Technical difficulties
I'm still alive. Really, I am.
It's only my computer that isn't. Make that computers.
How is it possible that all three -- count 'em (personal laptop, newspaper-issued laptop, personal desktop) -- computers in my house are functioning sub-optimally? Just luck, I guess.
My work laptop suddenly, unexpectedly crashed on Christmas Eve. I informed my editor and he forwarded my problems to the tech guy. He told me to expect a techie to contact me about resolving the problem. That was more than a week ago. I'm still waiting to hear from a geek.
After the holiday, I resorted to my old laptop, the same one that provided me with numerous headaches in 2003. It functioned, but seemingly only when it wanted to. It would shut down without warning and for no apparent reason. I can't even begin to express how frustrating this was or how many in-progress files simply disappeared before I could save them.
I was reminded of this when I called it in from the bullpen last week for some spot relief duty. It didn't take long before I was ready to chuck it through the window in my home office.
No problem, I thought. I could always wake the dinosaur, my dusty desktop from 1997.
Um, yeah, that wasn't frustratingly slow or anything. I couldn't even utilize my DSL with it. When I went to install the appropriate driver files so I could use DSL, I discovered that I couldn't even drop a CD into the computer. The CD drawer wouldn't open. So I did what any American male would do. I grabbed a screwdriver and pried the thing open.
Worked like a charm. The prying, I mean. I wasn't able to get the driver to close properly with the CD inside.
That brought me back to my personal laptop. I've tinkered with the thing endlessly for days. I have no technical background aside from what I've learned on my own as the result of my previous computer problems. Somehow, I've managed to resolve -- OK, cross your fingers with me -- the unexpected shutdown problem. All I had to do was remove all the screws holding back all of its circuitry and make a makeshift adjustment to the power receptacle.
But I was still having difficulties with my Internet security and anti-virus program. It refused to work properly, prompting me to consider re-installing it. No go. More problems, this time software related. Just what I needed -- another technical headache.
So today, instead of dropkicking my laptop across my driveway, I gutted the thing. Not physically, but virtually. I guess that's the best way to put it. I completely reformatted the hard drive. I started from zero. Again.
I did this without a hint of technical support. Not so much as even an owner's manual or help screen. It's a testament to nothing more than some of my previous technical issues.
So far, so good. I still don't have everything re-installed, but I'm getting there. This computer, even with its skeletal software contents, is still slow. But at least it's running.
Kinda like me. I've run twice this year -- a 5-mile run on New Year's Day and a 7-miler tonight -- and I feel so slow. Well, actually, I don't feel slow; I feel like I'm running at a decent, comfortable pace. But my watch reminds me that I'm running much slower. What feels like an 8:30-mile turns out to be more like a 9:15- or 9:30-mile. I'll accept that now, in the heart of my offseason. A couple of months from now, when I formally begin my marathon training again, such times will be very much unacceptable.
It's only my computer that isn't. Make that computers.
How is it possible that all three -- count 'em (personal laptop, newspaper-issued laptop, personal desktop) -- computers in my house are functioning sub-optimally? Just luck, I guess.
My work laptop suddenly, unexpectedly crashed on Christmas Eve. I informed my editor and he forwarded my problems to the tech guy. He told me to expect a techie to contact me about resolving the problem. That was more than a week ago. I'm still waiting to hear from a geek.
After the holiday, I resorted to my old laptop, the same one that provided me with numerous headaches in 2003. It functioned, but seemingly only when it wanted to. It would shut down without warning and for no apparent reason. I can't even begin to express how frustrating this was or how many in-progress files simply disappeared before I could save them.
I was reminded of this when I called it in from the bullpen last week for some spot relief duty. It didn't take long before I was ready to chuck it through the window in my home office.
No problem, I thought. I could always wake the dinosaur, my dusty desktop from 1997.
Um, yeah, that wasn't frustratingly slow or anything. I couldn't even utilize my DSL with it. When I went to install the appropriate driver files so I could use DSL, I discovered that I couldn't even drop a CD into the computer. The CD drawer wouldn't open. So I did what any American male would do. I grabbed a screwdriver and pried the thing open.
Worked like a charm. The prying, I mean. I wasn't able to get the driver to close properly with the CD inside.
That brought me back to my personal laptop. I've tinkered with the thing endlessly for days. I have no technical background aside from what I've learned on my own as the result of my previous computer problems. Somehow, I've managed to resolve -- OK, cross your fingers with me -- the unexpected shutdown problem. All I had to do was remove all the screws holding back all of its circuitry and make a makeshift adjustment to the power receptacle.
But I was still having difficulties with my Internet security and anti-virus program. It refused to work properly, prompting me to consider re-installing it. No go. More problems, this time software related. Just what I needed -- another technical headache.
So today, instead of dropkicking my laptop across my driveway, I gutted the thing. Not physically, but virtually. I guess that's the best way to put it. I completely reformatted the hard drive. I started from zero. Again.
I did this without a hint of technical support. Not so much as even an owner's manual or help screen. It's a testament to nothing more than some of my previous technical issues.
So far, so good. I still don't have everything re-installed, but I'm getting there. This computer, even with its skeletal software contents, is still slow. But at least it's running.
Kinda like me. I've run twice this year -- a 5-mile run on New Year's Day and a 7-miler tonight -- and I feel so slow. Well, actually, I don't feel slow; I feel like I'm running at a decent, comfortable pace. But my watch reminds me that I'm running much slower. What feels like an 8:30-mile turns out to be more like a 9:15- or 9:30-mile. I'll accept that now, in the heart of my offseason. A couple of months from now, when I formally begin my marathon training again, such times will be very much unacceptable.
posted by RTG at 6:33 PM
1 Comments:
Oh MAN do I feel your pain! The ONLY thing worse than computer problems is martial problems.
Hey, you have two more runs than me in this year, but I'm heading out today to do some damage to myself. BTW even when you're going "slow" at 9+ you're still faster than I will ever be. Next time think "I may be slow, but I'm ahead of Wylee."
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