How To Sysprep Windows Server 2003

This maybe one of my last posts for Windows Server 2003, as we all know its EOL is on July 2015 (14th of July, 2015 to be exact). This post may become handy to some, may not to the others, as they already moved to Windows Server 2008, or perhaps Server 2012.

Description :
How To Sysprep Windows Server 2003.


How To Do :

1.  Mount the Windows Server 2003 installer (take note on the version). Once done, browse to Support\Tools folder. Double click at DEPLOY.CAB
   
   
   
2. Highlight all files, right click, and choose Extract.
   
   
   
   
3. Select a destination. In this case, it is C:\Sysprep.
   
   
   
   
4. Once done, you will see all these files inside the folder.
   
   
   
   
   
5.  Double click at sysprep.exe
   
   
   
6. This screen will pop up. Press OK.
   
   
   
   
7. Based on your preference, choose all needed options accordingly. If you want to customize the installation using INI file, choose Factory, or else Reseal.
   
   
   
   
8. For this post, I chose Reseal, and wants Sysprep to regenerate security identifier (SID). Hence, this message pop up. Choose OK.
   

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How To View Pictures in Thumbnail

Last week was my first day in my new company (yes, I resigned from my previous company as I wanted to get new challenges). So, during my first day, we (my boss, another colleague and I) went out to buy new laptop for me (BYOD concept - so we can choose our own laptop, thanks boss!). So long story short, today I just realized that I can't view my pictures in thumbnail. Not a big deal though, but the feature is there, so why not using it, right? :D

Description :
Pictures showing as icon, rather than thumbnail.

 How To Do :

1. Open Window Explorer, go to View tab, and click at Option
   
   
   
   
   

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How To Set up Configuration Logging for XenApp 5 for Server 2003

In this Kb, Citrix explains on how to set up a Configuration Logging for XenApp 6.5. In this 
post, I will show on how to set up the same for XenApp 5 for Server 2003.

Description :
Set up Configuration Logging for XenApp 5 for Server 2003.



How To Do :

1.  Launch Citrix Console, right click at <FarmName>, and choose Properties.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2.  Browse to Farm-Wide > Configuration Logging.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3.  Click at Configure Database.
   
   
   
   
   
4.  Choose connection type (in this case, it is SQL Server), DB Server name, and credential (in this case, I used Windows Integrated security). Press Next
   
   
   
5.   Speficy the database name, and press Next
   
   
   
6.  Leave all settings as default, but change "Use encryption" to No. Press Next
   
   
   
7.  Press Test Database Connection in order to test the connection
   
   
   
   
   
   
8.  You will see this screen if the testing is successful. Press OK
   
   
   
   
9. Now we are good, Configuration Logging properly set up. press OK.
   

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Session Settings Not Listed in Citrix Web Interface web site.

In previous post, I mentioned on what need to be done by users in case the publsihed applications did not successfully launched in seamless mode. However, in some cases, users might not be able to see the option. This post will help to solve it.

Issues :

Session Settings preference is not listed in Citrix Web Interface web site. This is due to the option is not enabled. It can be checked at Citrix Web Interface Management Console.

Troubleshooting 

1.  Launch Citrix Web Interface Management Console. Browse to Citrix Web Interface > XenApp Web Sites. You will see lists of created Sites.
   
   
   
   
2.  Right click at the required farm URL.
   
   
3.  Choose Session Preference
   
   
4.  This window will appeared. Browse to Remote Connnection > Display. You will see the option "Allow users to customize window size" is unchecked.
   

Resolution :

1. Check the option "Allow users to customize window size", and press OK
   
   
   
2.  Get users to refresh the Web Interface web site, or re-login to it.
   

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Published Application Launches Not In Seamless Mode

One of my new user was having this problem, whereas whenever he launched Citrix applications, the application launched within another window (Windowception???). This issue was only occurred to him, but not to other users. Hence, it was safely said the issue is user-related, and not farm-wide.

Issues :
Application did not launch in Seamless mode, but inside another window session (in this case, the published application was Notepad).

Troubleshooting 
** Note that these steps are to be taken from User ends, not the infra**

1.  Ask the user to access Citrix Web Interface as usual.
   
   
   
   
2.  Go to Preference > Session Settings
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3.  Take note on 'Window size:' column
   

Resolution :

• Change current Window size to Seamless, and press Save.
  
  
  
  
  
• This is some Help notes provided by Citrix 
  

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How To Use Citrix Receiver Clean Up Utility

Citrix has came up with an utility to fully uninstalled and removed Citrix Receiver from a workstation / server. 

Based on their article, this utility must be used in one or more of these situations :

• Receiver or Online Plug-in is installed but the old components still exist or creating abnormal scenarios.
• Receiver or Online Plug-in components must be cleaned before troubleshooting or installation.
• Receiver or Online Plug-in are unable to function and the product is unable to install or uninstall.

However, not all OS can use this utility. It only can be applied to these products :

• Windows 8 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 2008 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 2008 R2
• Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit

Description :
To uninstall Citrix Receiver, and perform cleanup so there is  no trace of Citrix Receiver inside the workstation / server.

How To Do :

1.  Right click at Citrix Receiver Clean Up Utility, and choose Run as administrator.
   
   
   
2. Key in 1 and press Enter to properly remove Citrix Receiver.
   
   
   
3. Running….
   
4. Once completed, you will see this screen. Press 1 to reboot the workstation.
   

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Server 2012 - Failed to Turn On .Net 3.5 Fx Features

I am using Windows Server 2012 for my XenDesktop 7 lab test. During the installation of SQL server, it prompted an error, asking for .Net 3.5 Framework to be turned on. I tried to enable it, but failed. Thinking and thinking, until I realized what was the issue

Issues :

Received below error while trying to enabling .Net 3.5 Framework feature in Windows Server 2012.

Error :

Installation of one or more roles. role services, or features failed.

The source files could not be found. Try installing the roles, role services, or features again in a new Add Roles and Features Wizard session, and on the confirmation page of the wizard, click "Specify an alternate source path" to specify a valid location of the source files that are required for the installation. The location must be accessible by the computer account of the destination server.

Troubleshooting 

It turns out that to enable the feature, the source is needed. In this case, it will grab the source from internet.

Resolution :

Mount the Windows Server 2012 CD / ISO to the drive

Open command prompt as administrator, and launch this command :
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

running...

Complete!

Launch Server Maanger, and check the Roles and Features. the newly installed feature will appeared.

Reference 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/5a786052-38a1-46f9-add2-e6487bc6a8aa/net-framework-20-and-35-feature-install-fails-on-windows-server-2012-rc?forum=winserver8setup

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