Query DNS Server to resolve host and IP

http://www.zoneedit.com/lookup.html

nslookup - command line

DnsQuery - Win32 command

C++ programming tips

Good C++ programming tips at

"No files were found to look in. Find was stopped in progress." in VS2005

"No files were found to look in. Find was stopped in progress." in VS2005

Multiple reboots didn't help me.This is very strange and odd bug.
But pressing Ctrl + Scroll Lock pulled things back to normal.

Error Install MS SQL Server Express in Windows XP SP3 / MSXML6 SP2

If you are trying to install SQL Server 2005 Express edition in Windows SP3 environment, it will most likely fail unless Microsoft has done something to fix this. Read through this blog to find how to get around with this issue.

Symptoms include SQL Server Express edition installation return error and the error log mentioned MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 (KB954459) — Configuration failed. I am not really sure what the root cause is, but it looks like Windows XP SP3 or MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 protects the MSXML 6 configuration file from update and changes. As a result, the setup fail to continue.

There are some ways to solve this, including

* Uninstall Service Pack 3, install Microsoft SQL Server Express edition, and reinstall SP3.
* Disable the File system protection temporarily using regedit.

But, in my opinion the best way is

* Uninstall MSXML6 SP2, by using Windows Installer Cleanup Utility which can be downloaded from http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exe. Then install SQL Server Express edition just like usual.

Another day another interview

For Sapient c++

1)DEsign a system for an Online Booking System which has -
Login Credentials
Product view (can have millions of products).
Add to cart
shop the selected products
Choose the payment mode - cash/credit.

2)copy constructor
3)smart pointers
4)critical section
5)template specialization
6)why templates have implementation in header files.

But unfortunately on que 7 the call got disconnected and they didnt call me back :(
Lets see what's in store for me tomorrow.

first hindi poem that I learnt

This poem is by Ayodhya Singh Upadhayay, one of my childhood fav.

"utho laal ab aankhein kholo
paani laayi hoon, muh dholo

beeti raat kamal-dal phoole
unke ooper bhanvre jhoole

chidiya chahak uthi pedo par
behne lagi hawa ati sundar

bhor huyi sooraj ug aaya
nabh mein huyi sunhari kaaya

aasmaan mein chhaayi laali
hawa bahi sukh dene waali

nanhi-nanhi kiranein aayein
phool ha.se kaliyaan muskaayein

itana sundar samay na kho
mere pyaare ab mat so"

Dil bole hadippa

Watched "Dil bole Hadippa" on sunday.
It was okay kind of movie...watch once and forget.

Rani was pretty convincing in role of surd boy....but as a girl she looked repetitive.
But she awed her character as Veer Singh.

Shahid Kapoor's acting can be rated as a sine wave....best to worse.
He looked like a duplicate of SRK and to add to it YashRaj Production made him wear muffler on transparent shirt....much associated with SRK.

Rest of the characters were just fillers to link the story....love story and cricket were the USP of the movie....but both the themes were lost and found couple of times in movie.

It was again one of "not on this earth movie" by the YashRaj's.
I agree love is blind and one can fall in love with anybody but not like movies.Its a dream I must say.