Virtual Machines for VMware Player without VMWare Workstation...

virtualization.info: VMX Builder for VMware Player

"Robert Petruska created a bunch of great Windows GUIs for many famous VMware utilities.

Ulli Hankeln reversed the VMware virtual hard disks (.vmdk) structure, creating a lot of incredible utilities. Among them there is a batch for producing new VMware virtual machines configuration files (.vmx) called vmx-builder.cmd.

Why should you need producing new .vmx files from scratch? Simple: to create new virtual machines with VMware Player without installing VMware Workstation trial. ..."

If you find this post interesting, you should also check out another of Alessandro Perilli post's, Guide to create .vmx files for VMware Player, which goes into more details and options for creating Virtual Machines for VM Player...

Microsoft CRM 3.0 RTM VPC Download

Mid Atlantic Microsoft CRM : New VPC Produced!!! With RTM Code for Microsoft CRM 3.0

"The Partner site will be updated on Monday with this. I am downloading it now!!! :-) Jan Jamrich is now my favorite product manager. (Although I am fickle... :-) I will be releasing a 'Goodies' file with all of the JScripts and Dashboard stuff this week... :-)

The VPC image
- contains a one-box installation of Microsoft CRM 3.0 both server and client.
- is built with Microsoft CRM 3.0 demo data (Adventure Works Cycle)
- has been built on Windows Server 2003, Exchange 2003 and SQL Server 2005.
- blank Sharepoint page located at http://localhost:1919
- CRM 3.0 server located at http://localhost:5555
- includes Visual Studio 2005 Pro edition.
- is time-bombed for 12/31/2006.

Distribution channels
The image is available through several different options listed below.

Microsoft Downloads
Bits are available. Please download all the 6 files, and run the exe.
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/b/05b9940e-3734-4158-b9ef-24961a956a77/Microsoft CRM Realease VPC.part1.exe
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/b/05b9940e-3734-4158-b9ef-24961a956a77/Microsoft CRM Realease VPC.part2.rar
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/b/05b9940e-3734-4158-b9ef-24961a956a77/Microsoft CRM Realease VPC.part3.rar
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/b/05b9940e-3734-4158-b9ef-24961a956a77/Microsoft CRM Realease VPC.part4.rar
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/b/05b9940e-3734-4158-b9ef-24961a956a77/Microsoft CRM Realease VPC.part5.rar

..."

Having customized and rolled out a CRM product in a past life, I have an on going interest in CRM stuff. Well combined new MS CRM 3.0 with a VPC image and it's just something I can't resist.... ;)

Downloading it now...

Some Bad Personal/Family News...

I found out this week that my grandfather, (aka Pop’s), has Alzheimer’s. My mother-in-law died of complications from Alzheimer’s just a year ago last month. Now this…

Needless to say, this news has kind of taken my breath away.

There’s a chance that it might not Alzheimer’s, but two Dr’s have said it is so far, so…  (Don’t get me started on Dr’s and diagnosing illnesses. Let’s just say I have some strong feelings in this area…)

Alzheimer’s, IMHO, is one of the ugliest diseases around today. There’s no cure and seemingly little hope.

Watching the destruction of the mind of your closest loved ones is hard to describe. You know how some/many die from Alzheimer’s? They “forget” how to swallow. So it’s either force a feeding tube down their throat or let nature take its course and let them starve to death. What’s worse about this is that by this time, due to the nature of the disease, it’s the family who has to make this call…

Been there, done that, and let’s just say making that call really sucks. Big time

My grandfather has a special place in my heart… I spent many a night with him, learning how to play poker with matchsticks, hanging out and listening to his many stories (which if half of them are true, he’s led one hell of a life ;) He was always there for me when I needed help, like when I lost the key to my bike chain and he helped me first hunt for it, then cut the chain. As a kid, he was the silent yet steady bedrock of the family.

He’s been such a fixture in my life that I find it hard to believe he may soon be gone (sigh, soon… This disease can take 5+ years to progress…). He’s lived a good 89 years so far, but I’m still not ready for him to go. Hell the guy still goes to the gym every day. I’d bet he’s currently in better shape than I am!

I’m sorry for posting such a downer on a Friday, but one of the things we’ve learned in being an Alzheimer’s family is that you HAVE to share your feelings. Keeping them in will only make it worse and end up hurting not only yourself, but those around you. Hell, we’re still dealing with the ramifications of my Mother-in-law’s illness…

I love you Pop’s.

