posted on March 30, 2004 08:47:30 AM new
Myself, I mean. I have a Gateway computer that I've had for three years. Up to this point it's been a great computer (1.5 gig so it's pretty fast). I began having trouble with the USB ports and no matter what tech support and I did (their tech support by the way is STILL in the US and is one of the best), nothing would fix the problem. They finally threw their hands up and said they were sending me a new motherboard. Since my computer came with a 4-year warranty, I thought that was great. NOT!
It arrived yesterday - this complicated huge mess of a board. Circuits here, circuits there, circuits everywhere. So, not wanting to totally screw it up and not wanting to spend another three hours on the phone with tech support, I started to read the manual. If the look of the board isn't enough to scare the bejesus out of you, the manual is.
Here's where it gets funny. I sprayed the furniture, the carpeting and myself with anti-static spray AND attached an anti-static strap to myself and the computer. It is still cold here in the northeast and the heater causes a lot of static. Once I was thoroughly de-staticized (I know, I'm making up words), I took the computer side panel off. Of course, I did remember to remove all peripherals and the power cord. Don't want to get zapped! I found out from tech support that if you push in the power button for a couple of seconds after removing the power cord, it helps to discharge some of the power still in the computer (just remember to push it in for a couple of seconds again before putting the power cord back in - no clue why).
To make a long story short, after diagramming the old board to make sure I plugged everything in right, it works! I'm so totally amazed that I was able to do it. However, should any of my friends need a motherboard replaced, well. . .they're just going to have to take it to Best Buy! I'm never going through this again. What a PIA!!!!!
posted on March 30, 2004 11:44:09 AM new
LOL, kraftdinner. Now a car is something I'd never tackle. I've never even changed a tire! I just wait for some big, strong man to come along and help me. NOT!
posted on March 30, 2004 12:33:58 PM new
Cherl - It is so funny that you speak so highly of Gateways CS. Back in the early 90's my company had a Gateway which desperately needed some upgrades. I swear we left 3 dozen messages on their machine (because no one actually answered the phone back then) asking them to call us about upgrades we wanted to make. We never got a call back. A couple years later our offices were broken into and our network was stolen. The one bright point was that I finally got to get rid of that dog of a Gateway.
Congrats on your accomplishment though and its good to hear Gateway turned themselves around in the CS department.
My Auto Story - When I got my first car my step decided there was no way he was going to have two women in the house that were automatively helpless. He taught me many things about my car but the best (if absolutely annoying) thing he ever did was wake me up one Saturday morning and hand me a box containing my carborator and a rebuild kit. He told me the directions were in the box and he would be back in a few hours to help me reinstall it. I was pissed at the time since I had plans for the day but sat down and did the rebuild (using his toothbrush to get all the little nooks and crannies of course). When I moved out this turned out to be a valuable skill. I had lots of guy friends with fixing skill but the one thing they all had in common was a distatse for rebuilding their carbs. Any time I needed work done on my car I would just trade labor. Saved me a bundle. Of course that was an old muscle car - these days with the computers n such... I've hung up my toothbrush and gas can.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Mar 30, 2004 12:48 PM ]
[ edited by fenix03 on Mar 30, 2004 01:58 PM ]
posted on March 30, 2004 01:04:51 PM new
Fenix, do your boyfriend(s) get intimidated by you, or do you just try to pretend you're stupid around them so they don't feel emasculated?
After reading your story, I am especially embarrassed to report that I just paid NerdBoy computer service $99.00 for a house call. He found that my two month old Belkin USB hub was not working. Later, my daughter said, "You should have called me, I could have diagnosed that on the telephone."
posted on March 30, 2004 02:07:50 PM new
LOL! My ADD extends into my relationships as well so I gravitate towards men that don't have much free time. The few days I see them at a time keeps me from getting bored with them but it now that I think about it, probably protects their egos too. I've never been told I am demasculating but I've definiely been told I am too independent.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 30, 2004 02:22:02 PM new
That's funny, Helen.
Recently they showed on the news back east in Quebec where you can bring your computer into a school for repairs. Little 10 and 11 yr old kids repair them for a minimum fee. It showed worried adults coming in and the little computer experts working like mad to repair them quickly and with no problems as they had learned to build them from scratch and most times knew exactly what to do.
posted on March 30, 2004 02:29:43 PM new
You sound like me, Fenix. My time alone means more to me than anything in the world. I'll spend a hour max with friends then I have to leave. I can't go to the show because I get bored about 5 minutes into it. Even at home - I've never watched an entire movie. I can never complete a project at once - I have to do it in segments so I always have a bunch of things on the go. Maybe I've got ADD too. It could explain a lot of things.
