Switch Systems Blog

SBS 2003 users - don't install hotfix 948110!!

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:42:36 +0100

It has been reported that hotfix 948110 is causing problems with sharepoint - problems that will prevent the service from running (so your companyweb site will be down!)

From the SBS blog:

If you have already installed this hotfix AND the MSSQL$SHAREPOINT service is not starting you can perform the following steps to fix this service.

Rename C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$SHAREPOINT\Binn to Binn.old

Restore C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$SHAREPOINT\Binn from a backup taken previous to installing hotfix 948110. If you do not have a backup try using volume shadow copy.

Start the MSSQL$SHAREPOINT service

Test CompanyWeb

I guess that explains the emails I received this morning - Alert on SBS01 at 10/07/2008 03:02:47
MSSQL$Sharepoint service is Stopped.
This service is required as the backend for your SharePoint based Intranet.

New freeware drive imaging software

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:31:35 +0100

There's a new 'free' drive imaging bit of software called Macrum Reflect which does drive imaging from windows, with a fairly nice GUI on it.

It lacks a few options that driveImageXML has, but this is a freeware version of a commercial product so you get what you pay for!

Need SysInternals Tools?

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:49:42 +0100

Sysinternals are now on a new beta service which allows you to access their tools in two brand new ways:

Straight from a UNC path - \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\
HTTP listing from a browser - http://live.sysinternals.com/

No need for unzipping or even navigating microsoft's website!

SBS 2008 public preview (rc0) released!

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:43:26 +0100

Well that didn't take too long - The public preview of SBS 2008 is now available and we're downloading it right now to test it out. Lets see if remote application support is included!

HSBC introduces Faster Payment Clearing

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:52:59 +0100

The Faster Payment Service (FPS) is a new UK clearing system which is due to launch on 27 May 2008, and most major banks are signed up to it (hurrah!).

Where before you would wait up to 3 days for internet transfer to go through to another bank, "Payments in normal circumstances should reach the beneficiary’s account and be available for drawing within 2 hours providing that the beneficiary sort code and account number accepts Faster Payments."

Unfortunately, there's a £20 limit on this whilst HSBC monitors the systems' performance, with plans to increase the limit from Early June.

SBS 2008 setup demo

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:13:34 +0100

Microsoft have posted a video of a SmallBusinessServer 2008 OEM setup, showing unattended installation tools and post-installation toolsets and consoles. Check it out here.
Now we just have to wait for the public preview to be released!

PHP6 new features

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:36:39 +0100

PHP6 has some interesting new features (some of which will be back-ported to PHP5.3), including

Namespaces

namespace NathanAGood;
class XMLWriter 
{
    // Implementation here...
}

$writer = new NathanAGood::XMLWriter();

Removal of magic_quotes, register_globals, register_long_arrays, safe_mode

Vista SP1 problem - .xls is Not a Valid Win32 Application?!

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:09:02 +0100

It seems that quite a few people are having issues with opening Excel 2007, Access 2007 after an installation of Vista SP1. I only just experienced this, and a log off / log on will fix this temporarily, but microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix.

£10 device could speed up your adsl?

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:16:03 +0000

PCPro says BT is reportedly testing an 'interstatial plate' which plugs into your BT master socket to help reduce noise (and thus increase your ADSL sync speed!).
We already remove all unneeded phones and use a decent master socket face plate on our BT ADSL lines, so it'll be interesting to see the results!
Updated with some pics:

Windows Server 2008 Launch Party

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:39:42 +0000

Switch recently attended the MS Windows Server 2008 launch party in Birmingham, a great event and we can safely say that 2008 will be a fantastic year for providing advanced IT services to all our clients! Read more ...
Continue reading "Windows Server 2008 Launch Party"

Public Wifi Downtime

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 +0000

Our free public wifi hotspot is currently offline due to hardware failure, we expect to have it back up and running soon!

Microsoft News...

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:26:29 +0000

Microsoft have just released a case study about EDF Energy, one of Exeter's newest large company to reloacte to the city.

Action Pack subscribers are to receive an update mid-march (so, roughly now then?) with Windows Vista SP1. I'll be installing it as soon as it lands on my desk!

3d engine....in EXCEL?!

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:19:43 +0000

By using a series of formulae, and a worksheet resized so that each cell represents a pixel, you can get a rudimentary 3d engine out of it:

And by using the Office Graphics Abstraction Layer, we can get shading!

Read more at Gamasutra

Phun - a nice 2d physics engine

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:12:47 +0000

Phun is a Master of Science Theises by Computing Science student Emil Ernerfeldt for supervisor Kenneth Bodin at VRLab, Umeå University. The solver is based on work by Claude Lacoursière
Phun is meant to be a playground where people can be creative. It can also be used as an educational tool to learn about physics concepts such as restitution and friction.

Thanks Kotaku!

Sony Ericsson reveals 'Xperia X1'

nospam@example.com (Kris Sum) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:56:03 +0000

Some details have been revealed about SE's next new phone, the Xperia X1. It's a windows mobile device combined with a nice UI and iPhone style touch features, more details (and pics) on their website.