Sunday, April 25, 2010

Busted-ass computer

Here's where I come on to apologise more for being scarce lately. We've been here before, haven't we?

As some of you may know from catching the short bulletin I put up on my YouTube channel, my computer is broken. Has been for about a week and a half now. I'd gotten quite a few private messages on the matter, so I thought I'd go ahead and update a blog post about it. Apologies for not updating it as often as I used to. I'm trying to make each post worth reading, rather than sounding like the kind of person that goes on about school being hard, their sandwich being tasty or their dog chewing off their other foot ... boring!

Anyway, here's the deal on it. It seems my video card, the GeForce 8800 GTS, has died. You have Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (or "40MM Grenade" as I call it) to blame for this, because it died as I was playing the thing. Thankfully, I was able to find a nice fellow who was selling his GeForce 9800 GTX on Craigslist for only $90. Granted, yeah, it's not a current gen card, but I don't exactly have the funds to go balls to the wall on the upgrades. Now I thought just plain replacing the card would be the end of my troubles, but apparently somewhere along the road, I guess my computer got a virus on it and it wouldn't let me so much as boot windows anymore, so I had to reformat my computer. Now before anybody starts spazzing out thinking the Idiot Box episode progress is gone, it's not. I store all the raw Fraps clips in my external HD and I back up all my crap onto it regularly, so no worries there. Here's the part that's taking me the longest though. My OS was Windows XP Home before I reformatted and unfortunately I can't find the install disc to get it going again. People have said to upgrade to Windows 7 time and time again, but here's the other problem ... I was laid off a couple months ago and don't exactly have the money to pay for a new OS right now. My job situation is starting to look up, but it takes time to get comfortable spending money again. It also doesn't take a mind reader to know what you're all thinking right now: Pirating. C'mon, I'm no good at maintaining pirated software. Never really have been.

Anyway, the situation probably won't handle itself overnight, but that certainly doesn't mean I'm finished, here. Y'all just gotta be what you have been for so long ... patient! Hopefully my luck will change and I'll find the XP disc very soon, too, because everything was totally great with Windows XP. The only problem I've had with it is my gifted copy of Just Cause 2 won't run on it. As for the progress of the upcoming Idiot Box episode, I'd like to say it's probably 75% done. I'm trying to incorporate plenty of short skits in between the long ones and get the episode into the 9 minute mark without the skits feeling forced.

UPDATE: As of May 1st, my computer is now fixed and ready to go. It's just a matter of getting all my games downloaded again, getting Sony Vegas 9.0 Pro back again and organizing all the backed up files until the projects are ready to be edited.

27 comments:

  1. Appears I am not the only one suffering computer failure you're lucky though mine failed and I can't even reformat it I'm on boot loop but anyways hope you find that disc soon I love the idiot box!

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  2. I was going to suggest to use Ubuntu or something until you get Windows back (Either XP or 7). Granted you probably won't get some essential programs of yours to work the way you're used to, but you could try the Wine emulator, if you're interested.

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  3. If you still have your product key, you might be able to use a friend's disk. Also kudos for not turning to piracy to fix your problems.

    Like C.G. said, you could always try Ubuntu. I am pretty sure you can at least run GMOD on low specs in it. (Also, Wine stands for Wine is not (an) emulator =P since it doesn't emulate any hardware.)

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  4. Cook the 8800GTS in the oven. It works. Trust me, I've done it (exact same card too).


    (google it)

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  5. It happens to all of us eventually. I was working on a video game when I corrupted that part of my harddrive and lost everything. Good for you to not pirate Windows. Even greedy bastards like Microsoft need to make money somehow. I'd say Vista, but with 7 out, it's become impossible to find a copy. Can't wait for the next GIB, you are an inspiration to me.

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  6. Hey, no worries. Mabye I or somebody else could start a charity for you. But im 15 so what do I know.

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  7. Things will somehow work out. Life always carries on and seems to fix itself in odd ways.

    Don't get disheartened either about the whole jobless thing, I don't think anyone can get employed. I sure as hell can't.

    Ennywey, excited to hear when you do figure things out. Good luck!

