If you are using the nightly builds of Lightning on Thunderbird you may occasionally hit an update for Lightning that causes an error when it tries to open your calendar file. When you go into Lightning (your calendar on TB) the calendar will not be there, so you can’t delete it or do anything to it. So the error will occur every time you open TB.
To get rid of this dud calendar file (yes, you will lose whatever was stored in there) you need to close TB and once it is closed delete the storage.sdb file in your profile directory. TB will then create a new storage.sdb file when you next start it up.
“Failed to read firewall configuration”
Getting this error when you run v3.x of NOD32 Antivirus? I was and it was tricky finding a solution. Here is what worked.
The Cause
I had installed NOD32 Security Suite by mistake. I uninstalled the Security Suite, restarted the computer, and then installed the Antivirus. Upon system startup NOD32 AV would give the “Failed to read firewall configuration” error. If I tried to go into the Setup it would also give the “Failed to read firewall configuration” error. I uninstalled, reinstalled, did repair installs, etc., and nothing got rid of this.
Hunting through the registry I found that NOD32 Security Suite had not uninstalled completely and had left a lot of data in the registry. Here’s the steps I went through to fix this error:
- Uninstall NOD32 Antivirus
- Reboot
- Delete the folders at these locations:
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURUSERNAME\Application Data\ESET
C:\Documents and Settings\ALL USERS\Application Data\ESET
- Check your network connection properties (usually Local Area Connection if you are on a LAN). Look to see if NOD32 Firewall is listed in the the “This connection uses the following items” on the General Tab. Uninstall it if it is.
- Reboot. Reinstall NOD32. See if it works now.
- If it still does not work then the final resort is the following steps
- Uninstall NOD32 again
- Get a good registry editing tool (perhaps a free one or one that gives a fully functional trial), backup your registry, save a system restore point, and then delete all lines in the registry that have “ESET” in them and which have “EPFW” [upper and lower case] (stands for “eset personal firewall”) in them. I deleted perhaps a hundred or more. I did not find any with “epfw” in them which were not Eset Firewall related. But you might, so check what you are deleting first.
- Look for files in c:\windows\system32\drivers which have epfw at the beginning of the filename. There might be three or four. Delete them.
That should fix it.
Many people report that one or more computers can’t connect to other computers on their Windows NT / XP / Vista based workgroup networks. Sometimes it’s not possible to access another computer on the network — it won’t appear in the workgroup at all. Other times it appears but then it can not be accessed. Errors like the following may occur:
- “Login failure: the user has not been granted the requested logon type at this computer”
- “(XXXX) is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource.
Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.
The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available.
- Or perhaps you manage to access the PC but it always wants a password and user name to be entered to browse its files?
Here are a few things to check locally on the PC that you are having trouble accessing from another PC on the network. These solutions all assume you are using Windows XP. I would suggest you retry the connection after EACH of these steps… as you may not have to apply all of them. Also, I list these in no specific order.
- Guest access may have been disabled.
Go to Admististrator Tools > Local Security Policy. Then Local Policies > User Rights Management.
Find “Deny access to this computer from network”. Double-click it if “Guest” is in that list, and remove “Guest”
- Go to START > RUN > type in “CMD”
In the command prompt type in: net user guest /active:yes
-
Change the networking Node-type to “mixed”. You can check it is set to something else by typing “ipconfig /all” into a command prompt. To change it to “mixed”:
Start Manu > Run > Type in “regedit” (without the “”) and hit enter.
Go to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters
When you click on parameters you should have “DhcpNodeType” or just “NodeType”
Change the value to 4 (mixed type).
More info here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=160177
If that key does not exist at all (which was the case on my PC) you can create it. Create a new DWORD Value by right clicking on the right panel of the registry editor. Give it the name “DhcpNodeType” and a value of 4
- Make sure your third party firewall is not blocking sharing on the local network (see the support site for your firewall system for more info)
- If you have Windows Firewall enabled then you’ll also want to ensure that there is an exception set to allow Windows file and print sharing. Google that to find out how if you are not already sure.
- Follow the steps found in this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628 in order to allow anonymous access.
- Install “NWLink IPXSPXNetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol” to your Networking configuration:
1. Go to Control Panel, and select “Network Connections”;
2. Right-click with your mouse your Network Connection and select “Properties”;
3. On the “Connection Properties” screen, select the “Install” tab;
4. On the “Select networking Component” screen select “Protocol” double-click the > Add…” Tab;
5. On the “Select Network Protocol” screen, select “NWLink IPXSPXNetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol” and click the “OK” tab to install the protocol.
