Tips
Group Policy settings typically require users to periodically change their passwords.
Sometimes, you may have to ensure that a user changes her password the next time she logs on; to do so, follow these simple steps.
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You can pin files and resources to the Taskbar for easy access to the documents you use most often. Find out how. ... Read more!
With a core server installation, you have a minimal UI that includes a limited desktop environment for local console management of the server. Here is an overview of key commands and utilities you’ll use for managing server core installations while logged on locally. ... Read more!
Exchange Server 2007 enables Outlook Web Access for each user by default. In five steps, however, you can easily disable Outlook Web Access for specific users ... Read more!
If you use your laptop in more than one location, Windows 7 will let you set a different default printer for each network that you access. Find out how to do this. ... Read more!
Related Articles
Is your infrastructure ready for virtualization? The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit, a network-wide infrastructure assessment tool, can help you better understand your IT infrastructure and determine whether your systems are ready for upgrade or migration to a variety of technologies, including virtualization. Jay Sauls and Baldwin Ng TechNet Magazine Earth Day 2009 2009 ... Read more!
As the environment becomes a topic of increasing attention, many IT departments are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption. In the first installment of our new online Sustainable Computing column, Dave Ohara discusses ways you can start to cut down on the amount of energy your organization consumes. Dave Ohara TechNet Magazine May 2008 ... Read more!
Explore how features in Microsoft operating systems, various IT tools, and management solutions can help you save money and minimize carbon emissions in your organization. Frank Koch, Mike Stephens, and Michael Walsh TechNet Magazine December 2008 ... Read more!
Explore how advances in technology can help reduce material waste in the medical field, reduce a variety costs, and help to keep patients safer and healthier. Nihar Ganju and Michael Walsh TechNet Magazine April 2009 ... Read more!
It's time to start acting on your Green IT initiatives. Matthew Graven TechNet Magazine Earth Day 2009 2009 ... Read more!
Also by this Author
Get a quick overview of some simple IT upgrades that can provide both environmental and cost cutting benefits. Jim Lynch TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
When you donate and reuse old hardware, you keep old hardware out of landfills-and that helps to preserve our environment. These tips can help you effectively delete personal data from your old computer equipment so it will be ready for reuse. Jim Lynch TechNet Magazine February 2008 ... Read more!
Popular Articles
Security principals underlie so much of Windows security that it is essential for any administrator to have at least a basic understanding of how the various types of Security principals work and how they are used. Here's what you need to know. Jesper M. Johansson TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
SQL Server 2008 includes a new “eventing” mechanism called SQL Server Extended Events that enables some sophisticated troubleshooting. Get an overview of Extended Events and find out how you can use this new functionality for monitoring and troubleshooting. Paul S. Randal TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
Greg Steen discusses recovering from system crashes with Replay RA - Recovery Accelerator, managing compressed archives with WinRAR, using TortoiseSVN to simplify source control, measuring disk I/O with Iometer, as well as rebooting servers remotely with the APC Switched Rack PDU, and looks at the book "Windows Group Policy: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista". Greg Steen TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
Project Server 2007 delivers significant enhancements, not only to the features and functionality for users but also for administrators. Alan Maddison explores some of the most significant new features and walks you through the installation and configuration of Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. Alan Maddison TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
See how the free Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager can help you easily copy, delete, and back up files from a flash drive, as well as perform other useful tasks. Lance Whitney TechNet Magazine January 2009 ... Read more!
Our Blog
NAP monitors the health of specified computers when they attempt to connect to a network and includes a number of mechanisms to enforce health requirements. In this article, Geek of All Trades Greg Shields gives readers an overview of these enforcement mechanisms and, as an example, takes a closer look at setting ...
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Use Windows PowerShell to Manage Virtual Machines Here are a few examples of how you can use Windows PowerShell scripts to manage virtual machines running on a Server Core installation. Note that these scripts are presented as samples and may need to be customized to work in your environment. Create a New ...
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Disabling an Unused Part of Group Policy Objects One way to disable a policy is to disable an unused part of the GPO. By disabling part of a policy that isn’t used, the application of GPOs and security will be faster. Administer Windows Server 2008 Server Core from the Command Prompt ...
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In the August 2008 issue of TechNet Magazine, Paul Randal wrote an article Top Tips for Effective Database Maintenance. It was geared toward "involuntary DBAs" (IT pros who inadvertently wind up responsible for a SQL Server instance). The article had a great response from our readers so Paul has written another ... Read more!
Microsoft Forefront is designed to deliver an integrated security solution that makes it much easier to deploy and manage security across an organization’s IT infrastructure. In this, our annual security issue, we feature two articles that describe how Forefront Security protects instant messaging and e-mail. Protect ...
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Field Notes
Recycle Your PC
Jim Lynch
The Community Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program ( microsoft.com/mar) is an extraordinary and relatively unknown project of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential initiative, in which Microsoft supports diverse projects to improve education, create businesses and jobs, and generate sustainable economic opportunities for many underserved communities. Started in the U.K. in 2000, the Community MAR program now consists of more than 800 PC refurbishers in 50 countries around the world.
One of the most amazing aspects of the Community MAR program is that it is able to supply licenses for Windows® 2000 and Windows XP for only $5 USD. MARs supply these licenses—over 200,000 a year—on refurbished PCs to nonprofit organizations, schools, libraries, colleges, and, in the U.S., technology-access programs for low-income or disabled individuals. In this way, Community MARs reach those on the wrong side of the digital divide, providing access to educational and employment opportunities.
In pursuit of reaching underserved children, Community MARs span the globe. For example, Operation Homelink supplies low-income U.S. military families with computers; Computer Aid International in the U.K. is the largest non-government organization supplying computers to Africa; and the Computers for Schools Canada network of refurbishers supplies a significant portion of the computers that go to Canadian schools.
In fact, the Community MAR program came about in 2000 to help increase the flow of working equipment to schools and charities in the U.K. that traditionally had limited access to technology. The program expanded to the U.S. and Australia in 2003 and became global in 2005. It is now available to all types of refurbishers (commercial, noncommercial, government, and school-based). Along the way, it has also created a vibrant computer reuse and refurbishing industry.
One of the less-obvious benefits of the Community MAR program is the environmental one. Extending the life of electronic equipment is the most efficient form of recycling because it retains the highest function of a device and generates the highest economic, environmental, and social rewards. End-of-life recycling is certainly good and necessary, but it loses 10-30 percent of the materials and energy in any given item.
Not surprisingly, manufacturing computers has a huge environmental cost. According to environmental scientist Eric D. Williams of Arizona State University, producing the average 53-pound desktop computer and monitor requires 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 50 pounds of chemicals, and 3,330 pounds of water. Extending its life by two or three years saves 5 to 20 times more energy than end-of-life recycling over the computer's lifecycle (see the "Value of Reuse" sidebar for more astonishing figures).
Overall, through this innovative program, Microsoft helps create opportunities that can transform communities by bringing the benefits of technology to people in need. A surprising added benefit is that the Community MAR program has raised public awareness of and support for computer reuse.
Jim Lynch is Program Director for computer recycling and reuse at TechSoup.org, a San Francisco-based nonprofit whose mission is to supply very low-cost hardware, software, and know-how to charities around the world.
© 2008 Microsoft Corporation and CMP Media, LLC. All rights reserved; reproduction in part or in whole without permission is prohibited.
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