Use Skype for Business with older Lync Servers (Fix for error: Server version is incompatible)

Skype for Business 2013 or 2016 will throw this error if you try to use it with older Lync servers.

Cannot sign in because the server version is incompatible with Skype for Business.

Fix: Add DisableServerCheck registry key. Reboot your computer (to reload the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive). Your Skype for Business client will work after reboot.

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\lync
Name:  DisableServerCheck
Type: DWORD
Value: 1 (00000001)

You may download this file (right click the downloaded file and select Merge to add to the registry).

Office: “Add to dictionary” option greyed out

I have helped someone with their Word (& PowerPoint) for not able to add custom words into Dictionary. When the user selected an word and right click, the option for Add to dictionary is greyed out like below picture.

Fix/Solution: Add a Custom Dictionary and select a language in Proofing options.

1. Click File –> Options
2. Select Proofing –> Custom Dictionaries
3. Select the CUSTOM.DIC and a Language (English (United States) in my case) if not selected. If you don’t see your language, add it.

4. That’s all. Click OK’s to close all dialog boxes. Your problem is fixed. You can now add words into custom dictionary.

Excel: Paste multi-line text into a cell

If you copy and paste multi-line text into a Excel cell, Excel pastes into multi-row or multi-column data. This blog tip is to show how to paste a text into a cell and preserve the tabs and paragraphs into the same cell.

Solution:

1. Copy your multi-line text (Control-C)

2. On Excel, Select the cell and click on Formula bar and paste text. OR Select the cell, press F2 and paste the text. 

Hope it helped you. Enjoy

Windows 8.1: Where the heck is Start-up folder?

Microsoft ditched the start-menu in Windows 8. I get that. BUT we used to get to the start-up folder using start-menu, so we can place few shortcuts to start automatically when we log in.  How the hell am I going to find it in the GUI? No where.

I searching around and found where the heck is start-up folder. Its under freaking “C:\ProgramData” folder. Copy the following path and paste it in run box (Windows +R)

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Place your software/program shortcuts here.

How to Create a bootable Windows 2012 R2 USB Disk? (applies to Windows 8.1 also)

Pre-requisites: 7-Zip software (Download it from here: http://7-zip.org/), Windows 2012 (R2) ISO (or Windows 8.1 ISO), 8GB or more USB disk

• Open Command Prompt in elevated mode (Run as Administrator)
• Type diskpart and press Enter
• Type list disk and press Enter. Note the list of existing disks.
• Insert the USB Disk
• Type list disk and press enter again. Note the new disk showed up which is our USB disk. I assume the new disk is 2 for example purpose.
• Type select disk X where X is your USB disk. E.g., select disk 2. Press Enter.
• Type clean and press enter.
• Type create partition primary and press enter to create primary partition 1.
• Type select partition 1 and press enter.
• Type active and press enter to make the partition 1 active
• Type format fs=ntfs and press enter. This will format the partition 1 as NTFS volume.
• Type assign and press enter to assign the USB disk to a drive letter.

 

• Now right click on Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows 8.1 ISO file, select 7-Zip –> Extract Files…
• Select your USB disk to extract the ISO contents to the USB disk

That’s all. Boot the server or computer using the bootable USB disk.

Did it help you? Leave me a Thanks.

Outlook 2013 (&2010): Pictures in Signature–How to?

In Outlook 2013 (& 2010) if you paste or insert an picture (e.g., Logo) in Signature Editor, it is not resizable. You are stuck and not able to do a correct sized picture in Logo. But No worries. There is an very simple trick that you can make the signature however you want.

• Click New E-mail in Outlook 2013 (or 2010)
• Type and insert the picture and make the signature that way you want.

• Now Copy the whole thing in the compose window.
• Click Insert –> Signature –> Signatures..
• Click New and type a name, click OK.
• Paste the copied signature

That’s it. Enjoy.

Windows 8: All installed Applications in one folder like Mac OS X

If you liked how OS X have an Applications folder, you can do that in Windows 8.x also. It’s very easy.

1. Open Explorer

2. Go to a location where you want to create Applications Folder (e.g., Documents)

3. Create a new folder and rename the folder to Applications.{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}

4. That’s all. Open the Applications folder, you will see all installed applications on your computer including Metro apps.

Windows 8.1: Easy Shutdown method for touch screen computers

The straight forward method of shutdown the Windows 8.x tablets is bring the charms bar (slide from right to left on the right side of the screen), click Settings, Power and then Shutdown. (Well, you can press and hold the power button too).

To make things little easier you can place a tile/icon on the start menu for the file "C:\Windows\System32\SlideToShutDown.exe". This executable will bring Windows Phone style shutdown screen (slide down to shutdown).

Step-by-step instructions (if you like).

