howto: Launch VPN connection on Windows startup

If you need to connect to a Virtual Private Network at windows startup, and you don’t want to have the user push connect or enter the password do the following:
1. On the VPN Connect screen, check “Save this user name and password for the following users”
2. Select the “Anyone who uses this computer” radio button
3. Click “Properties” on the VPN Connect screen
4. On the “Options” tab, uncheck:
-”Display progress while connecting”
-”Prompt for name and password, certificate,etc.”
5. In Windows Explorer, browse to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
6. Open a new Windows Explorer and browse to Control Panel\Network Connections
7. Drag the icon of your VPN connection to the Startup folder. This will create a shortcut

Now at Windows startup, the VPN will launch and connect silently.

from here.

 

Activating Windows Vista Enterprise

Ha… There is some new experience fighting Windows Vista Enterprise. The source of problem – Vista Enterprise can’t be activated on-line and doesn’t provide you with option to activate it by phone.

The reason of such behavior is hidden was hidden for me in some aspects, and Vista didn’t want to help me.

Actually, here is special procedure for KMS(Key Management Service) you need to proceed to activate Enterprise edition (as I know the same thing applies for Windows 2008):

1. Install an enterprise volume license key by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt window, where Key is the enterprise volume license key:

   cscript C:\Windows\System32\Slmgr.vbs -ipk Key

2. Activate the KMS host using the Internet by running this script:

   cscript C:\Windows\System32\Slmgr.vbs -ato

If you have firewall istalled by default, maybe you will need to unlock 1688 port.

More informations and corresponding tasks here.

 

You can’t (part 1)…

So. Here is small list of things you can’t do:

1. You can’t build Silverlight 2 applications using Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1, because they are incompatible. Only two ways – uninstall SP1 or uninstall Silverlight Tools 1 beta (If someone know the solution – stop me). Only idea is to wait for Silverlight 2 Tools Beta 2, they promised to publish it in several weeks.

2. It’s impossible to install Windows Media Player on top of Vista Busines N (N means – NO MEDIA!). Because of some idiot decided to sued Microsoft, they were forced to create this version of Vista very quickly… You can’t install WMP, there’s no media restoration pack, you can’t rate you system(can’t run Aero). You can’t run Mobile Device Center(!) – it requires Media Player, so it’s impossible proceed sync with Windows Mobile devices (you can’t even install old “good” ActiveSync). Maybe all these stuff has some solution, not on my laptop – spent 1 day.

3. You can’t use some of 3G modems in parallel with usual LAN network (Ethernet). The reason of conflicts isn’t clear for me yet, but Vodafone 3G modem don’t work and disables LAN… So gloomy…

Looking for second part…