Saturday, June 23, 2012

First weekend of Summer!

 



14 comments:

  1. Howard's firstiest, again!

    Public Service Notice:

    Primary Master Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T. Status Bad S.M.A.R.T. Error Detected. The I.D.E. Hard Disk is operating outside of normal specifications -- Please back up all your data and replace your HDD as soon as possible.

    If I disappear, this will be why. Do NOT send Sheriff Chuck, eh.

    Ten year old Dell. Did this guy go the distance, or what?

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    1. Checking the internets, this appears to be an honest assessment of my hardware situation. Still thinking about what I need to do. Meanwhile, livin' on borrowed time. So what else is new, lol!?

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    2. I think it's clear that you need a new computer. Checking TigerDirect.com, I see that there are new desktop computers for as little as $350. Refurbished older models from $140, although I tend to think the newer models are a good long-term investment. (As with our discussion of cars, I tend to think: Pay more up front, then keep them.)

      Tiger is currently having an overstock clearance, and many of these prices are cut significantly.

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    3. You don't need Sheriff Chuck, you need UPS!

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    4. Puddle, though Tiger Direct is definitely a guy thing - my dad *loves* them - I do agree with Bill. Your aggravation level will be much reduced with a new computer. And, much though I hate to say it, Tiger is reliable and they do have great sales. And you do know, don't you, that if even $130 is too expensive, you just have to ask and we'll chip in.

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  2. Computer is working somewhat better but still not normal. Some programs (Outlook) load fine, others still take a while. But shut-down proceeds normally and the desktop comes up on restart, so that helps. Weirdest is Internet Explorer. The first two times it starts to load but never or almost never finishes. The third time -- there it is.

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    1. Finally went to Control Panel/Devices and printers when I discovered the computer couldn't access my external hard drive. Sure enough, the computer needs troubleshooting -- guess I hadn't quite realized there was a "troubleshooting" option there. It's been "detecting problems" for several hours now, but that doesn't keep me from using the computer so no real problem. Can just let it run overnight if necessary. I've learned that patience is the answer to this problem.

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  3. Really, really muggy today. Only 80 deg, but humidity is incredibly high.

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  4. Cat, you are very sweet! And it's an offer that truly touches me. Howsumevah, there seems to be a solution in the offing -- the father of my kids, and the great gifter of all my computers, has stepped up, and as a late Mother's Day, early Birthday and Christmas present (for the next five years as I understand it, lol!) is gifting me with a no whistles or bells (just the way I likes 'em) Dell desk top. Bless his heart. Due date: July 5. Have to admit I *like* Dells -- Green Lantern lasted about longer than anyone's computer that I know of -- Thankful's burned through about five laptops in the same amount of time. Hope they haven't pulled a Chrysler on me and changed their standards. . . . I was the owner of the best Dodge Dart ever ('64) and the WORST Jeep -- Chrystler's first year of ownership. . . .

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    1. Never look a gift computer in the keyboard. Or something like that. ;-)

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    2. Never do, lol! Though I struggled with that first one, I ended up being very grateful for the learning curve it presented. It had more problems than two of 'um. Started with purporting to be 98SE. Although it came with an SE disk, it wasn't. The doods that put it together and sold it to him said it was, but evidently had an original edition sitting around, and . . . . I discovered why I could never use the SE disk when I had to haul it to a computer guy because of a blown out modem, and he noted that it *was NOT* SE. Aside from that he'd nevah done ANY maintenance (it had never been defragged, nor the cache cleared, nor a disk check run. . . .). From the beginning, it crashed five or six times a day: I became intimately aware of the Blue Screen of Death. I had to learn SO much just to keep it working. And I loved the world opened to me through it!

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  5. Absolutely weird. When I try to access the site, I get a message supposedly from Norton that it has been blocked because it if fraudulent. But that still happens when Norton Internet Security is turned off. Wonder if it could have something to do with the computer problems, although I don't see how.

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  6. LOVED reading this thread! Hurrah for puddle's ex!!

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