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  8. I can mail you a copy of whatever version of XP you own, I work at a shop and have multiple copies of Home and Professional. Feel free to email me: catronos(at)hotmail.com

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  9. That was so beautiful, "1hose韻如ak09r_cruickshan". If only we could all speak with such eloquence and make a heartwarming post like you just did. You're a hard act to follow.

    Spammers aside, I am grateful you maintain this blog because even though you owe us no explanation, it's very nice of you to let us all know you're still making Idiot Box episodes. I know I look forward to them more than any other serial release video on the internet.

    As for your problem, I have been exactly where you are. Lost a video card in our last Dell laptop in a similar manner (can't remember what I was doing when it died, but I think it happened while I was playing a game...) but it's not so easy to replace parts after warranty expiration :/

    My husband has also been laid off since January so I know how you feel there too. Best of luck to you, solving both of those problems.

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  10. Hello, new fan here. Friend of mine directed me to your videos and I love them.

    I know how hard the unemployment situation can be. I'm a college student who has been trying to find a job to help pay for all the garbage that comes along with college, and no luck.

    I didn't upgrade to Windows 7 until I happened to accidentally come into posession of a completely new laptop, but I had been happy with Windows XP as well. Windows 7 does work well, but since you don't have the cash to upgrade or the inclination to pirate, I'd say wait to find the disc for Windows XP.

    Good luck, and keep up the good work. :D

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  11. Love TGIB best gmod series on the internet, hope you get everything sorted out soon.

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  12. I would have recommended the ATI radeon HD 4670, as it is dirt cheap (70$ on newegg), reliable, and it is decent. (crysis on almost max, with only some peripheral settings on medium)

    But have it your way...

    Anyways, a good program called acronis would have saved you a lot of trouble, as it can backup ENTIRE operating systems, and can host its own operating system while it restores your blown up OS. (that is that it can restore stuff without running windows)

    I would reccomend you buy it.

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  13. How about using Linux as a temp? I think you might be able to get fraps and steam and other Windows programs on it.

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  14. I think u best i mean u have a rival dizath...

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  15. Try not to get too het up about stupid YT fanboy comments. Your stuff is great, regardless of how long it takes.

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  16. I have a spare Windows 7 Home premium key lying around somewhere that DasBoSchitt could perhaps use, it only has like one use left on it. or if he adds me to his GMail. Perhaps I can show him out fail windows licensing is?

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  17. Saw the new video on the TheShadowOfBoSchitt on youtube, so I am guessing progress has been made!

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  18. Sorry to hear your computer broke again. It's all good though.

    Time=Quality

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  19. "maintaining pirated software" - what is that? Their prices are for people who CAN afford them. I don't, so I'm never in doubt :p.
    Anyway I use Win7 only because of DX10. If it were by me I'd still be using Win98 :). Really Win7 feels like a step back, don't bother with it unless you have to. I spent 2 weeks making it work together with the old XP.

    Thanks for sharing your videos!

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  20. Dude, you got viruses for 90$ Only trust the stores. Those guys are paid to be "nice fellows" and mean it.

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  21. Yeah thanks for the diagnosys... No viruses. Just pure Micro$chitt. 90$ a lot of money my friend! If I had that I'd get some new clothes or sneakers lol!

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  22. ah i hate computers sometimes.
    i, have actually been cluster-fucked by viruses before, it turned out all my friends and me(ONLY ONCE OR TWICE) have literally downloaded shitloads of porn (i never downloaded, i only looked at, which can still give me viruses... but really, i would of only caused one virus on my computer, my friends caused about 5000) so i ended up having to replace my computer, as i knew NO ONE smart enough to fix my problem without gutting my computer.
    and as to the TYPE or HOW MANY viruses i got, i got about 5023 (around there, if thats possible) and they were mostly viruses that just made my computer slow, or watched everything i did, as in all my passwords and all my usernames. i ended up losing only one account, and having to change several passwords in the process, but now im back to normal!
    not that anyone cares, cus this isnt about me :P
    i should get my own blog...

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  23. does ANYBODY know the system requirements for gmod??

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  24. you have to be strong in the computer wars!!!!!!!
    and those viruses can go to HELL im battling some spyware myself goin ok not for long.... GL! (good luck) dasboschitt yo friend Zac

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  25. FOUND THEM!
    Anyways, his computer is back up and running and he made a subscription video.
    200,000 subs!
    Cool, bro!

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