In light of the color wheel failure in my HD70 I was forced to find a replacement.

I have to commend Optoma. Despite their somewhat snippy customer service rep, I am really impressed. I called them four days ago (Monday) after they had closed for the day (why answer the phone if you’re closed?) and ordered a replacement color wheel for my HD70, a projector they haven’t made for about four years. Not only did they have it in stock, and for a reasonable price, but they told me it would be 8 days to arrive and it arrived in less than four. Color me impressed.

After I opened the projector up, pulled all the glass shards out, blew the dust out of it, and installed the new wheel I buttoned it back up, sure enough it fired right up. The only note I can really give to others who attempt this is not to forget to unscrew your color wheel sensor (an optical sensor) from your original color wheel and attached it to the new one before installing it. If you have ever noticed “a dirty color wheel,” manifested by your screen flashing odd colors (usually green), you are actually dealing with dust interrupting the view of this sensor.

I have never been happier that I purchased an Optoma projector, and I won’t hesitate to buy another (when funds permit I’d like to get the HD80 or HD33). When this projector was new the retail price was around $1299, and it was widely thought of as a bargain for a best-in-class unit. I got mine all beat up and not working on eBay for $200. I added a lamp ($245 at the time) and did some cleaning and sealing of ducting and had a working projector. Thanks to Optoma for building us a durable workhorse  that we can repair ourselves!

From Ezra Moore

I was watching an old episode of Dexter the other day (I know, I’m late to the party) and my projector (an Optoma HD70) image became an off color for just a second, but most alarmingly started to make a terrible buzzing/whirring/grinding noise, almost like a bad computer fan.

There are a couple of high volume brushless DC (computer) fans inside there, so I knew it was possible that one had thrown a vane. Since the HD-70 is a DLP projector it uses a complex set of mirrors to reflect the image through a color wheel in order to get the correct colors displayed in the image. The color wheel in the HD70 is seven segments. I believe that it is ordered red, green blue, white, red, grean, blue. When I heard the noise I shut the projector down as quickly as I could, and the color shift that appeared along with the noise only lasted a split second. For this reason I think that my color wheel simply lost its white (or clear, if you prefer) segment. When I pick the projector up and move it around I can hear a piece of what sounds like glass moving around.

When I bought my projector it needed a new lamp and a thorough cleaning inside. I got a great deal on it, so that was no problem, and I ventured inside the box to get it all taken care of. I am completely comfortable opening the case and working on the internals. What concerned me was that no matter how hard I Googled I couldn’t find anyone selling a replacement color wheel. I even found the Optoma part number for it (70.85S22GR01, by the way), but even searching for that yielded few results. I have one hit from Alibaba, which has been an unreliable source for me in the past (and often requires that you order 10-100 of something you only need one of) and one for a website that I had never heard of that wanted $300 for the color wheel. If I was going to have to pay $300 I was planning to upgrade to a new 1080p projector (HD80/22/33, something along those lines). Sure, it would have cost a lot more, but this projector is outdated now, even though the image quality and reliability are both excellent.

My next resort was this thread (second page) on AVSForum, where someone had kindly posted a phone number and quote from Optoma. Sadly, that number didn’t work for me, disconnected. So as my last resort (before pinching pennies for a new/used machine) was to call Optoma. I’ve never had good luck getting companies to sell my internal non-user serviceable parts directly, nor have I had luck with ordering parts for out of warranty/support machines, but the projector gods were on my side today. Optoma sold me a new color wheel for $50 plus about $12 to ship it (FedEx Ground) to me. I tried just about every number on their contact us page, and finally got to a message that said ‘for out of warranty machines please call (888) 942-2929, and that is what I did. No lies, no weirdness (the lady wasn’t very nice, at all), and I got my part. Once it arrives I may post some instructions/pictures of the replacement process.

From Ezra Moore

UPDATE:
When I wrote this the other morning I failed to identify the usefulness of the following procedure as it applies to the overall removal of the Antivirus XP, et al.

The instructions below deal specifically with the scenario in which the rogue software has disabled the launching of executable or .exe files. This is a common practice on the part of the rogue software developers, because it limits your ability as a user to initiate many countermeasures.

My preferred malware cleanup tool is MalwareBytes, though my complete procedure involves several applications, the exact combination of which varies from infection to infection.

For reference I prefer:

Sunbelt Software’s VIPRE – Paid General Antimalware
Grisoft’s AVG Free – Free General Antimalware

* I do believe there is a difference between paid and free antivirus protection. The main differences lie in the features of the application and the support available to a user if a problem arises. I feel there is no advantage to a paid solution from a definitions standpoint.

How to use the instructions below:
These instructions assume two things.
1. You have been infected with one of the Antivirus XP/Vista/7 variants.
2. You are unable to run executables as a result of the infection.

How to restore your ability to launch executables:
1. Start | Run| type ‘command.com’ to launch DOS command prompt.
N.B. This opens the old-fashioned command prompt, thus TAB does not auto-complete folder names, and the up arrow does not reenter the last command. Most importantly you must use eight character folder names. See step 2.
2. Run ‘dir /x’ to reveal 8 character folder names.
3. Open ‘notepad.exe’ from the command prompt.
4. Input:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile] [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile] [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command] @="\"%1\" %*" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe] @="exefile" "Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

5. Save the file as ‘registryfix.reg’ to the desktop.
6. Open the ‘registryfix.reg’ file from the desktop to merge these changes into the registry.
7. Load MalwareBytes from local source (flash drive, CDROM, Ext. HDD, etc.)
8. Run MalwareBytes per normal procedure.

