Just when I thought my PC was running well, it went bonkers suddenly.
First, I could not start up. When I got it started, it behaved weirdly with a mind of its own. I got my friend Chow to help me. He came and changed my motherboard to the previous one. As it was the same series, I need not re-format my HDD, a task I always hated because I lose all the data in my files and folders.
The PC started normally and I thought everything was back to square one. Chow left some programs for me to try out, one on spyware and two on DVD. I then realised that my disc drives could not auto start, whenever I loaded in a DVD or any disc. Called Chow and told him of my further problem. He said he would call back but he never did.
Exasperated, I called my other computer friend Richard. He came and after a long diagnostic, discovered that one of the DVD program that Chow installed for me clashed with my disc drives. So I removed it and the problem was solved. I also found that the spyware interfered with my email and I removed it.
I then discovered that my PC would suddenly restart by itself. This was terrible and a serious problem. I would lose whatever work I was doing whenever the PC restarted. Unfortunately, I noticed that Chow always avoided diagnostic problems because it is very time consuming and tiring process. He never responded to my calls.
It was then I decided to seek professional help. I had used Nuclear services before and quite like their professional approach and work attitude. The next day, Winston responded to my call and turned up. Acknowledging the serious problem of restarting, he started the diagnostic, which went on for three hours into the night.
He could not find the fault and had to come back the next evening. Still unable to rectify the problem, he had to re-format. Before that, he backed up my data, and re-formatted. While re-installing the operating system (Windows XP Pro), there was an error and a second attempt was made to re-install. Towards the end, the PC restarted by itself. Back to square one! He took my components for testing in his workshop.
Several days later, he called that he would be back to set up for me. Unfortunately, he had too many jobs and there was a delay.
When he finally came, he had already installed the system and put my PC together. I was very glad that his backing up of my essential data, restored my PC with my email, favourites and documents intact. So I did not lose my important and personal data. He had to remove two of the RAM memory chips for warranty claim. My PC is running a little slow now until these two chips are restored.
After installing a new antivirus software and Nero 8 including my other programs, my PC is at last running again. I spent the last three days doing that and though the darn antivirus program is disturbing some of my programs, the PC is running alright. When Winston replaces the two RAM memory chips, the PC should be running better.
Till then....
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
A very nice family day.
Last Saturday, I thought I was getting another vertigo attack. I was alone at home and the weather outside was wet and dismal. Went down to the market and bought lunch home. A packet of mee pok with duck drumstick and kailan vegetable. Tasted nice from my usual stall.
Sometime later, I began to feel strange. Felt my head floating. Staring ahead of me, I did not notice any turning or spinning motion, or any nausea, the vertigo warning signs. I decided to check on my blood pressure. My reading was 167/70 with a pulse rate of 52. A high reading! I rested and an hour later, checked my reading again which had fallen to 156/71 with a pulse rate of 45. I then laid down on my bed and after about half an hour, my reading went down to 142/62 with a pulse rate of 54. Taking no chances, I took a pill against vertigo attack. Almost immediately, I began to feel better. My head cleared and the sensation stopped. My subsequent blood pressure fell back to normal and the rest of the evening was alright. Thank God for that.
Sunday, 11/11, was my grand daughter Samantha's birthday. Having given her a book entitled 'Magic Show'. containing 12 built-in tricks, I took the family for buffet lunch at The Churchill at Tanglin Club. Except for my son who was in Bali and on his way home, and my son-in-law, Ben, who was in KL working, we sat down to lunch. The usual fine spread of good food, I started with sashmi salmon and worked my way to the roast lamb and other delectable. Did not take much to fill me up and I finished off with ice cream and crepe with chopped almond, and decaf coffee. I could see everyone including the kids enjoying the good food. There was a short magic show by a young magician and the kids sat in front enjoying it.
From the club, Jason drove to Marina so that the kids could go fly a kite. By this time, Emma had fallen asleep in the pram. With Jason and Karen chipping in, it was discovered that it was not that easy to go fly a kite! The ground was muddy and there was a lack of breeze. The kites kept crashing to the ground. After the futile efforts, we adjourned for a drink. Moral of the story, it is not that easy to tell someone to 'go fly a kite'.
Leaving Marina, Jason decided to have Korean BBQ, and drove to Takashimaya. By this time also, my son and Ben were arriving back from their trips with SMS and calls on the mobile. And so we gathered at the Seoul Garden for BBQ dinner. Occupying three tables, we sat down for our second buffet. I ate very little meat, and cooked up a vegetable green noodle followed by a big helping of the different fish balls, unfortunately loaded with MSG. Drinking plain water, I finished off with three flavours of ice cream. By then I could not eat anymore. My son and Ben arrived late and their ravenous appetite coupled with that of Jason was clearly formidable. It was so nice to see the whole family sitting down to dinner, laughing and bantering each other.
Outside the restaurant, we gathered to watch the funny antics of Emma. My son had bought a plastic boat kite from Bali for Timothy (I think) and something for Sam and Emma. Emma was racing down the corridor ahead of all of us, when suddenly one of the stores closed the shutter with a terrific crashing sound. Emma stopped at her tracks and looking scared, raced back to Jason, crying at the commotion. She recovered quickly and was soon running again.
After a prolong good night and hugging from Emma, it was time to disperse and head for our various homes. All good things must come to an end and ended a very nice family day. Thanks be to God.
Till then....
Sometime later, I began to feel strange. Felt my head floating. Staring ahead of me, I did not notice any turning or spinning motion, or any nausea, the vertigo warning signs. I decided to check on my blood pressure. My reading was 167/70 with a pulse rate of 52. A high reading! I rested and an hour later, checked my reading again which had fallen to 156/71 with a pulse rate of 45. I then laid down on my bed and after about half an hour, my reading went down to 142/62 with a pulse rate of 54. Taking no chances, I took a pill against vertigo attack. Almost immediately, I began to feel better. My head cleared and the sensation stopped. My subsequent blood pressure fell back to normal and the rest of the evening was alright. Thank God for that.
