Error uninstalling Exchange Server 2003: One or more users currently use a mailbox store on this server.

So, you're transitioning your Exchange 2003 environment to an Office 365 environment and desparately want to drop kick your Exchange 2003 server out the door.  After migrating everyone's email, you open ESM, delete all of the mailboxes and start to uninstall Exchange.  But then, this frustrating message shows up:

The component "Microsoft Exchange Messaging and Collaboration Services" cannot be assigned the action "Remove" because:
- One or more users currently use a mailbox store on this server.  These users must be moved to a mailbox store on a different server or be mail disabled before uninstalling this server.

Thanks for leaving me the fun part of trying to guess who you think still has a mailbox.

Fortunately, there's an easy way to do this.

Let's say your server name is EXCH01.

1. Launch Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the navigation pane, right-click on your domain and select Find from the context menu.
3. In the Find Users, Contacts, and Groups window, click the Advanced tab.
4. Click the Field button, point to User, and then select Exchange Home Server.
5. Set the Condition field to Ends With.
6. Enter the Exchange mailbox server you're decommissioning in the Value field (in our example, EXCH01).
7. Click Add.
8. Click Find Now.
9. Once the list of users is displayed, you can right-click on the user, select Exchange Tasks, and then select Remove Exchange Attributes from the list of options.  Acknowledge the warning, and repeat for each user.
10. Restart Exchange setup.

Re-create BITS and Windows Update Services for Windows 7

So, you had a bit of nasty malware.  You're almost back to square one, but have now found yourself in the unfortunate position of having missing services--specifically the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Windows Update services.

Never fear.  These, too, can be recreated in the event that your System Restore points are borked.  Copy/paste the commands into an elevated command prompt.

REM Recreate Windows Update / BITS Services for Windows 7
sc create BITS DisplayName= "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" binpath= "c:\windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs" Start= delayed-auto depend= EventSystem/RpcSs
sc create wuauserv DisplayName= "Windows Update" binpath= "c:\windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs" Start= delayed-auto depend= RpcSs

Bloody Queen Mary

This is a Bloody Mary (it's technically a Caesar because of the clam juice) that will make you famous.  Or at least, a legend in your own mind.

4 1/2 oz Clamato Juice (or a 2:1 mixure of tomato:clam juice)
1 1/2 oz your favorite gin
1 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp Lea and Perrin's Worchestershire sauce
1 drop Beano's Horseradish sauce
Juice of 1/4 lime

Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously.  Pour into a Collins or highball glass, and garnish with a deli pickle spear (don't you dare use a dill), rind of the squeezed lime, and leafy celery heart, and a couple of queen olives.

Move Wireless Network Profiles Between Computers

Ran into an interesting customer issue regarding connecting to a wireless network.  For whatever reason, this laptop can't see the wireless network (though others in the office can).  This laptop can connect to other WiFi networks without issue.

My laptop, for example, was able to connect without issue.  Solution?  Either manually create the profile or export it from my laptop.

Since I'm all about finding new and interesting ways to do things, I'd thought I'd try the "Export/Import" route.

There's a little-known gem of a feature in netsh that allows for just this.

1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Type netsh wlan show profiles and press [ENTER].
   - The output should look something like this:
   
   C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan show profile
   Profiles on interface Wireless Network Connection
   Group policy profiles (read only)
   ---------------------------------
      
   User profiles
   -------------
       All User Profile     : OPincGuest
       All User Profile     : antares
       All User Profile     : SparkDetroit
       All User Profile     : SecureConnect
       All User Profile     : cobo_free
       All User Profile     : Colonial 1
       All User Profile     : Team Perkis-guest
       All User Profile     : MongoNet [Working]
       All User Profile     : Inn Public
       All User Profile     : Android76
       All User Profile     : bww3
       All User Profile     : TGN
       All User Profile     : attwifi
       All User Profile     : aguilmettes-iPhone MyWi
       All User Profile     : HarborLink - Buffalo Wild Wings
       All User Profile     : milkyway
3. Find the profile you want to export.  In this example, we're going to export my home profile, "milkyway" to a folder on the thumb drive, F:\wirelessconfig.
4. Type netsh wlan export profile name="milkyway" folder="F:\wirelessconfig" key=clear and press [ENTER].
5. Take the USB stick to the target computer and plug it in.  Note the drive letter.
6. Open an elevated command prompt.
7. Type netsh wlan add profile filename="F:\wirelessconfig\Wireless Network Connection-milkyway.xml" and press [ENTER].