From the first moment I started using Microsoft Small Business Server Premium 2008 I knew I had made a mistake....
It was actually before the first moment I had a chance to use the OS. This may not be true for all vendors but Dell would not sell me an OEM copy of SBS Premium 2008 pre-installed. Their own small business quote team could not figure out why. Worse yet they sold me an Open License pack and listed media on the invoice but did not send the media citing some crazy Microsoft licensing policy. Okay, well I thought I could log into the Microsoft site and download it but that was a no go due to the same weird licensing policy.
It took 3 people from Microsoft Open Licensing Team before I convinced them I wanted the media shipped to me. I even had to pay for the FedEx charge. I will let all that speak for itself.
I get the OS and install it on my empty Dell Server. All goes pretty well I suppose until I see that there is no consolidated MMC server management console like there is in SBS2003. The nay sayers will say "nay, there is a console" but it is not useful out of the box like SBS 2003. I had to tweak it.
Setting up my clients posed some challenges due to the fact that one of the machines turned out to be Windows 2000. Guess what boys and girls. The most stable and longest running OS that Microsoft ever made is not supported in SBS 2008.
Guess what else is not included in the grossly expensive CAL price? Outlook. That is correct folks. If you buy SBS for the Exchange capability and happen to use Word Perfect instead of Office you have just added about $90 a machine to your cost of install.
It gets worse. The much improved backup tool built into SBS 2008 does not support NAS drives. EDIT - Not in the GUI at least - EDIT. You can add a cheap external drive from Wal-Mart and run your backup but if you have a RAID mirrored 2 TB NAS you are out of luck. Fortunately we had already bought another backup program which kind of supports NAS backup.
In conclusion I should have read the details more closely. While I have read about SBS 2008 it was mostly glowing reviews from fanboys. I thought that if SBS 2003 was good then SBS 2008 should have similar features and actually add features. Sadly it is the opposite. It is more expensive with less features EDIT that I care about EDIT.
Before any crazy fanboy (or fangirl) posts and says true things like "NAS was not supported in 2003" or "The cost of the CAL reflects the hardwork and dedication of millions of coders.... blah blah" or "Everyone had Outlook already so why give it away for free", EDIT insert nicer wording! EDIT.
I like Server 2008
I don't like SBS 2008
I may still suggest SBS 2008
I will not buy EDIT brand name removed EDIT again
OWA is not and is not likely to ever be the same as running outlook on your desktop. .
The positive in all of this is that the client has me on his side. I was able to work through Dell and Microsoft's attempts to force me to use clarkconnect out of frustration. I like that you can't use the administrator account for anything. I like the 64 bit system support. While no one will ever explain why it is any of Microsoft's business if I use 2 nics is still a mystery.
I am still ticked about the Outlook thing. Warn a brother would ya? Crazy.
UPDATE - 11/18/09 -
Billy, Thanks for the offer of help. I have your backup software installed and it is in fact backing up the client's data to a NAS. I will spare everyone my thoughts about small business backups. I am generally positive but I am frustrated about this whole project and wish to blend back into the background noise of the net.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Something else Windows Phone
I just tried to download a Netflix app for my phone from Microsoft. You have to be a MS Live user to download this. Strike one. I have an account from the PassPort days because of my MCP logins so that is not a really big deal.
I signed in and it took me to a screen to confirm that I am who I am. This sucks but whatever I uncheck all of the garbage about "please send me info on......" and click next. Well, strike 2! you have to sign up for some kind of SPAM in order to get to the next screen. I did not. I will not. This is worse than having to have iTunes installed for your iPhone. At least iTunes does not spam you I don't think.
To get around this I think, hey, this is for a mobile phone let me try this on my phone. I did the google search and found the same site and low and behold, it does not work on their own antique browser! Strike 3!!! You can't even write a web page for your own @$#%@%@ browser? Really? The download did not work from the phone either.
The moral of the story is that I may look into getting that iPhone after all. I will have to see if it can do RDP, eWallet, and Call Log 2 Contacts. Maybe we can look at the Palm Pre.
I signed in and it took me to a screen to confirm that I am who I am. This sucks but whatever I uncheck all of the garbage about "please send me info on......" and click next. Well, strike 2! you have to sign up for some kind of SPAM in order to get to the next screen. I did not. I will not. This is worse than having to have iTunes installed for your iPhone. At least iTunes does not spam you I don't think.
To get around this I think, hey, this is for a mobile phone let me try this on my phone. I did the google search and found the same site and low and behold, it does not work on their own antique browser! Strike 3!!! You can't even write a web page for your own @$#%@%@ browser? Really? The download did not work from the phone either.
The moral of the story is that I may look into getting that iPhone after all. I will have to see if it can do RDP, eWallet, and Call Log 2 Contacts. Maybe we can look at the Palm Pre.
Windows Mobile becomes Windows Phone
If you have read more than a couple of my posts over the years you know I love my Windows Mobile 6.1 AT&T Tilt. It is the thing that lets me do the stuff I do for a living. I can RDP into a server whilst talking to a client at the same time. I can read email, check the weather, navigate to a destination, and then blog about it. It is a music player, laptop, and electronic wallet all in one. I love it but I need to share an open letter to Microsoft, AT&T, and HTC.
Microsoft, you and I have known each other for a long time. I don't want to talk about your desktops and servers but we need to talk about your mobile software. I want to like it but you screw up everything you touch. You come out with Windows Phone 6.5 and with it give us another name for your mobile OS. You have Windows CE, PocketPC, Windows Mobile, and now Windows Phone. Make up your mind! It looks like you are on the right track with version 6.5 but how would I know? There are only a couple of devices that run 6.5 and my awesome Tilt does not take the upgrade. That brings me to you HTC.
HTC, I started with your AT&T 3100 (StarTrek). It was just what I needed. I had to beg AT&T to sell me the no camera model but that is the past. I like your Tilt, this is a work of art. Well, thick, battery hungry, art. Your phones like the Tilt 2 and the Leo may be nice but those are not out there right now. What have you been up to lately? People like me that have phones that cost more than many laptops want power, performance, a no camera (or at least lockable camera), and carrier independence. If you put the HD2 out there I would buy it but you insist on sending it to Europe only. What is the problem? What more do you want from me?
