Mashing Windows

It’s a challenge, often when it comes to install some hardware/software or emulation like in this case, what’s supposed to take 5 minutes takes half an hour or longer, what’s supposed to take half an hour takes a few hours, and what’s supposed to take an hour or so, takes . . .  who knows!

Error messages continued to plague my install, inexplicably . . . but that’s nothing surprising . . . things go wrong for no reason, no matter how many times you double check the requirement lists . . .

Of course having 2 Windows XP Pro licenses, 2 Windows XP Home licenses, and 1 Windows 2000 licenses (collected from old machines now defunct), I didn’t want to spring an additional $ 283.99 for a new XP Pro license, and I ain’t touching Vista, no way!

Dealing with long issues during the week, with work, meeting and stuff it’s not easy.  Dealing with it on week-end is like collaging 5 minutes here, 10 minutes over there, googling here, technorating there, forums, apple.com, VMware.com, support tickets, reading and re-reading guides . . . then, probably out of desperation, I started contemplating ways to install my XP Pro SP 1 .
Some googling showed up something promising:  Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows, with some nice tricks on how to morph a Win XP Pro SP1 into a SP2 bootable install CD:  neat-o!

Made the Install CD before lunch, started the install after lunch before going out, and . . .  I got back home to a complete Windows XP Professional install on VMware on my PowerBook Pro with OS X 10.5 Leopard:  part 1 of the mission is accomplished.

Next  it’s going to be migrating application from the Dell to:

• web-based solution like Google Apps for email;
• native Mac applications like NeoOffice for Office Suite;
• migrating Windows only applications that I can’t live without like Microsoft Expression Web;
• and of course all the Firefox extensions that I have gotten used to (goodies).

written by lorenzo

Having the capability to run Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard AND Windows XP Professional on the same MacBook Pro sounds pretty cool indeed, doesn’t it?

No so fast ! The entire process gets stuck at the Windows install level, when it says “Setup will complete in approximately: 39 minutes”, and the machine just sits there . . . I have left it there for hours, no good.

And of course it wreaks havoc on the entire system.

So I thought . . . why not get VMware Fusion , which seems to have great reviews everywhere, including Chris, who makes a very compelling argument. I surely did not want to drive to the Apple Store, and while I was at VMware site, I found out that you can actually download a fully functioning 30 day evaluation copy: enhanced functionality, and a chance to solve my install problems . . . it’s a no brainer!

[It's a good idea to remove the Boot Camp partition before proceeding.]

So, registering and downloading it’s a breeze, installation of VWware Focus it’s a piece of cake, virtual partition, etc . . . but the windows install gets stuck at the same exact point: “Setup will complete in approximately: 39 minutes”.

So now I am thinking that the only logical explanation in this illogical mayhem is that there’s something wrong with the media itself. A look at the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM (and YES, I am using XP Professional SP2) doesn’t show any sign of abuse. The only way to check is to make a back-up copy and see, if there’s damage, it will not copy.
Nope, the back-up copy comes out perfect, so perfect that once I use the copy to try to install Win on the Mac, it gets stuck at the same place . . .

. . . the sage continues.

written by lorenzo

Yesterday (11.01.2007) I didn’t have time during the day to play with Boot Camp, not until after dinner (pizza!).  Things did not go well, windows acted pretty funny, crashing multiple times, each time at different stages, then it got too late to deal with it.

Today (11.02.2007) is another story, started fresh by removing the windows partition and re-starting from scratch.

I’ve got a good feeling this time, updates later on.

written by lorenzo

12:45 P.M. my package from Amazon.com containing OS X 10.5 Leopard was on my desk: Eureka!

12:48 P.M. the DVD is in the MacBook Pro, click install, a few clicks here and there. I must say that I like the fact that the OS asks for a password before installing any software. Implementing this on the Microsoft Windows OS platform should be trivial, and it would eliminate some of the issues with trojans, viruses, and adware installing themselves. A password would make people think twice instead of just clicking “OK”.

12:52 P.M. re-boot. Now we are on for the log portion of the update (I’ve watched the movie before I embarked on this mission).

01:00 P.M. 23%.

01:15 P.M. 80%.

01:25 P.M. 100%. Are we done yet? Not really, actually the real installation starts now, until now it was only foreplay.

02:00 P.M. 8 minutes to go.

02:12: P.M. Blank screen.

02:15 P.M. Log in screen.

02:16 P.M. Upon logging in the Setup Assistant starts. There’s the pitch to buy into the .MAC service <PASS>, and then the offer for a free 60-day trial of .MAC.

02:18 P.M. We are done. But there’s the update message that there are updates available for:
- Remote desktop client;
- iPhoto;
- Garage Band;
- Login and KeychainUpdate.
How can I say no to a brand-spanking new install? Click YES, restart.

02:23 P.M. DONE! (no really this time).

I don’t have time to “play” around with anything, but BootCamp, Time Machine, Networking, are my priorities. I’ll try to play & blog more tonight.

written by lorenzo

Will I get my Leopard today?

UPS is pretty reliable, given the amount of packages that they handle, their error rate is manageable. Of course the few times that a snafu happens is when you need the item the most, or so it seems.

This morning I checked the UPS site (last night I checked the Amazon.com site), and I was expecting to see an update item “OUT FOR DELIVERY”. Surprisingly I see a different version of the facts. What appeared on Amazon.com as “Mis-sorted by carrier” is described in the UPS web site as “AN INCORRECT ROUTING AT A UPS FACILITY CAUSED THIS DELAY / RESCHEDULED DELIVERY” date stamped 10/30/2007 7:25 P.M.
It is followed by an additional ” DESTINATION SCAN” entry on 10/30/2007 8:41 P.M.

Puzzled I called UPS’s toll free at 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877), and I was assured that the package will be delivered today, but the customer service rep was not able to explain what exactly happened, I am curious how a virtual fool-proof system like UPS can be susceptible to a hick-up like this. I remember when my iPod arrive to Massachusetts via Spokane (WA).

written by lorenzo

My OS X 10.5 Leopard was supposed to arrive tonight (Tuesday), but something got mixed up with UPS and . . . will tomorrow be the day?

It goes back to one of the basic principles of Project Management: everything will take longer than you’ll expect, so true.

Just in case you are curious about the other two principles of Project Management, they are:

- it will cost more than you’ll expect;
- if you don’t follow-up, it won’t get done.

written by lorenzo