- In the above Security Policy go to Local Policies > Security Options.
Find “Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts”. Set it to “Guest Only - Local users authenticate as guest”
I DON’T RECOMMEND THIS LAST STEP. Use it as a last resort if all else fails and if it fixes your problem. Why? Because it will prevent you from controlling who can access the various resources you share. All shares will be accessible to the Guest account, meaning you can’t lock out users from anything you share.
The last two options are last resort steps to try. Many people find step 7 resolves the access issues they experience. But I think this step is simply side-stepping another issue that can usually be fixed directly with one of the other actions/changes I’ve outlined.
Let me know which, if any, of these steps fixes your access issues.
With the fast pace of computer and software development these days, it can be close to impossible to keep up with the latest versions of whatever applications you might be using. I use quite a few apps and most of them get behind in the updates because I don’t want to spend lots of time monitoring when a new version comes out. Some of them include built in update checking, and these are typically the only ones that stay up-to-date on my computer.
FileHippo has released a great looking Update Checker. I just ran it and within 9 seconds it came back with a report of 11 applications with outstanding updates, and links to each of the update downloads. One of them was Firefox which I keep pretty on top of with updates, but a new update come out in the last day or two, and FileHippo Update Checker was on to it.
There is a new version (at long last) of Windows Live Writer available. I’ve not tried it yet as I am just downloading it now. If you want to check it out go to http://writer.live.com/
As mentioned in a previous post, having tried nearly all of the various desktop blog editors available (paid and free) I considered Live Writer (the version I am typing in now) to be a close contender as the best one to use. Let’s put it this way, it’s currently the only one I bother to use. Hopefully the new version will fill out the various “missing features” I wanted. I’ll let you know.
Jonathan
Recently I’ve been getting Error #429 when trying to run certain VBS scripts that attempt to make an ADODB.connection to a database on a Windows XP SP2 machine. The exact error I was getting was this:
Error #429 - Microsoft VBscript Runtime error
ActiveX component can’t create object: ‘ADODB.Connection’
I tried many things to fix this. What worked was the one of (or a combination of) the following, and perhaps it will fix this issue for you too.
TIP 1
- Open a DOS command prompt. START –> RUN –> Type in “cmd” (without the “”)
- Type in: regsvr32 C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\ado\msado15.dll
OR
If that file is not found then try:
regsvr32 C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\msado15.dll
- If the above file is not found then go hunt for it manually in that Common Files directory and its sub directories.
- Restart your computer once it is successfully registered.
TIP 2
Another thing to try:
- Use regedt32 (from START –> Run –>) to find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- Once there find the value 1201. If it is set to “1″ then change it to “0″
Check whether the registry edit is or is not what fixes this for you. If it does not then I recommend changing it back to 1. This 1201 setting is for allowing windows to “Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe” in the Local Computer Security Zone. If it is set to 1 it is meant to prompt you. If you set it to 3 then this is disabled completely. Setting it to 0 opens it right up which should not be an issue on a clean computer with a good virus scanner and the like.
TIP 3
Some people also found that “regsvr32 scrrun.dll” (at the DOS prompt) helped.
TIP 4
You may also want to try installing the latest Windows Scripting components from Microsoft:
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0
If you are looking at a way to repair an installation of Microsoft MDAC components (2.8 SP1) on Windows XP SP2 you may have found out it’s not immediately obvious how one can do it. In fact it appears to be impossible without uninstalling SP2 and then reinstalling it. Time consuming.
As far as I know with XP SP2 the MDAC components can not be uninstalled nor can they be reinstalled. It appears they are “built into” SP2, in that they are no longer treated as a separate component from the end users point of view. Trying to install the latest MDAC download from Microsoft.com will result in an incompatibility error something like “MDAC 2.8 RTM is incompatible..”
For various reasons you may wish to reinstall/repair MDAC. Perhaps you are finding certain MDAC dependant programs / scripts are not running or generate errors that indicate MDAC is faulty… or perhaps it’s something else troubling your PC. Anyway, repairing them is possible afterall.
Here’s a little tip I found for repairing the installation of MDAC 2.8
- Locate the mdac.inf file in c:\windows\inf
- Right click and select install
- When prompted for a location, point to c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386
- Next when promtpet for the Windows XP cdrom, either load the cd or point to c:\i386
- Hey presto, this should have reinstalled / repaired MDAC 2.8
Please let a comment here if this helps you so that other people know of the results.
