Category Archives: Technology

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 10) – The One About The Yammer Network on MyIgnite

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This week on Episode 10 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) flies solo without Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN), however he is joined by a special guest, Olaf Hubel (@OlafHubel), senior product marketing manager with the Office 365 team, and who is responsible for the content on Microsoft Ignite.

Joey provides some news bites on Ignite which you can catch up in the video and he answers a question asked on the Microsoft Ignite forum.
Question: Where will I find the remote badge pickup stations at O’Hare International Airport?
Answer: Remote badge pickup at O’Hare is located in the baggage claim area for terminals 1 and 3. You can’t miss it!
Remote badge pickup at O’Hare is available: Saturday 10:00 AM–8:00 PM / Sunday 8:00 AM–7:00 PM.

In this episode, Joey and Olaf demonstrate on how to use the Yammer network on MyIgnite, how you can join discussions, ask questions, network, and interact with speakers and other attendees and do much more via MyIgnite and the Yammer network. I am excited to see my good friend, Naomi Moneypenny (@nmoneypenny) used as an example in the demo, highlighting how a speaker such as her is using the Yammer network to communicate and engage with her attendees in advance which will help guide and allow her to plan the content of her session accordingly. FYI – Naomi is a MVP, a great speaker, a fellow Microsoft Ignite Roundtable member, and a wonderful person.
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Coming soon to MyIgnite!
The Second Screen Experience – This is such a great feature which will allow you to follow a session live on your laptop, ask questions via the Yammer network, and even participate while you’re in a different session room or on the Expo floor, and yes even from your hotel room! Watch the video to hear how the Second Screen is going to change your event experience. Also coming soon:
  • Speaker Search and Details
  • Attendee Search and Details
  • Meeting Scheduling
  • Personal Appointments
  • OneNote Conference Guide

You are encouraged to build your schedules and even double and triple book sessions within the same time slots. The advance schedule builds by attendees will provide valuable information to Ignite planners on which sessions are popular, how to schedule them into appropriate rooms, and offer repeat sessions if needed. Since, the room assignments are not currently included in the catalog, I would recommend that you hold off on exporting your schedule to your calendar until rooms have been assigned to the sessions which will happen as we get closer to the conference. This will save you the hassle of exporting and importing into your calendar multiple times.

Finally, make sure you update your profile for the Attendee Directory, which you can do through MyIgnite, with pertinent information such as your bio, interests, social tags, photo, and contact information, so you can start networking and connect with others with similar interests, even before you arrive in Chicago for the conference. You will also have a choice to share your schedule with others, as well as opt-in to be listed in the Attendee Directory if you choose to do so.

Watch the video to see Joey and Olaf demonstrate how to use the Yammer network on MyIgnite.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Keep in mind that Microsoft Ignite taking place May 4-8, 2015, in Chicago is currently SOLD OUT!

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

PowerShell & ConfigMgr Blogs

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My good friend Deepak Dhami (aka Dexter), who is an expert in PowerShell and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM / ConfigMgr) is a frequent contributor for great information and resource in these fields. He conducts various user groups and workshops in India to help ConfigMgr admins improve their skills. Dexter has provided the links below on his blog and has generously allowed me to share them on mine in order to further share the goodness.

Feel free to follow and reach out to him. He is always happy to help.
PowerShell MVP profile
Blog
Twitter

Links:

Cmdlet ReferenceDavid O Brien’s Blog
PowerShell Script Repo by ConfigMgr MVP Kaido
Kaido’s personal blog
Coretech Blog by MVP kaido
Ronnie Jakobsen’s blog
Kent Agerlund’s blog
Johan Arwidmark’s blog
Henrik Hoe’s blog
PFE Heath’s Blog
Adam Meltzer’s Blog
Steve Rachui’s Blog
Nickolaj Andersen’s blog
Rob Looman’s Blog
Sean Lillis (Author of PS App deployment Toolkit)
Alex Verboon’s Blog
Laurie Rhodes’s Blog
Adam Bertram’s Blog
Stephane’s Blog

Microsoft Ignite 2015 – SOLD OUT!!

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Microsoft Ignite 2015 is SOLD OUT!
Join online May 4-8, 2015 starting at 9 AM CDT at http://ignite.microsoft.com.
The Keynote and several selected sessions will be streamed LIVE from Chicago.
Stay tuned!

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 9) – The One About Schedule Builder on MyIgnite

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The anticipation and wait is over. This week on Episode 9 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) bring us the 2nd most requested show, all about the Schedule Builder. You’ve been asking when you can start building your schedules, well now you can. The Schedule Builder is now LIVE on MyIgnite!

