Enterprise Vault - This version of the Enterprise Vault Outlook Add-In is not compatible with the Enterprise Vault server version.

Orait.. Let's talk about Enterprise Vault Outlook Plugin again... The project that I involved requires a few versions jump - from EV ver 9 to EV ver 12. The planning was to upgrade Plugin to version 12 first, followed by servers upgrade. According to EV Compatibility List ( https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.000097605 ), the plugin will be supported if the server is either the same version(n), n-1 or n+1. 

Now back to the issue. Due to version incompatibility between the plugin and the server, during my testing, there was an information box appeared whenever I opened my MS Outlook, as documented below.


Issue :

Received below error after upgrading EV Outlook Plugin from version 9 to version 12 (where the EV server was still at ver 9).

This version of the Enterprise Vault Outlook Add-In is not compatible with the Enterprise Vault server version.

Contact your Help Desk for details of how to resolve the issue.

At the same time, the Enterprise Vault plugin was missing :

Before EV Plugin upgrade :

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Enterprise Vault Outlook Plugin - Location is not valid. Choose a different installation location.

I was part of a project to upgrade Enterprise Vault system - my task was to ensure the Enterprise Vault Outlook plugin is properly deployed to Outlook clients. However, during my testing to install Enterprise Vault Outlook Plugin ver 12, I faced an issue as below :

Location is not valid. Choose a different installation location. 

No logs, just a warning. 


Thererfore, I performed some troubleshoting, which leads to the resoluton.


Issue : 
Unable to install Enterprise Vault Outlook Plugin version 12 - error : Location is not valid. Choose a different installation location. 



Troubleshooting

1.  Normal EV Outlook plugin installation won’t produce any log. Therefore, for troubleshooting purpose (which then be used during automation), the installer executed with MSIEXEC command :
   
   msiexec /i "C:\temp\EVOutlookClient\Veritas Enterprise Vault Outlook Add-in (x86).msi" /qn /norestart /l* C:\temp\EV12Installation.log
   
   
2.  Based on the log, these error (marked in yellow) captured
   
   
   

   Action ended 12:44:38: Set_TARGETDIR. Return value 1.Action 12:44:38: DiscoverUserProfileFolders.
   Action start 12:44:38: DiscoverUserProfileFolders.DiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Initialized.DiscoverUserProfileFolders:  GetRegKeyChildren : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\ for childrenDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  GetRegKeyChildren : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-18 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Found profile with SID S-1-5-18 and path %systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofileDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-19 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Found profile with SID S-1-5-19 and path C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalServiceDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-20 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Found profile with SID S-1-5-20 and path C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkServiceDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-2058597364-130651613-2805778835-2401 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Found profile with SID S-1-5-21-2058597364-130651613-2805778835-2401 and path C:\Users\.zHISclientDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-2058597364-130651613-2805778835-26805 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Error 0x2: RegQueryValueEx failed to read ProfileImagePath with error 2DiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : ENDDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Found profile with SID S-1-5-21-2058597364-130651613-2805778835-26805 and path
   DiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : BEGINDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Reading Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-2058597364-130651613-2805778835-26814 for value ProfileImagePathDiscoverUserProfileFolders:  Error 0x2: RegQueryValueEx failed to read ProfileImagePath with error 2DiscoverUserProfileFolders:  ReadRegistry : END

   
   
3.  Check on Registry Editor (REGEDIT) under HKLM\ Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList, there are some registry keys which do not point to any profiles. It is most likely the profiles have been improperly deleted before this.
   
   Example of Registry Key Which Ties to User Profile : 
   
   
   
   Registry Key Which Not Ties to Any User Profile
   
   
   

 

Resolution :

1.  Either, look for the keys one by one and delete them, or 
   
2.  Run below script
   

On Error Resume Next
Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objRegistry=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
strProfileListKeyPath = "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList"
objRegistry.EnumKey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, strProfileListKeyPath, arrProfileList
For intCurrentSID = 0 To UBound(arrProfileList)
objRegistry.GetStringValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strProfileListKeyPath & "\" & arrProfileList(intCurrentSID),"ProfileImagePath",strProfileImagePath
If Not (objFSO.FolderExists (strProfileImagePath)) Then
DeleteRegEntry  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, strProfileListKeyPath & "\" & arrProfileList(intCurrentSID)
End If
Next

