Year: 2006

I was prepared. I know from experience that new computers bring on frustration. After the obligatory software updates an error message is bound to show up. It almost never fails :).

The first problem appeared as an update failure. Umm, windows update NOT installed? Hello? Windows – you decided I needed the silly update in the first place. The usual knowledge base searches and emails to the techs began. Of course the first few responses are always the canned automated ones that contain list of steps to solve the problem. Never mind that you have already told them in the first email that you had already tried all these – and they did NOT work.

Next – the tech support emails where new and better suggestions are sent. Most of the time they do not work. More web surfing for solutions. The end result. Uninstal the offending program and reinstall it. Then the mission becomes: what to do to fix the problems so the program will run and not cause errors. … Good thing I have done this before and install one program at a time, creating a restore point prior to the installations. You would think that windows and other microsoft programs would have learned how to play well together by this time – silly me for expecting this LOL.

At this stage my nice newly organized work area is cluttered with program installation discs, printouts of instructions, and more general clutter.

I decided to connect my laptop to my new wireless network. Fire it up. Ugh NO. Service pack 2? expired virus scan program. Off to find the original restore discs and start again . …

For those of you who are in the “know” you know what is going on. For all the rest of ya – I am sorry but details are not available for security reasons 🙂

This one was easy. But now my admin panel is ummm kind of not funtional. But I can get there myself taking the long road.

Woo hoo and (bad word goes here) you too. This is an assuming that the same Araneae is responsible and that it is just not a coincidence?

For your amusement: Spider Elimination 

Cardassian’s were evil.

My new computer is now setup. The software transfered, the scanner, webcam, external drives, printer, and speakers are all hooked up and working. The only hardware that was not compatable with the operating system was my photosmart p1000 printer. The driver would not work and there is no new one :(. Strange really considering my old computer was running XP home version. I guess I loaded the drivers under sp1 and not sp2 since the new computer is running xp media center edition. I gave up and purchased a new printer. It was to frustrating not being able to print out instuctions to reinstall my programs and transfer licenses.
It just amazes me when I think back to my first computers – (Commador Vic 20 and 64). I remember when a beefed up 286 was the bomb. This new computer has almost as many jacks on the back and front of it as my entertainment center edition.

I choose to set up the RAID at 0 for the speed rather than 1 for the backup redundancy.

Now I want to purchase LightScribe compatable dvd and cd disc’s – sound fun anyway.

Well here is the info on the machine: HP Pavilion Media Center

It is a fun machine not a work machine. Although it seems to handle MS Office with great speed.

Next: Convert to wireless network.

Yep, it always happens when you least expect it. My trusty desktop of over 5 years has finally decided to retire. It is not terminal I suppose but why purchase a few hundred bucks worth of repair parts, install them, and then sit around and wait for the next malfunction? Right now I have it running in short bursts using a home fan to cool it and when it shuts off I have a devil of a time getting it to come back on. The power thing is over heating, the fan – what fan LOL and it triggers my surge protector to shut off. I am running RAID and one of the drives is making those funny pre crash noises- so I decided to use this as an excuse to bite the bullet and purchase – gasp – a new computer.

My new computer is sitting downstairs waiting to take its place up here in the “computer room”. As I browse through the 160 so GB of accumulated files that are on my hard drive I wonder how it ever got to this point. Geez half the stuff is years old but I kept em just in case – ya never know. I do have 80GB of MP3’s on a external usb drive and another 160 or so GB on my 300GB external drive so I do not have to worry about copying them all over to the new puter. But what about all the nifty programs that I have to pay to use on another computer? Which ones are worth the money? I so hate these decisions.

I am making note of which programs windows is so kind enough to tell me I have not used in 4 years and those that I use everyday.

I am off to cyber land to make sure I can reset up my dsl, printer, scanner, breakout box etc. the gps software, …. all that fun stuff. I am looking forward to starting all over again. It is like saying goodbye to a car you have spent a decade making memories in. Strange.

Well if you do not hear from me in a while you will know why. I have already disconnected my laptop from my little home network and am about to pull the plug.

This is HC4X5R6S9.377856 Pentium 4 cpu 2.53Ghz signing off.

UPDATE:

woo hoo and yahoo I am back online with only of few minor cliches. My new puter is way cool. I can watch tv, movies, fm radio, etc on it – emmm although my television is on so I can type here :). This thing has way too many plugs and jacks for my little mind. The only snag is my photo smart p1000 does not have usb drivers for xp and the new puter has no parallel port 🙁  So I am going to use the printer on my laptop and find another photo printer.

I have to redo my bookmarks, load office, photoshopCS, and dreamweaver. Then all will be good for awhile.