My Birthday Ain't So Happy With Windows 8.

Well I finally broke down and bought myself a Toshiba laptop with Windows 8 operating system. I decided to give myself this premature birthday present because I am going to take blogging seriously. That's right...I said "seriously". I've got so much to write about that I have to get serious about blogging. And my birthday is coming next month. So, kill 2 birds with one stone! My close friends know that I am not one to rush after new-fangled technology until I have given the inventors enough time to straighten out the kinks. Over the years, I have seen so many technological faux pas that I have become rather cynical about new computer technology. And my personal encounters with Windows 8 have not changed my mind. Don't misunderstand me, I'm impressed with the capabilities of the system, but I am completely befuddled as to why Microsoft would go to such extreme lengths to make using a computer unnecessarily difficult for its customers. Being technically inclined, I approach all computers from a technician's standpoint. However, many of my friends are computer illiterates, and those who aren't have somewhat limited computing knowledge. Many of them work with computers and are skilled in using particular programs, but when their personal computers start giving problems, they have no clue as to how to proceed. I remember one customer whose system became infected with a virus. I was unavailable to help at the time so he was talked into purchasing an entirely new system by an incompetent technician at another establishment! (I removed the virus from his old system within 30 minutes.) Back to my new laptop. I must admit that I had a bit of trouble exploring it when I got home. Booting up was no problem. Switching apps was no problem. However, to close apps and customize my startup screen was a nightmare! That's when I really began to critically examine the Windows 8 experience. I had to conduct in-depth research to locate the on/off button on the doggone machine! Kudos to the video makers on You Tube. Apparently I am not alone in trying to decipher Windows 8 operation. Does Microsoft really believe that consumers would read boring volumes of instructions before playing with their computers? Especially instructions written in computer-speak? After many years of suffering through Microsoft Windows systems, I had finally become tolerant of the niceties of system operations. Even Windows Millenium was partially tolerable. But apparently some genius at Microsoft believes that making the use of a computer simpler for consumers as time passes is not a good idea. Instead of simply clicking the little "x" at the top-right of the screen to close an application, (as in all previous Windows versions), now a user has to become a computer tech or risk destroying their machines by improperly shutting them down. What happens when an app crashes for the first time? My hair stands on end as I write. I have repaired several Windows 8 based computers over the years, but I never had to experience the frustrations of the owners in depth. I could not understand what they were going through. I have removed viruses from systems and replaced power supplies, etc. But these were elementary tasks. Even setting up in-home networks were not complicated as it has now become. I can now understand the frustrations that my telephone customers are experiencing when I try to talk them through a "simple" computer problem. Previously, I was able to coach a thorough "newbie" over the phone how to use a computer in a couple hours. Now I don't think so. Even personally trying to teach a close friend how to use my "gift" has led to total frustration. It has taken me a very long time to convince this person to become computer literate. Windows 8 has destroyed all my arguments in minutes. This experience reminds me of the old song "The Hat I Got For Christmas". Although I am glad I gave myself the gift before my birthday, I am now singing "My birthday ain't too happy with my gift"! All thanks to the morons at Microsoft R&D who were so ecstatic with their technology that they forgot to cater to the needs of their consumers. Another Microsoft moment.

Mysterious Case of the Cigarette-Smoking Computer

I vividly remember a situation when a client brought a computer to me for repairs. It seemed that the computer was wheezing and scraping every time it was powered on. The owner thought that the machine was about to die. I did, too, when I heard the distressed machine for the first time. I sounded like it was tumbling rocks around in the power supply and on the mainboard. It also smelled like it was smoking a stale cigarette I immediately turned it off without going through a thorough diagnosis.

I was shocked! I had never smelled a smoking computer before. I thought the poor machine was about to ignite and disappear in a puff of cigarette smoke. I seriously believed that somehow a cigarette had become lodged in the internal machinery and ignited. This was not hard to conceive because the owner was a chain smoker. Within the first 15 minutes of arriving, she had consumed approximately 3 cigarettes and half-choked me to death. I had to ask her politely to refrain from smoking in my workshop.

