February 2008 - Posts
Aghghghghgh… That’ll teach me to skip over a blogpost! I just lost an hour of my life to
this problem!Feb 29
th 2008, the certificate generation in SBS fails today. Set the date to yesterday to get around the issue.
Just a quick update to
this postThe Dell Third level techs have apparently reproduced the problem I reported and they are working with Creative & nVidia to try and find a solution. When I get one, I will post it here.
So, I get a notification of a new comment on this post.
The text says (unedited in all it’s glory)
DONT BELIEVE THESE COMMENTS; IT IS JUST ONE PERSON WHO IS WRITINGG THEM; JUST TO GIVE CREDIT FOR HIM SELF: ACTUALLY HE HAS NOT ANSWER ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE GOOGLE SEARCH:::
Yeah dude… that is what I do all day, I write to myself…. like I have nothing better to do. More to the point, I dont need to give credit to myself, I know I am wonderful!
… has just been announced on the official Small Business Server Blog.. Be sure to check out what is coming with the new version!
Via the official blog:
“Today Microsoft is announcing the Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products. The family includes Windows Small Business Server 2008, formerly known as code name "Cougar" and Windows Essential Business Server 2008, formerly known as code name "Centro".
Windows Small Business Server 2008 is built upon Windows Server 2008 and includes:
- Windows Exchange Server 2007
- Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
- Enhanced Remote Web Workplace
- One-year trial subscription to Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server Small Business Edition
- One-year trial subscription to the new Windows Live OneCare for Server
SBS 2008 Premium also includes SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 to run on a second server.
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 is built upon Windows Server 2008 and includes:
- Exchange Server 2007
- Forefront Security for Exchange Server
- System Center Essentials 2007
- Next version of Internet Security and Acceleration Server
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes SQL Server 2008 technology.
Please note that Windows Small Business Server 2008 is designed for organizations with up to 50 users, but will support organizations with up to 75 users. Both Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 are designed to run on 64-bit hardware.
For more information please see the official press release at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/feb08/02-20EBFamilyPR.mspx.
If the reports are true. Thank God that’s over.
Well, this certainly looks interesting. I hope it does what it says on the tin! :)
Yes, you heard that right. For the last 72 hours I have been trying to figure out why my Creative Labs X-Fi card was crackling on my Dell XPS 720H2C.
The Dell technical support tried everything with me! Removed drivers, reinstalled drivers, checked for conflicts with the nForce Motherboard (fixed last year by nVidia and Creative). You name it, we did it. I completely forgot that I had installed Vista SP1 RTM.
Well, thanks to Windows Home Server, I have rolled back my installation to pre SP1 status and all is well again. In fact, I have to say, the machine is quicker without SP1 anyway – how is that even possible?! That includes file copying by the way!
I am so close to upgrading to XP once and for all.
I thought I had blogged this before, but apparently not as someone asked me for this again today.
If your server keeps on prompting you to install KB907747 even if you decline the update, the fix is simple. I found this on a site, I just can’t remember which one! (In theory, this should work for any updates that keep prompting)
Create a batch file with the following in it:
net stop bits
net stop /s wuauserv
regsvr32 /u wuaueng.dll /s
del /f /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*
del /f /s /q %windir%\windowsupdate.log
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
net start bits
net start wuauserv
wuauclt.exe /resetauthorization /detectnow
Run the batch file, and your local Windows Update cache will be cleared and reinstalled. The prompts should stop for older updates.
Symantec changed something in version 11d. I do not know what, but it caused corruption in Microsoft RSM database.
Many newsgroup posts have long winded and unanswered posts on the subject. Many suggest disabling Microsofts Removable Storage service, which is incorrect.
For me, the following fixed the problem.
1. Stop the Removable Storage Service, if started. Make sure it is set to Manual startup.
2. Stop the Backup Exec Services.
3. Go into C:\Windows\System32\ntmsdata folder, backup the contents of this folder.
4. Delete the files in this folder.
5. Start the Removable Storage Service and new files will be created.
6. Start the Backup Exec Services.
Now your drives should be seen in Backup Exec. It worked for me, I hope it works for you.... and saves you a load of time searching the web for an answer!
I hate people that trick other people out of money and the Domain Registry of America is one of those companies. If you get a letter from these assholes, throw it in the bin.
I am not going to repeat that which is already said right here.
I do not normally point out Susan’s security blogposts as you should be subscribed already! But this one is of importance because there are so many updates coming out in a short space of time.
