Virtual PC disk size

I wanted to try out a software, so I started my old Windows XP SP2 Virtual PC image, but it required .NET Framework 2.x, so I had to update the old image.

I figured it is about time to also update it to SP3 and all other fixes.
I used WindowsUpdate. After several restarts and updates, I checked the image size:
Original WinXP-SP2 virtual disk size: 2.9GB
Updated WinXP-SP3 virtual disk size: 6.3GB
(Won't even fit on a DVD!)

So, I wanted to compress it:
HOWTO: Compress Virtual PC virtual hard disks (.VHDs)

So, I run Microsoft Virtual Disk Pre-Compactor, which prepares drive C for compaction and also run the VPC2007 Virtual Disk Wizard.
Result: 5.9GB image size.

I checked and found System Restore is turned on. I switched it off and it deleted 1.4GB of files.
So, I run Pre-Compactor and Disk Wizard again.
Result: 5.6GB image size.

If I check drive C: properties in the virtual machine, it display 4.68GB of used space.

I tried to defragment the drive, with Windows built in defragmanter, where I can see a huge, unused space in the middle of the drive, but it won't use that space.
I also tried the free Defraggler and a trial version of Diskeeper, without any success.

So, I have a huge VPC image file, with a lot of free space, but cannot find a utility, which will compress it.
(I'll let you know, when I find one.)

Top 500 passwords

I just found this:

The Top 500 Worst Passwords of All Time

Although it is 2 months olda article, but it is worth checking your passwords! If they are on the list, chnage them!

IE8 RC1

In my resent post Web Developer's Responsibility I posted a bug in IE8 beta.
I downloaded and tried my test site in the recently publoshed IE8 RC1.
The bug still exist.

Do you know, where I should report the bug?

sec_error_unknown_issuer

A users reported, he had problems with my https sites.

He got the following error:
Secure Connection Failed

The certificate is not trusted because the issuer certificate is unknown.

(Error code: sec_error_unknown_issuer)

I checked in IE7 and FF3, but it worked for me fine.
I also got a screenshot and I assumed the user has FF2.
So I fired on old XP, SP2 virtual machine, installed FF2 and could reproduce the error.

Then I installed FF3 on the VM, and it also had problems.
So I figured, if I updated the machine it will install the root certificate update and the problem would be solved, but I just did not find this a good solution, so I investigated further.

I found out that I missed the issuers intermediate certificate installation on my server. So I did it, and the error disappeared on the unpatched machine as well.

I just had to insert the following in one of the virtual servers configuration:

SSLCertificateChainFile /path/to/intermediate/bundle/file

Web Developer's Responsibility

I found this great post:
A Web Developer's Responsibility.
Just a quick remark. Reporting a bug in IE8, should be done with an Add-on, which can be downloaded from: Microsoft Connect

Although I am not a web developer, I rememerred a bug, I found in IE7, and just wanted to report, but did not have the time for it.
I decided to do it now.

Downloaded an IE8 virtual machine from:
Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image.

Tested my old rendering bug, created a demo site for it.
Uploaded to a free hosting site: 000webhost, I just googled up.
(Warning! 000webhost might be dangerous, check out this post! Although I did not experience the same, but you better choose another hosting.)

And submitted the bug with the add-on. (Nice work MS! It is just quick and easy to submit a bug. It seems, you really want user feedback.)

Connecting to your Exchange mailbox from iPhone and other devices (required server side settings)

I had some hard time, setting up my Exchange 2003 to handle an iPhone and other mobile device.

You shoud setup Exchange ActiveSync and you'll be able to connect from iPhone, Nokia Exchange client and other devices.

ActiveSync can be confusing! There are at least two types of ActiveSync's:
- ActiveSync desktop application, currently at version 4.5, which is used for syncronizing a desktop PC' Outlook with a Windows Mobile powered device.
- Exchange ActiveSync, which is part of Microsoft Exchange, and allows a mobile device to syncronize with Exchange directly, without the need of a desktop computer.

I found this articles useful:

Exchange ActiveSync: Frequently Asked Questions

Exchange ActiveSync and Outlook Mobile Access errors occur when SSL or forms-based authentication is required for Exchange Server 2003

Error messages when you try to synchronize a Windows Mobile 5.0-based mobile device to Exchange Server 2003 on a Windows SBS 2003-based computer

How to reset the default virtual directories that are required to provide Outlook Web Access, Exchange ActiveSync, and Outlook Mobile Access services in Exchange Server 2003

Step-by-step checklist:
(This is how it works for me. Probably not each step is required, but I do not have time to fine tune this entry.)

1. You'll need a valid SSL certificate for the server! (This should be purchased.) You can get a 90-day working cetificate from InstantSSL.
I found some articles, about self signed certificate installation on mobile devices. It might work, but not worth the time.

2. Check the necessary user rights in Active Directory Users and Computers.

3. Exchange System Manager > Mobile Devices > General - have everything Enabled

4. Exchange System Manager > Server > Protocols > HTTP > Exchange Virtual Server properties - disable Form Based Authentication

5. IIS manager: default website properties: TCP port should be 80 and 443 for SSL.

6. IIS manager > Websites > Default > Exchange properties > Directory security > anonymous acces should be disabled, deafult domain should be set.

7. IIS manager > Websites > Default > Exchange-OMA properties > Directory security > anonymous acces should be disabled, deafult domain should be "\".

8. IIS manager > Websites > Default > Exchange-OMA properties > IP address all should be grant.

9. IIS manager > Websites > Default > Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync properties > Directory security > anonymous acces should be disabled, deafult domain should be set.

Now you should be able to connect from your mobile device, according to the device manual.
Tested with several servers (mainly SBS) and Nokia E71, iPhone and some Windows Mobile based devices.

Good luck!

More HTTPS virtual hosts on a single server

Following previous posts, I had to add some more certificates to the server.

First clarify that you'll need new IP address for every new site, with SSL enabled.
So here is a quick checklist:
- add the extra IP addresses to your Windows
- make sure Apache listens on these addresses
- change the dns record of the domains (point www and A record to the new IPs)
- generate .KEY and .CSR files (described earlier)
- when received .CRT file, copy all to the directory on your server, where the earlier .CRT and .KEY files are located
- modify httpd.conf to include a new shttpd-vhosts.conf file and add the following for each domain:

<VirtualHost IP address:443>
ServerName www.domain name
ServerAlias domain name
SSLEngine On
SSLCertificateFile conf/ssl/domain name.crt
SSLCertificateKeyFile conf/ssl/domain name.key
DocumentRoot "your path"
</VirtualHost>


Add it should be working fine!