Microsoft" Windows8 Home Server

Paul MeFedries

Microsoft" Windows8

Home Server

I

UNLEASHED

Second Edition

Table

of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I

_Unleashing

Windows Home ServerConfiguration

1

_Setting

_UpYour Windows Home Server Network 7

Configuring

Windows Home Server for

_Networking

8

Changing

theWindows Home Server

_Workgroup

Name 8

Displaying

theNetwork IconintheNotificationArea 9

Configuring

Windows Home Server withaStatic IP Address 9

Setting Up

Windows Home Serveras aDHCP Server 13

Viewing

theWindows Home ServerNetwork 15

Troubleshooting

Network Problems 16

Checking

Connection Status 16

Checking

Network Utilization 19

Repairing

aNetwork Connection 19

Working

with Network

_Diagnostics

22

Troubleshooting

Cables 26

Troubleshooting

the Network Interface Card 27

Handling Multiple

Network Subnets 30

Making

aRemote

_Desktop

Connection to theServer 31

Making

SureThatWindowsHome Server Is

_Ready

toHost 32

Making

the Connection tothe Server 32

Disconnecting

from the Server 33

From Here 34

2 Setting UpandWorkingwith User Accounts 35

Understanding Security Groups

35

Adding

aNew User 38

Setting

the Password

_Length

and

_Complexity

38

Customizing

the Password

_Length

_Requirement 40

Building

a

Strong

Password 41

Changing

the Passwordonthe Client 42

Adding

the User Account 43

Synchronizing

the Client and Windows Home Server Passwords 45

Automating

Client

_Logons

47

Modifying

User Accounts 48

Contents v

Changing

the Account Password 51

Disabling

aUser Account 52

Enabling

aUser Account 55

Removing

a User Account 57

Changing

the AccountName 58

Adding

aUsertoa

_Group

58

Allowing

aUserto_LogOn to theWindowsHome

Server

_Desktop

59

From Here 60

AddingDevices to the Windows Home Server Network 63

Installing

Windows Home Server Connectoronthe Client

Computers

.63

Supported Operating Systems

64

Preparing

toInstall Windows Home Server Connector 65

Running

the Windows Home Server Connector

_Setup

Program

onWindows 7 and Windows Vista 65

Running

the Windows Home Server Connector

_Setup

Program

onWindows XP 67

Rediscovering

the Windows Home Server 68

Using

aMaconYour Windows Home ServerNetwork 70

Connecting

to theWindows Home ServerNetwork 70

Mounting

aWindows Home ServerSharedFolder 71

Backing Up

Mac Datato aWindows Home Server Shared Folder 73

Using

a Macto MakeaRemote

_Desktop

Connection to

WindowsHome Server 74

Letting

Windows

_Computers

See Your Mac Shares 77

Using

aLinux Client onYour Windows Home Server Network 80

Viewing

theWindows Home Server Network in Ubuntu 81

Letting

Windows

_Computers

See Your Ubuntu Shares 81

Connecting

Other Devices tothe Windows Home Server

Network 85

Connecting

aWindows Mobile Device 87

Adding

anXbox 360tothe Network . 88

Connecting

aKodak Wi-Fi

Digital

Picture Frame 89

From Here 91

ConfiguringWindows Home Server 93

Changing

the Name of the Home Server 94

Running

the Windows Home ServerConsole 94

Changing

the Date andTimeonWindows Home Server 96

Setting

the CurrentDate and Time 96

vi Contents

SelectingtheWindowsHomeServer

_Region

101

Changing

the

_Region

intheWindowsHome Server Console 101

Customizing

the

_Region

Formats 102

Configuring

Windows

_Update

103

Configuring

Windows

_Update

via the Windows Home

Server Console 103

Configuring

Windows

_Update

via the Automatic

Updates

Control Panel 104

Updating

Windows Home Server 105

Changing

the Windows Home Server Password 106

Restarting

or

Shutting

Down Windows Home Server 107

Configuring

an

Uninterruptible

Power

_Supply

108

Configuring

the WindowsHome Server

_Startup

Ill

Editing

BOOT.INI

_Directly

112

Using

the

_{System Configuration}

Editor to

_Modify

BOOT.INI 116

Configuring Startup

with the Advanced

_Options

Menu 117

Launching

Applications

and

_Scripts

at

_Startup

120

From Here 124

5 Setting Up and UsingHome ServerStorage 125

Understanding

Windows Home Server

_Storage

125

Simplicity: Saying Goodbye

toDrive Letters 126

Flexibility: Expanding (or Contracting)

