steve

@Bossman: You've shown shutting down SQL Anywhere server which is only for the Finance package - FMS. To shut down the full SQL server via the SQL Server Service Manager - right click icon in notification area. To kick out users from the SQL server I have heard about running a patch that will not alter your data - where you'd get one of these though is another question.

OK, so for some reason SIMS is polling your DNS server for the old sims server. Check the following files - this how they are configured on our system. The server name and share will obviously be different, just check if your old server is referenced in them.

A few things you might want to try: From >nslookup odin Check the dns record is correct (worth just checking) Download a packet monitoring program - Smartsniff is OK. Run the report import routine and monitor what its doing. Is it contacting your SIMS server? Try a couple of the sysinternals applications TCPView and TDIMon. I had a strange network problem the other day - couldn't get an smtp email to our exchange box - the antivirus was blocking port 25! These tools let me identify the packets weren't leaving the workstation.

I'm getting fed up of the constant phone calls from staff ATM for petty little jobs they have found. Just because they have a reduced timetable (no year 11, 13 and 1/2 year 10 on work exp.) it doesn't mean that I have less work to do. No, I don't have time now to move your computer because you've re-arranged your office. You want those old computers moving now? Tough. Oh you want to use your interactive whiteboard today as you haven't tried it all year and now you've got a few free periods off this week? Sure I'll drop everything just for you. Not so petty but could have done with out it - The windows were left open in the storm and 4 computers got fried? No, it would be silly of me to think you'd have thought to close the windows again after leaving the room. And I was going to put my feet up this afternoon.

Try Servers Alive http://www.woodstone.nu/salive/ Its free for up to 10 devices - does time logged ping and much much more.

I've seen this problem, particularly with lesson monitor. We have full SQL on a server with 4gig RAM which does nothing but sims. And some reports we run still have to be done over night or the whole system grinds to a halt. Just praying that when everything is .net they can look at these perfomance issues.

And you all think you've got it hard: Day 1: I've got to discover electricty, harness it, create the national grid ...... Day 2: Invent the transistor, make the first semiconductor, write an operating system ..... Day 3: Create the worlds first telephone, unleash a telecoms revolution, setup the internet across the world... Day 4: Have a nap Day 5: Setup the principals of currency, develope democarcy, implement free education for all the countries children .... Then in the second week I need to make a time machine to go back and do all that. Rest of the hols i'm free (time machine) For all thos python fans out there

EduGeeks do it ... ... again for the umpteenth time because nobody can follow simple instructions ... with a sweeping brush up their ar*e ... just to p*ss you off - ebay ISN'T educational ... between nights on the beer ... as workforce remodelling said you didn't have to anymore ... because your 'expert' partner knacked it up

You can set this under a GPO, well at least you can on Outlook 2003. User Conf - Admin Templates - MS Office Outlook 2003 - Tools Options - Advanced Email options - Tracking options

I went for something even more boring: xxadmin and xxstudent Keeps the servers at the top of sorted lists. With computers - ROOMPCXX

I've been asked to find some project management software for our dida course next year. Came across GanttProject which fits the bill just nice at a price thats right (free!). Maybe useful for others doing dida or anyone wanting plan there upcoming projects.

Got this running on a 1.5Ghz 2Gb laptop. Installed almost all the functions - AD, DNS, DHCP, IIS, File Serving, Printing, etc. Its pretty much rock solid as far as I've tested it - not added any workstations to it though. The administration a little different (can't compare it to vista as i haven't looked at that yet). Seems to carry on from the new File Management mmc v 3 in 2003 R2. All other the stuff from 2003 R2 is in there. The GPMC has tonnes of new stuff in it too.

They've been planning and consulting on this for at least 6 months to my knowledge. The upgrade will be part of one of the monthly updates. So hopefully just a routine update. While on one hand I'm tired of the constant updates on the other I can see the updates are making the product much better. Some of the future updates look pretty good - lesson register esp. No pain no gain I suppose.

Have you checked that the anti-virus isn't performing a scheduled full scan?

Just a rumor so far........ The interface for the tests may be sold to schools to allow students to become more familiar with it, don't know how this would work, perhaps schools could design there own tests / scenarios for students to work through. Or just have unrestricted access to the applications to become familiar with the way the interface works. Like I said just a rumor .....

We've just completed all our tests - 2 sessions per day for 2 days with about 170 kids in each. Not had any major issues. The odd crash and failure to save at the end but a restart on a different computer fixed these. Did notice it take a while to login on the slowest PC's we have but they are 5 years old so its to be expected. There's a rumor here that next year schools will be able to buy a licence for the interface to allow students to become more familiar with it.

Is anybody else running the Edexcel GCE tests? We have been sent the pre-release files, a word doc, excel spreadsheet and a text file. When trying to run the marco in the excel spreadsheet we get a run-time error '1004' http://www.stevetaylor.org/ftp/macro_error.jpg I'm no macro guru, so can anyone see if there is a problem? This only happens on Excel 2000, works fine on Excel 2003.

Look similar to the ones we use - Quik-Lok http://www.mveducation.com/invt/16023/

Oh b*gger we've been planning 170 users at a time! Not had any problems with 60 on at a time though, more testing I reckon...

We have the full version of SQL 2000 and running Attendance or Assessment Manager still grinds SIMS to a halt with 100% CPU usage.

A posibility: The folders / files are hyperlinks (web view) and you may need to change the defaults in internet explorer options (default text and hyperlink colour) Or maybe they have changed the Dispay properties - Apperance - advanced - Item (Message Box) Font Colour

Tried to round it off to a nice even number, but it didn't work

A walk through of best practice on setting up a basic domain in schools, including AD structure, DNS, DHCP, DFS, GPO's, splitting tasks across servers, etc. Implementing Terminal Services Licencing

Another vote for MindGenius £2K for a secondary site licence.

To me it looks like the transfer belt is knackered, the toner isn't being cleaned off properly between prints. We get similar on our epsons.