steve

For tests I've been through and set, they are usually half knowledge half common sense. Make sure things are plugged in, the contrast isn't turned down on the monitor, the printer isn't set to offline, etc. Its so easy to try and go into an issue and think its a highly technical problem, when someone has just pulled out the Ethernet cable. Read the OFSTED report Topics usually in an interview: Prioritising work loads Training (you're always willing to learn) Dealing with pupils Where you see yourself in the future Ask questions at the end of the interview Money / conditions Annual ICT budget equipment etc. Who manages the ICT budget? Future of school - BSF / trust status / academy Local Authority Job Evaluation process / progress

DMcCoy is right, you must upgrade now only on the server:

By any chance were you performing the update via remote desktop? Had a similar error when using remote desktop, worked fine with VNC though.

Having spent the last week doing this, just a warning it doesn't always go to plan! Are you upgrading on the same server? If so it will make things much easier. Make sure you have plenty of free disk space. You need to have upgraded to the August release or later. This will then give you access to the migration utilities via SOLUS - if your support provider has enabled them. Something I've had a fair bit of trouble with is the new trusted logins - if a user exists in SIMS that you have removed from your AD, it will kick up a fuss. Make sure SIMS trusted logins have a corresponding AD account. So you've done the most important step, make a backup. Next step, make another :-) A copy of the capita migration guide is here Next stop is Support Net KB71936 - How do you install SQL 2005 Once you have installed SQL 2005, you can move on to the next step. Don't skip creating an instance - otherwise you be given a crappy default one. Run the migration software - this will create extra files in your sims\setups folder. Then it should just be a case of following through the wizard - skipping the SQL express install. If anything fails it should roll back automatically. If you're migrating to another server, welcome to my personal hell for the last week. Just finished the upgrade today. Several virtual PC trials and test runs and a brand spanking new sims server all up and running :-)

Having used Remote Desktops mmc from Server 2003 admin pak, I've been looking for something a bit more user friendly. Well I think I've found it, and its freeware: visionapp Remote Desktop Lets you manage multiple remote desktop connections in one easy to use interface.

Hmmm, wonder what the headteachers and bursars offices look like in these BSF schools, after all they aren't the clients... Hope they aren't building new schools to make their lives easier either :-)

When I was in Washington DC a few weeks ago I managed to have a play with an iPhone. The screen was already broken - not very robust. I found it a bit too large for use as just a phone - more like a PDA. The interface is very intuitive - I didn't have any trouble using it to find stuff on the internet via google. Its still an apple though.

I can see both clips OK on the you tube site without downloading.

You might be lucky, I had the almost the same from them last year. HP3800 laser bought as new, arrived as a used HP3800 without any toners in it. Like yourself I'd not opened it until install - 3-4 weeks after delivery. Got it swapped after a several calls. Learnt from that though, I now open all printers for a visual within 48hrs of delivery.

I had this problem, you need to make sure the SIMS.net update has been run on the PC's before using FMS. You can migrate FMS to SQL 2005, but there's no rush yet.

I have a Premiership footballer named after me, so no chance of anyone finding me under all those headlines. Also I'm a photographer and a researcher of Biodiversity and Ecological Entomology. I once asked a website owner to remove my data too as I didn't want my details on-line, less than co-operative. It never surprises me how indifferent they are to peoples personal data. I bet these are the people who throw out their bank statements, straight in the bin, not even read.

That explains the post-a-thon We should just about get all the stuff on our list done - if no more staff come in and bother us! Keeping a list of staff who've contacted us these holidays - running at about 30 so far

I have a very nice Draytek but they a bit pricey. Broadbandbuyer have plenty of reviews of different models

Works fine, I changed all our staff today to use windows authentication. One of these only had 3 letters and it accepted it. It wasn't related to remote desktop in the end, it was down to the account the services were starting up as. Time now to try a 64 bit server - not supported I know but hoping performance will out weigh any potential issues.

Try USBDLM ? http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html

KB71595 - SIMS Connection failed for login USERNAME reason 7 Having other issues though now with the main server upgrade :? Hoping its related to using remote desktop ...... we will soon see.

Installed the 7.96 August on a virtual PC setup, just one minor hitch with SQL 2000 SP4 - can be fixed via KB solution. Can't go any further on that setup though - need to get hold of the SQL 2005 conversion util - but this is only available through SOLUS 2 and not on the CD. Gonna bite the bullet and do the August update on main system without SQL migration tonight to get hold of sql util to test on virtual setup.

If I was going on the pinch, I'd take a couple of adjustable spanners - less to carry. But I'm a good boy and would never do such a thing

Speaking to one of our software suppliers today I was told Pro/DESKTOP is to be no more. I've checked the PTC website to find that it appears it may be true linky Pro/ENGINEER Schools Edition with replace it. More info here and here Anyone already made the switch?

Now expected 6th August Getting a little too close to exam results ....

I had this happen with a £1500 APC UPS. Phoned the supplier who told me to keep it - they were moving warehouses and it would be more trouble than it was worth. No complaints from me! But I'd always give a supplier the opportunity to have there kit back.

@User3204 I'm going with c) Copy off all SIMS to a Virtual PC, do the upgrade on the virtual PC, then transfer to new server. I'll have a server to go back to if it all goes pear shaped and won't have to uninstall MSDE off the new server, keeping it as shiny and new as possible. Just been playing with our new sims server: HP DL380 G5, 2x quad xeon 2.33ghz, 12Gb RAM, 2 xRAID1 36Gb 15K HDDs, 2x RAID1 72Gb 15K HDD on 2 SAS P400 controllers. Its a bit nice :-)

We now set our slim line towers up in pairs: | - PC [] - tft monitor -- keyboard |[] []||[] []| -- -- -- -- or if a the end of a desk, we switch it to stop the towers being knocked off: []||[] []||[] -- -- -- -- allows keyboards / mice to be put between tower and monitor, giving a reasonable amount of desk space if needed.

I would echo kirans words, we like the dot net client too and its getting better all the time. Given SIMSs market share you 'd always expect a difference of opinion from its users on how they would prefer it to look and work. TBH I doubt we will see a full web interface anytime soon - if ever - given the amount of time and money that has been spent developing the current architecture Capita arn't going to switch over to a web interface. Unless everyone fancies doubling their subscriptions to fund the it?

Its amazing really when you consider the numbers at BETT only 6 months ago! Edugeek is King! Long live Edugeek!