System Restore Blues

Ah, Windows! Thy faults are legendary! Just another reason why I run a total of 4 computers, with a total of 7 Operating Systems! Each has Windows XP, but 2 also have Kubuntu Linux, and one also has Windows Vista as well. One of the PCs is purely a loaner, it stays out in the shed, ready to be loaned out to anyone who needs a computer for the short term, due to their PC dying, getting infested with malware, etc. Anyhow, I'm pretty religious about backups. I actually clone the OS to a separate drive, so I can restore absolutely everything if necessary. And trust me, it's been necessary, a number of times! But 99% of the populace is not so meticulous. I'm currently doing a total System Restore (off disks) of a neighbor's PC. It's a "commercial" PC, manufactured by a nationally-known company (starts with C, ends with Q...). As with most computers this day, it does not include a retail Windows disk with it. You're supposed to create a set of restore disks when you first get the computer. Of course, almost no one does. The neighbor didn't, either. That's alright, our good friends at C*****Q will be glad to send you a set, for a reasonable price (~$16). I ordered them, but the neighbor needed the computer NOW! So, I did the next-best thing while awaiting the disks... I ran Windows 2000, which of course doesn't have the damned "Activation" process, and has probably 90% of the capabilities of XP. Returned their PC, with the idea of updating to XP once the Restore CDs got here. Well, they got here really fast, and so, a couple days later, I went to install XP, as a complete "blast and reload". There's 10 CDs, no doubt because of all the bloatware included with commercial PCs. It got to Disk 4 and stopped. Just stopped. No reason given, no blue screen, no failure notice. Just stopped. I eventually had to abort, and retry. Well, now, the Restore CDs don't recognize the PC any more, and won't allow the restore process to commence!! GRRRR! I call HP (C****Q), and get tech support. He tells me that'll be $45 for the first hour. I tell him, I suspect all I have to do is FDISK the drive, right? He hesitates, says that'll cost me $45. But the hesitation said it all. I had my answer. I'm currently on Disk 4 (will it get past that point?), and so far, so good. 6 more to go.

Taft?

Hello again, this time from the small town of Taft, CA. Why Taft? I have a group here playing volleyball from the San Diego area. It's a quickie trip, we return tonight (arrived yesterday). Taft is a quaint place, tucked against the foothills on the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley. I'm sitting in a public library, using their computer, since they don't have Wi-fi or spare ethernet; just their own locked-down computers . It works pretty good, regardless.

Paso Robles?

Yes, that's right.... Paso Robles. That's where I currently reside, at Tom Bodett's favorite place; Motel 6. Not high on my list of preferred places, but this is where my company parked me for the weekend. They have this *thing* about Motel 6..... GRRRR! I can usually find much better accommodations for just a few dollars more, but oh well. Anyhow, it's a nice time of year here, the weather's cooling off, and the smell of autumn is in the air. I have a California National Guard unit (Camp Roberts is just north of here) that I'll be returning to San Diego on Sunday. So, it's time for a couple days of kickin' it here in Paso Robles! Hmmm, I wonder what "Robles" means in Spanish? That's one noun I don't know (I speak some Spanish). Oh, OK, Google Translate just informed me; it's Oaks. So, Paso Robles is "Oaks Way". Now I know *grin*. Personal opinion, there are lots of California Oaks around here, but nowhere near as much as grapevines! Man, there's vineyards everywhere. Why? California wines are shipped all over the world, to high acclaim. We're talking a serious cash crop here. It's strange, driving past miles of grapes growing on the vines is kind of calming. There's a real beauty to it.
Anyhow, as you can perhaps tell, I've had a bit of the product of those vines here tonight *grin*. It's somehow fitting, though, considering the "ambiance" of the area. Oh, and, of course, it was a California wine!! Hey, gotta help support the economy of my home state, right? In this case, I'm glad to be of assistance! Oh, and did I mention I'm getting paid to sit here and wait for my National Guardsmen? Of course! I'm not home, right? It's not all fun and games, there is an issue with my bus, although I don't think it's going to become a major issue. So, in the meantime, I'm making the best of my short-lived stay in "Oaks Way".