MikeH – Another Geek in Need…

EventID 2803 from source MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE cannot be found. Either the component that raises the even is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupt.

In this case, we had a CRM/ADFS installation that we backed out – and in doing so – the ADFS internal SQL Server instance (MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE) was not removed.

This also happens with Windows SharePoint Service v3 or any Stand-Alone deployment of SharePoint. When you do a stand-alone deployment – you get this local, embedded edition of SQL Server.

Well, when you remove SharePoint, or in our case, we removed ADFS – it doesn’t remove this embedded edition database. Further, if you try to re-install – you’ll hit issues because this takes the installation down the default/stand-alone install – even if you elect a different deployment. So – we must manually remove this database.

Alternatively – you may be getting this error and attempting to resolve it – well, I hope this tidbit has helped you – the best thing to do is remove this instance – and re-install your initial stand-alone server component – in our case ADFS, in others WSS v3 or SharePoint Foundation / Stand-alone Deployment.

Here is the error we see:

Research shows this results from WSUS, ADFS, and WSSv3 (Windows SharePoint Services v3) being installed, or specifically installed as a stand-alone deployment – and once removed – the database is out there orphaned. Running the following command – 32bit or 64bit – run which ever is applicable (reference: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc708610(WS.10).aspx) will remove the database just fine:

1. Open a command shell (as Administrator)

2. Call msiexec with the correct key for the operating system platform.

   • On 32-bit platforms: msiexec /x {CEB5780F-1A70-44A9-850F-DE6C4F6AA8FB} callerid=ocsetup.exe
   • On 64-bit platforms: msiexec /x {BDD79957-5801-4A2D-B09E-852E7FA64D01} callerid=ocsetup.exe

Now you should be able to re-install, or install non-stand-alone – and all should be fine. HTH’s…

Office Professional Plus Setup 2010–Error–\ProPlusr.WW\OSETUP.DLL\ digital signature does not validate or is not present

Notice this error?

Check references like this one – http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-CA/officesetupdeploy/thread/0fa444dd-8b5c-4a0c-8b89-617bbd0b8e53

As you already know – this seems endless – well, it’s not.

Are you installing on an older 32 bit notebook/desktop? As I am, perhaps?

Are you installing on a older 64 bit notebook / desktop? Perhaps?

As you may remember, earlier – there were downloads for the 32bit and the 64bit Professional Plus bits – each with a unique ID number

* en_office_professional_plus_2010_x86_51486.exe

* en_office_professional_plus_2010_x64_515489.exe

These were self-extracting ISO’s basically.

Once I loaded the specific ones I needed – it’s an older Dell D810 32 bit notebook – and ran As Administrator – voila!

I entered my key – 10 minutes later – the completion screen. Trust me – you’ll spend days sometimes, running this down – I truly hope this helps.

You need to isolate your installation form the dual x86_x64 combo ISO’s / extractions – you need just the ISO / bits you are installing – otherwise – no matter what you try – it’ll drive you nuts. NOTE: This is particular to the older notebook/desktop architectures and where you do have Windows Vista/7 installed and working – but as you already know – you had issues with various drivers perhaps, etc.

NOTE: I did see this behavior not only in Office but many bits from MSFT. Typically it happens when you extract an ISO and copy it from one system to another – especially a pain when copying to a VM in VMware Workstation or Hyper-V, for example. Invariably, we’d pull the ISO down on the host we need to install on – and all is well – on a VM – but not so on these older infrastructures.

Try the above – using very specific bits – not mixed x86/x64.

HTH’s….

How to Find a Microsoft Partner – Microsoft Partner Network

I’ve worked for Microsoft Partners – anything from a Registered Partner – to the only Platinum Partner in history – that I’m aware of – HP – and in working for all of them – I’ve always wondered – how do day-to-day people find a Microsoft Partner?

Fortunately, over the years, they’ve gotten better at helping you do this.

Microsoft PinPoint is many things – but the key thing you’ll like – is you can pull it up and in a few keystrokes/clicks – find out 1) is this a real Microsoft Partner? 2) What are their real competencies (which is new in 2010/2011 and forward), 3) what is their reputation as a Partner?

Fortunately – you can find out a great deal – click – http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-US/companies - enter a search context – and have at it.

More to come… Champing at the bit to blog more on SharePoint 2010 – SPS solutions, but our real focus? Our book due Jan 2012 (tentatively – we may be able to publish it sooner) Multi-Tenancy Hosting with SharePoint Foundation, Server 2010, and On-Premise Hosting Farms.

Build It and They will Come – Dell Computer

I have allowed myself to take a personal feeling and bleed out into my professional workspace – something I have rarely done before – but I guess the blunder that Dell has become really struck me more profoundly than their launch in the ’80′s with PC Limited turbo charged desktops.

I remember the launch and growth of Dell well – we had a solid, best of breed product that was absolutely the best in its class.

Today – Dell as gone the way of major Motor / Industry – and it remains to be seen where that will take them, but they are nothing like the company that Michael Dell started many years ago.

Be that as it may – my personal experience and let down is done – I’ll leave the issue alone. No, they’ve not done a thing for me – they haven’t called me – they haven’t done a damn thing but I cannot waste so much energy on something that no one can change.

Build it and they will come – a mantra of mantras – but no longer applicable to Dell. He did build a super corporation – but they are not the company they once were.

