Maiyuu called a computer repair man who makes house calls. He charges a flat price of B1500 and fixes the thing at your place.
Previously, we have carted the hard drive to a computer repair shop at Pantip Plaza. This time we called someone to fix it at our condo, as it takes less time, is less bother, and most importantly perhaps, ensures we can keep an eye on the repair man.
He spent two hours while I was at work last night inspecting the machine, looking for faults, but could find none.
'If the fan stops working, it can shut down the computer,' he suggested.
A Thai computer repairer's first recourse in times of doubt - or whenever anything, in fact, goes wrong - is to download a new version of Windows.
Usually the repairers are young guys who have no particular training in how the inside of a computer works. But someone has told them that rebooting and downloading a new version of Windows is a Good Thing which will clear up most problems.
They make a copy of your files first, of course, and usually ask if they can wipe your hard-drive clean which is what happens if they install a new copy of Windows as a catch-all for all those hard-to-find bugs.
My problem with this approach is that their solution does not always work - and if they could just be bothered looking properly under the hood in all the usual trouble spots, they might find the cause.
Luckily, the boyfriend was on hand to rein him in. 'He asked if he could download a new version of Windows,' he told me.
'He had an illegal copy of Windows XP. We have a real version of Windows Vista. I said if he downloads his bogus version of XP, we end up with illegally copied software, in place of our genuine stuff.
'Apart from that, downloading a new version of Windows may not be the right fix,' Maiyuu said.
Well done, Maiyuu. I have been using the computer for an hour today, and can report no mishaps.
The repair man says fan problems are common in Hewlett-Packard computers such as mine.
He tells me that if the problem recurs, I should turn off the computer, give the fan another chance to start drawing air, and start again.
-
A lengthy discussion in the comments section of the post, 'Thai condo life: Let's take a look inside', appears to be winding down.
Among the contributors were Kimoochii21, Mr Anonymous aka The Shrink, and fellow Bangkok blogger BB.
Point of interest? A discussion about the higher barriers to entry which foreigners must cross if they want to get close to Thais, compared to those who are happy to spend their time in Pattaya bars.
Who is the Shrink? That's the first time I have coined a name for him. He's the reader who has put forward a theory on this blog previously that I adopt a defence mechanism to avoid intimacy, which is why I have ended up with a boyfriend as distant as Mr Maiyuu.
In the discussion, The Shrink tells BB that he is probably adopting the same tactic.
The Shrink has not met either of us in real life, of course, but on the other hand, where else can you get such penetrating psychological insights for free? Here's a taste, from this comment he left for BB:
'It may be that you are selecting unconsciously for people who won't connect with you or will do so the wrong way. It is a defence mechanism often used to avoid intimacy, frequently employed by those who come from dysfunctional families.
'In some cases, it is used to avoid all connections whatsoever (which seems to be happening in your case) and in others it is used to avoid real, nurturing relationships even though a 'relationship' or something with some of its characteristics seems to be happening (that is what I would surmise about BKKdreamer's relationship choices).'
-
Does the Adsense bot crawl the content of comments, as well as the posts themselves?
Instead of giving me condo ads for the post on my Bangkok condo, Adsense was serving up rubbish about content filters, self-defence, car seats, and safety harnesses when I checked a moment ago.
Readers in different parts of the world might get different ads, but here in Bangkok, they look lame. Has the poor little bot read all that psycho-babble at the bottom of the post and taken fright?
16 comments:
ReplyDeleteLino3 April 2009 at 21:57
Some points: If your machine is under 4-5 years old, it's probable that the bootleg version that your "tech" will use does not have the driver needed for the motherboard and many other hardware items.
The versions in common use are the corporate version of XP which does not require activation but most in circulation are from 2002.
Wise to not go this route as you would then have to go to HP's site and DL all the drivers, no big deal, but if you are not comfortable..
It is easy to check for fan failure, first feel at the top-rear of the machine where the power connector is, do you feel air? the other important fan is for the CPU itself and this one might require you to remove the side cover. The fans on late model HP machines are located on the rear of the machine and have a duct that covers the heatsink (fins) on the CPU. Generally, if the fan stops you will have several minutes before the machine freezes and shuts down.
If you open the case, you can disconnect the CD drive to see if that is the cause. Shut down the machine and carefully wiggle out the large flat connector from the rear of the drive. Some late model machines use a SATA connection which is a small flat-ish cable with a plug that has a small lock button on top, Press this and pull the plug out--don't twist it.
It is possible that the "clicking" that you hear is from arcing in the power supply unit, but I doubt this as the machine would fail quickly and not restart.
Finally, I saved the worst for last, recent HP models have suffered from Hard drive failure and the clicking you hear may be mechanical or controller failure in the HD itself.
