"I've discovered that the drivers you can download from
http://www.initio.com/drivers/Advansys/AdvanSys9andXMac.hqx
will drive at least some of the Orange Micro Grappler cards. Mine is a 906f, and I used the Asc3050 driver (kernel extension) from the "Mac OS X drivers" folder. This could solve a lot of problems people have been having with the (now defunct) Orange Micro cards. I can now access my scanner again, on my fine old Sawtooth.

Note that (on my system at least) the AdvanSys9andXMac.hqx file won't expand with Stuffit Expander; you need to use Stuffit Deluxe.
- W. Oates "

I don't own a Grappler SCSI card but the download unstuffed OK here using Stuffit Expander 7.0.3 (never updated to later versions). The download also has bios files but not sure they are compatible with the Grappler cards (even though some OM cards must have used the same advansys chipset to be driver compatible.)
Update: a reader later replied to this post with a link to a mirror of Orange Micro Grappler software:

" Hi Mike, on Friday there was this reader who couldn't find orangemicro drivers / firmware. Software for Grappler Cards still can be found here:
http://www.mandrake.demon.co.uk/Apple/om_main.html
Greetings, Wolfgang "

" Mike
Core Duo iMacs have started showing up on the the Xbench database: (Xbench 1.2 scores, not comparable to Xbench 1.1.x scores. Assume use of latest Xbench 1.2 Universal Binary)
Intel iMac 512MB ram (no clock speed listed but assuming 1.7GHz)
Intel iMac 2GB ram (no clock speed listed but from score I assume 2GHz?)
Intel iMac 1.7GHz, 512MB ram
-Chris "

" I got an answer from Apple. The new Intel machines will do all of the following:

1. Boot from external firewire device
2. Boot into Target Mode
3. Use the Startup Manager ("opt" startup)
4. Support full desktop on dual monitors (the new iMacs now support full desktop without a hack).

(previous iMac models needed the display spanning nvram patch-Mike)
-SCB "

Interesting, I had a mail earlier this week saying they couldn't boot from firewire (but could from USB drives).

" upgrade to 8GB iPod Nano
Interesting article and discussions at http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000233073484/ based in a (DIY) article at www.multiarcade.com (which has the details on the mod - adding another 4GB chip.)
-Jose "

" PIONEER DVR-110: (firmware 1.37, crossflashed from DVR-110D (see FAQ's DVD section item on OS X flashers for Pioneer drives for notes on this. the "D" model has no DVD-RAM support so some readers have cross-flashed them to 110's.-Mike)
G4 tower with Gigadesign CPU upgrade
DVR-110 is still listed as "Burn Support: Yes (Unsupported)" in System Profiler under 10.4.4 as it was before.
(After reports from some dual-core G5 owners that some shipped with a DVR-110D, I'd hoped the 10.4.4 update would make them reported as "Apple Supported", but several readers have said it didn't. The main reason for wishing that was to have iDVD 5.0.x DL Project support without any hacks.-Mike)

For a while I was unable to successfully burn a DL disk using Toast or the Finder. (5 coasters: MacOS errors and frozen verifies)

Then I jumpered the burner to the ATA controller on the bottom of the case (normally for the internal hard-drives). Also, updated to 10.4.4. I was finally able to burn and verify a DL disk.

(Is it true that the optical-bay controller is ATA-33, while the hard- drive controller is ATA-66? The Apple literature is vague.)
(Sawtooth to Quicksilver towers have an ATA/3 Optical drive bus, although the MDD tower's optical drive bus connector on the motherboard is labeled ATA/33, I think the dev docs noted ATA/3 but it's been awhile since I checked that. MDD towers have ATA/100 and ATA/66 interfaces in them also, unlike older models.-Mike)

iLife 06: (bought it retail at an Apple store yesterday)
The new iDVD has a preference for single/double layer burn. Haven't tried one, but it looks like it will burn DL disks.
Again, hope this is helpful.
Jason K."

