IIS.7.on.Vista

I was re-installing SQL Server 2005 on my notebook and as we all know, there are some issues that will prevent SQL Server Reporting Services from installing on Vista. Out of curiosity, I decided to search for a solution and I came across this KB article: How to install SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services on a Windows Vista-based computer.

I followed the steps to configure the features on IIS 7.0 but encountered an error when I tried to enable ASP.NET from the "Turns Windows features on and off" list. The installation failed with the following message:

"An error has occurred. Not all of the features were successfully changed."

I then found this KB article: Error message when you try to install the ASP.NET feature in IIS 7.0: "An error has occurred".

My machine isn't upgraded from XP and I didn't install any beta versions of .NET or Visual Studio on it. My machine has .NET 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 on it though. After several tries, I still get the error.

I went on to try the following but still couldn't solve the issue:

• Uninstalling and re-installing IIS 7.0
• Running aspnet_regiis -i (this will fail with an error)
• Uninstalling .NET Framework 1.1

I got so frustrated as it has taken up my whole day. Then I saw Bernard (our trusty o' IIS MVP) on my MSN list and decided to ping him for help. He then told me to uninstall Windows Process Activation Service (WAS) and try it again. Before I tried, he told me "Got only 40% chance of success ah... if not you will have to install Vista SP1". Then *poof* he disappeared.

I remember enabling WAS to try out some WCF stuff last time. So, I

1. disabled the WCF HTTP Activation
2. disabled the WCF non-HTTP Activation
3. uninstalled WAS
4. uninstall and reinstalled IIS 7.0 with all the earlier instructions of enabling IIS 6 compatibility for SQL Server Reporting Services

*WHALA!* Can enable ASP.NET liow. Then I proceeded to install SQL Server Reporting Services and it installs without any problems.

There you go, a day's adventure, a day's learning. Thanks Bernard.

New.Year's.Gig

I got myself Guitar Hero III during the last Christmas eve. I didn't thought I would get it since I had never paid attention to its previous releases. But it was on my company's family day that I tried it out and found that it was quite interesting.

For most games, I can just pop the disc in and play it for a few days before I can be good at it but for Guitar Hero III, it is truly a beast for me. On my first attempt, I skipped the tutorial and went straight into playing a song. When those large 'smarties' (colored notes - but they look like chocolates to me) came at me at 100 Km/h, I can't even play a single verse correctly.

That's when I told myself to go back to the basics - better yet, RTFM first! After studying the mechanics of the guitar and knowing what is "Star Power" and the "Whammy Bar", I went through the tutorial to understand what am I up against. After a few practice sessions, I could finally play a song. *Yippeee*

I started with the easiest mode, playing with 3 fingers and slowly completing each section of the songs list and then carefully 5-staring them. After completing easy, I went on to medium which now requires me to play with 4 fingers. That's when I discovered that my pinky finger is dead, retarded, whatchamacallit!

I can never get it to hit the blue button (4th fret). I was so frustrated, I even had regretful thoughts of getting the game. Thanks to my gamer friend, DreamyGhost, he has been very supportive in encouraging me to continue practising. On New's Year eve, I'm able to "Rock'n Roll All Nite" with him. Now that my pinky is 80-90% responsive, I'm starting to move into the harder difficulties to get used to the orange button (5th fret).

This game had thought me a few lessons. It has shown me how a presumably simple game like this can be so challenging. If not for this game, I wouldn't have discovered that my pinky finger was so weak (now it has better purpose than Liu-Pei-Si). The most important part is that it is teaching me to have patience in learning something and that somethings in life, no amount of reading or you-tubing would help in getting better at it other than practice, practice, practice!

I'm also seeing a greater 'enlightenment' from the game but I can only confirm it if I'm able to play the harder difficulties in the days to come.

So here I am now, "Rocking Like a Hurricane" (on medium of course!)