Websites, Resource Kits, Books and Utilities
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, VBS
Heise-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 Server 2008 Resource Kit - April 2008
By Microsoft Corp
DVD with more than 200 essential tools and scripts, 4000 page technical documentation.
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 ResKit + 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 (mostly freeware)
cmd - SysInternals - Microsoft System utilities.
PowerShell - Microsoft's next generation shell for XP, 2003 and Vista.cmd - Joeware.net - Admin, AD and Exchange tools.
cmd - Bamboo Software - Scheduled Tasks and other command line utils.
cmd - CommandLine.co.uk - Useful tools (free Win32 utilities - mostly console)
cmd - FP Westlake - Free Win32 console utilities.
cmd - Alexander Frink - NT Security Utils, Logoff, Change password
cmd - OptimumX - Utilities by Marty List
cmd - Bill Stewart - Batch script and Windows admin tools
cmd - System Tools - Dump Event Log, Registry or Security infoAgent Ransack - File Search (search ALL file types)
AnalogX - Screen capture, Terminal Server copy, etc
Autohotkey - Automate keystrokes, mouse clicks.
AutoIT - GUI scripting
CPU-Z - gather information on system devices
OCS Inventory - Open Source System Management
Filezilla - FTP
Lost NT password
nLite - pre-installation Windows configuration
NTFS undelete - undelete files
nu2/Barts Bootable CDs - Admin/Recovery
Trinity Rescue Kit - Recovery and repair of Windows machines
Microsoft App Compatibility - Collect application info.
Netikus - Password, Ping, FTP, event log alerts.
Poor Mans SMS - scan a pre defined IP range and list installed software.
Process Controller - View memory/threads/CPU
Revo Uninstaller - Uninstall
UnDelete - Diskeeper
unxutils - Port of unix utilities to run under the CMD shell
Unix-like utilities for Windows - from Luis Carlos Castro Skertchly
WinMerge - open source WinDiff
Vista Codec Package (VCP) - play any media file
VMWare (Virtual Machine) - Free download from EMC Corp
Virtual PC 2007 (Emulator) - Free download from Microsoft Corp
Command Line Scripting Newsgroups
cmd shell - alt.msdos.batch.nt
cmd shell and VBS/WSH- m.p.w.cmdprompt.admin
SS64 - Windows CMD discussion Forum
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