WAMP error – ‘VCRUNTIME140.dll’ is missing

This is a common WAMP problem. WAMP will show this prompt during installation and if you ignore it there, you will see the same error when you try to launch the WAMP server. The error would be like

The program can’t start because VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix the problem.

The solution is simple. Simply install Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio. You can download the suitable setup from The latest supported Visual C++ downloads page.

Once it’s installed, you need to restart WAMP and it should work without any issue.

Fatal error: Call to undefined function mcrypt_encrypt() – Solved

While setting up a php project on CentOS 6, I came across an error   “Fatal error: Call to undefined function mcrypt_encrypt()”.

I thought mcrypt is not installed and that should be an easy fix.  Just a quick “yum install php-mcrypt”.  Nope.  It was already installed. After digging around for a while, installing, uninstalling, rebooting etc, I checked a config file /etc/php.d/mcrypt.ini.

Continue reading “Fatal error: Call to undefined function mcrypt_encrypt() – Solved”

ASP.NET Ajax client-side framework failed to load OR ‘Sys’ is undefined

I had an ASP.Net 4 website in WebForms, where it was working fine on the local machine and also on one of our Windows 2008 R2 servers which had Framework 4.0. But when we moved to the production machine which also had Windows 2008 R2 server, the website started to generate Ajax client-side framework failed to load errors on pages that had UpdatePanels.

After searching for some time, found the solution. This was actually caused by the fact that the website had an application pool set to .NET 4.0 but the [Handler Mappings] for the *.axd files were not registered. I had to add the following handlers to my web.config file.

<handlers>
<remove name="WebServiceHandlerFactory-Integrated"/>
<remove name="ScriptHandlerFactory"/>
<remove name="ScriptHandlerFactoryAppServices"/>
<remove name="ScriptResource"/>
<add name="ScriptHandlerFactory" verb="*" path="*.asmx" preCondition="integratedMode" type="System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"/>
<add name="ScriptHandlerFactoryAppServices" verb="*" path="*_AppService.axd" preCondition="integratedMode" type="System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"/>
<add name="ScriptResource" preCondition="integratedMode" verb="GET,HEAD" path="ScriptResource.axd" type="System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"/>
</handlers>

After adding this, it’s working perfectly. But I am still not sure, why these handlers are already added to our testing server and not on production.

Wateen WiMAX – Unforgettable Experience

Wateen Telecom launched its WiMAX services almost 10 days ago for public and announced different packages for home and business users. I was waiting for it from a long time and was really exited when I saw its opening.

I visited their franchise on Mall Road opposite to Lahore High Court. I observed that the staff has very limited knowledge about their own services and they were asking each other for details. I was told that WiMAX service covers whole Lahore and there will not be any signals problem.

I selected a suitable plan for my home and presented my Visa debit card for payment, but I was told that “machine is not working” ( Which is still not working after 5 days, I came to know today on my second visit ). I arranged Cash and finally purchased the connection.

Now I needed username and password for my connection for which I had to call Wateen’s call center several times. Average time of waiting for call to be answered by Wateen call center is almost 8 minutes. During this I came to know that the device provided with connection ( Motorola CPEi600 ) is not functioning due to signals problem in my area. I should get jupiter (antenna) from franchise to solve the signal’s issue, support staff told. Username and Password was finally received on 5th day after buying the connection. 🙂

Today on Monday Dec 24th, I visited the franchise again for antena and they have asked me to “wait till dec 26th .. then call us again and then we will see this matter.”

Very very poor and slow support which has made my first experience with wateen unforgettable. So far I am struggling to get my connection working.

I’ll keep this post updated while the matter progresses.

— Updates December 26, 07 —

I called Mr Rauf Malik, Manager Wateen Telecom, Mall Road Lahore Franchise today as he promissed to resolve the issue today on my last visit. He has told me that “Please wait till 30th December, when Wateen is going to extend its coverage and hopefully the problem will get resolved” … Frustration continues.

— Updates December 31, 07 —

Late Benazir Bhutto, like many other departments of pakistan, caused delay for Wateen aswell, latest excuse from Mr. Rauf Malik … yet another time I am promissed that technical staff will visit and install jupiter ( antena ) tomorrow … will the sun of this “tomorrow” rise?

— Updates January 3, 08 —
Today I was contacted by Mr. Shahid Qureshi, Head of Support Team in Lahore, in response to my email to wateen support. He has told me that my area is not covered by wateen at the moment but hopefully wateen will extend its coverage to my area in one to two months.
According to Support head, Franchises are provided Maps highlighting the areas which have the coverage. If this is correct, why did they sell me the connection? On the time of purchase, I asked the franchise staff several times about coverage in my area. Why they didn’t give the correct information? These are few questions which need attention of Wateen Management.
Very disappointing. I’ll return the connection tomorrow. 🙁