Check SQL port for a named instance

When creating a name instance (beside the default one), the sql port is dynamically configured.
You need to change this dynamic port to a fixed one.

How to change SQL DB collation after setup

In some cases, you may need to change the DB collation (rebuild the DB) after setup (in my case I was installing SP 2010 and I choose a wrong collation, it needs an instance that performs case-insensitive & non-binary comparisons).

How to Sysprep Windows 7 & Windows server 2008 R2

Every time you need to create a virtual machine, you don’t have to install the OS over & over. All you have to do is create 1 VM with the desired OS, then sysprep it & make it ready to use whenever you need.

All you have to do is, go to c:\windows\system32\sysprep. Then choose generalize & shutdown to create new SID for the VM. After shutdown, take a clone of it (if you are using VMware workstation) or export the VM (if you are using Hyper-v).