linux on my sister in law's computer
Monday, 4 July 2005 02:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miriam_eI told my brother's wonderful wife Lyn that I'd look at their machine to try and fix its ills (it locks up at random times). I had suspected a problem with the motherboard or one of the main chips on it. I'd previously tested the RAM and done some shallow testing of the hard drive and found nothing wrong.
Well, surprise! Just to rule out Windows, I installed Linux. It has been running for days now with not one lock up.
One tiny problem though (isn't there always?). Mandrake has always been the easiest Linux to install because it does a lot of the complicated stuff behind the scenes for you. You can change them if you really want, but most of the time who would really want to? It is really good at detecting hardware and installing the appropriate drivers. Installation is generally a breeze and faster than Windows. Anyway, my problem? Try as I might I can't get one peep out of the sound system. It is one of those integrated sound systems built right into the motherboard. I will beat it eventually... I've been tinkering for 3 damn days (I shouldn't be doing this -- I should be working!)... but I will fix it.
It does bother me though, that when I give it back to Lyn and Peter that they will think almost nothing of it working (because that's what a computer is supposed to do, right? it's normal that a computer works), but if anything goes wrong weeks or even months later the natural reaction will be to think that I broke it.
[sigh]
Well, surprise! Just to rule out Windows, I installed Linux. It has been running for days now with not one lock up.
One tiny problem though (isn't there always?). Mandrake has always been the easiest Linux to install because it does a lot of the complicated stuff behind the scenes for you. You can change them if you really want, but most of the time who would really want to? It is really good at detecting hardware and installing the appropriate drivers. Installation is generally a breeze and faster than Windows. Anyway, my problem? Try as I might I can't get one peep out of the sound system. It is one of those integrated sound systems built right into the motherboard. I will beat it eventually... I've been tinkering for 3 damn days (I shouldn't be doing this -- I should be working!)... but I will fix it.
It does bother me though, that when I give it back to Lyn and Peter that they will think almost nothing of it working (because that's what a computer is supposed to do, right? it's normal that a computer works), but if anything goes wrong weeks or even months later the natural reaction will be to think that I broke it.
[sigh]
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computer repair
Date: 2005-07-05 06:16 pm (UTC)yup thats always the way. our computer fellow comes and saves Buns computer and she swears he breaks it.
Re: computer repair
Date: 2005-07-05 09:10 pm (UTC)I keep meaning to comment to your LJ and somehow have not got around to it. It is great to hear about you and Bunny, and your adventures.
Yep. It is completely natural for people to think that way. It makes me want to say "sorry I can't" next time someone asks me to fix their computer, but I'm a hopeless sucker.
Yah
Date: 2005-07-06 10:15 pm (UTC)This is why I stopped working on computers for other people... once you start, you never stop. Anything that goes wrong means more work for you.
I quit using Windows entirely, and still people asked... even after I said I didn't even use Windows myself.
Now that more people are moving to Linux, its time to find a new OS to retreat to, before the mad crowd of FreeSupportVampires arrives.