BeatificaBytes

The Joys of Computing

Month: October 2014

  • TFS TeamBuild doesn’t copy references (Assemblies)

    As a TFS administrator, I often have to solve the same issue again and again: new developers complain that referenced assemblies are not dropped by TeamBuild although locally, Visual Studio copies those references into the bin folder… The trick is to set the property “Copy Local” = “False” on the references to be copied, Save the project, reset the property “Copy Local” = “True” and Save again the project.

    Click to Read More

    We have experienced this issue at least with VS 2010 – TFS 2010 and VS 2013 – TFS 2013. I have to say I don’t remember about VS 2008 – TFS 2008  and VS 2005 – TFS 2005.

    Project’s “Copy Local” property is the one that indicates if a file reference must be copied or not in the output folder. The value of that property is stored in a tag <Private> in the project file (.csproj, .vbproj, …). Ex.: <Private>true</Private>

    The problem is that VS does not add this tag for references whose ‘Copy Local’ property is ‘true’, ‘true’ being the default value for file references added on assemblies not in the GAC. It only adds this tag if one changes the property value to ‘false’. Later, if one sets the value back to ‘true’, the tag is kept but its value is changed.

    This is a problem because MSBuild, run by TeamBuild to compile the projects, assume that the value of a “Copy Local” property is ‘False’ if the tag <Private> is not found in the project file.

    So, the trick is to force VS to add the tag for all references added with ‘Copy Local’=’true’. This can be done as explained above:  set “Copy Local” = “False” on the required references, Save the project, reset “Copy Local” = “True” and Save again the project.

    Loading

    ,

  • Increase internal storage memory for Apps on Galaxy SII

    I had two main reasons to replace my good old Galaxy SII (GT-I9100): I wanted a larger screen and much more space for the Apps. But since yesterday, only one reason remains: a larger screen. I ave indeed successfully increased the storage for the Apps from 2GB to 6GB thanks to a tutorial from “Techotv“.

    Click to Read More

    Samsung Galaxy S2 has 16GB of internal storage out of which 14GB space is available, but not the entire available capacity is usable for apps installation. Unlike modern smartphones like Galaxy S4, our galaxy S2 has two internal partition, known as Device Memory (about 2GB) and USB Storage (the rest i.e. about 12GB). Device memory is the location where apps are usually installed. USB Storage is the location where data (apps data like those of games), user files are stored. So, even though you might have lots of internal storage space available, you might face storage issues during apps installation because you’ve just about 2GB available for apps. In this tutorial, we’ll see how we can increase device memory partition and decrease usb storage partition to accommodate as many apps as we want on our beloved Galaxy s2 smartphone.

    Posted => here <= on JANUARY 3, 2014 by SAURABH

    Important Notices:

    1. This tutorial is for Samsung Galaxy SII (GT-I9100) model only !!!
    2. Backup all contents of your android phone including pictures, music, videos, call logs, SMS, etc… as this process will completely format your mobile. Possibly enable next Google’s Automatic Backup and Restore features so all your Apps, Contact, Calendar and Settings will be automatically re-installed.
      1. Go to Settings > (Personal) Back up and reset.
      2. Check the options “Backup up my data” and “Automatic restore”.
      3.  Never put all the eggs in one basket. Use another backup tool next to Google. Also notice that Calls logs, SMS, MMS are not backuped by Google.

    Prerequisites:

    1. Download Odin3 v1.85 program from Techotv and unzip it. Samsung Odin is the ROM Flashing tool for SAMSUNG Android Smart phone and tablets devices. Including Samsung Galaxy SII, etc. Other official versions are available here.
    2. Download Philz CWM Recovery for Galaxy SII from here. The ClockWorkMod Recovery (CWM) is a replacement recovery option for Android devices. It’s used as being better than the Stock android Recovery. A Recovery is a bootable partition that has the recovery console installed where you can find tools to help repair (recover) your installation as well as install system (OS) updates, delete all user data and files, etc… On Galaxy Samsung SII, you can access the Recovery by turning off the mobile and pressing next simultaneously Volume Down + Home + Power for a few seconds.
    3. Download the Partition files (PIT) from Techotv and unzip them. A PIT file is a Partition Information Table that can be used to re-partition the phone’s internal memory space.
    4. You phone doesn’t need to be rooted but this tutorial is assumed to work both if you have rooted your device or already installed a custom ROM. NB.: Android needs to be rooted to get the full control on the device, various features being indeed usually locked by default to prevent among other users’ mistakes, etc…
    5. You need a PC with the Samsung Drivers for Galaxy SII installed, otherwise the connection required by Odin to flash the mobile won’t succeed (although the mobile is detected by Odin).
      1. Install “Kies” from Samsung (available here) to get those drivers on your PC.
      2. Don’t RUN Kies after the setup. It could interfere with Odin. If required, kill all its related processes using the Task Manager (via Ctrl–Shift–Esc).
      3. If drivers are not installed, you will be stuck within Odin on the step “<ID:0/003> SetupConnection..”

    Go go go!

