Computer Update

Progress Report on hard drive replacement: Changing the hard drive was no problem. I mean, anyone who can remove and reinstall four screws and two plugs can handle that job. Getting our personal files restored was also no problem. Getting all the programs (and updates) reinstalled is a different matter. That's not really a problem, but it certainly is time consuming when I need to download an up to date version of a program, and while I'm downloading, I cannot do anything else online. Over the past couple of days, I've spent a lot of time singing The Dialup Blues.

Getting Windows fully re-patched took around 18 hours, and today I think I set a world's record for the largest single file ever downloaded at 21Kbps. If it wasn't a world's record, I'm sure it was at least a state record. For several years we've been using the OpenOffice suite for our word processing and spreadsheets. We've needed to update the program for a long time, but haven't due to the large file size. Today, I decided to go ahead and tackle that 120MB file. It took 14 hours to download.

Late in the process I checked the progress and saw that the download was 99% complete. Just as I walked out of the room, I heard the computer redialing after dropping the connection. I think my heart skipped a beat or two. However, the download manager I was using worked just like it was supposed to do and resumed and completed the download as soon as the connection to the Internet was re-established. Whew!

I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel -- and with any luck it isn't an oncoming train. I'm sure I'll be tying up loose ends for a couple more weeks, but I'm close to getting the bulk of the restoration done. I should be able to start getting back to my routine computer activities (like blogging and visiting blogs) in another day or two. I certainly hope so.


Nature Note: The geese seem to think winter is nearing and end. I saw three flocks heading north today.

Computer Update