Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

Honest question from a luddite. Go easy on me people - I am dumb as fuck when it comes to this stuff.

I've got a 2008 Macbook running 10.5.8.

Just bought a little ViewSonic PLED-W200 DLP Projector. It came with an install CD which I have run once and I think it installed all it wanted to although my Utilities / Applications folders are showing no new software / drivers etc. What I did get was a shiny new PDF instruction manual on my desktop. That - as far as I can tell is all I got.

I have attempted to connect to the projector using a mini USB - USB cable, which is ok apparently (I don't have a dongle for my macbook to attach to the projctor cable).

What I'm getting on the projection is an error message. What I get on the computer is the message "The disc you inserted is not recognised by this computer".

This makes me think I'm lacking a driver so I have another go with the disc. To cut an even longer story down a bit I now experience a problem with my disc drive not reading or ejecting. I now have the disc out but I'm damned if I want to put it back in! So I look for downloadable drivers and there don't appear to be any.

TLDR: To get hooked up - am I missing a driver? If not why doesn't the USB work? Is there something I should be doing in System Preferences to enable this? Or am I best of buying / borrowing a dongle and not using the USB option?

Your patient advice would be most welcome.

Cog x

Honest question from a luddite. Go easy on me people - I am dumb as fuck when it comes to this stuff.

I've got a 2008 Macbook running 10.5.8.

Just bought a little ViewSonic PLED-W200 DLP Projector. It came with an install CD which I have run once and I think it installed all it wanted to although my Utilities / Applications folders are showing no new software / drivers etc. What I did get was a shiny new PDF instruction manual on my desktop. That - as far as I can tell is all I got.

I have attempted to connect to the projector using a mini USB - USB cable, which is ok apparently (I don't have a dongle for my macbook to attach to the projctor cable).

What I'm getting on the projection is an error message. What I get on the computer is the message "The disc you inserted is not recognised by this computer".

This makes me think I'm lacking a driver so I have another go with the disc. To cut an even longer story down a bit I now experience a problem with my disc drive not reading or ejecting. I now have the disc out but I'm damned if I want to put it back in! So I look for downloadable drivers and there don't appear to be any.

TLDR: To get hooked up - am I missing a driver? If not why doesn't the USB work? Is there something I should be doing in System Preferences to enable this? Or am I best of buying / borrowing a dongle and not using the USB option?

Your patient advice would be most welcome.

Cog x

Unless there are available drivers it should appear in Sys Pref under display.

If not then you need an adapter.

Does projectors need drivers? Aren't they plugged in just like a monitor? Plug and play / pray.

Depends when using a USB driven device connection they often do. Just like printers they enable you to do additional features etc.

Ah - so if I'm failing with the USB I won't necessarily fail if I borrow / buy a dongle? Good to know.

Yep. THe VGA connections will always work but you need an adapter. 

Pint for FixedStar for not taking the piss.

Get thee to the manufacturer's site for driver download! Perhaps. Or at least it might give an indication of OSX compatibility.

Did that - no apparent downloads available for this particular kit. In all the descriptions I read before buying it said it was Mac compatible.

The Pico is  Mac compatible. However I am not seeing any USB mac support.

Pint for FixedStar for not taking the piss.

Don't drink but you can DAWhipS for me. Makes the world a better place to see our Fixed gear marks on the road surface.

Can you try a "Fudge" and try installing the Pled w500 drivers on your mac

http://ap.viewsonic.com/in/kbase/article.php?id=527 if it starts to work/works great

If it starts to work simply go to your /Library/Application Support
and the related .plis file and change every instance from w500 to w200 and that might just work.

if not was worth a shot.

So... my MBP is still pretty dead despite the very generous OmarLittle giving me the cable I needed to boot in target disc mode.
I think the HD is dead... it fires up but never gets past the grey apple screen, maybe it's just the OS thats dead? CD drive is bust and it's not detecting USB drives... anybody more cleverer than me have any suggestions?
Alternatively, does anyone have a laptop I could rent off them for a week so I could restore my backup and transfer vital files?
Long shot a rama.

Follow these steps: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Worth a try if you can be bothered, but could be whatever problem's stopping the permissions will stop a clone. Would be interested to know the answer, though.

You need to apply new permissions to your Volume.

Either through the Finder/Terminal.

(Chown) - Change Ownership. Enjoy

Is there a way to set a shortcut in preview? I use the rotate, zoom to fit options all the time with photos, the first has a keyboard shortcut, the latter doesn't. Cheers!

No need in 10.8

Cmd+L = Rotate Left
Cmd +R = Rotate Right
Cmd + Plus button = Zoom In
Cmd + Minus button = Zoom Out
Cmd + 9 = Zoom to Fit.

Enjoy. 