AT&T, you see Microsoft and HTC and you get those silly cartoon dollar signs in your eyes and start hyper ventilating. No one thinks that is cool. Stop putting your name on the phones, stop trying to trick me into a data plan that has text messaging, and stop trying to be cool. No one likes AT&T, no one. I worked there for 3 years and I hate your company. You pay for fancy swanky stores that is understaffed and all they want to do is sell me DSL or a satellite dish or something. DO THE BASICS FIRST. I know you have to sell phones to teenagers and children trapped in twenty something bodies but don't forget who pays their bills. I have had the same phone number and service since May of 2000! What do I get? Nothing!!!! I can get a reduced activation fee if I pay too much for a phone and sign up for 2 more years. NO THANKS. I have been off of a plan for 2 years now and you act like you don't care. The amount of money you spend to get a new customer is more than the cost of the Tilt 2 that I want but you don't care to keep me.
HTC is not putting the phones in my hand that I want at any price. Microsoft can't update their OS without changing the name and 2 years of delays. And AT&T does not love their customers and only look to sucker children into buying pink and glitter speckled phones while turning away people in camera-phobic job fields. AT&T, you are the worst one of all. Microsoft and HTC makes one sale and they are done. You make money off of me every month and you hate me the most. Shameful.
To sum up... I want a new phone and do not want a camera, contract, or glitter. I am having a hard time dealing with this.
Microsoft, you and I have known each other for a long time. I don't want to talk about your desktops and servers but we need to talk about your mobile software. I want to like it but you screw up everything you touch. You come out with Windows Phone 6.5 and with it give us another name for your mobile OS. You have Windows CE, PocketPC, Windows Mobile, and now Windows Phone. Make up your mind! It looks like you are on the right track with version 6.5 but how would I know? There are only a couple of devices that run 6.5 and my awesome Tilt does not take the upgrade. That brings me to you HTC.
HTC, I started with your AT&T 3100 (StarTrek). It was just what I needed. I had to beg AT&T to sell me the no camera model but that is the past. I like your Tilt, this is a work of art. Well, thick, battery hungry, art. Your phones like the Tilt 2 and the Leo may be nice but those are not out there right now. What have you been up to lately? People like me that have phones that cost more than many laptops want power, performance, a no camera (or at least lockable camera), and carrier independence. If you put the HD2 out there I would buy it but you insist on sending it to Europe only. What is the problem? What more do you want from me?
AT&T, you see Microsoft and HTC and you get those silly cartoon dollar signs in your eyes and start hyper ventilating. No one thinks that is cool. Stop putting your name on the phones, stop trying to trick me into a data plan that has text messaging, and stop trying to be cool. No one likes AT&T, no one. I worked there for 3 years and I hate your company. You pay for fancy swanky stores that is understaffed and all they want to do is sell me DSL or a satellite dish or something. DO THE BASICS FIRST. I know you have to sell phones to teenagers and children trapped in twenty something bodies but don't forget who pays their bills. I have had the same phone number and service since May of 2000! What do I get? Nothing!!!! I can get a reduced activation fee if I pay too much for a phone and sign up for 2 more years. NO THANKS. I have been off of a plan for 2 years now and you act like you don't care. The amount of money you spend to get a new customer is more than the cost of the Tilt 2 that I want but you don't care to keep me.
HTC is not putting the phones in my hand that I want at any price. Microsoft can't update their OS without changing the name and 2 years of delays. And AT&T does not love their customers and only look to sucker children into buying pink and glitter speckled phones while turning away people in camera-phobic job fields. AT&T, you are the worst one of all. Microsoft and HTC makes one sale and they are done. You make money off of me every month and you hate me the most. Shameful.
To sum up... I want a new phone and do not want a camera, contract, or glitter. I am having a hard time dealing with this.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More 7/64 and whats that smell
Another victory for Windows 7 today. I decided to install my Can-o-scan LiDE 35. I went to the Cannon website only to find no mention of 64 bit or Windows 7. It is early yet for the OS so I look to the Vista page. No Vista 64 support at all.
I searched and found this site. I downloaded an asian version of a different model LiDE and it magically worked. I scanned my document and went about my way. It is funny that so far the worst software for 7/64 happens to be IE 8. It locks up all of the time and I have to reset the settings to default. I never change anything in IE so I don't know what happens. I only use it cause it is set to open in my left side monitor so I can watch HULU without bothering my right screen. No loss really.
On a different topic....
Sometime Saturday afternoon I walked into my 7 year old son's room only to be met with a stench like an airshow port-o-let. After a good deal of yelling I finally got the story that he had got up in the night to go to the restroom and did not make it to the bathroom. He whizzed in his bedroom floor and then went back to bed. This apparently happened the night before he went to grandma's house for a few days. We did not go into his room for anything so we did not notice. He had also taken some blankets and pillows to cover up the smell. I was furious but it got worse.
While throwing away blankets and toys that would never be clean enough for me again I noticed something else. My wife and other child were having trouble breathing. I noticed a sweet smell in the hallway and decided to ask my 7 year old what that was all about. Six lies later and I finally get the story. He had found the family sized Spf 50 sunscreen spray bottle and decided to spray the floor and walls of the office, hallway, and living room. The asthmatics in the house were choking and had to leave the house while I cleaned up the near invisible but fragrant mess.
By the way if you ever have to clean up a massive urine pool in your house don't go to the pet store and get the pet urine remover. This $8 bottle of magic turned out to be just rubbing alcohol. We could have gotten 2 bottles for a dollar at the drug store but live and learn I guess.
The room still smells bad. I guess we will have to rent a steam genie or something to fix it. New carpet is the answer.
I searched and found this site. I downloaded an asian version of a different model LiDE and it magically worked. I scanned my document and went about my way. It is funny that so far the worst software for 7/64 happens to be IE 8. It locks up all of the time and I have to reset the settings to default. I never change anything in IE so I don't know what happens. I only use it cause it is set to open in my left side monitor so I can watch HULU without bothering my right screen. No loss really.
