SOLVED! TFTP Server Unreachable When Updating Cisco Switches

When updating the firmware and bootcode of your CISCO switches or routers, TFTP is very useful. Sometimes, even the only option available. But, many have my same problems of upgrade failed with error "Tftp server unreachable." This is how I've just fixed my problem with TFTP server this morning...

I'm using Solarwinds TFTP Server, you may download it for free from the link below:
https://www.solarwinds.com/free-tools/free-tftp-server

The installation is straight forward, and the default settings are good to run. (so, I won't explain much here). The main point is your Windows firewall needs to be configured correctly to make it works, or it will block your FTP access.

Steps:
1) If you have a 3rd party firewall, temporarily disabled it. (Or, if you know how to make a firewall exception to allow the TFTP service app to communicate. If so, follow the principles as below)
2) I assume your only Firewall is Windows Defender. On Windows search box, search for "Firewall" and click on "Allow an App for Windows Firewall".
3) Press Change Settings, then press the Allow another app... button
4) Press Browse, and select the SolarWinds TFTP Server service, named "SolarWinds TFTP Server.exe"
5) Go back to Network Types button and select the network environment that you wants to have the firewall rule applied. It must match your current network. If not sure, you may click Private and Public.
6) Click Add and then OK.
7) Start your Solarwinds TFTP server and start the CISCO firmware and bootcode upgrades.

The principle is to configure your firewall to allow communication of your TFTP server. However, the default settings e.g. for Solarwinds, is just allow access to the Configuration interface app but no firewall rules being created for the actual TFTP server service.

SOLVED! Very Slow Open an Excel File

You may not believe, there's one more causes to Excel taking a long time to open a file, one unlikely reason - audio card driver!! Check if you're using Realtek audio.... if so read this...

Reference:
http://www.dell.com/support/article/uk/en/ukdhs1/sln306701/slow-performance-issues-in-excel-when-opening-saved-files?lang=en

SOLVED! Cannot Open Excel File by Double Click on It

A number of users recently experienced this - when open an Excel attachment from Outlook or double click on an Excel file in Explorer, Excel starts as blank, the file is not opened.

Probably, a setting of Excel checked - "Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)". You can find the setting from Excel Options - Advanced - scroll down under "General". Un-check it.

Note: DDE is being exploited and there is higher security risk by leaving this setting unchecked. That may also be the reason why recently this setting is being checked by some security updates.

SOLVED! Transferring SMS, photos, videos and other files over Wi-Fi connection

This is my update of method of transferring files from one phone to another - CLONEit!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lenovo.anyshare.cloneit

This is a powerful tool for cloning your old phone to new in easy steps. So, just ignore my previous post below. You may also like to try another good tool from the same company - SHAREit - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lenovo.anyshare.gps


[my old post below]
Just got a new smartphone, moved my 2 SIM cards and memory card to the new phone. But, my SMS messages are all gone. Also, my pictures and videos on the old phone is not transferred.

The Android Gallery is not quite helpful in transferring my media files.

SOLUTION: ZenLink from ASUS is used to transfer my pictures, videos and other files from my old phone to new phone. It does not matter if your phone is not ASUS. It works for all phones, I believe. Just install ZenLink on both your new and old phones, moving files over your home Wi-Fi is easy!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asus.zenlink&hl=zh_HK

Then, what about my SMS messages....

SOLUTION: SMS Backup & Restore is another app that makes the work easy. You can make backup of your SMS and call records to your Google Drive. Then, restore on your new phone.

During the transfer process, the app will take over your default messaging app. Don't worry, after the transfer, simply uninstall the app and give your default app back the control.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore&hl=zh_HK

Happy, happy! Now, my new phone is ready!

SOLVED! Running WhatsApp on My iPad Safari or Chrome

WhatsApp works great on iPhone or an Android smartphone. However, if you have an iPad, you may be frustrated of not able to run WhatsApp on iPad. But, here's a workaround using web version of WhatsApp.

