Sunday was spent replacing the CD RW drive in my wife’s computer. She wanted the 
Scrapbook software I have on my PC installed on her's, but the drive would not read anything I put in it. We bought the PC from my step-dad, who died back in the winter. Gave him $300 for the Wal-Mart special, but it has done quite well up until now.
My brother sent me a CD/DVD combo unit he had and I “cracked the case” and popped it in down in the basement workshop. I remembered
to make it the “master” drive and switched the IDE configuration jumper selection from “cable select.” It fired up normally and I downloaded the latest driver.
After that, I loaded the Scrapbook software and everyone was happy – for a while!
In attempting to burn some photo files to a CD for her to use in building
her pages, I noticed that the CD burner on my PC was having problems. Therefore, I went to Best Buy Monday, bought a medium priced CD/DVD RW drive (with Light-Scribe), and installed it today. I changed the jumper settings as usual, but I forgot to change the existing DVD drive in the machine from CS to Master. The PC could not find the new drive! After some 
cussing, I cracked the case in the computer room floor and moved the jumper.
After that, it fired up as it is supposed to, downloaded its own firmware updates, and I am again in business.
I love working on these things as long as it all goes my way. If not, I have to fight myself not to take a hammer to it! Patience jackass, patience!
Scrapbook software I have on my PC installed on her's, but the drive would not read anything I put in it. We bought the PC from my step-dad, who died back in the winter. Gave him $300 for the Wal-Mart special, but it has done quite well up until now.My brother sent me a CD/DVD combo unit he had and I “cracked the case” and popped it in down in the basement workshop. I remembered
to make it the “master” drive and switched the IDE configuration jumper selection from “cable select.” It fired up normally and I downloaded the latest driver.After that, I loaded the Scrapbook software and everyone was happy – for a while!
In attempting to burn some photo files to a CD for her to use in building
her pages, I noticed that the CD burner on my PC was having problems. Therefore, I went to Best Buy Monday, bought a medium priced CD/DVD RW drive (with Light-Scribe), and installed it today. I changed the jumper settings as usual, but I forgot to change the existing DVD drive in the machine from CS to Master. The PC could not find the new drive! After some 
cussing, I cracked the case in the computer room floor and moved the jumper.After that, it fired up as it is supposed to, downloaded its own firmware updates, and I am again in business.
I love working on these things as long as it all goes my way. If not, I have to fight myself not to take a hammer to it! Patience jackass, patience!
16 comments:
Dang man, you're pretty handy! I might have to call on you sometime in the future!
Rare photo of a man reading the "damn directions"!
Send a copy to the museum.
I know how to turn mine on.That's it
Better it's guts on the operating table than yours!
Thought it might have been a pic of your guts, until I saw the cooler-fan!
All you would've needed was ONE little static-spark from a rug or mat, to complete the day....!
Another facet of Mushy...
Messing with a computer's innards is not something I've tried my hand at yet... I'd probably wind up doing more damage once I got my meathooks in there...
You LOVE working on them? Damn. It's all I can do to get in there and change the RAM.
I have a hard enough tome turing my computer on. You are handy!!
I come by this "handiness" honestly. I used to have 8 professional techs working for me and a lot rubs off.
Some of it came by trial and error, but mostly determination that it wasn't going to get the best of me!
I know how to do things on a computer, but IN one? Not so much. You more and more are my hero, Mushy :-)
I always admire folks who have these sort of technical skills. I remember from an older picture that you have a Dell. So do I. Another teacher, whose son builds computers from scratch told me he'd never buy a Dell. That you can't upgrade them. Something about the way they're made. You don't seem to be having any problems. What do you think?
Well, my seems quite easy to work on...everything is accessible. I don't see anything inside mine that would prevent me from upgrading anything I want.
Of course, I'd never fool with the motherboard, the HD, the drives, the RAM, and the power supply would easily pop out and accept another.
I used to do processors, but they are different today so I'd probably never do that to my Dell.
I've had great success with this one, even had an HD go bad, but they came to the house and swapped it out.
Hi Mushy,
I enjoyed that, especially the fact that you read the instructions (apparently).
You've given me an idea for a post. Watch my space.
Cheers
David
Now folks, I only looked to make sure of the jumper position! The Master slot is usually the right two pins, but you never know!
Yea, see I think the guy meant you couldn't upgrade the memory. Add more.
Ooooh, does your wife lend you out?? I sure could use a man like you around the house..
Long time coming, but to follow up on Jeff's last comment...I've doubled the memory capacity in my Dell. You have to order the right motherboard in order to be able to do that sometime down the road.
Post a Comment