theData Pool 127

Safety: Using Duplication

toEnsure No Data Is Lost 128

Understanding

Drive Extender 129

Server

_Storage

on aOne-Drive

_System

130

Server

_Storage

onaTwo-Drive

_System

131

Server

_Storage

onaMulti-Drive

System

131

Setting

the

_Primary

Hard Drive 131

Adding Storage

tothe Home Server 133

Adding

aDrivetothe

_Storage

Pool 134

AddingaDrive for Windows Home Server

_Backups

135

Viewing

Storage

Status 137

Repairing

Storage

138

Removing

Storage

from the Home Server 138

Removing

a

Storage

Hard Drive 139

Removing

a Server

Backup

Hard Drive 140

From Here 141

Part II UnleashingWindowsHomeServer

_Networking

6 _Sharing Folders and Files onthe Home Server 143

Examining

the PredefinedWindows HomeServer Shares 144

Contents vii

Modifying

Permissions foraWindows Home Server

Shared Folder ₁₄₆

Sharing

Server Folders Outside Drive Extender 146

Creating

aNew SharedFolder ₁₄₉

Toggling Duplication

for a SharedFolder 151

Accessing

the Windows HomeServer Shared Folders 152

Understanding

the Universal

_Naming

Convention 153

Mapping

a Shared Folder to aLocal Drive Letter 154

Disconnecting

a

_Mapped

Network Folder ₁₅₆

Creating

aNetwork Location in Windows 7

and WindowsVista ₁₅₇

Creating

a Network Place in Windows XP ₁₅₈

Copying

Filestoa Shared Folder ₁₅₉

Publishing

aWindows VistaCalendarto the Server 160

Publishing

Your Calendar ₁₆₁

Subscribing

toa Calendar ₁₆₂

Working

with Shared Calendars ₁₆₄

Viewing

Share

_{Storage History}

₁₆₄

Searching

the Shared Folders ₁₆₆

As-You-Type

Searches with

_Desktop

Search 168

Advanced Searches ₁₆₈

Using

Advanced

_{Query Syntax}

to Search

_Properties

169

Deleting

aShared Folder ₁₇₂

From Here ₁₇₃

7 _MakingConnectionsto NetworkComputers 175

Configuring

a

_Computer

as aRemote

Desktop

Host 176

Configuring

aWindows 7 orVista Host 177

Configuring

anXP Host 178

Restricting

the

_Computers

That CanConnect tothe Host 179

Connecting

viaRemote

_Desktop

Connection 181

Getting

the Client

_Computer

_Ready

₁₈₁

Making

the Connectiontothe Remote

_Desktop

182

Disconnecting

from theRemote

_Desktop

187

Connecting

via Windows HomeServer Web Site Remote Access 187

Configuring

Users for Remote Access 188

Activating

RemoteAccess on the Server 188

Displaying

the Remote Access Home

_Page

188

Making

the Connection ₁₉₀

Disconnecting

from the Host 193

Connecting

viathe Internet 194

Determining

the Windows Home Server IP Address 194

viii Contents

Configuring

the Router

_By

Hand 197

Determining

the Router's External IP Address 197

Usinga

Dynamic

DNS Service 198

Obtaining

aDomain Name from Microsoft 199

Displaying

the Remote Access Home

_Page

200

Connectingto aNetwork

_Computer

201

Connecting

tothe Windows HomeServer Console 202

Connecting

totheWindowsHomeServer

_Desktop

202

Working

with Windows Home Server Shares inthe

Web Browser 205

Enabling Drag-and-Drop Uploading

207

Customizing

the Remote Access Web

_Pages

208

Setting

Remote Access as the Default Home

Page

209

Customizing

the Website Headline 210

Customizingthe Website

_Images

211

From Here 212

8 _Streamingand _{Sharing Digital} Media 213

Streaming

Digital

Mediato Network Computers and Devices 214

