mousme | Entries tagged with computer stuff

I think my computer power cord just bit the dust. It is throwing the same hissy fit as when I went to

owldaughter's for a writing jam last November and is pretending it's not plugged in.

Thus, I am running on battery power only. In a moment I will shut down the computer, and I will be incommunicado from home mostly until Monday at the earliest, since the damn store from which I got the computer is closed all of this week (well, it's open for another hour, but I'm not beating my way out there now), and I'm working this weekend, which means Monday. Of course on Monday I'm working all day AND have a class in the evening, so it'll probably have to go to Tuesday.

*headdesk*

I hate this. Why do I only ever have computer problems around statutory holidays?

Current Mood: frustrated

It's not a migraine, but it's still unpleasant. I'm trying to make lasagna and muffins and maybe a pie in anticipation of this weekend, and it's really not helping. I really hope I'm not getting sick. That would suck on an epic scale.

The lasagna and I had a battle to the death. I stand victorious, if slightly scarred and scalded. The lasagna is also very much not friendly to the lactose-intolerant. Cheese for the win!

Sympatico is made of fail because they changed their SMTP setting-thingies without telling me, thus causing me to spend 30 precious minutes on the phone with tech support trying to figure out why my email wouldn't send.

I am going to take a bath while the lasagna cooks in the oven. After that, I will tackle either the pie or the muffins, whichever I feel like doing most.

Current Mood: sick

After one glorious, heady evening of wireless internet, my connections are all borked. I just spent an hour and a half on the phone with Sympatico's tech support, and they got my regular connection up and running again. I am displeased.

I have the 1-800 number for the company that made my router (LinkSys, which the guy told me was good, but perhaps he lied in order to make his sale), and as soon as I've recovered from the last conversation with customer service, I'll be calling them to figure out what the hell is wrong with my router.

I tried the signal right in the living room (right before everything went to hell), and even then nothing loaded, so something must have gone horribly wrong with the wireless connection overnight. Why would it work last night and not this morning? God only knows.

Now I have to go about unpacking and setting up bookcases and CD racks and towel racks. I wish I hadn't had to spend all morning on this nonsense. :P

Current Mood: frustrated

Are the internets always this slow on a wireless router? The only time my webpages seem to load properly is when I'm in the same room as the router, which kind of makes this whole "wireless" thing a bit moot. LJ loads, but slowly, and my Yahoo! mail has yet to load at all. This happened last night (when I tried from my bedroom on a different floor from the router) and again this morning (from the next room over from the router).

Should I be doing something different? Is this a User!Error? My router right now is on the floor until I get some shelving set up. Could the positioning somehow be affecting my signal? For the record, it's Wireless-N Broadband router, and apparently has a "built-in" antenna, according to the sales guy. I really hope it's a user problem, because I can fix that and not be out the money this thing cost.

Theories? Anyone?

In other news, I wish the appliance people would hurry up and get here. I'm tired of living with no fridge.

Current Mood: worried

I am wire-free, baby!

After a couple of hiccups, I have managed to install a wireless router in my home. I have a network, and a password, and everything is happy!

I also got myself a Panasonic phone with two handsets, so that now I can answer the phone anywhere in the apartment instead of making a mad dash for the phone. It's very exciting. The phones are charging now, but by tomorrow I will be fully part of the communicating world.

Today was spent running around some more. I'm beginning to wonder if this is some sort of karmic revenge for all the time I spent shut in my apartment for the past eight months or so. I have spent more time out running errands in the past week than I have in the last six months combined, I think.

The appliances are arriving tomorrow, which is cause for much rejoicing. They are coming between 07:00 and 17:00 ("Sometimes it runs later than that!" the girl behind the desk told me blithely), so I am stuck at home all day. That will give me time, I hope, to do a lot of installation work. I have a new padlock to put on the shed door in the garden. I have some towel racks to hang, and all my new Billy bookcases and my new CD rack to set up.

