• apple,  apple watch,  iphone 7,  iphone 7 plus,  itunes,  upgrade

    Notes on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Upgrade Process

    Update: Friend of the blog Mike C called me out for not mentioning that Bluetooth devices also need to be paired with your new iPhone after performing an iTunes or iCloud backup restore.  That oversight has been corrected below.

    Congratulations on getting your new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus!

    Now that you have your brand new iPhone it’s time to upgrade from your old one.  While the process will vary from person to person, I have come up with a list of six steps to make the transition as smooth as possible.

    Step 1: Unpair your Apple Watch.

    The Apple Watch is a great tool for notifications, fitness tracking, taking a quick phone call or sending a dictated text message.  To ensure all of your data stays intact while moving over to your new iPhone, unpair it from your current iPhone.  Doing so backs up your Watch data to your iPhone.  To help, Apple has posted a support article called Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone to help you navigate the process.

    Step 2: Backup your current iPhone with iTunes.

    When you use the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC to create an encrypted local backup, iOS will also backup sensitive data including fitness and activity data and email account passwords.  Using iTunes to create an encrypted local backup of your iPhone is a different process that the nightly iCloud backups you are probably already doing.  To refresh yourself on how to use iTunes to backup an iPhone, look at Apple’s How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch support article; specifically the “Use iTunes” section.

    When you run an encrypted backup, you also preserve your Apple Watch data in the process, allowing you to restore your data to Apple Watch later on.

    Make sure that you write down your encrypted iTunes backup password!

    Step 3: Power off your old iPhone.

    At this point, I like to put my old iPhone into airplane mode.  The point is that your old iPhone should not have network access.

    Step 4: Power on your new iPhone and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the initial setup.

    This step assumes that you are activating your iPhone at home.  If you purchased your iPhone at a retail location and a well-meaning sales associate tried to setup your iPhone you may have a different experience.

    Step 5: When prompted, select the option to restore your iPhone data from an iTunes backup.

    At this time, select the option to restore from an iTunes backup and connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC.  I like to have iTunes already launched before connecting the iPhone for restoration.  In iTunes, select the backup you performed in Step 2 as the one to be restored to your new iPhone.

    Step 6: Sit back and have a refreshing beverage of choice, following any iPhone and/or iTunes prompts to complete the restore.

    For me, this is the hardest part about getting a new iPhone – the waiting for all of the data to transfer from my Mac to my new iPhone!  Be patient.  It can take a long time to restore your data.  One the restore is done, take a look around to make sure everything is working normally.

    Step 7: Pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone.

    When you start the pairing process, you will be prompted to restore your Apple Watch data from a backup. Select the backup that was created as part of Step 1 to restore all of your health and activity data.

    Miscellaneous Odds and Ends

    Here are some things to consider doing after you have completed your iPhone upgrade.

    • Change your iPhone device name by going to: Settings > General > About > Name
    • Pair up Bluetooth devices like Beats headphones, wireless speakers, and car hands free systems
    • Verify your loyalty cards are setup.  You may need to re-login to your online member accounts
    • Setup Apple Pay credit and debit cards
    • Sync any iTunes purchased ring tones and alert sound effects
    • Double-check that iCloud is setup the way you like by going to: Settings > iCloud
    • Corporate users will want to validate their Microsoft Exchange server settings
    The process of backing up and restoring an iPhone and Apple Watch can seem to take forever, especially when you are excited to start using your new phone.  Taking the time to follow these simple steps will get you up and running as quickly as possible can keeping all of your settings and data intact.
  • content server,  ecm,  upgrade

    The Incident at RetentionUpdateOrder [UPDATED]

    During an upgrade of a quality assurance (QA) instance of OpenText Content Server 10.0.0 SP2 Update 12 to Content Server 10.5.0 Update 2014-06 I ran into an incident at the RetentionUpdateOrder table.

    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : Applying the database schema upgrade
    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : Error executing statement
    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : create table RetentionUpdateOrder ( … )
    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : Error: Error executing an Sql statement.
    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : Error: Error executing an Sql statement.
    [01/14/2015 04:25:31 PM] : The Module Upgrade Failed Due To Errors

    The error, as it turns out, was caused because my database already had a table called “RetentionUpdateOrder” in it.  Great, now what?

    A quick look at my QA and production Content Server 10.0 databases revealed that the table in question existed in both.  This was not a table that I added, altered, or otherwise modified, so it had to come from the core installation of Content Server or one of the modules that my employer has elected to install.

