Blank or Empty lists for Windows Features

I've seen this issue a few times where the "Turn Windows features on or off" window is empty, stopping you from installing or uninstalling a feature.

Microsoft's solution is to perform a "System Restore" which is quite a drastic action.

There is a more viable fix for this issue available here:
FIX Blank or Empty List in Vista Turn Windows Features On or Off (OptionalFeatures.exe)

IIS7 and basic authentication

I needed to use basic HTTP authentication to secure a site instance as it required pulic access for a demo.

However, in IIS7, the only authentication modes listed are the default Forms, Anonymous and ASP.NET Impersonation.

To solve this, I had to install the basic authentication module for IIS.

For Server 2008:

• Server Manager -> Roles -> Web Server -> Add Role Services

For Vista and Windows 7:

• Control Panel -> Programs -> Turn Windows features on or off

Then navigate to: Internet Information Services -> World Wide Web Services -> Security
Enable the Basic Authentication option

Telnet on Vista and Windows Server 2008

By default, Vista and Windows Server 2008 don't have telnet installed. You end up with the error if you try to run telnet.

'telnet' is not recognized as an internal or external command,operable program or batch file.

To solve:
Windows Server 2008

1. Open Server Manager, click Start > Server Manager
2. From the left panel in Server Manager, click on Features
3. Click on Add Features
4. From the available list of features, scroll down and select Telnet Client, then click Next
5. On the Confirmation page, click on Install
6. Installation of the selected feature will be initialized and started
7. Once installation is completed, click on Close

Vista

1. Open Control Panel, click Start > Control Panel
2. Select Programs and Features
3. Click on Add Features
4. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
5. Select the Telnet Client option.
6. Click OK.