Windows Snippets

Shell Commands

# Check disk for errors
chkdsk /f d:
# Attempt to repair logical file system errors during the scan with /f switch.
# If drive in use, you'll be asked to schedule a scan for the next restart

Windows Commands

Command	Usage/Function
certmgr.msc	Certificates
ciadv.msc	Indexing Service
comexp.msc	Component Services
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management, central administration panel for Windows. Can also be used to access IIS administration console.
control mouse	Open control panel for mouse
defrag, dfrg.msc	Disk Defragmenter
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders
gpedit.msc	Group Policy
lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups
msconfig	Startup files and processes configuration
ntmsmgr.msc	Removable Storage
ntmsoprq.msc	Removable Storage Operator Requests
perfmon.msc	Performance monitor
regedit	Registry editor
rsop.msc	Resultant Set of Policy
sc query	Find function. E.g. Find a Windows services called “WSearch”sc query or FINDSTR /i /r WSearch
secpol.msc	Local Security Settings
services.msc	Services and Process manager
wab	Windows address book
wmimgmt.msc	Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)

ERROR The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections

If you encounter this error, you can either reboot the terminal server you are trying to remote desktop to or log into the machine as an administrator.

To log in as the administrator:

mstsc /v:<ip address e.g.192.168.2.32) /console

By using /console at the end of the command you will be logging in as if you were at the server. Alternatively, if you are using Windows Server 2003, run this comment instead (replace /console with /admin)

mstsc /v:<ip address e.g.192.168.2.32) /admin

If you can telnet or ssh to the server you can use the following command. This command will kill all active RDP sessions to free one so you can connect.

tsdiscon /1

tsdiscon /2

tsdiscon /3

tsdiscon /4

Session cleanup

When you execute the commands above, log in as an administrator on the machine. That log in allow you to use the console on the server.

Remove any disconnected users via the Terminal Services Manager

Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Terminal Services Manager

Click on the name of your server and the right side should show a list of users. If the users are disconnected, reset the users to free up the two normal remote desktop connections. Right clicking the disconnected user and selecting “Reset.”

It is good practices to only use the console to disconnect inactive sessions and not for anything else. Make sure you disconnect inactive user sessions first with the instructions above, otherwise if you get disconnected again you will have to physically access the server.

Remote Desktop sessions should always be closed using the Windows <<Log Off>> function rather than disconnecting by closing the window as using the X to close will disconnect from the session but leave it active.