MrMat

They do install fine but (for us at least), the actual installer remains open in the background. I've just been checking in Task Manager - Details. You can see the installer still running.

I've had a response from Capita just now... Good morning Alex, A root cause of the deployment issue has been found. Please review the below statement provided via: https://myaccount.capita-cs.co.uk/hot-topics/SIMS-Technical/ 10/11/2017 - SIMS Installers blocked by Sophos Anti Virus We’ve recently been made aware by some schools using a component of SOPHOS Endpoint Security, Intercept X 3.6.9, that is causing a problem installing SIMS via SOLUS 3 or manually running SIMSInst executable. The Intercept X component holds open the SIMS installation executable files preventing them from moving onto the next installer. Through internal testing, this is not a problem with our installers. Our installer files are digitally signed, and if you run the files manually(SIMSApplicationSetup.exe, SIMSManualSetup.exe, SIMSAMPARKSetup.exe), these install correctly. It is only being blocked when the SIMSInst.exe or SOLUS 3 deployment is trying to run these installers silently in the background. We would recommend raising an incident with SOPHOS support for further investigation. Thank you and kind regards, Edit: My response: Good Morning, Thanks for the update, unfortunately I don’t believe the statement holds true. If you run the SIMSApplicationSetup, Ampark or Manual EXE manually (i.e. without SIMSinst or SOLUS) the EXE is still held open in the background and does not get closed even after the installation is complete. Furthermore, this is likely to cause serious issues for the SIMS Upgrade as no doubt the same issue will occur when deploying the upgrade. Many schools will be using Sophos that simply haven’t spotted the issue yet as they haven’t had to roll out to a new machine. Surely Capita should be doing more to resolve the issue i.e. be in discussion with Sophos themselves etc? We have already logged a call with Sophos. I look forward to your response etc.

Thanks for the update Kenny. My biggest concern now is the impending SIMS upgrade. As Sophos is stopping SIMSApplicationSetup from running then we can be pretty certain that the upgrade is going to fail which is going to be a right pain in the ar*e arrggghhh!

I think that's the issue. Sophos seems to be preventing the SIMS EXE from closing when it's finished. If you were to run the installers again, you'd just end up with two of each still running in the background etc. We’re getting the same issue over here with a whole bunch of machines throughout the Borough, all of which have Sophos installed (the below may be rambling/repeating what’s already been said but just thought I’d give my 2 pence). We’re trying to install SIMS using SOLUS3 and it only gets so far and then stops resulting in the Failed to unpack error on S3. It seems to be that the EXEs aren’t closing properly which seems to prevent the install from finishing. It doesn’t matter whether you run the SIMSApplication/Manual/Ampark etc manually or whether it’s ran from S3, when it’s finished it doesn’t close properly and can still be seen running in the background. I’ve narrowed it down to be ‘Sophos Exploit Prevention V3.6.9’ (is this the same as Intercept X/Hitman?). Tested on several laptops (tried deploying via S3 = Fails, remove S3, remove Exploit Prevention, clean out all the S3 folders etc, restart machine, try S3 and SIMS again and it all installs just fine). We also have an active call open with SOPHOS but to be honest, not much as happened so far.

Even after the installation, is the SIMSApplicationSetup.exe still running in the background?

I'm interested too! Obv SteveG gets dibs but i'll be lurkin'

Just out of curiosity, what do you shoot semi-professionally? I'm sort of making the progression to that myself

I'm with Norbert on this one. Never used UV filters and never damaged a lens. With the lens hood on, the front element is usually recessed by a good inch or two so you'd have to do something special to scratch it etc. Plus all mine are insured so if something unfortunately was to happen, I'd claim on the insurance. Each to their own though, I do understand the paranoia when you just dropped hundreds of pennies on a new lens!

I haven't posted in ages so he's a few new ones from me Shot the MX5 Owners Club at Curborough... Curb MX5-47 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Some Max5 MX5s at Mallory... (ignore the watermark, I was experimenting!) ( ) Max 5 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Shot some promo shots for an early morning bootcamp Bootcamp-28 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Baby Groot (ish) Sir sproutsalot by Alex Matravers, on Flickr And lastly the dog... The old gal by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Also shot my first wedding last weekend which went well Can't post any pics yet as need to send them to Bride and Groom first. Eeeek!

I'm now officially a Youtuber! I'm selling a few lenses on Ebay so needed to take some photos. Posted them on a few sites and got asked about the lighting/setup of the shots etc so decided to make a little how to video. It's my first attempt at shooting and cutting a video so it's a little rough but not too bad. Would appreciate any feedback etc.

