New PC

14-Aug-1111 Leave a comment

Why?
Previous XP desktop had a grinding hard disk and was becoming quite slow. As I do a lot of work on these and do this as self-employed earnings it did not make business sense. For a time I have been using laptop linked to desktop keyboard, mouse, monitor for speed. However have lost multi-monitor. Also concerned that old PC may just fail at some time. Wanted to get a new pc while the old one had some life in it. That way the old one may with less use have years of back-up, or other use. I may at some point change the hard-drive on the old PC, moving all files may be hard work especially as I would want to filter out all the rubbish that is possibly part of the problem with the old PC.

Specifications.
Did upgrade a few times. Novatech IRush Pro. Because:

  • Comes with a graphics card which supports upto 5 monitors. May/likely to want to try 3 monitors as 2 monitors has had a good improvement, but with Visual Studio, SSMS, email, office need more monitors. Also VS has some many docked tools that these may be put on another screen.
  • Fast 3.3 Ghs quad core processor
  • Windows 7 Pro very useful
  • Like service from Novatech
  • Much better value for money c.f. PC world or even Smart Computers
  • They will deliver without windows or junk on the PC. E.g. unwanted McAffee and other services which inevitably slow down a computer. I can add these later if I choose
  • I was told that the more expensive upgrade was quieter. Not convinced.

Verdict

Seems fast. Slightly noisey fan.
Could I possibly have got away with changing the disks on my old PC and leaving it at that. Possibly, but sooner or later other parts would have gone. Like a car it would have been like how much do you spend. The old PC has paid it’s way. Maybe it can still have a life as backup – test agent or some hardware to test things on. Room for storing it is a little issue. Here’s a weird idea. Could I keep it upstairs in my cupboard with plug downstairs, and run it from there.

For setup of disks see
 https://steveshakespeare.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/windows-7-partition-using-windows-disk-management/

 

 

Filed under Computers

Crystal Reports specified DSN contains an architecture mismatch between the Driver and Application

09-Aug-1111 Leave a comment

Database error: MicrosoftODBC Driver Manager The specified DSN contains an architecture mismatch between the Driver and Application. (IES 10901) (WIS 10901)

On Windows 7 there are two ODBC. Probably want the first of these:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64 use against 32 bit data
C:\Windows\System32

However this could be mis-leading, as was the case this morning. It could be that a DSN is missing. Or perhaps missing from the correct ODBC.

Filed under Crystal Reports, Errors

How to Open a Process and Send Keys to that Process ( e.g. MS Word )

03-Aug-1111 Leave a comment

Following works fine opens document, ctrl + g = go to in word, book mark “StockControl”

Dim process1 As New Process
process1.StartInfo.FileName = String.Concat(My.Settings.DocumentationDirectory, My.Settings.HelpWordFile)
process1.Start()
process1.WaitForInputIdle()
'Dim hwnd = process.MainWindowHandle
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000)
SendKeys.Send("^g")
SendKeys.Send("+{TAB}")
SendKeys.Send("b")
SendKeys.Send("{TAB}")
SendKeys.Send("StockControl")
SendKeys.Send("{ENTER}")
SendKeys.Send("{ESC}")

Filed under MS Office, VB.Net

Terminal Server – Pros and Cons – Also Remote Desktop Connection

21-Jul-1111 Leave a comment

Terminal Server has some pros-some cons.

Advantages

  • Set one machine up. Works for all
  • Reduced hard-ware costs
  • Remote SQL login

Disadvantages

  • Multi-monitor support *1
  • Seems slow on graphics
  • Remote SQL login does not have intelli-sense

*1 Multi-monitor support for Remote Desktop connection

SplitView http://www.splitview.com/

Also from a cmd prompt use mstsc /span will allow a span. But both monitors need to be the same resolution and horizontal. Does work.

How to set resolution for Remote Desktop Connection when you are using 2 monitors

When switching a RDC from the primary to a smaller second monitor the smaller monitor normally has scroll bars on it to get from the bottom taskbar to the window header bar, quite annoying. SOLVED 15-Jan-2012: Change both monitors to use the highest common resolution.

