HTTPS now enabled

 This is a blog that I don't really update too often, but now that I'm bothering to do so, I'm alerting that HTTPS links are now enabled and likely required. This probably will break very old things, but hey, at least I'm finally bothering with https, and searching works accordingly.

Yay.

SQL Server 2014 installation issues on Windows 10, etc.

 You're installing SQL Server 2014 (because it's the last 32-bit SQL)

You can't get SQL services to run and get an error like:

Operating system error 2(The system cannot find the file specified.) occurred while creating or opening file 'E:\sql12_main_t.obj.x86Release\sql\mkmastr\databases\mkmastr.proj\modellog.ldf'. Diagnose and correct the operating system error, and retry the operation.

This is firstly because of TLS 1.0 not being enabled because of security. And because of that, the installation of the instance goes awry.

Your options are to enable TLS 1.0 or upgrade SQL Server 2014 to a more recent cumulative update. (You'll still want to apply the latest cumulative update for SQL Server 2014 to enable TLS 1.2 support, or else you'll have to enable TLS 1.0 every reboot). You don't  want to enable TLS 1.0 permanently as this is not secure for your system, and if it's enabled and in use, is as secure as plain text. 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb2936603-sql-server-2014-build-versions-6f75da99-d86f-53fa-23ce-3d2b4825eccb

Make sure to choose the SQL Server 2014 SP Cumulative Update for your environment. They are not interchangeable. They won't cross upgrade instances on different Service Packs. You must download and install each Cumulative Update (CU) for each SP instance. As it's a Cumulative Update, you can typically install the latest/most recent Cumulative Update for each Service Pack regardless of the current Cumulative Update installed. (Back up your system prior to applying any updates. Your data is your responsibility).

For information on enabling TLS 1.0 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/tls/tls-registry-settings?tabs=diffie-hellman

HKLM SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.0\Server
Enabled: 1

HKLM SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.0\Client

Enabled: 1

Just make sure TLS 1.0 is enabled prior to installing a fresh SQL Server 2014 instance. Once the CU has been applied, TLS 1.0 should no longer be necessary to enable for the instance to start after reboot.

gh

Alienware Alpha HiveMind Battle.net launcher fix

HiveMind launcher Battle.net seems to keep asking for installation every time it's selected.

There's a way to manually add a Battle.Net launcher that works:

In the HiveMind interface, go to Programs

Go to All Programs

Click Add Program, Programs, Windows Application, Add Existing application

If you're lucky, you can browse and find Battle.Net in the list (probably not), so

Select executable file

Wherever Battle.Net is installed, likely:

C:

Program Files (x86)

Battle.net

Battle.net.exe

Enable mouse/kb on load (up to you) I enabled

Launch without Administrator privileges (up to you) I did this one because I don't want to be bothered with UAC.

Do not start at boot (enabled)

Would you like to save this launcher? [Yes]

If you're in Mouse mode, you can B or right-click on the icon to swap these settings.

This doesn't show up in "Games", but does show up in "Programs".

However, you can Add to favorites with Right-Click or B

In this way, pressing the right joystick (in joystick mode) will give you quick access to the Battle.net without having to find it in Games.

Skylanders Trap Team - What I didn't know. What you should know.

First: If you want the Kaos Trap, the way to be sure to get it is to buy the Winter Bundle pack if you can find it. At about $100 retail, it's a bit of a bite to take, especially if you've already spent for the "Starter Pack".

This is not a review of the game play. In my opinion, it's really fun, and I like the physical interface with the game.

What I didn't know:

Elements: As you progress through the game, you'll be encountering certain areas where bonuses apply to attacks by Skylanders that match the battle zone element, or "trapped" Villains.

Traps: These retail for about $6 each. Your starter pack likely comes with one Water Trap and one Life Trap. When you defeat a Villain, and you have a trap that matches the element of the Villain, you may temporarily use that Villain to do battle. If you complete the Villain's quest (the Villain must be trapped), the villain changes color and acquires a new attack/ability. Each trap can hold one villain at a time. Some strategies might be useful to swap between villains of the same element, so multiple traps of the same element may be desired. Most of the traps support swapping between 3-6 villains within the same element (one element per trap, one villain at a time per trap). Only when you're at the home stage, can you swap out villains within an element (the exception being an opportunity to swap a newly captured Villain within a currently occupied trap).

Trap Masters: These retail for about $16 each and they are the only way to unlock certain areas with matching elements.

Skylanders: These retail for about $10 each and each have its own attacks/abilities and element. These cannot open the locked areas, but they are useful for different attack reasons, including being the only practical way of continuing a battle as an "extra life".

Availability of pieces:

You'll find out that some traps in particular are harder to find at the store than others. At a local Wal-Mart, I found a bunch of water and life, some magic, a couple each of fire, earth, and tech, and no air. Also, no dark or undead unless purchased in the set. Certainly, no Kaos Trap on its own, but it was included in the Holiday Bundle.

Likewise, a similarly sparse number of Trap Masters: Tech, Air, Fire, Water were available as stand alone, while Dark and Undead were available as add-ons (bundles).

How much money will you eventually need to spend?

It depends on if you want to be able to complete all goals or just play. There is plenty to do without needing to spend beyond the starter pack. Certain areas and quests just won't be able to be accomplished without the tools to unlock the quest or areas. The figures are very cool to play with and look at and are cross-platform between consoles. The character stats apply to the specific figure in use, so two of the same figures will have different stats.

Move WSUS content to a UNC path

Yes, it's possible to do this.

It's fairly easy to do, doesn't require any weird mappings or software downloads, and best of all, it's not that hard.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/sus/archive/2008/05/19/wsus-how-to-change-the-location-where-wsus-stores-updates-locally.aspx

Yes, you absolutely can use a UNC path for destination of data.

But .. you have one more step after the location is moved:

Go to IIS Manager
Your server,
WSUS Administrator
Content
Basic settings (on the right)

(See? The physical path is now the new UNC path but ...)
Test Settings
If you have green checks for both Authentication and Authorization, you're done.
If not, close this
Click Connect as ...
Change to (*) Specific user
Set the domain\username
password
password

and test again. If both checks are now green, you're done. If not, figure out the credentials needed to connect to the UNC path. The only downside I've seen so far is that you *must* connect with a domain login.

Your results may vary. Don't blindly trust things on the Internet from people you don't know. If you don't like this, don't do it :).

Bertrand's Box puzzle

Basically, the puzzle is:
You have three boxes, each with 2 coins:

Gold/Gold
Gold/Silver
Silver/Silver

Assuming you chose a Gold Coin first, what is the probability that the second coin is also Gold?
The answer appears to be 1/2, but is actually 2/3

How?

After all of the machinations, the problem comes down to this: You have twice as much likelihood to choose Gold/Gold as you do Gold/Silver. (There are two gold vs one gold). And three boxes? Not relevant (if you look at it from the question after the first gold coin is pulled.) You have a 50/50 chance after a 3/4 chance of getting a gold coin.

Or, another way to look at it: out of the three remaining coins that are possible, two of them are Gold.

(Three coins? But only one box of two!)

But not really: the coin you grabbed must be one of three available gold coins (out of 4 possible coins to pick). There are now two available gold coins in that original set (of 3 remaining coins) = 2/3.

No, you don't go to 1/2 just because the box is chosen and there is one other coin left. Your original choice is one of 4 coins, three of which are Gold. Assuming that the first pick is gold (a 3 in 4 chance), there are now three coins that are left from what you could have chosen. Two of those are Gold. (2/3).

2048

Play 2048 here.

Another 4096 - same day (today).