(no subject)

[sisabet]

I have lost my mind. All I need is a freaking motherboard and apparently it *has* to be a Dell MB and whatever (and also? A big fat FUCK YOU to the geek who kept telling me my logic board died and acting like I was an idiot when I got confused! I have a PC not a Mac and a logic board in a PC is in the Hard Disk Drive, so you can get over yourself).

So - I need a motherboard. Simple - right? Nope. Cause I need a MB for a Dell Dimension 4400 and apparently the only info I can get out of the geeks is that the model number is 80S FB11 but that is next to useless and don't even try googling it. I've been on the phone with Dell (it did not go well. I will never in a million years buy another Dell product because they are mean). I've been on the phone with someone else. I've been all over the intarweb. And the geeks cannot be bothered further. They'll install the thing once I get it - but I can't even get the main dude to come to the phone anymore. And his lackey tried to tell me my processor was bad (main dude then said when I called crying that the processor was probably fine).

I am confused. I am tired. I have a ton of work they pay me to do piling up. I am frustrated creatively and financially. I want a straight answer, a nice meal and something to be easily fixed. I want pretty fingernails and earrings that don't pull. I want a day off and I want a clean house and a vaccuum that works. I want clothes that will clean themselves and hang themselves up and while they are at it, walk the dog. I want Diet Mountain Dew to be delivered to my door by one of those crazy Do The Dew kids cause they crack me up. I want more CD Shelf space. I want a stereo. I want tickets to see Bob and Willie together. I want the price of gas to stabilize. I want a new carpet in my living room. I want more time and less obligations. I want Splenda to stop hurting my stomach because it doesn't taste bad.

I want chicken. And Sausages. And someone to love me.

Instead, I am here to report that people suck. Except for sockkpuppett as she is gonna put a curse on the souls of the geeks who are mean to me. I've got the cans of pineapple ready to go.

Oh, and marycrawford cause she is furthering the need for cave-in stories in the world and batwrangler cause she found me Bonanza Cave-in fic (sadly, it is not about Hoss).

And I am not really gonna curse anyone. I'm just tired.

Comments

Cave-in links (random)

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

http://www.trekkieguy.com/cavein.html

http://www.geocities.com/dqbuff/cavein.html

http://marathon.bungie.org/maraff/archive/f/flatlinestory.html

http://thebookcase.org/stargate/fsgyconversation.html

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2060433/1/

http://www.thunderbirdsonline.co.uk/fiction/hostage/

http://www.rammsteinniccage.com/fanarea/fanfic/ficstephanie1.html

Danger at Sand Cave - When his friend, Floyd Collins, becomes trapped in a cave in Kentucky in 1925, ten-year-old Arly places himself in great danger while trying to help with the rescue operation. (6-8 yrs.)

http://bonanza1.com/fiction/viewstory.php?sid=246

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewShortStory.asp?AuthorID=4579&id=1164

QUESTIONABLE REMAINS
Beverly Connor
Cumberland, Sep 1997, $20.95, 288 pp.
ISBN: 1-888952-53-9

Dr. Lindsay Chamberlain is a renowned expert on forensic anthropology, a subject that she teaches at a Georgia university. Because of her connections and well deserved fame, Sheriff Dean Howard from nearby Cordwain asks Lindsay to look at a skeleton recently uncovered on the Miles and Grace Lambert farm. Lindsay arrives and quickly concludes that the bones are not of this century, but mysterious anyway.

She stays overnight at the farm. Grace asks her to look into the two year old death of her brother, Ken, who she believes was murdered by his spouse for insurance money. Ken and two other men died in a cave-in that sealed them inside the cave. Lindsay reluctantly agrees to investigate.

She quickly realizes that the official inquiry was either poorly handled or was a cover-up. However, someone wants the case to remain closed even if it means killing Lindsay and anyone else assisting her on the investigation.

The second Dr. Chamberlain investigates novel is a very appealing story due to the clever application of anthropology to move the story forward, and Lindsay, who is one of the most fascinating characters to appear in a who-done-it in several years. The absorbing story line also brilliantly includes a sixteenth century sub-plot that adds much of the anthropological elements.

Though the secondary characters are a bit weak, QUESTIONABLE REMAINS remains unquestionably a superb reading experience.

