"I've got good news and bad news," the computer said to me.

[alexandraerin]

You all remember when I said I was having problems with my email client not properly showing me all the emails it downloaded? I still don't know what exactly was causing it, but cleaning up all the accumulated crapware on my compy has rescued hundreds of email from limbo.

And that's not counting the spam that's in my main spam-catching address.

(Fortunately a lot of them are just Livejournal and Facebook notifications, though.)

So, in addition to all the email I haven't seen because my email-checkin'-computer was out of order, I also have older emails going all the way back to before my trip to New Orleans that I'm just now seeing.

Fun!

I suppose I'm going to set up some rules/filter-thingies to try to sort them into more manageable masses (in particular, to get the notices from PayPal about sponsors and such separated out where I can see them).

Comments

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

dunno, the sticker on the side just says AC Input: 115V-230V under Voltage, and 6A-4A under current. Says "The Best Power, Model No.:MT-400P" and a bunch of stuff listed in Amps about DC Output

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[stormcaller3801.livejournal.com]

Then I'd say you're probably looking at a 400 watt PSU as a rule of thumb; a 400 to 450 is probably a safe bet. Here's matching PSUs at newegg- there's more details that need to be taken into consideration, like how many 12v connectors and whether you have a 20 or 24 pin main connector, but it's a decent reference for price ranges and narrowing things down a bit.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

Ok, now we're definetly out of my area of understanding. :D I know nothing of pins and connectors.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[stormcaller3801.livejournal.com]

It's very simple once you look at it- there's a few standard shapes and sizes of connectors in a computer. The most common is the 12 volt, 4 pin type- they're generally found connected to hard drives and CD drives and the like. It looks like a rectangle with two corners shaved off, so it only fits in one way.

The motherboard itself typically has one big connector, which is either 20 or 24 pins. It's impossible to miss, and again, they've designed the plug so it'll only fit one way. Many power supplies are set up as 20+4s, meaning you've got two separate connectors that can snap together to fit into a 24 pin, or you can just use the 20 pin. In addition there's some smaller ones used for other things, such as video cards, and possibly a CPU fan- as well as a separate CPU power plug-in on the motherboard. Not everything has all the connectors- some old video cards don't need extra juice, for instance.

Newegg (which isn't paying me anything, I swear) has a good writeup, with pictures, here.

Generally speaking, you shouldn't need to worry too much so long as you look at the number of things currently hooked up in the box, figure out how many pins are involved, and make sure you've got at least that on anything new. Worst case, you can always resort to either taking pictures of the PSU and inside of the case, or lugging it over to the shop and getting Tonia to tell you which PSU you need.

Honestly the whole thing's easier than you think. Connecting things up is akin to those blocks and holes when you were a toddler, figuring out which will fit in which.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

My friend Tony was the one that built our sytem for us. He use to come over whenever we needed him. And he'd bring his girlfriend Kim with him. We'd all sit around and watch anime and eat, it was kind of like a little party whenever we had computer trouble. But Tony's moved to New Mexico looking for work. Kim doesn't drive herself. I miss my friends.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[stormcaller3801.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize. Most of my friends are about four hundred miles North of me- the rest are further away. It's been years since I've had a chance to really sit down and have fun with good friends. But, I hope to find more when I move, and I can use the Internet to keep contact with the old ones. And make new ones.

And hey- this gives you an excuse to talk to Tony.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

I would if I had a way to contact him.

So where are you planning to move to?

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[stormcaller3801.livejournal.com]

You could ask Kim, see if she has any information on how to reach him.

As for where I'm off to, I was hoping for somewhere near Lansing, just because being near Michigan State would guarantee gaming. But right now it looks like I'll end up closer to Detroit. Which still isn't bad. There's a renfaire within reasonable driving distance and apparently other events going on.

Still up in the air though- mostly dependent upon where I can find work. I just know I want it to be in Michigan, due to the aforementioned redhead. So that's where I'm looking.

Re: Computer Problems Suck

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't bank on there being much work in Detroit these days. I was reading an article last month about how vast sections of the suburbs are empty. The population has dropped from 2 million to 900,000. In particular, the article was about one old guy who's making a living as a trapper. Seems the animals have moved back in to the abandoned suburbs. Raccoons are getting into empty houses and cougars are lounging around backyard swimming pools. Here is the article, To Urban Hunter Next Meal Is Scampering By (http://www.detnews.com/article/20090402/METRO08/904020395/To+urban+hunter++next+meal+is+scampering+by)

I've read other articles about how many construction companies are being called in to demolish houses because the realty companies that own them just can't sell them. That's even happening out here in California. I suppose if they get rid of the tract homes, and plant some trees, they could turn it into a big park though. Might be a nice place to camp.

[akailaughingman.livejournal.com]

computers are much easier than metal and wood. You have tabs, and you have slots. Try opening the case to your computer, dusting it off (yes it'll be dusty. hope you don't have spiders), and getting used to unplugging and plugging things back in. Most of the crazy wires will trace back to the power supply, and the others will trace back to the motherboard.

You seriously can NOT break anything while pushing these on and off. There is more delicate work to putting a computer together (most notably adding a cpu. takes xylene among other things to do it right. and a delicate hand so you don't bend the fine pins). But you really ought to get used to the easy stuff.

I hotwire my computer whenever I turn it on, ever since the power switch broke.

oops!

[akailaughingman.livejournal.com]

do not do any of the above without either a static strip (recommended) or some good grounding (hand on metal near power supply generally works, so long as puter is still plugged in to a good ground.)

[sage-blackthorn.livejournal.com]

Oh I've plugged and unplugged a few things in before. Had to get the tower case open just to clean the dust out to get the fans spinning again. I'm just more mechanical minded than electronic (much to my dad's disappointment, I'm sure. He's an electronics engineer). But mostly I just make a note of where things were plugged in that I had to clean, and make sure they get back in that spot.

[akailaughingman.livejournal.com]

then switching out a power supply should be no different. (get one that's a little larger, and recommended by arstechnica -- saggy power sucks (ask yer pap if you don't know what that means, teehee)). Just remember which went where (write 'em down if you have to), and plug them back in.

It really is simple.

And if you order from newegg, it's fairly easy to send back if you get the wrong one (I too heart newegg).