Tag Archives: microsoft

How To

If you can’t connect to SQL Server on port 1433

Just had two fun days of troubleshooting this by working together with Adobe/Macromedia support, and found the solution.

Here’s the original issue: could not set up a new data source connecting locally (localhost, 127.0.0.1) to SQL Server 2000 Standard running on the web server; kept getting a SQL Exception error. Was told SQL just wasn’t listening on port 1433, or any TCP port for that matter, even though TCP/IP and Named Pipes were clearly enabled in the SQL Network Config Utility. Even in the registry, port 1433 was specified, yet I could not connect to SQL on TCP by any means. I couldn’t even telnet to the machine on that port.

Turns out that even though I’d upgraded SQL Server 2000 to SP4, I needed to downgrade to SP3. Still doesn’t make sense, after all, MS SPs are supposed to be roll-ups, but hey, that’s what worked. Luckily, the server I was working was running on VMware, so I reverted to a snapshot I took after I installed SQL and before I upgraded to SP4. Installed SP3, and was able to set up the data source immediately! Something to keep in mind if you’re in the same boat.

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How To

How to hack Windows Desktop Search and turn it into a dictionary

If there are some of you out there using the beta version of Windows Desktop Search – you know, the one that imitates both Spotlight and Google Desktop Search – then you probably know it’s alright.

I’m amazed that Microsoft has actually turned out a usable piece of software that doesn’t crash. I like it because it starts finding documents as soon as you start typing (like Spotlight), and the search index is live, unlike the Google Desktop Search, which is time-delayed, and also contains bad entries for files you’ve moved or deleted.

When you search with WDS, you get the option to search your Desktop, or the Web. Well, there’s one huge caveat: don’t bother searching the web with the Microsoft Live Web Search, or MSN Web Search, or whatever the heck they call it these days. It’s downright pathetic, and if you’re using IE 7 Beta, it may even crash the browser. Fortunately, Google has come up with a solution. Just surf over to their main site, and within IE 7, you’ll get a JavaScript note (not window) in the top right corner of the web page, that will invite you to set your IE search engine to Google’s. Run the tool, and do that.

Now, for the fun dictionary hack. In the Windows Desktop Search bar (located in the taskbar), type the usual Google shortcut for searching definitions: “define:word”, then click on the Web button. Bingo! Now you’ve got your very own dictionary, neatly accessible right from the taskbar. Enjoy!

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How To

Do you like Remote Desktop Connection?

If you use the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection tool to connect to other Windows computers, you’ll appreciate their Remote Desktop Client for the Mac. That’s right, with this tool you’ll be able to connect to and manage Windows computers from your Mac! I’ve used it, and it works great!

Did you also know you can set up your Pocket PC with a Remote Desktop Client, and manage your main PC with it?

Finally, if you’ve ever lost the shortcut for Remote Desktop Connection from the Start > Accessories menu, you know how annoying that is. You can’t reinstall the software, because it’s built in. What can you do? There are two things you can do:

  • Run the program directly by using Start > Run, then typing “mstsc”.
  • Put a shortcut to it back on the Start Menu, perhaps even pin it there, by going to “C:\Windows\System 32” and browsing for the “mstsc” executable. Once it’s back on the Start menu, if you don’t like its name, just right-click on it and rename it to “Remote Desktop Connection”.
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How To

How to open Office 2007 documents in Office 2003

I recently installed the Office 2007 (also known as Office 12) Beta on my PC, and I love it. I ran into a problem though: the documents I saved in it weren’t accessible from Office 2003. That’s because Microsoft made a slew of changes to the document formats, both inside and out. The most conspicuous change is the addition of an “x” to the end of the document extension. For example, an Excel spreadsheet is now saved as a “.xlsx” file instead of an “.xls”. Similarly, a Word document is now “.docx” instead of “.doc”.

So what can we do to open these new formats if we’ve only got Office 2003? Microsoft provides an easy fix. Just go to their Office 2007 Compatibility Pack webpage, and download the Office 2007 File Format Awareness Update for Microsoft Office 2003, then download the English Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.

A similar update is available for Office XP (also known as Office 10), so make sure you’re downloading the right compatibility pack for your needs.

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Thoughts

Restoring planes is one expensive hobby

Paul Allen, one of the Microsoft co-founders, turns out to have more up his sleeve than the X Prize, although it’s related to it. He loves restoring old war planes. I’m not talking about painting them up so they can be placed in a museum, I’m talking about getting them up in the air! Just the idea sends shivers down my spine. I’d love to see a 1918 Curtiss Wright, or a Messerschmitt take flight, and he’s done it! What’s more, no expense is spared to restore them to their exact state when they were in flight, with the same materials and look. This is amazing restoration work, and it’s also very costly, bringing the price to hundreds of thousands of dollars per plane.

He’s purchased about three dozen airplanes since 1998, and about half of them are on display in two hangars at the Arlington airport outside Seattle. Once a year, he holds a flight day, where these old planes take flight for a public audience. His collection is open for viewing on Fridays and Saturdays, and the fee is $20. Definitely worth it!

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