(not so) superdrive...

...but super service.

Last week the iMac's dvd drive (after a good couple of years burning DLed material at a feverish rate) had enough and decided to stop ejecting discs. Luckily, the apple care warranty is still valid (despite the computer being purchased in London --- actually, since you ask, it was bought in the Apple Store on Regent St and carted home via the packed Central and Northern tube lines to the apt in Camden), so I was able to get it repaired. Not only that, after one phone call they were happy to send someone out to replace the drive. Pretty decent service -- in a silly way, it feels satisfying that I was able to get value from the apple care.

Turns out the most stressful part was spending the guts of an evening looking for the original receipt. The most embarrassing part: the repair man having to extract my Dr Who dvd from the old drive...

setting paths for python on windows

1. Finding the python executable (python.exe). Add the directory to the windows environment variable "Path":
- right-click on "My Computer" > Properties > Advanced (tab) > Environment Variables (button).
- double-click on "Path" variable (in the System Variables box); click "Edit" button, and add directory containing python.exe (e.g. C:\Python26\)

Once this is done, should be able to run python by typing "python" in the command shell (cmd.exe).

2. Add directories to python search path (so that, e.g., import will find it). Add to the PYTHONPATH environment variable in the Windows registry:
- run regedit.exe (Start Menu > Run...)
- navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python\PythonCore\\PythonPath\
- right-click on the "PythonPath" folder and choose "New Key". Give the key a meaningful name (e.g. PetersGeneralPythonFiles), since you may want to maintain several keys.
- right-click on the newly-created Default entry and enter the desired directory(ies) as its value.

Import statements for files in this path should now work when python is run from any location.