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2007-04-07 - 7:39 p.m.

Too Much Information

**WARNING**

This is boring. Too detailed. Too techy. More for me than for you. I can't keep track of things from one day to the next. You are more than welcome to inspect my record of events, but if you yawn, it ain't my fucking fault.

**End Warning**

I talked to a DSL support tech yesterday and after he helped me configure everything correctly (I was testing the modem on my laptop first), he discovered there was a programming error on THEIR end. That would take "up to 24 hours" to fix.

How lovely.

In the meantime, I unpacked my new Velocity Micro desktop. The packaging itself impressed me. The system was carefully cradled in flexible-type styrofoam and wrapped in plastic. That wasn't anything out of the norm, but all the software and user guides were enclosed and organized in a sturdy blue plastic expandable folder. Ooooh! Snazzy! There was also a blue Velocity Micro t-shirt tucked in the box. Yay! On the back, there's a picture of a PC, with their logo underneath and the words "BRING IT ON." That's totally my motto, so I KNEW I'd bought the right machine!

There was a big orange note affixed to the case with instructions on if the computer arrives damaged, and outlines the rigorous testing done pre-shipping. It explains that sometimes components can get knocked loose, blah blah and to call them immediately if there is anything wrong.

The keyboard and mouse, enclosed in a separate box, were both VERY NICE. Then there was a big "Accessories" bag with every kind of cord, adapter, and thingymadoodle I might ever need.

I lovingly unwrapped the big shiny black case, set it next to my coffee table on a shelf board from the desk I no longer use. Then I unpacked the 22" widescreen LG monitor, and WHOA NELLIE! It's almost as big as my TV. I love it! I made sure to buy one with a black frame so that everything would match. I carefully snapped on the stand and the base, adjusted the angle and starting connecting all the cords.

Before powering on, I admired my handiwork and purchasing prowess. It looked so FUCKING COOL!

I powered it on and everything cranked up according to plan. The blue backlighting on the case was an added bonus. Then a few seconds later, while the system was running the POST (power on self-test), there was a problem. The Windows XP O/S wouldn't load. I received a "disk boot failure, insert system disk" error.

Sweet Jesus in a jumpsuit.

The user guide said to first check the DVD/CD drives to make sure there wasn't anything in them. I knew there wouldn't (shouldn't!) be, but I checked anyway. Nothing.

I rebooted, just in case. Same error.

I was going to pop in the Windows setup XP disk that came with the machine, but figured I'd best do a little research online first. I logged onto my laptop (slo-mo in AOL, but at least I HAD an internet connection) and found a few things to try in the CMOS/BIOS setup. I fucked with that for awhile, with no luck. I thought about popping the case open to check for loose parts (Velocity Micro lets customers easily access the inside if need be, without invalidating the warranty. How cool is that?), but I didn't want to take the chance of screwing something up. Best to talk to a tech rep first.

I called and was put on hold for over 10 minutes. I was feeling like shit physically by then (throat was throbbing), so I hung up, thinking I should probably contact the eBay vendor (Best Buy Outlet) first and let them know something was wrong. The Best Buy Outlet is run through a place called DealTree and I went to their site and futzed around, finally got in a live chat with a service rep who told me to submit a Return Mechandise Authorization (RMA) request. I asked "Do they provide support or do I just have to send the unit back?" The rep said they might provide support, depending on the problem ("send them a detailed message"). Whatevs.

At any rate, I knew I had to inform the company of the defect within 7 days, so I went ahead and submitted the RMA form and asked if they could provide support. Per the automated response, my request would be responded to within 1 business day. Which meant...Monday. Oy.

I decided to try the support desk at VM again. I was on hold for 15 minutes and running out of steam. I hung up, shut the new system down, walked the dogs, took a shower, grabbed a bite to eat, talked to mom to give her the latest and find out any news on dad (nothing), then crawled into bed. I intended to take a nap, but I decided to read my Second Life guide first (my Amazon package was delivered around 2 pm -- yay!) I knew snow was in the forecast and was delighted to see it coming down in gusty waves. I lit a few candles and curled up with my SL book.

I discovered a wealth of helpful info, and reading the book made me want to be in SL all that much more, but what could I do? Even if everything was up and running correctly, I was feeling too sick (and tired) to enjoy it. I almost checked out my DSL connection again, but decided to call it a night and rest as much as possible for today. I popped on a relaxation tape and finally fell asleep.

SweetPea woke me up bright & early (8-ish) and although I still felt like crap, I whisked the dogs out in the cold for a morning walk. I put a log on the fire and brewed a pot of coffee. Tried the DSL connection on my laptop and was amazed to find out it was WORKING! Finally! But...it was kinda slow. And pictures on the few websites I hit for a test wouldn't load. Hmmmm.

I decided to switch gears and focus on my PC problem. I called the Velocity Micro help desk, and although the office was closed, I was able to talk to a gal and submit an emergency help request. I still wasn't sure exactly how the warranty stuff would be handled (I knew I should be covered, but I wasn't sure how it worked since I bought the system from a Best Buy outlet on eBay). She said someone should get back to me that day. Oh! Goody!

By that time though, I had pretty much accepted I would probably have to ship the system back to the vendor (and would be out that cost as well). Most likely, they'd have to offer me a refund since PC stock was limited and I'd be back where I started, less $50+ for shipping, but with a kick-ass monitor....connected to NOTHING.

I shuffled in the kitchen, filled up my coffee cup and thought "Well, that's the way it is. It's not the end of the world. Especially considering what's going on with Dad. Be patient, kiddo. It'll all work out in time."

