The Mole #17: Technical Answers from Inside Microsoft - Upgrading IE, Passwords, DHCP, NT Domains, WINS, NT Configuration

September 13, 1999

Editors Note The questions and answers below are from the Inside Microsoft column that appears regularly on the TechNet Web site at the following location: https://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/insider/default.mspx. To find out how to submit questions of your own, see the end of this article or go to https://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/insider/default.mspx.

The TechNet Mole provides expert answers from deep within Microsoft to questions from IT professionals. This installment focuses on these issues:

  • Upgrading Internet Explorer on Multiple Machines

  • Those Pesky Encrypted Passwords

  • Moving the DHCP Database to Another Server

  • Renaming a Windows NT Domain

  • Moving WINS Manager to Another Machine

  • Viewing Windows NT Configuration Files

  • Backtalk! More on IP Load Sharing

On This Page

Upgrading Internet Explorer on Multiple Machines
Those Pesky Encrypted Passwords
Moving the DHCP Database to Another Server
Renaming a Windows NT Domain
Moving WINS Manager to Another Machine
Viewing Windows NT Configuration Files
Backtalk! More on IP Load Sharing
Got Questions? Mail the Mole
Credits

Upgrading Internet Explorer on Multiple Machines

Dear Mole,

I am a LAN Admin as well as a Web Developer and I have a serious issue. I need to upgrade approx. 300 machines running Windows NT Workstation from Internet Explorer 2.0 to 4.0 or greater in order to support our Intranet. The problem lies in the amount of time it takes to log out a user, log in as Admin, install Internet Explorer, and then do a regedit so the user doesn't have to change the name when they log back in. Is there ANY way to install Internet Explorer 4.0 or 5.0 without being logged in as Admin? PLEASE say yes.

Barry Kelly

Dear Barry,

Okay. Yes. Are you happy now?

Seriously, what you need is the "Internet Explorer 5 Administration Kit for Windows 3.x, 95, 98, WindowsNT 4, and Unix". We call it "IEAK," which is either 1) an acronym, or 2) the sound a timid horticulturist is likely to make upon sighting a mole among the radiccio plants.

The IEAK allows you to:

  • Standardize versioning across your organization

  • Centrally distribute and manage browser installations

  • Configure automatic connection profiles for users' machines

  • Customize virtually any aspect of Internet Explorer, including features, security, communications settings and other important elements

You can download the Internet Explorer 5 Administration Kit for Windows 3.x, 95, 98, NT 4, and Unix from TechNet. You should also read the Corporate Deployment Guide for Internet Explorer 5.

Those Pesky Encrypted Passwords

Dear Mole,

Windows 95 is the OS running on my PC. It is connected to an Ethernet hub. We have a Sparc20 server named "mpt-20" connected to the same hub. Under Windows 95 I could map my user directory on mpt-20. I just have to fill the map dialog box and supply the password (\\mpt-20\mnasser) "est voila". After Upgrading to Windows 98 I couldn't map my directory on mpt-20. The message "Incorrect password. Try again" is displayed.

Somebody told me that Windows 98 does some encryption to the password. Is that true? And what I have to do to fix this problem?

Diana

Dear Diana,

Both Windows 95 and Windows 98 encrypt passwords by default. For security reasons, Windows 98 will not allow you to send plain- text passwords.

Mole found the following in a Knowledge Base article. It sounds as if it fits your situation:

Samba servers require plain-text passwords, so you will not be able to connect to Samba servers unless you change a Registry entry to enable plain-text passwords.

Caution: Enabling plain-text passwords could compromise security. To enable plain-text passwords, add the Registry entry for EnablePlainTextPassword (as a Dword) and set the value to 1 in the following Registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies Network\DisablePwdCaching = 1

Don't even consider doing this until you back up the Registry. (You knew that, didn't you?) And be warned that messing around with the Registry is something you do entirely at your own risk. Blah blah blah.

Moving the DHCP Database to Another Server

Hey Mole,

I have to upgrade a Windows NT DHCP server to an entirely new hardware platform. How do I take down the old server and replace it with the new server without corrupting my DHCP database and all the leases that are on PC's in my organization? Can I export the DHCP database to the new DHCP server?

Colin Fowler, Network Engineer

Hi Colin,

Yes, you can replace the DHCP server, and the information you need is in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Using "move dhcp" as the query, the first item in the results is:

  • 130642: How to Move a DHCP Database to Another Windows NT Server

Just follow the directions, man.

Mole

Renaming a Windows NT Domain

Mole:

Due to lack of planning in the beginning, we now have the need to change the name of our Windows NT Domain. Our Windows NT Domain consists of around 800 clients Win95, 98, 14 NT4ws and 15 NT 4.0 Servers. Of the 15 Servers only 3 are Domain Controllers. Is there anyway to change our Domain name without having a major network outage?

Stephen, King County

Hi Stephen,

You can make up for scanty planning the first time around by being thoughtful, thorough, and proactive now. The Knowledge Base article cited below will walk you through the name change.

Step one. Read and study the following KnowledgeBase article:

  • 178009: Renaming a Domain: Process and Side Effects

Step two. Test the effects of changing your domain name outside a production environment before you make the change on mission-critical computers.

Step three. Just do it.

If you don't already have it on hand, get the MS Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit, Supplement 4 Utilities.

Moving WINS Manager to Another Machine

Mole,

Can I move Wins Manager from the PDC to a member server or BDC in the same domain and if I can do this—how can it be accomplished?

Jan Gage

Dear Jan,

Sometimes it's useful to restate the question in order to find the answer. The KB article below isn't specifically about moving WINS Manager, but it's guaranteed to show you where to find the tools you need and how to install them.

Check out the following article:

  • 173673: Windows NT Server Tools for Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Available

Viewing Windows NT Configuration Files

Mole,

I am trying to figure out how to view all the Windows NT Configuration Files. For example, in the NetWare world, the files are *.NCF. I need to document our Windows NT Servers, so where/how can I collect the information necessary to accomplish this task? That it is, configuration files with the information on how the Windows NT server is configured.

Sacramento Garcia, Network Engineer

Dear Sacramento,

Generate the report you need using the "Windows NT Diagnostics" utility. You'll find it by going to Start, Programs, Administrative Tools, Windows NT Diagnostics. Once you start this utility, choose the Print button to generate a report and send it to the printer or to a file. The actual file and location is in the SYSTEM folder of the WINNT directory, filename is WINMSD.EXE.

Backtalk! More on IP Load Sharing

This is for SSgt. Kevin Fox, Hill AFB, Utah. SSgt. Fox wanted to bind three Network Interface Cards to the same IP address to provide IP Load sharing.

Mole reader Jordan Arendt sends in this suggestion:

"For load balancing you could check out Adaptec Duralink products. They can group multiple cards together. You need some expensive hardware, though."

"Everything has its price." --Mother Mole--

Got Questions? Mail the Mole

Communicate with Mole at [closed account]. Send him your toughest questions. And if you think you have a better answer than Mole's, or a different one, send that along, as well. Please include the following:

  • Your name

  • Your title

  • Your company

  • Your e-mail address

  • Your question/solution/compliment

Credits

Lon Collins. He's the man.

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