Dodgy RAM and more
I am so hungry right now. I'm sitting at Paul's company right now forum browsing and downloading the updated versions of YIM and MSN Messenger for my PC (Ah, the joys of ADSL). I suppose I should be doing some work while I'm here, and I suppose if Paul doesn't come back from his technical support mission upstairs soon, I may as well do something constructive until we head off for breakfast, and all the errands we were supposed to be doing this morning before the emergency call.
Anyway, the weekend was one long exercise in frustration. Since Thursday we've been buying computer parts, swapping and installing new parts, installing and de-installing programmes, and basically problem-solving for 4 days. We became the bloody House team for PC 'medical' mysteries. After initially thinking the new motherboard (that I was receiving in turn for giving Paul my old one for his mother's office PC) was faulty, we discovered that the start-up problems were due to a RAM conflict with the new motherboard. R800 for 1GB of new Kingston RAM later, things seemed to be working until we started using my PC in Windows and weird 'This file is corrupt' messages started appearing.
So, thinking Windows maybe needed a re-install to be happy with the new motherboard, we attempted to reinstall it. Again, weird corrupt and missing file messages, whether working off CD or the harddrive. Windows would not install. We were at the point of thinking it was the hard drive, when, as a last resort we decided to test the brand new RAM, swapping mine with Paul's. Suddenly my PC was fine and Paul's was giving the strange messages. So much for Kingstone being the best RAM in the world. We're going this morning to swap it out.
And we went through the shlepp of reinstalled Windows for nothing .
So that was pretty much the weekend then: sorting out my PC, Paul's mothers and one for his cousin. I read an interesting article this weekend about how good relationships involve learning new things from your partner. Well, this weekend I did a helluva lot of programme installations, as well as learning how to put together hardware and case components.
Probably the only breaks from computers this weekend were having a braai and games of Settlers of Catan with Warren on Friday evening. And on Saturday morning we met up with my school friends (one of whom is back from the UK for a 2 week holiday) and their partners for a catch up. It's weird how some people change... or perhaps don't. People's priorities and interests go down completely different paths, with endless discussions about money, mortgages and property. Perhaps I'm superficial and content to stick to my fluffy discussions about pop culture and media products, but 'serious' stuff seems so dull to me.
In terms of my plans for the week, I really have to sort out my sister's 21st party photo/video-montage tribute. Her 21st party is now just under 2 weeks away, on the 4th of February, a day before her birthday. My mother is already in hyper-stress mode, pressuring me for all kinds of things that are currently beyond my power to organise. I guess that's what happens if you're Miss Popularity like my sister, with over 100 guests invited to her 21st. By comparison, my 21st was just 30-something people.
The montage then is my first priority activity of the week, but I also need to actually buy my sister a birthday present (Yay! more money out of the bank account with nothing to replenish it), and decide what I'm going to go as for the party. It's a cocktail-themed dress-up evening, where everyone is supposed to come as their favourite drink, shooter or cocktail. Any suggestions?
Anyway, the weekend was one long exercise in frustration. Since Thursday we've been buying computer parts, swapping and installing new parts, installing and de-installing programmes, and basically problem-solving for 4 days. We became the bloody House team for PC 'medical' mysteries. After initially thinking the new motherboard (that I was receiving in turn for giving Paul my old one for his mother's office PC) was faulty, we discovered that the start-up problems were due to a RAM conflict with the new motherboard. R800 for 1GB of new Kingston RAM later, things seemed to be working until we started using my PC in Windows and weird 'This file is corrupt' messages started appearing.
So, thinking Windows maybe needed a re-install to be happy with the new motherboard, we attempted to reinstall it. Again, weird corrupt and missing file messages, whether working off CD or the harddrive. Windows would not install. We were at the point of thinking it was the hard drive, when, as a last resort we decided to test the brand new RAM, swapping mine with Paul's. Suddenly my PC was fine and Paul's was giving the strange messages. So much for Kingstone being the best RAM in the world. We're going this morning to swap it out.
And we went through the shlepp of reinstalled Windows for nothing .
So that was pretty much the weekend then: sorting out my PC, Paul's mothers and one for his cousin. I read an interesting article this weekend about how good relationships involve learning new things from your partner. Well, this weekend I did a helluva lot of programme installations, as well as learning how to put together hardware and case components.
Probably the only breaks from computers this weekend were having a braai and games of Settlers of Catan with Warren on Friday evening. And on Saturday morning we met up with my school friends (one of whom is back from the UK for a 2 week holiday) and their partners for a catch up. It's weird how some people change... or perhaps don't. People's priorities and interests go down completely different paths, with endless discussions about money, mortgages and property. Perhaps I'm superficial and content to stick to my fluffy discussions about pop culture and media products, but 'serious' stuff seems so dull to me.
In terms of my plans for the week, I really have to sort out my sister's 21st party photo/video-montage tribute. Her 21st party is now just under 2 weeks away, on the 4th of February, a day before her birthday. My mother is already in hyper-stress mode, pressuring me for all kinds of things that are currently beyond my power to organise. I guess that's what happens if you're Miss Popularity like my sister, with over 100 guests invited to her 21st. By comparison, my 21st was just 30-something people.
The montage then is my first priority activity of the week, but I also need to actually buy my sister a birthday present (Yay! more money out of the bank account with nothing to replenish it), and decide what I'm going to go as for the party. It's a cocktail-themed dress-up evening, where everyone is supposed to come as their favourite drink, shooter or cocktail. Any suggestions?
Comments
Good luck with the party Noelle.
Anyway, YIM AND MSN? Peh! Nasty things, try an aggregate messenger like Trillian or Miranda. All those individual icons in the systray are just bad for your karma! ;)