It's Almost Midnight -

I feel like I should be standing in Time's Square or somewhere that has a large lighted ball on a pole with confetti at the ready.
The clock on my last semester is ticking - so loud, it's keeping me awake at night. This is when it all really comes together, I guess. I've learned so much since the last time I checked in that *I* need a reboot!
My work at the NYSD has been amazing. I've come to embrace the Mac OS and I am enjoying experimenting with the iPrograms, for lack of a better term :-) Right now I'm in the midst of finishing a project that uses iChat to link 2 deaf classrooms. It turns out that Occam's Razor is a pretty useful after all! I've also been working with the SMARTBoard gallery & even made my own screencast - a first for me! I'm sure the farther out I get from it, it will sound terrible, but right now I am reveling in the fact that I accomplished my goal and trying to ignore all the "ums" and weird noises I make! I know my next time I will be working hard to elimate these flaws.

Hardware-wise, I haven't done too much. I'm sure my PC could use a tune up, but I wanted to wait until the semester was over before I started fooling around under the hood, or perhaps even looking to trade up to a new model. The one thing I AM sure that I will do is make sure I *DON'T* have Vista installed. I've been hearing so many people complain as of late, and that helps the shiny new system envy go away.

On the software side, I have been doing a bit of experimenting. I downloaded a trial of the new Microsoft Office (2007) and have to admit I really like it. Some people are unhappy with the new look, and while I agree, it can be a bit confusing at first, it's grown on me. Perhaps that is because I am still running Office 2000 at home (!!) - this free trial is definitely making me a convert. So, I am trying to decide if I should just pony up for a new system with Office 07 installed on it - yes, I know I'll still be paying for it, but having a nice new system will make it better.... I think.

I also have a little software detective work to do once the semester is over as well. It seems my web browser of choice (Firefox) is slower than molasses on a winter's day all of a sudden. Granted, I have about 8 windows open with 2-3 tabs in a few of them, but opening a new window is taking FOREVER. I am looking forward to having the time to troubleshoot this problem. I'm also having trouble updating my Ad-Aware, so I have to uninstall, reinstall, that sort of thing. Time for an overhaul.

Even though I am graduating, I'd like to keep this blog going to share my experiences with others who may be just starting to understand what's keeping your PC going and why. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Those lazy days of summer, fall and winter

A.K.A. What have I been doing with myself since I obviously haven't spent my time maintaining this blog. I'm so tired that I'm hoping that sentence required a period and not a question mark. 2008 and it's finally graduation year! It's been almost 10 years since I started on this road, and I while I love school, I am ready to be done. I'm excited to take my first steps into the new path in front of me, and tomorrow I will. I have been hired as a technology consultant at the NYSD. They are an all Mac shop, so I have some learning to do. I'm confidant I'll be able to locate the answers I need, I just will hate not knowing them right away in the beginning. I'm kind of a perfectionist that way - if only I could apply that to my housekeeping!

Last semester was a busy one for me. I was officially a full time student and completed my internship in educational technology at BMS & TE. I loved being in my own district, and I was sad to see it come to an end. My cooperating teachers were fantastic and I got a great preview of all the teachers my sons may have - and I am very pleased! It definitely helped rationalize the tax bill. I've posted a lot of my work from this internship in my e-portfolio. It's a work in progress, so if you find something that doesn't work, please let me know.

This semester will be busy, but I think the best one so far. Stay tuned!

Spring Fashion Show

Turns out, upgrading can become slightly addicting...

In addition to building a PC for our class project, I've found that my home computer could use a few helpful tweaks. When I was inspired to finally set up automated backup by a great cnet TFDL episode, I realized my CD-ROM was in fact just that - Read Only. No burning capability. I guess you can see how often I burn a CD or backup...(insert shameful icon here). Well, NO MORE!! I replaced my standard Dell-issued CD-ROM with a Sony DVD/ CD-WR. It was pretty smooth, all in all. Dell, IMO, has a great way of mounting drives - these green brackets that remove easily. I'm not sure this is standard on all Dells, but on my Optiplex, it's pretty great. it's made swapping the drives painless - well, not if you include when I bumped my head on the desk while retrieving screws from underneath it!

Next on my list - MEMORY UPGRADE! I never throught I would say this, but I am pretty excited to see the difference in performance! Stay tuned!

When Power Supplies Attack!!

Dead, dead, dead.

That's what this little Medusa is.
I went to restart my PC and all I got were flickering lights and a clicking sound - now that CAN'T be good! I conferred with DH and he agreed after we did multiple plug/unplug cycles that the most likely culprit was the rascal to the left.

He brought me home a nice new (to me) replacement power supply and I replaced it all by myself!! With just a little direction, but on my own! Want to know how I did it? Keep reading...