Enough said… Their customer support is horrible. Period… Now – time to get back to living

Dell Customer Support – Nothing New Under the Sun.

You can begin here – http://news.cnet.com/2100-1042-5162141.html - and just work your way forward.

Seven (7) years in the making – Dell Customer Support has tanked – and is continuing to tank is a catastrophic way.

How do you turn this around? Well, if I voiced those thoughts – I’d not be politically correct – so I’ll reserve those thoughts.

Suffice to say- you can surf Dell Customer Support all you want – you’ll find a mix bag of stories – but I’m finding – there are many more negative than there are positive – and no measure of Search Engine Optimization will overwrite or obfuscate the truth – Dell Customer Support is deplorable – Period.

Dell Customer Support – Dell Computer Customer Support – SHAME SHAME SHAME

Okay – I took a day off from my 30 day endeavr to blog each day for one solid reason – or so I thought.

I had an email from the Executive Offices of Dell Computer. Now, I have Michael’s email address, and I included him on the original response to the technical thread – I was as straight-forward and forthcoming as one can be.

I had an email from his office that someone wanted to call and discuss this issue.

They have not called.

Now, before I post the audio files – I wanted to stress two (2) more key performance indicators here (KPI’s – in a blog?? <bigSmile/>)

1) I receive an email from the Executive Offices of Dell – but no follow up / follow through

2) Today I received an email from my last technical support representative – out of India – but it wasn’t for my case. Get this – she copied me – with another customer’s information – no kidding!!! I had the other customer’s data on my screen – screenshots from her – in an email that was addressed to me.

So – to summarize – not only does their Customer Support flat out stink – it is incomprehensible that their support representatives in India are sending me email data / information – that was directed to another client. Now, I will not copy all of the information in this post – because I care about the information of the other customer.

But I will share this:

My last customer support contact was a Mariel Brack – Dell – CSMB Premium Service

Today – an email sent to me – michael.hamilton@scleradesign.us- included data about an Alienware support issue – and this was in the subject line: NOT ABLE TO UPDATE OCTANE FHSX4K1 <first_last_Name_of_Customer> – so – you figure it out.

How in the world could this have happen? Well, a couple key performance indicators of my own:

The support personnel are way underpaid, but expected and given tasks of 40K+ key support personnel

The support personnel are not payng attention to what they’re doing

The support personnel do not fully know what they’re doing – if it’s not in a tele-scripter in front of them – period.

So – I’m not backing off… I have not been able to get our data center to just dump our Dell leases/contracts – but it will happen – and if I can help it – it will happen in this 30 day window.

So – considering a Dell? Well, there was a time – for well over 25 years – when I flew their flag as the best you could buy – and those that know me – know that I would NOT buy HP equipment for personal use (only for our datacenters).

Today? I would not recommend Dell for a damn thing – period. It is my mission to ensure that everyone knows – they have more than just a few issues.

They’re not an American corporation anymore – support has been outsourced overseas – manufacturing has been outsourced overseas – and Americans are not included in that outsourcing (not like they used to be). They have an office in the US – and that’s it.

They suck. Period. Sorry if this may offend some of you – but I take a lot of knocks, knock downs and hits – before I speak out – and everyone that knows me – knows I have never taken on such an issue as this. They didn’t just drop the ball on me – they let their true colors show through – and you need to know what you’re buying into – so – that’s my passion – as I can blog – over the next few weeks – to let  people know.

Dell Customer Support – Dell Computer Customer Support – SHAME SHAME SHAME – that’s all I  can say – they should be ashamed of the company they’ve evolved into. I have zero quarter for them. I gave them 24 hours to call – forget it – I’m done.

Now you know – just a little more of the story – I upgraded my Sound Taxi license – this is a solid product by the way, check it out – Sound Taxi (http://www.soundtaxi.info/) – I bought the Media Suite at the currently reduced price – check it out – you’ll love it.

Dell Computer? Bad investment – bad stock investment – bad personal investment – and our worst corporate investment – if you’re vested – take it for what it’s worth.

Dell Computer Customer Support – Dell Customer Support

Keeping the thread alive – I wanted to include that I did email Michael himself – the CEO and Founder of Dell Computer.

We have not quite gotten our audio files ready to post – we hope to have them ready by tomorrow, so tomorrow’s post will include the actual technical support calls – in all their pain and glory – but in an effort to really firm up this blog – we want you to hear the truth.

Long/Short – Dell has dropped the ball on something so trivial – so simple – that it’s not a little disconcerting that they could be misleading calling customers into sending in their computers for service, or trying to sell components/replacement parts – that are absolutely not necessary.

In our case the parts were absolutely necessary – and we found, much to our dismay, that Dell is no longer stocking parts for the Alienware line of notebooks. Actually, these are BRAND NEW notebooks being sold today – and if you call – and want something as innocuous as the 2nd drive bay (because they hold two (2) drives) – you’ll find that the drive tray/bay is no longer available – notwithstanding the computer is being sold as brand new.

Into our Hall of Shame – we induct Dell Computer and Dell Customer and Technical Support. The audio recordings will help you review the total details.

As promised, we would make a post a day – for 30 days – all in an effort to get Dell to the top of the Search Engine Rankings of Customer Support – we want everyone to know why a 45M Hosting Services Firm dumped 3.5M in Dell hardware in favor of HP and IBM hardware to replace Dell. This is not trivial – and our blog will expand on this so you see much more of the story.