Some more Windows 7/8 Tuning Options, Remove pesky Windows Updates and those hidden scheduled Tasks!

Save some CPU and RAM! Here is an article I found and utilized to remove the pesky tasks that bog down system performance:

Remove data collection on Windows 7 and 8 systems tasks!

Here is summary of cmds I ran ..more to come...
C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Micros
oft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator"
SUCCESS: The scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement
Program\Consolidator" was successfully deleted.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Micros
oft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater"
SUCCESS: The scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDa
taUpdater" was successfully deleted.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Micros
oft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser"
ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Micros
oft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent"
ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wusa /uninstall /kb:3068708 /qui
et /norestart

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wusa /uninstall /kb:3068708 /qui
et /norestart

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wusa /uninstall /kb:3022345 /qui
et /norestart

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wusa /uninstall /kb:3075249 /qui
et /norestart

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>wusa /uninstall /kb:3080149 /qui
et /norestart

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent" /DISABLE
ERROR: The specified task name "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAge
nt" does not exist in the system.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /DISABLE
ERROR: The specified task name "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Micros
oft Compatibility Appraiser" does not exist in the system.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /DISABLE
ERROR: The specified task name "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Progra
mDataUpdater" does not exist in the system.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" hav
e been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator" /DISABLE
ERROR: The specified task name "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improveme
nt Program\Consolidator" does not exist in the system.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\KernelCeipTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experienc
e Improvement Program\KernelCeipTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\UsbCeip" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experienc
e Improvement Program\UsbCeip" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" /DISABLE
INFO: Scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDi
agnosticDataCollector" has already been disabled.
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Mic
rosoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Maintenance\WinSAT" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance\WinSAT
" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\ActivateWindowsSearch" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Activ
ateWindowsSearch" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\ConfigureInternetTimeService" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Confi
gureInternetTimeService" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\DispatchRecoveryTasks" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Dispa
tchRecoveryTasks" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\ehDRMInit" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\ehDRM
Init" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\InstallPlayReady" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Insta
llPlayReady" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\mcupdate" /DISABLE
ERROR: The specified task name "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\mcupdate" does n
ot exist in the system.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\MediaCenterRecoveryTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Media
CenterRecoveryTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\ObjectStoreRecoveryTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Objec
tStoreRecoveryTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\OCURActivate" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\OCURA
ctivate" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\OCURDiscovery" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\OCURD
iscovery" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\PBDADiscovery" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\PBDAD
iscovery" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\PBDADiscoveryW1" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\PBDAD
iscoveryW1" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\PBDADiscoveryW2" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\PBDAD
iscoveryW2" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\PvrRecoveryTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\PvrRe
coveryTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\PvrScheduleTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\PvrSc
heduleTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\RegisterSearch" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Regis
terSearch" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\ReindexSearchRoot" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Reind
exSearchRoot" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\SqlLiteRecoveryTask" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\SqlLi
teRecoveryTask" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft
\Windows\Media Center\UpdateRecordPath" /DISABLE
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\Microsoft\Windows\Media Center\Updat
eRecordPath" have been changed.

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>sc stop Diagtrack

SERVICE_NAME: Diagtrack
        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
        STATE              : 3  STOP_PENDING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_PRESHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x2
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>sc config Diagtrack start=disabl
ed
DESCRIPTION:
        Modifies a service entry in the registry and Service Database.
USAGE:
        sc <server> config [service name] <option1> <option2>...

OPTIONS:
NOTE: The option name includes the equal sign.
      A space is required between the equal sign and the value.
 type= <own|share|interact|kernel|filesys|rec|adapt>
 start= <boot|system|auto|demand|disabled|delayed-auto>
 error= <normal|severe|critical|ignore>
 binPath= <BinaryPathName>
 group= <LoadOrderGroup>
 tag= <yes|no>
 depend= <Dependencies(separated by / (forward slash))>
 obj= <AccountName|ObjectName>
 DisplayName= <display name>
 password= <password>

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>sc config Diagtrack start=disabl
ed
DESCRIPTION:
        Modifies a service entry in the registry and Service Database.
USAGE:
        sc <server> config [service name] <option1> <option2>...

OPTIONS:
NOTE: The option name includes the equal sign.
      A space is required between the equal sign and the value.
 type= <own|share|interact|kernel|filesys|rec|adapt>
 start= <boot|system|auto|demand|disabled|delayed-auto>
 error= <normal|severe|critical|ignore>
 binPath= <BinaryPathName>
 group= <LoadOrderGroup>
 tag= <yes|no>
 depend= <Dependencies(separated by / (forward slash))>
 obj= <AccountName|ObjectName>
 DisplayName= <display name>
 password= <password>

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>sc config remoteregistry start=
disabled
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>sc config Diagtrack start= disab
led
[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\Work\Tools\Debug\Windows Resource Kits\Tools>

sqlcmed and osql locations on Windows for SQL 2012 and above

FYI, MS did it again and moved the location of the SQL tools to here:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn

in it we can find:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\OSQL.EXE"
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE"

 with these we can run .sql files using following format for cmd, then put the cmd in a Task Scheduler and we have a quick and easy periodic SQL polling service,

e.g:
sqlcmd.exe  -S MyServer.com  -d Dbname -U UID-P "SomePWD" -i "C:\Temp\Run.sql"