On a different topic....
Sometime Saturday afternoon I walked into my 7 year old son's room only to be met with a stench like an airshow port-o-let. After a good deal of yelling I finally got the story that he had got up in the night to go to the restroom and did not make it to the bathroom. He whizzed in his bedroom floor and then went back to bed. This apparently happened the night before he went to grandma's house for a few days. We did not go into his room for anything so we did not notice. He had also taken some blankets and pillows to cover up the smell. I was furious but it got worse.
While throwing away blankets and toys that would never be clean enough for me again I noticed something else. My wife and other child were having trouble breathing. I noticed a sweet smell in the hallway and decided to ask my 7 year old what that was all about. Six lies later and I finally get the story. He had found the family sized Spf 50 sunscreen spray bottle and decided to spray the floor and walls of the office, hallway, and living room. The asthmatics in the house were choking and had to leave the house while I cleaned up the near invisible but fragrant mess.
By the way if you ever have to clean up a massive urine pool in your house don't go to the pet store and get the pet urine remover. This $8 bottle of magic turned out to be just rubbing alcohol. We could have gotten 2 bottles for a dollar at the drug store but live and learn I guess.
The room still smells bad. I guess we will have to rent a steam genie or something to fix it. New carpet is the answer.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
More about Windows 7 x64
I think my last post was a bit premature. I have been working with this way too much lately. I have discovered that my bargin bin HP Workstation xw8200 computer has a giant flaw. The SATA controller is the old slow type of SATA not the cool fast SATA. I have ordered a new fancy fast controller so I will have fast hard drives once again. This will mean another Windows 7 install but no big deal.
Some of my network issues involve me using the Windows 7 version of Remote Desktop software. It apparently cripples Windows 2000 systems running plain old Terminal Server. Once I connect my server maxes out the processor. My music stops flowing and I get sad. I disconnect from the remote session and all goes back to normal.
Every few hours my sound just dies. I have to go to the control panel, select my speakers, and change the default from DVD quality to telephone quality. I get an error that another application is controlling the sound card and then the sound returns. I put the setting back to DVD and it works for another few hours or days.
I am still waiting for Firefox and Adobe to get with the 64 bit world but I am not holding my breath.
Some of my network issues involve me using the Windows 7 version of Remote Desktop software. It apparently cripples Windows 2000 systems running plain old Terminal Server. Once I connect my server maxes out the processor. My music stops flowing and I get sad. I disconnect from the remote session and all goes back to normal.
Every few hours my sound just dies. I have to go to the control panel, select my speakers, and change the default from DVD quality to telephone quality. I get an error that another application is controlling the sound card and then the sound returns. I put the setting back to DVD and it works for another few hours or days.
I am still waiting for Firefox and Adobe to get with the 64 bit world but I am not holding my breath.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The sad bits
I will stick to the facts here. Software that runs natively in Windows 64bit versions is hard to find and sometimes buggy.
Trying to break out of the 4 gig world I bought a refurb dual processor workstation class 64bit system. The thing runs great in Windows XP 32 bit. Windows 7 x64 is so bad that I am considering a change to Vista.
Adobe flash, Firefox, and my laserjet driver are all missing from the x64bit world. I am very dissappointed. If I play a music file in MediaMonkey at the same time I am doing anything else the song skips so bad I just turn it off. This is bad news for me. My oldP4 with 1.5 gig of RAM would read music files for hours at a time without missing a beat.
I am mad and out of options. If I put a 32bit OS then I lose my RAM upgradability. If I stick to this I will have to buy a new printer and an iPod.
This is distracting and I think I will just let it be for now.
Trying to break out of the 4 gig world I bought a refurb dual processor workstation class 64bit system. The thing runs great in Windows XP 32 bit. Windows 7 x64 is so bad that I am considering a change to Vista.
Adobe flash, Firefox, and my laserjet driver are all missing from the x64bit world. I am very dissappointed. If I play a music file in MediaMonkey at the same time I am doing anything else the song skips so bad I just turn it off. This is bad news for me. My oldP4 with 1.5 gig of RAM would read music files for hours at a time without missing a beat.
I am mad and out of options. If I put a 32bit OS then I lose my RAM upgradability. If I stick to this I will have to buy a new printer and an iPod.
This is distracting and I think I will just let it be for now.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
For the Benjamins
I am on my second of the requisite 10 listens of the latest Dream Theater album "Black Clouds & Silver Linings". Because it usually takes so long to catch on to the regular DT album I would normally refrain from commenting so early in the process but I will make an exception.
Call me what you will but I love the song "Wither". It is awesome. It may be the only song under ten minutes on the whole 3 CD set but I won't hold that against them. The song is radio ready but still full of DT style.
There is one song that starts with a ticking clock for 18 seconds and I hate that. I know it is art but that is dead driving time. The song is "The Best Of Times" and it has a violin and piano so it is not the average DT song but then the guitar starts. Man, these guys are great. The run up reminds me of Styx. I don't know that is on purpose or if it is the fact that I heard Dennis DeYoung on Bob and Tom this morning.
The other songs cannot be commented on yet. They are long and I need time to hear them several times before I can say something about it. I will say that the 3rd CD has songs from the 1st CD without words. You can imagine the folks that will crank this up and read the words in a really high quality background music karaoke.
Call me what you will but I love the song "Wither". It is awesome. It may be the only song under ten minutes on the whole 3 CD set but I won't hold that against them. The song is radio ready but still full of DT style.
There is one song that starts with a ticking clock for 18 seconds and I hate that. I know it is art but that is dead driving time. The song is "The Best Of Times" and it has a violin and piano so it is not the average DT song but then the guitar starts. Man, these guys are great. The run up reminds me of Styx. I don't know that is on purpose or if it is the fact that I heard Dennis DeYoung on Bob and Tom this morning.
