Random string generation in C#

I needed test data for one of my systems, so I put together a console app which generates random strings.

        private static System.Random random = new System.Random((int)(System.DateTime.Now.Ticks % System.Int32.MaxValue));
        
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            for (int i=0; i<10; i++)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(GetRandomString(5));
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

        private static string GetRandomString(int length)
        {
            char[] returnValue = new char[length];
            returnValue[0] = GetRandomUpperCaseCharacter();
            for (int i = 1; i < length; i++)
            {
                returnValue[i] = GetRandomLowerCaseCharacter();
            }
            return new String(returnValue);
        }

        private static char GetRandomLowerCaseCharacter()
        {
            return ((char)((short)'a' + random.Next(26)));
        }

        private static char GetRandomUpperCaseCharacter()
        {
            return ((char)((short)'A' + random.Next(26)));
        }

The key to getting random data is to initialize a Random object once with a value from the system clock (DateTime.Now.Ticks), and then to use the Next method each time you need a new random value.

If you create a new Random object each time you actually need a random number, chances are the clock will not have moved on, so you'll get repeated values until it does.

Thanks to:
http://www.developerfusion.co.uk/show/3940/