Sky fails to record from TV guide

My Sky +HD box recently updated to the new version, following this update though it would not record from the TV guide. When I pressed the remote's record button for a program it was just ignored.

If I started to watch a channel I could then record a program on that channel just not though the TV guide.

Searching the internet I found a solution that fixed my problem - rebuild the planner.


This process will stop all recordings in process and reboot the box. If there is a recording underway, consider waiting until it is completed. Rebuilding the planner will not delete any existing recordings. 

1. Press services on your Sky remote control and you will see the main menu with Options highlighted.
2. Highlight the Settings menu using the right arrow button and press select.
3. Press 0 (zero), 1 then select to access the Installer Setup menu (this menu is not listed on the Settings menu options).
4. Use the left/right arrows to highlight Rebuild (this will change to Sky+ Rebuild when reached) and press select.
5. The on-screen message "This will take a few minutes to complete. The rebuild will stop all recordings and reboot your Sky+" will appear. Press select to continue.
6. The on-screen message "Housekeeping please wait" will appear and take up to two minutes to clear. If your Sky+HD box continues to display this message for longer than two minutes please carry out a power reset (below) with the viewing card removed.
7. Once complete your Sky+HD box will switch itself off and then back on automatically displaying the red standby light.
8. Ensure the red standby light on the box has re-appeared, then wait for 3 minutes.
9. Press sky your remote control and the light on your Sky+HD box will turn green. 

http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/tv/sky-plus-hd/recording/guide-to-performing-a-planner-rebuild/index.html

Picasa public album redirects to Google+ Login

Following changes to Google, with integrating Picasa photo albums into Google+ all my web-page links to my public Picasa albums redirected people to the Google+ login box, instead of just showing the album.


As a temporary fix I have added  "?noredirect=1" to my Picasa Web gallery URL?

For example:
https://picasaweb.google.com/number/albumname?noredirect=1

This skips the redirect to Google+



If you are using an authkey in the URL, then you have to use "&noredirect=1" ( & instead of ?)

For example:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103124484697486858492authkey=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&noredirect=1

NOTE: If the URL ended in a # remove it. (I did also add / at the end though not sure this is necessary.)

Comtrend Power adapters - adding another adapter

I had an issue where I had two Comtrend power adapters working as a pair, but need to add another for an Xbox.


Here is the solution I followed:

1. Plug one of the new pair of adaptors into a socket close to the Access Point adaptor (This is the first of the original pair of Comtrend adapters the one with the Access Point in green) - ideally next to each other on a power strip.
2. Hold the "config" button of the Access Point for about 5 seconds until the AP led starts to flash, then release the button. 
3. Next hold the "config" button on the new adaptor for about 5 seconds until the AP led starts to flash (you have about 30 seconds to do this from the time you released the config button on the Access Point adaptor - hence having them close together). 
4. Release that button and in a couple more seconds the AP led on the new adaptor should flash quickly three times and go out. The Status led on the new adaptor should then show red and then turn green after a few seconds. 

Assuming this all goes to plan, they're configured!


Comtrends guides to my models:
http://www.comtrend.com/links/22$snd.htm

Using Hyper-V with a Wireless Network Adapter

Wireless network adapters will not natively work with Hyper-V, but I found the following solution on the internet, from "Virtual PC Guy's Blog" and it works very well for me:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/09/using-hyper-v-with-a-wireless-network-adapter.aspx

Enable Aero desktop on Server 2008 r2

To install Desktop Experience in Windows Server 2008 R2

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, click Turn Windows Features on or off.‌ If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. In the Features Summary section, click Add Features.
3. Select the Desktop Experience check box. If you are prompted to install additional features, click Add Required Features, and then click Next.
4. Click Install. You might be prompted to restart your computer.

To enable the Themes service in Windows Server 2008 R2

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. Double-click Themes.
3. In the Startup type list, select Automatic, and then click Apply.
4. Under Service status, click Start, and then click OK.

