web analytics
  • Error Connecting to Database Server

    I recently setup yet another SharePoint farm (this time using virtual machines) and ran into a problem that happens all too often. The scenario is this: I setup MS SQL server in preparation for getting SharePoint installed on a separate server. After setting up your service accounts in Active Directory and installing MS SQL on Server1, I set off installing SharePoint on Server2. When I got to the screen in the Specify Configuration Database Settings within the SharePoint configuration wizard, I received the following error: Cannot connect to database master at SQL server at ServerName. The database might not exist, or the current user does not have permission to connect…

  • Recover Password From The IIS Metabase

    I recently needed to add an account to an IIS6 Application Pool, but I did not know the password. No one else knew the password either. However, I found out that the account was being used by an IIS6 application pool on another Windows Server 2003 machine. So I loaded the IIS 6.0 Resource Kit Tools, which includes the lovely tool “Metabase Explorer”. After I launched the Metabase Explorer application, I navigated my way to the application pool that was using the password I needed to obtain. Select the option to “View Secure Data” and bingo! there is the password. Download the IIS 6.0 Resource Kit HERE