1. Open Windows Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32 and find the file SlideToShutdown.exe.

2. Right click on the file and choose Pin to Start. (Tip: You could use Obly Tile to create a new tile with cool looking icon).

Slide to Shutdown screen looks like this:

Windows 8.1: Photo Slide Show on your Lock Screen

When you lock your Windows 8.1 computer/tablet, it shows the your default logon screen picture. You can enable photo slide show on your lock screen. To do this, make sure you have some photos or picture readily available on your Pictures folders (or anywhere on the computer hard disk).

• Open PC Settings (Move your mouse cursor to bottom-right corner, click settings (gear icon) on the charms bar and click Change PC Settings)
• Click on PC and Devices and them select Lock Screen

• Turn ON the slider for Play a slide show on the lock screen
• If you photos are in Pictures folder, you are done. If not, Add folder in the list.
• Click Back button and close PC Settings (Alt-F4 would be quick way).

That’s all. Enjoy your slide show on the lock screen.

Windows 8.1/Windows Server 2012 R2: Task Manager Gadget on your desktop

How about to display CPU,Memory, Disk and Network performance details on your desktop without any third-party software? Windows 8.1 has built-in cool display, gadget like, in Task Manager application.

It looks like this:

 

With that you can monitor you computer/server performance at a glance. To get this view,

• Open Task Manager (right lick on task bar and select Task Manager) on your computer or server
• Go to Performance Tab

• Double click on one of the graphs on the left side strip

Enjoy the tip. Hope you like it.

Windows 8.1: Go straight to Desktop after logon (if you like)

If you hate to see the start screen every time you logon to Windows 8.1, you can tune Windows to go to Desktop directly. (P.S. This is Windows 8.1 feature, will not work in Windows 8).

1. Go to desktop and right click on task bar and select Properties.

2. On Taskbar and Navigation properties window, select Navigation tab.

3. Select the check box for Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in.

4. Click OK.

That’s all. Enjoy your desktop.

PowerPoint: How to insert an monthly calendar?

It’s very easy. In essence you find the calendar template, find the the month, copy the monthly calendar and paste it on your presentation. Those who want step-by-step instructions, here they are.

1. Click File –> New on your PowerPoint.

2. Type Calendar in search box. Browse through the results and find the one template you like.

3. Click on the template and click Create.

4. Enter any details/appointments on the dates.

5. Copy the Slide and paste it on your presentation.

Enjoy.

Windows 8: Capture Screens/Take screen shots with no third party tools

In Windows 8 capture the whole screen is real easy. You simply press Windows Key + Print Screen Key. The captured picture will be stored in your Pictures folder under Screenshots.

If you want to capture a window or part of the screen, you can still use Snipping Tool. (Press Windows key and type Snip, select Snipping Tool from the search results).  Snipping Tool is available since Windows 7.

Use Lync 2013 client with Office Communications Server 2007 R2

As a first step to upgrade to Lync 2013 environment it’s better to push Lync 2013 client to all user’s computers and enable Lync 2013 to see OCS 2007 R2 servers.

It’s as simple as adding an registry key. Disabling Server version check on the registry makes Lync 2013 client to see the OCS 2007 R2 Front-end servers. Add the following registry key and reboot the computer.

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\lync
Name:  DisableServerCheck
Type: DWORD
Value: 1 (00000001)

You may download this file (right click the downloaded file and select Merge to add to the registry).

Of course there is always a catch. Lync 2013 client with OCS servers works only with basic instant messaging (no audio/video, screen sharing, etc.,). One good thing is if you use Outlook 2013, Lync 2013 client can save IM history in Exchange Mailbox.

Beautiful Mouse Cursors

I found boring after using Windows default cursors. I get my cursors at Deviantart.com. You may also try some of the beautiful and useful cursors.

Get it here: http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/skins/windows/cursors/

Windows 8: IE 10 Flash Player issues

I suffered flash player issues in Windows 8, I am guessing after a Microsoft Windows Update. I am not talking about Metro IE. Desktop IE 10 wouldn't play flash content at all. Every web site I visit IE or website complained I don't have Flash installed.

Adobe Flash support/help is good for IE 10. But it didn't help me at all. Blogs and Newsgroups were blabbering about I have to use desktop IE browser for Flash support. I have tried to update Windows, but there was no updates. I tried to uninstall updates from reverse date order. I even downloaded the Windows 8/IE 10 supported Flash Player ActiveX OCX files from Adobe and replaced it with my current files. It didn't help either.

SOLUTION (that worked for me):

1. Open Command Prompt in Administrator Mode (Run As Administrator)
2. Change your current directory to C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash
3. Type REGEDIT32 Flash.ocx

Try IE10 now. Hope it works for you also. Leave me a Thanks note.

