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Friday, January 27, 2012

SideBySide - Windows Live Toolbar

Issues: EventID 59: Activation context generation failed for "c:\program files (x86)\microsoft\search enhancement pack\search helper\searchhelper.dll".Error in manifest or policy file "c:\program files (x86)\microsoft\search enhancement pack\search helper\searchhelper.dll" on line 2. Invalid Xml syntax.

EventID 35: Activation context generation failed for "c:\program files (x86)\windows live\photo gallery\MovieMaker.Exe".Error in manifest or policy file "c:\program files (x86)\windows live\photo gallery\WLMFDS.DLL" on line 8. Component identity found in manifest does not match the identity of the component requested. Reference is WLMFDS,processorArchitecture="AMD64",type="win32",version="1.0.0.1". Definition is WLMFDS,processorArchitecture="x86",type="win32",version="1.0.0.1". Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

Solution: While searching "Activation context generation failed for "c:\program files (x86)\microsoft\search enhancement pack\search helper\searchhelper.dll"" We're taken to a Microsoft page saying it was associated to the Windows Live toolbar and that "no action is needed".  Well, we don't use that toolbar, so to remove it:
  1. Go to add/remove programs (appwiz.cpl)
  2. Select "Windows Live Essentials" / then "uninstall/change"
  3. Select (X) Uninstall / Click Continue
  4. Then check "Windows Live Toolbar " / Click Continue
  5. This leaves the other great Windows Live Essentials application installed and simply removes the toolbar.

Hide the Google People Widget Sidebar

q: How can you hide Google's People Widget and it's sidebar container?
a: Well this one is a two parter:
Part one - Disable People Widget:
  1. Within Gmail go to settings
  2. On the General Tab, scroll down to People Widget and set it to (X) Hide the people widget
  3. However, you'll notice it's sidebar is still there.


Part two - Disable/Hide the sidebar (only works for Google Chrome)
  1. Open Chrome, visit the extension site for Minimalist:
  2. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bmihblnpomgpjkfddepdpdafhhepdbek/details
  3. Click (+ Add to Chrome) / Click Install when prompted
  4. Visit your google mail site
  5. Click on the M icon in the toolbar in the upper right / Click Dashboard
  6. Under Minimalist for Gmail / Click Enable / Then click Options
  7. On the "Main" tab at the top, Check the box next to "Hide Sidebar"
  8. Click Save Changes at the Top Right
  9. Open an email now & notice all the screen real estate you have gained.

Shoretel Caller ID is Unknown for Mobile Cell Phones

q: we have an issue where forwarded calls and outbound calls to mobile phones from our ShoreTel SG-220T1A phone switch showed up as 'UNKNOWN' and it didn't even list the phone number.
a: The company that installed the phone system along with AT&T just threw up their hands.  We thought it was related to a Caller ID issue.  However, a short google search found this Very Helpful post: http://www.shoretelforums.com/forums/administrators/1811-inbound-outbound-caller-id-2.html - They provide clear instructions where you insert a ;2E in the Custom Trunk Group Dialing Rules.  A quick call to some cell phones proved this to work and has resolved that issue.

  1. You will need to enter Support Mode in Director
  2. To do this BEFORE YOU LOG INTO SHOREWARE DIRECTOR
  3. Press and hold the CTRL and Shift Key / Click on the U in User Name of the Log in, in Director
  4. You will see a Red Support Entry Mode appear under the User name and Password
  5. Log in normally to Director
  6. Click on Trunks on the left, then click on Trunk Groups
  7. Click on the name of your Trunk Group
  8. Then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page where you see the last button is "Trunk Group Dialing Rules:  Custom"  Click Edit
  9. Type    ;2E     into this field, click save.
  10. Perform a test call in amazement.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

WMSVC Web Management Service on Server 2008

q: During the continued configuration of Microsoft's ARR, we tried to start the WMSVC service and got this error:  IISWMSVC_STARTUP_UNABLE_TO_READ_CERTIFICATE

Unable to read the certificate with thumbprint '********'.  Please make sure the SSL certificate exists and that is correctly configured in the Management Service page.

Process:WMSvc
User=NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
a: This was an easy fix.
  1. Open IIS (Internet Information Services Manager),
  2. Click on the Server Name on the left
  3. In the middle pane, scroll down to the bottom, double-click "Management Service"
    1. Check the box to (X) Enable remote connections
    2. On the SSL certificate field, simply use the dropdown to select the default certificate already on the system
    3. In the right pane | click Apply
    4. In the right pane | click Start
  4. That fixes it

TCP Port 8172 on Server 2008

q: While configuring ARR (Microsoft's Application Request Routing Service) the application requires connection to Server Farm members over tcp port 8172.  Using the command "netstat -ano | find ":8172" we confirmed the server farm members were not already listening on port 8172.
a: We discovered port 8172 is associated with WMSVC the "Web Management Service".

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

iConcept Wireless Keyboard New Batteries

Q: A customer called today with an iConcept Wireless keyboard. They had recently changed the batteries and could no longer connect to the computer.
A: It was as easy as unplugging the USB dongle and with the new batteries in the keyboard and the keyboard nearby, plug the USB dongle back in.  After a few moments the keyboard started working again.
Ref: http://www.sakar.com/images/resources/download-manual/62150N.pdf

Recover an Accidentally Closed Tab in Chrome

Q: I just closed a tab in Chrome and didn't want to, what do I do?
A: To quickly recover a recently closed tab in Chrome, simply hit "Ctrl+Shift+T"