The symptoms are pretty simple.  In this case, the customer is using the POP3 Connector and is no longer receiving emails.  This problem can occur in a number of scenarios with the same fix.  the event log shows this error:

An error occurred while delivering mail to ’someguy@someplace.com’ on the SMTP server ‘localhost’. The error code was 0×800ccc6c. Verify that the mailbox exists and that the Exchange receive connectors are configured properly.

I’ve had this problem but with different event logs as well, so if you are getting some weird things, this is definitely something to look into before you so do anything else.  Both times, the problem was low disk space on the system partition.

That’s right!  low disk space.  First time I came across this problem, the server had about 55mb left so it was a no brainer.  But this time, there was 1.86GB left so I figured I’d free up some space after I had resolved the email problem.  It turns out that there should always be at least 2GB of free space for exchange to work properly.

I started to move a 14gb folder (using Teracopy of course..) to another partition and, magically, emails started pouring in after a few minutes.

I remembered a friend talking to me about a tiny freeware that lets you resume copies in case there were problems so I figured it would be a good idea to give that a shot.  Enter Teracopy.  This Windows “Copy replacement” lets you copy files much much faster than Windows ever could and adds many new features to the standard function.  Here is some information from their site:

• Copy files faster. TeraCopy uses dynamically adjusted buffers to reduce seek times. Asynchronous copy speeds up file transfer between two physical hard drives.
• Pause and resume file transfers. Pause copy process at any time to free up system resources and continue with a single click.
• Error recovery. In case of copy error, TeraCopy will try several times and in the worse case just skips the file, not terminating the entire transfer.
• Interactive file list. TeraCopy shows failed file transfers and lets you fix the problem and recopy only problem files.
• Shell integration. TeraCopy can completely replace Explorer copy and move functions, allowing you work with files as usual.
• Full Unicode support.

Teracopy impressed me quite a bit.  it uses different techniques to make sure your copies are completed faster, and that’s not just a catch phrase.  I’ve never heard my USB hard drive work that hard.  The estimated time for the Windows copy was about 55 minutes for each file.  Teracopy got everything done in about 30 minutes.

Once installed, Teracopy completely replaces your windows functions so whenever you make a copy/paste operation, Teracopy takes over.  At the time of writing this article, there is a portable version in beta.  There is also a Pro version that lets your play around in the copy queue and gives you support & upgrades as well.

• SolarWinds Free TFTP Server – upload and download executable images and configurations to network devices – our most popular free network monitoring tool!
• IP SLA Monitor – quickly troubleshoot network slowdowns between sites and easily understand device-to-device performance using sophisticated Cisco® IP SLA operations.
• Free Kiwi Syslog Server – receive, log, display, and forward syslog messages from network devices with this easy-to-use Syslog Server.
• Free Kiwi CatTools – simplify daily management tasks with the ability to manage and backup network
• VM Monitor – continuously monitor a VMware® ESX Server and its virtual machines with at-a-glance virtualization health statistics.
• SolarWinds Free Real-time NetFlow Analyzer – capture and analyze up to one hour of NetFlow data to see what types of traffic are on your network, where it’s coming from, & where it’s going.
• SolarWinds Free Exchange Monitor – continuously monitor Exchange and get real-time insight into services, mail queue sizes, and host server health with this clever desktop dashboard.
• SolarWinds Free NetFlow Configurator – configure NetFlow v5 via SNMP on supported Cisco® devices – a perfect complement to Orion NetFlow Traffic Analyzer and our free Real-time NetFlow Analyzer tool!
• SolarWinds Free Advanced Subnet Calculator – compute addresses for IP subnets – another perennial favorite in our suite of free network monitoring tools!
• SolarWinds Free Wake-On-LAN

  – remotely power up network PCs

I have not tested all of these tools of course, because some of them are too specific for my needs, but the Exchange Monitor and the Kiwi Syslog Server work great and do exactly what you expect them to.

Free tools are always welcome and the quality products offered by Solarwinds are an excellent addition to any administrator’s toolset.

It was a simple service call and after everything was done, I rebooted the computer to make sure everything was ok.. well, after that, the machine never restarted.  It simply kept looping, while on the windows logo screen, I could see the blue screen flashing and then it would restart.

