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MySQL PHP XML DOMDocument German Umlauts / Sonderzeichen problem

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I wanted a PHP script to echo an XML-formatted results of a query to a MySQL database table. The script crashed/stopped when i had german umlaut or special character like ä,ö,ü,ß in a text column in the database

How-I-fixed-it:
There where a couple of steps required for me to make the special characters come through to the client browser.

1. Set the collation of the database table and the char columns to charset "utf8_general_ci"
2. In the PHP-code, force the DOMDocument to be UTF-8: $dom = new DOMDocument("1.0","UTF-8");
3. Set the database queries to be UTF-8: $names=mysql_query('set names utf8');
4. Set the charset of the mysql_connection to be UTF-8: mysqli_set_charset($connection, 'utf8');
5. Tell the client browser that the data is UTF-8 encoded: header('Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8');

Maybe not all steps are really necessary, but once it worked for me, i left it that way :-)


I found some help here:
http://www.winfuture-forum.de/index.php?showtopic=193063
http://php.net/manual/de/domdocument.savexml.php
http://www.mysqltutorial.org/mysql-collation/

Dell Vostro 3500 loses/lost WiFi-connection / drops out of WLAN and does not re-connect because of overheating

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After being on for a few hours, my wifes' laptop lost WiFi Connection and direfused to reconnect. Leaving it off for some time then, WiFi was working fine again.

How-I-fixed.-it:
Monitoring the problem for a few days I recognized that the downside of the laptop was very warm at the time it lost WLAN connection. I remembered having troube with this system in the past due to overheating because of a dusty fan assembly, as described in a previous post: http://how-i-fixed-it.blogspot.de/2013/05/laptop-dell-vostro-3500-turns-itself.html

I disassembled the system and found the heat exchanger filled with dust. I cleaned the whole fan assembly and since the system is much cooler now, also the WiFi is stable.

How to extract and convert images/photos exif GPS metadata to decimal format with exiftool?

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I use the great ExifTool by Phil Harvey to extract GPS metadata from images.
The default output for GPS coordinates is styled liked this:
GPS Latitude                    : 48 deg 50' 47.01" N
GPS Longitude                   : 8 deg 35' 21.83" E

I wanted the GPS data formatted in decimal number style.

How i fixed it:
Run the exiftool with the commandline parameters -n -c %.8f and you get

GPS Latitude                    : 48.8463925
GPS Longitude                   : 8.58939861111111

I found the right hints here:
http://u88.n24.queensu.ca/exiftool/forum/index.php/topic,6176.msg30496.html#msg30496

ExifTool download and forum can be found here:
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/

Program can't start because msvcr120.dll is missing from your computer / Programm kann nicht gestartet werden, weil msvcr120.dll auf dem Computer fehlt

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Recently i got the error message whe trying to start a program:
"Program can't start because msvcr120.dll is missing from your computer / Programm kann nicht gestartet werden, weil msvcr120.dll auf dem Computer fehlt"
on my computer.

How I fixed it:
These Dll's are part of the Visual C++ Redistributable Packages für Visual Studio 2013.
The packages can be downloaded here: http://www.microsoft.com/de-de/download/details.aspx?id=40784

For a 32 bit OS, it's enough to install the vcredist_x86.exe package. For a 64 bit OS also install the vcredist_x64.exe.


Windows Phone 8.1 does not upload / sync camera roll photos to OneDrive

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Recently my Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8.1 stopped uploading photos to OneDrive.
Searching the web i found out, that this happens to all photos taken with "Auto Upload" being turned off!
I had "Auto Upload" turned of to save some high speed volume. Even after turing it on again, the photos i took while i was turned of did not sync to OneDrive automatically.

How-I-fixed-it:
There's a very usefull app called "Camera Roll Sync" in the Windows AppStore which allows to sync the photos manually.
Here's the AppStore URL: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-ca/store/app/camera-roll-sync/5b7e86ad-32f7-47f5-95a0-eda5ef0abb31



Windows 8.1 dropping/losing Wi-Fi/WLAN connection, limited internet access, frequently re-connecting to router/access-point

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Title in german:
Windows 8.1 verliert ständig WLAN-Verbindung zum Router / Eingeschränkte Verbindung

A while ago my wife's Dell Vostro 3500 running Windows 8.1 started to frequently drop the Wi-Fi connection to the router AVM Fritz!Box 7390 (sometimes once a minute), requesting a new IP-Adress by DHCP, but still showing limited internet access.

