Further applications of lessons learned…

After the fiasco of attempting to order a 4 tB hard drive for my laptop last (and my subsequent application of my new 4 tB back-up drive), I ordered a new hard drive with the right size (I hope, since the new drive is 7mm, and apparently my current drive is 9mm). But it’s easier to fit a smaller drive than it is to fit a drive that is too large. We’ll see.

I did make a point to check with the manual before I ordered a ram upgrade. And this time, I know I got it right. Hopefully, they’ll both arrive at the same time. I’m going to have to remove close to 30 screws to get to the innards, so I’m going to do all this at once.

Size does matter……

So I ordered a new 4 tB hard drive for my laptop last week. It arrived today. Took my laptop apart. Installed new drive. And I couldn’t put the laptop back together. This was a 1/2” hard drive, and my laptop uses a 7mm hard drive. And the size does matter.

This was a very expensive lesson that I learned. I’m not going to return the 4 tB hard drive. It isn’t defective, and I’m not going to go through the hassle of returning it if it’s my fault for not checking the size first.

But on the bright side, my usb hard drive adapter also supports laptop hard drives. So I now have a 4 tB back-up drive.

And I did order a 7mm hard drive upgrade. Only a 2 tB drive, but it’ll be enough room.

Ordered a bunch more useless crap….

While perusing Newegg today, I finally pulled the trigger. I got a few things for the laptop:

• A 4 tB hard drive. Matches the one I have in the tower. This was if either computer fails, the other one will be able to fully stand in. And if it so be the tower, then I can use the laptop to replace it.
• A Blu-Ray burner. Laptop came with the HP SuperDrive (basically a DVD burner), but I now get Blu-Rays instead of DVDs. I’d like to watch them on the go…
• CyberLink Media Suite 14 Ultimate. I have it for the tower. Why not have it the laptop?

Once I get these in, the only thing that I won’t be able to do on my laptop that I can on the tower is watch TV. I can get a usb TV tuner, but I see no point in it. I have cable tv at home, and the laptop is supposed to be portable. Although since I have have X1, I can still stream my tv programming, too. And then there’s Hulu, and Netflix….

I ordered all these while at supposedly working at Mrs. Fields today. My boss was being very tolerant about the use of personal electronics on the job. But he also knows that when I calls me in, I lose a day off from my main employer, so he cuts me a little slack.

Speaking of which, my main job just tried to call me in tonight. I told him no. I’m going to keep the drama to myself for now, at least to see how it can be resolved. But I needed the day off today to cool off, figuratively.

We are currently in the high 80’s with a forecast of the 90’s for tomorrow. I think today was the first time in two years that the air conditioning got turned on at Mrs. Fields (owner doesn’t use it, he grew up in a really hot part of India, so he sees no need for it). And I’m in the living room with the air conditioner on. Rather than trying to cool the entire apartment, I’m just working on keeping the living room cool. When the heat of the day passes, I’ll be able to retire to me room, and when the sun sets, I can use the window fan.

It’s another day off….

At my previous work location, in recognition of the nightmare that my commute was, I had a set schedule. As in carved in stone 7-3:30 Tuesday through Thursday & 6-2:30 Friday and Saturday. Then my employer made something similar to every full-time employee. I didn’t have the set days of the week, but I still opened, and I was still full-time. WHen I transfered down here, I was moved from opening to closing, but I was still full-time. I don’t have the same days off as my last location. But today was a day off. And I spent it doing absolutely nothing. Aside from watching the Mariners on my now paid off 55” TV…

For someone who knows the truth about The New World Order (Mond-Control Divison), I seem to be watching a lot of baseball. Maybe it’s time I got another hat…

Lesson learned the hard way today….

Ok, I figured out how to install Windows 8.1 on my tower. It’s actually not that hard, since it’s what my tower came with when I bought it. It’s simple. Just use the system restore set (first thing I did was burn the recovery DVD set). Then I uninstall all the bloatware. But before I install the drivers, I have to install updates. Over 200 of them. But once I got Windows patched, I was able to install all my drivers (including the troublesome video driver) without having any issues with the Blue Screen of Death. I’m going to try to make this a permanent switch. There are a number of reasons why, and there are also reasons why to use Windows 10 and Windows 7 as well. But basically it boils down to I like the way Windows 8.1 renders the windows’ borders vs. 10. Nothing will beat the Windows 7 Aero interface, but the end of support is drawing near.

And there’s also the chance to work with Linux in it again.

Took a sick day today….

After an ibuprofen and two cups of coffee, the headache still wouldn’t relent. Since I had accrued enough sick time, I simply called the day manager this morning. It’s going to happen, at least my employer’s sick/attendance policies are clear enough on this. And thank The Flying Spaghetti Monster for paid sick leave.

