Quick Tips for Windows NT (December 1999)

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Published: December 15, 1999

These time-saving tips on a variety of topics are contributed by experienced IT Pros, and take just a few minutes to learn and implement.

Synchronizing Domain Controllers

By Troy Thompson, MCSE+Internet

If you want to force synchronization of your domain controllers instead of waiting for an automatic replication event, type net accounts / sync from the command line of your primary domain controller. You can also use Server Manager to force synchronization. Start Server Manager, choose the primary domain controller, and select Synchronize Entire Domain from the File menu. You will see a message informing you that the process may take awhile; click OK.

Enabling the Proxy Agent

By Troy Thompson, MCSE+Internet

To enable the WINS Proxy Agent on a Windows NT 4.0 computer, you must edit the Registry. Start the Registry editor (select Start, Run, Regedt32). Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \Netbt \Parameters and change the value for EnableProxy to 0x1. In Windows NT 3.51, you are able to select a check box under TCP/IP settings so that a non-WINS client could use WINS for NetBIOS name resolution, but that check box is not available in Windows NT 4.0.

Sharing SCSI Devices

By Troy Thompson, MCSE+Internet

You can share a single SCSI device between two or more Windows NT computers. Simply boot each computer with the SCSI device attached. After the first computer boots, connect it to the next computer and boot it. Continue this process for as many computers as necessary. When you need the SCSI device on one of the computers, shut off the device, switch it over to the system you want, and turn it back on. Switching is not advisable for a device that is in the middle of a SCSI change.

Speeding up NTFS

By Troy Thompson, MCSE+Internet

You can prevent Explorer from updating the time a file was last accessed by editing the registry. This command can help speed up Explorer if you have a large number of directories on an NTFS partition, but it should not be done if you need to keep track of when files were last accessed. Start the Registry editor (select Start, Run, Regedt32), go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Control \FileSystem, and add a new DWORD value: NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate. Set the value of that subkey to 1.

Repairing a Broken Mirror Set

By Troy Thompson, MCSE+Internet

  1. Start the Disk Administrator (select Start, Programs, Administrative Tools, Disk Administrator).

  2. Make sure that you have an area of unpartitioned space that is at least the size of the Primary partition.

  3. Click on the part of the mirror that is working.

  4. While holding down CTRL, select the area of unpartitioned space.

  5. Select Establish from the Fault Tolerance menu.

Viewing Who's Logged On to Your Windows NT Server

By John Sheesley

If you want to know who's currently logged on to your Windows NT Server, you can find out quickly by using Server Manager. Click Start, Programs, Administrative Tools (Common), and Server Manager. When Server Manager starts, double-click the server you want to check. When the Properties window appears for the server, click the Users button. You'll then see who's logged on to your server and what files they're using.

What Service Pack Am I Running?

By John Sheesley

Windows NT tells you what Service Pack version you're running when you boot your server. But if you don't want to reboot to find out, you can use Windows NT Diagnostics instead. Select Start | Programs | Administrative Tools (Common) | Windows NT Diagnostics. You'll see your current Windows NT version number and Service Pack level in the Version window.

Don't Apply A 40-bit Service Pack Over A 128-bit System

By John Sheesley

When you apply a Service Pack to your Windows NT server, you can choose between a 40-bit and a 128-bit version. If you're in Canada or the U.S., you probably have a 128-bit server. When you download and apply the Service Pack, it will check your version before installing. If it warns you that you're about to apply a 40-bit Service Pack to a 128-bit system, don't do it. You'll decrease the level of protection in your Windows NT Server. Obtain and install a 128-bit Service Pack.

The above article is courtesy of TechRepublic<https://www.techrepublic.com>.

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