Read only EXT4 filesystem (Ubuntu) & pending hard drive failure

I've been experiencing woes with a Samba server recently with all sorts of gremlins around access, and write access specifically. After gutting the Samba config several times to the bare minimum I happened to notice that mysteriously the whole EXT4 file system partition on which the Samba shares resided had become mounted as read only. After a little investigating I think the culprit is a hard drive on its way out. Ironically the drive in question is a Seagate drive and the image I think is therefore, rather suited. Read on...

iPad (1) Install, setup and frustrations with Windows XP SP3

My first foray into the world of owning an iPad was recently helping a relative to setup their newly purchased iPad 1. I have been contemplating picking up one for myself for several months and had been holding out for the Retina Display to arrive with the iPad 2... it looks like I'll be holding out (restraining myself) for another 18~ months with fingers crossed for iPad 3. Read on...