Måjðr Mïkê

I know many have been problems with updating Adobe Acrobat using the new ARM updater on Windows Vista and Windows 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit) versions. The Adobe’s online knowledge base article (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/852/cpsid_85258.html) that you are directed to after the update fails has no mention of this error code and there is absolutely no solution or acknowledgement there leaving many feeling frustrated and confused.

The error (as seen here) states that the “installation is forbidden by system policy” which is a very inaccurate and unhelpful notice because many people are on single user systems with no policy and are also the administrator, so what’s going on here?

The problem is that the updater runs as a regular application without Administrator privileges (doesn’t matter that you are an administrator) and that’s what’s causing the problem when it tries to access the path of the installer and also the system information. The solution is fairly simple, however annoying it might be.

FOR ADVANCED USERS (if you are a beginner or need a visual guide, read on):

1. Run the command line as administrator

2. Type: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe" /PRODUCT:Acrobat /VERSION:9.0 /MODE:1

3. Press [ENTER] and then you will see the application start up and run as it should and the installation will continue and work just fine

FOR BEGINNERS AND ALL WHO NEED A VISUAL STEP BY STEP GUIDE

1. Click on the [Start Button]

2. Begin typing: Command Prompt and you will see the command prompt shortcut show up on the menu (as seen here)

3. DO NOT CLICK or PRESS ENTER, Instead Right-Click and Choose “Run as Administrator” and when prompted click on [YES]

4. When your command prompt window opens up, it is key that you check on the top right and make sure the title states “Administrator:Command Prompt” (as seen here – NOTE: your text color may be different, that’s not a problem)

5. Now copy this exact command line text without the brackets

["C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe" /PRODUCT:Acrobat /VERSION:9.0 /MODE:1]

6. Now click on the top left icon of the command prompt, select [EDIT] and then click on [PASTE] (as seen here)

7. Once the command line you copied earlier is placed into the command prompt window, then simply press [ENTER] and sit back and watch it open up and download and install just fine without any further issue.

My hope is that in the future Adobe will fix this asinine and rookie mistake so it doesn’t happen again and people don’t have to go through so many steps to fix it, but if it continues to happen in the future, now you have a solution that will ALWAYS work. Good luck and enjoy.

For all who are using Intuit’s TurboTax 2009 who are having trouble when it comes to connecting to the internet to pay either the Audit Defense or for your e-Files to be charged to your credit card as seen below:

You are getting the following error screen when clicking on [Continue] :

I am sure you have searched the web with many stating they have this problem and everyone, including Intuit, is telling people to simply close and restart the application because they believe you left it open too long and it has expired. This is NOT true and has nothing to do with how long you have left it open, in fact it has a very easy fix.

1. Go to [Control Panel | Internet Options],
2. Click on the [Privacy] tab,
3. Make sure you drop it to at least [High], as seen below:

Once you have done this, click [Apply] and you are set to go. Just make sure you have internet access and then go back to TurboTax and try again, it will now work successfully without any further problems.

[Technical Details for the Interested] – Since TurboTax is basically an extensive web application being run inside a windows GUI using the IE container control, it needs access to its cookie storage to properly set and process your interactions with their website. This is why when you have Privacy settings set to do not allow cookies, you will get this problem. Also if you have firewall, make sure you give the program full access, both incoming and outgoing connections via TCP. For users on Windows Vista and up, including 7, who have to deal with UAC (User Access Control), please run the application as administrator so the updates are successfully integrated. You can modify the shortcut by right-clicking and choosing [Properties] and then select the [Compatibility] tab and then select at the bottom [Run as Administrator] and click [Apply] and you are good to go from then. Simply run the application and say yes to its UAC prompt and you can enjoy worry free usage.

If you are like me, you have Type-II diabetes and you know that testing your blood sugar is a daily necessity and often several times a day. Or you might have Type-I diabetes, some have high blood sugars and some have low blood sugars. In severe cases insulin injections are needed while with less severe cases, such as mine, only an oral medication like Metformin or alike is sufficient.

To have the peace of mind that your numbers are as accurate as possible and that you take the proper action, it is important to have a high quality meter. Also it should be noted that often times after a couple of years, the meters are no longer as good and should normally be replaced. There are several high quality brands, such as Accucheck, Freestyle, and OneTouch, and often times you can get them for free; since the real cost is in the strips which most insurance companies cover at no charge to the patient or with little co-pay.

I saw an offer several months back from FreeStyle but I believe the promotion has ended but I just found that OneTouch is offering meters as well for those who need a new meter, a replacement, an upgrade or simply want to have a spare meter. Click on the picture to go to their promotional website where you can fill out the form and pick the color you want and they will ship it to you free of charge in 3-4 weeks. I just got one myself and there is nothing in this for me at all, I am simply sharing with everyone out there as a public service.

I got this from a friend (thanks Mark) and it was so funny to me (some may miss the joke) but if you have ever been a pothead, known one or at least experimented with weed, you’ll get the joke. Or perhaps not! Let’s see.

A koala was sitting in a gum tree smoking a joint

When a little lizard walked past, looked up and said, ‘Hey Koala! What are you doing?’

The koala said, ‘Smoking a joint, come up and have some.’

So the little lizard climbed up and sat next to the koala where they enjoyed a few joints. After a while the  little lizard said that his mouth was ‘dry’ and that he was going to get a drink from the river.

The little lizard was so stoned that he leaned over too far and fell into the river.

A crocodile saw this and swam over to the little lizard and helped him to the side. Then he asked the little lizard, ‘What’s the matter with you?’

The little lizard explained to the  crocodile that he had been sitting with a koala in the tree, smoking a joint, but got too stoned and fell into the river while taking a drink.

The crocodile said that he had to check this out and  walked into the rain forest, found the tree where the koala was sitting finishing a joint. The crocodile looked up and said,

‘Hey you!’

So the koala looked down at him and said,

‘Fuuuuuuck, dude…How much water did you drink!?’

Hope you enjoyed it, if you have seen it already, then I am sorry for the repeat if not, then pass it on to someone who might get a kick out of it and make their day for them.

DNS Rebinding with Robert RSnake Hansen

A DNS Rebinding exploit how to. This exploit has caused much confusion, so this video explains how hackers can take advantage of this attack and why the security world will probably not be fixing it any time in the near future.

It is my hope that you will learn the mechanics so that you can better protect yourself and hopefully know what you are facing so you don’t become complacent and fall into the groove of false sense of security.