Sunday, 11/11, was my grand daughter Samantha's birthday. Having given her a book entitled 'Magic Show'. containing 12 built-in tricks, I took the family for buffet lunch at The Churchill at Tanglin Club. Except for my son who was in Bali and on his way home, and my son-in-law, Ben, who was in KL working, we sat down to lunch. The usual fine spread of good food, I started with sashmi salmon and worked my way to the roast lamb and other delectable. Did not take much to fill me up and I finished off with ice cream and crepe with chopped almond, and decaf coffee. I could see everyone including the kids enjoying the good food. There was a short magic show by a young magician and the kids sat in front enjoying it.
From the club, Jason drove to Marina so that the kids could go fly a kite. By this time, Emma had fallen asleep in the pram. With Jason and Karen chipping in, it was discovered that it was not that easy to go fly a kite! The ground was muddy and there was a lack of breeze. The kites kept crashing to the ground. After the futile efforts, we adjourned for a drink. Moral of the story, it is not that easy to tell someone to 'go fly a kite'.
Leaving Marina, Jason decided to have Korean BBQ, and drove to Takashimaya. By this time also, my son and Ben were arriving back from their trips with SMS and calls on the mobile. And so we gathered at the Seoul Garden for BBQ dinner. Occupying three tables, we sat down for our second buffet. I ate very little meat, and cooked up a vegetable green noodle followed by a big helping of the different fish balls, unfortunately loaded with MSG. Drinking plain water, I finished off with three flavours of ice cream. By then I could not eat anymore. My son and Ben arrived late and their ravenous appetite coupled with that of Jason was clearly formidable. It was so nice to see the whole family sitting down to dinner, laughing and bantering each other.
Outside the restaurant, we gathered to watch the funny antics of Emma. My son had bought a plastic boat kite from Bali for Timothy (I think) and something for Sam and Emma. Emma was racing down the corridor ahead of all of us, when suddenly one of the stores closed the shutter with a terrific crashing sound. Emma stopped at her tracks and looking scared, raced back to Jason, crying at the commotion. She recovered quickly and was soon running again.
After a prolong good night and hugging from Emma, it was time to disperse and head for our various homes. All good things must come to an end and ended a very nice family day. Thanks be to God.
Till then....
Thursday, November 8, 2007
"What if....?"
Ever since my vertigo attack two weeks ago, I have been very conscious about the state of my health. Worried about the next attack, I find myself staring and focusing on the view in front of me, making sure it is not turning or spinning.
Aware of the fragility of myself, I ask myself, "What if I have a stroke, or another vertigo attack?" If it is a stroke, I hope it will kill me instantly rather then leave me paralysed. If another vertigo attack, I will need to find shelter somewhere to let the effect pass off and put my head down. Preferably at home. That is why I now worry about going out for a period of time alone.
The recent attack alarmed both my wife and my son. It was the first time that my wife saw the agony of the attack. Previously she only heard about it after the attack and not concerned at all. My son saw the aftermath of it and the way the doctor treated me and warning of the sinister side of it all.
Got home from church yesterday morning, to find all my clothes in the wardrobe, thrown on my bed. Shocked, I was about to blow my top, when my wife told me that she will rearrange all my things for me. After counting up to ten, I decided to give in. I realised I have many new socks, underwear and shirts still wrapped up. The last time somebody tidied up my room was when I was in the Air Force. It was either my English Batman in England or my Batgirl in K.L. My wife never bothered about me for more than forty years. Now she has decided to intervene. What to do? I have my way of hanging up my ten trousers to wear over two weeks, and I can tell what day of the week, by looking at my trousers.
I suppose my wife must have realised that this 'dead-meat' is still alive and kicking. Better show some concern before he kicks the bucket. I have always been a lone wolf, not bothering anybody, and falling sick and recovering without anyone knowing it. We practically led separate lives. I like to be independant and not having to argue over what I want to do. Some people find me strange, but I find solace and comfort in myself, because I do not like 'kaypohs' telling me what to do.
Till then....
Aware of the fragility of myself, I ask myself, "What if I have a stroke, or another vertigo attack?" If it is a stroke, I hope it will kill me instantly rather then leave me paralysed. If another vertigo attack, I will need to find shelter somewhere to let the effect pass off and put my head down. Preferably at home. That is why I now worry about going out for a period of time alone.
The recent attack alarmed both my wife and my son. It was the first time that my wife saw the agony of the attack. Previously she only heard about it after the attack and not concerned at all. My son saw the aftermath of it and the way the doctor treated me and warning of the sinister side of it all.
Got home from church yesterday morning, to find all my clothes in the wardrobe, thrown on my bed. Shocked, I was about to blow my top, when my wife told me that she will rearrange all my things for me. After counting up to ten, I decided to give in. I realised I have many new socks, underwear and shirts still wrapped up. The last time somebody tidied up my room was when I was in the Air Force. It was either my English Batman in England or my Batgirl in K.L. My wife never bothered about me for more than forty years. Now she has decided to intervene. What to do? I have my way of hanging up my ten trousers to wear over two weeks, and I can tell what day of the week, by looking at my trousers.
I suppose my wife must have realised that this 'dead-meat' is still alive and kicking. Better show some concern before he kicks the bucket. I have always been a lone wolf, not bothering anybody, and falling sick and recovering without anyone knowing it. We practically led separate lives. I like to be independant and not having to argue over what I want to do. Some people find me strange, but I find solace and comfort in myself, because I do not like 'kaypohs' telling me what to do.
Till then....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)