Getting

Your Devices

_Ready

214

Activating

Media

_Sharing

inWindows HomeServer 216

Connecting

Devices 218

Playing

Streamed Media in Windows Media

_Player

220

Playing

Streamed Media in Windows Media Center 222

Connecting

Windows Media CentertoYour Home Server 223

Sharing

Photos 223

Customizing

the Photos Share witha

Template

223

Using

Server Photosas aScreensaver Slideshow 225

Adding

the Photos FoldertoWindows Media

_Player

226

Adding

thePhotosFoldertoWindows Live Photo

_Gallery

227

Adding

thePhotosFolder to Windows Photo

Gallery

228

Running

a SlideShow from the Photos Share 229

Changing

theDefaultPicture

_Import

Location to

Windows Home Server 229

Sharing

Music 230

Customizing

the Music Share witha

Template

230

Adding

the Music FoldertoWindows Media

_Player

231

Changing

the Default

_Rip

Location to Windows Home Server 232

Sharing

Videos 233

Customizing

the Videos Share witha

Template

233

Adding

the Videos Folder to Windows Media

_Player

234

Archiving

Recorded TVonWindows Home Server 235

Contents ix

9 _{Backing Up}and _RestoringNetworkComputers 239

Understanding

Windows Home Server's

_Backup

_Technology

240

Single

Instance

_Storage

240 No

_{Backup Types}

241

Smarter

_Backups

241

Automatic

_Backup

_Management

242

Converting

Client PartitionstoNTFS 242

Format the PartitionasNTFS ₂₄₃

Run the CONVERT

_Utility

243

Configuring

WindowsHomeServer

_Backups

244

Configuring

the

_Backup

Time 244

Configuring

Automatic

_{Backup Management}

245

Configuring

a

_Computer

for

_Backup

247

Excluding

a DiskDrive from a

Backup

247

Excluding

Folders froma

Backup

248

Adding

aNew Hard Drivetoa

Backup

249

Turning

Off

_Backups

fora

Computer

251

Running

aManual

_Backup

251

Cancelling

a

Running Backup

252

Backing

Up

Other

_Systems

toWindowsHome Server 254

Working

with

_Backups

254

Viewing

a

_Computer's

List of

_Backups

254

Viewing Backup

Details 257

Preventing

Windows Home Serverfrom

_Deleting

a

Backup

258

Cleaning

Up

Old

_Backups

259

Browsing Backed-Up

Files ₂₆₀

Restoring

Network

_Backups

₂₆₁

Restoring Backed-Up

Files 262

Restoring

a

Computer

to aPrevious

_{Configuration}

263

From Here ₂₆₆

10 MonitoringYour Network ₂₆₇

Monitoring

the WindowsHomeServer Status Icon 267

Monitoring

theIconColor 268

Monitoring

NetworkHealthNotifications 268

Monitoring

the Windows Home Server Shares 270

Launching

the

_{Computer Management Snap-In}

271

Viewing

the CurrentConnections 271

Viewing

ConnectionstoShared Folders 272

Viewing

Open

Files 273

Closing

aUser's Session orFile ₂₇₄

Monitoring

Remote

_Desktop

Sessions 275

X Contents

Viewing

Remote

Desktop

Sessions 276

Sending

a

Message

toa Remote

_Desktop

Client 277

Disconnectinga Remote

Desktop

Session 279

Controlling

the Administrator'sDesktopviaRemoteControl 279

Monitoring

Users viaTaskManager 281

From Here 283

11

_Implementing

Windows Home ServerSecurity 285

Enabling Security Auditing

onWindows Home Server 285

Activating

the

_Auditing

Policies 286

Understanding

the

_Auditing

Policies 287

Tracking Auditing

Events 291

More

_Ways

toSecure Windows Home Server 295

