The solution was to install a virtual copy of Windows. Then I could duplicate that system for each of the versions of Internet Explorer that I wanted to test.

Virtual Windows XP with IE6

• Head over to the Microsoft page to Download Windows XP Mode with Virtual PC found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx.
• Select your system and language.
• Jump down to step 2 and download and install Windows XP Mode.
• Return to the page and download and install Windows Virtual PC.
• Restart your PC. It is very important that you do this.
• In the Start menu, select All Programs > Windows Virtual PC > Windows XP Mode and follow the setup for Windows XP Mode virtual machine. By default, this will install Internet Explorer 6.

Duplicating your install and adding IE7

• Open Windows Explorer and head over to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines. You may need to show hidden folders to find this path.
• Copy and paste the .vhd file in this folder. This is your virtual hard drive file.
• Rename the duplicate file to something like “Windows XP Mode – IE7″.
• Open the folder C:\Users\username\Virtual Machines.
• At the top of Windows Explorer press the link to “Create virtual machine”.
• Name the Machine “Windows XP Mode – IE7″ and click next and next again to continue.
• Here, choose “Use an existing virtual hard disk” and select the duplicate you previously  created.
• Click Create.
• Launch the new virtual machine by double-clicking the new virtual machine you just created.
• Once it’s booted up, rename the computer so that there is no network conflict by going to Start > My Computer … System Tasks … View System Information … Computer Name … Change (to rename).
• NOW you can add IE7 which I did by searching the Microsoft site for the download (http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=2) and installing it.

Although the instructions above are somewhat abbreviated, I think there is enough to get the job done.

• TightVNC
  The original screen commander. VNC is an acronym for Virtual Network Computing. Once setup on the computer and the ports on the router are properly forwarded, this is an awesome tool for remote accessing a computer and doing what needs to be done. You can even find mobile apps for remote access.
  The problem is that this require the client to know how to forward ports on the router. If the clients I dealt with could do that, they wouldn’t need my help initially.
• GoToMyPC
  This access software is all over the radio trying to promote itself as a way to work from home. It does work and it works pretty well. The lag is not that bad and the access is pretty painless.
  The problem is that after 30 days they want your credit card. I wouldn’t mind paying if this was a regular part of my day. However I help about 10 clients a year and that in no way covers the cost of subscription.
• YuuGuu
  This software has a wild name, but it works. I found this a year or so ago and they had a free version that was easy to find. I think that’s when their software was still in beta. Now it’s pretty hard to locate their free download and if you do, it’s then hard to locate where to register your free account.
  The problem with this software is that it’s the laggy-est of the three I’ve tried to date. You can work with it remotely, but expect a delay that sometimes feels a little confusing. If you know what you’re doing, no problem. If you’re feeling your way around trying to help someone when you don’t fully know what your looking for, you might get frustrated.
• TeamViewer
  This is some software that I’ve come across and would like to try based on a few glowing forums posts. They have a free version and they have a mobile application.

Other services that I have not had the opportunity to try:

• LogMeIn (thanks Zeroy)
  There does appear to be a free version available for this product, however there is no comparison of features letting you know what you don’t get. I also cant confirm if the free version is limited and requires an upgrade later.
• RemotePC
  Requires a monthly plan.
• WebEx
  Nice for online meetings, but expensive. I used this software briefly when it first launched and shortly thereafter moved to GoToMyPC. GoToMyPC was a better pay-for product at the time.

Also, here’s a nice list of product via Wiki. I’ve listed those products I’ve heard about above.

*** The majority of this page was reposted from http://www.gaztronics.net/rsync.php. I cannot take credit for this outline. I am reposting this for my own record as I find this information very informative.

Preamble

I have created this page to help others who wish to use Rsync to backup M$ Windows based machines to Linux Servers or to other Windows Workstations/Servers. I hope you find this example useful. It is tried and tested. Once installed and setup, syncing is as easy as running the following command:
rsync -av –delete loginname@domainname.com:”/home/loginname/www/” “/home/foyleman/loginname/”

Set out below are three sections detailing the setup of the Cygwin software, the set up of the Server (daemon) side and the Client side of Rsync.

Before you get carried away: Please note that the packets sent between the client and the server on port 873 are not encrypted. If you are planning to use this method to back-up Windows based systems via the Internet it is advisable to research the use of SSH before you start. See here for a useful guide to using Rsync with stunnel.