    I needed to know how big the scope of this problem was.  As it turned out, RetentionUpdateOrder was not alone.  Three of it’s friends were also giving me a little bit of heartburn during the upgrade; they are: RetentionUpdateOrder, RetentionUpdateRetry, RetentionUpdateFailed, and RetentionUpdateLog.

    WARNING: This post talks about modifications to your Content Server database.  You should only directly alter your Content Server database under the supervision of a trained OpenText engineer.

    Once I knew which tables involved in the upgrade, I used the following SQL to figure that out how much data was going to have to deal with.  Thankfully, using the following SQL command, the results all came back as zero rows.

    use [yourContentServerDBName]
    go
    select COUNT(*) from RetentionUpdateOrder
    go
    select COUNT(*) from RetentionUpdateRetry
    go
    select COUNT(*) from RetentionUpdateFailed
    go
    select COUNT(*) from RetentionUpdateLog
    go

    To workaround this issue, wrote a short little SQL script to backup the tables in my database, and then drop the original so I could restart the Content Server database schema upgrade process and have it finish successfully.  Here’s the rough utility SQL script that I wrote to clean up the table situation.

    use [yourContenServerDBName]
    go
    select * into RetentionUpdateOrder_CS10_5_Backup
        from RetentionUpdateOrder
    go
    if OBJECT_ID(‘livelink..RetentionUpdateOrder’,’U’) is not null
        drop table RetentionUpdateOrder
    go
    select * into RetentionUpdateRetry_CS10_5_Backup
        from RetentionUpdateRetry
    go
    if OBJECT_ID(‘livelink..RetentionUpdateRetry’,’U’) is not null
        drop table RetentionUpdateRetry
    go
    select * into RetentionUpdateFailed_CS10_5_Backup
        from RetentionUpdateFailed
    go
    if OBJECT_ID(‘livelink..RetentionUpdateFailed’,’U’) is not null
        drop table RetentionUpdateFailed
    go
    select * into RetentionUpdateLog_CS10_5_Backup
        from RetentionUpdateLog
    go
    if OBJECT_ID(‘livelink..RetentionUpdateLog’,’U’) is not null
        drop table RetentionUpdateLog
    go

    To jump start the database schema upgrade again, in my browser, I navigated back to the admin home page at ?func=admin.index and then jumped over to the database upgrade page at ?func=admin.dbupgrade.  (You may be prompted to log back in as ‘admin’.)

    Once I restarted the database schema upgrade, it was a few short minutes until I got the following message back from my Content Server 10.5 instance:

    [01/16/2015 05:45:03 PM] : Applying the database schema upgrade
    [01/16/2015 05:45:03 PM] : Applying the data upgrade
    [01/16/2015 05:45:03 PM] : The database upgrade completed with no errors.

    Outstanding!  Your results may vary from mine. It is always to have a good set of backups, rollback plans and we should always test upgrades in test instances before moving on to QA, DR, and production.  If you get into trouble, or have questions, don’t forget to contact the OpenText Support Team.

    UPDATE:

    After talking to OpenText support, two important bits of information have surfaced about this issue.  They are:

    1. The four RetentionUpdate tables discussed here are for the Archive Storage Provider module and NOT the Records Manager module.

    2. If you have an aversion to writing SQL, you can avoid all of this by installing the Archive Storage Provider 10.0.2 module update before attempting to upgrade to Content Server 10.5.0.  Naturally, this is the method preferred by the OpenText Support team and I agree with them.  If you chose to use the backup/drop table method I described here, that is a viable workaround.  Any updates or alterations of a Content Server/Livelink database should be done only with guidance from Support.

  • mac,  mac os x,  mac os x server,  mavericks,  upgrade

    Apple Rolls Out OS X 10.9.2 Update, Includes SSL Fix

    Earlier today, Apple released the Mavericks OS X 10.9.2 update that closes the SSL security bug that was patched last week on iOS devices.

