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SBS Backup failing with error referencing VSS and MSDE

This info comes courtesy of Andrew Delozey at Interprom. 

The Issue:
Nightly backup was repeatedly failing within one minute of starting.

The Error: 
Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
“MSDEWriter” has reported an error 0x800423f4. This is part of System State. The backup cannot continue.

Error returned while creating the volume shadow copy:800423f4
Aborting Backup.

The Details:
Initially when this was entered into Google SBS 2003 groups and general Google web searching there were many results returned referencing Simple Recovery Mode on SQL database installs.  After speaking with Microsoft Support they clarified that the problem was more specific to Volume Shadow Copy services needing a hotfix (891957)applied so that they are readable by the backup wizard in SBS 2003. 

The problem was actually how the SBS backup wizard was seeing VSS.  Oddly enough the backup would start if you just ran NT backup but failed when starting the backup with the SBS Backup wizard.

The Fix:
There is a hotfix for KB891957 that once installed requires a reboot.  SP1 was installed on this box but I’m not certain it’s a prereq. 

Once the hotfix was applied and the server rebooted we ran a test backup using the SBS Backup Wizard.  The backup started successfully which it had not done prior to the hotfix being installed.  That night the backup ran all the way through successfully, the problem was solved.

Thanks for the heads-up Andrew!

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No entiendo senor Office 2007

Today I got my first email with an Office 2007 Word .docx attachment, and since I’m still running Office 2003 on my desktop PC at the office, I couldn’t open it.  So now I have to e-mail Andrew back and ask him to re-save the file in Office 2003 format, right?  Wrong.

Office logoTitle:  Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats (Beta 2 Technical Refresh)
File Name: O2007Cnv.exe
Date Published: 09/14/2006
Language: English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish
Download Size: 26.6 MB
Download URL: http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/beta/converter.mspx

Description:  Open, edit, save, and create files in the robust file formats new to the 2007 Microsoft Office system in Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003. 

By installing the Compatibility Pack (Beta 2 Technical Refresh) along side of Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able open, edit, save, and create files using the robust file formats new to the 2007 Microsoft Office system, including:

Word

  • .docx—Microsoft Office Word 2007 document
  • .docm—Microsoft Office Word 2007 macro-enabled document
     

PowerPoint

  • .pptx—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation
  • .pptm—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 macro-enabled presentation
  • .potx—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 template
  • .potm—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 macro-enabled template
  • .ppsx—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 show
  • .ppsm—Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 macro-enabled show

Excel

  • .xlsb—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 binary workbook
  • .xlsx—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 workbook
  • .xlsm—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 macro-enabled workbook
  • .xltx—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 template
  • .xltm—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 macro-enabled template
  • .xlam—Microsoft Office Excel 2007 add-in
     
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2007 Microsoft Office system Beta 2 Technical Refresh

Office logoThe release of the Beta 2 Technical Refresh for the 2007 Microsoft Office system is available.

File Name:  office2007b2tr-kb000000-fullfile-en-us.exe
Version:  1
Date Published:  9/6/2006
Language:  English
Download Size:  494.7 MB 
Download URL:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b07a3387-01cf-4bc3-821a-0bb10e7a59fa&DisplayLang=en

Microsoft has developed a Technical Refresh with modifications such as improved performance, better product integration, improved collaboration tools as well as general fit and finish changes.

This Technical Refresh is the final external product milestone leading to Release To Market (RTM).  Beta 2 users can download the Technical Refresh here.

Note:  Prior to applying this Beta 2 Technical Refresh update, you must have installed the Beta 2 version of the associated 2007 Office system product.

(BTW – the lower case ‘s’ in system is not a typo, that’s the new Microsoft nomenclature).

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No Geek Left Behind – Episode 003

Episode 003 gets a touch of class with a brief voice over intro from our favorite UK SMB girl across the pond, Susanne Dansey. (Thanks Susanne!) And after that high point, everthing pretty much goes down hill. 😉

But seriously, 003 is a video tour inside the Microsoft Across America (MSAM) Technology Truck / Bus / RV / whatever you want to call it. I hosted the MSAM truck for an event last fall and took some time in the afternoon to chat up Mike Voorhees, the Technology Specialist onboard.  Mike was kind enough to give us the nickle tour and to endure my stupid jokes about socks in the RV attic and Microsoft BOB. 

And even though the video talks about only Certified and Gold Partners getting the truck, Microsoft Small Business Specialists can get it too (talk to your PAM).  Case in point, Jon Been at Beechtree IT Solutions (a Microsoft Small Business Specialist) is hosting the Microsoft Truck in New Albany, Indiana on 14 September 2006.  It’s one of the brand new trucks, even bigger than before.  I’ll be there too, so come check it out! 

On to the video..

Title:  No Geek Left Behind – Episode 003
Subject:  The Magic Bus (MSAM Truck)
Run time:  16 minutes 48 seconds

Pocket PC version:  WMV 22.2 MB (208×160)
Windows version: WMV 29.1 MB (320×240)
Mac version: MOV 36.2 MB (320×240)

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September 2006 SBS Tour Registration

SBSers getting their learn onSeveral folks have reported that they had some difficulty registering for the Vista / Office 2007 / SBS 2003 R2 September 2006 SBS Partner Group Tour.