1: Cygwin

Before you can use Rsync on a Windows Workstation or Windows Server, you will need to download and install the Cygwin system, with the following selections as a minimum:

(1.1) +Editors Install nano for use as a simple text editor (or install one of the others if you are familiar with them), as in the following example screen.

Click +Editors to expand the choices, then select nano.

(1.2) +Net Install Rsync as in the following example screen. (It is not installed by default and might be useful for this exercise!)

Click +Net to expand the choices, then select Rsync.

(1.3) +Admin If you are planning to use Rsync as a Service under Windows, you must expand the +Admin section and select cygrunsrv NT/W2k service initiator.

Click +Admin to expand the choices, then select cygrunsrv.

Windows Tip: If you operate machines connected via a Domain Controller, or a standalone machine with multiple local accounts, login as ‘Administrator’ (NT/2k/XP) and install Cygwin for current user only. This will hide the shortcuts from the “Users”. You can also set the Scheduler (or AT job) to run the batch as ‘Administrator’ so the “Users” cannot fiddle!

Windows Tip: You will need to tell Windows where to find the Cygwin /bin directory, otherwise apps called from outside Cygwin will fail. Do this by adding C:\Cygwin\bin; to the PATH statement.

On Windows 9.x/ME, add the path statement to the AUTOEXEC.BAT and reboot the machine.

On Windows NT, open the Control Panel and double click on the System applet. Click on the Environment tab. Add the path settings to the end and click the Set button. Click OK, and close the Control Panel. The path will be dynamically reloaded (no need to reboot).

On Windows 2000/XP, open the Control Panel and double click on the System applet. Click on the Advanced tab, then click the Environment Variables button. Double click on the PATH statement in the ‘System Variable’ screen (lower of the two), add the path on the end, and click OK. Click OK to close the Environment Variables screen, then click OK to close the System Properties dialogue box. The path will be dynamically reloaded (no need to reboot).

Note: If the end of the path looks something like this: C:\Somepath don’t forget to add ; before you add the C:\Cygwin\bin; e.g. C:\Somepath;C:\Cygwin\bin;

(1.4) +Net and select openssh. This will acuse cygwin in the next screen to ask you to confirm additional dependencies. Do install these dependencies. **updated 06/20/2011 08:27 AM

2: Server

Linux Rsync Server Setup

2.1 Make sure Rsync is installed [rpm -q rsync (Red Hat/Fedora)] on your Linux Server.

2.2 Choose the path for your backup area: This can be on a per-user basis (backup a Users data to their /home/user area) or on a system level basis (a single machine backing up to one directory.)

2.3 Create the /etc/rsyncd.conf and /etc/rsyncd.secrets files. [Check out the Manual pages for rsyncd.conf for more info.]

Here is an example of an rsyncd.conf file where the backup area drops into the user ‘Fred’s’ home drive:

[modulename] path = /home/fred/backup comment = Fred’s Offsite storage area (requires authentication) uid = fred gid = users read only = false auth users = fred secrets file = /etc/rsyncd.secrets

The permissions for this file should be: -rw-r–r– (644) and root root.

The corresponding rsyncd.secrets file contains the following entry:

fred:BackUpPassword

The permissions for this file should be: -rw——- (600) and root root.

Linux Tip: If you are running multiple users, the /etc/rsyncd.secrets file must be contructed with carriage returns after each username:password pair; for example:

vicky:YeahButNoButYeah

andy:DontLikeIt

harvey:bitty

2.4 Start Rsync in daemon mode.

Linux Tip: Linux Distros usually run rsync from xinetd. You might need to run /usr/sbin/setup (Red Hat/Fedora) and select ‘rsync’ in the ‘System Services’; or you can edit the ‘rsync’ file in /etc/xinetd.d and setdisable = no. Don’t forget to restart xinetd afterwards.

Windows Rsync Server Setup

Setting up Rsync as a Server under Windows is a little more tricky, due to the differences in security and paths; and the inability to use the ‘authenticate user’ mode of Rsync. For this reason, I would not recommend setting up an Rsync Server on Windows for use over the Internet. Keep the installation within a secure Local Area Network. It should also be noted that this method is based on the “Pro” versions of Windows, i.e. Windows 2000 Professional. “Home” version users may experience problems setting up the Service.

Method update: Windows 2003 Server has thrown a spanner in the works. Microsoft have set the paranoid level to maximum which has resulted in Cygwin based services failing to start. This method has been updated to take this into account.

