# Eve's Computer (2003–2003) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430 "2003-08-20T13:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/1 "2003-08-20T13:46:44Z")
OK, I know it’s nothing in the Grand Scheme of Things. I haven’t been blown up by terrorists (yet), I don’t have cancer (as far as I know), I have a regular paycheck (for the time being). But damn, I am sick of this computer crap! As you know, I got The Virus. Downloaded the virus-killer CD—which knocked out my Internet and e-mail connection. Took yesterday off (one of my _two_ Personal Days) to wait for the Comcast guy to re-hook me up. Comcast guy tried everything, including an ethernet, to no avail. “It’s not your driver or your card; I dunno _what_ it is,” he said. “Put in the Applications Recovery CDs from Toshiba, to rebuild your hard drive. Just put 'em in, follow the prompts, and Bob’s your uncle.” Well, Bob, needless to say, is _not_ my uncle. CD #1 got up to “90% reformatted” and the screen went black. Three times. Finally got through to Toshiba (they have _the worst_ hold music!) and they said they’re stumped, too—I gotta find a Toshiba service place in midtown and bring it in, after I get back from vacation. In the meantime, my computer’s dead as vaudeville. I hate this century. I _knew_ this whole “21st century” idea was a mistake; it’s been nothing but trouble for the past two-and-a-half years. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/2 "2003-08-20T13:51:29Z")
Rest in pieces. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/3 "2003-08-20T13:53:41Z")
… Sigh. I can rebuild it. I have the technology. Stronger. Faster. Better than before. Or at least more compliant, less virus-prone, and less maddening. Or, at _least_, tell you more accurately what’s wrong. This Saturday. Your call. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/4 "2003-08-20T14:01:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E-Sabbath \* > \*\*This Saturday. Your call. \*\* That’s more than sweet of you! But I’ll be out of town from Friday till after Labor Day. Maybe Sat. the 6th? I’ll pay ya, _and_ buy you lunch! And/or give you a signed copy of one of my books, of your choice! ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/5 "2003-08-20T14:09:19Z")
Damn, I wish I lived in NYC. That whole lunch/book thing would be too good to pass up. Seriously **Eve** , I am sorry to hear about your troubles and if if I were at all within range to come and help you, I’d be glad to. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/6 "2003-08-20T14:14:08Z")
Man, if only I lived in New York, I could get my copy of _Vamp_ signed, and all I’d have to do is reload a system? As if missing Broadway weren’t enough. Ah, well. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/7 "2003-08-20T14:36:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\* > I hate this century. I _knew_ this whole “21st century” idea was a mistake; it’s been nothing but trouble for the past two-and-a-half years. \*\* Oh come on now **Eve** , it hasn’t been all bad. How about that time when… I’m going back to bed now. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/8 "2003-08-20T14:36:53Z")
I dunno if it’s the CDs or my computer. Three times I loaded CD #1 and it chugged along happily till it got to 90%, then—poof! dead screen. The Toshiba guy on the phone was gobsmacked. “Well, that’s _supposed_ to work!” ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/9 "2003-08-20T14:40:16Z")
Oh, good. I’m having my second TV dish installed the 30th… need it to get PBS… so the sixth should work just fine. (I figure I’ll format the hard drive the old fashioned way, fdisk and fdisk/mbr, install 2K, bring it up, run norton a few times, run the Toshiba disks through a CD cleaner, toss 'em in, see if it happens again… Anyone got a good hardware tester, just to make sure it’s not the RAM or motherboard going flaky… at 90 percent… maybe video card?) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/10 "2003-08-20T14:44:47Z")
I actually feel (some of) your pain here, **Eve** - that security patch for the worm did all sorts of Bad Stuff to my system, it’s taken me several hours to fix it (and I wound up doing something I’m Not Supposed To in order to accomplish that much). I can’t help wondering if this patch was properly tested before MS brought it out. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/11 "2003-08-20T14:49:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by E-Sabbath \* > \*\*Oh, good. I’m having my second TV dish installed the 30th… need it to get PBS… so the sixth should work just fine. \*\* Oh, you’re a doll—and not Talking Tina! Where are you coming from? Driving, or public transport? I can meet you in NYC and lead you in and out of the wilds of Joisey. E me! We even have an actual 1930s railroad-car diner in my neighborhgood where I’ll buy you lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/12 "2003-08-20T14:52:12Z")
