The most basic of steps, often MIA

It is amazing the number of times I find a fundamental basic step missing from documentation. 
Now there are many times where it is easy enough to figure out the missing step or you trip over it quickly, but just often enough I find myself stuck hunting for that one connecting step.  Often when trying to resolve an issue, especially in an area that is new to the person trying to resolve that issue, you can quickly find out what tool you need, and instructions as to how to use the tool, but not where to find that tool and/or how to initiate that tool. 

Today's example is a Windows Server activation.  Until today I've been lucky and someone else took care of that level and I just had to worry about some other aspect of getting the server running. But today I get to do it all, and this newly installed server is telling me it needs activation (a reasonable enough request) without offering me that ability to DO the activation. So with some 'Googling' (even Microsoft staff say that, I have yet to hear any of them say "Bing It", not that I blame them :) I find that I need the Activation Wizard and some instructions as to use of this simple tool, but nothing as to how to start it. 

This is such an odd phenomenon in our industry's documentation and even how we help each other in forums that we so consistently miss such a basic step.

So my pledge, To endeavor to detail how to start tool I point to or detail how to use. Please join me in doing the same. 
So on that note, I finally manually found the Activation Wizard in the Control Panel, System (in classic view, don't get me started on that other view).

Also seen: Going to a Microsoft knowledge-base article automatically connects your browser to both Twitter and Facebook, yet more evidence that Microsoft still has a long way to go in understanding security.  This info was forced on me by the default IE setting on a Windows server that every site must be in the "Trusted Sites" list.

To start, some bits about me

I have always enjoyed trying to make sense of the many aspects of life that surrounds us, and to build something of it, exploring as I go. From an early age I'd build things out of blocks, Lego® , märklin (German clone of Meccano), progressing through model rocketry, and the such with a strong aptitude to maths and sciences. Since I liked building things, I went for Civil Engineering as my post secondary choice, but got side tracked into the growing IT (Information Technology) field before I could finish. IT provides so many ways to build so many different things, and so many with out needing to program (as opposed to all my formal IT post secondary options indicated at the time). I get to do and am known for both the architecting of environments as well as some of the actual hands on building 'n fixing. Science Fiction is the exploration of science possible (exploring "What If?") and accounts for a hunk of my recreational reading along with more down to earth survival skills to handle much of the range of "what if?". Finding the truth of a matter is often the key to solving problems, and as such I don't suffer from the social-mental disease of 'political correctness' as it usually hurts someone as much as it avoids hurting someone else while obscuring the truth. It is more fun to explore the truth from an oblique angle as this exercises the brain, or as some have complained 'warps the brain'. Six times nine does equal forty-two if you use the right base/frame of mind.

And I've been known to pun.

Posts will be sporadic and occasionally in bursts. They are a reflection of my thoughts/feelings/opinions, but I can be swayed by demonstrable facts and thoughtful counterpoints. Moronic blather will be blissfully ignored since this is my playground. Everyone can set up their own playground and are welcome to do so as any right to free speech is not matched by any right to an audience.

Live Long and Prosper.