The other songs cannot be commented on yet. They are long and I need time to hear them several times before I can say something about it. I will say that the 3rd CD has songs from the 1st CD without words. You can imagine the folks that will crank this up and read the words in a really high quality background music karaoke.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
No distortion
In Ms. Armstrong's English 2 class I read the book, The Pearl. This taught me that a stories have conflict and resolution. The conflict could be between 2 people, between people and nature, or a person against their self. There should a crescendo building to a powerful denouement and ending with a resolution settling the central conflict and any dangling peripheral conflicts. Ms. Armstrong also taught us all that white eye shadow make-up makes a frail white woman look dead.
Real life does not have crescendo outside of classical music. Denouement occurs at random moments that often don't fit the story. Resolution is elusive. Some of us seek the tying of loose ends but disappointment is more likely. You may never know what happened to Eugene the leg breaker. You may never see Jason from up the road to find out if he ever fulfilled his dream of becoming The Junk Yard Dog.
The talk amongst us normal people tends to be of the failures and missed opportunities of those around us. In retrospective slow motion we detail the should've, would've, could'ves of grand figures and coworkers alike. Milling and fussing over nothing of great interest or importance.
I was a believer in the building conflict and eventual resolution theory of life at one time. I guess this is a flaw of youth. I know now that if you work harder all you do is get old faster. If you build something that people want then most people will want it for free. If you a tyrant then you will find an outlet for your tyranny. Never attribute to malice what can better be explained by laziness, ineptitude, or outright ignorance.
At the start of this post I was a non face-booker but now I am. This post is even more relevant after having chatted and face-booked with those from my past and present that happen to own a computer and have a need to reconnect. People from the crowd come at you with questions, pokes, and offers of fruit. Just what I needed, another facet of my life that requires my interaction and offers only intrusion and train wreck observation style satisfaction. I am hooked.
Real life does not have crescendo outside of classical music. Denouement occurs at random moments that often don't fit the story. Resolution is elusive. Some of us seek the tying of loose ends but disappointment is more likely. You may never know what happened to Eugene the leg breaker. You may never see Jason from up the road to find out if he ever fulfilled his dream of becoming The Junk Yard Dog.
The talk amongst us normal people tends to be of the failures and missed opportunities of those around us. In retrospective slow motion we detail the should've, would've, could'ves of grand figures and coworkers alike. Milling and fussing over nothing of great interest or importance.
I was a believer in the building conflict and eventual resolution theory of life at one time. I guess this is a flaw of youth. I know now that if you work harder all you do is get old faster. If you build something that people want then most people will want it for free. If you a tyrant then you will find an outlet for your tyranny. Never attribute to malice what can better be explained by laziness, ineptitude, or outright ignorance.
At the start of this post I was a non face-booker but now I am. This post is even more relevant after having chatted and face-booked with those from my past and present that happen to own a computer and have a need to reconnect. People from the crowd come at you with questions, pokes, and offers of fruit. Just what I needed, another facet of my life that requires my interaction and offers only intrusion and train wreck observation style satisfaction. I am hooked.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Shelves and Substitues
Joy is a rare condition. It is not a natural state. With no forces acting upon us we don't revert back to joy. Some are able to relax but while that may lead to joy it is no guarantee.
Chip tells me that self awareness is key to life. I want to be oblivious for a while. As disengaged and adynamic as I perceive myself to be I still feel I need to recoil further from the outside forces. I find there are few things I can say to identify myself or my beliefs these days. I feel trapped and I am forced to communicate. I am not talking about the fact that Chip butt dials me at least twice a day but seriously, stop that. I don't even answer anymore because it happens all the time.
I don't think of it as isolation but insulation. I can't image what real people with real problems do. I am scrambled but it is my fault. I have no biological excuses or terrible tragic thing to blame. Its just me.
The songs seeing me through these days are:
That's Not My Name by The Ting Tings
Soulful Christmas by James Brown
Curbside Goodbye by Emery
That's right, I own the Thriller Album and shut up! Statistically you either own it or are lying about not owning it.
Chip tells me that self awareness is key to life. I want to be oblivious for a while. As disengaged and adynamic as I perceive myself to be I still feel I need to recoil further from the outside forces. I find there are few things I can say to identify myself or my beliefs these days. I feel trapped and I am forced to communicate. I am not talking about the fact that Chip butt dials me at least twice a day but seriously, stop that. I don't even answer anymore because it happens all the time.
I don't think of it as isolation but insulation. I can't image what real people with real problems do. I am scrambled but it is my fault. I have no biological excuses or terrible tragic thing to blame. Its just me.
The songs seeing me through these days are:
That's Not My Name by The Ting Tings
Soulful Christmas by James Brown
Curbside Goodbye by Emery
That's right, I own the Thriller Album and shut up! Statistically you either own it or are lying about not owning it.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Living with 7
I installed the Windows 7 beta to see if I liked it more than Vista. I did not have to live with the software so I put it on a junk drive on my laptop and used it only long enough to see that it had some skills.
At the same time I installed Jaunty Jackaloupe on another junk drive on the same laptop. Very nice but it was not a long term option because of the software I use. I did notice a big difference. Cellular modems turned out to be a surprise for me.
In my day job I have to setup and install Verizon PC5750 air cards on Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. There are bugs and tricks to the VZmanager software and you have to force it onto either OS. On Windows XP you can use the standard download software and you are fine.
I borrowed one of these aircards one weekend and decided to see if the new OS flavors were up to the challenge. Ubuntu identified the new hardware and I was online in a few seconds. The rest of this post will chronical the steps I took to get online with Windows 7. For the tech-weak knees turn away now.
I had decided that my 2gig, 2 year old laptop ran Windows 7 better than a new 4gb Dell Optiplex with Vista so I would try a longer term Windows 7 trial. Thanks to rare and brilliant move by Microsoft to allow for an unheard of Release Candidate trial period of Windows 7 I decided to commit.
I upgraded my Dell Latitude D620 to 4gig of Ram and a 7200/8mb cache/260gb hard drive and installed Windows 7 RC. I won't deny that there are a few odd "vista" like issues with 7 but overall I like it. That is now that I fixed the major problem. Verizon Air Card!
I downloaded the VZAccessManager from the Verizon website. I ran the setup and it asked for me to insert the card into the PC. I popped it in and nothing. Windows 7 had a message that it did not have the drivers for my new hardware that it called Pantech PC card. The install failed telling me that the OS was not supported. I figured that the VZ software worked but that the card install failed.
