RSAT

Installing RSAT on Non-US Windows 8

Richard Green on

I want to dedicate this post to Bartek Bielawski who has already blogged the solution to this problem. I used the en-GB build of Windows 8 to build my desktop and a few other machines and have been failing to get the RSAT for Windows 8 RTM to install. Bartek found the issue to be caused by the fact that you can only install the RSAT tools on machines whereby the en-US language pack is installed.

His post with how he found the answer is at http://becomelotr.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/rsat-on-windows-8-works-but-fails/.

To resolve the problem, I have downloaded the Windows 8 Multi Language x64 DVD, and installed the en-US language pack from it, which now begs the question, what is the difference and benefit of running the localized build if you have to install the en-US pack anyway?

 

Accessing BitLocker Recovery Keys in Active Directory

Richard Green on

For years, admins have had the ability to store user certificates in Active Directory to help with things like EFS file encryption. One of the more recent technologies from Microsoft is BitLocker Drive Encryption.

To be able to archive the keys to Active Directory instead of storing the keys manually to USB, you need to extend the schema which forms part of the deployment of BitLocker, but when trying to manage BitLocker on-going, you need to be able to access the keys which have been saved.

These keys can be found stored in the Computer objects in Active Directory Users and Computers on a Windows 7 computer with the RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) once the BitLocker Password Recovery Viewer feature is enabled.

The problem you will sooner discover is that this in itself isn’t enough to give you access to the new tab in ADUC to see the keys, because the DLL file isn’t registered to allow it to work. To obtain the functionality that you want, you need to enter the command regsvr32 bdeaducext.dll to register the DLL.

Restart ADUC, and you will now have a new tab available on your computer objects for BitLocker Recovery.

Slipstream Integration for Windows Vista DVD

Richard Green on

So I know that Windows 7 is Release Candidate now, but that doesn’t mean people don’t still want to install Windows Vista, and what a better time to rebuild your Vista box if you don’t fancy the step to 7 than now?

I spent a few hours last night working on my Vista image on my WDS (Windows Deployment Server) and I’m really happy with it. I’ve never really meddled with the Vista DVD much in the past because I got confused by the Windows Image format and how to service it initially but once you get your head round it, it’s really easy.

I’ve now got a Vista DVD with the following integrated:

  • Service Pack 2 RTM
  • Internet Explorer 8 RTM
  • Remote Server Administration Tools

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