This method comes without warranty, but it should work for: Windows NT 4.0 Server; Windows NT 4.0 Workstation; Windows 2000 Server; Windows 2000 Workstation; Windows XP Workstation.

Method 1. Without installing Cygwin in the full: You might be interested in this Rsync Server project. The Windows package installs the bare essentials to create an Rsync Server.

Method 2. Install Cygwin in full and use its directory structure for storage. (This is recommended if you are new to Linux as the directory permissions are stored *nix style and you will need Cygwin to change them – you cannot change them from Windows!)

Both methods require a valid rsyncd.conf, such as the one below.

Method 2. Step 1: Install Cygwin as in Section 1.

Method 2. Step 2: Choose an area to backup the files to. (In this example I have used /var/rsync_dump in the Cygwin tree.)

Method 2. Step 3: Create the /etc/rsyncd.conf file, as in the example below:

use chroot = false strict modes = false  [modulename] path = /cygdrive/c/cygwin/var/rsync_dump comment = Rsync storage area read only = false

Note: The path = /cygdrive/c/cygwin/var/rsync_dump looks a little odd. This is Cygwin convention for defining Windows paths from within a *nix emulator.

Method 2. Step 4: If you are setting up on Windows 2003 Server (otherwise skip to the next step):

(1) Open the Windows File Explorer and go to the C: drive.

(2) Right click on the ‘Cygwin’ directory and select ‘Properties’.

(3) Click on the ‘Security’ tab. The user ‘Administrator’ should be the first in the list and it will not have any permissions set for this folder.
(If the user ‘Administrator’ is not listed, you will need to add it.)

(4) Tick the ‘Allow – Full Control’ box in the “Permissions for Administrator” window.

(5) Click the Advanced button and tick the box for “Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects”.

(6) Click the Apply button to set the permissions.

(7) Click the OK button to close the Advanced settings dialogue box.

(8) Click the OK button to close the Cygwin properties dialogue box.

Method 2. Step 5 Install Rsync as a Service from a ‘Command Prompt’ window with the following command line:

Windows 2003 (All versions & service packs, installed as Administrator)	cygrunsrv.exe -I “Rsync” -p /cygdrive/c/cygwin/bin/rsync.exe -a “–config=/cygdrive/c/cygwin/etc/rsyncd.conf –daemon –no-detach” -f “Rsync daemon service” -u Administrator -w password Note: This is all one line!
Windows NT/2k/XP (All versions & service packs, installed as Administrator)	cygrunsrv.exe -I “Rsync” -p /cygdrive/c/cygwin/bin/rsync.exe -a “–config=/cygdrive/c/cygwin/etc/rsyncd.conf –daemon –no-detach” -f “Rsync daemon service” Note: This is all one line!

The section -u Administrator -w password installs the service to run as the user ‘Administrator’ (where ‘password’ is the Administrator account password) and is required by Windows 2003 Server, else the service will fail to start correctly. You can create a user called ‘rsync’ to run the service if you wish to use tighter security. Windows NT/2k/XP users may install the service using this method if needed, else the service will install with SYSTEM priveleges.

Method 2. Final Step From the same command prompt, start the Service with   net start rsync.

If all has gone well, you should be ready to accept incoming client connections.

3: Client

In order to backup your Windows machine effectively, I would recommend the use of a batch file, as in the following:

The example above is for backing up a windows machine to a Linux based Rsync server. If you are backing up a Windows machine to another windows machine, the module section does not include a user name as Windows cannot handle the extra checking; therefore the line would appear as company.com::modulename.

An explanation:

C:\Cygwin\bin\rsync    -    is the full path to ‘rysync.exe’.

-vrtz    -    verbose (tell us what is being copied), recursive (descend into directories), transfer modification times, z (compress data).

–password-file=c:\cygwin\secret   -    Path to ‘secret’ file. (Note: Remember this is for backup to a Linux based Rsync Server; a Windows based Rsync Server cannot authenticate!)

–delete   -    delete remote files that are deleted locally.

/cygdrive/d/Data    -    in this example means D:\Data.

fred@company.com::modulename    -    is the user ID, hostname (can be IP address if over Local Network), and the module connection name (in this example ‘modulename’).

