<![CDATA[i2k2 Networks (P) Ltd]]> <![CDATA[Enable TLS 1.2 on Windows Server 2008 R2]]> Enable TLS 1.2 on Windows Server 2008 R2
Please find below steps to enable TLS 1.2 on Windows Server 2008 R2. TLS 1.2 has improvements over previous versions of the TLS and SSL protocol which will improve sever security.  By default, Windows Server 2008 R2 does not have this feature enabled.  
 
Start the registry editor by clicking on Start and Run. Type in "regedit" into the Run field (without quotations). Highlight Computer at the top of the registry tree.  Backup the registry first by clicking on File and then on Export.  Select a file location to save the registry file. 
Note: You will be editing the registry.  This could have detrimental effects on server if done incorrectly, so it is strongly advised to make a backup.
 
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Browse to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols 
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Right click on the Protocols folder and select New and then Key from the drop-down menu. This will create new folder.  Rename this folder to TLS 1.2. 
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Right click on the TLS 1.2 key and add two new keys underneath it. Rename the two new keys as: Client Server 
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Right click on the Client key and select New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value from the drop-down list.
Rename the DWORD to DisabledByDefault. Right-click the name DisabledByDefault and select Modify... from the drop-down menu.
Ensure that the Value data field is set to 0 and the Base is Hexadecimal.  
Click on OK.
Create another DWORD for the Client key as you did in 
Step 7.
Rename this second DWORD to Enabled.
Right-click the name Enabled and select Modify... from the drop-down menu.
Ensure that the Value data field is set to 1 and the Base is Hexadecimal.
Click on OK.
Repeat steps 7 to 14 for the Server key (by creating two DWORDs, DisabledByDefault and Enabled, and their values underneath the Server key).
Reboot the server. 
]]> <![CDATA[Stopping and starting windows service]]> Stopping and starting windows serviceg windows service

Sometimes as an administrator you may need to kill a service which is stuck at stopping in order to avoid having to reboot a server in the middle of the day.

Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1. Find out the Service Name

To do this, go in to services and double click on the service which has stuck.  Make a note of the “Service Name”.

Step 2. Find out the PID of the service

Open an elevated command prompt and type in:

sc queryex servicename

(where servicename is the name of the service you obtained from Step 1.)

Make note of the PID

Step 3. Kill the PID

From the same command prompt type in:

taskkill /f /pid [PID]

Where [PID] is the service number.

If it is successful you should receive the following message:

SUCCESS: The process with PID XXXX has been terminated.

Be careful of what you are killing though.  If you kill a critical windows service you may end up forcing the machine to reboot on it own.

Note: By forcing a service to stop you can also use these instructions to Kill a Windows Service which is stuck at starting as well.  This will allow you to restart the service.

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