Renaming the Administrator Account 296

Hidingthe User Name in the LogOn

_Dialog

Box 296

Making

SureWindowsFirewall Is Turned On 297

Disabling

the Hidden Administrative Shares 299

Securing

Network

_Computers

300

Monitoring

Home

_{Computer Security}

300

Thwarting Spyware

with Windows Defender 301

Protecting

Yourself

_Against

Email Viruses 305

Implementing

Parental Controls 307

Creating

Accounts for the Kids 307

Avoiding Phishing

Scams 310

Sharing

a

Computer Securely

313

ImplementingWireless Network

_Security

315

From Here 317

12 _{Setting Up} aWindowsHome ServerWebsite 319

Understanding

the Windows Home Server Default Website 320

Viewing

the Default Website Folders 320

Viewing

the DefaultWebsite with Internet

Information Services

_Manager

322

Adding

Folders and Filestothe Default Website 323

Adding

aFiletoaDefaultWebsiteFolder 323

Adding

aFolderto the Default Website 325

Creating

aNew Website 328

Creating

aNew Website

Using

aDifferent IP Address 328

Creating

aNew Website

Using

aDifferent Port 333

Creating

a New Website

Using

aHost Header 337

Configuring

aWebsite 339

Modifying

the Website

_Identity

339

Contents xi

Changing

the Website Location and Permissions 342

Setting

the Default Content

_Page

345

Disabling

Anonymous

Access 347

Adding

SiteLinksto the Home andRemoteAccess

_Pages

349

FromHere 351

13 _Runninga SharePoint Site onWindows Home Server 353

Installing

and

_Configuring

Windows SharePointServices 354

Downloading

and

_Installing

SharePointServices 3.0 354

Running

theInitial SharePointServices 3.0

_{Configuration}

354

Creating

aNewSharePointWeb

_Application

355

Creating

a

_Top-Level

SharePointSite 358

Deleting

theDefault SharePoint Web

_Application

360

Restarting

the Windows Home Server Default Website 361

Adding

aFirewall

_Exception

for the SharePoint Web

Application

Port 361

Forwarding

the SharePoint Port in Your Router 362

Adding

Users to the

_Top-Level

SharePoint Site 363

Logging

On to the

_Top-Level

SharePointSite 365

Adding

Sitesto SharePoint 365

Adding

a

_Top-Level

Site 367

Adding

aSubsite 367

Working

with Site

_Settings

369

Customizing

aSite 369

Working

with Users 374

Working

with

_Groups

377

Working

withPermissions 380

Deleting

aSite 381

Creating

Content for aSharePointSite ₃₈₂

Storing Images

in aPicture

_Library

₃₈₂

Tracking Appointments

with a Calendar 384

Maintaining

a List of Contacts ₃₈₅

Keeping

aList of Web

_Page

Links 387

Managing

Permissionsfor Content 388

Deleting

Contentfrom aSite 388

From Here ₃₈₉

Part III

_Unleashing

Windows Home Server Performanceand Maintenance

14

_Tuning

Windows Home Server Performance 391

Monitoring

Performance 391

Monitoring

Performance withTask

_Manager

392

xii Contents

Optimizing

the Hard Disk 411

Examining

Hard Drive Performance

_{Specifications}

411

Performing

Hard Drive Maintenance 412

Disabling Compression

and

_Encryption

412

Turning

Off Windows Search 412

Enabling

Write

_Caching

412

Optimizing

Virtual

_Memory

413

Customizing

the_PagingFile Size 414

Watching the PagingFile Size ₄₁₅

Changing

the

_Paging

File'sSize 415

Defragmenting

the

_Paging

File ₄₁₆

Optimizing Applications

