XAMPP Access to the requested directory is only available from the local network.

I searched a lot about this issue and found the simplest solution:

Mark the like "Deny from all" as a comment at the <LocationMatch attribute present at the end of the file (C:\XAMPP\apache\conf\extra\httpd-xampp.conf)

Subsequently i added into my verified list of solutions at http://itswadesh.wordpress.com

configuring php to connect with oracle database using XAMPP server manager

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Today i was searching for "how to configure php to connect with oracle ".  I tried different search words and searched the whole internet. Finally i was successful.

I use the package XAMM for windows to run PHP and MySql.

Step-A

Check whether you have oracle client already installed

1. In your XAMPP Start Page, go to phpinfo, look for string oci8. If string found it indicate that connection to oracle is available and simply execute Step-3.           Otherwise to activate connection do the following steps:


2. Open the currently used php.ini file by looking at the phpinfo, from the XAMPP folder.


3. Find string ;extension=php_oci8.dll. Remove the semicolon (;) from the begining of the string to activate the oracle extension.


4. Save the php.ini file.


5. Download the “Instant Client Package – Basic” for Windows from the OTN Instant Client page. Unzip it to "C:\xampp\php\ext" folder


6. Edit the PATH environment setting and add C:\xampp\php\ext before any other Oracle directories. For example, on Windows XP, follow Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables and edit PATH in the System variables list.


7. Set desired Oracle globalization language environment variables such as NLS_LANG. If nothing is set, a default local environment will be assumed. See An Overview on Globalizing Oracle PHP Applications for more details.


8. Unset Oracle variables such as ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_SID, which are unnecessary with Instant Client (if they are set previously).


9. Restart XAMPP (or Start if its not already started).


10. To make sure that connection to oracle database has successfully activated, go to phpinfo. Find string: oci8. If found, then XAMPP can now communicate with Oracle Database.

Step-B

Now connect to your desired database and execute your query

<?php

define('DB_SERVER', 'yourservername');
define('DB_USERNAME', 'yourUserName');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'yourPassword');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'yourDatabaseName');
$conn= oci_connect(DB_USERNAME, DB_PASSWORD, DB_SERVER)
or die(oci_error());
echo "success...";
//$database = oci_select_db(DB_DATABASE) or die(oci_error());
$stid = oci_parse($conn, 'SELECT * FROM employees'); oci_execute($stid); echo "<table border='1'>\n"; while ($row = oci_fetch_array($stid, OCI_ASSOC+OCI_RETURN_NULLS)) {     echo "<tr>\n";     foreach ($row as $item) {         echo "    <td>" . ($item !== null ? htmlentities($item, ENT_QUOTES) : "&nbsp;") . "</td>\n";     }     echo "</tr>\n"; } echo "</table>\n";
?>

For further help you can always refer the PHP manual.

Old Standalone Softwares link

These days most of  the products are moving into its lite version. Sometimes i need a standalone copy of it to be saved into my computer so that every time i install windows XP i need not have to download those again.

So i collected links of essential softwares. And here are those.

Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 8

Google Chrome Standalone

Skype Standalone Offline Installer

Download AVG Antivirus 2012 32-bit (137 MB)

You are always welcome to add more links helping your friends find all of them at one place.

SQL Server 2005 login error

SQL Server 2005: While login Error 18452 (not associated with a trusted sql server connection)

I found the following simple solution

Go to Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > 
SQL Server Management Studio
Right-click the Server name, 
select Properties > Security
Under Server Authentication, 
select SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode
The server must be stopped and re-started before this will take effect..."

It has solved my problem, so I hope it could be helpful for you too.