Payday was Friday. And most of my money is already gone. But all my bills were paid on time. I may actually pay my laptop off completely during the finance period…

And the frustration continues….

Why do I keep deciding to wipe my tower? When will I realize that I should leave well enough alone? But there are a couple of things I’ve learned the past two days:

• Norton is still as buggy as ever. As I was reinstalling drivers and themes, I inserted the USB flash drive that had my fonts, cursors, and themes, and Norton immediately started flagging my font files as virii. So, even though I get it for free from Comcast, it is still a pain in the ass. It’s back to Microsoft Security Essentials. It works. Though I also have gotten virii running Windows 10 with Windows Defender. It’s more about practicing safe hex than what AV you’re running….
• And the other thing I’ve learned is that my SD card slot on my tower is supported natively by the operating system. No more searching for and trying to install the supposed drivers.

This time, I’m going to apply the lessons I’ve learned from my previous misadventures. But I am going to take my time with this. After all, the only thing that I can’t do on my laptop that I can do on the tower is play Flight Simulator and run my virtual machines…

Yet another day off….

Yes, it’s my day off. They say it’s going to be a bit warm today, so I’ve got the AC on the living room. With my laptop. After yesterday’s fiasco trying to get Windows 8.1 on the tower, I now have to rebuild it, and once again I’m going back to what I know works. But, instead of Microsoft Security Essentials for internet security, I went with something different. One of the features of Comcast internet is a free copy of Norton Internet Security. I remember this. This is what my first computer had when I got it. As I upgraded, I also tried upgrading that, and I think 2/3s of all my Windows ME meltdowns were directly caused by it. So, of course I figured what the heck. I installed in on my tower. And it’s there. I see no difference so far between it and MSE. But if it works and does my system no harm, then it’ll stay.

Both laptops in the house run Windows 10, and therefore run Windows Defender. There’ll be no change there…

An exercise in futility….

Tried Windows 8.1 this morning, thinking I had figured what my issues were. It wasn’t the case. I tried everything but I couldn’t get the system to not bluescreen when I attempted to install the current display driver from AMD on my tower. It’s only with Windows 8.1. I have no problems installing the current drivers in Windows 7 or Windows 10. So, I’m at the point where I really can’t use the OS that came with the computer when I bought it.

Though, on the bright side, I did upgrade it to Windows 8.1 Pro right before Windows 10 came out, and I used that to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. So, I think I’ll go with Windows 10 Pro for now….

It’s been one year….

It’s been one year since I went to Mom’s apartment and found her. Yes, I called 911, and the fire department responded in 3 minutes, but she was already gone when I got there. It still hurts today. Losing loved ones is never easy. But that is a part of life. People come into your life. And people go. Sometimes the best you can do is keep a stiff upper lip and appreciate those around you while they’re still here.

Readers, drop what you’re doing right now, and tell your loved ones that you love them.

Maybe Barbara Bryant spend all eternity frolicking in The Beer Volcano and The Stripper Factory.

Fudge it!

All that effort into attempting to install Windows 8.1. And it bluescreens when I attempt to install the graphics driver. Definite no-go for me. Back to what I was running before. At least with the laptop, I still have a working computer.

Underway on the Creators Update

It took a half dozen tries. And all my mobile data. But my laptop is now running Windows 10 Creators Update. And I brought the BIOS up to date. The Bios is a funny thing. I’ve just had to update it on my laptop for a Windows 10 update. I’ve never had to update it on my current tower. My previous tower was updated once. And my I never flashed it on my Gateway.

But we’re running the Latest and Greatest from Microsoft. And the laptop is still running….

Well, this bites….

Wouldn’t you figure it. Microsoft decided that when I was on a metered connection would be the best time to push the Creators Update to my laptop. But on the bright side I did figure out how connect it to the store Wi-Fi. But that was also when I got busy with work (I mean Mrs. Fields is a fun place, but it also work, and customers have to be taken care of).

On the bright side. I’m underway on Wi-Fi here.

It was my day off (past tense)

What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment. I had to run some errands and I stopped by Mrs. Fields. Big mistake. Now I’m here working now. Oh well. At least I got my errands runs (ended getting a memory card from Worst Buy). Actually, he had asked me on Wednesday if I’d come in and I said yes. But there is a bright side to being penciled in at Mrs. Fields on your day off. There are the cookies (within strict limits, as I am trying to bring my blood sugars back under control). And I’m out of the house, too. And with my usb modem from Sprint, I can even blog about working at Mrs. Fields on my day off while working at Mrs. Fields on my day off….