The Schedule Builder is greatly improved from previous years and has some wonderful capabilities, especially with the filtering options that is going to drastically ease the experience of building one’s schedule. Along with the Schedule Builder, a conference multi-tool known as MyIgnite is rolling out, with more features as we get closer to the conference dates of May 4-8. This tool, which is basically a digital hub will help enhance everyone’s experience with Ignite.

What’s MyIgnite you ask?
In it’s current phase of development, the MyIgnite tool will include the Schedule Builder, provide access to sponsor and exhibitor information, and the ability to join the Yammer network. The tool is evolving and the future functionality will include the Attendee Directory, a meeting scheduler, and more. In order to experience the full functionality and take advantages of what the tool offers, you will need to associate your Windows Live ID with your Microsoft Ignite registration. To do so, go to http://ignite.microsoft.com and click on “I’ve already registered”, and follow the steps to associate your Live ID with your registration. This is the first step you need to take before starting with the Schedule Builder.

Microsoft Ignite encourages you to build your schedules and even double and triple book sessions within the same time slots, which will help you when you have a conflict or a change of mind with the sessions you want to attend at the last minute. The advance schedule builds by attendees will provide valuable information to Ignite planners on which sessions are popular, how to schedule them into appropriate rooms, and offer repeat sessions if needed. Since, the room assignments are not currently included in the catalog, I would recommend that you hold off on exporting your schedule to your calendar until rooms have been assigned to the sessions which will happen as we get closer to the conference. This will save you the hassle of exporting and importing into your calendar multiple times. Keep in mind that seating for the Hands-On-Labs (HOL) are on first-come-first-served basis and therefore, they are not guaranteed.

Finally, make sure you update your profile for the Attendee Directory, which you can do through MyIgnite, with pertinent information such as your bio, interests, social tags, photo, and contact information, so you can start networking and connect with others with similar interests, even before you arrive in Chicago for the conference. You will also have a choice to share your schedule with others, as well as opt-in to be listed in the Attendee Directory if you choose to do so.

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Without further delay, watch the video to see Rick and Joey demonstrate how to use the Schedule Builder and how you can update your profile.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Register now for Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 8) – The One About Rocking Out at the HOB, Craft Beers & Bacon, and the Best Hamburger in Chicago

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This week on Episode 8 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) save the best for last in terms of their most favorite hot spots in Chicago.  And they also talk about the early badge pickup which you’ll be able to do at various remote locations, which are several downtown hotels and at Chicago O’Hare airport.

Microsoft Ignite is offering the convenience of early badge pick-up at the locations listed below in the Chicago area. It’s highly recommended that you take this opportunity to pickup your badge early so that you can avoid the lines on Monday morning prior to the keynote. Early badge pick-up will be available on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 starting at 10:00AM CST.  Please note: This is offer is for the badge only. All other materials including bags must be picked up at the McCormick Place Conference Center.

  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (Terminals 1 & 3)
  • Microsoft Retail Store – Shops at North Bridge
  • Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
  • Hyatt Regency Chicago
  • Hotel Chicago Downtown, Autograph Collection
  • MileNorth Hotel
  • Drake Hotel

The best for last hot spots in Chicago:

Paddy Long’s Beer and Bacon Pub:
Rated by Yahoo as one of the Best Irish Pubs in America for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. Paddy Long’s features 18 beers on tap and specializes in all kinds of bacon. Beer and bacon tastings are offered weekly and a brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Their other location is called Kaiser Tiger located on the West Loop.

Twitter: @PaddyLongs

Revolution Brewing Company:
A great Chicago BrewPub located in bustling Logan Square neighborhood, produces about 50 different styles of beer every year.  Check out their amazing brew and their yummy food. Great atmosphere, great beers, and great food, not to be missed.
Twitter: @RevBrewChicago

Rockit Bar & Grill:
Voted by People’s Choice Award in 2014 as the best burger in Chicago. Rockit is known for it’s cocktails, bourbons and whiskeys, and a selection of 6 craft beers on tap.  Quieter atmosphere downstairs and a much more livelier setting upstairs with pool tables and lots of TVs.
Twitter: @Rockit

Lagunitas Brewing Company:
An amazing brewery in a massive warehouse offering some fantastic beers. Come check out the brewery where they offer tours on weekdays and enjoy some fresh beers in their tap room.  The catwalk tour of the brewery is awesome.
Twitter: @lagunitasbeer

And finally, what is Ignite Rocks?
It is what was formerly known as the Jam Session at TechEd.  Come check out fellow attendees and speakers show off their musical talents, and feel free to take part if you like to do so. Great time to relax, enjoy some great music, and network with fellow attendees.  Ignite Rocks takes place at the House of Blues on Monday, May 5 from 9:00PM-Midnight.