    FaceTime & iMessage Learn New Tricks
    With the release of Mac OS X 10.9.2 Mavericks, Apple has taught FaceTime how to make audio only calls and call waiting for video and the aforementioned audio calls.  With the 10.9.2 update, iMessages finally received a nice little update that allows you to block messages from individual senders.
    General Fixes and Enhancements
    In addition to fixing the “goto fail” that everyone has been worried about over the last few days, Apple also included a number of fixes and enhancements across the board.
    Ever since the release of Mavericks, many customers have been unhappy with the bugs in the OS X Mail application, specifically when used with a Gmail account.  Apple continues to make those corrections in this release with six fixes directly related to Mail.
    This release also brings fixes to networking features, including improved support for SMB2 shares, VPN connections, and OS X Server NetBoot services.
    Lastly, there was a website compatibility update for the AutoFill feature of Safari.
    Apple also gets a Smartphone Fanatics “Wait, what?!” award for including a fix for a Windows XP shared printer problem. Huh?  Windows XP is Microsoft’s 13-year old desktop operating system which they have been trying to desperately trying to kill of since the release of Windows 7.  (Microsoft released Windows XP on Aug 24. 2001.  The last day for extended support for Windows XP is scheduled for Apr 8, 2014.  Windows 7 was released on Oct 22, 2009.  We won’t event talk about Windows Vista.  Seriously.)
    You can read the full release notes for Mac OS X 10.9.2 Mavericks and the related security fixes release notes on the Apple support website.
    Mavericks 10.9.2 is a free update for anyone who is already running a previous edition of Mac OS X 10.9.  The update can be installed from the Mac App Store > Updates tab.  You will need to reboot your Mac as part of the upgrade process.  I recommend that MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro owners plug-in their notebooks before attempting the upgrade.
  • pre,  touchpad,  upgrade,  veer,  web os

    HP Releases a Minor Software Update for HP webOS

    It’s no joke, webOS fans, HP has release the smallest of mandatory updates for Palm’s smartphones and tablet computer.

    I received an email today from HP’s webOS Team letting me know that there is a minor update available for webOS to correct an expiring root certificate that allows our webOS devices to connect to HP’s backend servers for things like Backup/Restore and the App Catalog.  The certificate is set to expire on July 23, 2013.

    HP TouchPad w/ webOS 3 after the update
    Palm Pre w/ webOS 2.1 after the update

    HP TouchPads running webOS 3 will be upgraded to App Catalog version 5.0.3500.  HP and Palm branded smartphones running webOS 2 will be updated to 2.1.10000.

    The email contained directions for devices running webOS 2.1 and later as well as for devices running a version of webOS that was released prior to webOS 2.1.

    Full details on how to update your webOS smartphone or tablet can be found on the HP website.

    Anyone who plans to keep using their Palm webOS devices after July 23 of this year are encouraged to charge up your device and either install the automatic software update using the Software Update application or by manually going to the App Store and installing the App Catalog Update utility.

    The email is copied below:


    Mandatory webOS system update
    A certificate used on webOS devices expires on July 23, 2013. For the system to be able to use cloud services such as Backup/Restore and App Catalog the certificate needs to be updated.
    Beginning June 6th an automatic update to the Application Catalog has replaced the certificate. That means that if your device is running webOS “2.1” or greater you can have the certificate installed automatically by activating your device and accepting the update.
    If your device is running a webOS version older than “2.1”, or you want to manually install, go to the HP App Catalog on your device and select the app called “App Catalog Update”, download and install it on your system.
    To install the new certificate, download and install this application.
    After July 23rd, 2013, it will be necessary to take special steps to install this update. Details will be available on the HP support site (https://developer.palm.com/support/applicationupdate?sssdmh=dm13.346142)
    We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
    webOS Team

  • apple,  laptop,  macbook pro,  seagate,  upgrade

    Seagate’s Hybrid Disk Drives Are An Excellent Upgrade

    Recently I started looking around at ways to upgrade my mid-2009 MacBook Pro 17-inch to extend it’s life another 12-18 months before I have to “upgrade” to a smaller 15-inch model.  Last year I upgraded my MacBook to 8GB of RAM and this year it was time to do something about the pokey 5400-RPM stock disk drive.