We’ll be here as long as you need us…

"New Web Project Model Option Coming for VS 2005"

New Web Project Model Option Coming for VS 2005

"One of the things that we’ve been working on the last few months is a new web project model option for Visual Studio 2005 that we are tentatively calling “ASP.NET Web Projects”. Our plan is to have an initial preview web-download version of it available for people to install on top of VS 2005 sometime in the next few weeks.

...

Some technical information on the new project option

The new project model’s project, build, and compilation semantics will be pretty much the same as with the VS 2003 web project model. Specifically:

1) All code within the project will compile into a single assembly (that gets built and persisted in the \bin directory on each compile).

2) All files contained within the project are defined within a project file (as well as the assembly references and other project meta-data settings). Files under the web’s file-system root that are not defined in the project file will not be logically considered part of the web project. You will also now be able to define classes and types anywhere in the project structure (there is no longer a need to define them under app_code).

3) The compilation system uses a standard MSBuild based compilation process. This can be extended and customized using standard MSBuild extensibility rules.

Two of the big changes/improvements we are making over the VS 2003 model are:

1) We will not use/require FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE) in order to open and edit these web projects. There also will not be any requirement to store your web projects under inetpub\wwwroot. Instead, you can just define a standard project file for your web project anywhere on disk and add/open/manage it directly (this also means no more .webinfo files and hard-coded http:// paths in the solution file). This should make organizing and managing your projects much easier.

2) We are adding the ability to optionally use the Cassini-based built-in web-server with these projects (alternatively you can obviously also use IIS). You will be able to create a new web project using this model, add a few pages, hit F5 to compile the code-behinds and other classes into a single assembly, and automatically launch Cassini to run and debug it. All of this will also work in a non-admin user account (so you can login to Windows and develop as a normal user).

The new model will fully support all of the new VS 2005 WYSIWYG designer changes (no more html reformatting, master page/theme designer support, etc), as well as all the improvements made in the html source editor.

..."

There's tons of good info in this post, too much to copy and quote here. If you're a VS.Net/VS 2003 Web Project developer, or a not happy with the current VS2005 web project development scheme, you have to check out this post...

It's cool how quickly MS is responding to this need/feedback. And responding not with a hack, but a "equal but better" offering.

(via Chris Wallace - New Web Project Option for VS2005 (coming soon))

Office 2003 Local Installation Source Tool

Ed Bott's Windows Expertise - A useful Office 2003 troubleshooting tool

"If you use Office 2003, you should know about the Office 2003 Local Installation Source Tool. You may never need to use it, but if you do run into a problem with the Local Installation Source (LIS), it can save you hours of frustration. (If you use Office XP or Office 2000, see the note at the end of this post.)

A brief explanation: When you install Office 2003, all of the setup files are copied to your hard drive in a hidden folder called Msocache. This uses about 400MB of space but allows you to repair your Office installation or add new features without having to track down the original CD.

The problem occurs if the Msocache folder gets corrupted, or if you delete it the wrong way (using Windows Explorer), or if the disk on which it's located becomes unavailable for any reason. ..."

Ed Bott has posted about a "when you need it you REALLY need it" Office 2003 utility. From time to time I forget what MSOCache folder is and consider nuking it... Then I remember it's the Office install cache.

There's about a zero-to-one percent chance my family will know that. And my Dad likes to "clean up" his hard drive from time to time... :|

So this utility might come in handy.... ;)

"Visual Studio 6.0 removed from MSDN [Subscriber] download on 12/16/2005"

Federal Developer Weblog : Visual Studio 6.0 removed from MSDN download on 12/16/2005

"Please note that Visual Studio 6.0, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and all other products containing MSJVM will be withdrawn from availability on MSDN Subscriber Downloads beginning December 16, 2005. MSDN subscribers interested in this content and eligible to download these products are encouraged to make any needed downloads before this date. Recipients of MSDN Subscriptions media are encouraged to retain their latest discs containing these products for future use. Affected products will no longer be included in new MSDN Subscriptions media shipments or in future media updates, and once withdrawn, will not be available in any form from MSDN Subscriptions.

Visual Basic 6.0 will continue to be available until June 30, 2006, after which point it will also be withdrawn from availability. Microsoft will continue to support products throughout each product’s support lifecycle, but will no longer offer these products."