Windows 8: Handy Dandy Quick Admin Menu

If you click Lower-Left corner, you go to Start menu. Right click on the same spot (Lower-Left) you will get special admin menu.  Look it has Run, Control Panel, System, etc.,

Windows Mouse Scroll Tricks

Most mice have a scroll wheel. Sure, it takes you up and down on a page, but in combination with other keys, it can do much more:

• Scroll sideways: In many versions of Excel, holding down the shift key while scrolling will take you sideways. That's super helpful in a big spreadsheet.
• Scroll wheel as back button: In most web browsers, if you hold the shift key while using the scroll wheel, it works like the back button: You can fly through all the sites you've recently visited. (Some mice have side buttons that work like back and forward buttons in your browser, too.)
• Scroll to zoom: Holding ctrl and scrolling lets you zoom in or out of the page you're viewing. Ctrl-scroll up zooms you in; ctrl-scroll down zooms you back out. On a Mac, this trick will zoom in and out your whole screen, not just the document you're in.

Windows 7/8: Hold the sleep or screen saver–cheat the Windows settings

Say you are talking to someone, your computer goes to sleep while you are not on the computer. You hate that you have to log in again. It happens many times of the day. You may not want to change the sleep settings (or locked out evil IT department Group Policy Objects).

Here is a little tip to cheat the system. Click the clock on the task bar to bring the analog clock and calendar  like below. Leave the mouse on top of the analog clock. Your screen won’t lock or go to sleep. The Analog clock second hand movement is tracked by your mouse, so the computer thinks you are busy doing something. 

Outlook 2010/2013: Office document attachments aren’t opening

When I try open the attached office document files, I get Word/Excel/Powerpoint experienced an error trying to open the file like the following popup.

Don’t search any Outlook settings. This is not the Outlook issue. It is the respective program (Word or Excel or Powerpoint) refused to open the document from unsafe origins.

The solution is to fix the corresponding program. You may end up fixing all office programs. To fix the issue follow the instructions.

• Open Word (or Excel or Powerpoint).
• Click File tab and select Options.
• Click Trust Center and click on Trust Center Settings… button.

• Click to select Protected View

• Uncheck Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments. You may choose to uncheck all the options here, I would left other checked.

Now try open the attachment from Outlook. It will open normally. Enjoy!

Windows 7: How reliable is your computer?

Windows 7 collects all the crashes, driver issues and other problems. It also sends those information to Microsoft servers, if you are OK with it. You can check reliability of your computer using Reliability Monitor program.

To to get this report, Click Windows button and type Reliability. Select View Reliability History from the search results and check it out.

PNotes: Free Wonderful Sticky Notes Program

What’s great about PNotes? It’s portable. You can format the text anyway you want. You can have Pictures. You can have bullet points, numbered lists. You can even password protect the notes. It has some pretty good skins at developer’s website.

Here is how I use it. I store the portal Pnotes program at my DropBox cloud storage along with the notes I take and keep. It’s available all of my computers and mobile devices. Wherever I go my Notes follows me.

Download it HERE: http://pnotes.sourceforge.net

Windows 7: Automatically expand Navigation tree to the current folder

Once I learned this option exists, it is a breeze to use Explorer on multi-level sub trees. It’s better then changing sub folder levels in address bar. Once you enable this setting, this is you see it.

If you are interested, follow the steps to enable it.

1. On you Explorer window, click Organize and select Folder and Search options
2. Check the box for the Navigation pane option Automatically expand to current folder
3. Click OK to close.

Huge Pointer Stick to replace the mouse pointer–Great for presentations

PointerStick is a portable tool that presents on the Windows Desktop a virtual pointer stick, for example for Presentations to highlight the current mouse position and the emphasis on presenting will be better.
The use of the virtual pointer stick is ideal for projectors (Beamer) and larger LED/LCD screens.
# Features:
# Very Small Program
# Low CPU usage
# Adjustable size of Pointer Stick
# Several Pointing-Stick textures (bitmaps)
# Optional alpha transparency
# Optional deactivation by mouse or keyboard input
# Optional translation feature
# Portable
# Multilingual

Download it here: http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/PointerStick

Outlook: Recover deleted items from any folder (not just Deleted Items folder)

Outlook provides a way to recover items after you have permanently deleted them, including after emptying the Deleted Items folder. Your Exchange server administrator specifies the retention time for permanently deleted items on the Exchange server. After this time has elapsed, you cannot recover the deleted items.

By default, to use the Recover Deleted Items command on the Tools menu, you must be viewing the Deleted Items folder. By modifying the registry, this command is available regardless of which Outlook folder that you are viewing. You can view and recover deleted items, including those items that were permanently deleted by using SHIFT+DELETE, for the folder that you are viewing.