P.S. Any other NY Dopers wanna join us, for diner lunch? It would have to be a small group, as both my apt. and the diner are “wee.” ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/13 "2003-08-20T15:04:03Z")
Not a NY doper, but I just wanted to tell you you’re not alone, **Eve** ; I tried to fix my Mom’s computer (blind leading blind) but couldn’t get it done w/the Symantec download. So she spent 3 hours on the phone with a delightful Microsoft tech (!!) who talked her through the de-worm _(she said he “took her to places she’d never been before”)_. Even he STILL wasn’t able to do the “patch” and made an appointment for someone in R & D to call Mom at a specific time & delve further. Perhaps some sort of ritual sacrifice would help. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/14 "2003-08-20T15:17:07Z")
Is it possible the hard disk has some bad sectors on it? My understanding is that sufficiently crappy sectors can make a format impossible – at least, I think this is why one of our work hard-drives conked out recently. (To be fair, **Eve’s** hard drive probably hasn’t been exposed to four years of stray animal fur and dander, been flooded due to a leaky roof, and had bleach water spilled on it). Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/15 "2003-08-20T15:17:13Z")
From jersey city chiming in here: Could be a number of hardware problems, including a crashed Hardrive, faulty memory, faulty power supply, over heated processor. I have some tools still lying around I think. Be happy to help! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/16 "2003-08-20T15:23:06Z")
This never happened with typewriters . . . I mean, it’s not like people would break into your home and start whalin’ away at your typewriter with an ax . . . Anyone who wants to join us, let me know! You can get on the Message Board and tell everyone what a mess my apt. is and how cute my cats are! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/17 "2003-08-20T15:32:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*This never happened with typewriters . . . I mean, it’s not like people would break into your home and start whalin’ away at your typewriter with an ax . . . \*\* Every typewriter I ever used came preinstalled with the “no cut and paste” virus. Drove me fucking nutty. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/18 "2003-08-20T16:50:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*I hate this century. I _knew_ this whole “21st century” idea was a mistake; it’s been nothing but trouble for the past two-and-a-half years. \*\* Ya know, often - typically at deadline time when you can gaurantee that the confuter isn’t going to work correctly, I pine for the days of the quill and bottle of ink. \ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/19 "2003-08-20T17:30:30Z")
Remember, folks, it’s a brand new computer. As in, under what, six months? I’m not going to crack the case on it, it’s still under warranty. That’s why I’m going to do an experimental Win2K load on it, to see if it’s thermal… run disk tools… but I’m asking for the name of a good utility to check RAM and motherboards. My old toy is no longer reliable on modern PCs. I’m thinking a power outage generated issue. What it is, I don’t know yet. I’m thinking bad sectors, though. Okay, MicroDope it is. Me, I’ll be coming in on the train to Grand Central, … eh, saturday… wake up… Probably on the train by 12:50, so in around 2… let’s see if I can beat that. Okay, on the train by 10:50, in by 12… Where shall we meet? I’ve got to hit the Strat and Image Anime… you know, I bet Eve might dig a japanese import store. Or not. You never know. So… Hm. I’ll wind up somewhere on 34th street. Pick a point, I’ll email to clarify, this is just to give a suggested starting point. Fair warning: This will probably be much like combat: Brief moments of terror interlaced with long periods of boredom. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430/20 "2003-08-20T17:36:25Z")
You know, I had this typewriter with a disc, you could slide it in and out to change fonts. Spun, and a hammer hit it to make the letters. Brother. Good company. Alas, the darn discs used to fracture from wear. Usually towards the end of a long paper, just before it was due. And there’s the Selectric spinning ball types, which used to get clogged with dog hair. Not to mention the ever popular Underwood Jam, where you’d lock four keys up at once and one would bend… You know, quill pens are nice except when you leave them on the paper they blot like mad. Chiseling letters in stone is good except for when you slip and wind up with less fingers. And have you ever pressed cuneform into clay and then had some idiot elbow you and you put your hand down through your entire day’s work just before you fired it in the kiln? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eves-computer-2003-2003/196430.md?page=2)