I did a selfie! Back to trying to take a photo everyday so having to be a little creative etc. First time doing this sort of edit etc, turned out alright I think. A new selfie! FIRE! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

As above, it's not a massively complicated process. If you want to install from fresh rather than copying from another workstation it's just the following: Install SQL express. Grab a copy of SIMSApplicationSetup.exe and SIMSSQLApplicationsetup.exe (and SIMSDocumentServerInstaller.exe is you need to set up the DMS) Run SIMSSQLapplicationsetup and install it to the BINN folder of the SQL instance you just set up (something like: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.SIMS\MSSQL\Binn). This will install DBATTACH. Run DBATTACH. Log in via SA and restore the backup to the new instance. Run SIMSApplicationsetup to install SIMS to C Program Files etc. Ament the connect.ini. Run SIMS. If it crashes due to SIMS.ini (because we skipped a few install steps), instead just browse to the SIMS .net folder in program files and run Pulsar.exe. This will bypass SIMSload so doesn't need a SIMS.ini. Feel free to drop me a DM if you need a hand with anything. Edit: Too slow! Doh!

Brand new and unopened. Purchased from PCWorld on Saturday just gone. No longer required. It's this exact on here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-One-Minecraft-Bundle-500GB/dp/B01M13I7YO Asking £220 ONO. Ideally collection from B92/B90 Birmingham area. Can post at cost to buyer. Ta, Alex

But you don't eat five pound notes? So surely you have no issue?

It does seem a little odd that 40,000 people are more upset that their fivers contain a trace amount of animal fat than they are about the thousands of Badgers being killed? I don't share vegetarian/vegan views etc but understand their reasoning however, it does feel like all the 'part-time' folk have jumped on board the bandwagon with this one.

"I wish this five pound note was a bit more meaty!"

It was shot in RAW format and edited in Adobe Photoshop Camera RAW editor for Windows. All sharpness, vibrancy etc in camera were set to standard. It's all in the Exif data of the image which you can get from Flickr.

I did a selfie! Feel like a prat infront of the camera but ahh well. Quite pleased with the result for a first real attempt at a composite! Super me! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr - - - Updated - - - I did a selfie! Feel like a prat infront of the camera but ahh well. Quite pleased with the result for a first real attempt at a composite! Super me! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

Thank you both The two shots by the tree (1st and 3rd) are actually naturally lit, no additional lighting at all. I knew that if i exposed for the sky, i'd lose the car and if i exposed for the car, i'd blow out the sky. So i exposed somewhere in the middle, then i used Lightroom to pull the detail out of the shadows to get the car correctly exposed and pulled back the highlights to get the sky. The joys of modern day cameras and their crazy dynamic range! The Barn shot was lit entirely with the YN360 light stick thingy. Several exposures combined together in Photoshop.

I drove all the way from Birmingham to Surrey to take some pics of a guys car. He found me on Instagram and asked me to go do a little shoot for him I've since been contacted by the company who wrapped his car to go take some photos for them too yay! Here's a few from the shoot, any thoughts? Feisty Fiesta! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Feisty Fiesta! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Feisty Fiesta! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

Each to their own! I don't have anything against zooms, just generally prefer the benefits of the prime over the flexibility of the zoom. Never had the pleasure of using the 18-200mm but the range sounds mega. One lens to rule them all! Here's my most recent shot, fresh out of the Lightroom oven. Taken last night in Birmingham with the A7 and, in contradiction to everything i've said so far, the 28-70mm kit lens. Birmingham - z4 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

Yeah I'm a big believer in Prime lenses too. Zooms are great as they're super flexible but i prefer the DOF, low-light capabilities and image quality you get from a prime. My current set up is 2 prime lenses and a zoom i.e. 35mm f2.8, 55mm f1.8 and 70-200mm f4. All three lenses, camera and a mini tripod all fit in my bag nicely and weigh-in at less than 2kg. On that note, what is everyones current favorite camera/lens combo?

Agreed, glass is way more important than the camera itself. Although Full Frame does have a certain aesthetic which you simply cannot achieve on a crop sensor camera. That's not to say crops aren't as good, they just have a different look about them. I haven't posted any on here in a while and have actually been quite busy shooting a few bits and bobs. Here's some new car stuff and a dog! Mini! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Super low Swede! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Penny! A quick shoot I did with a friends little pooch. by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

New lens excitement time!! Purchased myself a nice shiny Zeiss 55mm f1.8 for my Sony. It's pretty stupidly priced for a standard prime at only f1.8 but it is lovely. Widely regarded as one of the very best 50mm autofocus lenses ever made. I got it used so didn't pay full wack for it. Took it out on Wednesday for a quick test shoot with mate, will get out with it properly over the weekend Anywho, so more photos from me. Did a shoot with a friend's little lad (not with the Zeiss, with the 70-200): The little dude known as Laurence! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr The little dude known as Laurence! by Alex Matravers, on Flickr And these were from my little test shoot with the Zeiss: Audi A3 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr Audi A3 by Alex Matravers, on Flickr

Haha that's amazing. This beautiful website belongs to an Indian Restaurant local to me. The food is great, the website is ermm not so great. Welcome to the Bilash Indian Cuisine