Just Enough Computer Knowledge to be Dangerous
Feb 5th, 2007 by Jeremy
I often tell people I try to follow in my father’s footsteps of being a self-taught jack of all trades whenever possible. I am definitely a “master of none” as the rest of the saying goes, but I do try to learn something new every day and excel at the things that interest me.
That is likely where I found my interest in computers as a child that has continued through today. I haven’t done any big training, definitely not certified in any program, but generally speaking I know my way around a computer pretty well. What I rant about today is computer repair, as in the hardware. My “main” computer fried over the weekend. This is a big reason as why I haven’t posted in a bit. When I say fried, I mean the mainboard was no longer powering up, so essentially it is gone. Not happy about it, but out of options, I headed out to a local computer store to buy the necessary replacement part.
What do I find, but my not-that-old machine is now antiquated, so not only do I have to replace the board, but also the processor, memory and video card. “Ouch” says my wallet. After much deliberation I take the opportunity to upgrade a bit to a pretty decent replacement set and head home.
I strip down the innards of the machine, put in all the new hardware with great care and fire it up…only to have absolutely nothing happen. Crud. After much testing (and calling my brother who is even geekier than me), etc I find that I also need a new power supply to go with this new setup. But, of course, it is now too late Saturday night and all stores are closed, so I get to fester on the situation all weekend.
I have the new power supply and hope to install it tonight to better results. If you hear a long seeming rumble of thunder over the horizon, don’t fear, it isn’t the weather but me if this doesn’t solve it. I hate throwing money at hardware that doesn’t fix the situation - and if this doesn’t do it I will have done quite a bit of that.
So all you in WGG reader land that are perhaps a little less computer savvy, you may want to count yourself luck today. Sometimes you are better off taking it in to let the “professionals” do it, or just trashing the old heap and starting with a new one.
Sorry for your loss and frustration. I am one the just trashes the old heap and starts fresh!!! That said, I just recently bought a new laptop. So I head home with my new pride and joy only to find out my baby had a birth defect….called VISTA! Shock and horror!!! Long story short, after hours and hours of trying to find ONE of my programs that worked with Vista I decided to return the laptop. Only to be told that I would have to pay 90$ for a restocking fee! WHAT! So I ask them for ANYTHING that didn’t have Vista on it….it took them a while to find it, so I now have my new baby, not one that I was planning on, but one without the defect called Vista!
Hope your power source works! I fear that I live too close for comfort if it doesn’t work!!!! Hehe
Did you hear that cry of pain over the horizon? It didn’t work. I finally broke down and took it in to my preferred computer store, PC Club, where I have been buying the parts and told them to figure out what is not working. It has all new parts, so if there is something bad it had better be under warranty! I won’t find out for a few days…keep your fingers crossed.
Crossing fingers!