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How to upgrade osTicket to v1.15.1

osTicket v1.15.1 is released on Dec 7, 2020, its open-source ticket system. You can find full release notes at https://github.com/osTicket/osTicket/releases. For osTicket version v1.15.1 PHP version PHP 7.2-7.4 the process is the same as before just make sure you have a good backup of the database and osTicket files.

a couple of new plugins added for v1.15:
2FA Google Authenticator
Authentication Password Policy
https://osticket.com/download/#ostPlugin

The Upgrade process is very simple, I am doing 1.14.3 to 1.15.1

  • Make sure you have a good backup of the Database and files of osTicket
  • Then put the system in the offline mode: by going to the URL of your osTicket support ticket /scp/settings.php
  • Download the new version from https://osticket.com/download/ and choose the osTicket Core, v1.15.1 (Latest Release) don’t download any Languages or plugins, you can add them after to void issues with the upgrade process.
  • Upload to your server v. 1.15.1 and replace current files/folders from the Upload folder from your downloaded, and exclude the script folder/files. Also, Maintain the directory hierarchy any changes could cause an issue with the upgrade process or something might not work well.
    • Optional: Script folder only needed if you are using remote piping, so if you are not using remote piping you don’t need to upload.
  • Make sure NOT to replace your \include\ost-config.php which does not include in the download.

This is my current version: v1.14.3

Make sure you have the correct permission, then go to the URL/SCP of the osTicket system and log in, you should see osTicket Upgrader, make sure your Prerequisites are all good, if any errors correct it, then click Start Upgrade Now

This version makes changes to database, click Upgrade Now

If everything goes well you should see Upgrade Completed!

After the installation

Delete the /setup folder and update any customization you may have, test it, then once all is good you can put the system back online. Also, remove the write permission to \include\ost-config.php to secure your config. If you have customized PHP core files, those need to be re-applied after the upgrade. Also, make sure your plugins are good, if needed upgrade do so, make sure it supported version. Good luck

You can check the System Logs to see if there were any errors:

If you look at your Dashboard Information, it should show Up to date

If you still need more info you can check out their official documentation: https://docs.osticket.com/en/latest/


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How to fix printer error 0x8007007e

There are number of reason you get printer error when trying to print something. This could be document, photo, types of format that’s not supported or drivers not able to read the printer format. The error 0x8007007e is for Printconfig.dll not found in printer driver folder, you can search for it and copy and paste to one of the location to fix the issue. Here is how to do this

The error message looks like this:

Using your Windows Key+R and type in spool, then hit Enter

Then on the search box type “printconfig”

You should get search result like this:

Copy the PrintConfig.dll and paste into c:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3 or c:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3

That should fix your issue

You may also need to restart print spooler, which you can do via PowerShell command: Restart-Service Spooler
you do have to run PowerShell as admin

or you can simply restart the computer to flush out anything stuck on print Job, in case issue is due to software bug

Hope that helped you out, take care


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How to recover the Chromebook

Chromebook is very popular and easy to use, most of the services we use today are cloud-based, so no need to install any software on your local computer. Your data sync up with Google drive account, in case some reason your Chromebook does not work and reset does not work, here is how you can recover it by using Chromebook recovery utility.

What you will need:

USB stick 4GB+
Chromebook Recovery Utility
Working computer, so you can create recovery Image

Download the Chromebook Recovery Utility which can be installed on your Chrome browser.

When you open the Chromebook Recovery Utility, you will get see something like this: click Get started

Select the Model of your Chromebook or next option by model selection

Or by Selecting Model from list, then click Continue

If you have not put in your USB or SD card put and click Continue

Make sure you have selected correct media, it will wipe out any data on it. If you are sure, click Create now

Once you click Create now, it will start downloading, then it will install on your external media, you should see Success and done option if everything goes well.

Enter into recovery mode

Now that you have the image, You can plugin USB or SD card to your Chromebook then Press and hold Esc + Refresh then press Power.  Let go of Power, when a message shows on the screen, let go of the other keys. Once done you should see fresh installed Chromebook welcome screen


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How to Compact Virtual Hard Disk

These days most of us using virtual storage drives for a server, most of the time these virtual storage disks are configured dynamically, so it grows as we use it, but does not shrink when you delete data unless you do compact. If you are using Hyper-V servers, it’s very easy to do, other hypervisors also offer similar compacting, you may just have to look around.

Here is screenshot of before compacting drive:

To compact in Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor:

Open the Hyper-V Manager
Select the VM
Right-click on VM, click Settings
Select the Hard Drive that you want to compact, then click Edit
It will give you the location of the Disk and warning, please make sure you have a good backup, just in case something goes wrong
Click Next

If you only see Expand option, that means your VM is running, you can’t Compact
Click Next

Summary of Disk, click Finish and it will start compacting, time it takes to compact are depends on speed of drive and how much data you have deleted.

This is what it looks like after compacting, the size will vary depends on how much of your data being deleted.

After Compacting:

That’s it, if you don’t get the drive space back, make sure to do the Drive Optimization first then re-do the compacting

To drive Optimize:

Login into server and right click on the drive select Properties

Click on Tools tab
Click on Optimize

Then select the drive if you have more then one and click on Optimize


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How to extend your screen to the second monitor

Display Rearrange your displays

It’s very common these days people are working from home and doing multiple tasks so they use the second monitor. The second monitor could be attaching directly to a laptop, desktop, tablet, or wirelessly. Some devices have built-in options some you have to use an adaptor, converter, or external docking station. Here are some options and settings to help you extend your screen to the second monitor.

Types of connections:

VGA, HDMI, DVI, min HDMI, micro HDMI, Type-C you can do a search on the specific type to get a picture if you don’t know what these are. There are so many others but these are common.

On Windows 10 computer:

Once you have your second screen connected or ready to connect if using wirelessly.

Click Notification icon near the bottom clock
Then click on Project
Click on Extend (if using a wireless click on Connect to a wireless display)
you should see now both screen

on Windows 10 Connecting to Wireless display

Click Notification icon near the bottom clock
Then click on Project
Click on Connect to a wireless display
It will give you options to choose your wireless display, some have code you need to enter some devices just connects. then you should see both screens

Some settings you should know:

Display resolution, higher the resolution clear the image, but texts and windows will get smaller. You can also use Scale (zoom) some apps may not display correctly. Every display has it’s own settings you can change that works for you, just look around for options.

If you need to change the way the arrow mouses from one screen to another, you can just rearrange the displays and so your mouse pointer moves the monitor way you have physically. If you don’t know you can click on Identify it will display 1 and 2.

If you need to make the second monitor as primary, so any application you open will open by default on the second monitor.

Select second monitor then under Multiple displays, check the box Make this my main display

That’s it, there are so many other settings you can look around to find what works for you, also based on the selection and type of device you will see more options.