Having heard (and smelled) some of the problem, I decided to peek inside the machine, hoping to discover the source of the sounds and the cigarette smoke. I took the case covers off, exposing the bare insides of the distressed machine. I was mortified by what I observed! Apart from dust coating most of the components on the mainboard and peeking out of every nook and cranny, there was a gummy substance that smelled distinctly of nicotine. It seemed to be oozing out of the power supply. It also coated the processor cooling fan and the extra exhaust fan in the machine.

This gummy substance also had developed oily dust plumes everywhere it could in the machine. No wonder the machine smelled like it was smoking when powered on! The owner looked totally befuddled as we surveyed the electronic wasteland that was her computer. How would I be able to repair it? Being the gifted electronic genius (pleez!) that I am, I concocted the following action plan.

• I grabbed  (yes, grabbed) a nearby bottle of denatured alcohol and a fluffy, light brush and applied a coating of alcohol over the entire motherboard and its attachments. (This action destroyed the gummy residue without moisturizing the dust).
• Then I cranked up my trusty vacuum cleaner (regular type) and carefully (and gently) extracted the dust plumes and fluff from the entire machine (elementary, my dear Watson).
• I gave the case covers the same treatment.
• After all traces of the alcohol had evaporated, I powered-up the open machine to verify that everything was working fine; no smoking nor "rock tumbling".  (Remember: always disconnect all power sources before repairing electronics.)
• Once satisfied, I replaced the case covers and handed the machine to its relieved and eternally-grateful owner, along with some care tips for the beleaguered machine. (Don't smoke around your computer. The supply fan will "inhale" the smoke and distribute it to the rest of the machine.)

Thus ended the mysterious case of the cigarette-smoking computer. In this instance, great tragedy was averted because the owner sought help in the nick of time. Without correcting the hazardous conditions building up inside the computer, an electical fire could have been generated by the hot elements inside the machine. The nicotine-soaked dust plumes were dense enough to sustain a strong flame resulting in disastrous consequences.  Had the fire occurred while the owner was away from home, who knows?
The morale of this story is: regularly clean dust out of your computer and its attachments ( a household vacuum cleaner applied to the case vents will do) and don't smoke regularly around your computer!

How To Change a Dead Power Supply in a Desktop Computer

I'm not wishing this on you but as a computer user, it will happen to you someday. About a month ago, I turned on my  trusty system and...nothing happened. (=o(. I was flabbergasted! Just the night before, it had whizzed along at 90miles/hr all over the internet with no sign of impending doom. I thought it was tired after working from 7am - 2.30am redesigning my website,www.prettygoodoffers.com, so I decided to let it sleep another hour. But, 1 hr later, it still would not awaken.

After futilely trying to awaken it several times, I accepted the fact that my trusted buddy might have kicked the bucket. What was I to do? Almost my entire life was encapsulated in that machine. Of course I had parts on hand to build a new machine. But that felt like I was abandoning my old bud in its time of need. We had traveled so many places together and it had always been there for me when I needed it. It had been my mainstay when I helped other computers in their times of need. Now it needed me and I could not let it down.

 To verify my suspicions,  I performed this diagnostic.

•  First I checked all power cables connecting the computer to the power outlet to ensure that electricity was flowing to the machine. (Check.)
• Next I checked the video cable from the computer to the monitor to ensure that it was connected properly. Unplugged and reinserted it. (Check).
• Disconnected all attachments to computer except monitor. (Check. No response.)
• Disconnected monitor from computer. Monitor worked. Computer still asleep.

Diagnosis: Dead power supply in computer. Remedy: replace power supply.


Luckily for me, I had a working, used power supply in a computer shell I acquired from my brother several weeks before. I had intended to repair that computer but somehow I procrastinated too long. I removed the power supply from this machine and decided to give my buddy a heart transplant :o)! So this is what I did:

I disconnected everything attached to the dead computer.