At least once a day, when I try and look at my emails on my iphone, it tells me that the password is incorrect and it can't log on.
The only way to get my mail is to delete all the mails, delete the mail account, restart the phone, reset the mail account (with the same password), then check for mail.
How can I stop it doing this? Its really starting to boil my piss, and eventually I'll lose my rag and smash the phone to bits.
It's an iphone 4s, only about a month old, exchanged when the old one accidentally went swimming. I've been a fan of apple for ages, but I'm starting to think its not worth the trouble.

What Mail account are you setting up?
Is it Pop/Imap. The settings may have changed that's all don't panic bro.

my MacbookPro is making horrible death rattles, starting yesterday when it spontaneously started making noises having been left to sleep for a few hours. it starts up ok, but makes noise from the off - as soon as the fans start. then after a few minutes the buzzing and droning gets louder. it still seems to work, applications start up etc, but it can't backup (Time Machine stays in "preparing backup" stage) and Verify Disk failed (See image).

It isn't making glitchy hard drive noises, but it's more than just the fans. something is very wrong.

Question 1: what the hell is making that noise?

Question 2: it's a 2007 model, it's already being used basically as a desktop because it no longer responds to keyboard, trackpad, screen is pretty ropey etc. can it be repaired, is there any point?

Question 3: new laptop. I need it to run Adobe CS and CAD, no heavy rendering/modeling though. I'd rather something smaller than a 15" so it's easier to carry (I loathe carrying the current one more than a few miles on my back), and I can always plug it in to a screen when I get home. was thinking about a new MBP, smaller one, anyone else run CAD on it? or better recs for running that sort of stuff? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not very computer spec literate. I do basically need it to work out of the box...

sorry for n00b questions.

1. The Fan you are hearing may need replacing or simply resetting on the System Management Controller. Do an SMC reset
   http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

2. The error message you had is related to hard Links which is related to some individual directories. Depending how affected they are they may be unrepairable. First boot from a recovery partition or Boot Disk. Then Run Disk Utility and repair disk. If error remains. Backup HD and resinstall OS

3. Once completed apply all SMC and firmaware updates then run Disk Utility again to check.

Job Done.

The battery on my 15" MBP (pre-unibody, bought Jan 07) has completely died. It expanded and looks like its about to pop. I took it to the Apple store, and they said that this was a "safety feature" to let you know when it's time to replace the battery. Total BS I'm sure, it had only done about 120 cycles.

Anyway, they wouldn't give me a new one and want £101 for a replacement. Anyone have any that they'd like to shift or have any experience of the third party ones? It's this one by the way.. http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MA348G/A/rechargeable-battery-15-inch-macbook-pro

Sounds like you were told a FIB by a sales person. You know the ones standing at the front of the store.

The geniuses are the "Techie" guys. Trust me.

• The Battery swelling is NEVER a safety feature. Get that swapped ASAP. Ask for a Manager
  
• Inform him of your previous experience and what you were told.
  
• Ask him to resolve NOW whether you have an appointment or not as you don't have the time to keep running back and forth.
  
• Its a simple swap out. Don't pay a thing. If its out of warranty and the cycle count is low don't take any excuses.
  

Anyone fancy installing a new HD in my 15 inch pre unibody pro? Can pay in Pizza? It's fooked...

boot holding cmd+r

Nope. you hold the Option key(alt) or hold C

Anyone fancy installing a new HD in my 15 inch pre unibody pro? Can pay in Pizza? It's fooked...

Depends I prefer to teach you to be self sufficient. Its easy.

Get a replacement HD
check out ifixit.com If they don't have your older model on there just message me.  Guy for a long time.

Yeah, have seen it done, can guarantee I will get it wrong. Had a spare HD somewhere but have lost it, laptops prob only worth a few quid as its had a tough life... will prob sell for parts if not.

Don't drink but you can DAWhipS for me. Makes the world a better place to see our Fixed gear marks on the road surface.

Got an adapter and we're up and running. Thanks for your feedback - you have rep. I'm more of a single speed guy tbh but I'll be sure to grab a fistful of rear brake when I pop out in a min - just for you.

Sweet ill take that for now don't forget to whip it

Two internal drives crashed in G5 at the same fucking time.
Got OS back through recovering time machine backup, via DVD-boot.
Other drive(s) / partitions are all "locked", can't even be unlocked via chmod 777 in terminal (I'm root, there are no other users).
If I clone these 'locked' partitions to an other hd, will I have a chance permissions are set newly, and I can haz access again?

Worth a try if you can be bothered, but could be whatever problem's stopping the permissions will stop a clone. Would be interested to know the answer, though.

It did fucking work!
CCC just did it, ignoring all 'permissions' and screwed bits or whatever, simply cloned it.
The drive(s) as a whole though, did take some time (bit over 1GB/min).

Now data is avaiable on a fresh partition of a new external drive.

I am happy.