Month: June 2002

T -61 days and counting

Things are really starting to fall into place. In a little under 2 calendar months, I’m getting married to my best friend, and the love of my life.

It still seems a bit surreal. Wonderful, but surreal. I haven’t started freaking out yet, (nor do I think I will,) but it’s beginning to take shape as a reality in my mind as opposed to one of those nebulous concepts of “when i get married one day…”

Jun 24th 2002, 16:43 GMT

Went to see Minority Report yesterday.

I think I liked it, (even if there were a couple of BIG plot holes,) but I’ll have to go see it again before I know for sure. Dude sitting behind me kept trying to discuss what was going on with his wife. Thankfully, she wasn’t chatting back — but it was still quite distracting.

Oh yeah, and I remembered why I don’t usually get a large soda.

Jun 21st 2002, 17:36 GMT

w00t – sorta

The “Dell Certified” tech guy just called me. My part is in, and I just set up an appointment for between 3 and 5 pm today. (That would be GMT 22:00 and GMT 24:00 – I think)

That’s the “w00t” — here’s the “sorta”

He thinks the replacement board is exactly the same as what’s in the machine now – AGP 1.0 and all. I knew that was a possiblity, but I was hoping it’d be 2.0 compliant.

He didn’t sound too sure, so I’ll get the machine up and running with the old card, and then see if I can find a diagnostic utility that can tell me if the slot is AGP 1.0 or 2.0 compliant.

At least my machine will be back up and running.

Edited on Jun 21st 2002, 17:40 by Hooloovoo

update:

My system is now back up and runnning. Time to find out if this new board is AGP 2.0 compliant.

Edited on Jun 22nd 2002, 01:32 by Hooloovoo

Jun 20th 2002, 17:09 GMT

Well, Crap

Bioware does not support 3DFX cards with Neverwinter Nights. I figured that would be a problem, since I still have a 16mb Voodoo 3 – but I decided to try it anyway. No go. Very bizzare display problems, couldn’t even navigate the menus to get into the game.

Fine – no problem, I’ll just go out and buy a new nVidia card. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while, now’s as good a time as any.

So I head out to my local Best Buy and pick up a GeForce4 TI 4200, (the 4400s were out of stock and the 4600’s are a bit expensive.)

I get home, (well, upstairs – where the computer is right now,) and begin to install my nifty new piece of technology.

Meanwhile, my friend has created a dwarven warrior and is happly plunkng away at all manner of wonderful creatures.

I install the card and boot the machine, only to be greeted with 2 beeps and a Dell spash screen. The computer has failed it’s POST. No problem, I’ll just put the voodoo3 card back in. Reboot – 2 beeps and a splash screen.

Son of a…

Paul’s got a second machine with net access, (he likes to play EQ A LOT,) so I hop on Dell’s website to try and figure out what’s wrong. Pouring through the tech support site, I find out that the double beep indicates a video card problem, (gee, you think?) I pull the card out and re-seat it as suggested. No go.

Hmm, what’s this about POST LED dispays? Oh look – 3 greens and a yellow – “This configuration of lights indicates some other problem with your system, please contact Dell customer support at…”

I’ve begun to suspect that my system, purchased in late 2000, is only AGP 1.0 compliant.

I get on the phone with tech support, explain my problem, and the steps I’ve already tried. The lady was very nice and tries to tell me that since it’s a 3rd party card, I need to go back to Best Buy for help.

Not so fast lady, the problem is also occuring with the original card now.

“Oh, well the new card must have done something to the bios when you installed it…”

“I can’t even get AT the bios config right now.”

“Okay. Well, reboot and when you see the splash screen – hit F2”

(I’ve aleady tried this – but okay, computers are notorius for working again once you’ve called tech support.)

“No go – the bios screen doesn’t come up.”

She asks about the double beep and the POST led indicators again, puts me on hold for a couple of minutes, and then comes back. She asks me to go through the system and re-seat everything on the motherboard, RAM, video card, modem, ethernet, sound…

So I begin. I tell her I’m going to put he phone down for a minute while I do that. I disconnect and reconnect everything, then pick up the phone again… and I hear a dial tone.

Duh Robert, the phone was connected to the computer thru the modem… when you unplugged it, you basically hung up on the tech.

So I call back. Igeta different person, but he’s able to access my support ticket. (yea CRM) I briefly explain the problem again, and the steps taken. He has me reboot again, this time hitting F8. Still nothing, so askes me to verify the POST LEDs one more time. (Still 3 greens and a yellow.)

This new tech thinks there is a problem with the motherboard, since my machine is still under warranty, he will be able to order a new MoBo, and send a tech out to install it. I should be getting a call in a few days from the service rep to set up an appointment.

Paul was nice enough to let me start a game on his computer last night. After I got off the phone with Dell. I got through the training/prelude before going to bed. So far the game is sweet.

This morning, I took another look at the Dell website, trying to find out the exact specs of my machine. I didn’t have any luck finding out last night, but today — yep that’s an AGP 1.0 compliant slot.

Long story short, my PC is hosed, and won’t get fixed for a few days. But at least the techs were somewhat helpful. I’ve barely gotten into NWN, but what I did see so far was nice. I’m looking forward to playing with the world builder tools.

I’m hoping that the new MoBo will have AGP 2.0, (I doubt they STILL have hardware from 2000 laying around.) I’ll be sure to double-check before installing my card again.

Jun 18th 2002, 20:22 GMT

I Am a Chaotic Good Elf Bard Mage

Alignment:
Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.

Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.

Primary Class:
Bards are the entertainers. They sing, dance, and play instruments to make other people happy, and, frequently, make money. They also tend to dabble in magic a bit.

Secondary Class:
Mages harness the magical energies for their own use. Spells, spell books, and long hours in the library are their loves. While often not physically strong, their mental talents can make up for this.

Deity:
Hanali Cenanil is the Chaotic Good elven goddess of love, beauty, and art. She is also known as the Heart of Gold and Lady Goldheart. Her followers delight in creation and youth, and work to spread happiness, love, and beauty. Their preferred weapon is the dagger.

That’s what the survey says – not sure how much I agree with it. It seems prett close, and hey – I can always take it again ’til I get an answer I like. 🙂

(On a side note, my ship in JG is named “Heart of Gold” but that came from another source.)

What Kind of D&D Character Are You?

-Hool

Edited on Jul 2nd 2002, 21:58 by Hooloovoo