1. Unplug the PC - kinda basic, but hey, if you are working with the POWER SUPPLY folks, you really can't work plugged in...

2. Open case - anothe given, since you have to get it out. I really liked how easily the case opened on my machine (Dell Optiplex GX270 Series) and how it was hinged. Thumbs up Dell!

3. Remove mounting screws for the power supply - This was fairly simple, and the screws were easily accessible.

4. Unplug the peripherals - I unplugged, in order, so I would remember later: CD-R/DVD, Floppy Drive and the Hard Drive. Still, pretty easy stuff, you just need to follow the cables.

5. Unplug the two Motherboard connections - the big connector (P1) and the small one (P4).

6. Push the green lever to remove power supply - this is a nice feature and was really easy to use.

7. Insert new power supply and push until you hear a click. Mark old power supply as bad - this last one is my own step, just to make sure I didn't confuse them!

8. Plug in DVD-ROM, Floppy andHard Drive.

9. Plug in Motherboard connections - The small latch on the side of the P1 made for easy connection and assured me I was plugging in the right way.

10. Screw power supply to frame and close case. Power up and test!

It works!! One small step for techs, one giant leap for me!

Thanks to my DH for all his supervision and for keeping me in parts :-)

Working at it

I have been so buried in my reading and studying that I neglected to update last week - sorry!

Let's see, what can I claim is new this week?
I have been reading about System Tools today and decided to adjust my automatic tasks - I added my antivirus program to automatically update daily - that way I am sure to be protected with the most current definitions.

Also, I finally got around to installing Skype this week. I got these cool little headphones from DH and we actually had a live video chat via Skype. I have to say, it's pretty cool, and handy if you have friends or family overseas. We have the Optimum Voice option for our phone line at home, so we are only paying 29.99 a month for unlimited calling and long-distance within the US, so I wouldn't really use it for domestic calls, unless I really REALLY needed to talk with someone and the phone line was otherwise engaged. I would definitely chose Skype over my cell phone because I get terrible reception within my house. I think it's a good alternative to calling cards or long distance providers - and if I ever need to speak to someone in Denmark, I'll be sure to use it.

Three Goals for this week:
1. Pass my first exam this Wednesday - I'll be happy with 75% correct, but my competitive, obsessive side is looking for upper 90s

2. Break out the canned air and give my PC and keyboard a makeover

3. Start planning what I need to build my own PC for my term project.

Yes, I know these are some lightweight goals for the week, but I really need to catch up and study before winter break and Hudson is home for an ENTIRE WEEK!! I doubt I'll get much done when he's begging to play WoW all day every day....

May I Be Excused? My Brain is Full...

WHOA! What a week - this Mike Meyers guy (author of our class text) is kicking me around like...oh, I don't know what - a slow rodeo clown on his first day of work? How's that for a visual?
My head is swirling with buses, connectors, Pentium chips - I think I just need time to process it all.

So, what have I done this week besides ignore my eBay sales and tend to a sick child? I defragged my hard drive, that's what!! It wasn't TOO red, so I was pleased that I had not neglected this task for too long. I also realized I had no spyware killer on this machine, so I went to cnet.com, one of my very favorite sites for research, and downloaded Ad-Aware SE Personal. By the way, cNet also produces a great little segment that downloads to my Tivo every week - Tips for Digital Living. Get it if you have Tivo.

My Goals for the Coming Week:
1. Get caught up on my homework - how can I be BEHIND already?
2. Figure out what CPU I have in my machine, how much RAM and determine if I should perform an upgrade
3. Set up a scheduled backup - I am shamed to say I have NEVER backed up my work!! Don't look at me like that!!

Have a Good Week!

Our Adventure Begins...

with me, sitting like deer in headlights, back in grad school since Summer 2000. I am excited to be back, but man, I forgot how much work comes with it!

Anyway, I am starting this blog for two reasons: 1. I like the format MUCH better (I'm such a visual person) that what can be created with Blackboard, and 2. I'd like to keep this as documentation (no, not the kind no one reads!) of what I have learned in this space of time.

I'm approaching this class and my Ed Tech future as a series of small races to be run. I want to be able to know how to take apart, upgrade and repair my computer without relying on my husband (sorry sweetie!). He has been my mentor thus far, but it's time to grow up and know how to maintain my own machine. So far, I've been pretty basic with what I've accomplished. I've downloaded and installed programs, fonts, checked for viruses and spyware, and once or twice defragged. Pretty sad if you ask me. It's time to step things up.

My 3 Goals for this week are:
1. To read and understand all of my assigned material
2. Read last year's back issues of Maximum PC for some more ideas to flesh out my term project.
3. Restart my Palm and download some decent list & time management software.