Don't Back Down

This error message comes from an incorrect DNS configuration. I think it was because my DNS was pointing to my ISP's DNS server (techncally, to my router, which pointed to my ISP).

By configuring my domain controller (DC) with DNS, which in turn forwarded requests to the ISP, and then pointing all DNS to the DC, it seemed to resolve the issue. To get the DC to rebuild the DNS, run dcdiag /fix from a command prompt and/or restart the netlogon service.

You may see this error message pop up in a dialog box while trying to login, specifically when you try and change the domain. To get the box to go away, press CTRL-ALT-DEL. To remove the problem entirely, make sure that your DNS is configured properly, by pointing the DNS servers to the domain controller for your network.

How safe is your password? Using this handy list (via) you can get some idea. The list provides several classes of password-cracking solutions. I would suggest that the Class D level, which is described as a Fast PC, Dual Processor PC, is probably the minimum. Everything below this level is based on a Pentium 100, which is pretty slow hardware these days. While not everyone has a dual processor PC, it's not that uncommon. So let's use this as our baseline.

Read "Password Cracking Speed" »

VLC (initially VideoLAN Client) is a pretty full-featured media client that offers a ton of features, including one really useful one: Being able to play protected AAC files without the need for iTunes. Yes, you have to have your keys, but you don't have to have iTunes. Find your iTunes keys, copy them to your computer, and the content plays. As simple as that. Is it perfect? No, it doesn't seem to be perfect. But it's a start.

Update: It doesn't seem to work on songs purchased with iTunes 6. Sorry, didn't mean to give you false hopes.