At this point, I tried safe mode in all its forms and tried “Last Known Good Configuration” etc.. nothing worked.  I couldn’t run System Restore because windows did not even start.  So I used the F8 option to Disable auto reboot on BSOD and finally saw the actual Blue Screen message:

c000021a Fatal System Error
The Session Manager Initialization system process terminated unexpecedly with a status of 0xc000026c

A few Googles on the subject helped piece together a solution.  The problem is caused by a Windows Update known as KB925902.  The patch wasn’t installed recently.. it’s been on the machine for at least 6 months, but something must have triggered the problem.

The Solution:

Apparently there are a few variations on how the problem presents itself, so if windows starts in safe mode, I would go for a System Restore or use the Add/Remove programs section to remove that update.

What I had to do was to remove the update manually using the Recovery Console.  here’s how to do it:

1. Boot with your original Windows XP CD.  You need one which will allow you to get into the Recovery Console.
2. Once booted, choose to use the Recovery Console, usually by pressing “r”.
3. You may need to press “enter”  here to choose a different keyboard layout, otherwise you might have a hard time typing the next commands.
4. Choose which Windows installation you need to log into.  if there’s only one on that machine, it will be “1″.
5. Type in the Administrator password.  Yes, there is one, you had to supply one during the Windows XP installation.
6. Change folders using: cd WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB925902$\spuninst
7. Run this command in the folder: batch spuninst.txt
8. If the command ran correctly, you should see a spuninst.tag file, using the “dir” command.
9. reboot the computer.

At this point the computer should boot properly and you should install SP3 and other patches to prevent this problem from happening again.

If the spuninst.tag file doesn’t exist, you may have received a bunch of errors instead.  Joyful.  There are a few reasons why this could happen, one of which is if your windows isn’t really installed on the c:\ drive, even if the Recovery Console always names it that way.  To remove the patch manually, type in these commands: (make sure you replace the drive and path if required, depending on your installation)

• DEL “c:\windows\$hf_mig$\kb925902\mf3216.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\$hf_mig$\kb925902\gdi32.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\$hf_mig$\kb925902\user32.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\$hf_mig$\kb925902\win32k.sys”
• DEL “c:\windows\system32\dllcache\gdi32.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\system32\dllcache\mf3216.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\system32\dllcache\user32.dll”
• DEL “c:\windows\system32\dllcache\win32k.sys”
• COPY “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\gdi32.dll” “c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll”
• COPY “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\mf3216.dll” “c:\windows\system32\mf3216.dll”
• COPY “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\user32.dll” “c:\windows\system32\user32.dll”
• COPY “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\win32k.sys” “c:\windows\system32\win32k.sys”
• COPY “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\spuninst\spuninst.txt” “c:\windows\$NtUninstallKB925902$\spuninst\spuninst.tag”

I hope this helps someone out there because there aren’t many solutions for this problem and it took me so much time to piece together the solution.  Let me know it there are any errors and if it works for you.

Historically, disposable and rechargeable batteries have their individual advantages, which were impossible to combine.

Disposable batteries could be used immediately out of the package and could be stored for months or even years, without having to consider their self discharge. Their ease of use was unbeatable, they could be used basically everywhere. However, once empty, they had to be thrown away and a new battery had to be purchased.

Rechargeable batteries had the major advantage, that they could be used more than once. By re-charging, the use of one battery could be multiplied.

This clear advantage however, was associated with some less appealing aspects. Before usage, they had to be charged and once charged, they lost their energy rather fast. So frequent re-charging or charging just before usage was necessary.

Eneloop bring the best of both worlds to a single battery, combining the positive aspects of each type of batteries to create one that is even more appealing.

