Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
[/rant mode on]
Stupid ****** ******* mother-******* computer! I'm in such a state right now that I'm undecided whether I want to shoot it or myself....
Last Friday, the outer power button on my PC physically broke, as a result of which I obviously couldn't turn it on. (My machine is also 9 years old, so the odds of finding a replacement part were slim to non-existent.) Well last night, I figured out a temporary solution to my problem -- or at least I'd thought I had. I'd finally managed to remove the front cover to my tower, which enabled me to just push the power button directly. It was inelegant, of course, but at least now I could run my computer (thus preserving my sanity while I shopped for a new machine). Simple, right?
Wrong. Because now, two more issues have cropped up. First off, my monitor insists it's not hooked up to the computer properly, despite my having redone and rechecked all the connections (and I mean *all*) about 5-6 times now. Even worse than that, however, is the fact that my computer is no longer starting up properly. It just "hangs" there, not even getting to the point where I can enter my password for Windows -- there's a telltale beep that indicates when I can enter my password, and it no longer beeps when I fire it up.
So now I am well and truly screwed until I can buy a new PC. My roommate has kindly let me use her laptop for web-surfing and whatnot (it's the only reason that I'm even able to post this), but I'm still stuck not being able to play MTW and my other games until who knows when.
Dammit. And I was enjoying my Fatamid campaign too.... :furious3: :furious3: :furious3: :wall: :wall: :wall:
[/rant mode off]
Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Ooooooooooh dear - I feel for you, Martok. MTW ate my laptop a couple of years ago - well, not MTW on its own. A combination of trying to squeeze in a quick battle before going to work, and trying to rush the switch-off procedure ended up in Windows getting corrupted and refusing to boot up ever again. I lost a :furious3: fine mod I was working on, and haven't had the heart since to try recovering the disc yet, in case it REALLY is all snafu-ed.
You probably have, but have you tried making some sort of extension to the power switch and replacing the casing? I wonder if having the panel off is breaking an earthing path, or leaving a cunningly-disguised safety switch disengaged (so you don't lektricoot yerself?)
Just clutching at straws, I know...
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
No idea how computers work really so I'd better not give any advice, but you have my full sympathies Martok. Frustrating when such things happen...
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martok
[/rant mode on]
Stupid ****** ******* mother-******* computer! I'm in such a state right now that I'm undecided whether I want to shoot it or myself....
Calm down, my friend.
Granted, this sucks royally, but you can buy a barrel computer for 100 bucks these days. Or even pick one up for free at the backdoor of some office or uni dept that's 'innovating' its system and throwing out perfectly good 2004 computers. Look around, ask around, don't despair. That game won't walk away.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
That truly sucks Martok, I hope all turns out well.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
I'm sorry to hear of your problems, Martok. It sounds like a very frustrating situation. I have an old PC myself, which I can't even run MTW on; I use a laptop that isn't mine to run it.
I wish I could offer a solution to your problem, but I really can't think of anything.
One thing I will say though, when you have something frustrating to try and sort out, don't try to fix it while you're really hacked off. Take a complete break and go back to it later when you're rested and in a much better frame of mind. Computer problems are rarely solved by a lack of patience.
I wish you the best of luck in sorting it out, or in acquiring a new machine. I've heard of various community sites on the web that give away things for free, even good PCs! I saw 'The Gadget Show' on TV yesterday, and that's what the guy on there did as part of a challenge---he got a decent PC for absolutely nothing, as far as I know.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
I don't know about for nothing, but it is true you can get some PCs pretty cheaply now. I saw some in Akihabara, Tokyo for as little as 5000 yen (about 40 dollars), I'm sure you can get a similar deal where you are, just look at refurbished and/or used models. I know you don't need that much to run MTW, I run it on my Gateway (yes got a cord, long story, not perfect, have it strapped down near the female:idea2: end, poor contact), but it works:juggle2: . My Gateway is about 7 years old, so you don't need a lot for MTW, thankfully.
Good luck!
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
I feel your pain too Martok it is a right bugger when such things happen.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Thanks for the well-wishes and advice, guys. :bow: I've calmed down a bit now, and am starting to think a little more rationally. My computer's dead, and there's nothing I can really do to "resurrect" it -- not that it's worth doing so anyway (the thing's just too old)!