To select an Aero theme

1. Right-click an open area of the desktop, and then click Personalize.
2. Click Themes.
3. Under Aero Themes, click an Aero theme.

gfxUI.exe is stopped working

Issue when running Windows Server 2008 r2 (x64) on Intel Motherboard, with both .net 4 as well as 3.5 installed.

Description:
Stopped working
Problem Signature:
Problem Even Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: GfxUI.exe
....

The following worked for me it seems that the Intel driver requires .net 3.5 to be enabled on the server.

In Server Manager > Features > Add Features

In the list of features to install on this server, select .NET Framework 3.5.1 Features

I would then recommend a reboot once it has installed.

Method to fix my continually rebooting Joggler

This post is an amalgamation of a number of posts by various people.
Including:
Code by xoom450 http://www.joggler.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2554
Ubuntu by http://joggler.exotica.org.uk/ubuntu/
Joggler mod by http://www.gforums.de/juggler/download.html

Please be careful, I do not take any responsibility for you totally bricking your Joggler.

Disabling right click - (or the context menu) via Group Policy

To disable the right click you enable a setting in Group Policy called  "Remove access to context menu".

This option is available for Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, Start Menu and Taskbar.

If you allow access to the right mouse button the students will be able to access other systems that might compromise the network at the school.

When changing settings to the Group Policy ensure you make changes to the relevent Group Policy object - such as "Student Security settings".

The settings in Group Policy for "Remove access to context menu" are in:

User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Start Menu and Taskbar

User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Explorer

User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Internet Explorer | Browser Menus

Telnet Joggler

The following information can be used to configure the Joggler to allow Telnet connections:
http://jogglerwiki.info/index.php?title=Installing_Telnet

If using Windows Vista or Windows 7 you will need to install Telnet from the "Turn Windows features on or off" option in Control Panel - Programs.

Connect to the Joggler:
Start Telnet.

In the command prompt type Open 192.168.1.x  (Where 192.168.1.x is the IP address of your Joggler - obtained from the Settings - Network)
Password -- letmein

Change directory:
cd /media/appshop or cd tv

Make directory:
mkdir tv

Copy file from internet to folder.
wget http://www.location.com/Program.tar   (Ensure you use appropriate capitals)

Expand compressed archive
tar xvf Program.tar

Delete compressed archive
rm Program.tar

List files in the folder
ls

Copying file
cp applications.xml applications.backup


Edit file
vi applications.xml

Insert/edit the file
i

esc to exit insert mode
:x to write and exit
:w to write changes
:q to exit
:q! to exit and discard changes

Reboot the Joggler
reboot

Microsoft Office 2010 KMS Licensing

Taken from Microsoft Site:


Brief Description
Volume licensing editions of Microsoft Office 2010 suites and applications, Microsoft Project 2010 and Microsoft Visio 2010 require activation. Key Management Service (KMS) is a local volume activation method. To activate your Office 2010 client installations with KMS, you will need to set up a KMS host. KMS Licensing is recommended if you have 50 or more workstations.


Overview
An Office 2010 KMS host is required if you want to use KMS activation for your volume license editions of Office 2010 suites or applications, Microsoft Project 2010 or Microsoft Visio 2010. When Office 2010 volume edition client products are installed, they will automatically search for a KMS host on your organization’s DNS server for activation. All volume editions of Office 2010 client products are pre-installed with a KMS client key, so you will not need to install a product key.

The download contains an executable file that will extract and install KMS host license files. Run the file on either 32-bit or 64-bit supported Windows operating systems (Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 R2). These license files are required for the KMS host service to recognize Office 2010 KMS host keys. It will also prompt you to enter your Office 2010 KMS host key and activate that key. After this is done, you may need to use the slmgr.vbs script to further configure your KMS host.

Microsoft Office KMS clients are only activated when five or more than five computers with MS Office installed attempt to get activated using the KMS host. In case of operating systems (e.g. Windows Vista and Windows 7), activation starts after 25 or more than 25 computers with Windows client request for activation.


