Links to Windows Websites, Utilities and Books
JsiFaq.com - Windows Tips
Windows XP - Microsoft Documentation
CommandLine.co.uk - Batch File examples and Utilities
FP Schultze - Batch files
OldNewThing - Raymond Chen's weblog
Rob van der Woude.com - Batch files, VBSHeise-security.co.uk - Manage Win XP updates without an internet connection.
Timo Salmi - FAQ's - Useful NT/2000/XP script tricks and tips (tscmd)
Steve Hardy - NT/2K command line scripting
Rick Lively - Commands for every version of Windows and DOS
List of TCP and UDP port numbers
Many resource kit tools and utilities will run successfully on earlier versions of Windows. However Active Directory and NTFS have changed significantly over the years so I recommended you only use the tools supported for your platform.
Windows Vista Resource Kit - April 2007
By Microsoft Corp
Technical Documentation for Windows Vista
Windows XP Resource Kit (3rd edition XP/Sp2, March 2005)
By Microsoft Corp
Technical Documentation plus the essential Tools and Utilities for administering both Windows XP and 2003 Server
Windows 2003 Resource Kit (July 2005)
By Microsoft Corp
Full seven volume documentation set, Tools and Utilities plus searchable e-books.
Contains: Windows Internals, Group Policy guide, Security Resource Kit, Performance Guide, Troubleshooting Guide, Registry Guide, Administrator's Automation Toolkit.The resource kit tools for XP and 2003 are also available as a free download: Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools - New tools in the download include some neat group policy tools and an updated RoboCopy.
Windows XP SP2 Support Tools - Support Tools can be found on the Windows install CD
Uninstall any existing support tools before installing the update above. This will update bitsadmin.exe, extract.exe, httpcfg.exe, iadstools.dll, ipseccmd.exe, netdom.exe, replmon.exeWindows 2000 Resource Kit Tools, free download .
NT 4.0 Resource Kit + Update (Limited availability) NT 4.0 downloads - Q234968 for errata.
Other Toolkits:
Group Policy Management Console SP1 & Group Policy Object Settings spreadsheet
XP Power Toys and Tweak UI - add fun and functionality to Windows (unsupported)
Windows Server 2003 SP 1 Administration Tools Pack - Server management tools that allow administrators to remotely manage computers (adminpak.msi) Account Lockout and Management Tools - Troubleshoot account lockouts, add functionality to Active Directory.
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit
By Microsoft Corp,
Seven-volume kit providing information and 125 timesaving tools for deploying Windows Server 2003.
Download the text in Word format
MS Windows Security Resource Kit
by Ben Smith et al, Microsoft Security Team
The definitive security reference for Microsoft operating systems, servers, clients, networks, and Internet services.
Deployment guidance along with security tools on CD.MOM Resource Kit - Monitor server up/down status, Configure Event Logs.
Microsoft Product Support Tools - System configuration gathering tools for MS Exchange, SUS, SQL Server, MDAC, Cluster and Directory Services.
Recommended Books.
Windows NT Shell Scripting
by Tim Hill.
Windows NT 4.0 shell scripting, published 1998 so no mention of WSH, VBS or the more recent Resource Kit tools, despite this it's still a solid introduction to writing batch files under Windows.
Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant
by William R. Stanek
Core tools and techniques for managing Windows Server 2003 and XP professional systems
Use command-line tools to manage multiple clients and servers. Examples cover the built-in Windows commands plus support tools and the Resource Kit.
Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows Server 2003 also the R2 edition
by Mark Minasi.
Comprehensive and understandable guide. If improving the real-world performance and manageability of your network is the bottom line, this book delivers the goods.
minasi.com
Group Policy, Profiles, and IntelliMirror for Windows 2003, 2000, and XP (Third edition)
by Jeremy Moskowitz
Group Policy, Active Directory, Local, Roaming, and Mandatory profiles, Group Policy Software Installation, examples of scripting complex operations.
Inside Active Directory (Second edition)
by Sakari Kouti, Mika Seitsonen
Practical strategies for managing and Scripting Active Directory.
kouti.com
Also see - Recommended WSH Books
Utilities
SysInternals - System utilities, now part of Microsoft.
PowerShell - Microsoft's next generation shell for 2003 and Vista.Joeware.net - Admin, AD and Exchange tools.
CommandLine.co.uk - Useful tools (free Win32 utilities - mostly console)
FP Westlake - Free Win32 console utilities.
Alexander Frink - NT Security Utils, Logoff, Change password.
Bill Stewart - Batch script and Windows admin tools.Poor Mans SMS - scan a pre defined IP range and list all installed software.
Microsoft App Compatibility - command line tool to collect application info.Agent Ransack - File Search for Win XP
AnalogX - Screen capture, Terminal Server copy, etcAutohotkey - Automate keystrokes, mouse clicks.
AutoIT - GUI scripting
Bamboo Software - Scheduled Tasks and other command line utils.
DumpSec, DumpEvt - Dump Event Log, Registry or Security info.
OCS Inventory - Open Source System Management
Filezilla - FTP
Lost NT password
nu2/Barts Bootable CDs - Admin/Recovery
Netikus - Password, Ping, FTP tools.
OptimumX - Utilities by Marty List
UnDelete - Diskeeper
WinMerge - open source WinDiff
VMWare (Virtual Machine) - Free download from EMC Corp
Virtual PC 2004 (Emulator) - Free download from Microsoft Corp
Command Line Scripting Newsgroups
NT 4 and Win 2K - alt.msdos.batch.nt
Windows 2000/XP - microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin
Win 95/DOS - alt.msdos.batch
SS64 - Discussion Forum
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