Sit Down…

…Ogre has something shocking to tell you.

Are you sitting down yet? Because this is a shock, I’m sure.

I’ve just updated my site to the latest version of Wordpress, and all went well. In fact, I’m still, obviously, using the same template. Told you Jim…everything would be all right I also, while in the process, upgraded Spam Karma–so, hopefully, any of the minor spam comments that were still making it through, well, no longer will. *crosses fingers*

I really hate seeing, though fairly rare, comments like Get Penis Enlargement, etc.

Hell, if I wanted one of those I’d have had one done. If a babe doesn’t like the size of it…

I’ll club her in the head, and still drag her into my lair

Video Card? No…

Needless to say, I was all excited yesterday when, while at home during lunch, I heard the UPS guy show up with my latest computer part: a new video card. I immediately went out and retrieved it–the box New Egg had shipped it in was huge. In fact, it was overkill, and I knew I’d be dealing with more peanuts That’s the only thing that irks me about those guys: they still use peanuts in shipping. Haven’t they ever heard of bubble wrap? Ugh.

I hurriedly opened the box, forgetting my annoyance over the peanuts, and found the video card. It was in turn inside its own box. I flipped the box open, and marveled at how small, and cool-looking the new card was. I got an Asus Nvidia 7600 silent-cooled (fanless) model. The heatsink is huge, true, covering the entire card’s top surface, but it only stands up maybe a half inch if that. I was also amazed that this card can do SLI mode–a pretty nifty trick for a card that retails for $129. Anyway.

I unplugged everything from the computer–the machine of doom–and, removing the old card, put the new one in. Of course, I was excited, naturally, as I thought the video card was the problem. I was fairly confident that my problems were over when I turned the power on.

Windows loaded up. The new card was detected. Then, I realized I still had the CD-ROM drive unplugged from when I was testing the power supply. Anyhow. I never realized how loud the fan was on the other video card. With the fanless 7600 the computer was almost a whisper. This was something that made me smile–I hate noise. Then…

…the computer restarted. I think every curse word flew out of me, of course, as normally happens when I get mad. In fact, I think I said the “F”-word loud enough to break my glass desk LOL I couldn’t help it, I was so damn mad.

So, I think it’s safe to say the problem is the motherboard. Dammit. I didn’t want to deal with that.

I ended up deciding to rebuild my dual AMD MP, utilizing the case the X2 was currently in. Then, I’ve got a new case coming, I’ll just use the new parts I ordered and build me an Intel Core 2 Duo. Time to upgrade–already.

Computer Troubles, Again

Once more I’ve got computer troubles. I’m not sure what the problem is, but I have a suspicion, which I hope proves to be correct (as it will be one of the least expensive fixes)–the hard drive.

It all started a couple of weeks ago, but I paid it no attention, really. I’d be in the livingroom and then I’d hear beep as the computer posted. I’d go in, and that’s when I’d see the system had rebooted itself. The question was why. I just assumed there was a software issue, or, perhaps, a minor virus. Then, everything compounded this past weekend. I had the computer on all day Saturday, nothing seemed amiss until I actually went to use it.

I was playing Railroads and, in the middle of a map no less, the system restarted. But, before it happened, the hard drive audibly clicked off (it spun down) and the computer then restarted itself. Strange, huh? Yeah, I thought so.

Of course, being an ogre, I went into a rage. I was mad…It took me a bit to calm down. I think every curse word in the book flew out of my mouth, and every combination thereafter. My brain couldn’t concentrate, either. I didn’t know what the hell to do–besides, I was tired and didn’t care at that point, except for the data that I was about to lose.

I know: back up, back up, back up. But, I hadn’t for a long while. It was all game-related stuff, too. So, it wouldn’t have been a huge deal if everything had gone south since most of the important stuff was (is) on the Mac Mini I have. Still…I was able, by using Safe Mode With Networking, to back up the data, which was a huge relief.

So. I started with the basics: reloading Windows. Well, it was going good until it got to a certain part in the setup where it would continually crash and reboot–with the same symtoms from before. Hmm…Of course, I was still panicking for some reason by this point (mainly because I don’t want to dump any cash into the system). Railwolf–the Wolf is a genius whether he admits it or not–thought it might be the memory, and suggested a freeware memory tester. I’m not sold that that is what it is, though. I have a feeling it’s the hard drive still. Call it gut instinct.

