How-To: Disable and Re-enable USB Storage Devices

To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP and 2000, follow the steps below
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, type 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

To re-enable a disabled port, follow these steps below

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, type 3, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

Source:

http://technofriends.in/2008/02/11/how-to-disable-and-re-enable-usb-storage-devices/

Enable or activate xp_cmdshell

--Step 1: Switch to ‘master’ Database
USE master
GO

--Step 2: Enable the advanced options of the SQL Server
EXEC master.dbo.sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1
RECONFIGURE

--Step 3: Enable xp_cmdshell
EXEC master.dbo.sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 1
RECONFIGURE

----Step 4: Assign the proxy account for xp_cmdshell – the proxy account is used to execute the programs
--EXEC master.dbo.sp_xp_cmdshell_proxy_account ‘Domain\User’, ‘password’
--
----Step 5: Grant the right to xp_cmdshell for SQL User Login
--GRANT EXECUTE ON master.dbo.xp_cmdshell TO [SQL_USER]

pHine tree: My BlogSpot shows: "You flagged this blog as having objectionable content."

pHine tree: My BlogSpot shows: "You flagged this blog as having objectionable content."

I think I may have just found a solution:

http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-troubleshoot/browse_thread/thread/8ace3debfc5a945e/28aa648f40df037c?lnk=gst&q&pli=1

It says it's related to my wireless connection, makes sense since the issue is not appearing when I connect from the office, which obviously has a better connection than here at home

Will do this when I have the time, for the meantime if ever you encounter the problem, please feel free to check the link out :)

My BlogSpot shows: "You flagged this blog as having objectionable content."

When I view my blogspot website, I get the following message at the upper right corner of the screen:
Notify Blogger about objectionable content on this page. You flagged this blog as having objectionable content.

The weird thing about it is this only appears to me when I use my personal laptop and I am totally clueless why/how?

Most definitely I do not have any objectionable content as all my entries are based from personal research and experiences as an IT developer

Nonetheless, I have started to do a research about it and did some changes already in my site and this includes removing two JS add ons: Inquirer news and World Clock.

Why? Based on my research, I found out that there are some add ons, which may attract SPAM objects and these two are ones I have newly added.

Another thing I found is contacting the blogger and informing them about the website. You have to do this from time to time to ensure that they see your request. This takes a lot of work; doing follow-ups and all.

I am still looking for ways on how to resolve this on my own and since the message is STILL appearing, my research goes on....

If you happen to know anything about this, please let me know.... I appreciate any help.

My addiction to RESTAURANT CITY

I have been a Facebook user for quite sometime and have been using many applications available there. I got hooked when my friend got me to play Mesmo TV, then Flixster came, Notes, the endless quizzes and now, I'm very much into RESTAURANT CITY (while playing Scrabble on the side)

Due to my addiction to the said game I decided to create a post for it. As everyone may need tips and how to's to play the game, why not blog about it right? From hereon, I will be posting the good finds I saw online about it that helped me in improving my fruit of addiction... oops! I mean labor... my restaurant - One Phine Day.

Picture: That's me in Resto City! I'm one of the cooks! **winks**


TIPS and STRATEGIES:

• This link taught me that I should be keeping my crew happy in an 80% minimum for higher rating. (Source: http://kongwenbin.way2blog.net/?p=414)
• This link taught me to build maze like path to the actual dining area to give waiters longer time to serve and at the same time longer time for the customers to eat, thus resulting to happy and satisfied customers. Thumbs up = higher rating. (Source: http://kongwenbin.way2blog.net/?p=447)
• An example of arranging your tables. (Source: http://kongwenbin.way2blog.net/?p=418)
• This link gives great ways in how to strategically position your dining area. I really like this post because it's very straight forward but at the same time detailed and with useful pictures. To top it off, it gives arrangements for all number of staff! :D (Source: http://blog.tsadvanced.co.cc/?p=410)

MORE LINKS!

• FAQs (Source: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/106598_facebook-restaurant-city-faq)
• How to play restaurant City? (Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_5077630_play-restaurant-city-facebookplayfish.html#)
• More tips! (Source: http://www.thingswelovetohate.com/2009/04/restaurant-city-by-playfish.html)
• More tips! (Source: http://mrs.macuha.com/internet/tips-on-restaurant-city-a-game-application-in-facebook/)
  

Reporting Services on Windows Vista Redux

I think this is a good read :)

Source:
http://www.jameskovacs.com/blog/CommentView.aspx?guid=815aa158-39bb-4cd8-a73b-5febe976adef

Reporting Services: Unable to Load Print control error

Issue:

When clicking the print button of a report viewer (from a web page), the following error message is displayed: "Unable to Load Print Control"

Resolution:

Below is the summary of installations done on how to resolve the issue:

1. Installation of SQL Server 2005 SP 2

• Link to Download : SQL Server 2005 SP2
• Details : This is a pre-requisite that has to be installed in the stage application server to be able to install the next point.

