Housekeeping

Today was a day for housekeeping on the website, and I didn’t do much that was creative. Basically, I organized the files behind the scenes of the site, which will probably confuse the spiders, but the site is active enough that they will be back soon to index it.

The only change that will be visible to readers is the absence of the Current Rant link. Since I started this Creativity Journal, most of the things that I was inclined to rant about have appeared here. The Creativity Journal has really become the focus of the site, so I reordered the links down the left side of the page and removed the Current Rant link.

In the afternoon, a fast-moving thunderstorm passed over Boulder, where I work. The clouds were a dark, roiling gray, and they carried a short, hard rain. As the thunderhead approached, we could see the leading edge of the cloud rolling in upon itself. Half an hour later, blue sky was spreading over the Flatirons. Welcome to Colorado, where we can have all four seasons in one day.

I had planned to go see Flex Luther tonight at Cricket on the Hill, but I have had less than 15 hours of sleep in the last three days due to my writing groups and the Johnny A concert. I think I’d better stay home tonight and get some sleep.

Moving On — For Now

I tried a few configuration and component changes on the server today in an attempt to get it to recognize the new drive. I even manually specified the drive’s configuration in CMOS and reinstalled the operating system with the jumpers in a different position, hoping it would get the clue. Still the same 7.87 Gb limit. I did find one piece of information on the Western Digital website that says, in effect, “If your secondary drive is larger than 8 Gb and Windows 2000 is only recognizing 8 Gb of it, uninstall Windows 2000 Service Pack 1, reformat the drive, and install Service Pack 2.

This is kind of tough to do, since I installed Service Pack 3 from the beginning. I think a new motherboard is the way to go, so I’m going to stop worrying about this project and try to get back to writing.

I have been reading Word Work every chance I get over the last few days. I’m still enjoying the book. The level of personal experience that Rogers brings to the table is refreshing; he writes it as if the reader is his peer, rather than his pupil. It’s remarkably similar to having a conversation with Bruce. He anticipates where the reader’s mind is very well, and addresses many of the questions and concerns that pop up in my head as I’m reading. I should be done with the book in a few days, and I’ll be able to write a review. I’m excited to do so, actually.

Planned Obsolescence

My suspicions about the motherboard are correct. It doesn’t recognize the new drive unless I use the alternate jumper settings to fool the BIOS into thinking the drive is a different size than it really is. That’s not a big deal, but the drive documentation says not to use the alternate jumper setting with Windows NT or 2000, which I am running. Windows 2000 recognizes the drive as 7.87 Gb no matter what I do, probably because I’m using the alternate jumper setting. I could flash the BIOS of the motherboard, but the board is so old that no one supports it any more.

Looks like I need a new board. Convenient for the computer industry, eh? Oh well, it will be a while before I get the server running the way I want it to, I guess.

Nerding Out

Today was a relaxing day. I engaged in one of my favorite hobbies: building computers. Using the spare parts I have hanging around the house, I decided to rebuild my home network server. Basically, it acts as a file repository and print server, and since I’ve rebuilt the network to allow all our machines to have access to my broadband connection, there’s no reason not to have a server on it.

Except maybe one. The parts I have won’t allow me to build a very powerful server. Most of the components are very outdated, and I suspect this will cause me problems when I try to upgrade the hard drive to hold the MP3 files I’ve ripped from my CD collection. My wife likes the variety of being able to set Winamp to shuffle mode while she’s playing on the computer, and with network access to our MP3 files, she could go all day without hearing a repeated song. One way or another, though, I should be able to make the BIOS recognize the hard drive, even if the size is larger than the BIOS will allow.

 

I have a few words to say about CompUSA. For the last few years, I have boycotted the store. I was even boycotting them due to a lousy corporate business policy before they were taken over by one of their major shareholders. Over the years, it seems they lost interest in supporting the computer hobbyist; they stopped selling motherboards and components and started hiring warm bodies at bargain basement prices to police the sales floor. Sure, I’m exaggerating, but not by much.

Oh, how times change. Today, I went into a CompUSA with a full wall of components, including cool aluminum cases with see-through sides and sound-activated neon lights inside. They had plenty of case fans and power supplies for me to choose from, as well as motherboards. I had to restrain myself to keep from spending money I really don’t have one a new motherboard for the server. The salespeople on the floor seemed to have some genuine knowledge, and the whole attitude of the store is different. I applaud the makeover.

Speaking of makeovers, I tried out the keyboard on the new Handspring Treo 300. (Well, I tried the keyboard on a 270, but it’s the same keyboard.) I was surprised to see how quickly I could type on it; I certainly couldn’t match my regular typing speed, but I could easily match my Graffiti speed. I might just have to get one if I can come up with the extra money. (6/9/2004 Note: Got one. Love it, except for the flip cover, which has a tendency to break off. Now I’m jonesing for the Treo 600.)

Tonight I heard from my friend Jim, a guitar player I used to get together with regularly. He’s had a hectic schedule, and we haven’t been able to play together for about two years. It looks like that will probably change in a couple of weeks, because we’re going to get together and jam at my house. I look forward to that very much.

Literati

Today I didn’t do much that was creative. I read some more of Word Work, and I played Literati online with my wife and sister-in-law. It’s nice having broadband at home now, but I hope I’ll be able to resist the temptation to waste all my time on it.

Today, I was not successful in that regard.