Anyway. I ran the memory tester last night for a few hours, let it do a few passes, and came up with no errors. However, that still doesn’t mean anything. In fact, three passes might not have been enough. So, this morning I popped in the memory tester floppy and let it go–so it’ll have done several runs by the time I get home tonight. That’ll be the real test. After that, I’ll decide on whether to buy a new hard drive or not.

I have the worst luck with computers sometimes. The damn things like to torment me. Oh wait! All the computers I build like to have fun with me

Overhauling

I’ve decided to give “the Lair” a sort of overhaul.

Firstly, I’m going to change the design a tad. Second, I’m going to upgrade the site to the latest version of Wordpress. And, third, I’m going to get rid of the gallery and add larger picture sizes to the posts.

I think this will make the site much more enjoyable for both me and the visitors. I plan on beginning this new endeavor one step at a time, and I hope to be done with it in the month of October–but we’ll see.

Strange Announcements

There sure have been some strange announcements throughout the theme park industry lately. Some stemming from Six Flags, some from Cedar Fair. It looks like the competition has heated things up to where people aren’t thinking as clearly as they should.

Firstly, Six Flags has made some odd ball decisions regarding their St. Louis and Fiesta Texas parks. Apparently, they thought it would be a good idea to install a new wood roller coaster in St. Louis for 2008. That’s fine. I’m rather happy with that. I think it’s a solid idea. However, I don’t agree with the ride’s name: Evel Knievel. What were they thinking? I could see if the ride was somehow motorcycle related–like an Intamin or Vekoma motorbike ride–but a wood coaster has nothing to do with Evel Knievel. Heck, Evel isn’t even from Missouri! Six Flags, to top things off, has decided to move the Batman: The Ride clone, which was damaged during hurricane Katrina at their now-defunct Six Flags New Orleans, to Six Flags Fiest Texas. What makes this weird? They’re going to call the ride Goliath. It’s only 105 feet tall! Also, there is an exact copy just down the road at Sea World, and one over at Six Flags Over Texas. It’s just silly.

Secondly, Cedar Fair has already started to remove rides from Geuaga Lake, relocating them to other various properties. In fact, they’re in quite a hurry it seems, too. Not that this is strange in itself, but, how long have they known? They’ve only had the park for a couple of years. I suppose the strangest thing is that they’re not even attempting to save the Big Dipper–a coaster from the 1920’s.

Thirdly, back to Six Flags, the Wildcatter, a 1st generation Intamin drop ride, at Six Flags Over Texas was imploded just recently to make way for a new coaster. The ride was imploded…I guess they really wanted to get it down. You think they could have sold it. And the bolts together, at that. I mean, it probably would have only taken them a week or two to get take it down the old fashioned way. Hmm…The video is entertaining, though.

Windows XP Goes Boom…

I had decided yesterday, for some reason, that it might be a cool idea to install System Shock 2 on my PC. I hadn’t played it in a long, long time and, with all the Bioshock buzz going on, I thought it’d be interesting to check it out, again.

Now, keep in mind, that the game was released way back in 1999 (nearly prehistoric times in computer terms, apparently) and came along before Windows XP was even dreamt of. So, needless to say, I expected some issues with getting it to run. But…

I found it impossible even to get it running at all. It would start and then crash and close down immediately. Plus, I kept getting a message saying, “System Shock 2 has a known compability issue with this version of Windows. Please contact EA support for an update.” Ugh! Of course, all the links are now broken as EA no longer gives a flying you-know-what about a game this old. Anyway.

I came across a forum post on TTLG that dealt with this problem. I had to install the game using a switch. I did that; the message went away. However, it still crashes on start up. That might have something to do with the hardware drivers, though. It’s a shame. Because, System Shock 2 was one of the best games of its day. What? You have to keep an ancient Win9x computer around, just to play some of the older games? That’s insane! Damn Microsoft. Somehow…it’s your fault.

It’s the 21st century, you think they could write a version of Windows that would run all older Windows games LOL It certainly would be nice. Anyway. Forget classic gaming for now–my brain is too fried to do it.