CSV to List or List to CSV tool, replace commas with carriage returns, a cool tool when you need help documenting CSV files:

Boom, convert that csv to a list in one click! Time saved around 10 min of my life!! Yoo Hoo!
http://delim.co/#

SQL Backup then Robo Copy

1. Create sproc to backup db's with compression, copy only options.
See THIS LINK for awesomness script
Backup MyDatabase to a local folder 'E:\SQLBackUp\':
exec [master].[dbo].[sp_BackUpDatabases] 'E:\SQLBackUp\', 'MyDatabase', @backUpType = 0, @COPY_ONLY = 1, @COMPRESSION = 1

2. Create WindowsTask/AgentJob to execute a robo copy of the .bak files to a network share:

Move 'E:\SQLBackUp\MyDatabase.bak' to network share  '\\Server01\sqlbackup\Prod\ '

-- copy with eta, retries, top level folder
ROBOCOPY E:\SQLBackUp\ \\Server01\sqlbackup\Prod\ *.bak /MOV /ETA /S /R:100 /W:10 /LEV:1

-- Other robo copy examples
-- copy with eta, retries
robocopy I:\Pictures\_Monkeys\ \\doylecloud\Public\BB\Pictures\_Monkeys\ /ETA /S /R:100 /W:10

-- copy with eta, retries
robocopy I:\Pictures\ \\doylecloud\Public\BB\Pictures\ /ETA /S /R:100 /W:10

-- copy with eta, retries
robocopy I:\Pictures\_Monkeys\ \\doylecloud\Public\BB\Pictures\_Monkeys\ /S /MT /Z

-- copy with eta, retries
robocopy I:\ \\doylecloud\Public\ /ETA /S /R:100 /W:10 /Z /XD "I:\BB_HD" "I:\Pictures" "I:\PassportInstalls"

3.  To make life most easy create a SQL Agent Job,
Step 1 is exec [master].[dbo].[sp_BackUpDatabases] 'E:\SQLBackUp\', 'MyDatabase', @backUpType = 0, @COPY_ONLY = 1, @COMPRESSION = 1

Step 2 is .bat file with ROBOCOPY E:\SQLBackUp\ \\Server01\sqlbackup\Prod\ *.bak /MOV /ETA /S /R:100 /W:10 /LEV:1

Step 3. Save that money u would spend on RedGate

How to get rid of those SharePoint Authentication Prompts

FYI:

This isn’t SharePoint specific, however Im sure the same process could be used to save credentials for other web apps that use Windows Authentication, the below article shows how to get rid of that pesky Login prompt in SharePoint that I continuously get when editing MS Office docs in SharePoint,

It seems like every time I click to open or download an Office file in SharePoint I kept getting prompted to login after I had already checked the check box “Remember My Credential” which never seemed to work for me….Well this article worked for me, Now I don’t have to enter my UID/PWD every time I open a doc in SharePoint….Yay!

I tried this in SP2010 / IE11

Thanks!

How Do I Keep SharePoint From Asking For My Password When Opening TheSite / Hosted Document

Remoting Computing Tools: How to Awake & Sleep on schedule, KeepAlive by Mouse and Remote Awake with magic packets

Will update links shortly, below I document my current setup/tasks to awake, sleep keep alive computer for daily work, this allows me to do other tasks while these automated redundant daily shores are done for me on schedule, TimeSaved = TimeEarned,

Tools Used:
Move Mouse
NirCmd
taskkill.exe (a simple exe to call kil process by exe name or NirCmd)

1. Schedule a Sleep:

2. Schedule an Alive

3. Keep Alive with Move Mouse

4. Magic Packets using router and util
See this great article here using WakOnLoan

Improve DataObject Serialization Performance and the Gotchas

While working on a custom reporting app I came across a little ADO.Net serialization gotcha, when we use WriteXML() and ReadXML for serializing a DataSet to stream, any column with null values in all rows will be magically removed from the de-serialization! Ina  service arena, this probably isn't an issue, however when dealing with service consumers that include CSV output for users or HTML, dropping columns is a big NO NO, at least to a user, Yes the data is blank, and who really cares to look at a blank column, well report users LOVE their columns and having one disappear will result in a bug task.

After digging around, I found this stackoverflow that describes the issue, with an old invalid KB reference. The solutions remarked here are not really attractive by any means, certainly not looping over a result set just to add a String DataColumn with Empty string , yuck, Im gonna try a little Hack just to get by today: If DataTable.Rows.Count > 0, then for each DataColumn that is DBNull, set to empty string to see if that works for me. Better yet, after looking at the .Net FW, there's a param avail with 3.5+ (I believe) that does the trick:

 //convert to xml with the DataSet schema:
        StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
        ds.WriteXml(writer, XmlWriteMode.WriteSchema);
        string xml = writer.ToString();




What the impact is on the string size Im not sure, will need to test performance before and after,

In peruzing related articles I came across a better final solution which will involve switching over to JSON, this article is a good ref for that:

8 ways to improve ASP.NET Web API performance
http://blog.developers.ba/8-ways-improve-asp-net-web-api-performance/

Lightweight DataTable Serialization
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/shitals/archive/2009/12/04/9932598.aspx