I’m happy to report that the issues have been resolved, and you should be able to register for the event now – sorry for the confusion!

Detailed information for the Louisville, KY / New Albany, IN stop on the tour can be found here:
http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/sbs-tour/

And here is a complete list of registration links and dates for all cities on the tour (in chronological order):

  1. Seattle / Redmond, WA
    Wednesday, September 06, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16499
     
  2. Portland, OR
    Monday, September 11, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16501
     
  3. Sacramento, CA
    Tuesday, September 12, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16502
     
  4. San Diego, CA
    Wednesday, September 13, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16503
     
  5. Irvine, CA
    Thursday, September 14, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16504
     
  6. Louisville, KY / New Albany, IN
    Monday, September 18, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16505
     
  7. Detroit / Southfield, MI
    Tuesday, September 19, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16506
     
  8. Indianapolis, IN
    Wednesday, September 20, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16507
     
  9. Denver / Aurora, CO
    Thursday, September 21, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16508
     
  10. Boston / Waltham, MA
    Monday, September 25, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16509
     
  11. New York, NY
    Tuesday, September 26, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16510
     
  12. Charlotte, NC
    Wednesday, September 27, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16511
     
  13. Tampa, FL
    Thursday, September 28, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16516
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Coffee Talk With TS2

Image stolen from Mike Hall's blog - thanks Mike!

Want to build your business?  Charles Van Heusen and the TS2 team think you do, and they want to help.

Join them every Wednesday morning 9:00 – 10:00 Eastern for the new “Small Business Server Practice Builder” webcast series.

Upcoming topics include:

  • 2-Aug – What’s next for the Small Business Specialist Program?
  • 9-Aug – Licensing Configurator Tools
  • 16-Aug – Engaging with Microsoft
  • 23-Aug – Technology Assesment Toolkit

Registration is easy too – just click on the iCal link and a recurring appointment will be dropped into Outlook.

We also took the time to talk about newrestfunerals.co.uk a very popular page for funeral services.
Mortuary services, or insurance companies that offer coverage through the website, and those plans, when they are considered taxable, should be considered taxable under the provisions of section 16(c) of the Social Security Act .

The following is a statement of the following: (a) There are no plans offered by insurance companies or in other forms that are subject to this section within the United States and that do not provide such coverage. (b) Some of those plans offered on the Internet or other means that are not subject to the section do not have coverage through the insurance program that directly provides federal benefits.

Coverage does not apply to: (a) Exempt plans offered by insurance companies unless the insured individual’s coverage is offered through an agency or corporation that administers the coverage or the employee of that agency or corporation who determines that the coverage is not qualified or qualified not for use, or otherwise complies with the terms and conditions of such coverage in accordance with a rules promulgated pursuant to section 802(j) of the Federal Credit Reporting Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 6802(j)); or (b) Plans that offer insurance that are owned by one or more qualified persons who live in the United States.

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Koolaid Tastes Good

I recently took a break from the Mac ‘apple juice’ and just got back from spending 3 days in sunny Tulsa Oklahoma with one of my buds from Microsoft.  Over the course of a few days we installed a 64-bit SBS server and network, played with some new technology, and got to put Window Vista Ultimate (build 5472) through its paces on a really nice HP machine. 

If you haven’t seen Vista since Beta 2 back in the Spring, it’s come a LONG way.  The July CTP is much more stable and looks absolutely fantastic on a top-knotch PC with a huge flatscreen TV.  There are still some bugs with the DVD burning, some network cards say there is no connection (when they really are connected) and there’s no decent driver for the Haupauge video card yet.  Driver issues are par for the course and to be expected in a beta.  Driver issues aside, I can say after years of waiting for Vista it’s really getting close folks!

Admittedly, the SMB community is flustered over the SBS R2 delay (which I won’t beat into the ground).  But with SBM Nation in Redmond and the Microsoft SBS Parter Tour in Louisville showcasing SBS R2, Vista and Office 2007, September is gonna rock! 

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Update to Microsoft.com Home Page

It’s always interesting (to me at least) to see what changes a multi-billion dollar company plans to make to their single most important piece of digital real estate. 

Here’s a look at the new before and after re-design of the Microsoft.com home page:

Before: http://www.microsoft.com/

Microsoft.com old home page
 

 

 

 

 

After:  http://preview.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx

Microsoft.com new home page

 

 

 

 

 

Now, before you start yawning, let me explain something.  The single biggest change is not a color and graphics appearance tweak – it’s a major navigation re-work. 

For example, when you click on ‘Software and Services’ on the new site, you get a page of thumbnails of the subsites (much like the multi-page thumbnail view in IE7).  And, just like Windows Explorer you can change between previews: List / Details / Thumbnail.  Give the new site a spin.  I think you’ll like it, and your customers will have a much easier time finding things too.

Nutshell – This change is not a ‘facelift’, its a ‘functionlift’.  Great job MS web guys & gals!

Source:  Bink.nu

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