    1. Launch ODIN program.
    2. Turn off your mobile.
    3. Press mobile’s Volume Down + Home + Power buttons together for few seconds.You will enter the Recovery mode.
    4. Press Volume Up key when prompted on the phone screen to continue in download mode.
    5. Connect your phone to computer. You’ll see one of the rectangular boxes in ODIN turned yellow indicating that the program has detected your phone.
    6. Click on PIT button within Odin and select one pit file. I have chosen for the 6GB PIT file as I store anyway music and video files on micro-sd card instead of internal storage and want a lot of place for my Apps!
    7. Hit on PDA button within Odin and select Philz CWM Recovery file.
    8. Keep selected the Options “Re-Partition”, “Auto-Reboot” and “F. Reset Time”.
    9. All other Options must be unchecked.
    10. Hit on Start button.
    11. You will see Messages displayed by Odin… The process is completed once the message “<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)” appears. You should also see a green rectangular box with the message “PASS!”.
    12. If Odin is stuck on “SetupConnection..”, try each of the following tips:
      1. Check that Samsung Drivers are installed (See “Prerequisites”) and Kies stopped.
      2. Connect your mobile on another USB port.
      3. Use a shorter USB cable.
      4. Remove the battery of your mobile for 5 minutes.
    13. Unplug your phone from computer.
    Odin Storage Extension on Galaxy SII
    Odin Storage Extension on Galaxy SII

    Check the outcomes:

    1. Go to phone storage settings and check if the device memory has increased and USB storage space adjusted accordingly. You may be required to format USB storage before it is shown in storage setting. I had to do so as requested by a notification.
    2. If the new storage setting is still not visible on your phone, then do factory reset either from recovery (volume up+home+power keys together in phone off state) or from phone settings (Setting > Backup and Reset > Factory reset). I had to do it.
    3. If storage is still not increased, flash stock Samsung firmware or custom ROM for your phone. I didn’t have to do this!

    Google started automatically to restore all my Apps, Contacts, Settings, etc… I only had to reorganize my Apps on the “desktop”…

    10.000 thx to SAURABH from Techotv.com for this tutorial. Thanks to him, I have only one more reason to buy another smart phone, which is not enough regarding my own criteria 😥

    Loading

  • SoundBlaster Audigy 2 NX USB – Cannot Unmute

    I have a very old SoundBlaster Audigy 2 NX USB (produced in 2002) and wanted to reuse it on my laptop, as I needed an optical audio output for some testing purpose. Unfortunately, it didn’t produce any sound… until I discovered that the Main volume was disabled in the Configuration pane.

    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX
    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX

    Click to Read More

    I was first impressed that, once that external audio card plugged on my PC (Windows 8.1 x64), Windows found, downloaded and installed drivers for it. I was actually not expecting such an old card to still be supported by Windows 8.1.

    But soon I noticed the “Mute” led that was on (red). And indeed, I was unable to get sound from my speakers 🙁

    Pressing the Mute button on the card, or using the remote control to unmute the card didn’t succeed. The led never turned off.

    Finally, I found that I had to:

    1. Right-click the speaker icon in the systray
    2. Select “Playback devices”
    3. Set the “Speakers” : “SB Audigy 2 NX” as “Default Device”
    4. Possibly set “Headphone” : “SB Audigy 2 NX” as “Default Communication Device”
    5. Double-click on “Digital Audio Interface” : “SB Audigy 2 NX” to access its properties
    6. Go to its tab “Levels” and enabled the speaker of the “Main Volume”, sometimes also named “Sum”. If it is already enabled, disable it first and then re-enable it!
    Config Audigy 2 NX
    Config Audigy 2 NX – named “Sum”
    Config Audigy 2 NX
    Config Audigy 2 NX – named “Main Volume”

    This is going to turn off the “Mute” led immediately. But if you press the Mute button on the card or mute it with the remote control, you will again not be able unmute it physically. You will have to redo the step 6 here above!

    Loading

    ,

  • Multiple concurrent Remote Desktop session for Win 8.1: Overwrite System Files

    I usually patch the Remote Desktop service to allow multiple simultaneous connections.But trying to do so on Win 8.1 results in an error message: “Access denied: You need permission to perform this action.”. The solution is to take owner ship of the file…

    Click to Read More

    1. First, get the patched RDP service termsrv.dll here.
    2. Then, take owner ship of the existing termsrv.dll: takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll
    3. Next, grant you access on that file: cacls C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll /G <YourAccount>:F
    4. As termsrv.dll is currently loaded, rename it into “-termsrv.dll”
    5. Finally, copy the patched file into C:\Windows\System32\
    6. Restart the PC.

    Loading

  • Change your Reply Address in the default Android’s Email app

    When configuring the default Android’ EMail app, you have to set an “account” to access your mailbox. In most cases, you are using the email address of that mailbox. And by default, the EMail app will use that email address as the “sender” of all your mails. If you don’t want people to reply to that email address you should have set a “Reply Address” as “account“.

    Click to Read More

    You have to remove the account already created and reconfigure it:

    1. Start the Email App and open the Settings (Where you can see your account(s))
    2. Click on the “Delete” icon and select the account to be reconfigured with your “Reply Address”. Then press “Delete”.
    3. You will get a Warning like “Deleting this account also deletes all of its messages, contacts, and other data from the devices”. Be sure that all those data are also on your server so they are not lost. Only the local copy will be deleted.
    4. Now, click on the “+” icon to recreate your account.
    5. Type now your “Reply Address” as account, instead of the actual email address used to access your mailbox, with a dummy password (required to enable the “Next” button). Then, click on “Next” (possibly after ticking the option “send email from this account by default”.
    6. On the next screen, select your type of account (Pop3, IMap, Exchange)
    7. Next, as “user name”, type the email address used as actual account, with its password, to access your mailbox.
    8. Finally, complete all the other parameters as usual

    Et voilà.

    Loading

Tags

Acer iDea 510 AirPlay Android Backup DD-WRT DNS DS209+ DS713+ DS1815+ FlexRaid Galaxy Galaxy S2 Galaxy S7 Google Assistant Google Home HTPC Kies MCE MySQL Nabi 2 Nvidia TV Shield One Plus One OnePlus One OpenHab Outlook Philips Hue Plex RAID Raspberry PI Remote Desktop Root Access Samsung Scripts Synology Team Build Visual Studio VMWare Wi-Fi Windows Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Windows 10 Windows Server 2012 XBMC Xpenology

Categories

Recent Posts