How to merge split PDF’s for Free

PDFTK http://www.pdfhacks.com/pdftk/ is a command line free opensource tool that can do many things to PDF’s like merge and split them and you can get PDFTK Builder http://angusj.com/pdftkb/ that is a GUI for the main functions of the tool. This is better then spending lots of money for a tool and its small if you want the command line version. It is also available for other OS’s too.

How to share a workbook in excel 2007

I knew how to do this in 2003 but they moved it in 2007, found a good link for 2007 that tells how to share this.

http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2007/06/07/share-a-workbook-in-excel-2007/

HP Systems Insight Manager Error 193: 0xc1

Trying to start HP Systems Insight Manager and you get a error 193: 0xc1, to get rid of this error and get the service started, look for a “program” file in the root of the installed drive. there is more info at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q325680. you can delete this file and get the service to start and get you back and running. I have not found out why this happens but thats how to at least get it fixed for right now.

GUI to add Portgroup to multi hosts

Warning: This tool is not created by VMware so use at your own risk, test it out before use

Ever needed to add a new portgroup to your VMware farm/cluster or enviroment? Well there is a GUI tool that will let you do this to 1 or more hosts. I did about 16 host in about 5mins with this tool so it may help you guys out.

Download: http://www.run-virtual.com/?page_id=160 There is also a screenshot of the tool too.

GUI Storage VMotion (SVMotion)

WARNING: This plugin is not created my VMware, so us at your own risk and test it out first before you try and use it in Production.

You can get a GUI Storage VMotion plugin for VIC 2.5 

You can download this plugin at http://code.google.com/p/akutz/downloads/list

This plugin acks as a normal VMware plugin (ie update manager, etc)

All you do is right click your VM and you will have move storage option at bottom, then drag the VM to a new datastore of your choose.

XP SP2 BlueScreen BSOD and DFS

Problem: Using Windows XP SP2 that is mapped to a DFS share will bluescreen when saving documents.

Recorded Microsoft KB artical: 906866  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906866

Other related post: http://www.tech-archive.net/Archive/Windows/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/2007-04/msg00848.html

Fix: SP3 Fixes this problem, or you can follow the steps lisked in the two articals.

Dashboard for powershell scripts

Ever wanted to desplay your powershell as a dashboard? Well some people do, here is a free tool that might help you out http://www.codeplex.com/Poshboard might be more useful for the VI Toolkit from vmware to show off your ESX and VM stats to managment.

Windows Logon Message

Windows Logon Message for systems connecting to a Active Directory Domain.

Error: “The system cannot log you on now because the domain <name> is not available”

Cause: This is caused by low system memory or pagefile is full.

Fix: a reboot should fix the connection, then the memory leak needs to be fixed or space problem need attention.

Rocket dock

Looking for a extra dock or like the dock for mac but have windows well rocket dock might be what your looking for.

http://rocketdock.com/

VM Power on Error in ESX

ERROR: a general system error occurred: internal error

Error is from ESX 3.5 U2 (update2) where the product expires Aug 12 2008.

/var/log/vmware/hostd.log,
Aug 12 10:40:10.792: vmx| http://msg.License.product.expired This product has expired.
Aug 12 10:40:10.792: vmx| Be sure that your host machine’s date and time are set correctly.
Aug 12 10:40:10.792: vmx| There is a more recent version available at the VMware Web site: http://www.vmware.com/info?id=4.

Effects VM power on’s and supended systems.

The work-around:

Turn off NTP (if you’re using it), and then manually set the date of all ESX 3.5U2 hosts back to 10th of August. This can be done either through the VI Client (Host -> Configuration -> Time Configuration) or by typing date -s “08/10/2008″ at the Service Console command line on the ESX hosts.

Warring: If you have application or databases that have the VMware tools installed you need to uncheck that option so that you dont have the time on the VM messed up, if they use system time in a critical way.