• Low self-Discharge: Once charged, the Eneloop can be stored and used after an entire year and still has 85% of its power.  Most rechargeables would be empty after that period.
• Easy to use: Ships already charged and can be counted on like a disposable battery
• Applications: can be used in the same hardware as both types, including NiMH
• Higher Performance: lasts longer than standard rechargeables
• Protects the Environment : can be recharged to full capacity up to 1000 times
• Lower Cost: Has a lower TCO than regular rechargeable batteries

Disposable Batteries		Rechargeable Batteries		eneloop
• can be used immediately• are simple to use• have low initial cost

• can be stored for long time

• have higher initial cost

• need to be charged frequently

• can be stored for long time

• have high long term cost

• have low long term cost

• have low long term cost

]]> http://www.techforlunch.com/eneloop-rechargeable-battery-without-the-downsides/feed/ 0 http://www.techforlunch.com/muspycom-get-notified-of-new-albums/ http://www.techforlunch.com/muspycom-get-notified-of-new-albums/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:18:40 +0000 Pascal Roy http://www.techforlunch.com/?p=277 With the increasing number of bands out there, and therefore, the increasing number of bands I enjoy listening to, it gets harder and harder to be informed of album releases quickly.  I like going to a few band websites once in a while to see what’s going on, but that’s only a handful of all the bands I actually listen to.  There are websites with a bunch of news on the industry and they’re not bad, but you usually get a lot of information for bands you don’t really care for.  Muspy.com allows you to choose which bands or artists you want to follow and lets you know whenever an album gets released.

Have you ever missed an album of one of your favourite artists only to discover it by accident weeks after the release? Do you spend a lot of time on official websites looking for release announcements? With Muspy you will save time and won’t miss any releases.

After you sign in, you may add the artists you want to follow. You can add them one-by-one, copy the list of artists from your Facebook profile, or import the top bands from your Last.fm profile.

When one of the artists releases a new CD, you will receive a short e-mail notification with the album name and release dates. You can also see the new releases on the website sorted in the chronological order, or subscribe to the rss feed and receive release alerts using the feed aggregator of your choice.

Muspy.com is one of those great little services that make the internet such a useful tool.  It’s free, simple and does exactly – and only – what it’s supposed to do.  If you are a music lover and like knowing about album releases before it’s been out for 3 months, then Muspy is something you may want to take a look at.

Norton Labs offer a simple tool that replaces the standard Windows UAC and allows you to respond to each prompt only once.  The Norton UAC tool allows an application to run with silently-elevated privileges only in a specific context, one previously approved by the user with the “don’t ask again” check box selected. This means that there is a difference between regedit.exe launched from the start->run box, regedit.exe originating from a shortcut double-click, and regedit.exe launched from a double click on a .reg file (and the context actually changes with each .reg file), and regedit.exe launched by an application (malicious or not). Given the contextual awareness of Norton UAC tool’s automatic responses, the Norton UAC tool provides a usability improvement over Vista’s default UAC prompts, while maintaining obvious security improvements in the Vista kernel (such as isolation, file/registry virtualization, and user interface privilege isolation) that are all disabled when UAC is disabled.  Here is what the new prompts will look like:

The tool is available in 32-bits and 64-bits formats and is a free download. Simply install it and give it a shot.  I think the only portion that is missing is the ability to tweak on which tasks the UAC is in function, but at least, its better than turning it off all together.  Be aware that since this is a beta “Lab tool”, the program may send Meta Data back to Norton for analysis.  Nothing private, but just what prompts are popping up and what you choose to do with them

]]> http://www.techforlunch.com/vista-user-account-control-uac-tool/feed/ 1 http://www.techforlunch.com/how-to-create-a-faviconico/ http://www.techforlunch.com/how-to-create-a-faviconico/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:25:41 +0000 Pascal Roy http://www.techforlunch.com/?p=249 My friend MK007 sent me a very cool link a couple of days ago and I thought it would be a great tool to share.  One of the tips that I see very often to help popularize a blog or any website, is to have a “favicon”.  The Favicon is the little icon that appears at the top of your browser, right beside the URL of the web page you are currently viewing.  It will also show up in the bookmarks beside your site to  make it easier to spot.  The one for Techforlunch is: …the same as my logo on the about page.  You should be able to see it at the top of your browser right now, granted your browser supports favicons.  Internet Explorer 6 does not support them.

