Curious - I have some drives that are pulls from one server or another here (there are several in use, and several more that haven't been used since I started last year.

I don't know they state of the data or the drives... A note has been written on the label "GOOD".

There is no way to check to see if there is retrievable data on it since I don't know the configuration of the array is there?
Since I don't know what system they came from, how the array was configured or how many drives were in the array - It's pretty much pointless to try - am I correct?

Just want to confirm my thoughts before I move on....

@Dashrender said:

I'm surprised you don't have a conductivity issue - maybe carboard is more electrically neutral than I though?

It would be unless it had picked up moisture - ambient air humidity will give paper products (cardboard) a varied about of conductivity. Higher the moisture, the higher the conductivity.

@Dashrender said:

How could this be AV or firewall related? From my desktop, my Outlook, I have around 30 profiles setup in the mail control panel applet. This allows me to switch to any of those users when I launch Outlook.

Uh - silly question but why? What would be the reason to switch to one of 30 users? And why not just add them to your account?

I don't see the rational.

My understanding of how O365 works isn't the greatest. @scottalanmiller may know more about it.

When you create your O365 account you by default get the domainx.onmicrosoft.com account. There is no way around it, and no way to remove it.

Once you add your domain, and point your MX record over does it 'matter'. Your domain has to be verified to be added to the MS servers prior.

While I'm still in transition, mail to [email protected] will reach the user, as would [email protected] (in my case via the migrate script).

If you have Multiple domains in your 'tree' I don't think that would matter. It's just an add on and still goes 'through' domainx.onmicrosoft.com

I think.... In theory.

Interesting,.. But you may try to look under the main O365 Admin, Users tab and then select the user.
Under USER Details you'll find (at least that is what I find) the User name, and drop down for the domain.

Is that what you are looking for?

@scottalanmiller said:

Would be funnier if there was a sensor on the seat that tells how long it was sat upon.

Then based on that amount of time starting to nag him about his,.. uhm... well,.. don't think I need to really say it.

What resources we havve are grossly mismanaged and poorly configured. There is no way I could ever 'fix' in one weekend, or even one 'action'

Some general Stats:

Two main business units, One organization but comprised of different ares. We are a Non Profit, so pricing isn't going to be an issue.

Between the two, there are roughly 300 to maybe 400 staff. Transportations has about 40 (including drivers); Each program has about 15 each, Admin staff is about 30 or so, teachers about 140 - 200 depending on the time of year.

One side runs Server 2003 with AD and Exchange, File and Print services: 200-250 users.
Other side is the big mess:

• Fiscal server - SQL Abilia MIP Fund accounting
• HR Server - Sage software
• Transportation server - SQL - Routematch (which is crap)
• WX server - FS - access db
• Shared server - FS

No AD, F&P services are running, email is being moved to O365, so reduction of services needed.

We have offices in nine counties, but only six or so persons per site. The idea behind the thin client is that documents in the remote offices are at risk. But the idea is to have a off site back up as well. We have a few places to put it,.. so that's not a problem.

File and Print services are 'hogs' nor is AD, but I want to make sure that it's done right as opposed to the crap shot S&&) that's there now.

I figure, built an AD and FS box, then start pulling things in, setting up prper file shares and security. I have 2 boxes that could be just rebuilt and put back into service...

Looking over the thread Additional 2012r2 License Question Has me thinking of how I need to move forward to clean up this mess of a 'network'.

We won't have the need for Exchange with running O365, so mainly I will only need AD, File&Print services, and 2 SQL system and a app that is really Access DB - and backup services.

With that in mind, Is a single box (well built) box) with 2 VMs adequate for what I need? or should I spring for 4 VMs? My main concern and focus is getting AD with F&P going so I can move everything over and deal with some security issues, and retire some equipment.

Additionally, we have offices in 10 counties now. Which means quite a bit of upgraded hardware (Currently lots of WinXP) needed. Could I go ThinClient and host all of the apps (Office, files etc) here?

Well,.. glad I went and looked before I went and replied.

In my O365 account I have a rule for myself that drops mail that contains [SPAM] to my deleted items folder. I never see it. I did go look, and there is about 2 dozen in the folder.

Although I also must admit that my MX record hasn't been pointed yet to my O365 domain. So this could account for some of it.

CloneZilla it is. I've used it a few times, it's not like Ghost or Acronis of course. But it gets the job done.

Got the source system back to about were I was the first time and run CloneZilla on it last night. All said and done, I have two systems now.. just need to run Sysprep to re-create the UUIDs.

@scottalanmiller said:

R730xd has front and rear drive bays. First server with 1.8" drive bays.

Jeez - 1.8" guess I need to do some reading.. I hadn't seen those yet.

So - just managed to lose two full days of software adjustments using ACRONIS

Would you believe that Source disk is in the same state as the Clone - non-bootable.

HP Probook, Seagate 500GB Momentus Drive

I've used others, but not recently - any better suggestions for cloning a Win 7 pro system?

Needs to be USB Bootable.

I have a few HP AIO 8600 and 8700 printers. They seem decent enough though I have not had them a year yet. They were about $160 or so at Office Depot.

I don't know much about the Panasonic line,.. I would have thought they would be good,.. but every Vendor has their lemon line..

@thecreativeone91 said:

Never used it but, I honestly don't like tools like that. I find they tend to cause more issues than they are helpful. Plus in a business environment everything should be on a server using either a network drive or redirected folders besides the outlook profiles.

Agree it should be on the server. But the server isn't even a factor yet since we really don't have one. No AD yet...

Just call me the little Dutch Boy.. I have things going,.. but now where they need to be in a organization. But I'm getting there....

Spoke to my brother, he suggested changing the Folder / file permissions to show all files and folders (including hidden).

Changed it, and the folders are viewable,.. so it's a case of MS hiding data from itself.

@IRJ said:

Laplink has a great FREE tool that they provided to Microsoft

Laplink - There's software I havn't seen/used since Win95 and DOS. I still have the Yellow parallel cable.

@Bill-Kindle said:

@g.jacobse I don't believe it finds PST files. You can back those up manually though, if it's even required. Do you know if the person has local archived PST files or are they using Exchange w/cached mode enabled?

Looking at the Customize option right now, Nothing 'extra' in the folder list: Desktop, Favorites, Documents, StartMenu.

We aren't on Exchange - But we are moving to O365. Previously POP3/IMAP,.. so mail would be in .PST files or something else if installed. I've not seen any Thunderbird or gasp Express setups.

It's long after the fact, but has anyone used the WET to move someone from a XP pro system to 7Pro?

I used WET a few months back and when restored the person's mail, contacts and calendar were lost (Outlook). I've done some checking and even re-ran the import and still not finding the .pst files.

Just looking at the Modify your Selection options, you can get to the Doc&Settings/$user, but it only shows Desktop, MyDocs, Fav, Start menu, nothing below that.

Oh joy,.. I only have 6 gMail accounts... or is it 8? I don't remember.

Has anyone opened the file to search it?

Guess I need to learn more about it, but am not sure if it would help us.
But maybe right now isn't the time to look into it as I need to deal with the Domain, AD and security issues first.

Better then what I have / had.

Last office was a folding table with a HP ML350 on it... The other new Dell PE2900 was on the floor,.. the firewall - same place.. floor. With the 2 APC UPS 1500s.

Oh - the sprinkler head was right above it all.. Poor design / placement for the network infrastructure.

New office has 2 buildings in a H floor plan. End of each main hall is a utility closet, half with the HVAC, other half....well. stuff.

Of the 12 closets I have 7 servers sitting in them,.. no real ventilation on each.. It's a plan to deal with it, and a rack is planned...