Function DeleteRegEntry(sHive, sEnumPath)
' Attempt to delete key.  If it fails, start the subkey
' enumration process.
lRC = objRegistry.DeleteKey(sHive, sEnumPath)
' The deletion failed, start deleting subkeys.
If (lRC <> 0) Then
' Subkey Enumerator
   On Error Resume Next
   lRC = objRegistry.EnumKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, sEnumPath, sNames)
   For Each sKeyName In sNames
      If Err.Number <> 0 Then Exit For
      lRC = DeleteRegEntry(sHive, sEnumPath & "\" & sKeyName)
   Next
   On Error Goto 0
' At this point we should have looped through all subkeys, trying
' to delete the registry key again.
   lRC = objRegistry.DeleteKey(sHive, sEnumPath)
End If
End Function

 

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Change Internet Explorer Connections Settings from Registry

Okay, I seriously thought I already have this post uploaded in this blog, but it turned out I was wrong. I have kept this for a long time, and it helped me a numbers of times already so I reckon it will help others as well.

IE Connections. There are a few settings we can configured in IE Connections Settings such as :

• Automatically detect settings 
• Use automatic configuration script 
• Use a proxy server 
• Bypass proxy server for local addresses 
• Use different proxy servers for different protocols 
• Proxy server exception. 

For this post, I will list registry keys positions for each setting.


Objective : Grey-Out / Not-Grey-Out Automatic Configuration
Location :

• Hive : HKCU
• Key : Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel\
• Value Name : AutoConfig
• Value Type : DWORD

Value Data : 0

Result : Not-Greyed-Out, settings for Automatically detect settings & Use automatic configuration script can be changed.

Value Data : 1

Result : Greyed-Out, settings for Automatically detect settings & Use automatic configuration script cannot be changed

Objective : Checked / Unchecked Automatically detect settings

Location :

• Hive : HKCU
• Key : Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
• Value Name : AutoDetect
• Value Type : DWORD

Value Data : 0

Result : unchecked

Value Data : 1

Result : checked

Objective : Enable / Disable Use automatic configuration script

Location :

• Hive : HKCU
• Key : Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
• Value Name : AutoConfigURL
• Value Type : REG_SZ

Value Data : <Config URL>

Result : Config URL configured

Objective : Grey-out / un-grey-out Option to use proxy server

Location :

• Hive : HKCU
• Key : Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
• Value Name : ProxyEnable
• Value Type : REG_DWORD

Value Data : 0

Result : option to use a proxy server for your LAN is un-checked, box to put proxy server and port disabled, Advanced box disabled, option to bypass prosxy server disabled

Value Data : 1

Result : option to use a proxy server for your LAN is checked, box to put proxy server and port enabled, Advanced box enabled, option to bypass prosxy server enabled

Objective : Set Proxy Server

Location :

• Hive : HKCU
• Key : Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
• Value Name : ProxyServer
• Value Type : REG_SZ

Value Data : ProxyName:port

Result :

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Suppress Adobe Product Improvement Program Pop-Up by Using Microsoft Group Policy Preference or AppSense Environment Manager

I implemented this a few years back, when I needed to eliminate any unneeded pop-up to my users. In this case, it was for Adobe Reader. Newly created profiles will have this automatically pop-up when they launched Adobe Reader  for the first time.

Adobe Product Improvement Program - Help Improve the Adobe Reader Experience.

The screen also can be triggered by going to Help | Improvement Program Options...

These steps will help to disable the Improvement Program Options menu, and consequently suppress the pop-up. Note that it requires registry editing, so be extremely careful. Note that the steps mentioned are for Adobe Reader 11. If oy used different version, ensure your key path refers to correct version (SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\11.0)

Using GPP : 

1.  Launch GPMC, and go to target GPO.  Edit the policy, and navigate to Computer Configuration | Preference | Windows Settings | Registry, right click at Registry, hover to New and click at Registry Item
   
   
   
   
   
2.  Ensure Hive is changed to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   
   
   
3. Use below info to fill up the form :
   Key Path : SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\11.0\FeatureLockDown
   Value Name : bUsageMeasurement
   Value Type : REG_DWORD
   Value Data : 0
   Base : Decimal
   
   
   
   
4.  Reboot the target machine. Once it is up, log in to computer, and launch Adobe Reader. No Improvement Program pop-up appeared, and Improvement Program Options... is no longer listed  in Help menu.
   
    

Using AppSense Environment Manager : 

1. Launch AppSense Environment Manager, right click at Process Started | choose Node
   
   
   
   
2.  Change the information for Condition and Match accordingly, then click OK
   Condition : Equal to
   Match : AcroRd32.exe
   
   
   
   
3. At workspace on the right side, right click at the Process condition, and navigate to Conditions | Registry | and choose Registry Value Exists. This step is to check whether the needed value is existed or not.
   