Oh, and maybe I should unpack some more. Yeah. :P

Current Mood: pleased

This goes under the heading How Phnee Is Clueless About Computer Stuff.

So today I tried to connect to the internet as usual using my ethernet connection. Only I got disconnected after about five minutes. "Could not find PPOE server, blah blah blah." How annoying, thought I, this is the first time this new modem has done this since I got it. Fine, I reboot the modem, grumblemutter, and... it won't connect. "Could not find PPOE server, blah blah blah."

Drat. Maybe I've overheated the damned thing. I switch everything off and go to bed for the day.

I switch everything back on when I awaken, and still nothing. However, as I'm fussing with things, I notice that I've received new email.

o_O

On a hunch, I try loading the internet. No problemo. Email? Bring it on. Everything is working as though I were in fact connected. I check my network settings, and they look the way they always do before I connect: 1) AirPort: connected; 2) Bluetooth: not connected; 3) Built-in ethernet: not connected; 4) FireWire: not connected.

So I am led to the conclusion that I must be connected to the intarwebs via the AirPort. Bonus. What I don't know is whether or not I am connected via my own account with Sympatico, or whether I'm inadvertently piggybacking on someone else's network. I had no idea that I ever had anything remotely like wireless enabled, or if it just comes automatically with Sympatico's DSL high-speed service. If it *is* my network, it appears to be unlocked, which is problematic: it means just about anyone can connect to the internet with it, which as I recall presents some security risks. I also have NO IDEA how to change its name (right now it's apparently called "default,") nor how to protect it with a password.

So... can anyone enlighten me? What's going on?

Current Mood: confused

Okay, I will admit to a strategic omission of truth: I already had a new computer when I made my last post from work. I just wasn't sure how long it would take technologically-challenged me to get things up and running.

Luckily, Mac is great for Idiot!Users such as myself, and with a FireWire cable and a few mouse clicks, not only was the new computer ready to go, but ALL my settings and stuff from the old computer got zapped onto the new computer within fifteen minutes. You could knock me over with a feather. Hell, it even kept me logged into LJ! Now that's impressive!

So, everyone, meet Cicero: Cicero is my new MacBook. Cicero is very, very shiny. I shall be exploring many of the bells and whistles over the next few days.

I am thrilled about the new computer. I am very much less thrilled about the timing. I mean, yes, I got a significant rebate thanks to my father (university rebates FTW!), but it still came at a time when I could have used that money, oh, say, for my upcoming move and for the furniture I wanted. So I'm re-thinking some of my priorities, figuring out what I'll need right away, what purchases I can defer, and what I can arrange to buy on a long-term payment plan instead of cash down.

In short: YAY!

Current Mood: excited

Sorry, folks.

Cleopatra is dead. Apparently she clasped an asp to her bosom while I wasn't looking.

Radio silence for a while longer.

Boo.

Current Mood: sad

Cleopatra is going to live. She'll be in the shop until Friday, so all it takes is for me to find the time to go pick her up, since I'll be working for, umm, fourteen days straight starting today, and night shift starting on Saturday.

I had a great, if really short weekend. Spent Saturday afternoon visiting

toughlovemuse and

chibipunkdemon at their new house. We had a barbecue, swam in the pool, and soaked in the hot tub with alkyhol. We also had the most apologetic game of water volleyball ever, and had fits of hysterical giggles over it. Good times. :D

I still haven't found a trailer for my bicycle, but I may go tomorrow to check them out. All I have to do is motivate myself to actually get out there and run my errands. *sigh*

I did get back on the bandwagon today, and took the bike to work. I then made the mistake of allowing someone to suggest that I lock up my bike on the unsafe bike rack near work. Turns out my U-lock is way too short to do that, so I had to make do with a less-safe way of locking my bike. I am displeased. Tomorrow I shall lock up where I damn well please.

Current Mood: busy

Okay, folks. Cleopatra (my laptop) is having issues. So she's going into the shop tomorrow. This means I will be posting only from work for the next little while.

