Using Parallels Transporter

I tried VMware's Converter and, after I ran it from the Windows XP install (had to swap HDD back in) it did create a virtual disk on the FAT32 partition I created at the end of the Leopard-installed HDD (now in the USB drive). But in looking around for instructions on exactly which of the three options for the VMware file type I should use I found Parallels has their own Transporter.

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/features/transporter/

And it's a free download, coming in Linux and Windows flavours. I downloaded and installed it. I actually had to install it twice (uninstall and reboot in between) because the first time it didn't work. Probably something to do with running the Tech Guys Recovery Backup on the same reboot (now have backup on 2Gb Memory Stick which somehow turned up once at work and nobody claimed - finally found a use for it). It was pretty straightforward to select the options and use Transporter to make an image of the Windows install. Even while writing this.

Scratch that, it has bombed out three times while around 20-30%.

I tried an import of the VMware image, back in OS X using Transport, choosing the file with the fewest characters! (I guess it's split to avoid any 2GB file size limit problems.) It progresses well, and at the end boots up and brings up a cmd window telling you what to do - cancel all the PnP New Hardware Wizards and deny the reboot request. The cmd windows says to press and key and reboot. That happens and, lo, I have my 'old' windows running!

Getting Advent 4211's original disk moved over

The original disk image has XP Home on it, and there's a COA on the base. I tried to install XP Pro and unsurprisingly it didn't like the key from the COA for XP Home (also XP Pro is SP2, whereas XP Home is for SP3, don't know if it makes any difference).

Interestingly the MSI forum is full of people having problems with the backup of the restore partition. The Advent box comes with instructions on how to back up this partition, which I'll need to do one way or another.

I copied everything from the XP partition to the HDD of the Mac, but then can't get it into a Parallels virtual disk because you don't seem to be able to just create one. Probably it wouldn't work anyway. Then I found this post:

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/24/parallels-virtual-disk-dance-of-pain/

You have to create a disk image using VMware's free Converter tool, then use the Parallels Transporter to 'migrate' the image. Here goes...

Oh, it's a Windows program. But maybe you can run it on itself. Looks like you can, but maybe not on XP Home. Will swap HDD tomorrow and try it out.

Upcoming fun with stacks

Looks like stacks can do some fun things:

http://lifehacker.com/395741/power-tweak-your-macs-stacks

Display resolution problems

The screen keeps coming up as 800x600!

This post tries to solve this display resolution problem, which everyone seems to be having:

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/help-nagging-800x600-screen-resolution-bug-cold-boot-t2383.html

Apple Mail Leopard with Gmail

This is instructions for setting it up:

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=81379

Finally, some settings they recommend:

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=78892

Seems to work nicely so far.

Ay curumba, they've even got address book syncing going.

http://googlemac.blogspot.com/2008/05/mac-os-x-1053-sync-google-contacts.html

My address book doesn't have the sync with google option, it might be because a software update is needed (one's been nagging me). I have 4.1.1.

iCal and google calendar two way sync

According to this they can now talk to each other in both directions!

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/28/caldav-support-comes-to-google-calendar/

It reference these instructions at google:

http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=99358

Brilliant!

Installing Leopard on Advent 4211

I got MSIWindOSX86.iso off bittorrent (searched on The Pirate Bay). Download took two days, much longer than it should have.

Youtube video by OneTrack who made it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7yFH_I3NI&feature=related

And post about it:


This post for the alternative (but seemingly not as good) Kalyway version suggests that you need firmware 1.05+, which is available from thetechguys which is PC World's tech support site.

http://www.modaco.com/content/asus-eee-pc-http-www-eeeasy-com/270099/pauls-complete-guide-to-installing-osx-leopard-on-your-msi-wind-advent-4211/

Bios update 1.08:

http://support.thetechguys.com/4211bios

I got the ISO onto a DVD and it booted up, but the screen resolution wasn't what it should be according to the youtube vid (my install was running over to the LHS, whereas on the video it runs right across the screen.

Rather than proceed like that I thought it best to update the BIOS to 1.08 (it's 1.06) before proceeding. Ran it, interestingly the keyboard doesn't work after the reflash but you turn it off and unplug and wait 10s and then it goes again.

Now when I boot the same ISO it has a slightly different message. And when Windows had started it Found New Hardware (SMBUS stuff). So the BIOS update must have done something.

Then I also add 1Gb of RAM and put the 320 Gb HDD in :-) Couldn't get the HDD out so used this help:

http://www.laptopmag.com/Advice/how-to/msi-wind-hard-drive.aspx

Booted up, formatted whole 320Gb as HFS+ in Disc Utility.

During the install when you reach the Install Summary page (after selecting drive to install on) you have to select Customise -> Patches -> Kernel and uncheck it.

Install - everything works and it's nice!