After reading an article about a new Yahoo! service, I decided to experiment with it. However, the site was not very responsive and I kept receiving errors as I tried to create some pipes. Yahoo later posted a message acknowledging that they were a few problems but they were working on getting them resolved. Anyway, the service looks very promising.
In Windows XP, after customizing one user profile, many people including a corporate environment where large deployments of desktops is common used to copy that profile over to the Default User Profile. As a result, they would encounter several problems along the road that could not be duplicated with other systems without that common practice. Now that Windows Vista is available I would imagine that this practice will continue. Although I am against it because there are better ways of deploying desktops without the need for such customization of user profiles I will prepare to answer as many questions as possible because I know that their will be many.
If you have purchased any HP business class desktops such as the hp compaq dc7600 in the past few months and now feel ready to install Windows Vista then you should beware of known compatibility issues. Assuming you've ordered the computers with a built-in combo drive and received Roxio DigitalMedia PLUS, then Sonic CinePlayer 2.3 may not run as expected. HP now offers a software fix available for download from their web site for your computer, but it is only intended to fix known problems with the software on Windows XP computers with Windows Media Player 11 installed. If you decide to take the next leap forward and install Vista, then get ready to the hear the help desk line ring unless you install retail software that has been tested and works find on Windows Vista.
If you want to run software that requires elevated privileges on a Windows XP or Vista computer, then you can use Run As... For more information about this feature simply go to Start > Run..., then type cmd. Afterwards type runas /?
Windows XP Professional has the built-in capability to remotely connect to another workstation and allows for others to the same. If you have Linux and your preference is KDE, then you can use krc to remotely connect to a Windows XP Professional computer. Microsoft also has made available a client that Mac OS X users can download to remotely access their Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista stations.
If you're looking for a software application to capture screenshots of your desktop on a Windows computer, then look no further than TechSmith's SnagIt. However, if you wish to capture video, then I would recommend either TechSmith's Camtasia Studio or Adobe Captivate. On the otherhand, if you have VMware Workstation installed on your system then you can use the built-in feature to capture both screenshots and video. In Windows Vista you can simply use the Snipping tool and add it to the QuickLaunch Bar for easy access. If you are using Linux, then you can use a tool that is part of KDE or another that is part of GNOME. For Mac OS X, then go the Utilities folder to access the screen capture tool.
Other software such as InterVideo WinDVD Platinum has the built-in feature to capture screenshots of video playing within the player.
Today, a fellow co-worker reminded me that in the past people have found it very difficult to manage computers running Mac OS X in a network environment. Even though the OS has been in the market with incremental improvements over the years I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So today I'm undertaking some research to find a way to manage these computers in a corporate environment. I will attempt to find an easy solution for software deployment that will be comparable to managing computers in a Windows environment.
Recently, I upgraded my Lotus Notes client to version 7.0.2 on my workstation. I am running Windows Vista and felt that it was time to install the latest stable release of Lotus Notes. However, today someone informed me that they could not view my calendar.
If you're looking for a new job then consider visiting the following web sites to narrow down the prospects:
In Windows XP or Vista, whenever you encounter trouble with misbehaving software which I'm sure you have then you should consider using a little known utility from Microsoft. Assuming the software application was installed using Windows Installer technology; that is, as an .msi package then you can download msicuu2.exe from Microsoft's web site and remove the program.
Last week someone asked me about the feasibility of managing Windows based virtual machines (VMs) that can be launched from Intel-based Apple hardware. I thought about possibilities for a few minutes then a flush of ideas started to swirl around my head. Management of computers in a cross platform environment can sometimes be a challenging a matter, but if you already have the infrastructure in place to manage Windows client machines then the aforementioned is not a terribly difficult task to accomplish.
Managing Windows based VMs that are currently running on Apple hardware is not much different from managing those that reside on PC hardware or even physical machines that run Windows XP. The goal is the same, but the steps involved with keeping the VMs up to date might differ just a bit. In the next few days I will post systematic ways of doing so without hurting your budget; that is, keeping your total cost of ownership to a minimum.
The type of people who are interested in doing the above are people who have to manage users and computers in a multi-platform environment. The solutions that I propose here are just simple ideas that might lead to more system administrator friendly solutions. Keep in mind that you must not only periodically update the OS, but also regularly update additional software that has been installed within the VM.
Method I: Shared Resource
Run the virtual machines over the network so that you do not needlessly eat away the users memory resources to accomplish the task at hand. As long as the host computer (Administrator workstation) is a beefy system that is hooked up to a fast internet connection, then you can simply turn on the VM by accessing their VM configuration files over the network. On Windows based PCs you can use the command prompt to open multiple virtual machines at once assuming you have VMware Workstation 5.5+ installed on your administrator computer and your hardware specifications are extremely good.
Cons: Network latency may be a problem. User must be aware that you need to perform system updates to their VMs. Otherwise, they may inadvertently interrupt the process. Moreover, the remote computer must also be on the network with high speed internet access.
