Getting an Off-Site Outlook Install to Connect to SBS 2003

Posted on September 3, 2008 by Ben

When you look at the many wonderful sites devoted to Microsoft’s Small Business Server 2003 (SBS 2003), one of the many items touted is the ability to access Outlook date over the internet, using RPC over HTTP.  From the various descriptions, it would seem to be an easy thing to do.  However, what do you do if the computer is not on site (for example, it is the home machine of the CEO for the comany in question).  If you follow the instructions found all over the web (like here or here or here), it appears that it should just work.

Silly man/woman!  This is Microsoft, not Apple!

Fortunately, the answer is both simple and complex.  The simple fact is that Outlook needs to verify that the account is set up correctly the first time it tries to connect.  Since it cannot “check names”, it fails.

So, the simple answer is to create a VPN connection, then open Outlook (to allow it to verify the names of the user and the server), and then let it create the local mailbox.  Once it does so (even before it finishes downloading all of the data), you can close Outlook, remove the VPN (if you wish) and the RPC over HTTP should work without fail.

Assuming, of course, that you had the Internet Connection Wizard (ICW) open up the proper ports.  Oh, and that you have the SBS box be the DNS server (as is MS’ wish).

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Oh, Microsoft…Why Do We Trust You?

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Ben

Dear Mr. Gates Ballmer;

I understand that I am supposed to update Windows when you ask me to.

I also understand that you cannot possibly make sure that all updates work with all systems.

But why, in the name of all that is holy, does your own product break your own product?

I’m referring, of course, to the fact that I’ve had four different machines that were upgraded to XP SP3 break Windows Update.

Fortunately, there is a fix:

Open Start\Run, and run these commands, one by one:

regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll

This should fix the problem.

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Anti-Malware I Trust

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Ben

When researching this problem, I ran across several postings for an anti-malware program that I had never heard of.  I hesitated to use it, as apparently you cannot believe everything you read on the internet, so I tried the manual method which took some time.

After that I talked to some colleagues who had seen similar infections, and they tried the program with no ill-effects.  So, I used it yesterday.  And it worked.  And, it made me wish that I had someone that I could trust to point me in the correct direction.  So, here I am, to help you: my two constant readers (Hi, mom!).

Now, please note the following:

  1. These should not replace a reputable antivirus (AV) program.  While they all have problems and suffer from bloat (I’m looking at you, Symantec), they are better than nothing.  In fact, I look at AV programs as the flu shot; it is their best guess as to where the infections are heading, but sometimes you still get sick.
  2. As of this date (8/20/2008), these are programs that I have used without issue.  This is not to say that there won’t be problems with future releases.
  3. All of the programs are “scan on demand” programs, and in fact I turn off the auto-protect on the first one, as it tends to be more annoying than helpful.
  4. Not a single lick of protection in the world will protect you from a user who is determined to ignore the warning signs.

With that being said, here we go:

  • Spybot Search and Destroy:  This is typically my first go-to program.  The scans can take forever, but it is often updated and is free.  That being said, toss the maker a couple of bucks, as it has saved the bacon of many a techie.
  • Malware Bytes:  This is the program I mentioned at the top of the hour that I ran across in forum postings.  I tried it, and it worked.  The quick scan is pretty quick and seemed to clean up the machine entirely.  The free version is on-demand only, and seems to be pretty good.
  • Smitfraud Fix:  This (and the next one) are not for the faint-of-heart.  You have to boot into Safe Mode and has the potential of toasting your machine.  If you wondered what Safe Mode was, then this is certainly not the tool for you.
  • ComboFix:  Again, not to be used lightly.  But, it is fast and it has pulled me from the fire more than once.

There you go.  These are the programs that get the Ben Seal of Approval ™.

Now I just need to go find that blog posting about how antivirus is the root of all evil…..

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Blue Screen of…..Humor?

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Ben

I got a call last week from a firm I had been in contact with, but had not done any work.

One of the principals had gotten a viral infection: Antivirus XP 2008. I assisted with the removal of it, but got a call about 15 minutes after I left that the “Blue Screen” was still there.

When I got back on site, I saw what appeared to be a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), followed by a partial reboot, followed by a BSOD, followed by a partial reboot…rinse and repeat. I started to hyperventilate (figuring I would be there all night), when the user pointed out that he could just press CTRL-ALT-DEL and the Task Manager would pop up.

After a little research, I discovered that this is just a very diabolical screen saver. And, to make things more complicated, registry entries are put in to keep you from turning it off.

From Symantec’s website, here is how you manually remove the Trojan.BluSOD:

Note: Be sure to backup the registry before working on it!