Instructions
Follow these steps to set up a KMS host:

1. If you are running Windows Server 2003, you will need to perform this extra step. You will need to download and run the files below:
   Windows Server 2003 32-bit 
   Windows Server 2003 64-bit
2. Download and run the KeyManagementServiceHost.exe file on this page on a supported operating system.
3. Enter your Office 2010 KMS host key when prompted. 
4. Click OK to continue with activation. 
5. Open port 1688 and allow the KMS host service through the firewall.
   Windows 7 volume editions or Windows Server 2008 R2.
   Open Control Panel and click on the Windows Firewall icon.
   Click on the “Allow a program through Windows Firewall” link.
   Click on the Change Settings button.
   Check the box for Key Management Service. 
6. Read the documentation to learn more about configuring your KMS host (including activation by telephone) with slmgr.vbs at TechNet.

Associated link: Office 2010 Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX/ADML) and Office Customization Tool 

Anatomy of an Attack - How Hackers Threaten your Security

Late last year I attended a seminar titled “Anatomy of an Attack – How Hackers Threaten your Security” by Sophos – stay with me it is important.
Malware (Viruses, spam etc.) used to be distributed by running programs or accessing Word documents they were designed to specifically attack your systems and cause problems with your network. Sophos have now seen a change where theft of data is now the focus and most malware attacks come from infected web pages.
“There is now more new malware per day, than there were for the whole of 2006”
“83% of malware infected web pages are on legitimate websites”
Sophos’ experience has shown that:

• Networks that use forums or blogs are getting inundated with links to fake antivirus and other malware sites.
• Very professional looking fake antivirus sites falsely identify viruses on your local machine then recommend you install their fake antivirus to clear them, thus installing the malware.
• MAC malware is now a reality, and malware sites differentiate between operating systems and attack them with appropriate malware.
• Targeting of applications, especially the growing Web 2.0 applications, including Adobe, PDF and Flash, Quicktime and Java.
• Malware distributers are aware that users now install updates and multimedia plug-ins regularly so build websites that require these, getting the site user to install the malware.
• Hackers are targeting un-patched unsecure websites, especially the ones that are database driven.

There are a number of ways to limit the possibility of malware attack.

• Ensure not just the Windows operating systems and applications are kept up to date, but also the applications that are used regularly, Internet browsers, Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime and Java etc. Hackers know which applications are used, which versions have vulnerabilities and then target their attacks.
• Set the workstations to operate at user level, do not get the users to logon with workstation administrator access rights.
• If hosting websites ensure the server is secure and patched to block all know vulnerabilities.
• Ensure passwords are appropriate; the administrator passwords should be at least 8 characters long, with a mix of alphanumerical characters and a mix of upper and lowercase characters. (The Conficker virus spread from one computer to another over local area networks using a database of standard passwords.)
• Ensure the Anti-Virus client is up to date with the latest update.
  For Sophos:
  
  • On Standalone versions of Sophos:
    To update, double click the Sophos shield in the bottom right of the task bar.
    To check the update, right click on the Sophos shield and click Open Sophos Anti-Virus. The Sophos Status section is displayed on the left.
  • On network installations of Sophos, check Sophos Enterprise console. (Ensure your network team is monitoring this.)

New malware term:
Server-side polymorphism.
New hacking techniques are emerging making malware increasing difficult to detect and clear one of these is server-side polymorphism. Polymorphism based malware included a polymorphic engine that allowed the malware to replicate and change making it more difficult to identify and block. Server-side polymorphism is where the engine of the malware is not left on the system so the engine can now also be altered, and allowing the malware to change rapidly and harder to detect, making content analysis not enough to clear the malware.

Using Twitter

I have recently been exploring Twitter and looking at using it to publish some of the things I am interested in.

