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Showing posts from March, 2006

Error while trying to run project: unable to start debugging on the web server

Q: When I tried to debug my ASP.Net project (VS 2003), I received the error " Error while trying to run project: unable to start debugging on the web server. " How do I correct this? A: Depending on the remainder of the error message, there are different methods of resolving this error. For more detailed information on fixing this issue, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306172 .

What is the difference between classes and modules?

Q: What is the difference between classes and modules? A: Visual Studio.Net stores code in either classes or modules. Classes are used for items that define their own storage and have persistent data. In addition classes must be instantiated before they're used, unless the keywords "Static" (C#) or "Shared" (VB.Net) are used. Modules, on the other hand, can be viewed as simple code libraries where the methods can be called directly.

Site Context Search Box in SPS

Microsoft has recently made available sample code for creating a site search box in SPS (SharePoint Portal Server). Use the search box sample to customize the Windows SharePoint Services site-level Search box to return Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server Search (SharePointPSSearch) results. This download contains sample Microsoft Visual C# code for creating the custom search box and a deployment package (CAB file) for installing the sample. You can modify this sample code to fit your needs. To download the sample code, visit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=DE65EB72-3BB3-4D32-98C2-F2C94458C957&displaylang=en

Bug Found in McAfee's Update Program

The McAfee update (DAT 4715) released on Friday was designed to protect computers against the W95/CTX virus. But because of a programming error, the update also incorrectly identified renamed and quarantined hundreds of legitimate executables including popular ones such as excel.exe, lsetup.exe, uninstall.exe, shutdown.exe and reg.exe. For companies that had configured their McAfee antivirus program to automatically delete bad files, the error resulted in the loss of hundreds, and in some cases even thousands, of files on systems in which the update had been installed, said Johannes Ullrich, chief technology officer at the SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC) in Bethesda, Md. The full article can be found at http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,109525,00.html?source=NLT_AM&nid=109525

MDAC Component Checker

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I found a Microsoft utility used to check the MDAC components and provide detailed information on all the related files. The utility can be downloaded from Microsoft.com at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8f0a8df6-4a21-4b43-bf53-14332ef092c9&displaylang=en&Hash=S9VTW5B

MDAC Version

Q: How do I find out what version of MDAC I have on my machine? A: MDAC is short for Microsoft Data Access Components. The MDAC version information is stored in the registry in KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DataAccess\Version . To download the latest version of MDAC (currently 2.8), go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?DisplayLang=en&FamilyID=6c050fe3-c795-4b7d-b037-185d0506396c .

Detecting Network Sniffers

I came across a cool utility on the MSDN web site. PromqryUI (short for Promiscuous Query User Interface) is a GUI tool that detects network interfaces running in promiscuous mode (i.e. network sniffers). To download this free utility, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1a10d27a-4aa5-4e96-9645-aa121053e083&DisplayLang=en

SQL Server Report Pack for SPS 2003

Microsoft produced a report pack specifically aimed at SharePoint 2003 site utilization. This is a set of 8 Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services reports that work with a sample database of information extracted from a SharePoint Portal Server environment. The Report Pack includes the following reports: Storage ReportShows a listing of the virtual servers and the number of collections, sites, areas, lists, files and size. Also shows a size distribution and storage usage chart, and a top 20 sites based on size. Storage Trend ReportShows four charts illustrating the virtual server storage trend, site collection growth trend, area growth trend and list growth trend. Site Trend ReportShows hit counts for virtual servers, collections, areas and lists. Also shows the top 20 sites based on hits. Comprehensive Site Collections ReportShows the list of site collections, who owns the collection, configurable characteristics about the owner and the date the collection was last accessed. D

Computer Myth Busters

I came across this link on Yahoo discussing computer related myths ( http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1740&ncid=1729&e=1&u=/ttpcworld/20060223/tc_techtues_pcworld/124807 ). I thought it was worth while to post to show how the general public perceives computers. Let me know what you think.

Microsoft - Cisco Partnership

Microsoft and Cisco have entered into a partnership to develop products for voice and data collaboration, targeting business uesrs. The overall package includes 30 products, most of which are enhancements or updates to existing technologies, but 3 of them are entirely new: The Cisco Unified Presence Server collects information about a user's availability status (such as whether they're on the phone or on a computer at any given time). The Cisco Unified Client, a program that allows users to make desktop video calls as well as sort, view and play messages on their PCs. The Cisco Unified Customer Interaction Analyzer, a service that can be used in contact centers, which can analyze the tone of a customer's voice as well as how and where to route a call. The two companies will work together to integrate Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 and Microsoft Office Live Communications technologies with Cisco's Unified Communications System. The package of tools will allow custom

How Microsoft sets up their own SQL Servers.

This is an interesting blog article from Microsoft.com Operations ( http://blogs.technet.com/mscom/archive/2006/02/13/419406.aspx ). It details how they setup their SQL Servers. It is interesting that they do not use clusters, preferring log shipping to keep multiple servers up to date, and perform "manual failover" from web sites by modifying connection strings. Also interesting is that they run SQL Servers behind Network Load Balancers. Thanks to Mark H. for passing this article along.

Versions of Windows Vista (Europe)

On yesterday's blog ( http://clevelanddotnet.blogspot.com/2006/03/versions-of-windows-vista.html ), I posted a summary describing the 6 versions of Windows Vista. In addition to those 6 versions, Microsoft will be releasing 2 additional "N" versions to comply with the European Union's anti-trust rulings. Vista Home Basic and Vista Business will be both be offered as "N" versions, without a Windows Media Player. For more information, goto http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/story/0,10801,109097,00.html?source=NLT_PM&nid=109097

Versions of Windows Vista

Windows Vista is Microsoft's latest operating system, due to be released in the 2nd half of 2006. The product will have 6 different offerings, targeting the 6 major segments of the user population. Each offering will have different capabilities to accomodate that particular segment. The 6 versions of Windows Vista are comprised of 2 for businesses, 3 for consumers, and 1 for emerging markets: Windows Vista Business: For small business users. Windows Vista Enterprise: For high-end business users in large global organizations with highly complex IT infrastructures. Windows Vista Home Basic: For consumers with basic PC tasks (browse the Internet, e-mail, basic document creation). Windows Vista Home Premium: For more sophisticated home users using Tablet PCs or digital entertainment. Windows Vista Ultimate: For high-end home and business users. This version that has it all! It's the first operating system that brings together all the entertainment features, mobility features and bu