How to disable Windows iPod mounting ...

Apple - Discussions - DISABLE Windows iPod mounting ...

From a posting of mine:

This might be a first.

There are lots of posts from folks who can't get their iPod to mount on their PC. I don't have that problem.

My problem is I DON'T want my iPod to mount on my PC. I want to use my desktop front firewire port simply as a convenient charger for my iPod. Here's the deal.

I use my iPod with my Mac and it's HFS+ formatted. I do have iTunes on my PC, but I use it in a weird and unsupported way to burn music I later move to my iBook managed SMB/NTFS hosted iTunes library.

So I have iTunes on the PC and that's fine. But I want my PC to ignore the iPod and just charge the device.

At this time when I plug it in the PC launches iPod Manager and offers to reformat it. I have to cancel out (better not hit the wrong key!) then go to the drive list and "eject" (dismount) removeable drive E. Then I can use my iPod while it recharges.

I used XP services to disable the "iPod service" (stopped it and set to manual start). That may have gotten rid of the dangerous offer to reformat the iPod. XP still mounts the iPod as a removable disk, so I do have to eject before I can use it. That's not bad -- I can live with it. Be great to prevent that happening though.

Radified:Guide to ASPI drivers and Force ASPI

Radified: ASPI layer drivers updated with Force ASPI [ForceASPI v1.7]

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I think XP SP2 may have broken ASPI support for an old scanner of mine. I'm still working through this.

iBook rubber / plastic foot replacement

Apple - Discussions - Lost a rubber foot

Some f/u on the feet, and a bit of a sad (sniff) story.

Zachary sent me a foot (for free!). I tried to attach it, and it was obvious there's no way it was going to fit (read on!). I figured he'd sent me a foot for a 14' G3 iBook or a G4 iBook. I saved it to give away to someone else

So, regretfully, I searched around the web. I could see this site http://microdocusa.com/icebookparts.html had the same 'non-fitting' feet. So I looked further and found this site:

http://www.pbfixit.com/cart/customer/product.php?productid=362&cat=50&page=4

They offered the feet for $5 EACH plus $7 (minimal) shipping. (Versus $5 for a packet of 6). But since they were G3 12' iBook feet I ordered them. Ordered 3 in fact, since that made the postage more tolerable. One as a spare, one to give away.

They caame, and they were are exactly what Zachary had sent me. Rubberish on top, platic on the bottom. Obviously won't fit.

As I puzzled and stared at my iBook, a dim bulb went off deep in my cranium. I realized that what appeared to be a foot receptacle was, in fact, the plastic collar that remains when a foot is snapped off.

I unscrewed the receptacle and popped off the plastic remnant, then screwed the foot fitting back into the iBook. Now the foot snapped in with the greatest of ease.

Gordon Bell (of Microsoft) on Standards

A Time and Place for Standards

On the one hand Gordon Bell is a famous name in computing. On the other hand he works for a monopolistic empire built upon dirty tricks and proprietary data structures; a company famed for perverting standards. A company trusted by noone with any sense.

It's like a member of Ghengis Horde arguing for pacifism and regional autonomy.

Weird.

My PBFixit Coupon Code

PB FixIt Customer Survey

Your coupon code is: SURVEY111
Your code is good for 5% off any PowerBook FixIt order in the next 30 days.

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I'm not going to use this code, so first one to try gets 5% off a PBFixit order.

Schneier on Internet Explorer

Schneier on Security: Schneier: Microsoft still has work to do

I think it's foolish to use Internet Explorer. It's filled with security holes, and it's too hard to configure it to have decent security. Basically, it seems to be written in the best interests of Microsoft and not in the best interests of the customer. I have used the Opera browser for years, and I am very happy with it. It's much better designed, and I never have to worry about Explorer-based attacks.

Nice Review of desktop data indexing (other than Google Desktop)

Keep an Open Eye » Following Leaders