squidd
Active Member
Back on-line that is...
Been having a little "computer" issues..A couple (6-8 ) weeks ago I had lightning strike a tree outside my house...(computer is on a "surge protector, but the phone line was not) so the modem blew, but the machine seemed to be OK...
So I take it to the local comp shop for repair and a hundred or so dolars later walk out back on-line...
And it worked fine for a couple more weeks..then the screen goes blank... :notsure:
Back to the shop and they tell me it's "delayed" strike syndrome, the motherboard's bad, probably the processor as well and who knows what other problems I'll have once they get it running enough to diagnose...
$400-$500 now and maybe $600-$700 by the time their done...They would really like to just sell me a new system for a Grand cause this one's already 5 years old...
That kinda sucks...
They've been good to me in the past though..but with all the software/adware/spyware/and occasional hardware issues I've had (at $100 or so a pop) My 5 year old $500 computer has costed me over $1200 already...
So I figure, what the heck..it's just "hardware" right..a bunch of wires and boards...a little "plug and play" and I should be able to fix this myself...(Mind you I have NO idea how these things work...I usually have my teenage kids load the programs or hook up the printer )
But being the DIY kinda guy I am I figure it's time to take a "crash course" in computer repair and figure this out myself...
So I go over to a computer savey buddies house and he hooks me up with an on-line retailer so I can order the parts I might need...
But Hey... as long as we're replacing..might be a good time to "up-grade" as well...So new Motherboard..bigger and better processer..need a bigger powersuply to run it...of course extra fans to cool it...etc..etc...etc..
Wait a week or so for shipping..stuff comes in... plug it in..turn it on...
NOTHING..
Seems the hard drive and OS took a hit too...probably the RAM card and no telling if the video card will work...What the heck...Might as wel get a new keyboard and mouse too...
Oh yeah...I've been running a "hot" OS and don't "exactly" own the disk so I should probably get one of those too...
So ..wait another week or so ..stuff comes in...almost...
### Harddrive is "backordered"...
So wait another week or so...stuff comes in...plug it in... fire it up, and I'll be jiggered...the thing works..sort of...
Now I need to "load" the software...shouldn't be a problem...slide in the disk and hit "enter"...
Oh Oh..problem... This thing keeps asking me "questions" to which I know not the answer...
Do I want to "partition" my hardrive ?? I don't know...Do I?? :notsure: ..How much..?? and "Why"..??
br />
So a couple calls to "tech support"..(my buddy down the street) and he walks me through it...Pretty |basic" and logical once you understand the "definitions" of what they're asking...
Then we come to hooking up the internet...Now I'm asking questions to which "He" doesn't know the answer..
Like "What's my login name and password..?" "What's my POP and SMTP...?"
I don't know... ..that stuff has always been entered for me...I just push the little "internet" Icon and it comes on...Kinda like "magic"..
A quick call to my provider and I get the info I need...(Hey..They ARE there at 10
m at night.. )
So...here I am..up and running...back on line...Twice the speed and 10X capacity (if not more) than my old machine..and I did it myself at a total cost of $370...Would have been $240 if I had "owned" my OS disk...
But hey...I do now..
Now I'm into it...Thinking maybe "build" another machine...do some "networking"...Get a T-1 line and maybe go wireless...no...satalite...Yeah..that's it...and a web page....OOh..Ahh.. Lookout... :jumping:
(I have no idea what all that means, but it sounds cool... )
Been having a little "computer" issues..A couple (6-8 ) weeks ago I had lightning strike a tree outside my house...(computer is on a "surge protector, but the phone line was not) so the modem blew, but the machine seemed to be OK...
So I take it to the local comp shop for repair and a hundred or so dolars later walk out back on-line...
And it worked fine for a couple more weeks..then the screen goes blank... :notsure:
Back to the shop and they tell me it's "delayed" strike syndrome, the motherboard's bad, probably the processor as well and who knows what other problems I'll have once they get it running enough to diagnose...
$400-$500 now and maybe $600-$700 by the time their done...They would really like to just sell me a new system for a Grand cause this one's already 5 years old...
That kinda sucks...
They've been good to me in the past though..but with all the software/adware/spyware/and occasional hardware issues I've had (at $100 or so a pop) My 5 year old $500 computer has costed me over $1200 already...
So I figure, what the heck..it's just "hardware" right..a bunch of wires and boards...a little "plug and play" and I should be able to fix this myself...(Mind you I have NO idea how these things work...I usually have my teenage kids load the programs or hook up the printer )
But being the DIY kinda guy I am I figure it's time to take a "crash course" in computer repair and figure this out myself...
So I go over to a computer savey buddies house and he hooks me up with an on-line retailer so I can order the parts I might need...
But Hey... as long as we're replacing..might be a good time to "up-grade" as well...So new Motherboard..bigger and better processer..need a bigger powersuply to run it...of course extra fans to cool it...etc..etc...etc..
Wait a week or so for shipping..stuff comes in... plug it in..turn it on...
NOTHING..
Seems the hard drive and OS took a hit too...probably the RAM card and no telling if the video card will work...What the heck...Might as wel get a new keyboard and mouse too...
Oh yeah...I've been running a "hot" OS and don't "exactly" own the disk so I should probably get one of those too...
So ..wait another week or so ..stuff comes in...almost...
### Harddrive is "backordered"...
So wait another week or so...stuff comes in...plug it in... fire it up, and I'll be jiggered...the thing works..sort of...
Now I need to "load" the software...shouldn't be a problem...slide in the disk and hit "enter"...
Oh Oh..problem... This thing keeps asking me "questions" to which I know not the answer...
Do I want to "partition" my hardrive ?? I don't know...Do I?? :notsure: ..How much..?? and "Why"..??
br />
So a couple calls to "tech support"..(my buddy down the street) and he walks me through it...Pretty |basic" and logical once you understand the "definitions" of what they're asking...
Then we come to hooking up the internet...Now I'm asking questions to which "He" doesn't know the answer..
Like "What's my login name and password..?" "What's my POP and SMTP...?"
I don't know... ..that stuff has always been entered for me...I just push the little "internet" Icon and it comes on...Kinda like "magic"..
A quick call to my provider and I get the info I need...(Hey..They ARE there at 10
m at night.. )
So...here I am..up and running...back on line...Twice the speed and 10X capacity (if not more) than my old machine..and I did it myself at a total cost of $370...Would have been $240 if I had "owned" my OS disk...
But hey...I do now..
Now I'm into it...Thinking maybe "build" another machine...do some "networking"...Get a T-1 line and maybe go wireless...no...satalite...Yeah..that's it...and a web page....OOh..Ahh.. Lookout... :jumping:
(I have no idea what all that means, but it sounds cool... )
