Testing this stupid thing! Ignore this stupid post. (Wonders whats with the graphics blinking on and off?)

Okay, the wireless modem is occassionally cutting out for a few seconds every once in a while. It just did it about four times in the past ten minutes.

Monday, January 28th, 2008

As of 11:30ish am today, we now have highspeed Internet from Comcast.

Last week I'd called Comcast and mentioned how the guy never showed up, yet again, for that problem that needed clearing up. So, I asked if that work order could be cancelled and then a new work order put in for a high speed Internet install. I said we could always re-address that other issue later.

The nice lady on the other end of the phone said we could certainly do that. She must have talked to a supervisor or something while she had me on hold, because when she came back on, she said she'd give me a 50% discount on the installation fee.

I said, "Okay." Hey, when someone says they're going to give me a discount, I'm not going to argue.

So, I'm surfing faster now. This is sooooo cool!

A Not So Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Internet


On Tuesday, December 11th, (or thereabouts), I logged into my ISP, (Internet Service Provider), as usual. Before I could go to any website, my computer was immediately under a determined attack. That's the only way I can put it. Norton Anti-Virus, (had downloaded the most recent updates just a couple of weeks before and a full system scan was run nearly around the same time), kept popping up messages about things if recognized as a threat and it removed it and my computer was secure. Until it met something it couldn't handle. Norton Anti-Virus said it recognized it, but it didn't say it removed it and it did not say that my computer was secure.

Then, stuff started happening. Before I could pull the phone cord out of my notebook's modem port, a DOS or Command Prompt window opened up but all I saw was a very speedy cursor zipping back and forth. Cord disconnected, I immediately pressed and held down my power button to force the computer to shut off.

My heart was racing, I can tell you! I'm rather surprised that I didn't have a heart attack right then and there. It was around this time that I was regretting putting off making those backups of my files that I had not backed up in over a year. :procrastinatorsmilie:

The next morning I thought, "Why don't I turn on my computer and see if I can copy off a few files?"

I turned on my computer, and things seemed okay. "Seemed" being the operative word. I inserted a flash drive into the USB slot and started up UltraEdit, my favorite text editor. The files I needed to copy were there and before I could copy them off, I got a message saying that the files have been deleted. :panicsmilie: Then Norton Anti-Virus tried to run and it caused a "Blue Screen of Death", the first one I've seen with WinXP. :biggerpanicsmilie:



Then the screen wallpaper changed to basic black and in bright red text it said that my "computer was infected with a virus." I figured that out by this point. System Restore could no longer remember the system restore points I had set over the past couple of years. Task Manager was no longer available. I shut down the computer with the old press and hold the power button until the computer turns off trick.

During the course of the work day, I debated whether I should try to restore from the last system backup I'd made, oh, three years ago. Of course, that would erase what might still be on the hard drive . . . like important files . . . .

Okay, by the time I got home, I decided to call in a professional. Now I had to find one. After supper I got out the Yellow Book.

Shortly before bed-time I found one who's name I recognised from somewhere. Didn't remember where though. So, I called them. Their ad in the Yellow Book said they remove viruses and they do notebook repairs. Well, I'd been planning, (and procrastinating), getting the notebook's screen fixed so that I could close the lid again. (I had been afraid to close it because I didn't think the screen would turn on again the next time I opened the lid.) I called, found out where they were located and made an appointment.

On December 13th, 2007, I took my computer to the nearly local computer repair place. About a week later I find out that the cable for the screen needs to be ordered. A few days later I'm told many of my files were recovered, (don't know which ones though) but the part for the screen has not come in yet.

:Internetwithdrawalsmilie:

December 19th or thereabouts, no part yet.

:MoreInternetwithdrawalsmilie:

December 23rd I receive a text message that the KT is "acting weird". Now I'm worried about the KT and going through Internet withdrawal.

I was expecting a call from the computer repair place after Christmas, but it didn't come. The Saturday before New Years I called and found they were closed until the 2nd. :rolleyessmilie: :Internetwithdrawalsmilie: :ReallyReallyWorriedSmilie:

The computer repair place has this policy that if a computer is not claimed after thirty days they'll sell it. So, I call on the 4th, (Friday), and I ask for the status on the repair and if they just happen to have a notebook that hasn't been claimed and that they'd be willing to sell. The status of the repair was that the part for the screen came in, and it'll be fixed that night. Meanwhile, he just happened to have a notebook available and if the person he'd talked to recently didn't call back by the close of business that day, I could have it for $350. I said "great!"

Saturday the 5th. I go in to pick up my computer and hope for a second one. Once there, I'm informed that there's a problem with my computer. :rolleyessmilie: Of course there is. Why wouldn't there be a problem?

