On my 64bit Vista machine, I'm trying to build a little application which makes use of a set of DLLs from the Team Foundation Server Client. The application builds fine. However, when I attempt to run the application in debug, I get the following error:

=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: User =
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Client, Version=9.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a
 (Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Development/TFSImport/bin/Debug/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
Calling assembly : TFSImport, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null.
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: No application configuration file found.
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\config\machine.config.
LOG: Post-policy reference: Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Client, Version=9.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Development/TFSImport/bin/Debug/Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Client.DLL.
ERR: Failed to complete setup of assembly (hr = 0x8007000b). Probing terminated.
 

After a bit of head scratching I realised that the TFS Client DLLs are 32-Bit and the application was being built for a 64-Bit platform. To fix this problem I had to get the build targeting a 32bit platform. To do this, I opened up the Configuration Manager in Visual Studio:

From the Active Solution Platform, I chose the drop down menu item "<New...>".

A dialog appeared called "New Solution Platform".

In this dialog, I selected the item "x86" from the drop down list "Type or select the new platform:", then clicked OK.

You'll notice that the Configuration Manager has been updated with the new Platform details for the project.

I now click the "Close" button.

Now I'm able to build and run my application in debug.

I'm actually excited about this latest version of Windows.

Why? Well, from what I've read about Windows 7, it should run quite happily on low powered devices such as MIDs, UMPCs Netbooks or older machines. It’s even been claimed that it will “out perform” Windows XP and Vista on everyday tasks.

At home, our machines are running Windows XP, which is fine but it’s getting old, and XP will soon be unsupported by Microsoft. Unfortunately, our machines aren't really up to running Vista, they don't have enough memory or processor power to make the experience pleasant and unobtrusive. There are some really good reasons (apparently) for moving over to Vista, but the cost associated with the extra hardware and the OS are too much to justify.

Windows 7 has a lot to prove, and if it makes the same impact on Users as Vista did, then even more people are going migrate over to the Mac.

I so hope Windows 7 gives us the “Wow” that Vista didn’t.

To find out first hand, I downloaded the latest public beta from Microsoft and installed it as a Virtual Machine. If you've tried running Vista as a Virtual Machine, you'll know how bad it is. My theory is, if Windows 7 runs well as a Virtual Machine, then it should run rather well native.

So far, Windows 7 seems to perform pretty well as a virtual machine, which is also impressive given that it's a beta. I'll be honest, I've not done much with it yet - time will tell.

My last hill walk of the year, and to celebrate, I planned on having a mince pie at the top of Culter Fell with a cup of coffee. I started on the Fell Shin just after 7am and arrived at the top of Culter Fell just after 8am, where I ate the Mince Pie. I then headed over to Cardon Hill to the north where I found a nice quiet spot on the slope to sit among the frozen heather and drink the rest of the coffee. Finally, I headed back to the car via Tippet Knowe. Would have had some great views, if it wasn't so misty.

I woke up this morning at 4:40am and couldn't get back to sleep. After looking at the ceiling for a while, I got up had breakfast, made a flask of Coffee, packed my rucksack and headed off to Tinto Hill.

I started on the hill at about 6am, and I really couldn't see all that much except for the lights at the nearby farm and the stars in the sky. I did have a torch with me, but it was one of those ones you have to charge by shaking for a few minutes, which I did as I stumbled along the path in the dark. Luckily, the frost made a good contrast between the grass and the heather so I could just about see where I was going and what I was tripping over.

Tinto is a fairly easy climb with the odd steep slope every now and then made a little tricky by the ice. The great thing with Tinto is the view, almost as soon as you start on the hill you are rewarded with great views over Thankerton and Quothquan to the north and Lanark to the West. The view from the top is just amazing making this hill well worth the effort.

I came across a fantastic resource today which illustrates the panoramic views of hills and mountains visible from certain peaks around the globe. If you can't find the view you're looking for then it's also possible to order from the site owner.

http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html

I was especially interested in the views from the Southern Uplands

http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html#upl