Cron Jobs with GoDaddy Hosting

Issue:  We needed something to visit a URL on a frequent basis to perform a feature of the site.

Solution: Within GoDaddy Linux Hosting, Content, Cron Manager - we were able to create an hourly job using this command:
curl -L -s http://site.domain.com/update.aspx

Charter Cable Modem Ambit Login

Some recent notes from work on an Ambit Broadband Cable Modem
user/passwords

admin/motorola
admin/cableroot
user/user

Older Models
root/root

http://192.168.100.1

Server 2008 Hangs at "Applying User Settings"

Issue: We had a System running Server 2008 and when it would boot it would hang with "Applying User Settings".  When it would finally load, many of the services were not started.

Diagnosis: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2004121 - This Microsoft Article explains the issue associated with the SCM database being locked:

sc querylock
The output below would indicate that the SCM database is locked:
QueryServiceLockstatus - Success
IsLocked : True
LockOwner : .\NT Service Control Manager
LockDuration : 1090 (seconds since acquired)

Resolution: You can modify the behavior of HTTP.SYS to depend on another service being started first.  To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HTTP and create the following Multi-string value: DependOnService
3. Double click the new DependOnService entry
4. Type CRYPTSVC in the Value Data field and click OK.
5. Reboot the server

HOW TO - Add or Remove Programs from Safe Mode

From Safe Mode - Command Prompt:

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

net start msiserver

Thank you - http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsXP/AdminTips/TroubleShooting/UninstallapplicationsinSafeMode.html

Orb 2.0

orb, a streaming media application, will be our first review here.  It is available here http://www.orb.com/
It gained popularity in our circles by being iPhone compatible.  The odd thing was that you had to install it on a PC.  There is no MAC OS version at time of this review.
The app is a free/small 15mb download and a quick install.  During the install you are prompted to create a login.  The application is the only way to create a login as this service is not provided on their site.  When the product is installed you can configure which folders are shared.  Then you can create new users and control which folders they can access.  Each user can also customize their home page to contains RSS feeds, Weather, news, recently added music, photos, documents and videos.  We have tried it behind two firewalls (Linksys & Sonicwall) as well as on Windows XP, Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Home Basic with much success at environment.
Features we loved:

1. Streaming Audio, we were exposed to new online radio stations for streaming audio.
2. Divx, AVI, WMV, MPG, MP3 - whatever we could throw at it - it streamed.
3. One network - multiple pcs - multiple logins.  The LazyJeff network has quite a few systems and we were able to run & access orb on two at the same time using different logins.
4. Program guide - wow - this app streams channels - not shows.  WebGuide, an app for Windows Vista Media Center users, ends the stream at the end of a 30min show.  Orb just keeps streaming that channel till you tell it to stop.

Features still lacking:

1. Sometimes in the middle of a stream, it will leap back to the beginning or somewhere between the beginning and where you were.  One 30min stream actually went on for 90min as it continued to skip back.
2. WebCams - we tried one a few systems and couldn’t reliably get the webcam feature to function.

Our notes:

1. Change the Upstream speed - we got much better results on a 2mb pipe dropping the upstream rate to 600k.  This was not so much an issue with our connection, but the connection to which you are streaming.
2. Create logins for your friends and change their security to only see their folder.  every one plays better when they have their own playground
3. Always use hauppauge hardware encoder cards - they use little or no processing power while recording standard analog channels.  Less than 15% to record 4 shows at once using two MCE500 cards.

HOW TO - Fix WinRM Service failed to create

Small Business Server 2003, Event ID: 10154, Source: WinRM, Type: Warning

The WinRM service failed to create the following SPNs: WSMAN/hostname.domainname.local; WSMAN/INK.

Additional Data:

The error received was 8344: Insufficient access rights to perform the operation. .

User Action

The SPNs can be created by an administrator using setspn.exe utility.

   1. run - setspn -L <hostname>
   2. You’ll see no entries for WSMAN/<hostname> or WSMAN/<FQDN>
   3. Run ADSIEDIT.MSC
   4. Browse to Domain
         1. DC=domainname
               1. OU=Domain Controllers
                     1. CN=<HOSTNAME>
   5. Right click on CN=<HOSTNAME>, where <HOSTNAME> is the name of the server throwing the error, in this case it is the SBS2003, click Properties.
   6. Click the Security Tab
         1. click Add / “Network Service”
         2. Then check (X) to allow access to “Validated write to service principal name”
         3. Click OK
   7. Run Services.msc
   8. Restart the “Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)” service
   9. Check event log for errors.
  10. Re-Run - setspn -L <hostname>
  11. Locate entries for WSMAN/<hostname> or WSMAN/<FQDN>

RDP (TS Gateway) RPC Error

User using an RDP to connect to server that is behind a ts gateway.  Their password had expired.
We reset their password but discovered they had stored it in two locations within the RDP file:

1. Front page of the RDP settings (look for edit / delete)
2. Last tab – Advanced / Settings (look for edit / delete)

If you delete the value from both places, it will again ask them for their new password.

Microsoft Updates / Windows Updates problem with the site

Issue: When the customer visits: http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
They get this error" The website has encountered a problem and cannot display the page you are trying to view." The options provided below might help you solve the problem.  [Error number: 0xC800042D]

Solution:

1. Stop Automatic Updates Service
2. Defragment the datastore
3. esentutl /d c:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb
4. recovery of the datastore
5. esentutl /r c:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb
6. repair the datastore
7. esentutl /p c:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb

iPhone 4 says No Sim

Issue: The customer was waving his iPhone 4 around while he talked and bumped it on the table.  After that the phone suddenly said “No Sim”.

Resolution: The customer also has an iPhone 3g and the box.  The box shipped with a SIM ejector pin.  We used that to eject the SIM (with the phone off) then push the SIM back in and the phone is fine now.

Mozilla Firefox won’t start

Issue: Never seen this before.  Mozilla Firefox wouldn’t start.  Customer was running Windows Vista and you can run the firefox.exe or the shortcut & nothing happens.

Resolution:

1. open Command Prompt
2. "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -ProfileManager
3. when the prompt comes up, delete the profile, create a new one then start it up.