /Path:C:\GPObackups /Export /GPOPack
- Creates a GPOPack and stores it in the specified path. GPOPacks can be copied to other computers, and applied by double-clicking GPOPack.wsf.

Copy the folder and double click GPOPack.wsf from other machine to apply the same policy.
You may notice that you get a pop-up message when you run this command.

This can be suppressed by adding the “/silent” switch
Script to deploy via MDT and SCCM
GPOPack.wsf /silent

Restore Policy to default
cscript LocalGPO.wsf /Restore
- Restores the entire Local Policy to its default configuration.

It’s FREE!
You can get your hand on the LocalGPO tool right now as part of the Microsoft Security Compliance Manager

Update 18/10/2012
Download LocalGPO.msi

Windows 8 : Country Holiday Calendar

Looking on my calendar today, 3 Sept is Labor day …. something wrong with my calendar.

Found the article : Add holiday or other calendars to your calendar

1. Go to Malaysia (English) ( For Malaysian )

2. To add the calendar, click Subscribe to this calendar.

3. Got Malaysia Holiday in my calendar now. You can add more country’s calendar into your Microsoft account as you like.

Holiday calendars

Argentina
Australia
Austria (German)
Belgium (Dutch)
Belgium (French)
Bulgaria
Brazil
Canada (English)
Canada (French)
Chile
China
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong SAR
Hungary
India (English)
India (Gujurati)
India (Hindi)
India (Kannada)
India (Malayalam)
India (Marathi)
India (Tamil)
India (Telugu)
Indonesia (English)
Indonesia (Indonesian)
Italy
Ireland
Japan

Korea
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia (English)
Malaysia (Malay)
Mexico
Netherlands (Dutch)
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbian (Cyrillic)
Serbian (Latin)
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain (Catalan)
Spain (Spanish)
Sweden
Switzerland (French)
Switzerland (German)
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States (English)
United States (Spanish)
Vietnam

Lunar and other calendars

China
Hong Kong SAR
Japan (lunar)
Japan (rokuyo)

How to activate Windows 8 RTM

Do you find any way to change product key for your Windows 8 RTM ?

Solution: 
1. Run Command Prompt as administrator
2. key in command as below :
    slmgr /ipk AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC-DDDDD-EEEEE ( Product key )
    slgmgr –ato

You will be prompt for the Windows Activation Successfully message.

Congratulation your Windows 8 RTM is activated now.

How to transfer contact from Nokia to Samsung Phone

 

I need to transfer my contact from Nokia N73 phone into Samsung phone. Using Kies, ONLY able to import single VCF file in one time. Found a solution to import multiple *.vcf contact file instead of import 1 by 1. Almost 600 contacts in my old NOKIA phone.

1. Mark all contact in NOKIA phonebook, select COPY and TO MEMORY CARD.

2. Read the memory card from PC under directory Others\Contacts

3. Go to CMD, type COPY *.vcf <new file name>.vcf

4. Done and you can import new VCF file into Samsung phone via Kies now

Wireless Connection in Windows 8 Release Preview Hyper-V

In previous Windows, we need setup network bridge to share wireless connection from host. Now, Windows 8 Release Preview Hyper-V are supported wireless connection. Let’s do it now !

1. Go to Hyper-V Manager, click on Action and select Virtual Switch Manager

2. On Create Virtual Switch windows, Click button Create Virtual Switch.

3. Enter the name and under Connection type, Select your Wireless Device from drop down list of External network as below.

4. Add this Wireless virtual network switch in your Virtual Machines.

5. You are Connected Now !

Editing Report in SCCM 2012

 

For System Center Configuration Manager 2012 with SQL Server 2008 R2, you will receive this error while create/edit report from Console.

Error: Report Builder not available
Report Builder 2.0 is not installed as a click-once application on report server

To fix this, please change registry value to :

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\ConfigMgr10\AdminUI\Reporting]
"ReportBuilderApplicationManifestName"="ReportBuilder_3_0_0_0.application"

Download : ReportBuilder3.reg

P/S: after fix the registry still not work, please run Console as Administrator

If you need standalone Report Builder 3.0, download here.

More details from Microsoft

Windows Live Messenger Contact List Empty

 

My Windows Live Messenger contact list was empty for 2 days. After restart PC still the same. Finally this trick help me fix it.

1. Exit Messenger

2. Go to Run and enter

    Windows 7
    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Live\Contacts

    Windows XP
    %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live\Contacts

2. Delete folder name with your HOTMAIL email address

3. Launch Messenger and Hooray ! Your contact is BACK !