Life Goes On...

I'm always choosing moods that are kinda meh and bleh and just ok. So today, I thought I'd try and jumpstart my mindset by proclaiming that I'm really ready to party! YEAH BABY YEAH! ** SMILES **

Late last night I reorganized my secondary hard drive so I could format my primary hard drive and reinstall Windows XP.

The nice thing about my new hardware setup is that my Internet connection is not automatically started when I install Windows. I have to install a driver supplied by Asus.

So what I did last night was install Windows, then I did a virus check with the free virus program (no viruses!), and then I installed McAfee. I then ran the full virus check (again - no problems!). I then finally installed Zone Alarm: Pro, a firewall program and made sure it was working ok.

Then, I installed the internet driver needed to get access to the Internet - and voila! - no problems!

*** knocks on wood ***

Immediately though, the firewall blocked access from something outside the computer that immediately within seconds of connecting to the Internet, wanted to access my computer. Since I started the Internet, the firewall has blocked 65 access attempts, 4 of those were high-rated (which I guess means they were really, really bad).

So far no viruses or worms or trojans =)

*** crosses fingers ***

I'm now installing the required Windows updates, hopefully for the last time. From now on, I'm so totally going to set a defrag and scandisc to occur at least weekly to help keep my drives in good working order. And when I do do the reinstall of Windows, which I like to do every 6 to 8 months, I'll make sure I install the antivirus software and internet security programs before I connect to the net and hopefully I'll never have these problems again.

Anyway, I wanna finish installing some of these updates, then head to school. I'm studying actually, while I install the updates. So the less time I spend writing here = more time to study.

- Steve

PS. It looks like I may be going back to work at Future Shop??? I dunno, but in the last month 2 people have quit (1 part time, only about 8 hours a week; 1 full time), 1 transferred out of Entertainment and 1 person was officially fired only days ago... I was in on Sunday and a lot of people I know in the store were like go see Dylan (our Entertainment Coordinator) next week, get some hours back!

So I have to think about that - right now I don't mind not having hours, mainly because I know if I do get hours I may not spend enough time studying. So I'm thinking maybe wait tilL September. Plus, Mom is going in for surgery within the next few weeks and will need help at home during recovery.

New Computer: Installed

Well, it's done. Almost. I upgraded my computer. I now run a:

As combined with stuff I already had...

And it's all plugged into the new ASUS P5P800 Motherboard as housed in the amazing new Antec P180 case (nice, expandable and quiet), with an Antec NeoPower 480W power supply.

I was also able to find a memory card reader at London Drugs that fits into a 3.5" external floppy drive bay, so I don't have to plug an external reader into the machine and waste precious table top space.

And to top it off, Mom did want a new monitor that she can actually see on, so I upgraded from a Samsung SyncMaster 700NF to a Samsung SyncMaster 213T (With a Future Shop 5 Year Product Service Plan), which got solid reviews on epinions.com.

I purchased the motherboard, processor and RAM from the good folks at Powersonic. I purchased the Case and the Power Supply from NCIX and I purchased the Hard Drives, the DVD-Burner and Monitor from Future Shop.

Now it's time to finish installing all the software updates.

- Steve

computer upgrade possibilities...

well, I looked today at Powersonic, an indy computer store in Richmond that I've done business with in the past. I looked into the cost of upgrading to a Pentium 4, 3.4Ghz, with a good Asus motherboard that supports multi-media applications. I also looked at doing 1 GB of RAM and to do that would be about $650. I have a good hard drive already, and DVD burner (although I may pickup at Future shop a dual layer burner). I think I may go with 2 GB of RAM and that would add another $100 or so. I also want a new tower and it's a toss up between a generic grey one that's $65 or getting an Antec tower, which run at about $120 but are supposed to be very quiet which is a bonus - I hate hearing the fans running all the time.

The guy is willing to take a trade in on my old motherboard (also an ASUS) and P3 chip with 1 GB of RAM. I may also throw in my older DVD-Burner and my Monitor and see what he can offer me. Altogether the above would cost about $950 plus tax which is within my budget and will really give me a power PC. My Mom wants to learn how to use the computer as well and wants me to get a better monitor --- I have a good one but depending on what I save with the trade in above, I should be able to get a good 19" or 21" flat panel monitor which would be easy to see for her. Also would make watching movies on my computer and doing video editing better as I can see the picture better on a bigger monitor.