    I started looking a purely solid state flash memory disk drive option and they turned out to be too expensive for anything over 400GB.  750GB and larger traditional disk drives are cheaper, but was a speed bump from 5400 to 7200-RPM really going to help get rid of the annoying spinning beach balls that we all hate to see on our Macs?
    I ended up settling on the Seagate Momentus XT 750GB 2.5-inch disk drive.  This drive met my requirements for installation into my MacBook Pro.  They are:
    • 2.5-inch form factor would fit into the stock drive bay
    • At less than $150 the price was right
    • 250GB of additional storage space
    • 1,800-RPM improvement in platter rotation speed
    • 8GB of flash storage on the drive’s controller board
    It’s that last point that gives a hybrid drive like the Momentus XT it’s edge.  The disk drive is presented to the Mac, or a Windows PC, just like a standard SATA disk drive.  But internally to the disk drive, the controller board is monitoring which data you access most frequently, and moves that data off the traditional disk platter and into the 8GB flash storage.  As your computing habits change, the Momentus drive continually reevaluates what data should be moved to the flash space to boost performance.
    Editor’s Note: Seagate has recently upgraded their line of hybrid notebook hard drives.  You can learn more about them on the Seagate website.
    Upgrading your MacBook or Windows PC will vary by manufacturer and model, but the physical upgrade to my MacBook Pro took about 20 minutes.  Apple publishes memory and hard disk upgrade guides on their support website.
    To “clone” or copy the contents of my stock Apple hard drive to my new Seagate Momentus XT drive, I used Carbon Copy Cloner, which sells for $39.95.  The round trip copy job took about 3 hours.  (Two hours to an external disk drive, and one hour from the external to the new drive.)
    Overall, I’ve noticed an significant boost in performance on my MacBook Pro.  I immediately noticed that spinning beach balls show up far less than they used to.  There has also be a significant improvement in application launch times.  Launching iTunes, iPhoto, or any of the Microsoft Office 2011 apps was a painful go-get-another-can-of-Diet-Coke-while-the-app-launches experience.  Not so after installing the Momentus XT.
    If you are looking to extend the life of your MacBook or MacBook Pro that uses a traditional spinning disk drive I strongly recommend that you consider upgrading to a hybrid disk drive. (Doubling your RAM is also recommended if your hardware will accept it.)
    The bottom line for me is that Seagate has long been a trusted brand for me, and the Momentus XT 750GB drive is no exception.  For the cost of the drive there has been a significant boost in performance that will allow me to put off having to purchase a new MacBook Pro for at least another year.
  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  ipad mini,  iphone,  ipod touch,  upgrade

    Apple Releases iOS 6.1.2

    Yesterday, Apple rolled out iOS 6.1.2.  This updated is intended to address the Microsoft Exchange bug that has been well documented.

    Unlike previous iOS 6.1.x updates, iOS 6.1.2 is available for current model iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, and iPod touch models.

    I’ve read conflicting reports on whether or not iOS 6.1.2 addresses the lock screen bypass bug. I’ll have to test to see if the issue was resolved after applying iOS 6.1.2.

  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  troubleshooting,  upgrade

    iOS 6.1 Upgrade Loads Without Problem on My iPad 3

    For all the trouble I had installing the iOS 6.1 upgrade last night on my iPhone 4S, the same upgrade when flawlessly on my iPad 3.

    From what I can tell, it was a fluke that something when wrong on my iPhone. I’m a member of #TeamPure and I don’t jailbreak my gear so I’m really unsure of what actually went wrong.

    I’ll just chalk it up to ‘fun and excitement with technology’ and get back to using my iDevices.

  • apple,  ios,  iphone,  troubleshooting,  upgrade

    My iPhone 4S is OK, iOS 6.1 Installed

    I was annoyed this evening while untangling a failed iOS 6.1 OTA upgrade this evening.  The good news is that my iPhone is alive and well.  I did have to spend a ridiculous amount of time downloading and reinstalling iOS 6.1 via iTunes to get the iPhone out of recovery mode.
    In the end, I was able to get my iPhone working again, but after the install of the iOS 6.1 upgrade from iTunes, the iPhone is behaving like a new device.  Looks like a little while longer getting my iCloud backup restored and making sure everything truly is back to normal.
  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  ipad mini,  iphone,  ipod touch,  upgrade

    Apple Updates iOS to 6.1

    While I am waiting to recover my iPhone 4S from a failed iOS 6.1 upgrade, we might as well read Apple’s iOS 6.1 press release.

    CUPERTINO, California—January 28, 2013—Apple® today updated iOS to version 6.1, adding LTE capabilities to 36 additional iPhone® carriers and 23 additional iPad® carriers around the world, so even more iPhone 5, iPad mini and iPad* with Retina® display users can experience ultrafast wireless performance** to browse, download and stream content at blazing fast speeds. To date, iOS users have uploaded over nine billion photos to Photo Stream, sent over 450 billion iMessages and received over four trillion notifications.

    “iOS 6 is the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, and with nearly 300 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices on iOS 6 in just five months, it may be the most popular new version of an OS in history,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iOS 6.1 brings LTE support to more markets around the world, so even more users can enjoy ultrafast Safari browsing, FaceTime video calls, iCloud services, and iTunes and App Store downloads.”

    iOS 6 features include Siri®, which supports more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Maps with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and Flyover view; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®; and Passbook®, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place. Additional updates in iOS 6.1 include the ability to use Siri to purchase movie tickets in the US through Fandango, and iTunes Match℠ subscribers can download individual songs to their iOS devices from iCloud.

    iOS 6.1 is available as a free software update today. iOS 6.1 is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third and fourth generation), iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generation). Some features may not be available on all products.

    You can read the complete iOS 6.1 press release on the Apple PR website.

    [Via Apple.com…]