To enable this feature follow the steps below.

1. Exit Outlook.
2. Open the Windows registry editor.
3. Browse to My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\Client\Options.
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type the name DumpsterAlwaysOn.

Note Do not type any spaces in the name.

6. Set the DWORD value to 1.
7. Restart Outlook.

The Tools menu now has the Recover Deleted Items command for every Outlook folder.

Source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/recover-deleted-items-from-any-folder-HA001116528.aspx

Windows 7: Disable wireless when you connect to Wired network & Vice Versa

If you are willing to spend few minutes for this solution, continue reading. It involves firing a batch file based on event log entries using Task Scheduler.

1. Create a batch file named “Wireless_Disable.bat” with the following contents. Open Notepad, copy/paste the following text and save it as above file name.

netsh interface set interface "Wireless Network Connection" Disable

2. Create another batch file named “Wireless_Enable.bat”. Open Notepad, copy/paste the following text and save it as the above filename.

netsh interface set interface "Wireless Network Connection" Enable

3. Open Event Viewer. Click Start Orb/button and type Event Viewer and select the “Event Viewer” application from search results.

4. Expand Windows Logs and select System.

5. I would suggest unplug your network cable from your laptop and plug back in. Click on Filter current log option in Actions pane. In Event ID text box (in the middle), type 9,4 to filter by event id 9 & event id 4. Click OK.

6. Find Event Id 9 from the filtered list and double click to open it. Make sure this event is for your correct wired network card. Note down the Source value. In my case it is b57nd60a. Click Close button to close the event properties window.

7. Leave the Event Viewer window as it is. Click Start orb/button again and type Task Scheduler. Select Task Scheduler application from search results.

8. Click Task Scheduler Library on your left pane. Click on Create Basic Task.. on the Actions pane to create a new scheduled job.

9. On Create a Basic Task section, Type a name (Dock the Laptop) in Name field and type some description about this task. Click Next.

9. On Trigger section select When a specific event is logged options and click Next.

10. On When an Event is Logged section Select Log as System, Select Source same as you noted down in step 6, and type event ID as 9.Click Next.

11. On Action section Select the option Select a program and click Next.

12. On Start a Program section click on Browse… button and select the batch file you created in step 1. Click Next.

13. Select the check box for Open the Properties dialog for this task.. Click Finish button on Finish section.

14. On the task properties dialog box, select the check box for Run with highest privileges and click OK to close.

15. Create another basic task by do the steps 7 through 14 again. On Step 9 type task name as "Undock the laptop”. On step 10, type event id as 4 instead of 9.

16. THAT’S IT. Task will automatically fired when you plug and unplug the network cable on your laptop (or dock and undock it).

Try unplugging the network cable from wired network card and watch your wireless network card is enable and vice versa.

Warning: When you change your password for your domain user account you need to update the new password on these two scheduled tasks.

Windows 7: Xp-Mode apps–Pause, hibernate, reboot

XP Mode is Windows 7 is greatest thing since sliced bread. Damn it was more than useful. Here are the few ways I use the XP Mode.

• Installed legacy apps (that’s the point of this feature, isn’t?)
• Install the apps that I want to keep for a long time. E.g., you can reinstall your computer and still keep the same VM intact and continue to use. Time to time I find a great free application at http://www.giveawayoftheday.com and I keep it installed in VM.
• When I connect to work (VPN), I connect using VPN application in VM using XP Mode. Voila`, my VM is connected to work and my laptop is not. I can continue to watch movies or play games, while I am monitoring an application or logs at a server at work.

You know what was missing. We can’t hibernate or pause the VM in XP Mode.  Think about click a single app opens up all the work related applications where it left off.

Found this great PowerShell script based application that does exactly what is missing in XP Mode. Now you can pause, hibernate, reboot and shutdown the XP mode VM quickly and easily. Head over to http://www.orcsweb.com/blog/james/introducing-the-advanced-virtual-pc-controls-for-windows-7/ and get AVPCC.

Free Clock Screensavers

I found these two gems, liked to share it here. Enjoy.

Fliqlo: Flip Clock

Word Clock

Pulse: Automatic Wallpaper changer with a twist

Pulse is an application that automatically downloads wallpapers from the web using given keyword. At this time it uses http://rewalls.com to get wallpapers. There are thousands of beautiful wallpapers with different resolutions. Pulse automatically chooses wallpapers with your screen resolution. You can make it to skip wallpapers with lower resolution or to get wallpapers with original size.

This is perfect when you don’t want to waste disk space for saving wallpapers, but like to change the wallpaper from Internet. This software is really perfect for Netbooks.

It’s a free software. You can get it from here: http://pulse.codeplex.com/