Method II: Remote Desktop Connection
Use a software application on the system to turn on the virtual machine then perform updates for the user.
Method III: Physical access to the computer
Perform manual updates. Assign someone the responsibility to make an appointment with the users on an agreed upon timetable.
Cons: You must periodically visit your users computer and update them. Efficiency is a factor.
Method IV: Training
Encourage users to store their data on their host system. After they are done modifying their data within the virtual Windows environment they can save the files in their profile on the host computer. Now, you can deliver up to date virtual configuration files to your users when they need to have their VMs up to date.
Method V: Boot Camp and Parallels
By utilizing Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop for Mac, from Apple and Parallels, respectively, you can install Windows XP (SP2) on a separate partition and allow your Intel Mac to startup from your Windows partition. Allowing your Mac to boot from the Windows partition in a corporate environment will allow System Administrators to treat the system as regular PC. They can then easily manage your partition just like the rest of your Windows based computers. Your users can then choose to boot their system into the partition of their choice, Windows or Mac OS X. If they select Mac OS X, then they can have the best of both worlds. With the latest version of virtualization software from Parallels, currently at Release Candidate 2 (RC2), you can directly access your boot camp partition. This allows your users to run both operating systems simultaneously.
Method VI: Compression
If you decide to create a virtual disk and then deploy the virtual machine configuration files to your users, then you can easily keep them up to date. All you have to do is keep the size of the virtual hard disk drive to a minimum. Furthermore, you can reduce the size of the files even more by compressing the VM configuration files utilizing some utility such as WinZip or WinRAR and then creating a self-extracting executable.
In the past few weeks I have been receiving more and more questions related to computer wireless networks. Some people just want to know what they are doing wrong and want quick suggestions for how fix their mistakes whereas others want step by step instructions for how to accomplish the setup.
Increasingly over the past few years IT personnel have started to implement virtualization solutions in their computer environments. As technology improvements have reduced the amount of desk space that computer hardware and other physical equipment once took, virtualization seeks to reduce that space even further.
If you set up a virtual machine that dynamically expands the hard drive space, then after a basic Windows XP installation you can compress the configuration files and store them on a 2 GB USB flash drive.
A few months ago I was given the task of setting up and configuring a few Sony Vaio laptops. I wanted to wipe out everything on the system and perform a clean install, but after searching around on Sony's web site I was unsatisfied with software and drivers provided on their web site. So I decided to recover the operating system and OEM software from the recovery partition. More info will be posted...
Problem Description:
After insertion of a DVD movie into the DVD RW drive of an hp workstation xw4300 nothing appears to happen; that is, AutoPlay seems to be malfunctioning. In Windows XP, upon insertion of DVD media users can usually expect to see a window with a menu prompting them to take some sort of action (refer to the attached image roxio_error00.jpg).
Observations:
As an administrator or restricted user, if you navigate to the video files of interest and double-click on them you get an error message (refer to image roxio_error01.jpg). If you attempt to launch Sonic CinePlayer, you get an error message (refer to image roxio_error02.jpg). The problem does not appear to affect four other similarly configured computers.
Known:
All five hp xw4300s were configured identically with the exception of one that also has OmniPage Pro 15 installed and a scanner attached. On the four other systems, after the insertion of DVD media users get a window prompting them to perform some action.
Hardware Specifications:
hp workstation xw4300
Software Specifications:
Windows XP Professional (SP2, 32-bit version)
Windows Media Player 11
Roxio DigitalMedia PLUS
- Sonic MyDVD v6.1
- Sonic AudioNow v2.0
- Sonic SC Data v2.0
- Sonic DLA v4.97 (32-bit only)
- Sonic CopyNow v2.0
- Sonic Express Labeler v2.0
- Sonic CinePlayer v2.3
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Rebooted the computer three times.
2. As both an administrator and restricted user, attempted to open video files directly, but received an error.
My first physical contact with computers occurred when I was 11 years old. I was enrolled in G.A.T.E classes at 36th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA and my 6th grade teacher wanted to expose her students to modern technology. Wow, I used to enjoy playing "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" However, shortly after I graduated from the 6th grade I dropped out of school for about year.
Thereafter, I would come into direct contact with another computer until the age of 16. I acquired some basic computer skills when I joined the Graphics Communication Academy at Lynwood High School. For the next 3 years, I learned a lot about Apple hardware and software, but not much about Windows and the IBM clones.
When I graduated from high school with the class of 1999, I had acquired enough knowledge about computers that people thought I was a computer nerd. Upon entering college I was able to obtain a job working for the University Library in Circulation Services. But I was so flexible that from time to time they allowed me to work at the information desk next to 12 computers where I provided basic computer existence to multiple students every few hours.
So you can say that I have 10+ years of experience working with computers. I will post more info later...
About two weeks ago, I turned 27 years old. Another year has elapsed and my sense of accomplishment has not been fulfilled. I have about 10+ years of computer related experience, but I have no certificates or degrees that I can demonstrate.
