0x80070003 HTTP Error 500.19 - Internal Server Error The requested page cannot be accessed because the related configuration data for the page is invalid.

While deploying a aspx app, I kept getting this error:
0x80070003 HTTP Error 500.19 - Internal Server Error The requested page cannot be accessed because the related configuration data for the page is invalid.
Module IIS Web Core
Notification BeginRequest
Handler Not yet determined
Error Code 0x80070003
Config Error Cannot read configuration file
Config File \\?\E:\Inetpub\wwwroot\MyApp\4.1\web.config

Naively, I believed the error message and thought my web.config was bad xml. But checking an online xml validator, the file was fine.

I then looked at permissions, and temporarily giving everyone permission to read the file didn't help.

I finally found and article here that cast a thin ray of light upon my troubles.

The clue was the "\\?E:\Inetpub\wwwroot\MyApp\4.1\web.config" line. I was making my test machine look more like production machines by creating a fake E: drive using
subst E: "C:\Edrive"
But IIS was not able to grok the fake E: drive. In the IIS GUI I right-clicked on the application and selected "Manage Application/Advanced Settings/Physical Path" and changed that from "E:" to "C:\Edrive" and it worked.

Pictures from Austin .Net Users Group August 11, 2014 with Patrick Abbs.

Patrick Abbs gave a great presentation on "Modern Artificial Intelligence for the Curious Layman" to the Austin .Net Users community. Patrick had an intriguing example of using a Neural Net to classify instruments playing a 'C' note.
Here's a few pics:

My jumbled notes:

1. Neural Networks are a type of Machine Learning algorithm used for object categorization and recognition.
2. Neural networks work by creating a hierarchical structure of more complex objects and their components.
3. Fourier Analysis was used in Patrick's example to simplify complex wave forms into simple sine waves.
4. The human ear component, the cochlea, decomposes sound into a series of sin waves in an unknown manner.
5. Neurons hold electrical charge. Axons are limit switches.
6. Apple's Siri is run by a Hidden Markov algorithm, while Google is investing in Neural nets.
7. "Equational vs. Structural" was his main theme.
8. Patrick had three types of Neurons in his example program: 1. Input Nueron 2. Abstration Neuron 3. Monitor Neuron
9. contacts: twitter @patricks github/patricks

Where is Microsoft Visual Studio 2013?

Warning: this is a whine. You have been warned.

Although I installed VS2013 a few months ago, today I went to use it for real. So, going to "Start/All Programs" I get this menu listing. I found VS2008, VS2010 and VS2012, but where is Microsoft Visual Studio 2013?

Ok, if you look down towards the bottom, it is listed separately from the previous 3 versions as "Visual Studio 2013".

Note to Microsoft: Please keep things consistent.

I promise to not do another MS whine for a week.

Just Another Example of Microsoft's Outrageous DRM policies

My brother stopped in this week to see the family and go to a conference. He had a computer issue that just started. Whenever he tried to open any Office files from the past five years he would get this message:

"Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 cannot verify the license for this product."

He had a conference the next day which needed those documents. Since he had the original CD with its packaging and its printed license code, he re-entered the license code, but to no avail. We repaired, re-installed, rebooted, re-rebooted. Still the same problem. We tried solutions from searching Google. No joy.

Microsoft phone support said they could not help with the licensing issue, but for $150 dollars he could get Office 2013. Really Microsoft? You sell a product and won't help when it doesn't accept its original license code?

After spending 3 hours on this issue, we gave up and just downloaded OpenOffice - it had no trouble reading his old Word and Excel documents. I don't think Open Office will fail from license issues the day before his next presentation.