new post from the ipod touch

touch is all hooked up and running iphone apps

Solved

SOLVED!
At the Apple store they replaced both memory sticks, and installed Leopard with out incident.
I'm now restoring my files from the backup I made at the store. Despite my problems, it was great to have well informed Apple Store employees so committed to resolving the issue.
I'll post this to the forums where I was asking for help.

Deintalled first of 2 1 GB mem sticks: Failed

Deinstalled second 1GB mem stick : Passed

Looks like a bad memory stick.

MBP was ordered with 2GB from Apple web site. Guess they'll replace.

Stay tuned.

After reformatting the MBP's HD we tried installing again. The tech felt the installer might be looking at some files on the local drive even when clean installing to the external drive. Failed again, same point.

So I've tried diffent install disks, different target drives. Different DVD drive.  Reformatted my HD. What's left? They are swapping out memory. Stay tuned.

Agghh! Will this ever end?

Apple store is being very helpful, but I'm getting nowhere.

First, we boot off a 3rd party external DVD drive. Fails at the same  "could not validate the essentials package" point. 

So now I've copied off anything files I might need. and reformatted the MBP's HD. Crossing fingers.

I'm at the Apple store now waiting for appointment. Will update whatever I find out.

More trouble with the Leopard install

So I run to the Apple store with MBP and they are very helpful in trying to install from one of their disks with various options.... but to no avail.
So, now I get a new clean drive, boot from the install disk, format this blank HD with GUID formatting. That should let me install Leopard to it in a Full Erase and Install mode.

Installing to second GUID formatted clean HD fails in exactly the same way. I can only assume, after two diff. install disks and 2 diff. target drives, it's the DVD drive. I've never had a problem with this drive before.

I'm going to the Apple store today again to see if they can recover the the old OS or try a different DVD drive.

Leopard install fails

Its my third try at the install. It says : "couldn't verify the 'essentials' package. AND I can't seem to boot the hard drive anymore so there is no going back. I will try an Archive Install next. If that doesn't work I'll try to get another disk from the Apple Store.

Here is the picture referenced below

standing on the beach

Took this with the new D40 today, October 21. I was in the water for a little while too. It's all about the long lens (200mm) today at the beach.

trip to NC

Still packing away. Hopefully taking off tomorrow PM.

Sunny Day in Lavalette

Took a long walk on the beach with the kids. Waves were good, but I can't think about it until water warms a little. Surfers had boots and gloves, but not everyone had a hood. Got a little sunburned and sand in my hair.


Glad to see the Windjammer... motor inn, cocktail lounge, it's really stretching it to call it a restaurant, but still only $40. Smells a little funny but the pools heated early in the summer.

flooding in my town

Clinton NJ
Big news. Haven't seen the river like this before. Both bridges were closed and the whole block by the art museum was flooded.

Snapped these with the phonecam yesterday morning.


I especially like this picture of a duck swimming down Main Street. Much safer than in the river.