There's a piece that goes in or is under the right hinge and it's cracked in half. The part has been ordered and is expected soon. Meanwhile, the one person didn't call back so the other notebook is mine if I want it and he'll take $50 dollars off the price. Another notebook computer with a new motherboard and a reformated hard-drive? For three hundred dollars? Sure, I'll take it and no arguing. (Why not?) He was already copying my files from his recovery machine and getting ready to put them on the new, (well, new for me), computer.

Meanwhile, he let me take a brief look at the recovered files and those that I thought were gone forever were there! Including certain very important files not saved anywhere else. (No, I won't identify those files. Those who need to know, know.)

So, later that day I go back and get the second computer.

Okay. You're probably wondering why I didn't leap back into cyberspace that day. Well, I refused to use the ISP that I had been using since I didn't want to risk another attack. (Paranoid? What? Who me? You betchya!) I wouldn't go back to that virus infested ISP if you paid me and let me use your computer!

I also figured that since I'd be changing ISPs anyway, I might as well try for better than dial-up.

I called AT&T on January 7th, (Monday), and they told me that DSL was now available in me area. I ordered it. I ordered the wireless modem self install kit thingy. I was supposed to get that on Thursday. DSL service was to be on our second line by Friday. I took half of that day off to have time to hook stuff up. Thursday, no equipment. Friday no equipment. The Wifey and I played Zelda: The Four Swords. We finished the game. We'd started playing it between Christmas and New Years. The Wifey got the game two years ago! About time we got around to playing it.

Tuesday, January 15th, I called AT&T. Apparently we're too far away from wherever we need to be to get DSL. They did try to call us, but they were calling us on our line two. The one I wanted the DSL on. We only use that line for dial-up and there is no phone on that line. I told them that when I ordered the DSL. :rolleyessmilie: In fact I've told them that every time I've ever had to call them about something. I don't see why AT&T tells people that DSL is available in an area and then tells them, "Oh, but wait! You're too far away from the Central Switching Hook-Up The Only Place We Provide DSL Office so you can't have it."

Called another DSL provider. It seems they'd have to use AT&T's lines so we'd have the same problem of being too far from wherever.



Talked it over with Tanje and we might be able to afford Comcast cable Internet for the short term. Maybe. Will have to eliminate two of the movie channels from our DirecTV account to get some money. But that's only part of it. This will only be temporary until AT&T gets it's act together and gets DSL in my area.

Wednesday, January 16th, called Comcast. Found out that wireless highspeed will cost around $65+ per month with a $140-something installation fee. :faintsmilie: Going to have to talk to the Wifey before ordering as the price is higher than I was expecting.

Unfortunately, I'm honest and sometimes I have a big mouth. I'd mentioned that although we had canceled our original Comcast account in August when we switched to DirecTV, we were still getting some sort of TV signal on a TV that had never had a cable box hooked up to it. In hindsight, (about an hour later), I really regretted saying that. :rolleyesatselfsmilie:

When I called to place the Comcast highspeed Internet order, I was told that a work order had been entered to check out why we were getting a signal when our account was canceled and until the work order is closed, she can't enter another one. :bangheadagainstwallsmilie:

They're supposed to come over on Saturday.

Saturday, January 19th. Comcast was supposed to show up between 8:00am and 8:00pm. They never showed up. Sunday, they never showed up. Monday they never showed up. But, Monday was a holiday, (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

Monday, January 21st. Called Comcast, found out they won't be out until Thursday, the 24th. Again, that's just to check out why we're getting a t.v. signal.

Tuesday, January 22nd. My quest for high speed Internet is looking more like a failed quest. I've been reconsidering some dial-up options. I made some phone calls while at work.

After supper I made a call, but after convincing the guy to set up something for an immediate connection, he said I'd have to wait an hour before calling customer service. Apparently it takes an hour to set up a "profile".

The next day . . . it didn't work.

Called another dial-up provider. The first, (of only two), access numbers didn't work. While I was at work I called the company and got the other number.

Came home, tried it and after several attempts, I got online. Dial-up. I guess no one wants to provide me with high speed Internet.

I had one problem this morning. When I went downstairs, the signal from the cable box to the T.V. had sound but no picture. It took me a while, since it is painful for me to kneel on the floor to get behind the stuff to check the connections. (Even more bothersome and painful to get back up.)

Anyway, once I decided I may as well get down there and check, I found a couple of loose connections. They are still loose, but they're making contact now so I did get the picture and sound.

Whew! I still have stuff on the cable DVR that I have to watch.

I've set up recordings on the HD DVR and some more on the regular DVR. The HD DVR has the wrong zip code in it. But I couldn't find how to change it. I suppose this means research at the DirectTV site.