Using Safari: If you go to web.whatsapp.com, you will notice that you are being re-directed to the homepage of WhatsApp and the WhatsApp Web simply will not load.

At the top right corner of Safari, find and tab on the "Share" icon (square with up arrow).

From the "Share" menu, find and tab on the "Request Desktop Site" option.

Now, Safari loads again the web.whatsapp.com webpage but this time will load the WhatsApp Web instead. Follow instructions to add the device linked to your phone with WhatsApp. Remember, you should have WhatsApp installed on your phone first. Well, that's how WhatsApp is working.

Note that the web version of WhatsApp has some limitations compared to the app version. Also, at the left panel, you will have to tab 2 times to select, instead of one time in the normal WhatsApp app.

For Chrome: If you choose to use Chrome on iPad as your web browser, the way to load WhatsApp web is the same. Just the "Request Desktop Site" is under the 3 vertical dots (...).

SOLVED! "Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments" message in Outlook

Just handled a troubleshooting... when sending an email with an email as attachment, the one received the email cannot find the attachment. Instead, Outlooks showed a message...

"Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments"

Google....most people recommend to create a registry key to Outlook to avoid blocking of certain file extensions, which will work in most cases:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/829982/-outlook-blocked-access-to-the-following-potentially-unsafe-attachments-message-in-outlook

Sadly, in my case, it didn't work. 

SOLUTION:

Finally, the fix that works for me... the attached email has a NAME TOO LONG, I need to change the name to a SHORTER name before sending. That's the fix in my case!

By default Outlook uses the "Subject" of the message as the filename of the attached email. So, change the "Subject" to a shorter one.

This simple fix does not even need a registry edit or install a software!

[SOLVED] ASUS Monitor Cannot Show Everything, Or Shifted to One Side

Like monitors of other brands, there's kind of "Auto Adjust" feature on the monitor itself, not on Windows. Find the button on the monitor itself to do this.

For ASUS monitors, there's a button looks like this. Press and hold it for about 4 seconds.

[SOLVED] Outlook When Pressed "OK" ...error message "The end date you entered occurs before the start date"

After I've changed my signature in Outlook and mail fonts in "Options", once I pressed OK, this is the error message:

"The end date you entered occurs before the start date"

Yes, this is very annoying! Here's the fix...

In "Outlook Options", at the left side find "Calendar". Then, at the top, can you see the "Work hours:" with the "Start time" and "End time" right below it? Now check, if the "Start time" is later than the "End time", the error message will show. Change it for example to "Start Time=8:00 AM" and the "End time=5:00 PM".

I just wonder, can Microsoft be more creative and helpful to auto-fix it!

[SOLVED] Windows Live Mail Show Only Progress Window or Like "Freezed" When Startup

This morning a client called, saying her Windows Live Mail is not working... when it starts, only see the progress window of error mail sending, it didn't load Windows Live Mail...

After some checking, I saw multiple instances of "wlmail.exe" in the task manager. "End Task" of these mal-functioning executables bring the Windows Live Mail back to normal. Of course, a reboot will also solve the problem...

Happy that I checked the task manager instead of uninstall and re-install  Windows Live Mail or even editing registries.... ;>

[SOLVED] Lenovo ideapad Boot to BIOS Failed

When I'm trying to boot to BIOS on my ideapad S210, it simply go directly to Windows 10. It's something to do with the "shutdown" mode of Windows 10, which is not really a normal shutdown, but like a sleep mode.

To solve it: 

1) Restart Windows 10. (Again, a shutdown in Windows 10 is hibernation)

2) Press F2 (or, FN+F2 if you have a keyboard with function keys in orange text). Besides, if you just want to change the startup boot device, it's F12.

Source: http://www.infralib.com/2015/03/lenovo-bios-key/

Now your ideapad should be able to boot to BIOS.