Test Scheduled

I called Prometric today and got my A+ Core Hardware test scheduled for Tuesday, June 13th. I've got a little more studying to do, mostly on wireless networks, but I think I'm pretty well set. Now, I've just got to pass the test. Then after that I'll study for the OS (operating systems) test and probably take that sometime the end of July or mid-August. Wish me luck in passing!

Electronics and Computer Stuff

I had a problem with my secondary scanner that I use for sending work faxes. My laptop wouldn't recognize that the scanner was attached. When I turned on the scanner, the little light flashed quickly and then went out. Couldn't scan a thing. So, I switched to my other scanner on my other system and sent my faxes, I hate to do that, though because the faxes are then saved on my non-work computer. I thought the Microtek Scanner was dead though and was thinking about what to do, whether to just get a cheapo to send work faxes or not. But, this scanner is the only one I have that will scan negatives and slides. So, I was bummed. Finally, thought, oh well, let's just reboot. So, I left the scanner turned on, rebooted my laptop and voila! it worked. The light came on, the laptop recognized the scanner and I'm back in business.

Moral of story... when in doubt, reboot. ;o)

Got the replacement motherboard for Manda's KT7-RAID that died a few years ago. Some history... there were bad capacitors used on many motherboards, the Abit Kt7s were one. Someone instigated a class-action lawsuit against Abit regarding these motherboards that failed and they won. So, Abit said that they would either repair or replace the motherboards that had failed. Manda and I each had the same KT7 model of motherboard. Hers failed completely, died one day. When she got home, dead computer. So, she ended up getting her new motherboard and rebuilding her system. I did the same thing, but I didn't wait until my KT7 died completely, but I could see the tell-tale signs of the capacitors on mine beginning to bulge so I knew it was just a matter of time. I registered both motherboards with Abit for the class-action lawsuit and sent them both back. Mine was replaced by another KT7-RAID board. For Manda's though, I was given a choice of a different replacement motherboard. I selected the NF7-S motherboard, which is comparable to the motherboard we both have in our systems now. I just got the board yesterday, and I'm rather excited about it (doesn't take much to get ME excited, I guess *vbg*) and I really want to build a new system using it. They sent me not only the motherboard, but all the fru-fru that goes with it. Even a serial ATA to PATA adapter for a hard drive. I just need to decide which of my many computers I want to replace with it and where I'm going to put it. I'd like to replace my $7 Compaq, but I'd need a desktop (not a tower) ATX case for it to fit it into my computer room. So, I've got a lot of decisions to make, but I'd really like to use it in a new system. I think it will be a great system when I get it built. I only hope I can find the case and necessary stuff to build it. I figure I can do it for less than $200.

Studying, studying, studying

I am so sick of studying! My brain is ready to explode! I dream about computers at night now. I need to get right down to it and just go ahead and take those A+ Certification tests. I'm sure I can pass them fine, but you know, I hate taking tests. I've decided that I'll take the hardware core one sometime in July and the software one sometime in August. Then I just pray that I pass on the first try.

Cats in the Bedroom (not Bats in the Belfry)

Last night my neighbor came over and said that she had a stray cat hiding under her bed. I went over to see, and yep, the tan and white stray that we've seen around the neighborhood was indeed hiding in the far corner under her bed. In the dark you could just see his eyes shining. She had already tried chasing him out with a broom with no success. And, by this time, after all her broom work, he was hissing and terrified. He wouldn't come out for food either. Finally Coney went over with his fishing net on a broom pole and managed to chase him out from under the bed and up into the window. Then, they decided they wanted to open the window and push him out (whaaaaat? It was the second story, I know cats land on their feet, but this may surely have caused some injuries and I was totally against it, so I went downstairs and sat in the dining room). All of a sudden I hear, "Here he comes, open the slider door!" And I did. That poor, terrified cat came flying through the house and right out the door. I think his feet barely touched the ground on his flight out and if I had not opened the slider fast enough, he would have crashed against the glass.

Moral of story... If you're a person, make sure you have the screen over your slider door before you open it. If you're a cat, avoid my neighbor's house, it's a dangerous place over there!

Blog Anniversary

Today is my Blog Anniversary. My first post to my blog from one year ago today:

Monday, May 09, 2005
A beginning

So, Manda told me I needed a blog, not sure why, but maybe she's getting tired of my long, detailed emails about life around here. *grin*