But time has moved on and I decided I was going to look at other things, principally the Server version of OS X Leopard and what it can do. I wanted to find out more about the Podcast Producer component (which is VERY cool by the way) but I hit a major issue during the installation process, a BIG error box saying (I paraphrase slightly here) ‘The “BaseSystem” package could not be validated, please go away’ or words to that effect anyway!

I was slightly miffed at this and was not able to find any reference to what could be causing this despite a good amount of time spent with Mr Google, so putting it down to a ‘bad’ DVD image I put that disk to one side and decided to put the original Leopard distribution back on (no real reason but a machine with no OS seems a little sad to me) - and got the exact same error message!!

Now I know that this installer works, I’d already re-installed a couple of times when creating the bootcamp split for the Windows Server install, so this set me to thinking.. what had I changed in the meanwhile? The answer was the RAM upgrade.

I’d done the previous installation and the Windows Server deployment with the original 1GB of RAM fitted, waiting for the 4GB to arrive in the post, which I subsequently installed. I still had the original 2 x 512MB SODIMMS so I popped the lid off and set about swapping things over. I left the lid of to do the testing - just in case - and BINGO the Leopard distro which came with the MIni installed without issue!

So, I retrieved the Server version from the corner of the room where it had been ’stored’ and gave that a go… after an anxious wait while the installer checked things over it worked!! YAY I AM A GENIUS! After the installation had finished I re-installed the 4GB upgrade and put the lid on.. my work was done.

So if you’re seeing errors like this and don’t know why - think about what you’ve changed hardware-wise and try returning to base config, it worked for me.

- J.

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I wanted to share this little bit of knowledge, I couldn’t find any information out there so I played around until things worked.

Scenario:
I buy Office 2008 for the Mac - Home and Student Edition because it’s cheaper and I don’t have an Exchange server.
I update as updates come along, like the diligent user I am (should user be highlighted there.. I’m not sure!)
I use the Mac Mail application for ALL of my email, because I like it and it works well. I use iCal for my appointments for the same reasons.
I take on a job where I’m given a mailbox on an Exchange Server. Now, Mail will connect to an Exchange server using the IMAP protocol and this is fine on the whole, unless that Exchange SErver is 2007 in which case appointment invitations are irretrievable (this is an Exchange issue I believe as Outlook on a PC connecting with IMAP does the same thing).
Joy! I’m allowed to download Entourage with Exchange access from the service provider of the Exchange system - it’s hosted you see, a solution i wholeheartedly support of course!
Pain! I install the new Entourage and then am prompted to do an update, the update fails with the message:-

"You cannot install Office 2008 12.1.0 Update on this volume. A version of
the software required to install this update was not found on this volume."

This is of course no fun, it’s even less fun when I find that non of my Office applications now work either!

The solution was to remove the Office Suite from the machine (dragging the folder from Applications to the Trash and emptying it), re-booting, re-installing the Suite from the DVD, re-installing the new Entourage from the DMG I downloaded and then letting the updater loose on the system.

It looks like the bottom line on this is - if you change ANYTHING in Office, do it from a FRESH installation before you update. This is more than tedious, even today I had to re-downloaed SP1 and then get the 12.1.1 update too, this process is only going to get longer until the restrictions that the updater seems to be hitting are mitigated.

But it’s working now so I’m (reasonably) happy!

- J.

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This isn’t necessarily the personal ability, it’s the ability to change minds and time-lines within the business or to overturn the deep-rooted beliefs that ‘ what we do is working so we don’t need to change it’. This is what causes the pain behind their eyes, the frustration below the surface which my words and discussions have simply inflamed and made painful.

I could be sorry about this, but I see it as birthing pains. We will collectively come through this in a better and stronger place, with superior services being available to a greater audience. More pain, more frustration please.. the results will be better for the struggle!!

- J.

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• Work clothes x number of days with clients
• Tee-shirts x evenings away
• Jeans and cargos (1 pair each)
• Smalls to cover all of the changes.

Sometimes though I find myself thinking “If only I’d packed…”. Today is one of those times. Andover near Boston seems like a nice place, this is what I can see of it through the torrential downpour streaming from the skies outside the Chillis I’m currently ensconced within (GOOODD Habanero Wings!)

