WSUS not syncing correctly in SonicWall environment

I have a client whose Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) was not syncing correctly and therefor computers were not getting updated. The event viewer logs on the server had the following entry:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows Server Update Services
Event Category: Synchronization
Event ID: 364
Description:Content file download failed.
Reason: The server does not support the necessary HTTP protocol. Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) requires that the server support the Range protocol header. Source File: /msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/photolibrary_0da3b50e5b2cdad0a44d21f10d825d8be8d5be3b.cab Destination File: F:\WSUS\WsusContent\3B\0DA3B50E5B2CDAD0A44D21F10D825D8BE8D5BE3B.cab.

Microsoft KB 922330 resolution method 2 was to "Enable HTTP Byte-Range request with Gateway AV" on the SonicWall firewall.

To get to the Sonicwall setting log onto your firewall. After you have logged on, change the URL from /main.html to /diag.html. Click Internal Settings button. Check "Enable HTTP Byte-Range requests with Gateway AV". Click Apply button. Click Close button. Restart is not required.

Test WSUS by manually syncing. Sync should begin.

Thanks to this site for the info http://parkesy.wordpress.com/category/sonicwall/

Excel 2007 Can't Save As 2003 Issue With Specific File

I have one Excel file that is in 2003 format and needs to be saved in 2003 format. The problem I was having was when I saved the file as 2003 using Excel 2007, excel would always crash. This was happening on multiple computers with the file being stored locally. A side note was that if the file is saved as 2007, compatibility pack would also crash.

A fix that i found was to remove Windows Update KB908531. To do this go to Add/Remove Programs and check Show Updates. Scroll down until you fined KB908531 and delete it. Restart your computer.

iPhone demo

I am demoing an iPhone and wanted to share the pros and cons I have experienced. My suggestion is to hold off on getting an iPhone. The iPhone is a consumer phone and business user should avoid it. Within six months there will be plenty of phones that can do just as much as the iPhone like the AT&T Tilt, LG Voyager, or Blackberry 9xxx. Some are out now.

PROS

Aesthetically pleasing
Built apps like YouTube and Google Maps
Built in iTunes can use Wi-Fi
Some screens rotate when phone is rotated from portrait to landscape
8 GB HD.

CONS

Requires iTunes
Uses AT&T Edge network which is extremely slow
Only wireless synchs mail. Does not wirelessly synch calendar or contacts
Mail is synched every 15 minutes and not real time.
Does not have the ability to view MMS pictures.
Keys are very close on touch keyboard
No direct link to Exchange other than with MAPI – most IT departments will not turn this on for security reasons. Workaround is to use 3rd party solution like http://www.synchronica.com/
No OMA ability.
No remote administration options for IT. IT departments need a way to wipe phones and to deploy group policies like passwords.
Cannot install other applications or games.
Safari browser only. No IE, Firefox, or Opera.
Non standard headset jack.
No ability to copy and paste.
No instant messenger. But with a funky keyboard IM would be difficult.
Mail should rotate to landscape mode and allow a wider touch keyboard.
Next generation should have a slider keyboard like the AT&T Tilt has.
No video recording capability.
Short battery life.
Phone gets warm.
Phone is a tad heavy.
8 GB HD.

Disable Vista User Account Control

Windows Vista has a new feature called User Account Control (UAC) that can get bothersome if you are not used to it.

You can disable UAC by going to Security Center in the control panel and unselect the "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer".

If you don't have the option to unselect then you will need to open msconfig disable UAC there.
To do this navigate to Start->Run and type MSCONFIG. Click on the Tools tab. Scroll down till you find "Disable UAP". You may need to restart your computer.

More info can be found at http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

Open in Regedit in Internet Explorer

I stumbled upon a simple but handy tool the other day. The progam is called "Open in Regedit in IE " and I found it on Petri.co.il (great website for computer info and how-to).

The tool is an Internet Explorer add-in that will directly take you to the registry path when listed on a webpage. This comes in very handy when you are reading instructions on how to modify the registry. Instead of having to go to Start->Run->regedit and navigating to the path you simply highlight the path on the website, right-click and select Open in Regedit.

Here is a little tip. The program will only work in Internet Explorer. What about if the instructions that tell you the registry path is from a non-website source like an email or PDF. Copy the path and paste it in any textbox in Internet Explorer like Google search box and right-click. You now have the option to Open in Regedit.

This program is a time saver and error saver.

You can download the program here. A quick search found something similar for Firefox.

How to watch NCAA March Madness blackout games on internet

CBS is streaming their broadcast of the NCAA tournament for free. Just create an account and log in to view the game live.

One problem is that some of the games are blackedout because it is being offered on local TV. I started investigating how the website is able to know that the game is local for me. When I created my account the site ask you what zip code you live in. I created a second account with a Wyoming zip code which is not local to anything....I was still blocked from viewing games.

Then it dawned on me that the website is reading my IP address and to determine if the game is being shown on local TV or not. The solution to that is to use a service/program that hides your real IP address and uses one that is located somewhere else in the world.

I decided to use a trial version of Anonymizer http://www.anonymizer.com/. Once I installed the program and opened my browser and logged into http://www.ncaasports.com/mmod/ I was able to view my game. According to http://showmyip.com/ my IP address is 128.241.111.50 and I'm now located in San Diego, CA. I would assume this work-around isn't good for San Diago using Anonymizer.

Alternative is to go to a web based site like http://www.shadowbrowser.com or http://www.proxy7.com/

Daylight Saving Time (DST) 2007

In case you haven't heard, Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts 3 weeks early and ends 1 week later this year to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

DST will start March 11 and end November 4 which is 4 weeks longer than previous years. Unless updates are applied to your computer, your OS computer's clock may be incorrect during the 4 weeks. You will also need to update MS Outlook.

If your computer is running Windows follow these steps to determine the version you have:

Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
In Control Panel, double-click System.
Click the General tab. The name of the current version of your Windows software is displayed on this tab.

Follow the steps below based on your version:

Windows XP sp2
If you are running Windows XP sp2 then go Windows Update and choose Express update.
http://update.microsoft.com

Windows XP sp1 or plain Windows XP
You will need to update to sp2. Go to Windows Update and choose Express update. Install sp2 and do another Express update.
http://update.microsoft.com

Windows NT or 2000
IntelliAdmin.com created a patch for you.
NOTE: that this is not a Microsoft patch.
DOUBLE NOTE: This patch will work on all versions of XP and 2003 in case you don't want to install service packs.
http://www.intelliadmin.com/DaylightSavingFix.exe

Windows 98 or ME
IntelliAdmin.com created a patch for you. NOTE that this is not a Microsoft patch.
http://www.intelliadmin.com/DaylightSavingFix98.exe

If you have Windows 95 you will have to manually adjust your clock.
NOTE: Don't you think it is time to upgrade your computer?
DOUBLE NOTE: You really should get a new computer that is from this decade.


Microsoft has this site to help
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst

If you have an Apple go to this site and follow instructions to update
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056