Things I tried, which did NOT fix the problem:
- Updating to latest drivers
- Switching to an AVM USB Fritz!WLAN Stick N v2
- Assignng a static IP to the network adapter

How-I-fixed-it:
I was able to fix the problem by changing settings for the WiFi-Adapter in the Power Options and disabling IPv6.

First:
Windows Key + R, type control panel,
go to Power Options. Click Change Plan Settings,
click Change Advanced Power Settings, then Wireless Adapter Settings,
then Power Saving Mode. Change the Plugged in option to “Maximum Performance”.
If this is a laptop, you might have On Battery option and set it to “Maximum Performance”. Restart computer.
I found thsi hint here:
http://atechjourney.com/fix-wi-fi-keeps-disconnecting-in-windows-8-and-8-1.html/

Second:
In the properties of the Wi-Fi network connection, DISABLE Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), as described here:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/enable-disable-ipv6-solve-internet-connectivity-problems

Wi-Fi problems with Windows 8.1 are described in many threads, here are links to the ones i found:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-networking/windows-81-wifi-dropping-andor-limited/87531d97-c148-4387-acda-5a31b38c069e
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-networking/windows-81-dropping-wireless-connection/88ef2187-38f6-436b-bc25-e92cf6fe05af
http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/33754-after-8-1-update-wi-fi-dropping-connection.html

Windows 8.1 upgrade app icon not shown: how to create a bootable USB-Stick to upgrade to Windows 10?

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My Windows 8.1 did not show the "Upgrade to Windows 10" app icon in the taskbar, whatever fix i tried. So i was looking for a way to manually upgrade vom Windows 8.1 to 10 using an USB stick.

How-i-fixed-it:
1. Go to the Windows 10 download page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
2. Download and execute the download tool to get the ISO-file for Windows 10
3. Backup all data off the USB-stick you plan to use!!!!
4. Downlod the RUFUS tool from http://rufus.akeo.ie/
5. Select the Windows 10 .iso-file to create a bootable USB medium
6. Just to be on the safe side: In case of a clean install on the target system, have you product key ready. If you can't find it, you can use the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder freeware tool from https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ to read out your product key.
7. Put the stick into the system you plan to upgrade
8. Upgrade :-)

Dell XPS12 Realtek Audio ALC3260 microphone and speakers not working after upgrade to Windows 10

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I upgraded my DELL XPS 12 (9Q23, Late 2012)  to Windows 10 (from 8.1) and had an issue with the microphone and speakers being turned off after every start of the system. No sound, although the speaker symbol did not show it as muted.
The temporary solution was to mute and unmute the speakers to get it to work.

How i fixed it:
Dell released a couple of new drivers for the XPS 12 für Windows 10 under:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/xps-12-l221x/drivers/advanced

Here's the link to the REALTEK Audio driver for Windows 10 on DELL XPS12:
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03160578M/1/Audio_Driver_GKHWY_WN32_6.0.1.7525_A00.EXE

The driver applies to:
Realtek ALC3223 High-Definition (HD) Audio
Realtek ALC3661 High Definition Audio
Realtek Audio
Realtek Audio ALC3234
Realtek Audio ALC3260
Realtek Audio ALC3620


Lancom Advanced VPN Client NCP driver error / licence error under Windows 10

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My Lancom Advanced VPN Client Version 3.0 showed an "NCP driver error" under Windows 10.
I downgraded to 8.1 and it worked OK again.

I then found on the LANCOM support page, i have to wait for version 3.02 which will work with Windows 10.

After the release of 3.02 i upgraded my VPN client software and then upgraded to Windows 10 again.
Unfortunately, under Windows 10, the software kept compaining about being not activated or an invalid licene.

How-I-fixed-it:
I did a profile backup, deactivated and uninstalled the software and did a fresh install.

To avoid problems with Lancom Advanced VPN client at Operating System upgrades, follow the steps described here: https://www.lancom-systems.de/en/service-support/instant-help/common-support-tips/
 
08/04/15
Operating the LANCOM Advanced VPN Client with Windows 10

Operating the LANCOM Advanced VPN Client on a Windows 10 operating system requires a product key for version 3.0.
 
Notice about updating your operating system to Windows 10:
When updating the operating system from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, please ensure that you uninstall the LANCOM Advanced VPN Client before you carry out the Windows update.
 
We recommend that you also secure any configuration file(s) and certificates separately. Instructions are available in the following Knowledge Base article.
Only after completing the update to Windows 10 can you install the current version of the LANCOM Advanced VPN Client (version 3.02 or higher).