I will miss you, but I shall return. :)

Current Mood: calm

Why is it that on CSI, or whatever other cop show is hot these days, you never see the people fighting with their computers, or having printer issues? There are never any IT guys in jeans and black band t-shirts under their desks, trying to resolve a server or network issue. All their computer equipment functions perfectly the first time around, and they never ever have compatibility problems with the evidence. ("I'm sorry, the suspect uses a Mac and we have PCs, which means we can't open that file...")

The TeeVee police also fight over jurisdiction the wrong way. On TV the police want to take the case, and are prepared to fight to keep it. In real life, the police spend a lot of energy trying to get rid of cases they don't want: "Sorry, not our jurisdiction. That's for the SPVM/SQ/[insert other police service here]." Budgets and personnel constraints means that everyone tries to pass the buck to someone else.

Art reflecting the way it would really like life to be.

Current Mood: frustrated

Firefox keeps a record of my subject lines, and apparently I comment on how quickly time goes by a lot. I'm moving in six weeks, and nothing is ready.

I'm going to bike into downtown today and bring my computer in for repairs. It's starting to shut down and reboot randomly as well as the aforementioned problem of the screen going dark at anything more than a 45-degree angle. No idea how long it'll take to fix, but I may be updating only from work for the next little while.

I need to get my act together and go soon. I have stuff to do before leaving, too.

George and Gretzky are giving each other a very aggressive bath. I am ded of teh ky00t.

Current Mood: busy

Trucks are LOUD.

Why must they stop and be loud right outside my bedroom window? Why?

Anyway, after fighting my way through Montreal traffic (reason #752 to leave the city), I got the rest of my bike equipment. I ran out of time before I was meant to meet up with the paternal unit for lunch, but I am home now, and in the next few minutes I'm going to set up my lights and pannier, don my reflective vest and helmet, and ride to work and back, to see how long it'll take.

In other news, my computer woes continue. The angle at which my computer doesn't switch off is now much closer to 45 degrees, which is *thisclose* to unacceptable. So at some point next week I'm going to have to take Cleopatra to the shop and get her fixed. I can't afford a new computer right now (well, I could, technically, but I have other places where I need to put my money first), so repairs it'll have to be.

*sigh*

The timing of this is not excellent. Could be worse, but why could it not have waited a year or so?

Current Mood: busy

My bicycle is back from the shop. Due to the rain, they actually had it ready one hour after I brought it in. I got myself a new u-lock (the old one is rusted beyond recognition) with an extra chain for the front wheel. Tomorrow I'm going to head out to MEC and get myself the rest of the gear I'll need to be riding around the city at all hours: a pannier, a reflective vest, front and back lights, and maybe some waterproof clothing, given the kind of weather we've been having lately.

I am debating whether to try biking to work on the weekend (it would mean leaving at the crack of dawn), or starting on Monday, when I'll be working night shift. Night shift means that I can dress in whatever I want without too many worries, and I'll be awake early enough not to have to worry about getting to work late.

Okay, maybe there's not so much of a debate after all. ;)

I have to make my lunch and go to work. Meh. I've been really out of it this week at work: tired and distracted, and I've made a couple of mistakes that, while not really serious, are also not mistakes I would normally make. Given that I'm going to be working straight through the next two weekends, I'm going to have to find a way to get my head screwed back on straight. I'm not sure why I'm this tired lately, but it might be the weather.

In other, unrelated news, my computer continues to be old. I should really take it to the shop to get that faulty connection fixed: right now when I tilt the screen back more than 80 degrees or so, it goes black. So I'm planning on replacing the laptop in about a year or so, but in the meantime I think I may have to get a little tune-up on it.

Current Mood: busy

So despite the fact that I've had no connection problems that I can tell since last Friday, the man from Sympatico replaced my modem and told me that there were two problems.

1- My power supply was wrong. Yes, the one I used to replace the power supply that the cats chewed to death a year and a half ago. You remember, the power supply they promised to replace and then didn't, then promised to replace again, failed to do so, and were rude when I complained about it, and forced me to go out and buy my own, without reimbursment.