Favicon Maker is a very easy to use web site to help you create your own icons. Simply upload an image that you want to use and it will be converted for you to the correct format.  A favicon is always 16×16 so that’s the size that will be used, but you can also specify if you want the file to contain a 32×32 and/or 48×48 icon.  What’s the use for that you say?  Well, basically the favicon.ico is a simple icon file and icon files can contain more than one size for the same icon.  For example, in windows you will see the same icon in more than one size if you look at a file on “details” mode and in “thumbnails” mode.  It’s the same icon file, but you see a different size.  If you are only going to be using that favicon for your site though, don’t bother getting the other two size as they will only make the favicon larger to download every time.

Once your file is created, simply download it and upload it to your website.  Most blogs and Content Management Systems support favicons right away, but you may need to modify the template you are using or the html files if the favicon doesn’t show up.  Just make sure that the HEAD section of your page contains the following code:

<link rel=”shortcut icon” href=”/favicon.ico”>

Make sure the path to the file is modified accordingly and you should be good to go!  The website also explains this pretty well.  Feel free to drop me a line if you need help with this.

]]> http://www.techforlunch.com/how-to-create-a-faviconico/feed/ 6 http://www.techforlunch.com/comparing-advertisement-budgets-from-apple-and-microsoft/ http://www.techforlunch.com/comparing-advertisement-budgets-from-apple-and-microsoft/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:08:25 +0000 Pascal Roy http://www.techforlunch.com/?p=248 The very popular (and often funny but not necessarily true) TV ads from Apple mocking Vista have generated a lot of talk. Discussions are usually about the facts that are presented in the commercials, naturally divided between Windows-users and apple-users. The facts in the commercials are sometimes true but also very debatable because they are rendered in a simplistic and humorous way. You have to keep in mind that they are just commercials, people!

One of the commercials brings forward the impressive marketing budget that was used by Microsoft to promote Windows Vista. It says that maybe they should have used that money to fix the major problems found in Vista instead of promoting it. I’m not going to say whether that’s true or not.. but I still prefer Windows XP.. by far! ;-)

The point of this article is that I read about the impressive numbers behind those ad campaigns. Microsoft’s advertising budget for Windows Vista is the well known $300 million. Lindsay Blakely from Bnet has posted an article about Apple’s numbers and where she found them. Apple’s Fiscal year ends in September and in its SEC Filings, the numbers are very clear. it turns out that Apples budget is even bigger than Vista’s. Apple spent a colossal $486 million on publicity in its last fiscal year. That’s half a billion dollars on advertising! With that budget, it’s almost impossible you didn’t see the vista-bashing commercials or at least iPod ads.

Microsoft, however, has a much bigger advertising budget when all their business units are combined. Including Windows, Office, Xbox and everything else, Microsoft’s ad budget was $1.2 billion for 2008. This would mean that Vista alone was about 25% of the entire budget.

]]> http://www.techforlunch.com/comparing-advertisement-budgets-from-apple-and-microsoft/feed/ 0 http://www.techforlunch.com/microsoft-launches-its-online-store-for-us-customers/ http://www.techforlunch.com/microsoft-launches-its-online-store-for-us-customers/#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:10:14 +0000 Pascal Roy http://www.techforlunch.com/?p=245 There are a number of things that are bound to happen as internet connections and instant access to products become more and more available.  One of those things is that packaged software could eventually become a thing of the past.  I’m not convinced on the fact that this will happen very soon, but it could certainly happen at some point.  There are already a great number of applications and games that are only available via online purchase and download.  One exception to this movement was Microsoft software.  Previously, it was not possible to purchase and download any version of Windows Vista or Microsoft Office.

Enter the new Microsoft Store.  Just like the Apple iStore,  Microsoft’s Store allows you to shop, purchase and download applications and games to your PC.  There is a variety of titles available and the list is sure to grow over time.  Right now, you could get any version of Windows Vista, Microsoft Office or even Windows Server 2008 and CALs.  The great advantage of buying software this way is that you can start downloading and installing right away.  No need to pay for shipping and wait for the package to finally arrive.  There are a number of items which still require shipping, such as Xbox 360 consoles and other hardware like mice and keyboards.

As of today, the Microsoft Store is available to US Customers.  It was already tested and deployed for European and Korean Customers.  We can expect that availability to grow with time to reach more markets.