The normal course of action would be to go into Device Manager and update the drive to the drivers manually. I found that the Pantech folder was not in Program Files. I drilled down to \Program Files\vzmanager\drivers\pc5750\install\ and only found setup.exe. I ran this but it did not do much of anything but tell me that the OS was not supported. I heard this somewhere before.
I googled and googled but did not find much info. I guess that is why I am writing this.
I took the setup.exe out of the install folder and ran it on my Windows XP desktop. This created a nice directory filled with drivers! Yeah. I copied the files to my laptop. I used device manager and updated the drivers individually. This solved one problem. Windows 7 could now see the modem right but VZaccess manager still would not use it.
Using a tip from a posting online I uninstalled VZaccess manager and killed the modem in the network connections folder and rebooted.
This worked!! I was able to create a custom dial up connection and make a connection.
To recap the Verizon Air Card install on Windows 7:
Download the VZAccessMgr software from Verizon's website
Install the software on a Windows XP machine.
Copy the PANTECH PC Card folder from the XP machine to the Windows 7 machine from the Program Files directory on the XP box.
Insert the PC card into the Windows 7 PC.
It will fail to install the drivers.
Go into the device manager and update the drivers for each of the ! error devices with the drivers in the PANTECH PC Card folder.
Reboot.
Go into the network sharing center and setup a new connection and select Dial Up Networking.
All I put in was the #777 as the phone number, no password and no username.
This worked!!!
Milage may vary. I am pretty lazy about this sort of thing but I appreciate those people that aren't lazy about documentation. I hope this helps those in this situation.
At the same time I installed Jaunty Jackaloupe on another junk drive on the same laptop. Very nice but it was not a long term option because of the software I use. I did notice a big difference. Cellular modems turned out to be a surprise for me.
In my day job I have to setup and install Verizon PC5750 air cards on Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. There are bugs and tricks to the VZmanager software and you have to force it onto either OS. On Windows XP you can use the standard download software and you are fine.
I borrowed one of these aircards one weekend and decided to see if the new OS flavors were up to the challenge. Ubuntu identified the new hardware and I was online in a few seconds. The rest of this post will chronical the steps I took to get online with Windows 7. For the tech-weak knees turn away now.
I had decided that my 2gig, 2 year old laptop ran Windows 7 better than a new 4gb Dell Optiplex with Vista so I would try a longer term Windows 7 trial. Thanks to rare and brilliant move by Microsoft to allow for an unheard of Release Candidate trial period of Windows 7 I decided to commit.
I upgraded my Dell Latitude D620 to 4gig of Ram and a 7200/8mb cache/260gb hard drive and installed Windows 7 RC. I won't deny that there are a few odd "vista" like issues with 7 but overall I like it. That is now that I fixed the major problem. Verizon Air Card!
I downloaded the VZAccessManager from the Verizon website. I ran the setup and it asked for me to insert the card into the PC. I popped it in and nothing. Windows 7 had a message that it did not have the drivers for my new hardware that it called Pantech PC card. The install failed telling me that the OS was not supported. I figured that the VZ software worked but that the card install failed.
The normal course of action would be to go into Device Manager and update the drive to the drivers manually. I found that the Pantech folder was not in Program Files. I drilled down to \Program Files\vzmanager\drivers\pc5750\install\ and only found setup.exe. I ran this but it did not do much of anything but tell me that the OS was not supported. I heard this somewhere before.
I googled and googled but did not find much info. I guess that is why I am writing this.
I took the setup.exe out of the install folder and ran it on my Windows XP desktop. This created a nice directory filled with drivers! Yeah. I copied the files to my laptop. I used device manager and updated the drivers individually. This solved one problem. Windows 7 could now see the modem right but VZaccess manager still would not use it.
Using a tip from a posting online I uninstalled VZaccess manager and killed the modem in the network connections folder and rebooted.
This worked!! I was able to create a custom dial up connection and make a connection.
To recap the Verizon Air Card install on Windows 7:
Download the VZAccessMgr software from Verizon's website
Install the software on a Windows XP machine.
Copy the PANTECH PC Card folder from the XP machine to the Windows 7 machine from the Program Files directory on the XP box.
Insert the PC card into the Windows 7 PC.
It will fail to install the drivers.
Go into the device manager and update the drivers for each of the ! error devices with the drivers in the PANTECH PC Card folder.
Reboot.
Go into the network sharing center and setup a new connection and select Dial Up Networking.
All I put in was the #777 as the phone number, no password and no username.
This worked!!!
Milage may vary. I am pretty lazy about this sort of thing but I appreciate those people that aren't lazy about documentation. I hope this helps those in this situation.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Where did April GO
In 8th grade April sat behind me in state history class. She thought my drawing of a rock band made up of fruits and vegetables was funny. Her bedazzled denim jacket and bubbly handwriting could not have foretold her grunge high school days. Just like I lost touch with the Jr. High April I have lost the month of April. Where did it go?
With the tax deadline, Easter holiday, carpentry work, sick kids, new tires, and the hellish torment known as the blooming of the lugustrium, it was a crazy month.
May is looking better. I will finally get my big bad laptop hard drive and memory in. The specs of said laptop would make most geeks laugh. I plan to put Windows 7 RC, Ubuntu - Jaunty on this puppy. I get to setup my first production Server 2008 network.
The month is young. I have ambitions of posting more this month. I think this will be a great month. Afterall I did not go to school with a May. I did know a May. She went to our church and she walked all over town selling Avon. Crazy.
Not really on the topic but the class after the class with April was Industrial Arts. Industrial Arts is also known as "shop" or "prison training". As a part of the grand failed experiment called "Deseggregation/Integration" I learned real quick that "shop" is not for the college bound. I think my next post will have to be more about this.
With the tax deadline, Easter holiday, carpentry work, sick kids, new tires, and the hellish torment known as the blooming of the lugustrium, it was a crazy month.
May is looking better. I will finally get my big bad laptop hard drive and memory in. The specs of said laptop would make most geeks laugh. I plan to put Windows 7 RC, Ubuntu - Jaunty on this puppy. I get to setup my first production Server 2008 network.