I've now begun looking online in anticipation of purchasing a new machine. The main question now is whether I want a custom-built job (which is generally more expensive) or just go with a more name-brand type such as Dell or HP (which are usually a little cheaper but probably won't perform as well). Ah, decisions, decisions.... :book:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Innocentius
No idea how computers work really so I'd better not give any advice, but you have my full sympathies Martok. Frustrating when such things happen...
I'll double Innocentius on that one. Sometimes the objects do perish themselves, and not much can be done then.
This is really frustrating, I hope you'll find a cheap and fair enough computer to resume your gaming. You might recover datas from your old hard drive to resume ypur campaign! :yes:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
You should think about the following scenarios before shelling out for a new PC:
1) My power button is not working, but the rest of my PC is, perhaps I should just fit my hardware in a new case?
2) My PC is quite old, anyway, and I probably need a new one. The power button breaking is just the excuse I need to go out and get it.
3) Hmmm... I only play MTW and don't really intend to play RTW or M2TW (notice how the author assumes there are no other games in existence) so do I really need a new PC? Should I just take this to a shop and get them to fix it, or put the thing in a new case?
4) Hmmm... I only play MTW and don't really intend to play RTW or M2TW so do I really need a new PC? Should I just get myself a low end Dell??
5) I'm only playing MTW because my PC won't run RTW or M2TW! :furious3: Secretly I have been yearning to become a clickfesting fanboy all along, but how can I at 2 frames per second with all of the eye candy turned off?! :sweatdrop:
6) Heck, maybe I should just trade the whole thing in for two camels? :shrug:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Martok - what a bad break. I should just buy a new one - sounds like it is due if it is that old. You could maybe get it repaired, but there comes a point when you can't get the bits etc. Also older machines can't get the higher RAM that most things need now.
However - all is not lost - just get your PC supplier to ghost your old hard disk onto your new machine - everything should be there. Last year we added a new, bigger hard drive to our old machine. We had it ghosted and everything was there. I had deleted MTW in a desparate attempt for hard drive space - but saved games are not deleted - I reloaded MTW and VI and all was there - no problems.
So hopefully all will be well - consider it a test of patience - you will enjoy it even more after a short enforced break!!:2thumbsup:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cambyses II
2) My PC is quite old, anyway, and I probably need a new one. The power button breaking is just the excuse I need to go out and get it.
It's mostly that one. In truth I've really needed to upgrade for a while. I've got several games (GalCiv 2 & KOTOR 1, to name just a couple examples) that run marginally on my current machine, but they crash so often that they're not really worth playing right now. So yeah, this is pretty much the casus balli I've been looking for. ~;)
I had hoped, however, that I could've waited a little longer before having to get a new PC, as my current cashflow is a little tight at the moment. I can still probably swing it okay, but not as easily than if I'd been able to hold off another few months. :shrug: Ah well.
Oh, and fear not, Cambyses. I've no intention of picking up Rome ever again. It would be like getting back together with an old girlfriend for a night or two -- it would probably be fun at first, but after that you quickly remember why you dumped the shrew in the first place. ~D
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cambyses II
6) Heck, maybe I should just trade the whole thing in for two camels? :shrug:
:laugh4:
Quote:
Originally Posted by King Kurt
So hopefully all will be well - consider it a test of patience - you will enjoy it even more after a short enforced break!!
You have no idea, man. I'm already suffering Total War withdrawl to the point that I'm dreaming about Shogun and Medieval in my sleep! :blush:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Subconsciously, I probably hope that my current PC breaks down so I have to get a newer one.
At least you can be glad that you managed 9 years with a single PC. I assume it was state-of-the-art when you bought it.
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
Actually, I bought it used from a friend back in 2002 for $100.00. Despite recent events, it was still a very worthy investment. :2thumbsup:
Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh!!!!!!
I had a similiar problem with an old PC of mine. The monitor would think it wasn't connected, and the box would just beep a couple of times when powered on. It turned out that the mobo was grounding out on a screwhead from the chassis. You might want to check to make sure you don't have a mechanical issue like that.
Good luck!
