Very good site to know the mobile screen size or viewport width

I was confident the project we are doing will will render fine on the mobile browsers of any devices.  Then when we are testing in on my Galaxy S3, I notice the condition my Jr. developer made for the CSS was not correctly triggered and I was not satisfied on the way the page was shown.

I asked, what was the problem, and according to my jr. developer: There was no way of knowing the size since every time a browser zooms, the pixel width in the viewport changes.  Which was true, when we tested it on our desktops and also on Opera mobile browser emulator.

While searching for a solution online, I stumbled upon this page:  http://i-skool.co.uk/mobile-development/web-design-for-mobiles-and-tablets-viewport-sizes/ where a list of most mobile devices and their viewport are listed.  This is very helpful in determining the smallest width you have to look for on a device.

I gave them a solution to place a width on the smallest screen possible at the viewport meta and this fixed the problem.  But being a stubborn subordinate; my jr. developer retained the current settings and just change the CSS.  Adding another pixel condition to render properly on my device.

When I asked, why do it like that, the reason according to my jr. developer was that setting a specific size will not render correctly on iPhone.  Since none of us owns an iPhone, we have to rely on the web on this findings.  According to my jr. developer the mobile website will now render correctly on the 240 pixel viewport screen, that is good enough for me.

Free Mobile Browser Detection code generation

While searching for a mobile browser detection code, I came across this site: http://detectmobilebrowsers.com/

This site generates the code for popular browsers to detect using the USER AGENT of the browser used.  It's free to use, and donation to keep the site alive is pretty much appreciated by the author.

This is another useful website, that is simple to use, but takes a while to dissect the code. You pretty much need to brush up on your regular expression to understand the code and what it compares.  But if you are not worried about the code behind the detection, by all means, just paste the code to your site and set the redirection page.

Installing MS SQL 2008 Management Studio

I'm making this post, since I have seem to have solved my installation problem with MS SQL 2008 Management Studio installer.  And I want to share, the proven way in solving it.  Somehow, solved anyway.  I don't know what exactly the problem with the installer, but when you try to install it, it gives the following message:


SQL Server Setup failure.
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SQL Server Setup has encountered the following error:
Invoke or BeginInvoke cannot be called on a control until the window handle has been created..

I looked for a solution thru google, and this is the most funny and unbelievable work around I found, but it works.  Here is the link: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1677435/invoke-or-begininvoke-cannot-be-called-on-a-control-until-the-window-handle-has

I don't know what happened, but after minimizing all windows and focusing only on the installation dialog, it somehow let me thru the installation process.  I clicked back and forth the main installation window and the modal status window and somehow, I was able to successfully install my Management Studio 2008.

Reason that I installed the Management Studio 2008, was due to the fact that I cannot manage my data with editable results if I'm accessing MS SQL 2008, thru Management Studio 2005.  It is stated in some forums, that you can use higher versions of Management Studio, but cannot use lower versions to fully use the latest MS SQL version.  It does make sense to me, backwards compatibility only.

Here is the link to the MS SQL 2008 Management Studio Express installer: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7593

It states, express version, but I haven't notice any difference with the one included with the Enterprise edition installer. By the way, they both have bugs during installation, that is why I resorted in installing an express edition, even though I have an enterprise installer of MS SQL 2008.

You may have to install the SP 1 (service pack 1) of MS SQL 2008 after installation of Management Studio 2008. As indicated, during or initial install of Management Studio.

How to make Bootable USB Windows 7 installer

OK, currently, my old laptop is broken.  It has a broken hard disk, broken DVD-drive, and the battery does not charge as it used to do.  So, good thing, I was able to buy a new laptop after an agonizing week without a computer at home.  But now, after a few months, I need my old laptop to work again. In order for me to test some stuff, without getting my new laptop destroyed or disrupting my current set-up.

I just bought a hard disk replacement, I was thinking the dvd-drive may still be in working condition. It was kinda working before, and kinda read DVD-discs.  I was ready to re-install my windows 7, but as expected the drive was really not usable.  It won't boot my installation disc for windows 7.

