Funny problem: Set the fixed IP of a network interface - once you have clicked OK back out of the network interface properties dialog box, it reverts to an automatically assigned IP of 169.254.x.x. Go back into properties for the network interface, and IPv4 settings still holds the static IP you set. It is not possible to ping the interface on that address, and ipconfig shows only the automatically assigned address.
I had this problem on a Windows Server 2008 R2 today, and spent a fair amount of time troubleshooting it, including running Windows Update, several reboots etc..
Solution: In the end, I uninstalled all network interfaces found under Network Interfaces in Device Manager (right-click Computer > Manage > Devices) and then right-clicked the device root and selected "scan for hardware changes" to automatically reinstall the network interfaces. Voilla, the IP settings now sticks and actually works!
Possible reason: I am not sure what messed up the system, but my main suspect would be a special high performance frame grabber driver from Pleora that was installed on this server for two other network interfaces (not the one I was trying to set the IP on). This driver obviously digs deep into the device hierarchy, because it removes the network interfaces it controls out of the Network Interfaces tree entry in Device manager over to a new tree entry called "Pro/1000 grabber devices".
Anyways, I got my solution - now it works!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Accesing an .mdb database file fails after SQL Server upgrade
I have a feeling this is a pretty classic problem, and there's probably a variety of related problems out there - anyways, this caused me some headache today:
Scenario: I am developing an application that uses a simple .mdf database file (SQL Server Compact) to store and retreive data. The app runs well, even when taking it to other computers where SQL Server Express (SSE) is installed as a dependency application for my app. Today I installed a new version of SSE (2008 R2) on my own computer that I use to develop. Because of some clutter of old installations (2005 and 2008), I first removed the existing SSE completely, then installed the new one.
Problem: When trying to run my app after having installed the new SSE, it crashed with the following message:
Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in starting the process for the user instance
At first I did a compare of the parameters used to start the SQL Server service and the SQL VSS Writer with the same services on other computers where it worked. They were identical!
Solution: This posting on social.msdn.microsoft.com gave me the solution. Since I am running Vista, I renamed the following directory (instead of deleting it, to make sure I had a safe return in case it made things worse):
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Data\SQLEXPRESS
I restarted my application, and voilla! I was back on track!
Reason: According to Scott J. Baldwin on the above mentioned posting, referring to Reen's suggestion B, "this error is often caused because the parent instance (for whatever reason) can't copy the system databases to the users local isolated storage folders. Sometimes it is because of a previous install of SQL Express has left files in that directory which is why Reen's suggestion sometimes works" - Thanks guys!
Scenario: I am developing an application that uses a simple .mdf database file (SQL Server Compact) to store and retreive data. The app runs well, even when taking it to other computers where SQL Server Express (SSE) is installed as a dependency application for my app. Today I installed a new version of SSE (2008 R2) on my own computer that I use to develop. Because of some clutter of old installations (2005 and 2008), I first removed the existing SSE completely, then installed the new one.
Problem: When trying to run my app after having installed the new SSE, it crashed with the following message:
Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in starting the process for the user instance
At first I did a compare of the parameters used to start the SQL Server service and the SQL VSS Writer with the same services on other computers where it worked. They were identical!
Solution: This posting on social.msdn.microsoft.com gave me the solution. Since I am running Vista, I renamed the following directory (instead of deleting it, to make sure I had a safe return in case it made things worse):
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Data\SQLEXPRESS
I restarted my application, and voilla! I was back on track!
Reason: According to Scott J. Baldwin on the above mentioned posting, referring to Reen's suggestion B, "this error is often caused because the parent instance (for whatever reason) can't copy the system databases to the users local isolated storage folders. Sometimes it is because of a previous install of SQL Express has left files in that directory which is why Reen's suggestion sometimes works" - Thanks guys!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Creating an installer for your software that checks for and installs .NET and SQL dependencies
I developed a small software package for a client utilizing a SQL Server 2008 Express database and .NET 3.5 technology. The client wanted a simple installation package to distribute the software to several computers. Hence, the package should check for dependencies, like whether or not the .NET 3.5 framework and SQL Server 2008 Express was installed.
My eyes quickly fell upon the excellent Inno Setup freeware package. Together with this adaption of Inno found on The Code Project website, to include and/or download the needed dependency packages, it turned out to be the perfect tool for the job.
I had to develop a new script to be able to include the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, SQL Compact Edition 3.5 for Desktops and MS Installer 4.5 in my package, but it was a breeze with all the good work already done. Check out my posting over at The Code Project to see these adaptions.
My eyes quickly fell upon the excellent Inno Setup freeware package. Together with this adaption of Inno found on The Code Project website, to include and/or download the needed dependency packages, it turned out to be the perfect tool for the job.
I had to develop a new script to be able to include the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, SQL Compact Edition 3.5 for Desktops and MS Installer 4.5 in my package, but it was a breeze with all the good work already done. Check out my posting over at The Code Project to see these adaptions.
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