Category Archives: Uncategorized

Microsoft Service Management Portal User Account Password cannot be reset

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We’ve been working with Microsoft for quite some time on their Windows Azure for Windows Server project. Microsoft is bringing Azure technology to their Server platform for hosters to take advantage of. The environment consists of a portal and several providers. The portal uses standard ASP.NET membership for users.

Recently, we had a user who forgot his password. After enabling password reset functionality in the portal, the user received an email containing a link to reset the password, but encountered an error when trying to perform the reset. The following error was logged on the portal server:

Error:MembershipPasswordException: The user account has been locked out.

The aspnet_Membership table in Microsoft.MgmtSvc.PortalConfigStore contains an IsLockedOut field. The value was set to 1 for this user because of the number of incorrect login attempts. Setting it back to 0 allowed the user to update his password:

 
USE Microsoft.MgmtSvc.PortalConfigStore
UPDATE aspnet_Membership
SET IsLockedOut = 0
WHERE email = 'user@domain.org'

 

Fix Unresponsive iPhone 4 Home Button

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**UPDATE: This procedure worked for a while, but the issue eventually returned. I repeated the procedure again and again, each time it would work for a bit and then the issue would return. Last night, I dismantled my iPhone, cleaned the home button contacts and re-assembled it and it’s working again. Hopefully, that will take care of this issue once and for all. I used the guide on ifixit.com to remove the home button: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-iPhone-4-Home-Button/3144/1

**UPDATE 2: It’s be over two months and no signs of the issue returning since disassembling my phone and cleaning the contact for the home button. Definitely seems to be the long term fix.

**UPDATE 3: Nearly 5 months after I took my phone apart and cleaned the home button, it was still working as if new. I decided to upgrade to the iPhone 5 and I’ve sold my iPhone 4 to NextWorth. They determined it was in excellent condition FWIW.

I’ve been dealing with an unresponsive iPhone 4 Home Button for some time. Clicking the home button registered roughly one out of every 10 clicks. I had a tough time getting to the home screen or getting the task manager to load. During halftime of last night’s Pats/Jets game (Go Pats!) I decided to see if I could find a fix for it.

As I suspected, most resolutions were about heading to the Apple store for a replacement or taking apart your iPhone and replacing the home button PCB membrane & flex cable – not a quick or easy fix. I had replaced the battery on my original iPhone once, so I was not really keen on attempting to take apart the phone and I opt’d not to purchase AppleCare so I’m out of warranty. However, I stumbled across this YouTube video that had an easy fix.

The gist of it is that there’s a “gunk” build-up around & behind the home button (makes sense – just look at your keyboard). The user recommends using rubbing alcohol to attempt to clean it out and ensure good contact. I gave it a shot as described in the video, and voila! My iPhone 4 now registers every home button click without issue.

Sound Blaster Wireless Music Device

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It’s been quite some time since this device was released.

Sound Blaster Wireless Music

I picked one up back in 2003 and it has been a little work-horse ever since. I love the fact it comes with a remote with a screen that you can use to flip through albums and songs. Unfortunately, it was discontinued before it’s time. Information is scarce out there about it, but here’s a couple of tricks in case you still have yours or pick up a used one on ebay.

First, upgrade to the latest firmware. This is an unreleased version that was posted by a Creative tech in the forums.

Second, you can run the Music Server as a service using srvany. Call the service “SBWMSvr” when installing it. You will need to add an additional string value under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SBWMSvr\Parameters called AppDirectory pointing to “C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files” and set the service to run as an adminsitrative account in order for it to work. This eliminates the need for you to login to the system runing the application (ie. if you have a home server). Be sure to remove the link from your startup menu.