However, if the machine boots normally each time you turn it on, this -probably- isn't HD failure
BTW: The hard drive is the small sealed drive in the computer -not the case itself which is called the "tower" or less accurately "CPU".
In your pics I noticed that the tower is placed on the floor under your desk..not a good idea as the fans act as a vacuum and sucks in dust which clogs things up.
You do have one thing going for you, Asians are usually good at computers :-)
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer3 April 2009 at 22:26
Thank you for going to the trouble to explain the inside of my HP tower. I did think of unscrewing the thing to take a look myself, and now that I have this information might do so, should the problem arise again.
As I write, the fan is working.
You have an observant set of eyes, Lino. You are right, the tower is under the desk to the left, a printer to the right. I sit in the middle.
I did experiment with putting the tower on the desk to my right, but I need that space for dictionaries and other reference books which I use in my work.
They take up a surprisingly large amount of space, as no one dic ever does the job right...I need half a dozen on hand, unfortunately.
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 05:08
ReplyDeleteGet a can of Electronics Compressed-Air Duster (which is moisture free & contains antistatic elements so it’s computer-safe) and clearing out the fan with 30 seconds of strategic dusting can more than double your computer’s cooling capacity. Heat kills computers. Laptops burn up twice as fast. Also try a free download "Speed Fan" http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php
monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers.You can monitor and log the daily happenings. It might show a pattern and help diagnose the problem. Or remove a the fan/ cooling from the list.
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 06:01
Got my Soap Box ready. Here we go...
To your other over heating problem:
I see your problem relationship with the boyfriend started from his youth. He didn't grow up like you. His family problems (and life)interfered with his developmental tasks of acquiring a sense of intimacy while avoiding a sense of isolation.
You found a FIRM IDENTITY for yourself early in live, after that you can then begin to give yourself to others. Our love for yourself extends to others, our intimate hopes and dreams. Loving ourselves we are now able to establish meaningful intimate relationships with friends and lovers. We no longer need dozens of superficial friends to bolster our fragile ego. We need only a few close intimate friends and perhaps a marriage partner to fulfill our needs to be intimate sexually and emotionally.
As we explore potential careers and develop our talents, we also become intimate or close to our life's work, our profession. We feel connected to the world through our work and by giving of ourselves we feel the rewards of feeling an important part of the world. Our studies become our "choices" rather than homework we "have to do" and we find joy and connection to the world through our educational pursuits and development of our creative talents.
We begin to invest in our own cars and houses and feel a strong connection with those things we have worked hard to achieve. The adolescent is often irresponsible and disrespectful of property such as parents' cars but once they have paid for their own they begin to choose to take care of it. They literally feel a sense of intimacy and closeness to what they personally own and worked hard to attain. No longer needing to slam doors to prove they are independent, they begin to see that many doors are open but they must work hard to open the door to opportunities and even harder to succeed. This brings a sense of ownership and success to those who have developed their initiative and abilities.
Others begin to fall along the wayside of the road to opportunities by choice of their "negative identity" or by failure to try due to the lack of development of initiative in earlier stages. This can lead to a real sense of isolation as others move on in life, leaving some in menial jobs paying a little wage. Some do not have the social confidence to make new friends after high school and begin to feel isolated, alone and often depressed.
Certain SOCIAL CONDITIONS in young adulthood, like attending college, can facilitate the opportunity to meet and befriend others. Entering the work force directly to early can impede the opportunities to meet large numbers of persons one's own age.
Ok.. off the box.
Did you hear about the Scottish drag queen? He wore pants.
xxooxo
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer4 April 2009 at 07:33
The boyfriend lost his parents when he was 15, and left school. Soon after that he started work.
If he is having troubles now as a young adult (he's 30), it's probably because his childhood was less than ideal.
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 10:58
ReplyDeleteYes, that would do it. I am sure the list does not stop there.
This is also why you are not able to advance your relationship with him. He loves you, but his emotional instability from childhood is preventing him. He doesn't know how to love. He never learned it.
By you paying the bills and taking care of him, you are filling the gap. He will retreat deeper into his shell more as time goes on and as he see's the people around him archive stability and growth.
Have you considered sending him to school. Trade or academic? He likes to cook. Culinary School? I read of frang buying homes and starting business with their Thai lovers. They feel they are helping them invest in their future. But are they? Giving them the rewards without letting them earn it will do more harm than good. Investing in their educational and helping them development their own creative talents is a gift that will last a lifetime.
ReplyDelete
Lino4 April 2009 at 12:06
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_event_viewer.htm#Launching_the_Vista_Event_Viewer
One additional tool is "event viewer", -if- the machine has time before it shuts down it may record data that can help you determine what is going on. I found the above link which might help.
Lino
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer4 April 2009 at 18:13
From Neil:
He loves you, but his emotional instability from childhood is preventing him. He doesn't know how to love. He never learned it.
