Readers would probably be quite shocked to see what a humble operation it is that produces this high quality product each week (or each month sometimes). In fact, all of the work, from concept through to pre-production and production, is done on a single computer. This week, in a twist of irony, the means through which the news has always been reported, now is the news.
A few months ago our computer developed a strange grinding noise on startup. When working on motorcycles I learned to touch the tip of a screwdriver to an engine case and hold the handle to my ear to help identify the exact location a particular sound is coming from (it works good, try it). What bothered me most about this sound was that I could not think of anything in a computer that should be grinding against any other thing. I ended up doing what I usually do when I don't know how to fix a problem; I resolutely, though uncomfortably, ignored it.
The problem developed into a high pitched whining sound that would continue even after the computer was shut down, and could only be stopped by disconnecting the power. Two days ago, the inevitable happened and the computer failed to restart. Since then I have figured out that by fiddling with the voltage switch on the back of the tower, I can get it to start by: 1) turning the voltage switch to 220v, then 2)pressing the power button, then 3) switching to the proper North American voltage (115v) halfway through startup. I am not making this up, that is the only way to do it. At first, I didn't even know that the little red switch changed the voltage (and carried the risk of frying the entire computer), all I knew was that it could be switched back and forth - and in the moment, that seemed more helpful than anything else I could think of. This complex ritual reminds me a little of the process whereby one would go about kick-starting a 1969 BSA 441 Victor Special.
However, unlike cast iron motorcycle engines which can be gently coaxed along through concessive internal explosions, the wires and circuits and magic that make up a computer are more prone to just up and quit without any cause or any deference to journalistic deadlines. In light of this, I have been scrambling to research, locate, and purchase a new computer before this one dies more thoroughly. Just minutes before beginning this post, I finally sent my credit card payment off to cyberspace. Now we will just wait and see if cyberspace honors its end of the deal and sends me a computer.
In the meantime, if you don't hear from us... you'll know why.
- C
3 comments:
Sorry to hear about your computer troubles Chad. My own machine is now 7 years old and now has a fairly constant whirly grindy noise going on. I figure it's probably a cooling fan in the power supply starting to wear out but I can't say for sure. Your cyber purchase prompted me to do a little "new computer" dreaming of my own and I did what I usually do when that bug hits me. First I went to Alienware.com to see what I would buy if I won the lottery. Obviously that's not going to happen so next I go to Dell to see what I could get for a lot less and really, it's almost as good right? Then I shut down the browser and tell myself that the noise isn't so bad and that my computer isn't really on its last legs after all.
Congratulations on your new machine,(even if it's not an Alienware).
Haha, I did the same thing Lorin - my first stop was Alienware! Then I did some reading and found that the Gateway P-7811FX might be a good gaming computer for someone in my, uh, budgetary position.
In the end I went to Dell and got something that should work for us. I figure I can even game on it*.
I hope your compy holds in there,
- C
(*providing that I switch to different games than I had been playing.)
Congratulations on your new computer! Hope your old one holds up until then!
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