Computer: Operational

Well, all my drivers are installed. All Windows Updates are installed.

Virus Scanner and Internet Protection programs are up to date.

I still have a few ATI upgrades to install, but I'll do that tonight.

I also have to install my word processors (I use both OFFICE 2000 and Corel Wordperfect Office Suite 12), as well as Adobe Acrobat 7.0, which I picked up on the weekend.

I also have number of multimedia codecs and applications to install. Finally, I'll install my HP officejet 7130 all-in-one.

So yeah, about 2 more hours worth of work to go.

I'm also going to take my old monitor away today. I have a friend who said he may be interested in buying it - if I can get $250 for it I'd be happy. Ideally, I'd like to get enough to help pay for getting another 2GB of RAM to maximize what my system can take (4GB maximum). If my friend doesn't want it, then I'll take it to Powersonic and say, I'm willing to sell this to you - for the price of getting another 2GB of RAM. They sell 1GB for $115, so no doubt the cost for them of this RAM is probably a little lower than that, so maybe they will do that?

We'll see.

- Steve

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