So, I search for a way to boot, other from a DVD-drive.  I was familiar of USB booting, but my previous attempts were just a sorry excuse for an IT person such as myself.  I may have not found a good site for my problem.  But now, with the use of my new laptop.  I was able to search this very nice solution, using your own windows 7 and windows 7 installation disk.  The solution can be found on this website: http://www.intowindows.com/bootable-usb/

I saw someone suggest in a forum to just copy the windows 7 installation disk on a USB.  But it was not that simple, in fact, I tried twice before I followed the instructions from the website given above.  I tried, the short-cut or reversed the procedure.  It didn't work, because the computer does not recognize the USB as bootable.  You have to follow, it step by step and just change the drive letter and number related to your own drive.

Ok, in case, the site link I gave is off-line.   Here are the steps given:

1. Insert your USB flash drive, make sure it has enough space to fit all files from the windows 7 installation disc.  I used a 8 GB drive, just to be sure.

2. Navigate to Start > All programs >Accessories > right click on Command Prompt and select run as administrator.  I tried running it directly from search box as cmd, but it could not have been set as administrator.

3. When the Command Prompt opens, enter the following command:

DISKPART and hit enter.

LIST DISK and hit enter.

Once you enter the LIST DISK command, it will show the disk number of your USB drive.  If you have a single drive with single partition, your USB drive disk no is Disk 1.  But you have to check the size on the list, just to be sure you are not formatting another drive other than the USB you have.

4. In this step you need to enter all the below commands one by one and hit enter. As these commands are self explanatory, you can easily guess what these commands do.

SELECT DISK 1 (Replace DISK 1 with your disk number, if it isn't DISK 1)

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

(Format process may take few minutes)

ASSIGN

EXIT

If previously your USB is assigned as drive "F", after assign, it's probably drive "G" now.  Also, there was a time an error saying it cannot make changes, but it did, I think it was between CLEAN and CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY.  I just continued with the steps even with the error, and I was able to make a bootable disc.

Don’t close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.

5. Insert your Windows DVD in the optical drive and note down the drive letter of the optical drive and USB media. I use “D” as my optical (DVD) drive letter and “G” as my USB drive letter.

6. Go back to command prompt and execute the following commands:

D:CD BOOT and hit enter. Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.

CD BOOT and hit enter to see the below message.

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 G:

(Where “G” is your USB drive letter)

click to enlarge

7. Copy Windows DVD contents to USB.

You are done with your bootable USB. You can now use this bootable USB as bootable DVD on any computer that comes with USB boot feature (most of the current motherboards support this feature).

Note that this bootable USB guide will not work if you are trying to make a bootable USB on XP computer.

Side Note: I just copied the instruction contents, and added some of my thoughts and my experience when I made my own USB bootable disc.  This is, just in case the original source of the solution is down, or taken off-line.

How to Delete a Windows Service

Has it happened to you? You were trying to install a software, and there was an option for it to retry once it fails, but it instead failed again once you click retry.  And worst, it created a duplicate service with a suffix _1, making it difficult even if you uninstall it.

Even if you probably uninstall it, the other service will remain.  A way to remove a service is by using windows registry.  It's relatively easy, if you know what is a service, you probably know what a windows registry is.

To remove the service on a server do the following:
1. Run Regedit
2. Find the registry entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services"
3. Find the service you want to delete, it has the same name as shown in the services list.  Just right click and select delete on the service you want to remove.


Until next time.


Solution was found in this site: http://www.performiq.com.au/kb/index.php/Delete_a_Windows_Service

Bios password protected Desktop

Happy Chinese New Year, Everyone.  It's 2012 and it's the year of the Water Dragon, they say.

Today, I was trying to revive my old desktop.  I haven't  been using it for quite a while, almost a year, it has been neglected and unused.  I know you would say, what has it have to do with development.  Well, for one, I could use it as a test PC.  Two, it's my back-up PC in case, my laptop has a mishap.

