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Guy's Tool Kit
Here is a selection of useful tools for Windows Server 2003 in general, and
VBScripting in particular.
Contents of Guy's VBScript Tool Kit
ADSI edit is a wonderful tool for displaying the LDAP properties of Active Directory objects. There will be countless times when you need to know or
to check the LDAP properties in your script, so take the time to explore ADSI
edit.
If you use ADSI you will see that there are three container objects in Active Directory.
- Domain
- Configuration
- Schema
See lots more about ADSI Edit here Download ADSI in .zip format.
Cacls - Control those permissions.
Cacls is a command line program that will set file permissions.
Cacls is most useful when used with scripts. As with NetSh, I prefer
to use a GUI to adjust permissions. The simple explorer is wonderful
if you need to set NTFS permissions on files or folders. However,
come that day when you need to script changes to files or folders, then
Cacls is handy.
Before your download, go to the command prompt and type cacls, your
system may already have it installed.
Free download of cacls
 CMDHere - from the Resource kit.
Imagine you are using explorer. Suddenly, you need to open a folder in a 'DOS Box.
It is frustrating to run CMD, change directory about 7 times before you
navigate to the right folder. Install CMDHere and make it one click to
your 'DOS Box'.
See Diagram 1.
Download CMDHere
Ideal for importing and exporting
user accounts to and from Active Directory. See more about CSVDE
here.
Similar
to CSVDE, but also allows passwords to be imported using the unicodePwd
attribute. See more about LDIFDE
here.
Link Check Wizard (ChkLnks.exe) is a tool that scours all drives for broken
links. When it finds a dead LNK file the Wizard gives you the option to
delete the broken shortcut. This utility works equally well on Windows
2003 and XP machines. I am willing to bet you find at least 5 links when
you run ChkLnks.exe.
Download ChkLink here.
The idea is to run a network shell. Frankly, I prefer a GUI,
however if you have no convenient remote access then I admit - NetSh is
useful. (Perhaps Terminal Server or Remote Desktop are unavailable).
Free Download of NetSh here
Getting Started
After installing NetSh and its NETSHELL.DLL in the %SystemRoot%\window32
directory, try NetSh at the command prompt. 'Set' 'Show' and 'Help' are
three of the most useful commands.
NetSh is a tricky program to use. One of the most useful command
is to run NetSh on a remote machine, this is how you do it:
You Type
(you see this)
netsh
netsh>
netsh> set machine yourmachine [yourmachine]
netsh>
OH (Open Handles) is a built-in tool that shows the handles of all open
windows. This command-line utility is useful for troubleshooting
sharing violations, what it does is find the process that has a file open when a
sharing violation occurs. What you can do is discover information
about a specific process, object type, or object name.
One drawback is that to get OH working you need to type OH +otl (Object Type
Lists), then reboot.
Download OH.exe here.
Robust copy is the last word in command line copying. The syntax can be
demanding so store the commands in a batch file.
Download Robocopy here.
Scriptomatic is a handy utility to create your own scripts. This
scripting tool is one of Microsoft's best kept secrets. See lots more about Scriptomatic here
Download Scriptomatic here
The syntax of stringconverter is: stringconverter \"NewPassword\" /encode
/unicode
To make it easier to manipulate the encrypted password, 'pipe' the output to
a text file, now you can copy the encrypted password into your data file.
- Type: stringconverter \"NewPassword\" /encode /unicode > cryptic.txt
- Type: Notepad cryptic.txt, this reveals the encrypted word
IgBOAGUAdwBQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQAIgA=
- Substitute that on the theUnicodePwd:: line of your .ldp file.
Download Stringconverter here
Wonderful program for killing programs, all you need is the image name e.g. taskkill /im wscript.exe Windows 2003's TaskKill is
probably son of Kill in W2K and previous systems Download TaskKill here.
Here is a command line version of Task manager Download Tasklist Here
It is actually built-in to Windows 2000, 2003 and XP.
See lots more about WBEMTEST here
Download WBEMTEST in .zip format.
Compares two files, and highlights differences. Useful for detecting
registry changes. See lots more about Windiff here
Download Windiff in .zip format.
WinExit is a special screen saver that logs off the current user if the are
idle for say 30 minutes. In principle WinExit is just like any other screen
saver. However it does have some rather good configuration settings, so
before implementing, right click, Configure and decide if wish to forcibly log
off users even if it means they will lose work. My mate 'Mad Mick' loves
the setting where he can set the user's a Logoff message. For example,
''You have been logged of by 'Mad Mick Franklin.
Download WinExit here.
These clients do not run VBScripts unless you apply this
add-on. SCR66en
Their topics and material are ideal for getting you started with VBScript. The
videos are easy to follow and you can control the pace. Try their free demo material and then see if you want to buy the full package.
See more about VB Script Training CD.
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