The month is young. I have ambitions of posting more this month. I think this will be a great month. Afterall I did not go to school with a May. I did know a May. She went to our church and she walked all over town selling Avon. Crazy.
Not really on the topic but the class after the class with April was Industrial Arts. Industrial Arts is also known as "shop" or "prison training". As a part of the grand failed experiment called "Deseggregation/Integration" I learned real quick that "shop" is not for the college bound. I think my next post will have to be more about this.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Slipping Out
Once again I find myself sitting here wondering why I am not asleep. Instead I am looking at old digital photos. This is a black hole of time for me. Where have the years gone?
I have some activities coming up this summer and I am wrestling with this question: Do I take the Nikon D200 with me to take tons of photos and then make a slide show and maybe a Blurb book OR do I buy a cheap video camera and try to take my daily cuts and put it together with stills in a video/still montage?
I am leaning toward the still shot answer. Here is my thinking. I have access to this really nice camera, lenses, case, extra batteries and stuff. I have the software to make a kick butt slide show with timed music and everything. While I have a 7 year old 8mm video camera and a capture card I don't have a battery or tripod. Buying a new camera would not be easy considering that to have any value on the projector screen I will have to spend $200 - $300. That is some serious jack right now.
I guess I could borrow a video camera but then I have to pack around a tripod and other junk everywhere I go. I also have to setup at least a little bit ahead of the action and then remain stationary for a little while.
I think this post has talked me out of the video option. Maybe one day I will be able to afford the kind of gear that I can great things with. Right now I will go the cheap route.
If I buy anything it will be a couple of high speed 16 gb CF cards.
I have some activities coming up this summer and I am wrestling with this question: Do I take the Nikon D200 with me to take tons of photos and then make a slide show and maybe a Blurb book OR do I buy a cheap video camera and try to take my daily cuts and put it together with stills in a video/still montage?
I am leaning toward the still shot answer. Here is my thinking. I have access to this really nice camera, lenses, case, extra batteries and stuff. I have the software to make a kick butt slide show with timed music and everything. While I have a 7 year old 8mm video camera and a capture card I don't have a battery or tripod. Buying a new camera would not be easy considering that to have any value on the projector screen I will have to spend $200 - $300. That is some serious jack right now.
I guess I could borrow a video camera but then I have to pack around a tripod and other junk everywhere I go. I also have to setup at least a little bit ahead of the action and then remain stationary for a little while.
I think this post has talked me out of the video option. Maybe one day I will be able to afford the kind of gear that I can great things with. Right now I will go the cheap route.
If I buy anything it will be a couple of high speed 16 gb CF cards.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Always the bridesmaid
It seems to me that if you want something bad enough and you are willing to do anything to get it that you will eventually meet the guy that got it for free even though he does not want it or understand it. Can I get an amen on that one.
At present I am a contractor. A mercenary in the non-violent, economic sort of way. I am present but must not participate. I am observed but must not lead. Nonessential but cheaper than full on employee commitment.
At heart I am a patriot. I don't want to shake off the disdain at the end of each day like the postman in from the storm. I want to wrap myself up in the flag of my fathers and charge ever onward despite my enemies. Forsaking my detractors and flying in the face of the nefarious nare-do-wells and all like that. I want to be a part of something important even if anonymously.
I have to lead a double life in order to have a small role in the greater good. After hours unpaid citizen airman doing what no one will pay me to do.
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't gamble. My resume is terse and succinct without embellishment or liberties and absolutely true. Maybe all of these things I hold as virtues are standing in my way. Perhaps people just assume that since everyone else is so screwed up that I must be lying about something. Maybe I need to reveal that I am a chronic procrastinator and a Lego Maniac. That ought to reel em in.
The bouncer at the What I Want Club keeps me behind the ropes and giggles like a geisha each time he lifts the rope for some punk to skip me.
Maybe I am secretly that bouncer and the guy in the front of the line is Destro and I am forced to stare into his shiny head right back at me and ignore the fact that he has rocket arrows on his wrist bands. Or maybe it is the wrist band rockets that tell me not to let him in.
I have given up on getting the job that puts me standing cross ways but rightously in the way of oppression or terror or something else pretty bad. I have given up on that call that says "we have noticed your work and would like to discuss your future". This will not ever happen.
I have to wonder if how much my adversion to the masonic mystery cults and charasmatic fire eaters of the world has harmed me. My inability to blend and fold into the shiney inner fabric of society means I will always be on the fuzz laden and stained outermost layer of the bedspread that is the middle class.
At present I am a contractor. A mercenary in the non-violent, economic sort of way. I am present but must not participate. I am observed but must not lead. Nonessential but cheaper than full on employee commitment.
At heart I am a patriot. I don't want to shake off the disdain at the end of each day like the postman in from the storm. I want to wrap myself up in the flag of my fathers and charge ever onward despite my enemies. Forsaking my detractors and flying in the face of the nefarious nare-do-wells and all like that. I want to be a part of something important even if anonymously.
I have to lead a double life in order to have a small role in the greater good. After hours unpaid citizen airman doing what no one will pay me to do.
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't gamble. My resume is terse and succinct without embellishment or liberties and absolutely true. Maybe all of these things I hold as virtues are standing in my way. Perhaps people just assume that since everyone else is so screwed up that I must be lying about something. Maybe I need to reveal that I am a chronic procrastinator and a Lego Maniac. That ought to reel em in.
The bouncer at the What I Want Club keeps me behind the ropes and giggles like a geisha each time he lifts the rope for some punk to skip me.
Maybe I am secretly that bouncer and the guy in the front of the line is Destro and I am forced to stare into his shiny head right back at me and ignore the fact that he has rocket arrows on his wrist bands. Or maybe it is the wrist band rockets that tell me not to let him in.
I have given up on getting the job that puts me standing cross ways but rightously in the way of oppression or terror or something else pretty bad. I have given up on that call that says "we have noticed your work and would like to discuss your future". This will not ever happen.
