I get 18 hops through to 88.80.5.3 (ge0.tr0.sth3.prqinet.net) which is 1 hop inside their ISP's network. There's a disconnect between that and 88.80.13.160 (which…

Even…

They say they ship outside Europe to some countries. Ask.

This is the instruction series we followed:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/iBook-G4-14-Inch-933-MHz-1-33-GHz-DC-In-Board/182/1

with pictures of the part in situ. To remove once you have accessed it, you undo the screw…

A silly question Dan, but shouldn't the external 1Tb setup have been a backup? Meaning the data already exists on a computer somewhere? Don't tell me you had 1Tb of JBOD standalone that's gone west on you? Say it ain't so.

It's my media drive, so no, not replicated. My…

The drives are fine and the data is precious.

A silly question Dan, but shouldn't the external 1Tb setup have been a backup? Meaning the data already exists on a computer somewhere? Don't tell me you had 1Tb of JBOD standalone that's gone west on you? Say it ain't so.…

LaCie 1TB Big Drive, nearly three years old, out of warranty. Power supply fails, won't mount. Inside the case are two 500GB IDE drives that both need to be mounted as one partition to read anything off them (JBOD for those that want…

Microsoft offer free techsupport for problems relating to windows updates call them and they'll help you get it up and running.

P.S same applies for service packs, viruses and new install problems.

in my experience they can get it fixed within 20min

I'm no gamer though so I don't know about DirectX bells and whistles.

That really does sound like my iBook. I'm wondering how easy it would be to order the part though. And is there a diagram somewhere of the part in situ?

You'll probably find that there's youtube videos showing geeks replacing the part that you need.

I suppose the lack of geekery is our non-Apple-ism, as all the computers are PCs running Vista and nothing bad has ever happened. But perhaps we aren't exercising their full blue-screen-of-death potential...

The Mac is such a great home computer though. As well as the ease of use (for my…

(I suppose the lack of geekery is our non-Apple-ism, as all the computers are…

On the contrary, six computers for four people is not *nearly* enough.

Heh, thanks Lucy, this makes me feel so much better. I'll tell my partner there's no need to worry until we're well into double figures.

Famous last fucking words, them ;-)

Okay then. Just to be on the safe side. Unplug the mini before starting work on it. Then all you have to lose is some time.

Go on, what have you got to lose?

Famous last fucking words, them ;-)

BTW to do the PMU reset it needs to be off without the power supply connected but with at…

I'm pretty sure that's what sank my old G4 iBook — after I'd forked out for a new battery and power supply. It was eventually regarded as a motherboard replacement job — and therefore prohibitively expensive.

Which is what we feared, even doing it yourself the cost of a motherboard…

incluing 10 days ago a new DC in board in a G4 iBook which turned it (with help from a new battery and power supply) from a brick that might start up, for 10seconds into a singing dancing portable laptop again

I'm pretty sure that's what sank my old G4…

(and how great was it watching those two guys stepping so deftly around the twirling sirens?)

There was just enough choreography and just enough pottering. I liked the guys a lot.

we coulda taken even more intensity and volume at some point. but then we may also be slightly deafer…

I must say, I'm struck by how weird and difficult Microsoft makes it.

I've just been given the brush off by MS support: "It's not that we don't want to help you, but..."

Turns out the application I have been using for the last 7 years is now something else,…

? :)

Windows has sudo, right?

@emma nice, I'd forgotten that one.

Have you tried using 'sudo'?

? :)

Let me explain.

Sudo

Is it too much for 4 people? I'm not sure.

On the contrary, six computers for four people is not *nearly* enough. We have four for two, plus the CPU/video card/DVD drive/motherboard/extra hard drives waiting to be swapped out in one of the computers (I know, I know, we should…

Have you tried using 'sudo'?

? :)

I am finding it impossible to get complete administrator control, even though I osntensibly have all the privileges and I'm the computer's only user

Have you tried using 'sudo'?