Navigate to and delete the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sysinternals\Bluescreen Screen Saver\"EULAAccepted" = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"lph[RANDOM CHARACTERS]" = "%System%\lph[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe"

Restore the following registry entries to their previous values, if required:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Software Notifier\"InstallationID" = "[RANDOM CLSID]"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"ConvertedWallpaper" = "%System%\ph[RANDOM CHARACTERS].bmp"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"SCRNSAVE.EXE" = "%System%\blph[RANDOM CHARACTERS].scr"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\"NoDispBackgroundPage" = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\"NoDispScrSavPage" = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore\"DisableSR" = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\sr\"Start" = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\sr\"ImagePath" = "*system32\DRIVERS\sr.sys*"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\sr\Parameters\"FirstRun" = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr\"Start" = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr\"ImagePath" = "*system32\DRIVERS\sr.sys*"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr\Parameters\"FirstRun" = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors\"Background" = "0 0 255"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"ScreenSaveActive" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"TileWallpaper" = "0"

Note: If the risk creates or modifies registry subkeys or entries under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, it is possible that it created them for every user on the compromised computer. To ensure that all registry subkeys or entries are removed or restored, log on using each user account and check for any HKEY_CURRENT_USER items listed above.

Thanks, Google and Peter Norton!

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If Lewis and Clark had MAPIs Like These, They Would Still Be in Missouri!

Posted on August 13, 2008 by Ben

Imagine if you will:

  1. You have a user who hates Office 2007
  2. You purchase and install Office 2003
  3. 3 months later, when you go to create a new personal folder in Outlook 2003, you get an “Unknown Error”

As it turns out, the MAPI32.dll that comes with Office 2007 is not compatible with previous versions of Office, but when you uninstall Office 2007, it does not get rid of the MAPI32.dll file. So, when Office 2003 is installed, it sees the presence of the file, and doesn’t install a “new” one.

Fortunately, the fix is pretty easy. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\, and rename the 1033 folder to 1033.bak. Then open up any of the office programs (although Outlook is probably your best bet) and run Help/Detect and Repair.

This will recreate the 1033 folder, and Outlook will start to behave normally.

Thanks to these fine folks for leading me down the correct path. You are my Sacagawea!

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MarsEdit Test Post

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Ben

This is a test post with MarsEdit software. Let us see if it works!

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Perhaps Ted Kaczynski Wasn’t so Crazy After All….

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Ben

This last weekend, I spent the entire time in a different time.

I rode horses….as the main form of transportation.

I saw wild pigs….10 feet away

And, I was in a completely cell-free, internet-free, almost tv-free land (although the Olympics were on several times, but those don’t count).

I even brought up a laptop…and it stayed in my bag the whole time.

It was amazing.  Relaxing.  Quiet.

Is it too late for me to become a Luddite?

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I Guess That is Why it Wasn’t Called “Backup Exact”

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Ben

I have two clients that both exhibited the same problem. While Backup Exec would work, there would be consistent alerts about hotfixes not installing. And, for both clients, the same fix would have to be done:

  1. Find out the version of BE they are running
  2. Go to the Symantec support site
  3. Search for that version + “service pack”
  4. Download the standalone installer for the service pack
  5. Install the service pack
  6. Wait for o’dark hundred to restart the server
  7. Install the hotfix

Why on God’s Green Earth (GGE) could Symantec not install the SP during one of the many Live Update sessions, I will never know.

The best part? For at least one client, the download of the SP kept failing at the last megabyte, so I had to download it to a different machine, VPN in and upload (at a vvvvvveeeeerrrryyyy sssslllloooowwww rate) to the server before installing.

Sigh……

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Life…is Complicated

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Ben

It seems to me that right around the time Windows XP came out, computers were almost…simple. Printers worked, and could be installed in 10 minutes. Setting the IP address of a machine could be done in 5 minutes without a restart and three clicks. Scanners needed a PhD to install, but at least they weren’t ending up in every machine known to man.

I was reminded of this today because of four things:

  1. I had to install an HP printer (a printer, not a MultiFunction Device), and it took 30 minutes and a restart.
  2. I had to change the driver of a Xerox machine on a Vista computer, and it took me three tries before I remembered that I had to “Run as Administrator”, even though I was logged in as an administrator at the time.
  3. I had to change the IP of the same Vista machine and it took 14 clicks to get to the properties of the Network Card (although I didn’t go the most direct route.
  4. I had to assist in installing a Xerox copier/scanner/fax/printer/espresso machine and it took 2 of us two hours to get it done…and the other person worked for Xerox.

Isn’t life supposed to be easier? Now we have dogs and cats living together!

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L’iPhone, part deaux

Posted on July 11, 2008 by Ben

So, like everyone else in the world, I downloaded and installed the latest firmware for the iPhone. And, here are my initial thoughts:

Pros

  • Love the App store. If you don’t have iPint and PhoneSaber, get them now!
  • Love the ability to search for contacts in all fields, and have the Contacts available from the home screen.
  • Multiple calendars, and all are color coded! Great; now, why don’t the colors match those in my iCal application? Home is Red in one and Blue in the other?
  • The ability to read an email with one account and respond with another? As it should have been from the beginning.
  • Three words: Exchange Sync Works.
  • The calculator is cool, even if it is something I will use infrequently.
  • Caps Lock!

Cons

  • Steve. Where is the copy and paste? I don’t want to have to add a phone number from an email into my contacts by first calling the person, hanging up quickly, and then add it from my recent calls list.
  • It seems, especially in the contact screen, slower moving around.
  • Please let me have a different signature for each account.
  • Battery life seems diminished, but I suspect that is the Push email functions.

All in all, much improved. Now, I can’t wait for 2.1.

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