Where can i find drivers for Windows 10 on DELL XPS 12?

Nokia Lumia 920 stuck with running gears at startup after hard reset because of a failed upgrade to Windows 10 preview with error code 8007020

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I joined the Windows Insider program with my Lumia 920 to get a preview of Windows 10. The update failed to install with error code 8007020, same as described in this forum post:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_install/not-able-to-install-windows-10-on-nokia-lumia-920/6cd1e20b-bc41-437f-8626-6d7df503fe1a

I then tried to fix it with a hard reset, but then my phone was stuck with running gears at startup. Soft reset, another hard reset, waiting a couple of reboots, problem still was there.

The key combinations to be pressed for a soft and hard reset are described here under "FAQ - My Lumia stays at the spinning gears":
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/mobile/support/faq/?action=singleTopic&topic=FA141347


How-I-fixed-it:

I fixed it by flashing the phone with the original Firmware using the Nokia Software Updater for Retail tool.

I found the solution in this Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVslVzUIDII

Here's the link to download the Nokia Software Updater for Retail :
http://www.softpedia.com/dyn-postdownload.php?p=141287&t=0&i=1

In case, the Software does not detect your phone via USB try:
Once the Software is waiting for the phone to connect, perform a soft reset (Press Volume down + Power until it reboots). This made it connect on my computer.

VisualStudio debug attach to process does not show w3p IIS web publishing in the list of processes

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I was debugging an ASP.Net application using VisualStudio and attaching the debugger to the w3p process.
Sometimes, the list of processes to attach to, does not show the w3p process.

How-I-fixed-it:
Here are some steps, that made the w3p process appear again in the list:
- Rebuild the solution
- Restart VisualStudio
- Logout from Windows and log in again
- Open the web application to be debugged in a browser window (this finally solved the problem on my computer)

This list of steps is a "best-of" the solution, i collected from the following sources:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1983439/why-cant-i-attach-to-the-w3wp-exe-process-when-i-turn-off-just-my-code-in-vs201
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4313206/cannot-attach-debugger-to-w3wp

How to change the display nome of outlook.com account / ost-file in folder pane in Outlook 2013/2016

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My outlook 2016 was showing my outlook.com account using my microsoft account e-mail address. I was looking for a way how to rename the "blabla@outlook.com" to "Outlook.com-Account", like i can be done with POP/IMAP accounts.
But the properties of the data file only showed me the path to the .ost-file, but no Textbox to enter a Display name.

How i fixed it:

I found the solution a Microsoft answers forum, posted by Verdhaham Shetti:

Here's his solution, which worked for me:

"Let's follow the steps to change the mail box name for EAS account.
  1. Go to File > Options > Advanced > Click on Send/Receive
  2. Press the Edit.
  3. Select your Outlook.com/Hotmail account on the left.
  4. Press the Account Properties.
  5. Type the display name for your account on the General tab.
  6. Press OK until all dialogs are closed and you are back in the main Outlook window. "
Reference:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2016-outlook/how-to-rename-mailbox-display-name-in-outlook-2016/4d63be01-acd5-4b31-b228-9c1a829a7182


DELL XPS 12 9Q33 internal microphone stopped working because of loose cable

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The internal microphone of my Dell XPS 12 stopped working. Dell was not able to fix it in a remote desktop session. The support guy re-installed all possibly involved drives without success.
They sent me a technicial to replace the webcam unit.

What he found:
The cable which connects the webcam was loose. One of the plug was not fully plugged in, that was why the camera was still working, but the microphone wasn't.


How-HE-fixed-it:
The technicial removed the back cover of the LCD screen by removing the screws around it.
He unplugged and plugged in the cable connecting the webcam unit. Microphone was working again.

Here's the link to the service manual describing the procedure:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/1070323/Dell-Xps-12.html





Adobe Acrobat Reader crash, where are the AutoSave files?

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My Adobe Reader DC recently crashed with lots of comments added in the PDF. After restart and confirming to recover the last file, it just said "Error reading file" and the changes seem to be gone completely now.

I wish i would have saved away the AutoSave directory before restarting.
Where does Adobe Acrobat Reader save/store the temporary files of the "Select Automatically Save Document Changes To Temporary File Every xx Minutes"?

Win XP : C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Adobe\Acrobat\1X.0\AutoSave
Win 7/8/10:  C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\[Version]\AutoSave

The files are just named  xx.tmp



Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop Wireless Keyboard Batteries are self-draining / get empty very fast

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I have a Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop Wireless Keyboard and recognized, that the batteries get empty much faster than say in the technical data sheet. According to the manual they are supposed to stand "36 month typical".

