Microsoft Application Verifier

Microsoft recently released v3.1 of Application Verifier. This is a runtime verification tool for unmanaged code that assists in finding subtle programming errors that can be difficult to identify with normal application testing. Run the Application Verifier tests on your code to identify issues within heaps, handles, and locks. The product is available for Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. To read more about it or to download it, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=BD02C19C-1250-433C-8C1B-2619BD93B3A2&displaylang=en

HTML-based Text Editor

I came across an MSDN article that describes how to build an HTML-based text editor. The final product is professional in appearence and functionality, complete with font editing, drop down list boxes and a splash screen to display a company logo. To see how this editor is created in 6 steps, go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/author/editing/tutorials/html_editor.asp

Microsoft Downloads

I found a few interesting downloads, free from Micorsoft.

User Profile Hive Cleanup Service:The User Profile Hive Cleanup service helps to ensure user sessions are completely terminated when a user logs off. System processes and applications occasionally maintain connections to registry keys in the user profile after a user logs off. In those cases the user session is prevented from completely ending. This can result in problems when using Roaming User Profiles in a server environment or when using locked profiles as implemented through the Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP.http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

Port Reporter:Port Reporter logs TCP and UDP port activity on a local Windows system. Port Reporter is a small application that runs as a service on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=69BA779B-BAE9-4243-B9D6-63E62B4BCD2E&displayLang=en

Calculator plus: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=32B0D059-B53A-4DC9-8265-DA47F157C091&displaylang=en&Hash=RD948Y5

AV for Vista

Q: I installed Vista on a home machine but I can’t find an AV program that I can install on it. Do you have any recommendations.

A: The EZ Antivirus product from Computer Associates will run on Vista. You can download a free day trial version from http://store.digitalriver.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Locale=en_US&id=ProductDetailsPage&SiteID=caconsum&productID=35295600&Env=BASE

BizTalk 2006 RTM

Microsoft recently released BizTalk 2006. The new version features more that 20 new adapters. The Enterprise and Standard Editions of BizTalk Server 2006 include adapters for popular applications such as SAP, Siebel, Peoplesoft, Oracle Database, and JD Edwards at no extra charge. In addition, the following features are also included:

• Simplifeied installation
• Server Health Monitoring
• Enhanced BAM (Business Activity Monitor)
• Flat File Wizard

For more information on the new features, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/overview/default.mspx.

To download a trial version of BizTalk 2006, go to http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/trial/default.mspx

Microsoft Offers Virtual Server for Free

In a strategic move in the virtualization market, Microsoft is now offering Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition free of charge to the public. This product is similar to its client counterpart Virtual PC, but is intended for server products. To learn more about the differences between the 2 products, go to http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/4/d/14d17804-1659-435d-bc11-657a6da308c0/VSvsVPC.doc

To download Virtual Server, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx.

Brulant Game Night

BRING YOUR "A" GAME....BRULANT GAME NIGHT!

You're invited to test your gaming skills against your fellow technology gurus. Our first event was such a success, please join us again for networking, food, drinks, and the chance to win bragging rights as the master of:

* Texas Hold 'Em
* Halo 2
* Chess
* Foozball
* Madden
* and more!

Throughout the night, we'll be giving away great prizes. Feel free to suggest any other games we might consider, and bring a friend, the more the merrier!

When? Wednesday, April 5th, 5:30 p.m.-?

Where? Brulant's NEW Headquarters3700 Park East Drive, Suite 300Beachwood, OH 44122

To Register: Visit http://www.brulant.com/events/event.asp?id=508, and click on the "register" button for each person that plans on attending!

Microsoft Anti-Cross Site Scripting Library

Microsoft has recently released an Anti-Cross Site Scripting Library to help prevent cross site scripting attacks. To download the Anti-Cross Site Scripting Library, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9A2B9C92-7AD9-496C-9A89-AF08DE2E5982&displaylang=en

A Cross Site Scripting attack (XSS) occurs when a hacker inserts a link in an e-mail or web forum that appears to be legitimate (i.e. cnn.com, google.com). However, the link actually a malicious script code embedded in the URL. When the unsuspecting user clicks the link, the script is executed on the host web site. The script code maybe used to transfer cookies from the victim's PC to the hacker's machine. The cookies may contain user ID's, passwords, or possibly credit card information, all which can be used for illegal purposes. To read more about this security attack, visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/author/dhtml/httponly_cookies.asp

Error while trying to run project: unable to start debugging on the web server

Q: When I tried to debug my ASP.Net project (VS 2003), I received the error "Error while trying to run project: unable to start debugging on the web server." How do I correct this?

A: Depending on the remainder of the error message, there are different methods of resolving this error. For more detailed information on fixing this issue, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306172.

What is the difference between classes and modules?

Q: What is the difference between classes and modules?

A: Visual Studio.Net stores code in either classes or modules. Classes are used for items that define their own storage and have persistent data. In addition classes must be instantiated before they're used, unless the keywords "Static" (C#) or "Shared" (VB.Net) are used.
Modules, on the other hand, can be viewed as simple code libraries where the methods can be called directly.

Site Context Search Box in SPS

Microsoft has recently made available sample code for creating a site search box in SPS (SharePoint Portal Server). Use the search box sample to customize the Windows SharePoint Services site-level Search box to return Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server Search (SharePointPSSearch) results. This download contains sample Microsoft Visual C# code for creating the custom search box and a deployment package (CAB file) for installing the sample. You can modify this sample code to fit your needs. To download the sample code, visit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=DE65EB72-3BB3-4D32-98C2-F2C94458C957&displaylang=en

Bug Found in McAfee's Update Program

The McAfee update (DAT 4715) released on Friday was designed to protect computers against the W95/CTX virus. But because of a programming error, the update also incorrectly identified renamed and quarantined hundreds of legitimate executables including popular ones such as excel.exe, lsetup.exe, uninstall.exe, shutdown.exe and reg.exe.

For companies that had configured their McAfee antivirus program to automatically delete bad files, the error resulted in the loss of hundreds, and in some cases even thousands, of files on systems in which the update had been installed, said Johannes Ullrich, chief technology officer at the SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC) in Bethesda, Md.

The full article can be found at http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,109525,00.html?source=NLT_AM&nid=109525

MDAC Component Checker

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I found a Microsoft utility used to check the MDAC components and provide detailed information on all the related files. The utility can be downloaded from Microsoft.com at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8f0a8df6-4a21-4b43-bf53-14332ef092c9&displaylang=en&Hash=S9VTW5B