I was working remotely on a server when prompted for the installation CD to be inserted. Another time, I had a tool that would work just fine on a Windows LAN, but was asked how to perform the operation over a cable modem connection to the internet. Neither of these cases required completion in this manner, but I was intrigued.

In researching a solution, I ran across this article: "How can I map to an FTP server as a drive?" which turned out to be entirely false and useless. I posted this follow up to the forum: NetDrive works fine on a Win 2000 Pro laptop mapping to TYPSoft FTP server. Apparently these are both freeware.

NetDrive is the answer. It is a free product from Novell which allows drive mapping to an FTP server. I was hesitant to use anything from Novell, but decided to give it a try. It works great and I now recommend NetDrive to customers for providing an easy way to manipulate website files via FTP connection.

One word of caution: Some programs scan your drives when they launch. If you are mapped to an FTP site, scanning could take quite some time (or even lock your system). Use the network drive mapping only when you are transferring files and then disconnect soon after the transfers complete. Sometimes I edit text files with notepad and then copy them between drives without any trouble. Frontpage 2000 seems to have issues with opening and closing while a drive is mapped to an FTP site.

 

 

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NetTransport by Xi is one of the nicest little freeware download managers I have seen. It doesn't have any of those annoying register me flashes and the company does not spam about their other products.

 

 

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Be sure to plug everything in correctly. Hook up your server and be sure to plug in the battery pack to the wall before powering up. Be sure to route modem lines through surge protectors before connecting your equipment to the wall jack.

If your equipment doesn't power up properly, check the overload breakers. Usually these have a button that just needs to be pushed back in.

Boot the server before the workstations. If you forgot, reboot your workstation after the server is up.

Test your services independently. Power - Phone - Internet. Just because one is working, doesn't mean they are all available.

Don't overload available power outets. This can be dangerous! It can also cause breakers to trip and new headaches to begin.

 

 

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Over the last many months (years even), I have dilligently studied the ways of the web. Utilizing website analyzers and keywords (commonly referred to Search Engine Optimization - or SEO), restructuring in hopes of moving up on Google and Yahoo! search results. When all of a sudden, I stumbled on a strange phenomenon.

Last week, as hurricane Rita was still in the Gulf, I stumbled across a blog that mentioned the recent marketing ploy of placing attractive women as television meterologists. Now, I do know better than to believe this hype, but after getting a chuckle reading about this conspiracy, I noticed the most recent video of one of the weather ladies in question, located on The Weather Channel, would not open. When it finally did open, I thought it would be a kick to take some snapshots and make a small photo gallery.

Well, let me just say, my website has never gotten so many unique visits in such a short time. The traffic increased 30+ times it's normal load. I feel as though I've just discovered gold and don't know how to mine it.

- Stephanie Abrams pictures -

Since this one page is more popular than anything else on my website, I've gathered a few more screen captures for your viewing enjoyment.

 

 

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If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of adding a Windows XP Professional workstation to an old NT 4.0 domain, be sure to modify the LMHOSTS. file or you might run into trouble.

eg:
10.1.1.10   MyServer   #DOM:MyDomain   #PRE

After saving, run nbtstat -R to load your new settings (capitalize the R). This fairly simple line of text can eliminate hours of frustration.

Windows XP depends heavily on DNS. Old NT 4.0 thinks DNS is only for fancy internet applications.

On the same page, use this in your HOSTS. file if your Active Directory configuration is bad:

10.1.1.10  MyServer  MyServer.MyDomain.local

In both cases, this setting avoids asking DNS for the address required. be sure to substitute your server's name and your specific domain name and suffix

 

 

( WinXP Pro )

Using the following tools along with PSkill from SysInternals and BartPE boot CD, Aurora wasn't such a pain this time:

adkil.ini

yeaxj.exe@c:\windows
qiy.exe@c:\windows
ilsnaddr.exe@c:\windows\system32
ilsnaddr.exe@c:\windows
jfghjfgudk.exe@c:\windows
pzivl@c:\windows
refgoj.exe@c:\windows\system

adkil.bat

@echo off
if \%1\==\\ goto ch_batch
set akp=%2
set akf=%1

:ch_work
pskill %akf%
attrib -s -h -r %akp%\%akf%
del %akp%\%akf%
goto ch_end

:ch_batch
FOR /F "eol=; tokens=1,2* delims=@" %%i in (adkil.ini) do call adkil.bat "%%i" "%%j"
set akp=
set akf=
goto ch_end

:ch_end

 

 

( Spyware adware )

I've now tried a half dozen password crackers/reset programs and am just about ready to format this blankety-blank system. It is a member of a Windows domain and refuses to allow me administrative access. I have tried Winternals' Locksmith, BartPE's password renew by Sala and a handful of other programs. All report successful application, but none actually reset the password. Also tried the screensaver/cmd prompt trick and got access denied.

I still don't know if it's some new fangled security patch or if they just implemented some wacky group policy. The end result is that I have a PC that won't let me do my thing and I'm tired of fighting with it. Right now it's humming along deleting the previous windows folder. This feels good :)

 

 

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After running Windows Update, a customer called me about her DOS application not working properly. A little bit of research and I noticed the batch file I had modified a couple years back to accomodate her new Windows XP system is now failing. Apparently, the updates have flipped the functionality of my modifications. By simply removing the modifications I had made, everything went back to normal.

I'm guessing enough people complained about having to fix batch files and Microsoft released a patch. Unfortunately, this has broken my workaround.

If you run into a batch file that has the forcedos command and doesnt' work like in the past, remove the command as a quick test.

( always make backups of files before making modifications .. especially on old batch files ! )

 

 

( WinXP Pro )

• Wash the affected area with an antibacterial soap (such as Lever 2000)
• Dry thoroughly with hair dryer
• Coat effected area with petroleum jelly (Vaseline)

.. of course you want to be gentle and don't let the dryer get too hot .. we usually press the cold button to keep the air cool

 

 

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