Archive for the ‘Development’ Category

Stop Bugging Me

Friday, June 27th, 2008

If you are using Windows Update to periodically download and install latest patch, you might encountered an annoying window that prompts you to restart your computer once new updates installed. It will keep on bugging you until your computer is restarted. Clicking Restart Later is only good for a few minutes before the restart window pops up again.

restart pc
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SlickRun

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Developed by Bayden,Slickrun is a floating command utility for Windows. It is light-weight and only take up a little space on your screen only. Think of it as a built-in command prompt replacement (Start-> Run) with other cool features.

You can create shortcuts to your favourite programs, frequently used folders and even websites. Instead of clicking the program shortcut from the start menu, you just type the shortcut keys on Slickrun to run the program. For example, you can set MsWord to run Microsoft Word and etc.

On top of that, you can set what to display when the program is not on focus or idle. There are presets of settings for you to choose from; date, time, memory, power status (notebook), and custom text.

It might takes a while to get used to it but after once you get the hang of it, this tiny application could be one of your frequently used program!

By the way, did I mention that this utility also has a sticky note feature?

Check it out Slickrun at http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/

HTTP 500 - Internal Error Server in Internet Explorer

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

 

After completed testing of my ASP.Net in test server, I deployed the same application to client’s server. However, I was hit with following error:

HTTP 500 - Internal Error Server

On further testing, I can’t even connect to localhost (that’s weird!). It gives the same error as above. My client’s system has the following:

  1. Windows XP SP2
  2. IIS 5.1
  3. Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 (v 1.1.4322)

I tried the following but still couldn’t work:

  1. Reinstall IIS
  2. Reinstall Microsoft .Net Framework
  3. Run aspnet_regiis.exe -i

Solution:

  1. First of all I need to ensure that IE will not suppress any error messages. In order to do that, open Internet Explorer go to Tools-> Internet Options ->  Advanced Tab. Check option Show Friendly HTTP Error Messages.
  2. Install IIS
  3. Install Microsoft .Net Framework
  4. Make sure Distributed Transaction Coordinator service is installed and running!
    • open up your services panel or enter "services.msc"
    • look for Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC)
    • If it is not there, that means it is not installed.
    • To install DTC, open up command prompt,
      • go to your %windir/system32
      • run msdtc.exe -install
    • Once installed, you should be able to see DTC in your service panel.
    • Start it
  5. Run aspnet_regiis.exe -i to complete installation.
  6. And voila! My ASP.Net application works!

For guides to reinstall DTC, click here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/891801

Microsoft Photo Info

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

photoinfo 

Whenever I took photos with my digital camera. I find it hard to include additional details (metadata) such as description of the picture, where I captured the photos and etc. Recently, I found a free tool that allows me to modify metadata on my photos with ease.

Photo Info from Microsoft is a utility to modify metadata on digital photos. Once installed, you can access Photo Info by right-click on the photo or multiple photos (to be edited as collection) that you want to edit and select Photo Info option.

You can even generate copyright notice automatically and access loads of features. Place your mouse over any digital photo and a tooltip detailing photo information will be display on screen.

This is certainly a great tool for anyone how needs a free tool to modify their photos details.

Download Microsoft Photo Info

How to Create Own Extractor

Monday, October 15th, 2007

In today’s post, I will show you step by step how to create your own extractor file and share with friends.

You can create your own extractor using iexpress program pre-installed with Windows operating system.

Guide to Create Extractor

  1. Go to Start->Run
  2. Type in iexpress and hit enter to execute IExpress Wizard as shown below. Select Create new Self Extraction Directive file and click Next.iexpress1
  3. Follow the wizard and you will be able to create your own extractor as shown below.
    iexpress13

Do More With Microsoft PowerToys

Saturday, October 13th, 2007

Most of you may not aware that there are great tools and utilities that’s given free from Microsoft or better known as PowerToys. Below are a few software I personally use them and want to share with you guys out there.

TweakUI

tweakUI

TweakUI  is a tiny program that allows user to modify system settings that is not easily accessible on normal operation. Most settings can be configured easily using this tool such as configuring logon settings, applets to display on Control Panel window, modify Internet Explorer settings, mouse settings, taskbar settings, Explorer settings and etc.

It is a great tool for system administrator to configure system settings according to type of user. For example, hiding user account applets in Control Panel. User who likes to take control of the system instead of the default settings will find this useful as well.