Also recommend that you follow Choose Chicago, which is the official guide for Chicago offering a vast amount of information relating to this awesome city.  The friendly folks at Choose Chicago are quick to answer and offer valuable advice on your visit to Chicago. Follow and check them out as well.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Register now for Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Beep Beep Beep …. Tag You’re It!

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And, so it begins……….

As of 8:00AM EST today, Monday, March 23, 2015, I am now on the on-call pager rotation shared between a team of three Windows SysAdmins, which we will rotate every Monday morning, or whenever a scheduling conflict arises.  I guess this is a life and responsibility of a Senior Systems Administrator.  However, with a busy personal life outside of work which entails lots of travel for family matters and other responsibilities, we’ll see how this works out.  In any case, I’m on-call.

Ask Harjit Why Microsoft Ignite?

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I’ve been a strong supporter of Microsoft technologies and an influencer on the Microsoft conference scenes, particularly TechEd, and now Microsoft Ignite.  I was invited to join the TechEd Roundtable team in November 2013 for the TechEd conference in Houston, and again in September 2014 for the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago. Roundtable members are individually selected based on various criteria, including their tech industry, technical background, influence within the IT Pro communities, and professionalism. Roundtable members have the opportunity to meet and discuss with the conference planning team, provide suggestions, address issues or concerns, receive advance information on upcoming news or implementations, and have a direct channel of communication with the key people in the Microsoft events circle.

This week, I’m honored to be featured by the Microsoft Ignite team on all their social media channels with my take on why one should attend the Ignite conference. Thank you to all on the Microsoft Ignite team.  Cheers!  Here’s the Twitter post by MS_Ignite.

“You can have a very broad experience to try and learn about newer things that you’re interested in or you could focus on the stuff you actually do at work and enhance that.”

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You can connect with me on Twitter (@Hoorge) and Instagram (@Harjit).

For conversations and interactions on Microsoft Ignite, you can join the following channels:

KB3035131 March 2015 – LogonUI.exe Error

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We have discovered an issue with one of the patches from March 2015, KB3035131 against our Windows 8.1 systems in VMware VDI. Upon installation of this patch, Windows 8.1 systems are unusable as they are presented with a LogonUI.exe error on startup as seen below. In order to get the systems in working condition, the only resolution at this point is to revert to a previous snapshot and disable the 3035131 patch from installing on these Windows 8.1 systems.

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There’s not much info on the Internet regarding this particular issue, or at least one that I can find, however there are some mentions of the use of StartIsBack or Classic Shell, but we are not using them. It will be interesting to know if others have encountered a similar experience, what are the known causes, and if there’s a fix to rectify this issue.

 

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 4) – Q&A From The Ignite Forum, Plus Cool things To do In Chicago!

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This week on Episode 4 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) answer some questions from the Ignite Forums and explain how you can ask questions and provide some input.  They also cover a few top Chicago attractions, which I’ll you’ll find in this blog post.

Top questions this week from the Microsoft Ignite Forums:
Question #1 refers to where to include the IgniteNA promo code to receive the 50% discounted rate when registering for Microsoft Certification exams.
Answer: Head over to www.microsoft.com/learning and register for your exam. For the exam location, choose “Microsoft Ignite North America 2015”, and input the promo code in the payment section which is Step 3.

Question #2 refers to sessions on Friday, May 8.
Answer: Yup, without any doubt, there will be sessions, Hand-On-Labs (HOL), certification testing, and more on Friday.

Top attractions in Chicago:
Check out the virtual tour of the top attractions not to miss in this week’s segment for places like the Museum of Science and Industry, United Center, The Second City, and Cloud Gate aka “The Bean”.

Museum of Science and Industry:
Wow, if you’re an aviation buff as I am, this is a great museum to check out  While you drool over the Spirit of America, you’ll also get to explore various trains, cars, and other transportation.  Don’t forget to try the flight simulators which lets you experience some aircrafts throughout history.
Open daily from 9:30AM – 4:00PM.
Twitter: @msichicago

The Second City:
The Second City ia an influential comedy club which hosted many great comedian such as John Belushi, Jim Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Ed Asner, Alan Alda, and Valerie Harper to name a few. Great place to check out some improve or even take a class.  Shows are held nightly, with matinees and late night shows on Fridays and Saturdays.
Twitter: @TheSecondCity

