Above: My late lamented Viewsonic 1962WM 19 inch monitor. RIP. I’ll not forget three years of faithful service.
When the monitor gave out around 10:30pm on the first day of 2012 I lost my head – the computer shut down and when started up again, the monitor went blank when loading Windows – classic symptoms (as I’ve experienced) of motherboard burn out failure. At the time I hadn’t realised that it was the monitor which had given way but rather, due to past experience thought it was motherboard burn out failure – something which I’d been dreading, having been the cause of my past two computer failures.
I entered panic mode and as in the previous two computer deaths promptly punched the start button…to be met by the same symptoms. —> More panic ensues; informs parents; profanity from parents; sparks more panic in mind; wait – lights are flashing, maybe motherboard isn’t dead? XP login window displaying. then flickers off; doesn’t seem consistent with past motherboard burn outs; monitor the issue?; longshot; rushes off and extracts dad’s monitor; plugs into own computer after ripping out own monitor; start computer; –> prays that monitor is really the issue; computer works like a charm; google search; failure of backlight inverted; informs parents; much relief; parents lambast me over excessive usage of monitor; new monitor picked.
Fastforward to today (Wednesday); off to MSY to pick up new 20 inch Samsung monitor (see below), little shorter though wider than previous monitor.Monitor installed. Feels satisfied. Though had minor scare with reinstalling Dad’s monitor —> upon checking if dad’s computer worked by starting it up again with monitor reinstalled, strange noises started emitted from computer; specifically voice (Microsoft Sam?); fixed by loosening screws of connection between monitor cable and computer box -> perplexed by this solution (if it can be called a solution at all; awaits day when dad’s computer has a melt down, unlikely though it is).
Yet another item is added to the list of computer parts that I’ve managed to destroy through somewhat excessive and heavy usage.
Thus far the list of components (and details of their demise) is as follows:
- Gigabyte motherboard (2004) – died from overheating after 30 days or so of use.
- Repaired/replaced Gigabyte motherboard [same old as the one noted above] (December of 2004) – died from overheating; caused by excessive gaming; 8 hour sessions in 30 degree heat + in hindsight not so great cooling systems.
- ASUS motherboard (2008) – Burnt out in same circumstances as the Gigabyte motherboard.
- 120 gig hdd (2008) – Not sure; but one moment it was working the next it just…didn’t.
- Viewsonic 1962WM 19 inch monitor (2012) – After a little over three years of use the monitor’s backlight inverter failed. I’m still hanging onto it in hopes of fixing it.
While the above list doesn’t seem like a long list, when both motherboards burnt out it essentially translated into the need to purchase a brand new computer as by that time most of the attached components e.g. graphics card etc were already obsolete. Currently I’m on my third computer, so add in the previous two then from 2004 to 2012, that makes an average of one computer every 2.5 years. Of course I’m hoping that my current computer will last for another two years, which it should, unless I choose to rack up hours of usage from roughly 10 a day to 14. Not likely. Still going back in time I hadn’t quite expected my previous two computers to quite literally be burned out by heat and excessive gaming.
Sidenote: While I was at MSY, waiting for the store to open, a rather bulky white fellow arrives with his Asian partner. The fellow proceeds to remark as to why MSY would be shut over the New Year period, seeing as they’re Asian and hence really wouldn’t be celebrating 31Dec/1 Jan but instead should really be celebrating Chinese New Year.
Culturally insensitive fucker especially given that as said before, his partner was Asian. Was most incensed at comment, but did not act on it at the time as predicted response from the fool would have been along the lines of ‘It’s a joke mate’ [In context, felt hands were tied; though legitimate question arises; ‘In such situations when are one’s hands not tied?’. Bastard.
Aside from that small tech hiccup; 2012 has been rolling along just fine for me.