True...but then I have not met many Thais from backgrounds like his who come with all the emotional equipment needed for loving. Mum and Dad were just too busy, or not interested in bring up their kids that way.
Compare that with the intensive child-centred approaches to raising kids in the West these days...some kids can barely play by themselves or spend time with their own kind any more. They have to be with Mum and Dad constantly, vying for attention and opportunities to show their worth.
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer4 April 2009 at 18:14
Lino: Thank you for the link to the event viewer. It sounds a handy device. I shall take a look.
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 18:45
ReplyDeleteYou need to take a test and get a license to drive a car. But any fool can have a baby.
Find a way to make him your equal. Offer education. You cant change the past. You can change the future.
If he says no. Clean the blackboard and try something else.
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 18:57
BTY:
My family sent me to shrink after shrink when I was young. Tried to change me to a "straight" life. Boy Scouts too. (told to leave that too after getting caught past lights out in the wrong sleeping bag) I turned 18 and still didnt "straighten out" I was told I could leave. My mother was asked to stay and still visits the shrink to this day.
Picked up a lot and learned a few things about how life can twist kids.
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer4 April 2009 at 20:11
My family won't even acknowledge the fact, Neil, that I might be different, so at least your parents were up front about it.
I am sure they think that with a change of environment, I could go back to being straight. And you know what - they might even be right!
I don't meet many gays. I don't even see many guys I fancy at the moment. In any event, I have always regarded work as more important than relationships.
If someone were to ask me, 'Would you live with someone like Maiyuu in the West?', I think you can guess my reply.
'I am not a charity case!'
I tolerate Thai ways because I live in Thaland. If I was to go back to the West, the rules would change.
The question is, do I want to carry on living my Thai lie?
Here, it is easy to forget about those things which I once held dear in the West.
Yet ultimately I have a responsibility to myself to make the most of my ability, to strive for happiness as best I can.
Might I do better professionally in the West, and be happier there?
At the moment, most western economies are in a hole, so this is not a good time for moving.
I am not sure I could even fit in that well any more, as life has changed.
Stil, I can but wonder. One day, I might even reach the point where I start to dream and hope, too.
Then, Maiyuu really will have cause to worry!
ReplyDelete
neil4 April 2009 at 21:10
ReplyDeleteThe shock at first took years to settle down. After ten years my family got use to it. They even came to my defense and gave me shelter after a destructive relationship ended. To be suddenly defended by the people I expected the opposite from, you could knock me over with a feather boa.
Maiyuu would be in a mess if you moved on with out him.
I hope that doesn't happen. Can thirty year old's be adopted?
ReplyDelete
Anonymous5 April 2009 at 09:22
It appears that your defensiveness has changed from outright lying about my sexual proclivities to giving me sarcastic names, in your continued attempt to distance yourself from the truth in what I am saying. That's all right; it shows I am still on the right track. I am hoping one of these days that- on reflection- you will realise that I have been on your side all along. It's getting you on your own side that is the difficulty, unfortunately.
If 40 is middle-aged, how can 30 be 'young adulthood?' Maiyuu's a mainstream adult and completely dysfunctional professionally, socially, and in personal relationships. However, I don't think all of this analysis of Maiyuu is really important. You're the one whose needs are not being met and that's because of your dysfunction, not his- and it won't stop being your problem no matter what happens to Maiyuu. If a meteor were to strike him down tomorrow, you would only repeat the same pattern with the next emotionally unavailable, abusive, exploitative, dishonest type you found.
I would suggest that the way Maiyuu treats you is a reflection of your own feelings about how you deserve to be treated, because of traumatically low self-image. You have to learn to love yourself- this isn't an exaggeration, you HAVE to.
ReplyDelete
Anonymous5 April 2009 at 09:31
I also experiencing the same thin with my pc and every time i brought it in the computer shops technicians say the problem is with the operating system and needs to be reinstalled. At a time noises can very heard with the hard drive which the technicians suggest that i must brought new ones. since i don't have enough money and so impatient with their analysis i bought it back home and tried to fix it myself. what i found out is the the loose wirings/cable connecting hard drives and the fan. this cable/wirings cannot be easily seen as they are attached to the white holders. the noise is a result of the hardship of the drive to spin because the connections to fan and other parts are loose. further if connections could not be established there are tendencies of automatic shutdowns or errors displayed. also other drives attached cannot be read nor recognized. you try to inspect your wirings and hopefully you can fix your problem as i did.
ReplyDelete
Bkkdreamer6 April 2009 at 05:08
Anon, thank you for the advice re the computer. How interesting that you have encountered the same problems I have - maybe it is something which crops up often with HP computers.
You are also the second person the mention the white holder thingies. Next time I unscrew the cover, I shall take a look.
ReplyDelete