I have to wonder if how much my adversion to the masonic mystery cults and charasmatic fire eaters of the world has harmed me. My inability to blend and fold into the shiney inner fabric of society means I will always be on the fuzz laden and stained outermost layer of the bedspread that is the middle class.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Blog More, Call Less
It is my new campaign slogan.
This weekend was all about the yard. I am not a yard guy really but I borrowed a self propelled 6hp mower this weekend. That rocked. I can't believe I have never used a self propelled mower before. Where has this been all of my life?
I then put a commercial grade string on my weed eater and went to town on the miles of sidewalk surrounding my house. I have to say that the yard looks good.
I found all sorts of yard things in the sunday ads today and I got all inspired. I may have to become a yard guy. They have sand with some polysomething built in so when you do pavers it holds better or something. I don't care, I am ready to buy it right now. All of a sudden I want to pull up my patio and put in some of that poly sand. I am ready to go!!!!
I also made burgers on the grill. Time to refill the tank and buy some steaks!!!! Spring is here.
This weekend was all about the yard. I am not a yard guy really but I borrowed a self propelled 6hp mower this weekend. That rocked. I can't believe I have never used a self propelled mower before. Where has this been all of my life?
I then put a commercial grade string on my weed eater and went to town on the miles of sidewalk surrounding my house. I have to say that the yard looks good.
I found all sorts of yard things in the sunday ads today and I got all inspired. I may have to become a yard guy. They have sand with some polysomething built in so when you do pavers it holds better or something. I don't care, I am ready to buy it right now. All of a sudden I want to pull up my patio and put in some of that poly sand. I am ready to go!!!!
I also made burgers on the grill. Time to refill the tank and buy some steaks!!!! Spring is here.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Skip the introductions please...
I have officially spent enough time with Windows Home Server. About 1 hour. It may have a place in some homes but not in mine. The $100 you could spend on the WHS OS is better put toward a Buffalo NAS or DROBO.
I read a few articles about the technology behind the WHS. Its impressive but I am left scratching my head. I get that the backup software is supposed to be great but why put it in such a top heavy server? There is enough Server 2003 bits left in there to mess up your server if you don't know what you are doing. A warning tells you this as you log in.
The option I would rather chase is a DROBO. If you have not seen this you need to check it out. Couple the DROBO with a backup program like the WHS has and you would have a winner.
I am going to format this drive and toss the eval CDs into the trash. So long home server. I may have clients that need this one day but I won't be needing it.
My next step is to try out FreeNAS. I may just ditch all of this "replacing server" talk and put Windows Media Center on this PC and call it a day. I have a feeling that will not dazzle me either. The OS world has just not caught up or on to the home market yet.
I read a few articles about the technology behind the WHS. Its impressive but I am left scratching my head. I get that the backup software is supposed to be great but why put it in such a top heavy server? There is enough Server 2003 bits left in there to mess up your server if you don't know what you are doing. A warning tells you this as you log in.
The option I would rather chase is a DROBO. If you have not seen this you need to check it out. Couple the DROBO with a backup program like the WHS has and you would have a winner.
I am going to format this drive and toss the eval CDs into the trash. So long home server. I may have clients that need this one day but I won't be needing it.
My next step is to try out FreeNAS. I may just ditch all of this "replacing server" talk and put Windows Media Center on this PC and call it a day. I have a feeling that will not dazzle me either. The OS world has just not caught up or on to the home market yet.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Another Technology post
I have feedback from my only reader that I sound depressing. Well, to use the worst saying ever: it is what it is. This is a cathartic spew of melodrama and mixed metaphor and I am turning to this more than ever now. I can't say it will get any better but here is something for those still reading.
Windows Home Server - I have to say that I was a little confused when I requested the free 120 day eval from Microsoft. I had it in my head that this was a media center server or some combo like that. Man was I wrong.
If you are looking for an in depth probe of the features and buttons of this OS then you are in the wrong place. I am not a fan. I am not a hater either. I suppose that if I had the cash to buy a shiney new HP home server with the version of Windows Home Server that does not destroy your data then I would be happy with what it does. It has a place in the world of computers but... I don't have a use for it.
I should explain my situation. I have a operated a domain controller for 8 years now. I have a Dell GX1 and other than the rare reboot I have only had to shut it down for hurricane evacuations. I have Windows 2000 with software IDE RAID on old junk drives and a throw away refub chassis. It runs the little P3 500 MhZ processor at 75% 24/7 dedicated to folding @ home. This is a print server, file server, music server, DNS, DHCP, Account Control, so on and on. I guess I am spoiled.
Windows Home Server on the other hand is more defined by what you can't do (not supposed to do). There may be ways around all of these limitations but that is not the point. If you have to hack it there are far better hacker friendly open source projects out there than this. You can't run a domain from WHS and it can't join a domain either. The server can't be wireless but your clients can be. I will add more to this list as my demo lets me down.
I should also mention that the requirements are widely optimistic in MS fashion. I have a P4 2.8 with 512mb of RAM. This is minimum or better than minimum according to the package. It took over an hour to install. I went to bed at 1 hour. I don't really know how long it really took.
I watched enough of the install to see "Installing Windows Server Small Business 2003" at one point. This tells me that this is a product that they gutted and put some lipstick on. The lipstick is cool but not worth the price of admission.
I am on a mission now to upgrade my old server. I don't know if I will just move my domain to the newer PC or if I will keep the old GX1 until it goes out and put freenas on the new gear. I will keep you informed.
I am pretty sure that no one is reading now so I could be writing about gang-land debauchery or lethal stage dives and no one would know.
Windows Home Server - I have to say that I was a little confused when I requested the free 120 day eval from Microsoft. I had it in my head that this was a media center server or some combo like that. Man was I wrong.
If you are looking for an in depth probe of the features and buttons of this OS then you are in the wrong place. I am not a fan. I am not a hater either. I suppose that if I had the cash to buy a shiney new HP home server with the version of Windows Home Server that does not destroy your data then I would be happy with what it does. It has a place in the world of computers but... I don't have a use for it.