Here you go
Just in time for my new XPS, Joel just pinged me…
We are go for test on Squawkbox 4 which Brian and Joel have been working on for months. Now it is up to the testers to break it before the masses have to.
Just one thing I need to sort out first though…. why my new XPS crashes randomly running FSX…. with no error or bluescreen 
I thought I would share this conversation that I had with Susan Bradley this evening. It gave me a giggle.
Me: "Oh, btw... I am typing this from my new Dell XPS 720HTC. This thing SMOKES :)"
Me: "Dell need to understand that the free XPS T-shirt needs to be XXL, not XL. Your average gamer is fatter ;)"
Me: "It comes with this external fan, it is mental"
Susan: "Yeah but does it do a spreadsheet ;)"
Me: "Oh yes... Quickly"
I send this picture:
Me: Check out that fan
Susan: kewl
Susan: I've noticed the hardware this year is either better or I didn't buy well last year, there's a noticeable difference between my office speed and my home speed from a year ago.
Me: Yes, well... with the XPS, they said that you had to plug the Fan in to overclock the unit otherwise it would overheat. But on the plus side, it keeps you cool too :)
Susan: Just so i'm clear.. it's not the fan directly in front is it?
Me: The one above the monitor there.
Susan: they send THAT? that's a normal house fan
Me: Yeah.... they call it the DellFAN (tm)
Susan: what's next an a/c unit?
Pause.... for some time
Me: Oh Come ON.... I am winding you up :)
Susan: lol
Susan: well you naked people
Susan: one never knows
Me: Man, I am laughing my *** off here :)
In the past week the following has failed on me:
- My HTC Touch decided that I spend entirely too much time on the phone and failed the ear piece on me so that all my customers and friends now have to shout down the line so I can hear them. (Not much change their then). I have gone back to a reliable Nokia 6210 whilst I send the HTC back for repair.
- My brand new Fujitsu Siemens T4220 Tablet PC decided to have a catastrophic failure and stop booting. The blue screen was completely useless and gave me no information except to show me that Fujitsu Siemens obviously have some hardware conflict with Vista. Someone else has the same issue here. This is the second time this thing has failed on me in a huge way, and therefore it is going back to Fujitsu whom can use it as a doorstep for all I care. I am going to get Dell to give me a Latitude XT instead, hopefully I will have more luck with that.
- My good ‘ol reliable Dell P650 Workstation decided to die also, not bad though as I have had it running all the time for 4 years non-stop. Windows Home Server’s backup recovery saved me, which was great as it had all the source code for the Shannon scenery on it.
No bad thing though! Someone pointed out to me that for one whole hour this week I was actually completely detached from any communication device and I looked quite relaxed for the whole 60 minutes 
I was just reading the daily blogroll, and I noted that Susan posted some important information for those of you that wanted to know “will I be able to upgrade to the next version of SBS”.
Now, I had not posted this because I had thought it was under NDA. I was wrong…
What I will add to that is that from what I have seen, you would want new hardware anyway. But you already knew that… didn’t you….
Over the past few months I have seen a gradual build up in the amount of people contacting me about unlocking Apple’s iPhone for use here in Ireland.
It seems that even though Apples very own European headquarters are based here, we are left behind when it comes to the roll out of yet another Apple product. The last time around it was iTunes! This is, of course, quite irritating and Apple will not comment which is even more frustrating.
So, it seems that I am going to have to resort to hacking the phone to get it working. I suppose this is the only way if the greedy people at Apple, 02 or Vodafone, cannot come to some agreement. To me it seems like a no-brainer as the Irish mobile market is a simple one!
Whilst they all try to figure it out, I am going to go an get an iPhone and start with this webpage on getting it unlocked.
EDIT: Actually, I may just go and get one from this Irish based site and save myself the hassle.
Get it…. get it? More Phil! More Fill…. At least I crack myself up.
I just wanted to point out an excellent blogpost from Francois Dumas, he echoes my sentiments exactly. The wealth of information pouring out of ACES still amazes me nowadays. (Oh, and Francois, it does not matter you only have 24 readers… as long as they are the right 24 readers)
Also, make sure to have a read of Phil’s interview with SimPilot here.
Yes, this is a rant, feel free to pass this blogpost.
I watched in amazement last night as, lets face it, an average singer whom had great marketing get treated like something special.
I mean COME ON! I get that she is having a bad time, but can’t she afford to have her own private ambulance or security take her to a hospital? A dozen motor-bikes and two police helicopters! Agh!
I know that if I called the police, I would be lucky to get a bloke on a push-bike 4 hours later.
Rant over.