   
   
4. Fill up all needed info by following below information :
   Hive : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   Key : SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\11.0\FeatureLockDown
   Value Name : bUsageMeasurement
   Value Type : REG_DWORD
   Comparison : Not Equal To
   Value Data : 0
   Base : Decimal
   
   
   
   
5. You may also want to give a bit of description and notes to the setting. Select OK.
   
   
   
   
6.  This is the outcomes, so far.
   
   
   

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Change Location of User Profile Folders in Registry

I love to move my Windows profile folders from common, Microsoft-preset folders to my desired folders. And occasionally, out of stupidity, I mistakenly deleted the active folders, rather than the previous folders, which resulting to below error :

<Path> refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.

As always, it is not hard to resolve this issue. However, it involves registry changes, therefore do it cautiously.

1.  Open regedit
   
   
   
2.  navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
   
   
   
3.  There are 2 parts here : 
   • Shell Folders
   • User Shell Folders
   Shell Folders is designed to be used by Windows NT and earlier. It is necessary not to delete this folder.
   
   

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Failed to poll Now : Not enough server storage is available to process this command

A few weeks ago I went to AppSense training. It was very good, very informative and very intense - 5 days were not enough to be honest as it covers all 4 components of DesktopNow (AppSense Management Console, Performance Manager, Environment Manager, and Application Manager).

So back to the topic - I received this error while trying to pool the policy :

Failed to poll Now : Not enough server storage is available to process this command.

A bit digging, I managed to find why it happened, and how to resolve it. According to Microsoft :

"This issue may occur if the IRPStackSize registry entry on the server is set too low."

Now, what is IRPStackSize? 

According to Microsoft: 

The IRPStackSize parameter specifies the number of stack locations in I/O request packets (IRPs) that are used by Windows 2000 Server, by Windows Server 2003, and by Windows XP. You may have to increase this number for certain transports, for media access control (MAC) drivers, or for file system drivers. Each stack uses 36 bytes of memory for each receive buffer. 

or this explanation from Mark Perry might help: 

The IRPStackSize is a parameter that specifies the number of stack locations in I/O request packets (IRPs) that are used by the operating system. Each stack uses 36 bytes of memory for each receive buffer and you can increase the IRPStackSize, through the Windows registry for some transports, media access control (MAC) drivers, or for file system drivers. The default value of the IRPStackSize parameter is 15. On my Windows 7 PC, for whatever reason, it was set to 10. I creaded it to 20 and have not had an issue anymore.

Okay,  that's it - I don't really understand the cause ( T___T~) But to make it simple, it is because of the value specified in IRPStackSize parameter, which is too low. Perhaps if the value is too low, it caused the stack size to be limited, and file system cannot handle the request. My wild guess, do not quote me on that!

Issues :

Receive error when to perform Poll Now in ApPSense AMC.

Failed to poll Now : Not enough server storage is available to process this command.

Troubleshooting :

1. RDP to the machine which having problem, launch REGEDIT
   
   
   
2. Navigate to below path :
   Path : HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
   
   
   
3. A DWORD registry parameter with the name of 'IRPStackSize' is not available. Or if it is available, the value set is too small.
   
   
   

Resolution :

1. Right click | New | choose DWORD value
   
   
   
   
2. Rename it to below name. make sure to follow exactly the same, as it is case-sensitive.
   Name : IRPStackSize
   
   
   
3. Once done, right click at it, and click at Modify
   
   
   
   
4. Ensure the base changed to Decimal first before entering the value. The value should be 20 (or 14 in Hexadecimal).
   
   
   
5. This is the output. Restart the machine
   
   
   
   
6. Try to perform 'Poll Now' again once the machine came up from reboot. It should be working by now.
   

Reference 

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-nz/kb/106167
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-nz/kb/285089
• http://www.cm3solutions.com/enough-storage-available-process-command-visual-studio/

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How To Change NetBIOS Name of A Computer

So yes... After 4 months without new contents, so I started with this. It looks easier to do (well, it is), but before you do that, you may want to read this to understand the difference between hostname and netBIOS, then starts to explore on when to use them, their limitations etc etc. I won't discuss here (or maybe not today). So let's back to the topic.

 Description :
Changing NetBIOS Name of A Computer.

ComputerName :

NetBIOS :

How To Do :

1.  Go to Start > Run, and type REGEDIT
2.  Browse to Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > ComputerName > ComputerName
   
   
   
3. At the right side, double click at ComputerName string, and put correct Value data. Press OK.
   
4.  Then you will get this
   
5. Reboot your computer / VM.
6. Once it is up, double check your netBIOS name. New name shall be reflected
   

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