Vista Backup Failed - Error 0x80070005, Access Denied

Ran a routine backup using the Vista Backup and Restore Centre today and it failed to complete giving the following error:

Error 0x80070005, Access Denied

Quick search on Google threw up a few tech forum posts noting that various anti-virus software can cause this error. The backup has run successfully many times previously with Kaspersky active but I tried turning off Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and ran the Vista Backup agian. It completed successfully this time. Problem solved.

Useful link for similar problems is Common causes and solutions to Backup, System Restore, and Complete PC Backup problems on the Microsoft Storage Team Blog.

UPDATE: Got the same error again, first thought was that it was being caused by the folder on the NAS box it was backing up to having been set to Hide this shared folder in "My Network Places". Changing that didn't help, turns out it wanted Kaspersky Anti Virus turned off.

Website shows diamond with question mark character

Was working on a website which was showing a strange character that looks like a diamond with a question mark in. Last time I saw this happen it was corrected by specifying the character set as utf-8 with the following meta tag:

meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"

On this occasion the meta tag was already in place and it turns out that the page had a strange single apostrophe. In code view the single apostrophe is usually vertical but this one was slanted. Replacing with a regular one resolved the issue.

Setting Dynamic File Type as 404 Error Page in IIS 6

When setting a Custom Error page in IIS 6 you need to watch the drop down option for File or URL. Setting as File means IIS returns the page as markup so if using a dynamic file type such as PHP or ASP this setting returns your dynamic page as if it was a plain HTML page.

To ensure the dynamic 404 error page runs set the drop down to URL which makes IIS to send a redirect to the client so the client requests the Error Page which ensures IIS runs the dynamic page before sending the output to the client.

Firefox 3.5.2 Content Encoding Error

Came across an error with one of our newly launched websites recently where Frefox 3.5.2 was reporting:

Content Encoding Error

The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because it uses an invalid or unsupported form of compression.

• Please contact the web site owners to inform them of this problem.

The website does use gzip compression so initially I thought the encoding error was something to do with the compression routine. Internet Explorer 7 gave an even less helpful generic error message suggesting that the machine might not be connected to the Internet.

Google is full of similar issues which were caused by a bug in the 3.0.3 release of Firefox.

Opera 9.64 came to the rescue displaying the actual error which was related to a PHP switch statement used to set a Google Map API key outputting an error message before the gzip compression routine ran which meant we were attempting to send the headers after page content had been output.

What happens if you put a USB memory stick in a washing machine?

Q. What happens if you put a USB memory stick in a washing machine?

A. It comes out looking shiny new! At least that's certainly the case with my Corsair Flash Voyager. Having been subject to a full wash and spin cycle I partly expected the drive to malfunction next time it was plugged in especially as the area under the protective cap was slightly damp when it came out the wash. Fortunately the Flash Voyager's features a protective rubber body really does work.

Having used the memory stick a number of times over the past few days it is performing as normal - read rate of around 24mb/sec and write rate of around 14mb/sec. Nice to see the manufacturer's claims of water resistance are absolutely spot on.

Accessing Buffalo Terastation NAS over a Virtual Private Network

Was working on a Buffalo Terastation Pro II at an office to which several machines have a mapped drive. The users who connect to the office location over a Virtual Private Network found the mapped drive was not available when logged in from home. Nor was a shortcut pointing at the machine name of the Terastation accessible eg. \\MyTerastation

The solution for those connecting via the VPN turned out to be to create a new shortcut pointing at the Terastation's IP Address instead eg. \\192.169.10.54

You can find your Terastation IP Address either using the LCD panel on the front of the Terastation or via it's web control panel by looking on the Home tab.

SanDisk 16GB Micro SD HC Card in ASUS P750

Quick post to note that the 16GB version of SanDisks Micro SD HC Card works in my ASUS P750 Windows Mobile PDA Phone. Prior to purchase I couldn't find anything to say that the P750 was compatible with 16GB Micro SD cards, only a few posts saying it works with some models of Nokia phones. If you're thinking of purchasing one for your P750 it should work just fine.