417

Adding

More

_Memory

417

Optimizing Application Launching

417

Getting

the Latest Device Drivers 417

Setting

the

_{Program Priority}

in Task

_Manager

418 More

_Optimization

Tricks 418

Adjusting

Power

_Options

418

Eliminate the Use of VisualEffects 419

Optimizing

Windows Home Server for Services

and the

_System

Cache 420

Optimizing

Network Data

_Throughput

for File

_Sharing

421

Upgrading

Your DeviceDrivers 423

From Here ₄₂₆

15 _Maintaining Windows Home Server 427

Checking

System Uptime

428

Displaying

Uptime

with the SYSTEMINFO Command 428

Displaying

Uptime

withPerformanceMonitor 429

Displaying

Uptime

witha

Script

₄₂₉

Checking

Your Hard Disk for Errors 431

Understanding

Clusters ₄₃₂

Understanding

LostClusters 433

Understanding

InvalidClusters 433

Understanding

Cross-LinkedClusters 434

Understanding

Cycles 434

Understanding

Windows Home Server's Automatic

Disk

_Checking

₄₃₄

Running

Check Disk 435

Checking

Free Disk

_Space

onthe

System

Drive 437

Deleting

Unnecessary

Files from the

_System

Drive 440

Contents xiii

Reviewing

Event Viewer

_Logs

445

Exporting

Event

_Logs

toaDatabase 447

Setting Up

aMaintenanceSchedule 455

From Here 456

16

_Customizing

theWindows Home Server Interface 459

Making

the Start Menu More Efficient 460

Activating

the

_{Frequent Programs}

List 460

Getting

More Favorite

_Programs

onthe StartMenu 462

Adding

the Internet and E-Mail Icons 463

Pinning

a Favorite

Program Permanently

to the StartMenu 464

Streamlining

the Start Menu

_by

_Converting

Links toMenus 465

Adding, Moving,

and

_Removing

Other StartMenu Icons 466

Making

the Taskbar More Efficient 468

Displaying

the Built-in Taskbar Toolbars 469

Setting

Some Taskbar Toolbar

_Options

470

Creating

New Taskbar Toolbars 470

Creating

aTaskbar Toolbarfor

_{Launching Programs}

and Documents 470

Improving Productivity

by

Setting

TaskbaT

_Options

472

Controlling

Taskbar

_Grouping

473

Modifying

the StartMenuandTaskbar with

_Group

Policies 475

Customizing

the Color

_Quality

and Resolution 476

Setting

the Screensaver 477

Selecting

a Screensaver 478

Creating

anInstant Screensaver 479

Customizing

the

_Desktop

_{Colors, Fonts,} and Sizes 480

Selecting

aColorScheme 481

Creating

aCustom Color Scheme 481

Creating

Custom Colors 483

Changing

the Effects

_Properties

485

From Here 487

17 _{Troubleshooting}Windows Home Server 489

Replacing

Your

_System

Hard Drive 490

Restoring

aWindows Home Server

_Backup

492

Understanding Troubleshooting

Strategies 493

Did You Get anError

_Message?

493

DoesanError or

Warning Appear

inthe Event

Viewer

_Logs?

₄₉₆

Doesan Error

Appear

in

_System

Information? 496 Did the Error_BeginwithaPast Hardware

xiv Contents

Did You_RecentlyEdit the

_Registry?

498 Did You_{Recently Change Any}Windows

_Settings?

498 Did WindowsHomeServer

_{"Spontaneously"}

Reboot? 498 DidYou

_Recently

_Change

_Any

_Application

_Settings?

₅₀₀ Did You

_Recently

Install aNew

Program?

501

Did You

_Recently

Installa New Device? 502

Did You

_Recently

Installan

Incompatible

Device Driver? 502

Did You

_{Recently Apply}

an

Update

from

Windows

_Update?