I got pretty wet on my walk here from the hotel to get my ‘MUST STAY AWAKE’ meal - actually as a side bar I’m interested in finding out anyone else’s routine to beat the clock? I have only 5 hours to gain somewhere but it seems that these short trips of destined to be tired and off-kilter! My usual routine, and this time was no exception, is land, get to hotel, get checked in, have an evening meal and stay awake until as late as possible (typically 9-10 pm). I then awake as fresh as a daiy at about 4 am ready for the world!!

Anyway, tonight’s meal segment of the process at Chillis (good margueritas too) has been accompanied by the thrumming of rain on the roof and I’m thinking that perhaps a raincoat might have been a good choice.. next time perhaps!avel

- J.

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Today I finally got sick of the error dialogue and prompt so did some diggin around. I initially thought that this was being set up and passed through by Parallels but a search there yielded nothing at all, then I found this little snippet about doing stuff in the Windows environment itself:

• Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ WindowsNT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon

• Delete the DefaultPassword entry.
• Double-click AutoAdminLogon, type 0 in the Value Data box, and then click OK.

BINGO! I now get a nice login prompt with no auto-nonsense.

Thought I’d share

- J.

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Lines form and drain away at the podiums and behind the clear walls the transients drift by, a show of disinterested acceptance of their recent experiences.

I spend hours here. Here or somewhere which looks like here. Maybe the colours are different this time, I’m not sure - or not sure that I care.

The gift shop has supplied my with something new so this must be a new location but, other than that, it’s hard for me to tell. This time I have a dolphin and a strange man made out of rocks - not real you understand, they wouldn’t fit in my carry-on allowance, but trinkets and things carrying their likeness.

It’s through these things that I track where I’ve been. I could simply log this I suppose but the things are more real, something I can look at and touch.

Purple. I don’t think I’ve been anywhere else which was quite so purple. I don’t think I like it. No-one else seems to notice but I think they just don’t care.

There are many things I could be doing and quite a few I should be doing but instead I sit contemplating the journey ahead, wondering what I’ll watch on the vid, what I’ll eat and whether the stranger next to me will be pleasant or not.

And then I’m gone.

- J.

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The purchase was based on the 2 singles taken from it “Great DJ” and “That’s not my name” plus some on-line listening to some of the live stuff. And if you like what you’ve heard so far then I’d recommend you go and buy the album!

The style is.. well let’s just say that it’s difficult to put the Ting Tings into a box.. I’ve seen them variously described as this or that (usually unfavourably) and on the whole I think that these comparisons are incorrect and poorly judged. In fact these guys pretty much stand on their own with a sound which cannot be mistaken for anyone else.. this is a good thing! The tracks on the album vary greatly in their pace, drive and lyrical content but I think that all hold their own in terms of listenability -put it this way there’s not a track I’d skip over.

The only complaint I have is that, in the current climate, 10 tracks is the bare minimum that any band can get away with.. 2 or 3 more would have rounded this off nicely for me.. as it was I hit play and listened to the whole album again.

- J.

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On my first listen I have to say I’m not totally blown away. The bands move towards more lyrically driven and rock biased tracks is certainly well executed and delivers well as a body of work but with Slam and Tarantula still very fresh in my mind it’s a big departure.

I do like it though and it’s going to get some serious ear-time over the next few days!

- J.

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I was using Microsoft’s RDC2 for Mac beta 2 and, like everyone else, was mildly dis-pleased when the beta timed-out and I was left with a single session application but you know what? Even that was better than the hideous piece of nonsense which is RDC2 for Mac, beta 3. Why in the hell does something which worked (seemingly) very well now behave like someone’s screwed up idea of an Aprils Fools joke!

“Support for language settings” they say.. OK, so previously I had to remember that the @ and ” were transposed.. big deal, now I can’t use ALT for anything and when I’m in Outlook and try to SHIFT-Arrow to do multiple selections it deletes my mail!

Seriously.. I’m going to go back to beta 2 (if I can find it) and run crippled until I can find a better alternative. I’ve tried CoRD and that was great, right up to the point where I wanted to cut/paste between sessions, print, or use Project. I’m REALLY angry about this.. so much so that I think I may even virtualise my Laptop and run it under Parallels instead.

- J.

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The premise is simple, you install the widget, add the corresponding App to your Facebook page and configure it up. Then links to your Wordpress posts appear over there on Facebook, cool!

Next up is linking Twitter in too, then I’ll be all sorted out!

- J.

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