The FastDay Forum

Here's a copy of an sos sent to our computer-expert daughter. Just had to share the angst!


1. Our decade-old VCR/DVD player does not seem to be compatible with the new HDTV. No inputs shown on-screen from the coaxial cable and the multi-color outputs on the player do not match up with the multi-color inputs on the TV--OK, we'll buy another, newer player. Instruction manual indicates that coaxial cable is only for antenna and Cable TV.

2. Nice new HDMI cable reproduces Mal's computer desktop on the TV, but how to get the TV to show the movie or whatever? Can't figure it out--probably because we were already too upset about 1. above and 3. below---

3. My one-year old Toshiba laptop seems to be dead! No light goes on when plugged in to live outlet and no action on battery power. Will not turn on with wired power either. This happened as I tried to attach it to the new TV with said HDMI cable. I'm a little muddled in my memory but I think it died while being carried from one room to the other while on battery power and on sleep. Anyway nothing happens with it no matter what--kaput, zilch.

We can buy a new, modern player at Best Buy for $90 and have Best Buy Geek Squad come to set up TV/video system for us, for $120.

We can take dead laptop to Staples, where I bought it for diagnosis and repair--

Question to you--would $260 hard drive recovery do the job and be worth it?

I quit for today, too discombobulated.

[carieoates]

Discombobulated. What a fabulous word. I really can't help. Nearly all apple products in the house now. But I've always thought that you should buy the best you can afford at the time as it will go out of date fast if not. So my advice is hit the sales.

Wait and see what daughter says before you do anything would be my advice!

Thanks, folk,s for letting me vent last week. Here's the resolution--I'm copying below out message to computer expert daughter--subject heading:

All status quo ante all the time

Hi,


Return HDTV check
Return HDMI cable check
Best Buy Geeks fix laptop check

Our money is refunded and we learned something new about computers.

Sometimes, maybe when putting machine on sleep, a stray electron or two causes havoc. Cure: remove power cord, remove battery, hold down "on" button for 15 seconds. Replace battery. Press "on" button. Voila! Computer now realizes it wasn't on (or something) and then turns on.

Peace reigns. We were so relieved we went out to an Irish pub (Kilpatrick's) for dinner (doesn't take much to convince us). Tullamore Dew whisky and Great Lakes Stout, followed by Fish and Chips and Corned Beef and Cabbage. Then stopped at a Patisserie to pick up a goody or two for later.

Seriously, we learned that we're not 42 any more--we can no longer take the stress of technology not working out. Using our old TV as a monitor for our old VCR/DVD player is more than good enough. (You recall that we stopped subscribing to DirectTV almost 3 years ago and don't miss it a bit. We can watch Netflix and Downton Abbey and news events on the laptops.)

Once again, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" Peace (of mind, especially), now reigns. Lessons learned even when over 70