If you've read my first post from January 2006, then you would know that I launched my web site www.novelimage.net approximately a year ago. I have so much information that I want to share with everyone, but I haven't had the time to really post many articles online. Increasingly, I am blogging more and more because it is much easier and time efficient to post something up in my blog then edit it much later when I have the time to review the details. Also, I would like to hear more feedback from anyone who happens to read some of the short articles posted here.
And if you thought that I only possess computer related knowledge, then you are totally mistaken. In the next few months, I hope to launch www.novelimage.com where I will post articles related to Advanced Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering. I will accept submissions from students from anywhere who happen to questions related to the subjects listed above. If I can answer the questions in a timely manner, then I will let them know.
Quotes:
"Learn as though you would
never be able to master it;
hold it as though you would
be in fear of losing it."
CONFUCIUS CHINESE SAGE, 551-479 BCE
"I will prepare, and some day
my chance will come. "
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
"Always dream and shoot higher
than you know how to. Don't
bother just to be better than
your contemporaries or
predecessors. Try to be
better than yourself."
WILLIAM FAULKNER, AUTHOR, 1897-1962
A few months ago I configured an hp workstation xw4300 with the 32-bit version of Windows XP Professional (SP2) installed. At the time, I performed a Windows Update and installed the latest security updates as well as some optional updates. A few days later after the initial deployment of the workstations I installed Windows Media Player 11.
Before deployment of the workstations, I selected one that I would use to create a master image. Basically, I performed a clean install of the operating system, downloaded and installed all the latest drivers, firmware, and software hp's web site. I only installed what I considered to be essential for the correct operation of the unit. In the master image I did not include Windows Media Player 11, but did install the OEM version of Roxio DigitalMedia PLUS from Sonic Solutions. After some exhaustive testing, I then created a ghost image using Symantec Ghost 8.0. Once all five units had been deployed, I decided to update Microsoft's Windows Media Player to version 11 and this is when I encountered problems.
Observations:
1. Turned the computer on, then logged in
2. Attempted to open a Roxio module such as the Copy Module, but received an error message: "All your drives are set to disabled. On this operating system, in order to start Roxio DigitalMedia Plus 7.2 you must either physically remove your drive(s) or enable at least one drive."
3. Attempted to open any other module a few times, but each time nothing appeared to happen
4. Clicked on Log Off, but got a window with the following title: "End Program - Mediahub.exe"
Solution:
1. Click on Start, then Run... (Alternatively, you may press the Windows logo key + R)
2. Type appwiz.cpl
3. Remove Roxio Audio Module, CinePlayer, Copy Module, Data Module, DLA, Express Labeler, and MyDVD Plus, then restart the computer
4. Reinstall Roxio DigitalMedia PLUS, which includes the above, then remove Roxio Update Manager which can cause its own set of problems
5. Verify that all other software applications are functioning as expected
Done.
Comments:
Four out of five computers that were similarly configured and deployed at the same time were affected by these strange errors. After some extensive testing that followed, it was later determined that these errors usually only occur after the installation of Microsoft Windows Media Player 11.
Note:
I encountered the same problems mentioned above as both a restricted user and an Administrator. Please refer to the attached screenshots for a better understanding of what I observed. Some of the above screenshots were captured on a Sony Vaio laptop after I encountered very similar problems to the ones on the hp workstation xw4300. Both systems were running the same version of Roxio DigitalMedia PLUS.
Related Links:
HP Support: Sonic DigitalMedia Plus - Windows Media Player 11 Patch
If you're one of the lucky few who got to experiment with Microsoft Windows Vista before its official launch date to the general public, then most likely you are a System Administrator for a large organization. As such you most likely completely wiped out your best system so that you could install Microsoft's latest operating system. You spend a few hours configuring your new system for optimal performance. However, once you have installed all the essential software you happen to remember about installing Windows Server 2003 SP1 Administrator Tools Pack to manage your users and computers in your domain. Since Microsoft has created both the OS and the tools pack and has been pushing everyone to adopt their new OS you do not expect to encounter any problems upon installation of the package. At this point everything appears to have gone smoothly, but now you get an error message when you attempt to launch dsa.msc.
The error message is MMC could not create the snap-in.
You panic, don't know what to do, and feel like a fool for choosing to become an early adopter. However, lucky for us their is a temporary solution to the problem. For more information about this topic and a remedy to the problem mentioned above, please refer to the following links.
Related Links:
http://www.novelimage.com/2007/01/24/make-aduc-mmc-snap-in-work-with-vista/
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/930056
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Search.aspx?displaylang=en
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/default.mspx
In Microsoft Windows Vista, if want to have your only user account auto-login each time you start your computer, then all you have to do is:
1. Click on Start, then Run... (Alternatively, you can press and hold the Windows logo key + R)
2. Type control userpasswords2
3. Clear the checkbox labeled Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
4. Now click on Apply, then OK
Done.
Note:
If you are using Windows XP Professional, then you can follow the same instructions as above.