So we'll see, I'm going to shell out the final numbers and play around with it and see what I can do. Should be able to do ok. I'll end up with a better system I think this way, rather than going with an HP multi-media PC which would run at about $1,500 or more (with tax on top) and I can still use my Creative Audigy surround sound card, my All-In-Wonder, etc.

If Mom wants her own computer a year from now or so, we can get a Future Shop HP, and get Product Service Plan so that if anything goes wrong after I move out, it's very easy for her to get it serviced if I'm not nearby. They even are getting Geek Squad with technicians that'll come to the house which would be ideal for Mom.

So Mom is willing to put a bit towards this, for the monitor part anyway, which is good. Every little bit helps - gotta love Moms!

- Steve

steve lee wow???

I feel accomplished today. Yesterday, the breakfast went well - the first one we've done in Richmond. Today we'll do our first candy sale fundraiser, and promote the crap out of Canada Day and the Canada Day Pub Night. Got the computer working =)

Installing all the programs takes forever though. There are some that have had updates to them and I want to get the latest of those, they are like new versions and they have special upgrade offers so I'm going to purchase them later today.

I want to get a new dual layer DVD burner and I may upgrade my tower - going to maybe look around today or tomorrow, if not next week. I found a memory card slot reader that slides into the drive bay, they have them standard on a lot of new computers but it was hard to find one that you could add to an existing computer but now there are like a few different kinds so I want to get that. I have one that sits on the desk but anything that helps remove desk clutter is a good thing.

Anyway, gotta finish installing Office.

ta-ta for now,

- Steve

WOOT?!??!?

Well, I think I got it working. I was able to finally install the full version of McAfee while logged into the Safe Mode of XP. I then ran a complete scan of the hard drive after updating the virus program and it found a few trojans and one adware program which it deleted and once that was done things have been smooth sailing. I installed all the Windows updates and now I have to install a few drivers and some programs.

I was browsing today, possibly thinking about getting a new computer. I definitely want a new monitor and I may either go one of three routes:

1. Just do an upgrade - new motherboard, new processor, more RAM - go to like Pentium 4, 3GHz, with lots of RAM. New tower.

2. Get an HP - they have some very nice multi-media computers and I talked to the guy at my own Future Shop who said there were some nice new HPs coming down the pike within the next few months if I can hold out till then.

3. Go MAC - Get a new system, the new MAC G4 I think it is? These beasts are made for multi-media applications - they make feature films on MACs. Definitely something to seriously look into I think.

My Mom wants a computer, so maybe going the HP route for her would be good, if I am seriously considering doing more serious film stuff, maybe I should consider having a Mac for that, and then for everything else I do, since a huge part of me still likes Windows and the stuff it offers - I can just hang onto my laptop, and maybe even get a good multimedia HP laptop (the new one they have out now - sooo nice - P4, 3GHz, 1GB RAM (upgradable), 200 GB HD (with a way of getting another one hooked up to it), all the slots and plugs for multi-media devices, outputs to send signals to like your TV or a nice monitor, very very nice. Dual layer 16x DVD Burner. 17" widescreen that is very sharp - I am in love with this baby but the price is sticky $2,499.

But in the fall, they will probably come out with an even better model --- I'm not looking to replace my laptop right now but at least I have some options open to me with new models of computers coming to look at. Also, getting like a full HP or MAC, I can get it with a full product service plan that can be used to take the hasstle out of owning it - i.e. if something goes wrong I can hand it over to someone else and they take care of it at little cost to me, whereas right now, with a homebuilt model, although it can be fun to maintain and keep up, can be taxing on the time.

Anyway, it's 2:20am now, I gotta get to bed - pancake breaky in the morning on campus followed by a candy sale - I hope to be able to leave campus by about 2 or 3pm, to come home, finish installing stuff and finish cleaning and organizing my dresser area and the piles of stuff around my desk... I so need a tiny two shelf bookshelf next to my desk under the window to hold some of the crap on top of my dresser, so it's less messy looking in my room! Problem is I can't find a little tiny one, they are all big and too tall for the spot =S

- Steve