Microsoft’s recently released KB934525 (SharePoint 3.0 security update) installed with other updates on one of our sites this past weekend. Of course, it caused nothing but problems. Also of course, the client uses SharePoint 3.0 has a critical business tool.

I was informed of the problem this morning. After some searching of the Internet, I discovered that many people are having problems with this update.

Part of the problem is that there are necessary post-installation processes that need to run on the server. If you don’t, your configuration and content databases are not updated and SharePoint simply doesn’t work right.

My troubleshooting steps should not be taken as a real process, as some things seemed to work by magic. I didn’t even sacrifice a chicken – magic without poultry (or a reasonable facsimile) always bothers me. (more…)

Our team always recommends that clients purchase their PCs, laptops and servers from 1st tier manufacturers such as Dell, HP or IBM/Lenovo.  We do this for one reason:  support. 

Many people will lecture that extended warranties are a tax on the stupid.  I disagree completely.  Especially on laptops and servers.  $100 per year is a small price to pay for the insurance that should anything break, the vendor will replace the parts. (more…)