Download TweakUI

Open Command Window Here

powertoy-command

If you are like me who uses command prompt quite often, it is troublesome whenever you need to access certain directories. If the directory you want to access is a few level deep, then it’s worse.

However, using Open Command Window Here tool, user can simply right-click on which folder they want to access in command prompt from Explorer window and select Open Command Window Here option, saving much time on typing if were to do it the old way. Once selected, the command prompt will directly point to the selected folder and you are good to do whatever you want to in no time.

Download

Open Command Window Here

Resize Picture

powertoy-resize2

Resize Pictures is a small utility that enable resizing pictures or photos directly from Explorer window in different sizes.

Using this tool is easy and straightforward. You just select the pictures/photos that you want to resize, right click and select Resize Pictures. Then you select the size you want to resize to. There are other settings available such as file replacement and others. You can also resize multiple photos at any one time.

powertoy-resize

Now, you don’t need to pay software just to resize your photos to share with relatives and friends.

Download Resize Pictures

ClearType Tuner

powertoy-cleartype

ClearType is a technology from Microsoft that will improves readability on LCD screen. You can adjust the sharpness of the text to suit your preference. You really need this utility if you face computer most of the time.

Download ClearType Tuner

All software mention above are part  of Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP. Other software includes :

  • Power Calculator
  • Alt-Tab Replacement
  • HTML SlideShow Wizard
  • others

More details from Microsoft PowerToys

How to Retrieve Visual Studio 2005 Serial Key

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

visualstudiokey 

You misplace your Visual Studio 2005 serial key? Don’t worry. As long as you already have it installed in your PC, you can retrieve the key yourself.

You can retrieved the installed Visual Studio 2005 serial key in Windows Registry. Follow the instruction below:

  1. Open registry window. (Start-> Run -> Regedit)
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\Registration
  3. Look for PIDKEY value
  4. The value is the serial key string. Just add a ‘-’ on every 5 characters and you will get your full serial key which you can use later.

By the way, if you are looking for a cracked serial key, sorry, you came to the wrong place.

How to Fix Error 25007 : LoadLibraryShim()

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

 

loadlibraryshimerror

“Error 25007.Error occurred while initializing fusion. Setup could not load fusion with LoadLibraryShim(). The handle is invalid.”


When you encountered this error, you cannot continue to install Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0. Even if you tried to uninstall .Net Framework 2.0, it won’t allow you too! Now, you found yourself stuck in the situation and thinking of reformat your PC for a clean fresh installation.

Don’t do that just yet. There is one simple solution to this problem. Just remove the following folder

%windir\WinSXS\Policies

where %windir is your Windows directory and reinstall .Net Framework 2.0.

Now, you should be able to get the Framework installed.

Updated :
Below are links to other method to solve the same issue. Will keep on updating if I found any new workaround.

1) MSDN

How to Get Free Beta Invites

Monday, October 1st, 2007

It’s quite common nowadays that all web startup only open by invitation only. I am not sure if this is the gimmick to create more buzz in the community; just like Gmail (before open for public), Pownce, Joost and etc. It seems to work since most people are curious and eager to try out such services because of limited availability to general public.

Unless you have media connection or your sites have the word “Crunch” on it (got it?), you probably will have to wait quite a while until the site is open for general public.

inviteshare

However, with InviteShare, you might just get lucky. This is how it works:

  • Register an account with them
  • Search for the site that you want an invite
  • If the site not available, then create new site
  • Now, sit back and hopefully, kind soul will give you the free invite

At the time of this writing, more than 50,000 invitation has been sent out with close to 50,000 of users in the community. This service is based on supply (the one who has free invites) and demand (the one who wants a free invite). The success of this service is solely by kind souls who has free invitation to share with others. Without them, this thing won’t work in the first place.

inviteshare2

Get you invites here at InvitesShare.

By the way, I am giving away Pownce’s invites. Click here for details.

404 Notifier : What’s Missing on Your Blog

Monday, October 1st, 2007

Maintaining a blog or a personal web space is no easy task especially after a few months or years running because the number of posts increase drastically (assuming you do update it regularly). There will be a lot of links within posts and contents. At the same time, you might remove links or posts without verifying against all other posts that links to each other.

404

Eventually, there will be dead links in your site. Dead link is basically a link to a non-existing files or posts. Whenever readers click on the dead link, it usually brings them to the infamous 404 page. It’s definitely not the way to welcome your first time reader with it.

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