Category Archives: Microsoft

How to remotely uninstall software?

There’s a lot of times when you just want to uninstall a piece of software without interrupting the end user, but unfortunately there isn’t an easy, out of the box way to do it.

To uninstall software on a local machine without any user interaction, you would do something like this:
msiexec.exe /norestart /qn /x {2902F983-B4C1-44BA-B85D-5C6D52E2C441}

The last part, after /x is the GUID of installed software. To find out the guid on remote software, download this script from here and run this command:
cscript /B SwInventory.vbs RemotePC > RemotePC.txt

Open RemotePC.txt and look for GUID.

Next you need PsExec from SysInternals. This tool will allow you to run commands on the remote computer.

Once you find out the GUID of the software that you need to uninstall, you can make a batch file with msiexec.exe command on it. Like:
msiexec.exe /norestart /qn /x {2902F983-B4C1-44BA-B85D-5C6D52E2C441} and name it uninstall.bat

If you need to uninstall more than one software, just create new lines with new GUIDs, example:
msiexec.exe /norestart /qn /x {2902F983-B4C1-44BA-B85D-5C6D52E2C441}
msiexec.exe /norestart /qn /x {18455581-E099-4BA8-BC6B-F34B2F06600C}

Next you run PsExec tool and copy and run the batch file to the remote with command:
psexec \\remotepc -c uninstall.bat

You will need to run cmd as an administrator in order to be able to execute remote commands.

If the software uninstalled successfully, you will get error code 0, if not, it will say something like “this action is only valid for products that are currently installed.”

This will be useful when you need to uninstall same software from multiple computers. An antivirus product is a good example if you are upgrading to another one.

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Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 transition / migration to Server Standard 2008 R2

(First appeared here)

This is an action plan from Microsoft tech support.  I’m going to be testing this in my Lab over the next week or so.  I’ll post any significant notes or corrections that I find.  

1.       Run ADprep on SBS 2008 with the Windows 2008 R2 disk.

·         Insert the media for Windows Server 2008 R2 into the Small Business Server 2008 server.

·         Browse to the following folder:

·         <DVD drive >:\Sources\Adprep> Adprep /forestprep

·         Press C, and then press ENTER. Wait for the process to complete.

·         <DVD drive >:\Sources\Adprep>Adprep /domainPrep 

·         when this step completes, you should receive a message: “Adprep successfully update the domain-wide Information” Read more »

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After system repair, Windows Activation Wizard won’t run

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itproxpsp/thread/b991ce21-db5b-46eb-8c9b-f8d4aa14a35a?prof=required

HERE’S THE FIX…

Download Internet Explorer 8 and Hotfix KB946501, burn them to disc

Hotfix KB946501 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/946501
Internet Explorer 8 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

Start your PC and repeatedly hit F8 to get the safe mode menu.

Choose safe mode with command prompt only (if you are unable to enter safe mode otherwise)

When the command prompt appears type “explorer”

Should load the Windows GUI behind the cmd window

Install the KB946501 hotfix from your disc (may not need if you’re not multicore)

Install IE8

Reboot normally in to Windows, you should be able to activate as usual.

Apparently the activation Window is dependant upon IE.

Hope this works, let me know.

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New malware redirects all major search engine results to Gala search

If you are being redirected to galasearch every time you search for something it may be because this shitworm planted few manual hosts on the hosts file.

First thing it does is hide the host file, so by going to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC you will not see hosts at all. To show hosts, click on Tools from any open folder, and then go to Folder Options, switch to View tab and check “show hiden files and folders” and also uncheck “hide extension…” and ” hide protected operating system files”. Read more »

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How did I get infected with Advanced Virus Remover?

As you may have heard by now there is a lot of malware around acting as antivirus.  A client emailed me and told me that she was infected with “Advanced Virus Remover” and she noticed that when she was using store locator page at acmoore.com, which is an Arts and Crafts store. First I didn’t think that was possible. Usually you get infected from a site that is not known or popular. I had to check it myself, and what do you know, she was right!

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