Cloud Gate aka “The Bean” at Millennium Park:
“The Bean” as known by locals and visitors is a hot spot in Chicago.  Almost everyone want to get a reflection shot or a selfie with this 100-ton stainless steel art piece.  Located in Millennium Park, it’s definitely a must see when in Chicago.
Twitter: @millennium_park

United Center:
The United Center which opened in 1994 is the largest arena in the USA and is home to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Bulls.  Many concerts and sports events are held here throughout the year, and it’s a must visit for the die-hard sports fan.
Twitter: @unitedcenter

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Register now for Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

I highly recommend that you follow Choose Chicago, which is the official guide for Chicago offering a vast amount of information relating to this awesome city.  The friendly folks at Choose Chicago are quick to answer and offer valuable advice on your visit to Chicago.  Follow and check them out as well.

You can also follow me on Twitter (@Hoorge) and Instagram, and reach out to me if I can help answer some questions or be of further assistance.  Stay tuned for the next episodes of the Countdown Show which are scheduled to be released every Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 3) – The One About Getting Certified and Not-To-Miss Places

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It’s Episode 3 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, with Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow).  This week, Rick and Joey give us a rundown on the basics of Microsoft certification exams at Ignite and later they take us on tour of some of the biggest attractions in Chicago.  Check out the details below.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

Microsoft Certification:
Microsoft Ignite offers a great opportunity for registered attendees to take exams on-site at a fantastic discounted rate, which is 50% off the regular price.  There will be plenty of information at Ignite for attendees to earn, upgrade, or renew their certifications. Attendees will be able to take advantage of the resources available at Certification Central and receive one-on-one assistance from Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs).

Testing Registration:
You can pre-register for your exams online and secure your testing timeslot(s). You will also be able to register for your exams onsite at Certification Central, however it is highly recommended that you pre-register for your exams in order to secure your preferred exam timeslots which would fill up quickly. To receive the discounted rate of 50%, go to www.microsoft.com/learning and use the promo code IgniteNA.

Exam Prep Sessions:
Exam Prep Sessions are basically study groups led by Microsoft Certified Trainers where they will go through exam objectives and offer testing tips, and focus on helping you pass a specific exam. Session catalogs for exam topics will be coming soon.

Study Hall:
Certification Central offers a Study Hall where you can access a selection of free exam prep resources, try a practice exam, and even find a quiet place to study if you need one. MCTs will be available to answer your questions and provide assistance.
Additional resources to help you plan and prepare for your certification exams:

Not-To-Miss Chicago Tour:
Now, we head over to some shopping, a river cruise, some sightseeing, and aerial views of Chicago. Here’s what Rick and Joey covered in this episode.

Magnificent Mile:
The Magnificent Mile covers a 13-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue that includes over 460 stores, offering a mile of shopping, restaurants, museums, landmarks, and much much more. This is definitely the place for the shopping enthusiast.
Twitter: @TheMagMile

Art Institute of Chicago:
The Art Institute Chicago is a world renowned museum which received the Travellers Choice Award by TripAdvisor as the number one museum in the USA and in the world. The museum is over 130 years old, and is filled with a great collection of art that will inspire you, including some of the best impressionist collections in the world, outside of France.  Admission to the museum cost $23.
Twitter: @artinstitutechi

River Architecture Tour:
What a great way to explore the city and get some awesome sightseeing crossed off the list by taking a river cruise, known as Chicago’s number 1 Architecture Tour. If you’re an architecture buff or someone who enjoys a relaxing scenic tour, this is a must.
The daytime tours are $40 per person, and the Twilight Tour is $43. Tickets can be purchased online or at the dock which is in the South East corner of the Michigan Ave Bridge at the corner of Michigan Ave and Walker Drive.
Twitter: @CFLCruises

360 Chicago:
Head up 1000 feet to the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building for a spectacular 360 degree view of the city.  You’ll find one of the best views of Chicago from this vantage point. For an even cooler experience, give the new attraction known as the TILT a shot, which tilts 30 degrees while you lean into a glass block.
360 Chicago will cost $18, plus an additional $7 if you want to ride the TILT! Open 7 days a week all year long from 9:00AM to 11:00PM, with the last entry at 10:30PM.
Twitter: @360chiviews

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Register now for Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

I highly recommend that you follow Choose Chicago, which is the official guide for Chicago offering a vast amount of information relating to this awesome city.  The friendly folks at Choose Chicago are quick to answer and offer valuable advice on your visit to Chicago.  Follow and check them out as well.

You can also follow me on Twitter (@Hoorge) and Instagram, and reach out to me if I can help answer some questions or be of further assistance.  Stay tuned for the next episodes of the Countdown Show which are scheduled to be released every Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.