My first attempt was foiled by the 62% problem (documented by Microsoft here). So after having read the article, off I go to view the log, and sure enough there are the entries I was hoping to see. Bingo, workaround applied, we’re in business. Or maybe not. The next run through doesn’t even get that far. I get an error stating that it can’t unpack the files, with an error code that a quick Google later seems to suggest that there is a faulty memory stick in my machine. Memtest downloaded and run, but no errors. Odd. So let’s try an old favourite instead. Reboot and try again. But no dice, still failing on the unpacking step. Hmm….

So perhaps I should go down the route of dual booting my machine to at least be able to do a clean install rather than an upgrade. Ah yes, good plan. Except there isn’t enough space to create a decent sized second partition for the install. Damn. Now what to try? Maybe I should free up some space for that partition. Oh hang on, there’s a shed load of temporary Windows install files sat here. Well I can’t need them surely? And that’s them deleted. Ah now hang on. Maybe they were causing the unpacking issues. Let’s try again.

Now that’s interesting, we’re now past the unpacking stage and rattling through installing features. And now we’re into transferring my files and settings, this looks promising. Whistling through and past the 62% point, this is the best yet. And installer is rebooting my machine, fantastic! Starting Windows… Should Starting Windows actually mean that it starts? Hmm… I sense there is something wrong here. After 15 minutes of the Starting Windows screen, with the little flag animation not moving (it did to begin with) I think it’s time for the reset button. Which caused the BSOD with a “Driver_Power_State_Failure message). Please no. Ok, all coming back up ok. And there’s a Windows 7 setup screen. Nooooooo! I was greeted with the “Windows wasn’t installed properly. Rolling back to previous Windows installation”.

So I have to say while I’m getting closer, I still feel a million miles away. One thing I will say for the Windows 7 installation process though, is how well it reverts back to your previous version of Windows when something goes wrong (I’m guessing it only does this if you do an upgrade). It really is the best at “self recovery” that I’ve ever seen a Windows installer be, and I’ve seen a few! So a trawl through my action logs this time show that it had a problem talking to one of my external USB hard drives that seems to have gone to sleep and not woken up properly. Now taking my lead from others on the internet, I reckon the next attempt will involve unplugging the USB drives before I start the upgrade. Fingers crossed that works (and that should also reduce the amount of time to install as it will massively reduce the number of files that need transferring).

Expect more updates to come, but hopefully from a Windows 7 machine…

UPDATE: So after a weekend of more trying, I can finally say, I’m giving up trying to install Windows 7 on my desktop. It just won’t have it. Went through the process of ensuring my external drives were disconnected, went through the install procedure again, but again it is hanging at the “Starting Windows” screen, after a BSOD “Power_Driver_State_Failure” message. So I’ll stick with Vista and I guess I’ll go with Windows 7 when I come to refresh my hardware…

Seems the error occurs because the install program is running under elevated privileges, whereas my m drive is mapped for my standard user account. Simple fix is to map an equivalent m drive for the local admin account and, hey presto, it all works fine. Steps to follow are below (taken from the vista64 forum):

1. Disconnect the previously mapped network drive from Windows
Explorer.
2. Right click on Command Prompt in the Start Menu and selected Run
As Administrator.
3. Type “Net Use m: \\servername\sharename”
4. Exit out of the command prompt
5. Open Windows Explorer
6. Click ‘Map network drive’ menu item
7. Select the m: drive and typed \\servername\sharename into the
Folder box.

Of course if you already have an m drive mapped, then you only need to do steps 2-4.

The test takes the form of a 5 minute, unrestricted conversation, during which time the judges can ask any question, or discuss any topics that they choose. The conversation takes place vi an Instant Message type application, and so the judges have no sight of who or what they are talking with. If 30% of the judges are convinced that they are conversing with a human, and it turns out to be a machine, then that application is declared the winner and one of the longest running tests is computing will be over.

One system this year convinced 25% of the judges, which is the closest any system has ever come. One of my favourite anecdotes around this test was of one system which failed on its first question a number of years ago. When asked, “What is your favourite Woody Allen film?”, the response came back, “I quite like the smell of pine needles, although I wouldn’t say I have a favourite wood”.

The Plus Fours Route Finder is exactly such a gadget to meet these needs. Originally released in 1920 it is meant to be worn on the wrist and a scroll with 2 rollers is attached to the strap. Then while driving along, simply wind the map on to show the current part of your journey! Brilliant. Of course you need to own the correct route map to get where you’re going, but that’s just a small matter.

The Plus Fours is on display in the British Library as part of their Weird and Wonderful Gadgets and Inventions display. This is a small display which comprises some other fantastic inventions that never quite made it (self-lighting matches and a finger exerciser for piano players are 2 that stick in the mind!).

The display is open until November 10th in the Business & IP Centre of the library on Euston Road in London and is definitely worth a look. Also on September 16th, Maurice Collins will be speaking about his inventions (book online here). More details of the display itself are available on the British Library website here.

You see he also has a One Classic yet he can search against full postcodes. Very strange, thought I. And from a quick Google of the problem it appears that I’m not alone! There are quite a lot of people reporting the same problem. However help is at hand.

If you suffer from the same problem as I did then the solution can be found at http://www.tomtom.com/updates/great_britainpostal_all.zip. All you need to do is download the file and unzip it. Remove the SD card from your TomTom and insert it into a card reader, then run the setup.exe file that you’ve just unzipped. Follow the instructions on-screen and tell the program to update the memory card. Once the installation is done, pop the memory card back into your TomTom and you’re away. Full postcode searching goodness is now your to enjoy. Now you’ve got no excuse when you end up on the wrong street…

Well I guess that depends on who you talk to. Talk to an aviation industry expert and they will tell you that there is a belief that the Eurofighter Typhoon (another BAE Systems project) contains an element of stealth within its design (although no official confirmation has ever been given). Talk to some residents of Lytham St. Annes or Blackpool and they will tell you that stealth aircraft have been flying from BAE Systems production facility at Warton for many years. There are countless stories of the “Warton Triangle” being seen over the North-West coast of England in aviation circles, and there has always been the suspicion that BAE Systems is testing this technology ready to enter the stealth industry. Also if you speak to any of the privileged people who have been on a guided tour of the Warton facility, they will tell you of the mysterious hangar near the radar testing facility.

There is one hangar that is always off-limits on these guided tours. It resides on the flying side of the airfield and is always dismissed as a “spray-shop” or a “component fabrication building” and so visitors aren’t allowed to enter. However, there is a paint facility on the flying side that visitors are allowed to enter and so this reason doesn’t really hold. Also, if it was a fabrication building why is it situated on the flying side of the airfield when all other similar buildings are on the other side of the runway?
The building also stands out due to the entrance. What looks quite low key to begin with is actually a two stage “airlock” type entrance. With revolving doors at either end of this entrance, you can never see in to the hangar as one of the 2 doors is always closed.

So what could be taking place in this hangar? Well your guess is as good as mine. I’m not about to start hypothesising and starting conspiracy theories. All I’ll say is it does seem strange that reports of the Warton Triangle have been around for years, and the first major stealth project in the UK goes to the owners of Warton airfield…