We Interrupt Our Regular Programming ...

(Source)

So, a few weeks ago my computer decided that it had had enough of my abuse and crashed.

Not "blue screen of death" crash but a "Please wait ..." screen, which lasts approximately forever. Okay, not forever, just a very long time.

After waiting far longer than my level of patience usually allows for, I went online, via my smart phone, to determine a course of action. Something about powering the machine off enough times that it will finally give you a system recovery screen. I forget most of the details as the experience was, in some ways, rather traumatic.

Anyhoo, at the recovery screen you can basically say "No" (I'm okay with never using my computer again) or "Okay." Now the screen warns you that basically the machine goes back to it's factory settings, all applications are removed. Your data is preserved, but all the cool stuff you had loaded will need to be reloaded. Which, you may gather, is a pain in the ass.

So I reloaded the things I needed right away, then gradually began restoring my games library, which is pretty large. It's been a few weeks now and things are, more or less, fine. But as time has gone along, the machine occasionally just locks up and refuses to go any further. (Very mule-like I noted.) Which requires a "hard" restart (hold the power button down for five second or so, do a five count, then power the beast back up).

Now this has sufficed for the nonce. I've noticed recently that there is often a ticking noise from the hard drive, which is "hard drive-ese" for "Hey, Ima gonna die soon."

So I decided that a new computer was in order. As my retirement date is now visible from the masthead, I decided to get a laptop (the company provided laptop has been very useful and I've grown accustomed to having a computer - not a smart phone - with me everywhere I go). A powerful laptop. Of course, The Missus Herself was absolutely thrilled at the prospect.

"How much does it cost?"

"Well over three grand for a good one."

"WHATTTT???!!!"

But she agreed, which rather stunned me, she usually makes me work a lot harder for such things.

Anyhoo, long story short, my son, The Naviguesser, called me on my birthday. As he is something of a genius when it comes to computers (hardware and software) I asked him for his recommendations as to which machine to look at.

"Wow, what a coincidence Dad. I was planning on getting you a computer for your birthday. Good to know that you want a laptop, I'm going to send you some data on the one I think you should get, let me know."

Now of course, that was not the full extent of the conversation. But that was the part relevant to this post.

Which by now you are probably wondering, "Uh, what IS the point of this post. (Grumble, grumble, where is my WWII story?)"

Ah yes, the point, the salient point ...

The new computer has arrived at Chez Sarge, so I will need to spend some time getting it set up. Which I will be doing rather than give you a real post.

Sorry ...

Kid ...

New toy ...

I'm sure you understand.

A domani!

Editor's Note: Yup, AAR to follow.