Author Archives: Paul Sturm
Powershell + 7zip + SQL Server backups
I needed a way to shrink the backups in SQL Server 2005 (native compression doesn’t exist until the 2008 version). 7zip compresses better than most anything, it’s free (even for commercial use), its stable, and it’s small. Powershell is my favorite tool builder. This is the result: #set alias to 7zip – adjust path as [...]
Bing Maps API (via URLs)
I've located a small page that describes the various functions available via Bing maps.
Service Unavailable on SQL Services Reporting Services after Microsoft Patch
Last night, my SSRS server failed on the first access attempt after Multiple Windows patches were installed by WSUS overnight (SQL Server 2005 EE, Windows 2003 SP2). This is not a critical server for me so it doesn't get tested before patches are applied. As such, it gets all patches immediately without testing and, in fact, is [...]
How to install a personal certificate (for email signing) on Windows Mobile 6.1
I wanted to be able to sign/encrypt email on my BlackJack II which is running Windows Mobile 6.1. I already have the certficates installed in Outlook for the coming year and now I wanted it on my device. Export from Outlook Import certs on WM6.1 Restart your phone first Start > All Programs > Applications [...]
Dreamweaver CS3 freezes with code view
My CS3 version of Dreamweaver started freezing on files that were not small when I switched to code view. Well, the problem is known by Adobe and it relates to time changes (Daylight Savings Time) documented in Adobe KB402776. The article mentions ASP and PHP but my setup is for CFML. The solution is to [...]
Regular expressions in Visual Studio
Here is a list of regular expressions that work for me in Visual Studio when locating/replacing text in SQL. generate scripts tasks for data will turn dates in to HEX. For example, it will turn a row_created_data column into CAST(0x000063DF01035C97 AS DateTime). I want to change those dates to GETDATE(): search for ‘CAST\(0x:h AS DateTime\)’ [...]
Installing CS4 fails with “Critical errors were found in setup. Please see the Setup log file for details.”
I have CS3 installed already. CS4 refused to install. Where were these mysterious log files? C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Installers Well, the log files are sure thorough! In fact nothing could jump out as to why it was failing since the logging was so verbose. The top of the log file has the address for a log analyzer. That [...]
Using RDP (Remote Desktop) is creating Grid Artifacts
Using RDP client on XP SP2 with windows servers (2008, all varieties) was causing a strange grid like pattern. Installing update KB952155 to the RDP client fixed it. You can tell if your client is the proper version as the RDP client connection GUI will change to not have a password field on the connection tab after [...]
Setup new disk on Server 2008 Core
Adding a disk is easy enough when it is a virutal machine. Making use of the disk with diskpart still has a bit of a learning curve for me. diskpart DISKPART> list disk DISKPART> select disk 1 DISKPART> create partition primary DiskPart has encountered an error: The media is write protected. See the System Event [...]
Enable remote management to 2008 Server Core
It seems Microsoft's guys think that when a server is added to a domain (DOMAIN JOINED), no configuration is necessary but it was in my case: netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Remote Administration" new enable=yes