How-I-fixed-it:
I'm travelling a lot with the keyboard in the backpack. In case a key on the keyboard is pressed while in the backpack the whole time, it seems to keep trying to send this event to the receiver, even if the receiver is not plugged into the computer's USB port. So it's constantly sending and emptying the batteries.

In this case either remove the batteries before putting it into the backpack or find a case to avoid the keys being pressed.

Outlook signature has wrong colors / colors change on every save of signature / signature corrupt

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I created a new HTML signature in Outlook 2016 and user a user defined color by RGB values.
I the signature editor everything looked OK, but when i first used the signature in an E-Mail i recognized, that one line in the signature was black colored instead of the color i wanted.

I went back to the signature editor and saw, that the issue was still present. I colored all lines the same and saved the signature. Using it for the first time, another line was black now. Tried this a few times and the problem did not go away.

How-I-fixed-it:

Where does Outlook store the signatures? (In german: Wo speichert Outlook die Signaturen ab?)
Outlook stores the signatures in your personal data directory (this is also important to know in case you want to backup or transfer your signatures), not in any pst-file!

I went to:
C:\Users\MyUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures

There you find some file with the name of your signature, one for every E-Mail-Format.
I opened the MySignatureName.htm file and after a huge part of styles and formatting right at the end i found the HTML-Code of my signature.
I found out, that for the line(s) being black instead of my color, Outlook added the
-Tag BEFORE the text instead of after it. So the style did not affect it.I manually corrected the HTML to be the way i wanted it to be and the problem seems to be gone now.


Printing problems with Dell ColorLaser 3110cn after upgrade to Office 2016 fixed by switching to HP Universal Print Driver

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I have two computers (Win7 32bit, Win10 32bit) which have been printing fine over a networked 3110cn printer for ages. I recently upgraded both computers from Office 2007 to Office 2016 and i now see issues with the printer all over the place. Applications can't send more than one printjob to the printer any more. If they send two printjobs in a row, the second one does not get printed, although the printer queue lists two Jobs.
The printjobs list in the WebUI of the Printer lists the second Job with "0" pages.
Applications cannot send more than two jobs to the printer in a row, the printer queue only lists two jobs and the application hangs.
I downloaded the latest Firmware and Drivers (Looks like they are from 2014) from the dell Website, but this did not fix the problem.
 How-I-fixed-it:

I switched to the HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PostScript (32-bit) for this printer and it is working fine now. The driver can be found here:
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=4157320&swLangOid=18&swEnvOid=4062

Hyper-V-Installation breaks NCP/Lancom Advanced VPN Client by adding Hyper-V Extensible Virtual Switch

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I installed Hyper-V on my Windows 10 laptop and after that, my LANCOM Advanced VPN Client was not able to communicate with my company network any more.
I took very long to connect to the VPN router and even after the connection was established (green), no communication with computers in the company network was possible.

How-i-fixed-it:
I found out, that Hyper-V setup added couple of virtual network adaptors "vEthernet" to the network settings and a Network bridge device.
The existing network adaptors got added a new device to use "Hyper-V Extensible Virtual Switch" instead of their standard IP settings. It looks to me as this breaks the LANCOM VPN Client Ethernet adaptor.
I went to the settings of the LANCOM Ethernet Adaptor in the network settings and unchecked the "Hyper-V Extensible Virtual Switch". It automatically checked the standard Elements like IPv6, IPv4 and others.
Doing so, the VPN connection was established as fast as before and i was able to communicate over the tunnel without issues.

Windows 10 takes very long to load/show contenct of Downloads folder because folder type is pictures

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My Windows 10 explorer took ages to load and display the content of the "Downloads" folder. All other folders' content was shown immediately.

How-I-fixed-it:

Find the folder in file explorer
Right click on it and select 'properties' at the bottom of the pop-up window
Click on the customise tab
Change 'optimise this folder for:' to 'General items'

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/very-slow-to-load-downloads-folder-in-windows-10/221944ba-55cd-416a-bd2b-0030d6ee7125

In German / Auf Deutsch:
Windows 10 Explorer braucht sehr lange, um den Inhalt des Download-Ordners anzuzeigen.

Lösung:
Rechtsklick auf den "Downloads"-Ordner -> Eigenschaften
Reiter "Anpassen" -> "Diesen Ordner optimieren für:"ändern von "Bilder" auf "Allgemeine Elemente"




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