I have found some blogs very useful:

• Adding long Website addresses (URL's) to Twitter - URL shortening services on Twitter
• Automatically push you latest Blog posts to Twitter.
• Add pictures to Twitter using twitpic - http://twitpic.com

Link:

http://twitterfeed.com

Address Labels in Microsoft Office

For address labels you want to use Microsoft Word:

Starting labels depends on your version of Microsoft Word. (Word 2007/2010 is the one with the very different ribbon tool bar running across the top.)

If you have Word 2003:

1. Click on Tools, and if Letters and Mailings is not on the list click on the double down arrows at the bottom of the list to shop hidden options.
2. Select Letters and Mailings, then select Envelopes and Labels.. from the pop out list.
3. Select the tab – Labels
4. In the bottom right of the Labels dialog box – click on the picture of the label, this will allow you to select the label the most likely meets your needs.
5. If you need to change a setting of the label click on the Details button, when changes have been made click Ok.
6. When you are happy with the label click Ok.
7. Type the address is the address box.
8. Then click Print.

If you have Word 2007:

1. Above the Ribbon tool bar at the top, click on Mailings.
2. The second option in is Labels
3. In the bottom right of the Labels dialog box – click on the picture of the label, this will allow you to select the label the most likely meets your needs.
4. If you need to change a setting of the label click on the Details button, when changes have been made click Ok.
5. When you are happy with the label click Ok.
6. Type the address is the address box.
7. Then click Print.

Maximize Internet Explorer On Opening

Right click the shortcut icon for IE next to the Start button (if using the Quick Start menu in Windows XP or Windows Vista.), choose Properties, change it from 'normal' to 'maximized'. Now open it.

Now right click any link on the page, choose Open In New Window....don't maximize it....instead, use the mouse to resize it to what you want it to be.

Now close the FIRST window you opened, and then close the new one you just resized.

Reopen IE from the shortcut icon again, and all windows from now on will be the size you chose and created.

Adding Network Shares as a Library Location

Is it possible in, Windows 7, to add a network share as a library location?

If you have your music files stored on a server on your network. When you try to add the share \\ServerName\Share as a libray location you get the error ”This folder cannot be included because it is on a share that is not indexed.”

The help link in the error message does not provide usefull information regarding this.

If you have you media files stored on a Microsoft Server you can add the share to the library if you install Microsoft Windows Search 4.0.

Once installed do not try adding the share to the library until the indexing has been completed. (You get a glowing magnifying glass in the right of the task bar.

If you use a NAS device that can not run the latest Windows Indexing service then the following may help.

"ISA server cannot load the properly page"

When you try to run Microsoft ISA Server the following error may be displayed "ISA server cannot load the property page" error detail is 0x80004005 unspecified error.

The ISA Server though maybe still working, if you restart the server you will probably still have the same problem.

Solution:
Managment console view maybe corrupt.
You need to clear out the console view settings by going to:
File>Options>Delete Files button. I then shut down the console and restarted the ISA Server Managment console and everything was back to normal.

In case youre wondering how to get into the managment console even though you get an error, just keep clicking continue until the console loads up.

Test a port is open

Taken from the following JTB World - Blog

One way is to use old telnet.exe like this to find out if a port is open.
Syntax: telnet [hostname or IP address] [portnumber]
Example: telnet myserver 27000

You can also try the IP of the computer, server or host. You must be able to Ping that address.
If the window hangs while saying "Connecting ..." and then goes away, the port is not accessible. If the window instantly goes away, the port is probably not accessible. If the window display text, like "220 ESMTP spoken here" or just shows an empty window the port is open.Or if run in a command window:C:\>telnet myserver 27000Connecting To myserver...Could not open connection to the host, on port 27000: Connect failed

But if you have Windows Vista you probably don't have telnet because it is not installed as default.