Windows Tip: We assume you wish to run the backup automatically! In that case, you will have to create the ‘secret’ file that Rsync uses for its authenticating password. Here is how to do that:

1. Login to Cygwin.

2. Create a file called ‘secret’ in the root of the Cygwin application (i.e. cd /). Enter the client’s password with no spaces and no carriage returns; (in this example: ‘BackUpPassword’ to match fred:BackUpPassword in the server’s /etc/rsyncd.secrets file). Assign the file 600 permissions (chmod 600 secret). This is the file ‘–password-file=c:\cygwin\secret’ as referred to above. If you create the secret file as a user (i.e. not logged in as ‘Administrator’), you will need to change the ownership of the file: chown Administrator:Domain Users should work for Servers;chown Administrator:SYSTEM should work for Workstations.

Please note: If you cannot change the persmissions on the secret file, check you are running your NT/2k/XP set-up with NTFS and not the FAT file system.

3. Exit Cygwin.

Windows Tip: You may call this batch file from the Startup Group, the Scheduler (and AT scheduler), or from the Logon / Logoff features of the Group Policy (Win2k/XP) by running gpedit.msc.

I discovered it while using a Chrome addon called LightShot. It allows me to take a selected screen shot. If I choose to edit the screenshot, the image is automatically uploaded to Pixlr and is ready for me to manipulate.

OK… It’s not as feature rich as Photoshop. But this little utility would be awesome if you were on the road, working from a laptop, need something quick…

Anyway, that brings me to a new issue I came across… and I think I solved. That issue is cross browser syncing of my shortcuts.

Apparently Xmarks is still in business and did not actually shut down. This is a great plugin that’s available for IE, FireFox and Chrome. The problem I ran into with Chrome is that sometimes Xmarks would encounter an error during syncing and I’d end up with my shortcuts being duplicated like 10 times.

If you run into this issue… here’s the fix I came across:

• Open up Options in Chrome and disable syncing with Google.
• Go to your Google Dashboard account and remove all your old data. Don’t worry. We’ll restore it in a minute.
• Restart the Chrome browser and wait for Google to finish removing your old data. Check with Google in about 5-10 minutes until your synced data for Chrome is no longer listed.
• In Chrome, go to Options and re-enable syncing. However this time deselect the option to sync bookmarks.

You should now be able to use Xmarks to sync across all your browsers and still use Google to sync your other data.

On a related note, checkout LastPass for syncing your passwords. It’s another cross browser option since Xmarks has apparently stopped syncing passwords too.

Mac OSX 10.6:

• Download and install the latest version: http://synergy-foss.org/download
• Download and install SynergyKM: http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergykm/files/Binaries/1.0%20Beta%206/SynergyKM-Beta6.dmg/download
• Launch SynergyKM Installer and follow the instructions per Mac.
• Under General, select “Connect to shared”.
• Under Client Configuration, enter the IP address of the Windows 7 machine. **
• Note the value for “This computer’s Screen Name” as you will need it for Windows 7.
• Press Apply Now.

** Get your IP address from Windows 7:

• Click the windows icon and in the search box enter “cmd” and hit enter.
• In the windows terminal, type “ipconfig” and hit enter.
• There, note your IPv4 Address as your IP address.

Windows 7:

• Download and install the latest version: http://synergy-foss.org/download
• Check the box “Server”.
• Press Configure Server.
• Drag a new monitor from the top right onto the screen where you want to use it (under the existing monitor).
• Double click the new monitor.
• Change the name of this monitor to the ”This computer’s Screen Name” as noted when setting up the Mac.
• Apply the changes.
• Start the server.
• NOTE: sometimes it won’t start right away and I don’t know why. But walk away and come back and it will work.

Mac (again):

• While the server is running on Windows, go to General and press Turn Synergy On.

You should now be connected.

I don’t know what started this problem, but I did figure out a solution. Since I am using Windows 7, the links below may not look like yours.

• Open windows explorer.
• Navigate to your FireFox Profiles folder. Mine was:
  C:Users[username]AppDataRoamingMozillaFirefoxProfilesumbvzbnq.default
• In this folder, open prefs.js in notepad or other plain text editor.
• Search for “browser.link.open_newwindow” in this file.

In performing the above search, I only found one entry, user_pref(“browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction”, 0);

Now the above entry means that all links will be opened in your browser according to the setting for “browser.link.open_newwindow“. This also means that all links will follow this rule. I don’t want ALL links to follow this rule, therefore…

• Delete this line in your file.
• Close your FireFox browser completely.
• Save this file.
• Open your browser again.

Now your browser will behave as it did when you first installed it.

Once I restarted the browser, I was back to the way I wanted things to be.