From Ezra Moore

… instead of paying $100 for Microsoft’s USB adapter.

In this post you will learn how to use your Mac as a wifi bridge for your Xbox 360. You might consider doing this if your router is not in the same location as your Xbox 360.

What you will need:

• Your Mac.
• Your Xbox 360.
• A crossover Ethernet cable.

1. Open the Network Preferences pane from the System Preferences main window.
2. Ensure that Airport is above Ethernet in the list of network connections on the left. If it is not, click the gear (or settings) icon beneath the network connections box and select ‘Set Service Order.’ Click on Airport and drag it above Ethernet. Click OK.
3. Select the Ethernet connection from the left. From the drop down box labeled ‘Configure,’ select ‘Manually.’
   In IP Address: type ’10.10.10.2′
   In Subnet Mask: type ’255.255.255.0′
   Skip the box labeled Router for the time being.
   In DNS Server: type 208.67.222.222 (which is the openDNS nameserver, in case you were wondering).
   Leave the Search Domain box blank.
   Leave the window open.
4. Open a Terminal window. Terminal is located in ~/Applications/Utilities/, or you could simply do a Spotlight (CMD + Space) search for it.
   In the Terminal command line type ‘ifconfig eth0′.
   After typing that command the second line returned should start with the word ‘inet’ immediately followed by an IP address. Write that address down. Close the terminal window.
5. Return to the Network preference pane, in system preferences. 
   In Router type the ‘inet’ IP address you just copied down from the terminal window.
   Click Apply.
   Click Airport from the network connections pane at the left.
   Find the IP address for your Mac on this connection under Status. Write it down.
   Click Show All at the top of the window.
6. Click on the Sharing preference pane.
   In the left hand pane find ‘Internet Sharing’ and make sure it is UNCHECKED.
   With Internet Sharing unchecked, find the ‘Share internet connection from:’ dropdown box and select ‘Airport.’
   In the ‘To computers using:’ box select ‘Ethernet.’
   Now go back to the left-hand pane and CHECK the box marked ‘Internet Sharing.’
   Quite System Preferences.
7. On the Xbox 360 start at ‘My Xbox’ blade and find settings all the way to the right.
   Select ‘Network Settings.’
   Select ‘Configure Network.’
   Select ‘IP Settings.’
   Select ‘Manual.’
   In ‘IP Address’ type ’10.10.10.3.’
   In ‘Subnet Mask’ type ’255.255.255.0′
   In ‘Gateway’ type ’10.10.10.2′
   Select Done.
   Select ‘DNS Settings.’
   In ‘Primary DNS Server’ type the IP address of your mac. This is the address you were instructed to write down from the Airport section of the Network preference pane.
   In ‘Secondary DNS Server’ type the ‘inet’ IP address from the Terminal session on your Mac.
   Plug the crossover Ethernet cable into both your Mac and your Xbox 360.
   Select Done.
8. Select ‘Test Xbox Live Connection.’
   All the tests should pass with the exception of one NAT warning on the Xbox Live Connection portion. You will be able to play games online and take advantage of Xbox Live with the warning, but this can be resolved by forwarding ports:
   TCP 80
   UDP 88
   UDP 3074
   TCP 3074
   UDP 53
   TCP 53
   one way or the other to the Mac acting as the bridge, from your router. This is different for each model of router and beyond the scope of this article.
9. You just saved $100!

From Ezra Moore

Yum! Mom and Dad brought a whole box of peaches home from Chelan. Of course, they all got ripe around the same time that I decided ice cream was a good idea. Overall it was delicious, the base was a little light, but I will have to experiment with that in depth, so here is a tentative recipe.

Ingredients:

Ice Cream Base (Standard Ben and Jerry’s Base#1)
2 – Large Eggs
3/4 Cup – Sugar
2 Cups – Heavy Cream
1 Cup – Milk

Flavor:
2 – Ripe and delicious peaches!
1 TBSP – Sugar
A few drops of vanilla extract.

Whisk eggs together for 1 – 2 minutes in a medium bowl, until fluffy. Slowly beat in ice cream base sugar. Once all the sugar has been added continue to beat the mixture for about 1 minute. Mix in heavy cream and milk.

At this point I put the mixture in the freezer and prepared the peaches.

Run hot/warm water from the tap, and rub/tear/peel the skin from the peaches. There is probably an approved method for this, but I was in a hurry. One way or the other, peel those peaches! Since our peaches were not ‘free-stone’, in other words, the pits remain attached to the flesh, even when ripe, I simply cut slabs off the fruit since it will be mashed in the end anyway.

In a bowl add the fruit and the sugar for the flavoring. Using a potato masher (or a similar, possibly more appropriate tool) I mashed the fruit into small pieces with the sugar. This allowed a lot of the juice to mix with the sugar. This is one thing I would change, I would have mashed the peaches into almost a paste, to better distribute the flavor. Add a few drops of vanilla extract and mix it all up.

Now you’ve got your two components. Follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer of your ice cream maker. For ours I started the machine, poured in the base, then the flavor, and let it run for around thirty minutes.

I hope you enjoy. I’ll see if I can get a picture of the finished product tomorrow. Feel free to leave a comment if you enjoyed the recipe.

From Ezra Moore