I should explain my situation. I have a operated a domain controller for 8 years now. I have a Dell GX1 and other than the rare reboot I have only had to shut it down for hurricane evacuations. I have Windows 2000 with software IDE RAID on old junk drives and a throw away refub chassis. It runs the little P3 500 MhZ processor at 75% 24/7 dedicated to folding @ home. This is a print server, file server, music server, DNS, DHCP, Account Control, so on and on. I guess I am spoiled.
Windows Home Server on the other hand is more defined by what you can't do (not supposed to do). There may be ways around all of these limitations but that is not the point. If you have to hack it there are far better hacker friendly open source projects out there than this. You can't run a domain from WHS and it can't join a domain either. The server can't be wireless but your clients can be. I will add more to this list as my demo lets me down.
I should also mention that the requirements are widely optimistic in MS fashion. I have a P4 2.8 with 512mb of RAM. This is minimum or better than minimum according to the package. It took over an hour to install. I went to bed at 1 hour. I don't really know how long it really took.
I watched enough of the install to see "Installing Windows Server Small Business 2003" at one point. This tells me that this is a product that they gutted and put some lipstick on. The lipstick is cool but not worth the price of admission.
I am on a mission now to upgrade my old server. I don't know if I will just move my domain to the newer PC or if I will keep the old GX1 until it goes out and put freenas on the new gear. I will keep you informed.
I am pretty sure that no one is reading now so I could be writing about gang-land debauchery or lethal stage dives and no one would know.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Good Ship RSS
I don't know how this happened but I don't think a single one of my friends use RSS. I would wager on the fact that they don't know what it stands for. If it were not for Vista putting that stupid RSS reader on the gadget sidebar widget thing they would certainly never heard of it.
I say that to say this: Almost all of my friends are in the wide swath that is the IT field. Programmers, Sys Admins, Techs, Webbies, Comms, and the like. It makes me feel that I live in the wrong part of the country. They know their stuff but RSS is not in the mix I don't think.
On the other hand since they are not in those high paid big city IT positions here in this hell hole of a state they will not likely be one of the MCSEs working at McDonalds. I would rather be over qualified and underpaid in a state with a red state lifestyle than a millionaire in a megaopolis filled with mannies and shock jocks.
I say that to say this: Almost all of my friends are in the wide swath that is the IT field. Programmers, Sys Admins, Techs, Webbies, Comms, and the like. It makes me feel that I live in the wrong part of the country. They know their stuff but RSS is not in the mix I don't think.
On the other hand since they are not in those high paid big city IT positions here in this hell hole of a state they will not likely be one of the MCSEs working at McDonalds. I would rather be over qualified and underpaid in a state with a red state lifestyle than a millionaire in a megaopolis filled with mannies and shock jocks.
I wish I had known
Cruise Control buttons should have a skull and crossed bones on them. Anytime I think a part of my life is okay enough for me to set the Cruise and relax, I slam into something solid. Constant attention, constant focus. I suppose the pressure that is crushing me probably inspires some. I may have inspired me at some point but I am worn down. Worn and dull.
Joy is becoming harder and harder to find. Survival mode sucks. I am relegated to headphones and coffee. There is no place for me to be. There is no peace. It is all beach and no shelter.
The real problem is not the stress but the lack of payoff. I have never been in such a zero-sum game before. There are no points, there are no finish lines, just more race.
None of this is new to this world and I suppose instead of dying of diabetes at 47 I could be suffering of mercury poisoning at 20 like some fireworks assembly worker. I can put this all in perspective quick enough but that somehow doesn't make me want to trot on with a smile.
Joy is becoming harder and harder to find. Survival mode sucks. I am relegated to headphones and coffee. There is no place for me to be. There is no peace. It is all beach and no shelter.
The real problem is not the stress but the lack of payoff. I have never been in such a zero-sum game before. There are no points, there are no finish lines, just more race.
None of this is new to this world and I suppose instead of dying of diabetes at 47 I could be suffering of mercury poisoning at 20 like some fireworks assembly worker. I can put this all in perspective quick enough but that somehow doesn't make me want to trot on with a smile.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
I grew up with almost zero exposure to country music. In high school I was forced to listen to Garth Brooks and Randy Travis thanks to my brother and I hated it. Anything with a slide guitar or banjo made me cringe.
Two things happened to change my mind about country music. First and most importantly I started playing guitar. The more I play acoustic the more I respected the country guitarists. Secondly I looked around for something unfamiliar to quiet the noise in my head.
In the last six months I have dunked my head into the sobering outright common sentimentality of ballad country music. I like the happy songs too but if it smacks of a bar song or a sing-a-long then I have to pass on it.
I have been caught off guard by some songs like "Allisya Lies", "Better in Color", and just tonight the song "November 8th" blew me away.
I am not saying that I know the artists or follow discography. I am still a Demon Hunter, Emery, and King's X fan. I have just opened new avenues of musical appreciation.
Another odd facet of my music enjoyment is the joyous phenom that is Kingdom Bound Quartet. They are like the Lil' Wayne of regional southern gospel quartets. Chicks dig them and they sell t-shirts. They are awesome.
Two things happened to change my mind about country music. First and most importantly I started playing guitar. The more I play acoustic the more I respected the country guitarists. Secondly I looked around for something unfamiliar to quiet the noise in my head.
In the last six months I have dunked my head into the sobering outright common sentimentality of ballad country music. I like the happy songs too but if it smacks of a bar song or a sing-a-long then I have to pass on it.
I have been caught off guard by some songs like "Allisya Lies", "Better in Color", and just tonight the song "November 8th" blew me away.
I am not saying that I know the artists or follow discography. I am still a Demon Hunter, Emery, and King's X fan. I have just opened new avenues of musical appreciation.
Another odd facet of my music enjoyment is the joyous phenom that is Kingdom Bound Quartet. They are like the Lil' Wayne of regional southern gospel quartets. Chicks dig them and they sell t-shirts. They are awesome.
Phoney
Well, you would know that within weeks of my Tilt purchase I learn of the AT&T no-camera version of the Fuze. I can't win.
One day I won't care if my phone has a camera in it or not but for now I am stuck with this restriction.
One day I won't care if my phone has a camera in it or not but for now I am stuck with this restriction.
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