Creating a self signed certificate for development with subject alternative names

this is for IIS and assumption is Visual Studio is installed

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Bin

makecert.exe -n "CN=My Development Root CA,O=My,OU=Development,L=Houston,S=TX,C=US" -pe -ss Root -sr LocalMachine -sky exchange -m 120 -a sha1 -len 2048 -r

makecert.exe -n "CN=mypc01, CN=mypc01.mydomain.net, CN=localhost, CN=mypc01.mycompany.com" -pe -ss My -sr LocalMachine -sky exchange -m 120 -in "My Development Root CA" -is Root -ir LocalMachine -a sha1 -eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1

ZyXEL NSA320 resetting admin password

Locate the reset button hole between the power connector and Ethernet cable at the back of the NSA box. Take a small pin and push the button until you hear a single beep (it will beep in about 1 or 2 seconds). Now remove the pin (ie; dont push anymore). Now, you can login with your default admin userid/password of admin/1234

None of your data or settings are lost by doing this!

Provider load failure on SQL Server 2008 R2 reporting services (SSRS) installation

Below was the error on the log:

2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Sco: Attempting to open registry subkey SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS10_50.MSSQLSERVER\Setup
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Sco: Attempting to get registry value SQLPath
2014-03-09 03:08:36 RS: Setting InstanceId.
2014-03-09 03:08:36 RS: Setting Authentication Type.
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Sco: Attempting to get account sid for user account NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Sco: Attempting to get sid for user account NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Sco: GetSidForAccount normalized accountName NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE parameter to NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
2014-03-09 03:08:36 RS: Setting AsOleDb folder.
2014-03-09 03:08:36 RS: Persisting configurations.
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature RS_Server_Adv during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
2014-03-09 03:08:36 Slp: Provider load failure
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: The configuration failure category of current exception is ConfigurationFailure
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature RS_Server_Adv during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: System.Management.ManagementException: Provider load failure
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at System.Management.ManagementException.ThrowWithExtendedInfo(ManagementStatus errorCode)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection.ManagementObjectEnumerator.MoveNext()
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.ReportingServices.WmiProvider.WmiProviders.GetInstance(String machineName, String instanceName, RSWmiNamespaces rsNamespace, ConnectionOptions connOptions, ObjectGetOptions getOptions)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.ReportingServices.WmiProvider.WmiProviders.GetReportServerAdmin(String machineName, String instanceName, ConnectionOptions connOptions, ObjectGetOptions getOptions)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.ReportingServices.WmiProvider.WmiProviders.GetReportServerAdmin(String machineName, String instanceName)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.Configuration.ConfigurationWMI.Connect(String instanceName)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.Configuration.ConfigurationAPI..ctor(String configFilePath, String instanceName)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.Configuration.ReportServerConfiguration.GetConfigurationAPI(String instanceName)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.Configuration.ReportServerConfiguration.Persist(String instanceID, String instanceName)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.SQLRSConfigurationPrivate.Install_ConfigRC(Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.SQLRSConfigurationPrivate.InstallImpl(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.SQLRSConfigurationPrivate.Install(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.PrivateConfigurationBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, ConfigBaseAction action, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SqlFeatureConfigBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, ConfigBaseAction action, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp:    at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream)
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: Exception: System.Management.ManagementException.
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: Source: System.Management.
2014-03-09 03:08:37 Slp: Message: Provider load failure .

Turns out http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980142 describes the same error.

Solved by 

1. running SQL Server R2 installation, do not select Reporting services at this time, select something else (eg: client utilities), complete install
2. Install SQL Server R2 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
3. Go back to R2 install, this time select Reporting Services, complete install (no error this time - yay)
4. Install SP2 again and complete install

Clumsy Ninja, level 22, bounce the ninja off the trampoline sideways

Get a trampoline, drag the Ninja and smash him onto the trampoline so he bounces off outside and lands on feet. that's it

It wont work if the ninja lands on the trampoline and the white circle appears around the trampoline indicating the ninja has started to do the "regular" bouncing. In this case, even if he lands on his feet left/right, you wont pass it. Key is not to start the regular bounce and have him jump off to side and land on feet

Visual Studio 2012, 2013 - Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.

Visual Studio 2013 giving the below error while trying to debug a website project.

---------------------------

Microsoft Visual Studio

---------------------------

Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.

---------------------------

OK   

---------------------------

this was coming when trying to debug a website project. It turned out the start URL in the project was configured as https://localhost/myapp?param1

it started working once I removed the parameter from the URL. ie; https://localhost/myapp

Not sure though why Visual Studio is not accepting the parameter. Was able to add the parameter and hit the browser again once the browser page came up

Animal Pictures Alphabetically with Names

Book shows colorful animal photos in an alphabetical order. The animal names are written with big letters next to each picture. The photos are printed in large size and very clearly portray the animal shown. All the common domestic and wild animals are covered. At least one animal is shown per alphabet. This is an excellent learning companion for kids to clearly identify and name animals.

• Colorful animal photos listed in alphabetical order
• Names shown in big letters
• Large photos clearly displays the animal
• All the alphabet letters covered with at least one animal per letter
• All common domestic and wild animals covered
• Excellent learning resource for children to recognize and name animals

Visit the Book Home Page

Workaround for mouse pointer not working with Linux 2.6.17, 2.6.18, .. kernel on Virtual PC 2007 SP1

If you are using Linux kernel version 2.6.17 or 2.6.18, running under Virtual PC 2007 SP1, the mouse pointer may not work properly.You will see it as frozen in the middle of the screen.

You can make the mouse work by adding the kernel parameter "i8042.noloop".
This was tested on RedHat Linux 5.3 using grub as boot loader.

How to do this?

Testing first to make sure this works:

1. After PC starts, and before Linux is starting, press escape to go to go to grub menu
2. On menu, Press "e" to start editing.
3. Find the line starting like "kernel..." and press "e" to edit this line. Go to the end of line and enter "i8042.noloop" without the quotes. Make sure there is a space after the last parameter and the new. The line, after editing, should now look like "kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.el5 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet i8042.noloop"
4. Press Enter to accept the editing.
5. Press "b" to boot with the updated kernel parameter

Making a permanent change once happy the above is working

1. On a command prompt, edit file /boot/grub/menu.lst (vi /boot/grub/menu.lst)
2. Find the line starting like "kernel..." and enter "i8042.noloop" at the end of line without the quotes. Make sure there is a space after the last parameter and the new. The line should now look like "kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.el5 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet i8042.noloop"
3. Save the file and reboot PC