2. Installation of Microsoft Report Viewer Redistributable 2005 Service Pack 1.

3. Installation of KB954606 Security Update for SQL Server 2005 SP2.

• Link to Download : Security Update for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (KB954606)
• Details : This is based from the screenshot below, which is pulled from this article: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-052 – Critical

SQL: Cannot delete SQL Login account

Issue:
Cannot delete SQL Login account

Other symptoms:
It says that the account to be deleted is in use

Resolution:
Disable login first before deleting. Steps are as follows:

1. Go to Security > Logins > Right click the account to be deleted > Click on Properties
2. In the Login properties window, click on Status
3. Under Settings > Login, select 'Disabled' and click OK

Afterwards, try to delete the SQL Server Login account again

SQL: Database Mail - Not sending

Issue:
msdb.dbo.sp_send_dbmail is not sending mail but executing successfully

Other Symptoms:

When SP with the sp_send_dbmai stored procedure, it shows that the SP has executed successfully but displays that the Mail is queued

Other Checking:
1. Management > Database Mail > View Database Mail Log
- There are no instances that the Database Mail process has started

Resolution:
1. Send a Test Email via Management > Database Mail

.. Afterwads, everything worked okay, weird but it worked for me :)

Windows: Cannot login in to a server through RDC

Issue:
Cannot login in to a server through Remote Desktop connection

Other Symptoms:
Upon logging in, an error saying 'Maximum users exceeded' is being displayed

Resolution:

1. Go to command priompt
2. Type 'mstsc /console', RDC window will appear
   
3. Enter server name and login
   
4. Open taskmgr
5. Go to users
6. Logoff users to free up

SQL Admin: How to modify scheduled backup database maintenance plan

Issue:
How to modify scheduled backup database maintenance plan?

Resolution:
1. Connect to SQL 2005
2. under Management, expand Maintenance Plans
3. Right Click te Maint Plan
4. Click Modify

This will show you the Maintenance Plan Details/Properties

In the right side you will see the Maintenance Plan Tasks, where you can see the 'Maintenance Plan Tasks',
'Back up database Task' is one of the options where you can set the back up process of the database.

In the left side of the window, sub plans are listed. If you're back maintenance plan is already existing, select the Back Up database sub plan to modify it.

DotNet: How to register IIS

Issue:
How to register IIS?

Resolution:

1. Go to command prompt
   
2. Go to the framework folder location
3. Type 'aspnet_regiis –i'

Example:
c:\Windows\Microsoft.net\framework\v2.0.50727\aspnet_regiis –i

Virtual PC: Cannot install Virtual Machine Services error

Issue:
Cannot install Virtual Machine Services error

Resolution:
1. Installed VPC 2007 Sp1
2. Path to VMNetSrM.inf

Source:
http://www.relatedterms.com/ViewThread.aspx?t=133088

Windows: Cannot find 'Security tab'

Issue:
Cannot find 'Security tab'

Resolution:
If you want to see the Security tab, you need to tell Windows to show it to you. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to Windows Explorer
2. Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options.
3. Click on the View tab and then scroll down to the bottom of the Advanced Settings portion of the Folder Options dialog box.
4. Clear the "Use Simple File Sharing" checkbox and click OK.

DotNet: ASP.NET v2.0.50727 missing from Web Services Extensions in IIS Manager

When you build Window 2003 R2 SP2 server – by default it has Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack1 installed. You will notice ASP.NET v2.0.50727 is MIA(missing in action) in Web Services Extension in IIS manager. How you make it appear and make it as an “allowed” service?

The dumb way is to remove .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 and .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 then download the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0. After installing .NET Framework 2.0 the ASP.NET v2.0.40727 will show up. If needed, you can reinstall SP1 for both version which is quite boring process. Guess what, that’s what I did when I first notice the problem.

The smart way (which I am doing now!)is to start a DOS window – change to the following directory

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727> or C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727> for 64 bit

Type aspnet_regiis.exe – i

ASP.NET will register itself and show up in Web Service Extensions!

Failed to access IIS metabase

Issue:
Failed to access IIS metabase

Resolution:

Go to the Command prompt and go to the following location: 2.0 framework folder
Exact Path: C:\Windows\Microsoft Net\Framework\v2.

1. reinstall IIS: aspnet_regiis -i
2. register windows account: aspnet_regiis -ga
   

SQL: SSIS Package Connection String Error during execution

Issue:
SSIS Package Connection String Error during execution

Other Symptoms:
When job with the package is executed, the job doesn't run successfully

Resolution:

• When you import the package, ensure to choose 'Rely on Storage Security'
• Import Package > Protection Level > 'Rely on Server Storage and access contol'

Sharepoint: Timestamp in Sharepoint (Workspace) Lists

Issue:
How to display timestamps when a list entry is edited in Sharepoint workspaces?

Resolution:
1. Select List Settings
2. Select Versioning Settings
3. Set Item Version History to Yes
4. Select the column where you would like to have the timestamp added and choose Yes to 'Append 5. Changes on Existing Text'

Source:
http://www.getsharepoint.com/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=29

new purpose

Starting today, I will be making my blogspot account as a repository of all my tech notes.

These are the solutions I've formulated through research, peer's help and own trial and error experiences.

This is to help me save time in the future in resolving issues I have encountered before but forgot how I was able to get to the solution...

Hopefully, this blog can help other developers/IT professionals too...

Cheers to you all! :)