502

Did You

_Recently

InstallaWindowsHomeServer

HotfixorPower Pack? 503

General

_{Troubleshooting}

_Tips

504

Troubleshooting Using

OnlineResources 504

Troubleshooting

Device Problems 506

Troubleshooting

with Device

_Manager

506

Troubleshooting

DeviceDriver Problems 509

Tips

forDownloading DeviceDrivers 510

Troubleshooting

Resource Conflicts 511

Verifying Digitally Signed

Files 512

Troubleshooting

Startup

513

Whento Use the Various Advanced

_{Startup Options}

513

Using

Safe Mode 514

Using

Safe Mode with

_Networking

514

Using

Safe Mode with Command

_Prompt

514

Using

Enable Boot

_Logging

514

Using

Enable VGA Mode ₅₁₅

Using

Last KnownGood

_{Configuration}

515

Using Directory

Services Restore Mode 516

Using

Debugging

Mode 516 Whatto Do If Windows Home Server Won'tStart

in Safe Mode 516

Troubleshooting

Startup Using

the

_System

Configuration

Utility

516

Reinstalling

Windows Home Server 520

From Here 521 Part IV UnleashingWindows Home Server Advanced Tools

18 Workingwith the Windows HomeServer

_Registry

523

Starting

the

_Registry

Editor ₅₂₄

Navigating

the

_Registry

₅₂₅

Navigating

the_KeysPane 525

Contents xv

Getting

toKnow the

_Registry's

Root

_Keys

527

Understanding

Hives and

_Registry

Files 529

Keeping

the

_Registry

Safe 530

Backing

Up the

Registry

530

Protecting

Keys by Exporting

Them to Disk 532

Working

with

_Registry

Entries 534

Changing

the Value ofa

Registry Entry

534

Renaming

a

_Key

or

Setting

540

Creating

aNew

Key

or

Setting

540

Deleting

a

Key

or

Setting

540

Finding Registry

Entries 541

From Here 542

19

_Using

Windows Home Server's Command-LineTools 543

Getting

tothe Command Line 543

Running

CMD 544

Opening

aFolderin aCommand

_Prompt

Session 548

Working

at theCommandLine 548

Running

Commands 549

Working

with

_Long

Filenames 551

Changing

FoldersFaster 552

Taking

Advantage

ofDOSKEY 552

Redirecting

Command

_Output

and

_Input

554

Piping

Commands ₅₅₇

Understanding

Batch File Basics 558

Creating

BatchFiles 559

REM:

_Adding

Commentsto aBatch File 560

ECHO:

_{Displaying Messages}

from a Batch File 560

PAUSE:

_Temporarily

_Halting

Batch File Execution 561

Using

Batch File Parameters 561 FOR:

_Looping

inaBatch File 563

GOTO:

_Jumping

toaLine inaBatch File 563

IF:

_Handling

Batch File Conditions 564

Working

with the Command-Line Tools 567

Working

with Disk

_Management

Tools 567

Working

with File and Folder

_Management

Tools 576

Working

with

_{System Management}

Tools 588

From Here 602

20 Using Other Windows HomeServer Power Tools 603

Using

the

_Group

_{Policy Object}

Editor 603

Working

with

_Group

Policies 604

xvi Contents

Customizing

the Places Bar 608

Increasing

theSize of the Recent DocumentsList 612

Enabling

the Shutdown Event Tracker 612

Getting

MoreOutof Control Panel 615

Reviewing

the Control Panel Icons 616

Understanding

Control Panel Files 619

AlternativeMethods for

_Opening

Control Panel Icons 621

Putting

Control Panelonthe Taskbar 621

Displaying

Control Panel in

_{My Computer}

622

Removing

anIcon from ControlPanel 622

Showing Only

Specified

ControlPanel Icons 623

Configuring

the Microsoft

_Management

Console 624

Launching

the MMC ₆₂₈

Adding

a

Snap-In

₆₂₈

Saving

aConsole ₆₃₀

Creating

a Custom

_Taskpad

View 631

Controlling

Snap-Ins

with

_Group

Policies 634

Controlling

Services 635

Controlling

Services with the Services

_Snap-In

636

Controlling

Services atthe Command

_Prompt

639

Controlling

Services witha

Script

640

Setting Up

aFax Server ₆₄₄

Installing

the FaxService 644

Starting

the Fax Console 644

Configuring

the Fax Service ₆₄₅

Examining

the Fax Console 646

Sending

aFax ₆₄₇

Receiving

Faxes 650

Routing

a Received Fax 652

From Here ₆₅₄

21

_Scripting

Windows Home Server 655

Understanding

Windows

_Script

Host ₆₅₆

Running Scripts

658

Running Script

Files

_Directly

₆₅₈

Using WScript

forWindows-Based

_Scripts

658

Using CScript

forCommand-Line

_Scripts

660

Script Properties

and .wsh Files 661

Programming Objects

662

Working

with

_{Object Properties}

₆₆₃

Working

with

_Object

Methods 664

Assigning

an

Object

toa Variable 665

Contents xvii

Programming

the

_{WScript Object}

667

Displaying

Textto the User 668

Shutting

Downa

Script

668

Scripting

andAutomation 669

Programming

theWshShell

_Object

674

Referencing

the WshShell

_Object

674

Displaying

Informationtothe User 675

Running Applications

679

Working

withShortcuts 680

Working

with

_Registry

Entries 682

Working

with Environment Variables 684

Programming

theWshNetwork

_Object

686

Referencing

theWshNetwork

_Object

686

WshNetwork

_{Object Properties}

687

Mapping

Network Printers 687

Mapping

Network Drives 687

Programming

the Windows

_Management

Instrumentation Service 688

Referencing

the WMI Service

_Object

689

Returning

Class Instances 689

From Here 693

Part V _Appendixes

A _{Glossary 695}

B Windows HomeServer_KeyboardShortcuts 711

C Windows Home ServerOnlineResources 721

WindowsHome Server Websites 721

WindowsHome Server

_Blogs

722

Windows Home Serverfor

_Developers

₇₂₃