[flame on]
Okay, this kind of pisses me off. Didn't MS and Sun kiss and make-up (Reference the MSJVM above)?

Or is this a move to push developers off older products?

Crap, I can download Windows 3.1, QuickBasic 4.5, VB2,3,4, C++ 1.52, etc, etc! But after 6/30/2006 I won't be able to download VB6? COME ON...

You know, as much as MS doesn't like it, VB6 will be used in production apps for years to come. Making it harder/impossible for me to find VB6 a couple years from now because I have to fix a production app will not earn anyone any points.

GRRRRR!!!! This is just pissing me off the more I think about it (man I sooo need a life).

So I'm going to finish this up by saying I think this is a bad move that makes one MS customer pretty unhappy...

[flame off]

Update #1 12/7/2005 @ 12:54PM (PST):
So I go to download the items in question so I have enough ISO's copied around so I can find them in the future.

VB6? Well... Looks like the only version of VB6EE are the Chinese editions. That doesn't help me much.

MSDN Contact/Support email submitted

sigh...
Update #2 12/8/2005 @ 1:56PM (PST):
"Thank you for contacting MSDN. We would be glad to assist you. The stand alone English version is no longer available for Visual Basic 6.0, but you can download Visual Studio 6.0 English version which Visual Basic 6.0 integrated in Visual Studio 6.0."

Oh... Okay. Downloaded.

Public Domain Movie Torrents

Public Domain Movie Torrents with PDA versions

An interesting site that hosts a number of reported public domain or copyright expired movie torrents...

It's interesting that they also offer IPod compatible versions of many of the movies.

I'm trying to get a couple now (Night of the Living Dead and Plan 9 from Outer Space), but due to the many firewalls between me and the world, torrenting is usually a long and ugly process (I have 8 days of downloading left)... :(

(via digg - Copyright Free Movie Torrents)

Embedding SQL Server Express into Custom Applications along with ClickOnce Deployment

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition: Embedding SQL Server Express into Custom Applications

"This white paper discusses how to integrate and deploy Microsoft SQL Server Express-based applications by using configuration files and the ClickOnce deployment technology in Microsoft Visual Studio.

...

SQL Server Express no longer uses merge modules to embed the SQL Server Express Database Engine. Instead, it contains a single-setup executable that can be bundled with your custom application. This executable accepts command-line parameters for a smooth installation experience.

The best way to embed SQL Server Express within your application depends on how you plan to deploy the application. Ideally, you would always download the latest SQL Server Express version from the Web. This would help to ensure that your customers are running the latest version. However, it is probably more feasible to install SQL Server Express from an internal file share, or place the Express bits on the same media as your custom application.

This white paper describes the configuration file and command-line parameter support for the sqlexpr.exe setup installation executable. Because merge modules have been deprecated, configuring SQL Server Express this way is the best option for SQL Server 2005. To help you more easily embed SQL Server Express, this white paper also provides instructions for creating a wrapper class that will assist custom application developers in deploying a SQL Server Express solution. In addition, this white paper describes the advantages and disadvantages of using the ClickOnce feature of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 to deploy your SQL Server Express custom applications.

..."

I'm becoming a big fan of ClickOnce. I've only deployed one beta with it so far, but that was so smooth, that I'm going to keep using it for future deployments.

My project didn't include SQL Express, but others might so this white-paper might come in handy in the future...

CLR Profiler 2.0 Download

Download details: CLRProfiler

"The CLR Profiler includes a number of very useful views of the allocation profile, including a histogram of allocated types, allocation and call graphs, a time line showing GCs of various generations and the resulting state of the managed heap after those collections, and a call tree showing per-method allocations and assembly loads."

CLR Profiler for .Net 2.0... What's cool is that the C#/C++ source is also provided.

Composite UI Application Block RTM for C# and Visual Basic .NET Now on MSDN

“Composite UI Application Block - December 2005 Release for C# and Visual Basic .NET Now on MSDN!

The Microsoft patterns & practices Smart Client Team is pleased to announce the MSDN release of the Composite UI Application Block for C# and Visual Basic .NET.

Please visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnpag2/html/cab.asp for more information and to download this release.