Re: Cave-in links (random)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

OMG - People write Floyd Collins fic?! Sorry, it is just he died a few miles from where I grew up and I wrote reports on him in school and the story is just so very sad and pathetic...

And actually explains a lot about me. Huh.

Re: Cave-in links (random)

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

Hee.

I'm incredibly accepting of cave-ins as a story telling convention, but I think that is because I grew up watching soaps (specifically Days).

Re: Cave-in links (random)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

OMG! Remember when there was the explosion at the hospital and Patch and Kayla were TRAPPED in the rubble??

That was so awesome.

Re: Cave-in links (random)

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

Xena
http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content/truthordare.htm

And one that I've actually read:

SG1
"Undercurrents" by ELG sorta has a cave-in (Jack/Daniel). It's a sequel to the frothy "Alter Ergo" -- which does not have a cave-in, but has background info necessary to completely understand Undercurrents.

I think these links are dead? But they are blocked by Websense so I can't check
http://www.area52hkh.net/story_00488.html
http://www.area52hkh.net/story_00508.html

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

::kicks the notion of proprietary computer parts for you::

[debchan.livejournal.com]

Wait. Is your Dell still under warranty? Because I can't think of any reason you would HAVE to have a Dell specific motherboard. When I googled your model+motherboard, I found this link: http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/ which would seem to indicate you have a very common Socket 478 processor.

And honey, if they are being assholes, take your machine to another shop. They didn't fix anything, so they shouldn't charge you. Almost any other repair place would be HAPPY to order your parts and then install them (okay, they might charge a little extra for the trouble, but then they would be responsible if they ordered the wrong one).

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

My dell is well outside the warranty. And they are being IDIOT assholes - but they charge an upfront fee (not hourly - so I went with them thinking that this would be the thing to do) so they already have my money and I can't afford to pay *another* shop to do this and buy a motherboard. But common you say? Let me print this out and go talk to Chris...

Thank you.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

More research and apparently Dell machines use a nonstandard power supply and if I do go with another motherboard - I'll have to use a different case. Or something.

[debchan.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. But if it's only the power supply, you can just buy a new one of those too.

Motherboards: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=182&

I just picked one at random, and came up with:

Motherboard: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1082398&CatId=182

Case (if you needed/wanted one: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=186331

Power supply: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1028624

But the thing is, cases are cheap. Your shop probably has some in the back room. But almost any used computer shop will have them and probably for under $30.00

I don't know how much your Dell specific motherboard will cost you (or, frankly, why they won't order it for you, or give you a source, but whatever), but if it turns out to be over $100, I'd just get a new case, motherboard and power supply, take your old machine back and slap all the old components into the new case.

Also, feel free to tell me to shut up if I'm throwing too much at you. I just feel your pain, man.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Not at all - I just folded and paid $139 to Dell for a new motherboard. I tried not to and I tried not to call them and I called some really cool people in Minneapolis who calmed me down and said that they were sorry - they didn't have the Dell part I needed, but this is what I should do when I call Dell back.

So I did and lo and behold it worked. And my new motherboard should ship 7-25 (WTF am I gonna do until *then*) and then hopefully this will all soon be a distant memory.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

I've started a Cave-in link collection for you: http://www.livejournal.com/users/batwrangler/121663.html

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Mulder and Scully in a cave! Whee! Thank you.

[quinn222.livejournal.com]

I'm totally confused as to why you would need to have a Dell motherboard. The brains are on the MB. It's not like it has to get along with something else or whatever. Why can't they just plug your componants into any new MB?

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Because Dell's powersource and the box are all geared to this MB and are not compatable with any other - it is pretty much yet another reason I Will Never Buy Another Dell.

I could get an new MB and a new Powersource and a new tower - but I am tired and that is a lot of new things versus replacing this ONE thing.

[quinn222.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you for being tired of it but I'd bet that a new case and power supply and MB would be cheaper than a new MB. Which I still have a hard time believing, since Dell usually uses standard Intel MBs.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Egad, is there something in the air that's causing computers to go kablooey? Mine's started bluescreening for no apparent reason. Damn these machines. If only we could get along without them. I swear, one day I'm going to get one computer specifically for online stuff and another one just for vidding.

[renenet.livejournal.com]

I love you OMG SO MUCH! And hug you an equivalent amount.