In Visual Studio 2008 you can specify a database, CSV, or XML file for the data connection string. I decided to try using a CSV file because I had a sample CSV file of test data. Unfortunately, on initial import I received an error message, “Error trying to sample data from <file name>, please make sure the file is valid.” Hmmm…? I tried several CSV file formats, changed the quote style, and the like - but still, I couldn’t get it to work. It turns out, it was my file name. I had two periods

A recent install of Team Foundation Explorer errored out. Opening the log file (from the link on the error screen) and scrolling to the bottom, showed the following: [07/16/08,15:39:33] Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU: CRootComponent::Install(): Beginning Brooklyn Component Installation [07/16/08,15:39:33] Setup.exe: ISetupManager::GetFullComponents() [07/16/08,15:39:33] Setup.exe: ISetupManager::GetFullComponents() [07/16/08,15:39:34] DepCheck: gencomp97,{12CDA52C-7A8F-4785-8A22-53C87393FEE0}

While searching for the command line to change the password expiration policy, I came across http://www.joeware.net/freetools . Here are a bunch of free tools for Windows Administration from the command line. Many of them already have command line equivalents, but I suspect these versions are significantly easier. © Copyright 2005-2008 Mark Michaelis

For the adventurous out there who are trying to run Virtual PC/VirtualServer with Windows Vista as the Guest OS, there is a Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Beta program mentioned here which includes a link to download the Virtual Machine Additions for Vista . © Copyright 2005 Mark Michaelis

"According to the Wall Street Journal , on Tuesday a small printer ink maker called HP had a few words with " © Copyright 2005 Mark Michaelis