The Crash, Part II: With a Vengeance · 1:22pm Mar 15th, 2020
Whelp, it happened again. Yesterday I got up, all happy and bushy-tailed, only to discover that my desktop once again refuses to turn on. This has happened before, and it's always frustrating, but usually the computer stops misbehaving after three or four tries and comes on. Not this time.
The last time this happened, I brought the desktop in to a small computer checkup service. Unfortunately, the problem solved itself while they were trying to figure out what was wrong, and as such they weren't able to pinpoint the cause. They gave it back to me and charged nothing since, technically, they didn't do anything.
Yesterday I brought the computer to the same people. Unlike last time, the problem didn't solve itself. They called me later that evening to say that all their efforts couldn't get the computer to turn on. And since they only fix internal processes and not parts, they didn't have the tools necessary to properly figure out what's wrong. They recommended me to Fry's, but all indications I've seen from coworkers and online tells me they've gotten crummy and, assuming they even can help me, will likely take forever to do it. So I'm going to a smaller company that might be able to do the same job faster. Alas, they're not open on weekends.
To be honest, I'm feeling pretty good about this. Finally, I'll be able to get to the source of the problem and fix it. It means I'm without my gaming compy for a while, but if it leads to a solution at last then I'm happy to take that hit.
The bad news in all of this: I'm without my primary desktop and have to use my work laptop for everything. That means no Discord. That means none of my games. That means none of my image editing programs or the server resource for uploading them for my blogs. It's not that I can't do all these things so much as I'm not willing to do them with my company-monitored work computer (although one or two of them are legit not doable, what with company blocks and the like). Worst of all, because I can't access my personal OneDrive on the work computer, I've lost access to all the story files I was working on. This doesn't mean the stories themselves are lost of course, because OneDrive, but it does mean I can't pick up where I left off on any of them. This is particularly frustrating, as I was working on a story for Parliament of Wizards (what can I say? I was inspired) and that one actually has a hard deadline.
As uncomfortable as I am using my work laptop for personal things, I'm thinking about starting up some short that I can finish in a few days while this is going on. Maybe a continuation of the Generosity or Them series. I have a fun Fluttershy-centric idea, but I don't think it'll be shorter than 5k words, so probably not; I don't want to start any major projects now as I'm already working on four of them at once.
Reviews shouldn't be affected by this. I may have to do some finagling with the formatting because I can't do pictures properly right now, but I don't intend for this to interrupt my schedule. It does mean I won't be doing a C&C entry today, unfortunately. I was looking forward to that.
On the plus side, this inspired me to go ahead and get all the things I need to rig up my desk for two computers, such that I can switch between my work laptop and my personal desktop with a push of a button. It was pricey getting the things I needed, but it'll be worth it since I'm now officially required by the company to work from home until the panic over this Coronavirus thing dies down. Switching between the two computers with my monitors, mouse, and keyboard was always a pain in the ass and one of the big reasons I never asked to work from home more often.
Whelp, I think that's enough news for now. I'll see you folks again on Thursday, rest assured. The format may be different if I don't have my desktop back by then, though.
oof D: Shades of 2015 for me. Godspeed.
We’ve all been there. I have built, nurtured and seen the demise of several computers over time. If a part doesn’t fail, it still becomes obsolete.
Hopefully, the cost to fix this is less than the cost of replacing it.
We’re rooting for you!
AAaaaaaahhhh! The nightmare!
How hard of a "death" was it? Did you get any beep codes at all that would identify which part failed?
5220909
Replace it? I spent $3,500 buying it, and another $1,500 last year upgrading it. Pretty sure a repair will be cheaper than a replacement for this rig.
Still, the well-wishes are appreciated.
5220959
Nope. Press the button and nothing. Not so much as a peep.
I know it's not the power supply, I replaced that this past September and the problem was going on before then. The graphic card shouldn't have anything to do with it, but same story anyway.
My bet and hope is that it's the power switch itself that's gone bad. A bad connection or something of that sort.
5220965
Crap. That is bad. No beeps means either no power, or no motherboard.
Double-checking all the cable connections to make sure something wasn't loose and popped out after a heat shift or a bump couldn't hurt, but I'd definitely recommend testing the power supply: look up, and carefully perform the paperclip test to see if the supply cycles if you've never heard of it. Or even put a hand on it and see if it's still warm (I popped one once by drawing too much power and three days later it was still warm to the touch).
With luck it is the power supply or a loose cable (switch like you said) because if it isn't then it's your motherboard that's gone (otherwise) you'd get the beeps of some kind when you hit that button.
And that's the worst, hands down.
Good luck sourcing it. It's not fun to have your work machine go down. I hope you get it resolved ASAP and easily.
5220966
I spoke to a technician about it. He already did all that manual testing of cables and whathaveyou, that's not it. And again, it's almost certainly not the power supply, because this problem has been recurring off and on since before I replaced said power supply. I think if it was that then the problem would have gone away with the new one.
Anyhow, I won't know anything until I get it to someone who can perform some proper diagnostics on the parts. That won't happen until tomorrow, so I don't expect an answer at all until at least Tuesday, being optimistic.
If it does end up being the motherboard, then fine. I was thinking about upgrading, anyway. I wanted to wait another year when I'd saved up money to do it, but buying a new computer with all the same specs as this one would still be a lot more expensive than having a motherboard replaced.
5220979
I'll restrain from further unsolicited advice, but man that sucks. Best of luck getting it up and running ASAP.
How is your entry coming along? I'm glad you're entering; You're one of several people on the site that are doing so and I can't wait to see what people have come up with when the final collection comes out (though off in 2022 that may be).
Good luck getting your rig working so you can finish it off! I look forward to hearing if you make it in!
Ouch, sorry to hear that . It’s good to hear you’ve got some backup plans. I wrote a fair bit of Daring Do and the Wailing Mountain on my phone in the mall, waiting for a computer checkup.
5220989
I was approaching the climax scene when things were forced to a premature stop. Once I get that done, I will look at my wordcount and probably go back to rewrite the beginning, as I kept it short as a precaution. I feel like it'll also need a bit of rehashing to give it more... 'theme'. This is one of those stories where I had an idea and just started writing, with only a limited awareness of everything that would go into it. The more I write it, though, the more I come to realize what the story needs, so some scenes will have to be updated appropriately.
I was actually going to ask you if you were interested in giving it a pre-read once I finished the... however many drafts that ends up being.
5221026
You are a brave, brave soul. I for one could never write on my phone. I've written on a kindle before, but not a phone.
5221090
That was in the days before I had Scrivener on my phone to boot; I was doing it all in my phone's Notes app . That's definitely an out-of-my-comfort-zone thing, but sometimes those are good for shaking off mental cobwebs.