Guy Barrette

Speaking at DevTeach Toronto

I'll be speaking at DevTeach Toronto that will take place May 12-16 2008.

Here's my topic:

Visual Studio 2008 IDE : Grand tour of the new features
In this session, Guy Barrette will take you to a grand tour of some of the coolest new features found in Visual Studio 2008 IDE. Be advised that this session will focus on the IDE and the tooling and that Windows and Web development will be covered. So what are some of the new Visual Studio 2008 cool features? Project compatibility with VS 2005; targeting a specific .NET Framework version; WF, WCF and WPF integrated designers; workflow enabled services; SQL Server Compact Edition integration; local database cache; enhanced CSS support; enhanced JavaScript support and debugging.

OMG! Check out the awesome speakers list:

Kevin McNeish
Markus Egger
Jim Duffy
Rod Paddock
Val Matison
Kate Gregory
Yair Alan Griver
Cathi Gero
Roman Rehak
Julia Lerman
Don Kiely
Scott Bellware
Ted Neward
Mario Cardinal
Beth Massi
Rushabh Mehta
Richard Campbell
Ed Musters
Rob Windsor
Joel Semeniuk
Derek Hatchard
Barry Gervin
Rick Heiges
Etienne Tremblay
Randy Dyess
Peter DeBetta
Adam Machanic
William R. Vaughn
Medhat Elmasry
Jean-Luc David
Joe Webb
Paul Nielsen
Jean-Paul Boodhoo
Damir Bersinic
James Kovacs
Donald Belcham
Roy Osherove
Oren Eini
Mark Arteaga
Klaus Aschenbrenner
Michael Lato
Mike Diehl
Colin Bowern
Brad M. McGehee
Erik Renaud
Francois Tanguay
Owen Rogers
Benjamin Day
Tim Huckaby
David Laribee
Paul D. Sheriff
Anil Desai
Jeffrey Palermo
Aaron Marten
Justin Lee
Mauro Sant’Anna
Reza Alirezaei
Bruce Johnson
Peter Madziak
Paul Scarlett
Matt Meleski
Jessica Moss

Windows Server 2003 64-bit - Logon Problem

I had a strange problem today with my Windows 2003 64-bit server: it rebooted itself!  After it rebooted, I logged in and bang: BSOD!  Again and again.

I tried booting in safe mode and I noticed that the system was taking a few seconds to load ACPITABL.DAT.  Having no idea what that file is, I did a little search and didn't found answers to my exact problem but found enough info to tell me that it was some kind of hard disk/drivers issue.

I have a couple of external USB drives connected to that server for backup purposes so I decided to turn them off and then restarted the server.  Bingo!  I was then able to log without problems.  I then turned on the external drives again, without problems and no files damaged.

I was able to fix the problem but I have no idea what was the problem or what caused it.  Go figure!

Outlook High CPU Usage - Part Deux

In this previous post, I explained how I was able to solve a problem where Outlook was eating way too much CPU.

http://guy.dotnet-expertise.com/PermaLink,guid,1de55d2c-317b-4906-ba17-72f5d6daf3f1.aspx

Well guess what, the problem reappeared.  This time two processes were eating CPU like crazy: Outlook.exe and MsMpEng.exe.  The later being the Live One Care anti virus engine.  As soon as I was closing Outlook, CPU usage dropped to 2%.  As soon as I restarted Outlook, CPU usage went to 30-40%!!! 

In One Care, I excluded the folder where the PST files are located and it solved the problem.

Fun, fun, fun

VS2008 at the Movies (Toronto)

My good buddies at ObjectSharp in Toronto are organizing a half day seminar on Visual Studio 2008.  If you're in the Toronto area, make sure you register for this event with these VS2008 ninjas.

http://www.objectsharp.com/vs2008.aspx

Looks like the O# designer is having fun with the movies theme  ;-)

New Home Theater for Technologists Certification

A certification for Home Theater using Vista and Home Server!  How cool is that?

Exam 70-625
TS: Windows Vista Connected Experience: Home Theater for Technologists
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-625.mspx

The exam is currently in Beta 'til Feb 15th.Using the beta code PAGHT, the exam should be free.  Register at http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 - Beta Exams

Just found out about these NET Framework 3.5 Beta Exams.

1. 71-502 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 - Windows Presentation Foundation
2. Extended through 1/24/08
3. Exam beta code - 502B1
4. Prep guide can be found here:  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-502.mspx

1. 71-503 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 - Windows Communication Foundation
2. Extended through 1/25/08
3. Exam beta code - 503B1
4. Prep guide can be found here:  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-503.mspx

1. 71-504 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Windows Workflow Foundation
2. Extended through 1/25/08
3. Exam beta code 504B1
4. Prep guide can be found here:  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-504.mspx

Register for these exams by visiting,  http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp
Using the provided beta codes, the exams are free.

Good luck!

Visual Studio Talk Show #66 is online (French)

Marc Filion: SharePoint et le développement d’application Web

Nous discutons avec Marc Filion du développement d’application Web avec la plateforme SharePoint. Entre autres, nous discutons des stratégies pour simplifier la promotion du code des environnements de tests vers les serveurs de production.

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Canadian Launch 2008 - Registration is now open

Registration is now open for the Canadian launch 2008.  Toronto and Vancouver are tagged has "launch events" (read bigger and larger), the other cities are in the usual MSDN tours format.  If you're interested in how you can change/upgrade your career, make sure to register for the Community Connection event also.

http://www.microsoft.com/canada/heroeshappenhere/register/default.mspx

Launch & Technical Readiness Events Date City February 27 Toronto, ON Register now March 4 Vancouver, BC Register now March 11 Calgary, AB Register now March 13 Edmonton, AB Register now March 26 Winnipeg, MB Register now April 8 Montréal, QC Register now April 10 Ottawa, ON Register now April 17 Quebec, QC Register now

Community Connection Events Date City February 26 Toronto, ON Register now March 3 Vancouver, BC Register now March 5 Victoria, BC Register now March 10 Calgary, AB Register now March 12 Edmonton, AB Register now March 18 Regina, SK Register now March 19 Saskatoon, SK Register now March 25 Winnipeg, MB Register now April 2 Kitchener/Waterloo, ON Register now     April 3 London, ON Register now   April 7 Montreal, QC Register now     April 9 Ottawa, ON Register now     April 15 Halifax, NS Register now     April 16 Quebec, QC Register now

.NET Framework Library Source Code

This Visual Studio 2008 feature is now available.  Check ScottGu's blog for more info:

http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/01/16/net-framework-library-source-code-now-available.aspx

Mix08 Hotel

I don't know why but Derek Hatchard didn't want to return to the magnificent Imperial Palace hotel for Mix08 this year.  Yep the Imperial Palace is cheap but it feels like a 70's hotel in desperate need of a refresh.  One thing for sure, I won't stay at the Venetian.  Even with the conference discounted price, it's still $269/night.  Derek found a good deal at the Treasure Island hotel @ $119/night and that hotel is located accross the street facing the Venetian.  Nice!

He also suggested that the T.I. would be the unofficial offsite hotel for the Canadians attending Mix.

I don't know if it's because of Mix but the Treasure Island even has a show called "Sirens of I.T."  ;-)