SQL Server Error: The ‘DbProviderFactories’ section can only appear once per file.

You ever get the error:

The ‘DbProviderFactories’ section can only appear once per file.

…after a fresh install of Microsoft SQL Server Express?

When trying to do something like create a new table with SQL Server Management Studio?

I don’t know why, but one (or more) of the many maching.config files on your computer does, indeed, have TWO DbProviderFactories sections in it. TWO of my machine.config files were like that, but the one causing this error was the one located here:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config\machine.config

[GARD]

I recommend doing a system wide search for all machine.config files that have <DbProviderFactories/> in them. Open each one to see if it additionally has another DbProviderFactories section and delete the blank one. Deleting it from the file mentioned above solved this problem for me.

NOTE! You’ll have to open your text editor as Administrator or you’ll be forbidden from saving changes to the file(s)!

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2014-10-08

An error occurred while signing: SignTool.exe not found.

Ever get either of these two errors while trying to deploy a .Net app? Specifically, while trying to publish a Click-Once deployed app (it can happen in other cases too)?

I’ve got a freshly built PC with Visual Studio 2013 installed and one of the first apps I created was a simple WinForms app with Click-Once deployment and I got this error.

After much frustrated Googling, I found no answers, so I figured this one out myself.

Here’s why this error happens

[GARD]

The signtool.exe file is actually missing. But, that doesn’t mean you don’t have it on your PC. There are multiple SDK versions likely installed on your machine, but the signtool.exe isn’t in all of them and where ever Visual Studio is looking for it is NOT one of the locations that has it.

Solution

I searched my hard drive for signtool.exe and found it here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Bin

Then I noticed that in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows

there were multiple version folders. I placed a copy of signtool.exe in each one of them inside their bin folder. If they didn’t have a bin folder, I created one.

Turns out, the v7.0A\bin folder is where it needed to be (at least, on MY machine). After placing a copy of signtool.exe there, it solved the problem.

[GARD]

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2012-10-06

Can’t play 3D Blu-Ray DVDs?

Can’t play 3D Blu-Ray DVDs on your new Samsung 3D Blu-Ray DVD player? Getting this error?

“THIS BLU-RAY 3D DISC REQURIES A COMPATIBLE
3D HDTV & BLU-RAY 3D PLAYER OR A BLU-RAY PLAYER
THAT HAS BEEN UPGRADED WITH THE NECESSARY
FIRMWARE TO ALLOW 3D FILM PLAYBACK.
2D PLAYBACK IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA THIS DISC.”

Here’s how to fix the problem:

First, I’m assuming the blatantly obvious, that you actually HAVE a 3DTV and your 3D Blu-Ray DVD player is connected to your 3DTV with an HDMI cable.

There’s actually a menu option in the DVD player menu system, buried deep inside, that you have to fix. The Samsung tech support rep I spoke to on the phone had no clue and wanted me to take the disc back and swap it for another. Don’t do that. Here are the menus to fix it:

From the main screen on your DVD player (press STOP on your remote if you’re seeing the blue screen error above), go to settings and choose “Display”.
Choose “3D Settings”, then “3D Playback Mode”
It should be set to “3D –> 3D”………………….

The DVD will then switch to sending a 3D signal to the TV. Just like on a Windows computer, when you switch resolutions, it’ll give you 15 seconds to accept the change, or it’ll switch back.

Select OK and it’ll do the 3D video test.

Notice that my TV overlays another dialog box, notifying me that it’s now receiving a 3D signal. Your TV might do something similar. Note the dialog box behind that? The one sent from the DVD player? It’s got a 15 second count down and you’d better choose “OK” from your DVD remote or it’ll switch back to 2D mode.

Done! Notice that in the image below, both the left and right eye images are showing. My camera is not filtering them, so we see both… just to validate that it’s working.

Put your 3D glasses on and enjoy!

Did I help you? Can you help me now?

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