Yet, the minute I accepted the state of affairs, I had a feeling something might go my way. It was so weird. Like the acceptance of (instead of anger about) the "worst case" opened a gateway to something better. Does that make sense?

I grabbed my knitting, turned on the TV, and plopped down in my big blue easy chair. The end of "Heavenly Creatures" was on A&E. Ohhh...I love this movie! I sipped my coffee by the fire and knitted. The dogs were curled up on the couch. My throat starting feeling better. When the A&E movie ended, I popped on my new "Happy Feet" DVD, half-watching movie trailers, while I finished a row. I felt content.

Before digging into all this crazy SL/new computer stuff, all I wanted to do when I got back from Houston was knit by the fire with a good movie on, while the dogs napped.

Wow. I have everything I want.

"Happy Feet" started and it made me even happier. Ooooh, I already love it. Ten minutes into the movie, the phone rang.

Couldn't be mom at this hour (it was only 10-ish and she knows better 'cause I'm usually a late sleeper), but OMG, what if something happened with Dad?! But I just knew it wasn't mom. And to my utter delight, the caller ID read "Velocity Micro" -- THANK YOU GOD! (It's Easter weekend and all that jazz, so PROPS to you and Junior!)

Shaun (Shawn?) was very nice and helpful. And cute-sounding. He walked me through all the CMOS/BIOS stuff ("Yeah, I checked that...but I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing") and then asked if I had a floppy 3.5 disc in my accessories bag. I grabbed it and noodled around inside. No! (Heck, I probably have a cord that goes straight to the Pope's innermost thoughts in that bag, but no bootable 3.5 disc? WTF?)

So we tried this and that while I rooted around looking for the disc somewhere else (could it be in the expandable folder? Nope!) He started checking specs on his end and I asked him about a rattling sound I'd noticed. I put the phone down by the case and let him listen.

"Sounds like something's loose. Yeah, that's not normal."

"Do you think that could be the problem?" I asked in anticipation.

"It very well could be."

"Are we going to open the case and check?!" (I was GIDDY, I tell you)

"That was next on my list."

He instructed me how to take the side of the case off, and while I was doing it, I told him how much I loved the VM lets folks do this without screwing up their warranties. He said "Yeah, me too. But you know, lots of people don't feel comfortable taking the case apart, and we will send a tech out, but it does take a lot of time. It's easier when people can do it over the phone, because we walk them through it."

First, of course, I had to unplug the power cord from the back (even when the system's turned "off" there's still a bit of energy running through it via the power cord).

Then, after a bit of "Do you see this? Do you see that? Look left...ok, now look far right" we determined the main hard drive cable (red) was attached, but 1) the hard drive was not screwed in tight to the metal slot, 2) there was a cable of bundled twisted wires touching the fan, 3) this cable (SATA) was not plugged in to the hard drive!

Once I moved the SATA cable and plugged it in, I screwed the hard drive tighter into the slot and with the side of the case still off, I plugged it back in and booted it up.

And...IT WORKED! Shaun/wn even stayed on the phone with me while I set up my DSL connection (I switched over to ethernet instead of using a USB port -- which didn't require a setup disk), and while I went through my Windows XP activation, to make sure everything was running right. How sweet is he?!

I've been asking everyone lately if they've heard of Second Life, and I'm surprised by the number of tech geeks who haven't. Usually I start in about "a virtual community" and they say "Oh, you know what? I think I HAVE heard of it." Shaun/wn was telling me (while I was searching for a screwdriver for my hard drive -- SEXY!) that he was into World of Warcraft, which is a favorite of many folks into SL/this kinda shit (The Sims Online is also mentioned a lot).

ANYHOO, I finally logged onto Second Life! My DSL connection on my new PC was running much faster than on my laptop, and everything was graphically represented as it should be. Yay! Within a minute of walking a few steps on Orientation Island, a guy hit on me. He was from Germany. But he knows his English: His first name is "Penetrator." Ha! I KNOW. That's putting quite the blunt tip on it, don't ya think?

After finishing my required tutorials on Orientation Island (move, communicate, search, appearance) I have walked, driven a car, flown, chatted, made a few new friends, changed shirts, and sent a postcard to my sis-in-law. I then teleported over to Help Island. I have yet to meet anyone from America! So far I've met three folks from Germany, and one from: Italy, France, Brazil, and Chile. The big chat question is "Where you from?"

You instantly know that 1) they're foreign, and/or 2) they suck at grammar. The French guy kept saying "What?" after every third thing I said to him. And he wouldn't stop following me around. I think he was more confused than pesky.

There was one guy who dropped next to me with a white/grey muscular body (no clothes) and a tiny head. Head on shoulders, people (you have to pay for sexual organs, and movements they make!) He made a laughing gesture, asked my age and when he found out I was twice his, he replied "I fly lot" and zoomed off with a "by". Good thing, because I had already stepped back.

I can't wait to get to the MAINLAND. But I have to make sure not to miss anything on Help Island (once you leave, you can't return, unless you create another account, which is actually recommended to back up your inventory).

Anyhoosens, I took a break from my tutorials this afternoon to finish watching "Happy Feet" and walk the dogs...then I discovered that I wasn't able to get online again with my DSL. After a call to the company, I found out per an automated message, there's a service outage in my area and they don't have an estimate of when it will be fixed.

WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUCK ALREADY?

After checking back a bunch of times, I gave up and logged on to my tried and sucky true AOL. I was going to cancel my dial-up soon, but perhaps I'll wait. Or I'll tell them I'm cancelling and get 50 bazillion free months.

That should last until my DSL comes back online, dontcha think?

Listening to: "Hit Me Up" by Gia Farrell (from the "Happy Feet" soundtrack)