Fatal error CS1647 on one server but not other

This error reared it’s ugly head one day and we were very perplexed as to why. The code was running just fine on the development server but on production we were receiving CS1647: An expression is too long or complex to compile.

After much digging as to why this might be, it was discovered that the .NET versions on the servers were different, but not dramatically so. The development server was running 4.6.2 while the production server was 4.6.1. A simple update to the .NET version and the error was resolved.

Connecting to OSX VPN from Windows XP to 10

In an environment that is 95% MAC, we leverage OSX server for a lot of things as it is a simple server to deploy and manage. The most useful tool for us is the VPN which allows us to access the file shares and other services on the local network at the office when working remotely. Recently we have been introducing Windows PC’s back into the workflow and connecting natively from these to the OSX VPN posed a number of issues.

Our OSX server VPN sits behind the router that the office so NAT traversal needs to be taken into consideration. The following are the steps provided by both Apple and Microsoft for editing the registry to allow this.
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How to use a Windows .bat file to delete files on a schedule

This is how you delete files of a certain age using a scheduled task to execute a .bat file. These instructions mainly apply to Windows Server 2012 R2, but they are applicable to most newer (and older) versions of Windows. This is similar to the post I made many years ago but with some additions mainly around the commands you need to find files that are older than a certain date and then deleting them. It also focuses on Server 2012 R2 versus the older 2008.

The first thing we want to do is create the batch file that we will use to delete the files older than X days. To do this we will need to use the forfiles command in Windows. This is a very handy command for batch files IMO. Here is a run down of the forfiles command and how to use it:
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ASP.net 4.6.2 application failing to build

Our Hudson build server was throwing the following warning and then failing to build our code:

warning MSB3644: The reference assemblies for framework “.NETFramework,Version=v4.5.2” were not found. To resolve this, install the SDK or Targeting Pack for this framework version or retarget your application to a version of the framework for which you have the SDK or Targeting Pack installed.

Fixing this problem was very simple and just required us installing the following:
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Good Routine for Spyware and Viruses Removal

Here is a list of things you can do to help diagnose and fix problems associated with viruses and spyware.  Hopefully you have been running an anti virus program and have been keeping it updated, if not then these steps can probably help fix a spyware/virus problem.

1. Go into Add/Remove programs, and remove all unwanted entries, and toolbars.  If you are not sure what something is, google it.
2. Go into MSConfig (got to RUN and type: msconfig)>, go to startup tab, remove all unwanted and suspicious entries.
3. Download Ad-Aware free edition (DO NOT INSTALL YET)
4. Download Spybot S&D. (DO NOT INSTALL YET)
5. Download Hijackthis (DO NOT INSTALL YET)
6. Download ccleaner (DO NOT INSTALL YET)
7. After all of these are downloaded, turn off  the System Restore feature then reboot into safe mode (hit F8 before the Windows screen). Read the rest of this entry »