Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Windows File sharing in Windows - Focus: Permissions

"I am getting a permissions error on those 2 files"
"But the permissions are setup fine. It works when I go to it"
"It is because you Moved them to that folder, so permissions are not inhereted. You need to force the permissions on the folder again"
"What?"

Keep in mind that I was talknig to a Mac fan-boy. But he is also very good with Windows, and supports a server application for Windows for a living.


The basics:
How to configure file sharing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

The "Managing levels of access to shares and to files" section touches on permissions. The important this to note from this is: There are two types of permissions on Windows NT-based file shares: Share permissions and NTFS permissions.
This only applies if you have an NTFS formatted hard driver, but that is the default format in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista (and I think in Windows Server 2008).

There is no point in me making a guide with screenshots when many already exist:
Build Your Skills: NTFS permissions in Windows 2000
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1056389.html

Step-By-Step: How to set and troubleshoot NTFS permissions in Windows XP
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1055994.html

Windows Vista - File sharing essentials
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/help/e20e6875-7210-47bb-bf19-5c60e6ae86151033.mspx


However, the thing the everyone seems to miss is:
A copy of files to a folder inherits the new folder's permissions (within the same NTFS partition)
A move of files to a folder retains the old folder's permissions (within the same NTFS partition)


Acroos NTFS partitions is different:
A copy of files to a folder inherits the new folder's permissions (across different NTFS partitions)
A move of files to a folder inherits the new folder's permissions (across different NTFS partitions)


All copy of moves to non-NTFS partitions loose permissions, cause non-NTFS partitions don't have permissions (like FAT). If your OS supports a File System other than NTFS that does support permissions, then it may do some conversion or something. I dunno.


For more info, or see if explaimed another way, go here:
What happens to NTFS permissions when you copy
http://www.tech-faq.com/ntfs-permissions-copy-move.shtml

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Multi-platform/cross-platform gaming

I want to play my PC games with friends that have consoles.

The only game I know of that has done that is Shadow Run. I played the game a bit on a friend's Xbox 360, and it was fairly fun (as far as a console FPS goes). Why hasn't anyone else done this? You know consumers would like to be able to play COD4 between PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Or even just PS3 and Xbox 360, just to keep mouse haters out of the picture. However, you know that console makes would not encourage this type of thing, because it boosts the usefulness of both consoles, and they all want theirs to be 'the console' to buy. Why would game developers want to piss off the console makers jsut to make customers happy? So they don't.
(Note: UT3 was supposed to be cross-platform network playable too, but they changed their minds before release)


Just doing a google search on PC games dieing you see that it is no small discussion. A great blog post on this can be found here:
http://www.blogohblog.com/is-piracy-killing-the-pc-gaming-industry/
It also has lots of good comments, including one from me :P
This also crosses into the gaming on pc vs consoles talk. I think it is covered well, and I won't get into it here.

There are also lots of talks about 'middlewear' to power games so that cross-platform with be easier on developers. This could also open up the cross-platform network play on these games. See there for more info:
http://www.gtawh.com/forums/index.php?s=b42fdea27ec3e94321df5db1056dcb06&showtopic=23413&pid=655175&st=0&#entry655175
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1230049
http://pc.gamezone.com/news/07_03_03_05_33PM.htm


Here is a good (but out of date) post about 'The Next Generation of Multiplatform Games', from January 25th, 2006. But it is in a light I have not really looked at before; Game maker don't use the console's full power so that the games can also come out on ther last generation's hardware. Interesting. I would like to see the same person look at this again today and tell us what they see. Is it better with PS3 and Wii out?
http://community.teamxbox.com/xbox/1460/The-Next-Generation-of-Multiplatform-Games/p1/


Lots of people asking about this, and Shadow Run is the only answer (and Quake 3 for DreamCast I guess):
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-gaming/129012-call-duty-4-cross-platform-multiplayer.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=183478
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=170214
http://www.fragland.net/news/Team-Fortress-2-no-cross-platform-multiplayer/16725/
http://kotaku.com/350620/halo-wars-to-offer-cross+platform-multiplayer


So, what I get out of all this:
Buy Shadow Run and support cross-platform network gaming.
I am going to go buy it today for PC.

Read this for some hope in game developers doing what the consumers want:
"1st June for first cross-platform multiplayer game for 360" (11 May 2007)
http://old.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/News/11782.html

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Exchange 2007

I don't usually post server related stuff, but that is what I do every day....

Microsoft sucks. I know, it isn't new news... more this is more supporting data. Case in point; Exchange 2007's use of the PowerShell.

- PowerShell is required for Exchange 2007.
- The Exchange 2007 'GUI'/console is simple a front end to the backend commands being sent through PowerShell. This makes the GUI VERY slow.


PowerShell should have been an add on to make Exchange 2007 manageable via the command line. It should not be a required part of the Exchange 2007 server.
This is where they should have taken tips from the creators of WMI or something.

Reminds me of the changes in Vista....
MS Exec: "Customers want us to add something they want...'
MS Dev: "Well we can add the feature, but we will need to remove the way it works now"
MS Exec: "That makes complete sense. Make it so."
MS Dev: "Suckers... they will never ask for more features again after this."


Microsoft needs to think before changing anything. You do all these usability studies... maybe you should include more than just NEWBIES in the study.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Vista...

So, I have used Vista before and it was okay. However I was not ready to switch to it yet. Then I started having some problems with directx. So installed vista to see you there was a hardware or software problem. Turned out it was a software problem, directx or driver related. Shouldn't the drivers because I tried three different versions, but whenever.

So I had a dual boot of windows XP and a and vista. Too bad I didn't have enough room on the partitions to keep either one. Long story.

I decided to reinstall both. Deleted both partitions and installed XP then vista. Please let me use the vista boot manager, but still keep XP just in case.

So I've been using vista for a few weeks and it's OK. My only booted XP once to make sure it worked before installing vista. The biggest problem with vista is stupid little changes to the UI. There are so many things they changed for no real reason, they say it's to improve UI for new users. About that...

Trying to find if how to fix these UI changes I also found lots of tweaks for vista. I still am found any way to change the changes to this vista's UI. However, I did find all these tweaks and tips. Here are some links:

Windows Help and How-to: Change folder views and behavior
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/3a3bfe59-5268-4fb3-81c5-7972c28939cd1033.mspx

Windows Help and How-to: Folders: frequently asked questions
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/8eb3b0f8-533a-4e63-b967-b090a7912cc71033.mspx#EWD

Windows Help and How-to: Working with the Navigation pane
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/d4040ef3-f24d-44e5-b5fe-244ab61585e11033.mspx

Windows Help and How-to: Navigate using the Address bar
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/ddd07224-70eb-4078-bb9b-ecc90d00ee571033.mspx

Vista User Account Control: ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/ConsentPromptBehavior.htm

Vista Registry Editor - Examples of .Reg Files
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_reg_examples.htm

Vista Registry Tips, Hacks, and Tweaks...
http://www.tuatm.net/winvista_reghacks.html

Windows Vista Forums: Tweaks and Tips
http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?autocom=ineo&showcat=4


Ultimate Linkfarm for Vista Tips, Tweaks and Fixes, A comprehensive (Work in Progress) list of Tips
http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?autocom=ineo&showarticle=41


BTW, I did all of this (minus the links) with the Vista speech recognition software.