" Hope this info is helpful.
computer: G4 AGP / Gigadesign 1.4 upgrade / Firmtek SATA controller (2+2) / Seagate SATA drives
M-Audio Delta 1010 PCI soundcard:
Every since driver version 2.01, some audio programs would only see 2 of the 10 channels of the soundcard. Also, the computer sleep crashed.

Solution: I am still using the old Delta driver version 1.2.1. It seems to be working fine. (a recent mail from another reader also mentioned using a 1.x driver as a tip-Mike) Deep-sleep works, also.

I updated from 10.4.2 to 10.4.4. (using the stand-alone combo updater ).

At first iTunes and DVDPlayer made white noise and crashed. Then I did several things: Repaired disk/permissions, ran software-update: new versions of Quicktime, iTunes, etc.

Now the sound works fine and everything seems stable. (Delta driver 1.2.1)
-Jason K"

"Wow! Thanks Mike! That actually worked!
A slight variation on the procedure described though:

1) Hold switch off, on, then off again...leaving Hold in the on position doesn't allow the rest of the described procedure to happen.

2) Menu and Select held down for 10 seconds until you hear the three weird beeps

3) After hearing the beeps, immediately hold down Select and Play for a half minute.

4) Release then wait for about a minute

5) You should see the Apple symbol with a black background as the iPod reboots..eventually you'll get the Do Not Disconnect sign/message.

Yay...now the question is how do I cancel a scheduled Apple service thingy?
-Ed."

I'd just call them to cancel it assuming it's working ok now.

" Hiya Mike, had to write you this happy ending to my almost sad story for your readers!
Tried to swap out the internal HD in my 867MHz AL Powerbook and accidentally broke the power connector off my motherboard trying to get to it. I took it into Apple service and was told it was a "Tier 4 repair" which is damage that can only occur "when a customer tampers" with his computer. Since Apple really doesn't want you to do this, they make the repair prohibitively expensive (like almost the price of a new PB) so I was basically told to throw my otherwise perfectly good PB away.

Good thing I offered it to you for parts! You advised me to try to get it repaired outside of Apple which never would have occured to me. (I mentioned names of several mac repair companies and that if any had surface mount soldering repair capability, replacing the connector may be affordable. If not some may offer to swap the motherboard for less than apple's repair cost.-Mike) I called Macresq and they referred me to DT&T service in Fremont CA and these guys were nothing less than awesome!

Instead of the $1300 repair thru Apple, they told me it was a flat $350 to either fix the connector or a motherboard swap!
I got my PB back today (they also installed the bigger HD that I was trying to install) and it's as good as new!
DT&T was friendly, polite, and FAST, and I can't say enough to praise the level of service I got! So had to put in a plug for them to your readers if they ever need servicing!
Thanks Mike (for the suggestion) and DT&T - you saved my PB!
Mahalo and aloha,
-Randy. "

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE ASUS 1608P2S (Pioneer DVR-110) in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  (Filed under Pioneer brand, sold under Asus/box.)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-110D in Beige G3 (OS X 10.4)
  (Problems noted with Tiger and drive. Suggested he write Ryan Rempel (Xpostfacto author) for help. Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers Beige G3, B&W G3 and G4 towers up to the Digital Audio model.)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-110D in (Gigabit) Dual G4 (OS X 10.4)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-110BK (110D) in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
• IDE Sony DRU-810A in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
• Firewire (cased) Sony DRX-810UL used w/iBook G4 (OS X 10.4)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• IDE LG GCE-8525B in B&W G3 (OS X 10.4)
  (although Tiger has basic iApps burn support for most drives he noted using Patchburn 4.)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• Giga Designs G4 1.8GHz (7447A) in (Sawtooth) G4/AGP (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4 Dual 1GHz in Dual G4 (originally dual 450MHz) (rated 10)
  
  (Full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades compared to stock CPUs, including real world apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked at the CPU upgrades page. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand).