Automated Scheduled Backup, MS-SQL Server 2008

MS SQL server 2008 has integrated automatic backup solution (both full and differential). Following links explains quite easy how to setup a scheduled backup and clean up (delete old backup files).

http://weblogs.asp.net/sreejukg/archive/2010/01/20/scheduling-automated-backup-using-sql-server-2008.aspx

Uptime on a windows server

To find out the current up-time on a server simply open the windows task manager and read the up-time from Performance tab.

Source : http://www.petri.co.il/check-uptime-in-server-2008.htm

Opening Windows Task Manager, without Ctrl+Alt+Delete

If you do not have the chance to press Ctrl+Alt+Del and you still need to open Windows Task Manager, try right clicking on the task bar and pressing the choice : "Start Task Manager".

Do not try searching for it, because you won't find it. Been there, done that, doesn't work :-P

Mounting ISO files in Windows 8

Simply right click and choose mount :-)

Changing Windows 8 serial key for activation

If you want to change the serial key in Windows 8 and as me you can not find it, then you can simply follow this instruction to force the Windows to do it from command line.

1 - Click on start menu (right bottom corner) and type CMD, when you see th command promt option, right click on it and press "Run As Administrator".

2 - Then in the command prompt terminal type following command: "slmgr.vbs -ipk ". E.g.: 

slmgr.vbs -ipk 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000 

You would then receive a confirmation as a pop up window.

3 - Now you need to activate windows, after changing the key, simply run "slmgr.vbs -ato" and you will again get a confirmation in about 10 seconds.

Sharing your WiFi Internet through the Ethernet port, Windows 7

1- Connect to the Internet (using WiFi)

2- Press Start button, Control Panel, Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Center, Change Adapter Settings from the list on the left side.

3- Right-click your wireless connection and select Properties.

4- On Sharing tab check in the check-box "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection."

5- Check "Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection" check-box as well and press Ok.

6- Plugin the ethernet cable to your computer and the other side to another computer or an ethernet switch / router.

'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command, Windows 7

Sometimes uninstalling programs (worst case, viruses) could result in PATH in Windows environmental variables to loose track of some of main cores of the Windows system. E.g. if you run ipconfig in the CMD and gets this error: "'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.", then you might want to have a look at the PATH variable and see if  
C:\Windows;C:\Windows\system32
are missing ...

• Right click on computer
• Choose Properties
• Choose Advanced Settings from left bar
• Environmental Variables
• PATH

Auto-Format, Visual Studio

- CTRL-A to select the whole text.
- Ctrl+K- Ctrl + F

 Before Auto Format

Ctrl - A selects the whole text

Ctrl K + Ctrl F, auto formats the whole text

Adding a folder that is not on the frequent list, to pinned list in Windows Explorer

You can open folders from Windows Explorer shortcut on Windows 7. You have 2 lists when you right click on this folder, Frequent and Pinned. The frequent folders are those which you have visited frequently and the pinned ones are those which you have chosen to have it permanently in that list. It'e quite a useful shortcut, believe me.

One way to add folders to the pinned list is simply to choose them from frequent list and press the pin button in front of the folder name. However not all the folders that we would like to add to this list comes up in the frequent list. What to do? The solution is quite simple. You only need to drag that folder on the Windows Explorer shortcut on your taskbar  and release it. The folder would be added automatically to your pinned list.

How to deactivates restrictions about remote desktop without password

Blank password restrictions for remote access on Windows could be deactivated by using a policy. To locate and change this policy:


- Start - Run (Search for programs) - gpedit.msc - Enter to start the Group Policy Editor.
- Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only.
- Double click on Account:Limit local account use of blank passwords to consol logon only
- Choose Disabled, and OK.

NOTE: By default, this policy is on (enabled).


Source : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=303846

Linux switching between text mode & graphical mode, Gnome

• Switching from X Window to one of the 6 consoles: Ctrl + Alt + F1, ..., Ctrl + Alt + F6.
• Switching from a text console to another text console: Alt + F1, ..., Alt + F6.
• Switching back to X Window: Alt + F7.

How to remove a person from reject call list on Android

Setting -> Call -> Call Reject -> Edit list

Visual Studio shortcut for commenting program lines

Ctrl-K, Ctrl-C – Comments selected text

Ctrl-K, Ctrl-U – De-Comment selected text

Making mesh plot out of discrete points in Matlab

If you are wondering how to make a mesh plot out of discrete points, check out following link :
http://www.mathworks.se/help/techdoc/ref/triscatteredinterpclass.html

*Picture from Matlab website

Having two Excel 2010 files beside each other in Windows 7

Wanna have two Excel files beside each other and you can't get it done !!! Well remember you are using Microsoft products, so don't be surprised that they don't manage normally to let you have two windows beside each other. Well but there is a hard way to do this : 

1. Open the first workbook any way you want. 
2. Start a second instance of excel. either double click on shortcut to excel.exe on your desktop or through windows start button | run, then type: excel and hit enter. Then file|open the second workbook. 
3. Now files are separated and you can have them beside each other ... Siiiiiigggggghhhhhhh :-S

Different editions of SQL 2008

Different editions of SQL Server 2008 :

• Enterprise Edition
  Data management and business intelligence platform providing enterprise class scalability, high availability, and security for running business-critical applications
• Standard Edition
  Data management and business intelligence platform providing ease of use and manageability for running departmental applications
• Workgroup Edition
  Data management and reporting platform providing secure, remote synchronization, and management capabilities for running branch applications
• Developer Edition
  May be installed and used by one user to design, develop, test, and demonstrate your programs on as many systems as needed
• Web Edition
  A low-TCO, scalable, and manageable database option for web hosters and end customers looking to deploy publicly facing web applications and services
• Express Edition (FREE)
  A free edition of SQL Server ideal for learning and building desktop and small server applications and for redistribution by ISVs
• Compact Edition (FREE)
  A free, SQL Server embedded database ideal for building stand-alone and occasionally connected applications for mobile devices, desktops, and web clients
• Evaluation Edition (Temporary FREE)
  This edition may be installed for demonstration and evaluation purposes until an expiration period of 180 days.

Source : http://www.quackit.com/sql_server/sql_server_2008/tutorial/sql_server_editions.cfm

Next line in a cell in Excel

As it sounds very easy, but if you are visiting this page, you know it is not that easy as it sounds ;-) Usually in such cases Shift+Enter is the right combination, but strangely Microsoft use that for another operation in Excel and instead uses Alt + Enter. Hold Alt key down and press enter.

Thumbnails not showing on Windows Explorer, windows server 2008

• Start button 
• click Run
• Enter SystemPropertiesPerformance
• Click OK
• Inside Performance Options window check the Show thumbnails instead of icons

You're done :-)

Photo Gallery Viewer on Windows Server 2008

If you are suffering lack of Photo Gallery Viewer after installing Windows Server 2008, then you need to read the following. It's easy to install this feature, and it can be easily done by installing the "Windows desktop experience" from the Server Manager -> Features -> Add Feature. This package includes the Windows Photo Gallery viewer as well.

Enable Wireless Networking on MS Windows Server 2008

Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Server Manager

Choose Features in Service Manger and then choose the check-mark beside Wireless LAN Service and click Next. Later you need to click install and you are done. Wireless networking is now installed on your Windows Server 2008.

OBS : Bear in mind that using wireless services is not as secure as cable and therefore deactivated.