Never had any major problems running Vista here myself, although I am finding it impossible to get complete administrator control, even though I osntensibly have all the privileges and I'm the computer's only user. I keep getting told "you don't have permission" to delete stuff, open stuff, move stuff...

This…

Never had any major problems running Vista here myself, although I am finding it impossible to get complete administrator control, even though I osntensibly have all the privileges…

I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm happy with Vista 64 Ultimate, though — it still looks like crap…

The bloody Windows box is the only one that plays all the cool games.

It's a pain in the arse isn't it. Damned Directx and it's one OS dependency!

Embarrassingly enough, at home we now have;

3 x Windows machines (PC, laptop* and eeePC netbook)
2 x Mac machines (iMac…

I refuse to run Vista, even in a virtual box. When I have to use Windows, it's XP sp2 which is as solid as Windows gets.

I've been using Vista 64 SP1 for I don't know how long, it's the most stable OS I've ever seen. (I haven't used Windows…

In other news, my PPC Mac Mini had a HDD seizure the other night and is pretty much a paper weight. Iwasn't using it for much…

That Unix users aren't very helpful? Yeh, I think he's probably getting that point :-)

Dude, there are four other computers in the house: one running Linux and three Macs.

The bloody Windows box is the only one that plays all the cool games.

The PC came with Vista installed, but we also had a copy of Vista Ultimate and used that for the re-install last week.

Ah, something it could be is that the original (OEM) Vista left something behind (unless you reformatted the disk for the reinstall) which is fucking around with…

That Unix users aren't very helpful?

Oh, help? Help? Sorry, we just practise the three Ss: sarcasm, smugness, and snickering.

We're helpful to other Unix users though :D

And then we got the "SP1 did not install — reverting changes now" message.

The PC came with Vista installed, but we also had a copy of Vista…

I was trying to come up with a response to Russell's Vista problems but I think Stephen Judd nailed it really.

That Unix users aren't very helpful? Yeh, I think he's probably getting that point :-)

Russell, seriously, a clean install of Windows 7 Beta is your best bet. Vista is poos (http://xkcd.com/528/), and this is coming from a hardened Microsoft user and developer.

Are you sure about this Ben? I thought Russell and family used the Windows box for gaming so I would presume there'd…

I emailed Don but no reply – anyone else help?

You did!

I can see your problem now. You can't live in the best part of the best country in the world *and* expect unfettered access to stuff.co.nz. That would be too much of a good thing. Sorry.

TBH,…

There are rumours of a free Win7 upgrade for Vista users, but in any case it would be worth your while purchasing…

Should I just download and apply SP1, or will bad Windows craziness befall me?

Vista SP1 is an improvement. Even then, it's still a case of "the Ow starts now!"

Refrain from surfing dodgy websites or opening attachments to emails from Russia while your AV software is disabled ;-)

If you have a Norton anti-virus product try turning it off when doing the update. Also try right clicking on Windows Update and making sure you are in 'Run As Administrator' mode.

This…

I refuse to run Vista, even in a virtual box. When I have to use Windows, it's XP sp2 which is as solid as Windows gets.

Yeah, I wish I'd gone that way. XP was just getting stable when they brought out Vista, typically Microsoft test it for three years…

I refuse to run Vista, even in a virtual box. When I have to use Windows, it's XP sp2 which is as solid as Windows gets.

I have to say that Vista has been improved *greatly* from the original version. I mean, it's almost usable.

(Actually, I'm running Vista on…

But I cannot get used to the new Stuff. After registering, it will not remember me even using a…

Honestly, I've upgraded >20 systems personally with no issues... (but then I don't have evil Mac vibes)

It fucking bluescreened.

3 words: Windows 7 Beta.

That'll fix ya!

Yes, for 90 days it will, anyway...

By running Vista you've already crossed the unduly courageous line!

Leo will give you chapter and verse on that one ...

I must say, I'm struck by how weird and difficult Microsoft makes it.

That'll fix ya!