• New servers mean additional expenses. I’m already paying a lot of the expense out of pocket and an upgrade would mean paying more.
• I can’t just move to a new server without updating the backend that drives the site. And I can’t just update the backend without updating the server. The two together means… whew, more work than I care to think about.
• If the work involved in the move doesn’t turn out to be more than expected, something will come up that is. (and it did, but that’s not for this post).

>======= Perhaps boring to most of you. skip down =======>

Trying to acquire a server that I think matches the requires of MODSonline, I ended up with difficulty in actually getting that server. I shop at ServerBeach for my servers. What I mean is that I (sorta) lease them from ServerBeach for a monthly fee similar to a normal hosting plan. The difference here being that I have full control over the entire server as opposed to a hosting plan which is usually shared with many other websites. I use ServerBeach because after shopping with many other providers in the past, I found them to be the most reliable and consistent. And reliability is really an important factor when it comes to a website you want to see running… regularly.

After having issues in picking my server (the right one for the job), I thought to check out co-location. This is when you purchase the hardware and plug it in somewhere. Why didn’t I follow through with this in the end? It turns out that reliable co-location costs about the same as a dedicated server. I’m not trying to lose money and create more work.. I’m trying to stay within a budget (that I can get away with because I always end up spending more than I can afford).

>======= Skipping done, read on. =======>

So finally, the server was chosen. I went quad core, 2Gb ram, larger storage and 100Mb net card (it was a 10Mb). The entire site WILL run faster and smoother. Download speeds should improve.

Of course, there is that thing that always comes up that makes a server move go from “simpler than expected” to ” ugh, this is killing me”. After talking with techno2sl, I realized there was something else that needed to get done.

Oh, what? You thought I was going to tell you? Sorry, no reason to ruin the surprise. You’ll find out by September 4th. Why that date? If I don’t finish the move by that date, I have to pay for two servers that month and… ouch.

I’ve been a loyal customer of Verizon for many years now. It could possibly be about 14 years that I’ve stuck with the same carrier and it’s not because I have a thing for Verizon. It’s because I know from experience and other user experience that they have the most reliable service in the Northeast (USA).

Being a fan of gadgets a gadget freak, I’m always ready to jump on board the next greatest thing. However, Verizon really doesn’t allow me to do that. They don’t release new hardware right away and the hardware they do release is usually not as feature rich as the manufacturers originally conceived. For instance:

• It wasn’t until about a month ago that Verizon realized their consumers like the availability of WiFi on their portable devices.
• Want to install an application? It better first go through a year of testing by Verizon before being approved. And that’s the easy part from what I hear.
• Tethering? I hope you know how to hack work around issues.

Aside from all those issues, I convinced myself it was the right thing to do to remain with a provider that was reliable above all other things. Then comes the iPhone.

My wife gave me an iTouch (iPod Touch) for Christmas last year. I fell in love with this new gadget. Not only is it a wonderful piece of hardware, it’s forever evolving thanks to applications. The ability to create an application and get it approved by Apple is so easy, anyone can do it. Heck, even I have a game coming out in about week (stay tuned for that bit of awesomeness). Applications to a gadget enthusiast freak such as myself is the equivalent of a bag full of gadgets.

The problem I’ve been having is that in order to get everything you can out of this new piece of hardware, you need to purchase the iPhone. And the problem with such a purchase is you have to sign up for an AT&T account as opposed to Verizon.

The plan was to head over to a Verizon store to see what kind of savings I could get out of my account by dropping services and then to head over to an AT&T store to see what kind of testing (try and return if I don’t like) I could perform on the iPhone.  At the last minute I realized the short path was to head to the local Best Buy where all the services were available in one location.

*Note: I have found that if you know as much as or a little more than the service provider, they will drop all the bullsh!t and tell you truth. Rather then make sure they don’t lose any money from additional services (which I know they are specifically instructed to do), I had the guy telling me everything about the company and how to get the lowest bill possible in my situation.

*Note 2: In case you wanted to know, Verizon will be launching 4G in the 4th quarter of this year which could quite possibly mean future iPhones on the Verizon network about a year after that. Also, they are interested in getting involved in the Andriod phone business, but haven’t figured out how to go about it. Expect a response next year regarding this.

Let me cut to the chase. I am testing my iPhone for the next 30 days in which time I can cancel my contract with AT&T without penalty. So far, it works. The service isn’t as bad as I’ve been told. I might change my mind about this in another week, but so far… why did I wait so long? I’ll let you know what happens.