Ok.  I think, I placed the password myself as protection before, but have completely forgotten the password itself.  I was in a dilema on how to remove it, on Chinese New Year.  I have been searching around, and in my particular case, the way was to clear the password by using the board jumper and selecting clear password on the bios itself.  Remember to save the settings, password will not prompt anymore when you boot your PC.

Here is the solution I got from a forum:
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Locate this jumper as show in the bellow image !!!



there are 3 pins, like * * * the pin would cover 1 and 2 pin which is the default config... - - * so take the pin out and put it as 2 and 3 cover like, * - - start the system the BIOS should revart back to the default shipping factory settings... !!! now power of the system and restore the jumper to default 1 and 2 cover settings start the system once again to do you work

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Solution pictures and words between the lines are in no way mine.  I just want to show the solution, without you scrolling or looking around the forums.

The solution and the full forum descussion can be found in this link:
http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/cpu-motherboards/79611-bios-password-intel-motherboard-d945gccr.html

Well, that solved my password problem, but not my unreadable master file table.  Currently, my solution to the problem is to have retrievable data backed-up and reformat the OS partition.

This is due to the fact that my hard disk is more than 5 years old.  One of them is already gone.  The hard disk that is acting up, had an issue a few months from the time I bought it.  I'm never buying from "PC Options" computer store again.  A hard disk, a year older than the one gone is still working.

Disable Dell Inspiron 1545 quick set buttons (revised)

Dell Inspiron 1545

I wrote at an earlier blog, a way to disable media quick set buttons, but this does not disable the entire shortcut buttons on the top.  The buttons that usually are function keys are by default for media, battery meter, wifi, brightness, extension monitor or projector, etc.

I thought I already solve the problem, by disabling the Quickset on the msconfig.  But that wasn't the solution, since I again accidentally pressed the wifi on/off key and I was again cut off from the network by accident.

The solution is in the bios of the laptop.  Do the following:

1. Access BIOS upon start-up of the laptop
2. Look for the 'Function Key Behavior' setting in the System Set-up (BIOS) utility.
1. The following are the options in the Function key Behavior settings:
1. Multimedia Key First - This is the default option. Press any media key directly.  For function key, press <Fn> + the required function key.
2. Function Key First - Press any function key directly.  For Multimedia, press <Fn> + the required multimedia key.

Note: Multimedia key first option is active only in the operating system.  During POST, press <F2> or <F12> directly.

Source of this solution is from the dell community (USA).  Here is the link of the forum: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19281847.aspx

Problem was solved, I was able to press the function keys directly no more need to press <Fn> key.

Disable Dell Inspiron 1545 quick set buttons

I happend to own a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop and accidentally pressed off wi-fi on the quickset button.  This happend during an intense MMO game... I was trying to press 2 on top, but I think I accidentally pressed F2 which is by default the wi-fi toggle. 

At first, I thought the internet connection is down since it was raining hard.  But I tried another device that has wi-fi and was able to connect to the internet.  So, I thought my wi-fi card could be dead or need replacement which is a bad thing since, replacement for a Dell could cost me money.  Good thing Dell also has a diagnose tool for wi-fi and asked me to press the wi-fi button.  It worked, I have now wi-fi connection.

I didn't want that to happend again, and searched for a solution to turn it off, since I rarely use that quick set buttons provided by dell.  In fact, since I'm a developer, I often need to access the function keys; which is a hasle since I have to press 'Fn' (function) button to use it.  Anyway the solution is as follows:

1.  type on the run line in Win 7 "msconfig".
2. select the tab startup
3. look for Quickset checkbox, un-check it
4. click apply button (system will ask you restart to implement changes)

Remember, to save your files before doing this, the system will ask you to restart after making changes.

After the restart, my quick set buttons don't function anymore which is what I wanted.  I can still activate it thru the same process of running 'msconfig'.  I may just need to restart my computer again to activate it.