Happy Summer Solstice

Well, I have been offline for about three weeks! The dreaded blue screen error which came every time I connected to the internet. Except, of course, after being on the phone twice to tech support! Each time I tried to replicate the error to tell them it didn't happen! Just like your car won't make that weird noise for the mechanic!

I did some stuff myself after troubleshooting online with the Firebird's laptop. Then the laptop had to be returned to the school for the summer. Here in Maine we have a school laptop program, "a laptop in the hands of every eight grader." (during the school year)

And of course I have been busy busy busy running circles and never a three hour time slot to devote to Dell tech support. Well, bright and early this morning seemed a good time, for me anyhow. I can't say for sure what time the tech had over there in Bombay, since he had to ask me am or pm when he asked the local time. He did seem to know Maine was located around New Hampshire and Vermont, which impressed me since I am sure I could't tell you the states or whatever divisions there are outside of his location.

I was repeatedly called, "Sir", despite my declarations of "I am a girl, " and "I am not a Sir" and "I am a woman with a deep voice, common mistake on the phone."

I finally decided that perhaps everyone over there is addressed as "Sir" despite their gender. Or perhaps it is so uncommon to address a strange (pun intended) woman that no formal title exists to address a woman. LOL

"We" ( the tech and I) uninstalled and reinstalled the modem (much to my delight I did have the CD for the driver), and then I had to disconnect with the tech to try to connect- with the advice that if it reoccurred to call my ISP provider. Which it did, and I did, and the ISP tech support told me they don't do anything about blue screen issues, to call Dell back, which I did.

And I actually spoke with another tech that I could actually understand, who sounded like he absolutely knew what he was talking about. Then he wanted the error number on the blue screen, and of course my paper with my notes had vanished, so I had to disconnect from him and attempt to connect so I would get the crash again.

Then the crash didn't happen. Furious, I disconnected and reconnected three or four times since I actually had someone that knew how to fix it and he was calling back in less than a minute. Nope, no crash, I am online after three weeks...for the moment, at least. Once or twice I have been able to get online, and the last time I immediately went to update MS and it crashed updating. So we'll see how long the old Dell desktop can keep going...

Solstice Blessings,
Tree