Click Start, Control Panel, Programs, and then Turn Windows Features on or off. In the list, scroll down and select Telnet Client. Click OK to start the installation. Or you can just run: start /w pkgmgr /iu:"TelnetClient"

Now you should be able to check if a port is open or closed or not accessible. If it is not accessible start checking if the firewall is the issue.

Here are some usable links:
How to manually open ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
Open a port in Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Additional comment by Matt

The telnet approach works pretty well for a single port. If you know what you're doing you can even use it to send POP/SMTP/ETC commands.

But you ought to try "Angry IP Scan" http://www.angryziber.com/ipscan/ for when you need a broader scan (multiple ports or multiple hosts or both).

Problems with IE 8

When you are using Windows Internet Explorer 8, you cannot browse specific Web pages. You have determined that this problem is not related to compatibility issues. Beginning or intermediate users may want to begin by viewing the following Microsoft Help and Support topic:
Internet Explorer 8: Web sites do not display or work correctly

More advanced users may want to review the following methods to resolve the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967897


If all else fails start IE 8 with out Add-in and then reset Internet Explorer

1. Run Internet Explorer in No Add-ons mode
   Browser add-ons can sometimes interfere with or conflict with other software on your computer. Start Internet Explorer without add-ons to see whether the problem is resolved. To do this, follow these steps:
2. Click Start, and then type Internet Explorer in the Start Search box.
3. Click Internet Explorer (No Add-Ons). Internet Explorer opens without add-ons, toolbars, or plug-ins.
4. Test Internet Explorer to verify that it works correctly.
5. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
6. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
7. When Internet Explorer finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then clickOK two times.
8. Close Internet Explorer, and then reopen it. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer.

Installing additional drivers at setup via USB floppy

Installing Windows Server 2003 can fail if the disk controller hardware is relatively new and the drivers are not contained within the Windows Server standrad driver set. (i.e. SATA)

You will need to download the driver from the manufactures website and then copy the matching .sys, .cat, .oem and .inf drivers to a floppy disk.

If you are installing to a machine with out a floppy disk driver you will need to use an external USB floppy disk drive.

During the installation after you have configured the partitions, the installation will request the driver files again if the driver fails to load it may be that the driver .OEM is not optimised to look for the USB floppy drive.

You will need to edit the TXTSETUP.OEM file adding the following information:

[HardwareIds.scsi.MSAS2K3]
...
...
id = "USB\VID_03F0&PID_2001", "usbstor" #--HP
id = "USB\VID_054C&PID_002C", "usbstor" #--Sony
id = "USB\VID_057B&PID_0001", "usbstor" #--Y-E Data
id = "USB\VID_0409&PID_0040", "usbstor" #--NEC
id = "USB\VID_0424&PID_0FDC", "usbstor" #--SMSC
id = "USB\VID_08BD&PID_1100", "usbstor" #--Iomega
id = "USB\VID_055D&PID_2020", "usbstor" #--Samsung
id = "USB\Vid_0930&PID_6540", "usbstor" #--MY USB KEY

Internet Explorer 7 open multiple tabs

Internet Explorer 7 does not support a built-in command to open multiple tabs at startup, and Group Policy only allows you to configure one home page.
Although you can specify multiple URL’s as default homepages, this might not be what you want.A solution to open several tabs at once for only one time, can be made with Windows Scripting Host, or wscript.

First, create a new text document with Notepad or some other text editor and add the following content:

var navOpenInBackgroundTab = 0x1000;
var oIE = new ActiveXObject("InternetExplorer.Application");
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.itexperience.net");
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.google.com", navOpenInBackgroundTab);
oIE.Navigate2("http://www.whatismyip.org", navOpenInBackgroundTab);
oIE.Visible = true;

Save the file as launchie7.js (so change the extension from *.txt to *.js) to your C:\ drive

To launch Internet Explorer with multiple tabs, run the following command from Start - Run:
wscript.exe C:\launchie7.js


Taken from http://www.itexperience.net/2008/09/30/open-multiple-tabs-in-internet-explorer-7/