I am irked.

2- My computer is old, and is not sending the proper enet signal to the modem anymore.

He replaced the whole modem *and* my ethernet cable, which is all made of win. He was polite, he was brief, and he was knowledgeable. While Sympatico's customer service may still suck (though this time around they were polite and helpful, to a point), I am favourably impressed with on-site tech support.

Now we play the waiting game to see if my connection problems are thoroughly resolved or not.

Current Mood: okay

So George (aka Pukey) was just sick all over the floor, and Pan-Pan has decided that this is far superior to his own kibble. I should go in and break it up, but truthfully, it's making my stomach heave just thinking about it.

All right.

::: Three minutes later :::

Okay. Bleah. All clean now.

...

Huh. The technician from Sympatico just called, so I'm going to have to sign off. I'm impressed: they said between 8:00 and 12:00, and it's looking like 08:00, which means I won't have to spend my morning waiting. Good thing I remembered last night that he was coming and set my alarm early. Maybe I'll even have time for a nap.

Current Mood: nauseated

I just spent an hour on the phone with Sympatico, because my high speed connection has been going down like a two-bit whore lately.

Turns out they need to send a technician... except that I'm not going to be home until next Monday, so I guess it'll just have to wait until then.

*sigh*

My computer problems always look ordinary from the outside, and they always turn out more complicated than I bargained for. So very annoying. At least this ought to be fixed next Monday morning.

Also, I have a latent headache. I suspect too much sleep, ironically.

Current Mood: headache-y

It appears that my happy new camera can't load pictures onto my computer, because I don't have enough RAM to install the software. Cleopatra, my faithful laptop, is old and crotchety, and didn't come with that much RAM to begin with.

So... computer people out there: is there a way to improve the RAM on a 2002 Mac iBook? Or am I screwed?

Current Mood: frustrated

I am declaring today a Phnee Day. It means I get to sit around in my pajamas all day if I want to, and do nothing but read and futz on the internet if that's what tickles my fancy.

I may do a load of laundry, but that's only because I have no clothes at all left to wear (except for all my winter stuff, but that's a little warm, even for the current rainy-and-not-hot weather).

I am happily doing writing for Skywatch. I'm enjoying getting momentum back in the game and having fun figuring out new plots (and resurrecting old plots) for the characters.

Last night's stir fry was a success, although I am disappointed that my local store does not, as I was told, carry TVP. I shall have to find a different source for it, is all. I picked up a different variety of tofu, and have found that my only regret is not trying this nifty food earlier in my life. Tofu is awesome. :)

I have struggled for the better part of four hours with Open Office (counting the hours I struggled with it last night and today), and am annoyed. Because I have to run it as though it's Linux-based, it takes forfreakingever on my poor, tired computer. Cleopatra is five years old, and she just ain't what she used to be.

However, while it's really really slow, it's better for sharing files than my default word processing application which isn't compatible with anything on the planet. So.

The rest of the afternoon will be devoted to slacking off, and maybe some writing and some laundry. I have to figure out what's happening in Conflation. I sort of got stalled there because I'm beginning to feel like the writers of Lost. :P

Current Mood: lazy

It tells me that there's only two hours left. Only. Meh.

In other news, I am surrounded by sleeping cats. They gave me up as a lost cause several hours ago, and are now curled up on various surfaces in the living room, sleeping soundly.

Current Mood: calm

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Corner of Bourbon & Division

Her Words of Wisdom Scratched Into The Door

Entries tagged with computer stuff

Well, that's just awesome

Not a good day for a headache

Woe!

Not so win

Wireless!

Inadvertent Wireless

New Computer FTW!

She's dead, Jim

Prognosis: pretty good

Gone for a few days

What they don't show on TV

Huh. That's not good.

Another reason to leave the city

Two stops down, one to go

I can has new modem!

The joys of cat ownership

Happy Canada Day!

Technology is not my friend

Day Off

Open Office is taking forever to download