Highlights of the release:

- Source code for the block in both C# and Visual Basic .NET
- Tests for Visual Studio Team System and NUnit in both C# and Visual Basic .NET
- Comprehensive QuickStarts
- Intergated documentation
- Fixed bugs found since November 2005 Release”

Very cool… Downloading now.

Related Past Post XRef:
Composite UI Application Block Webcast
Composite UI Application Block (C# Version) Released
Composite UI Application Block (CAB) Tech Preview 1
A little More Info on Guidance Automation Toolkit (GAT) and the Composite UI Application Block (CAB)

"How To Detect If an Application Has Stopped Responding by Using Visual Basic .NET"

How To Detect If an Application Has Stopped Responding by Using Visual Basic .NET

"In some situations, you may want to detect if an application is blocked. For example, when you are automating Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may want to know if Internet Explorer has stopped responding.

This article describes how to detect whether an automated instance of Internet Explorer has stopped responding (hung) and how to close Internet Explorer. Although the code is written for Internet Explorer and Visual Basic .NET, you can use this approach for other applications as well.

...

procs = Process.GetProcessesByName("IEXPLORE")
...
Try
If procs(0).Responding = True Then
MessageBox.Show("IEXPLORE is responding")
Else
MessageBox.Show("IEXPLORE is not responding")
End If
Catch
MessageBox.Show("IEXPLORE is not running")
End Try
...
Try
If procs(0).Responding Then
procs(0).CloseMainWindow()
Else
'Force closure.
procs(0).Kill()
End If

Catch notRunning As Exception When Err.Number = 91
MessageBox.Show("Could Not Find the IEXPLORE Process")

End Try

..."

Nice... I dig the .Net Framework. It just makes some things sooooo much easier.

(via Braulio Díez Botella - How to detect if a process is not responding)

GreatNews - RSS Reader

GreatNews: The Intelligent RSS Reader

Have I found my Windows RSS client finally? Like many RSS readers, I keep my eyes open for a "new, better, cheaper, strong and faster" client...

To date, I've been using my fav, Bloglines. But I'm always open to trying new things...

I just read Ryan Farley's post about GreatNews and it sounded interesting, so I'm giving it a try. Best of all it sync's with Bloglines, so I can continue to use either the Web UI or GreatNews.

So far so good. It took a bit to figure out how to get it to sync to Bloglines (right click on a Channel, like the All News Channels, select "Add", then "Bloglines Sync Channels"), but once there, it pretty quickly downloaded all my feeds and polled to get all the unread feeds. Unread based on my last reading on Bloglines...

GreatNews has a newspaper type reading pane, which is one thing of many, I liked about Bloglines. You can read/view/scan/etc an entire folder/group in a single pass. Or you can go from feed to feed. Or post to post...

The one thing I don't like is the keyboard shortcuts are not user configurable. I want to be able to override the existing ones. Oh well...

In any case, it feels like the best of the Bloglines reading UI but with the power of a full client app.

We'll see in a week if I'm still using it... ;)

(via { public virtual blog; } - New RSS Reader - Hello GreatNews)

Managed Addin Framework (MAF)

Jack Gudenkauf (JackG) WebLog : PDC05 - Managed Addin Framework (MAF)

"The Managed Add-in Framework defines a programming model, built on top of .NET that allows applications to dynamically load and communicate with generic components at runtime. We provide a solution for creating independently versioning, mutually distrustful components, and allow them to work together. We tackle the two problematic – versioning and isolation – together.

At PDC05, Thomas Quinn, an architect on our team, responsible for VSTO and VSTA, and Jim Miller, a CLR architect, responsible for several platform components related to versioning support in the CLR, among other things, jointly presented the platform framework for managed Addin’s. See the PDC FUN309 session.

...

System.AddIn.dll and the System.AddIn namespace

• The NS will first be made available to the public in the VSTA/O12 release in the second half of 2006.
• The VSTA product and MAF have been announced at PDC 2005.
• First available in VSTA/O12 and then made available broadly in Orcas as part of the platform (CLR).
..."

I missed this at PDC 2005. Time to break out the DVD's... ;)

It's good to see MS getting serious about the add-in model/pattern. I just hope it DOES come in the Office 12 time-frame. But even if it does, I might wait until v2/Orcas version before investing too much time into it. I'd rather not get burned by getting sucked into a dead-end/interim API (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).

(via del.icio.us/foobarbaroni/dotnet)