On Outlook Express it is not obvious where your data files are actually stored on the computer. Here’s two ways to find them:
- Via Outlook Express
- Start Outlook Express
- Go into TOOLS menu
- Click on OPTIONS
- Go to Maintenance tab
- Click on STORE FOLDER button
- Via Windows Explorer (useful if you can’t run/open Outlook Express for some reason)
- Start Windows Explorer
- Right-click “My Computer” on your desktop and select Explore
- Fast way — Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard (key to the left of spacebar with a flying window icon on it) and then the “E” key (whilst still holding the flying window key). Explorer will start.
- Make sure show hidden files is enabled under Windows Explorer. Go to Tools (Menu) -> Folder Options (menu item) -> Views (a tab) -> Show Hidden Files and Folders (a selector in the list you can see)
- In XP go to C:\Documents and Setting\[User Name]\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\[GUID number, a long number]\Microsoft\Outlook Express\
- In older versions of Windows (non-XP) –> C:\Documents & Setting\[Your Username]\Application Data\Identities\[GUID number, a long number]\Microsoft\Outlook Express\
The current release of mailman lacks a very important feature. There is no immediately obvious way to export a list of subscribers from a mail list — at least not via the admin interface. There is, however, a way to get this data. In my case I needed it in order to move the list of people from one mail-list to another way.
I read the following was an option:
Here is how to get a list of subscribers in one shot:
Send a message to: list-request@some-domain.org where list is the actual list name (e.g. sds-request@some-domain.org)
The subject line should read: who password*
* if the listserv is locked down you’ll need a password
(if you send it without and the list is locked it will complain in a reply email) Although it seems bizarre to send your password as part of the subject
I tried this method and nothing was emailed back to me. It may be that the mailman server I am using is configured to not allow this feature to work. I am not sure, as I only have access to the lists I manage and not the entire set-up.
So, here are some other options:
Go to the following address: http://www.yourdomain.com/mailman/roster/<listname>
This will produce a page with all members listed on it. Be prepared for a long page if you have lots of subscribers. The format is this: address at domain.com as opposed to address@domain.com. If you have a lot of subscribers there is an easy way to use Excel to convert this data into the format you want (address@domain.com). There is an Excel file available right here. Just unzip the spreadsheet into a directory of your choice. Open the Excel file (it is free of macro viruses, but you may like to scan if first if you’re not convinced). Highlight and COPY the list from the web page. Past into Column A the data you have just copied. Now all you have to do is fill the formulas in columns .
Enjoy, and let me know if this helps some.
Jonathan Evatt
Looking for a portable secure computer system that fits onto a USB key?
Look no further… take a look at the free solution from Metropipe (here)
Here the info on it…
Feature Overview
- Carry your entire Internet communication system on a tiny USB drive.
- Contains a complete virtual Linux machine with privacy-enabled Open Source Internet applications.
- Carry your Internet applications, email, bookmarks, history, web cookies, download files in your pocket.
- Perfect for travelers - nothing to be scanned, started, poked, or prodded at the airport.
- Get English keyboard support no matter what computer you use.
- No installation needed - just plug the drive into any Windows or Linux computer, and click on the Virtual Privacy Machine icon and you’re ready to go.
- The VPM’s network connection will auto configure and run seamlessly on any machine with a working internet connection..
- All Internet session data (cookies, history, downloads, etc.) are stored on the VPM, not the host computer.
- Runs on any rewriteable media (USB drives, Flash Memory cards, Secure Digital devices, iPods, etc.)
- This PR1-2 release runs on Windows and Linux - OS X support is also possible, details in the readme.txt.
- Runs in full screen mode (CTRL-ALT to Exit Grab and CTRL-ALT f to Toggle Fullscreen)
- Includes the Latest Firefox 1.5.0.2 Browser with MetroPipe Privacybar for Firefox and the NOSCRIPT Extension Pre-installed.
- Includes Mozilla Thunderbird News/Email client (with Enigmail plugins for PGP email encryption)
- Persistent Home directory, changes, bookmarks are saved to the PVPM and available on next reboot.
- Created from 100% Open Source GPL code and binaries.
In the Press
The Portable Virtual Privacy Machine was featured on:
Slashdot: PVPM: Secure, Portable, Virtual Privacy Machine
Wall Street Journal: (subscription required) WSJ.com and AWSJ.com by WSJ columnist Jeremy Wagstaff.
Also: A Directory Of Programs Designed For USB Drives written about in WSJ article.
Download
The Portable Virtual Privacy Machine may be downloaded from via the link below. Size: 82 MB Download (108 MB uncompressed)
DOWNLOAD VIA HTTP
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