 

 

Filed under Computers Tagged with ,

Microsoft Office Excel: “Change startup workbook” and “Create Templates”

01-Jul-1111 Leave a comment

Save As > Book.xltx
Change type to Template >
Save in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\XLSTART

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/customize-how-excel-starts-HP005199391.aspx

Filed under MS Office

Change IP address of a local (home) pc

09-Mar-1111 Leave a comment

This example is using Wanadoo Inventel Wireless Magic on Windows XP
The aim in this case is to change the IP address from using 192.168.1.x to using 192.168.0.x

Start > All Programs > Wanadoo > Configure the Live Box
Login > Configuration > Advanced > Network
Change LAN IP address, Broadcast LAN IP address, and 2 x DHCP addresses
Submit and wait for it to reset

My Network Places > View network connections > Right-click on Wireless Network Connection > Disable > Enable
This will force it to look for new IP address. Success

See Connection to SQL Server over VPN

Filed under Computers, Troubleshooting

Connection to SQL Server over VPN

09-Mar-1111 Leave a comment

 

Get VPN connection IP address from IT server administrator
Set up VPN and login
Connect to SQL on local PC using SSMS or Visual Studio using SQL Authentication login and password
The server name to use in SSMS will be an IP address on the Network that you have used VPN to get to. You may or may not need to add \InstanceName.
It is not uncommon for this internal IP address system to be 10.0.0.x where x is the computer number
So format may be 10.0.0.x or 10.0.0.x\InstanceName

Special Cases
If the VPN internal IP address system uses 192.168.1.x then be careful that your local PC is not using 192.168.1.x
If it is then need to change the local PC IP address system to use 192.168.0.x

See Change IP address of a local (home) pc

Filed under Servers, SQL Configuration, SQL Server, Troubleshooting

ODBC connection to SQL Server 2008 R2

11-Feb-1111 Leave a comment

On ODBC  using SQL Native Client.
Many possible problems. But consider trying with Server Firewall off. If this is successful then consider the following changes on firewall which have worked for me.

Firewall settings on server are:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175043.aspx

  • On the Start menu, click Run, type firewall.cpl and then click OK.
  • In the Windows Firewall dialog box, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Port.
  • In the Add a Port dialog box, in the Name text box, type SQL Server <instance name>.
  • In the Port number text box, type the port number of the instance of the Database Engine, such as 1433 for the default instance.
  • Verify that TCP is selected, and then click OK.
  • To open the port to expose the SQL Server Browser service, click Add Port, type SQL Server Browser in the Name text box, type 1434 in the Port Number text box, select UDP, and then click OK.
    NoteNote
    To allow named pipes access through the firewall, you must also enable File and Printer Sharing through the firewall.

    • —————

    Also Firewall on server must add program SQLServer.exe which is at <program files><Microsoft SQL Server><MSSQL10_50.Instance Name\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe

    ————-

    Prefer not using older ODBC SQL server, but if do then on client configuration dynamically chosen ports is relevant

    Filed under MS Office, SQL Configuration, SQL Server Tagged with

    Installing SQL Server 2008R2 on SBS 2008 Standard

    11-Feb-1111 Leave a comment

    SBS Server Standard 2008 has SQL Server Management Studio Express tools on it.
    When installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard one of the checks was for the above and would not let you pass until this was removed. My approach was to uninstall SSMS Express. Checks then passed.

    As SBS is using SBSMonitoring as a database, websites suggest installing SQL Server as a new instance. I installed it as SQL2008 instance. SUCCESS.

    Filed under Servers, SQL Configuration, SQL Server

    Email tips and tricks

    05-Feb-1111 Leave a comment

     

    http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/Rules/RulesToBetterEmail.aspx

    Delayed send possible. Create message then go to options. Send only after a date time.
    http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/Rules/RulesToBetterEmail.aspx#2WaysToFollowUp

    Recall email is possible.
    http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/Rules/RulesToBetterEmail.aspx#RecallEmails

    Filed under MS Office Tagged with

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