Removed the case cover to expose the dead power supply.

Removed the four screws attaching the power supply to the case.

Carefully disconnected the power supply wires from the mainboard. (Be careful to not bend or break the connectors on the mainboard. Be firm but gentle. Pay attention to what goes where.)

Remove the power supply. (p.s. DO NOT OPEN! Curiosity can kill you.)

Having already removed the working power supply from the donor machine, I carefully attached its corresponding wires to the connectors on my mainboard. When completed, I used the screws from the old power supply to attach the new one on the case and voila!...my buddy had a new lease on life.

P.S. Just a few words of advice for you.

• Always disconnect all attachments (including power cables)  before performing any repairs to your computer.
• Dress appropriately when performing electrical repairs ( ;0) medical gowns not needed.)
• If working in a carpeted area, please wear rubber-soled shoes to prevent static electricity damage to electronic components.
• Wear an anti-static strap or touch bare metal before handling your mainboard or electronic components. (You can destroy them with static electricity from your own body.) 

• Ensure the new power supply is of the same wattage output or greater than the old one. (Check the labels.)

I am happy to say that since its heart transplant, my buddy is again whizzing along the trails of the internet. It has helped me to enhance my newly redesigned site, www.prettygoodoffers.com where you can now find incredible discount deals on electronics and other merchandise everyday. So if you find yourself in a similar situation, these steps should work for you.

My Apologies

Just a quick note apologizing for my extended absence from posting on the blog. Believe it or not, I have been traveling around seeking a more convenient place to reside permanently. I finally decided to return to the Northeast and try to settle down once and for all. Despite the fact that the South has its qualifying factors, the limited income opportunities of non-managerial employment is a turn-off. Loved the climate in the Carolinas, despite the sudden electrical thunderstorms and potential tornadoes. Met some of the nicest people there. Anyway, I am back and this blog should begin humming along again. I am open for questions about computer repair problems and would be happy to hear from you.

Computer Screen blinking on and off? May be time to buy a new screen.

A couple months ago, a close friend of mine called me in a mild panic. She told me that her computer screen (monitor) was on but nothing was showing on it. I had to first calm her down (her life is on the computer) and assure her that the problem was less serious than she thought (right!). She had contacted some high price techs who advised her to buy a new computer. (Quite reassuring).

She, of course, could not think of it since all her documents and particulars were stored on her somewhat ancient machine. Being particularly familiar with the computer myself, I attempted to do a telephone diagnosis. We went through the following routine:

• Check the computer cables connecting to the wall to ensure the machine was properly plugged up. (Check!).
• Check the monitor cable connecting the computer and monitor to verify the connection was firm each way. (Check!)
• Turn off the system for about 5 minutes to promote a fresh reboot because an electrical supply spike can mess up the booting process, preventing the loading of essential driver programs.(Check!).
• Reboot the system to see if everything works fine now.(No success! Same problem.)
• Disconnect attachments from the computer (printer, external disks, etc), leaving on the monitor hooked up. (Looking for conflicting equipment in the system.) (No change.)
•  Disconnect monitor from system. Power on and off to see if monitor working well without system. (No.)

• Conclusion: replace monitor. Monitor (not necessarily the system) is bad. 

Several days later, my new tech trainee, happily calls me with news that she had replaced the monitor and everything was now fine. She had visible access to her life and the old machine was humming along as usual. She did not have to buy an entire new system. (Pat on the back, pleez!)


P.S. Sometimes we get so fascinated by the amazing things our computers can do that we forget they are only simple machines conducting electricity through electronic parts. They are quite prone to the failures facing all electronic equipment. Electric spikes (especially from thunderstorms) can destroy internal parts without frying the entire system.  Sometimes the part is too old to do the work it used to do. Sometimes there are too many attachments competing for power from the single power unit feeding the system. This results in the sudden puzzling behaviors that our computers display from time to time. So next time your computer goes haywire, try the above checklist to determine whether you need to junk the entire system or simply replace a defective part.