The Vent and Rant Thread

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Woke up today to see a white screen staring at me from my computer monitor. I tried every way I could imagine to get the computer to start in safe mode, but all I could get was a white screen. I'm thinking at this point that there's a problem with my video card, but I could be a virus. Looks like it's time for another trip to the Geek Squad at Best Buy.

Worth a try to boot from DVD or USB media. Will tell you for sure that it isn't a virus if you still have the white screen.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Woke up today to see a white screen staring at me from my computer monitor. I tried every way I could imagine to get the computer to start in safe mode, but all I could get was a white screen. I'm thinking at this point that there's a problem with my video card, but I could be a virus. Looks like it's time for another trip to the Geek Squad at Best Buy.

Do you normally see anything before the operating system starts? One or more of those things could be:

BIOS Messages
Mainboard brand or logo
Monitor brand or logo

Do you see the Windows start screen?

If so, your graphics card and monitor are probably not broken, but the only way to make sure of it is to test another monitor, and to test the card in a different computer.

If you see a white screen directly from the start, it's almost certain that your card or monitor are busted.

[WT Sharpe]

The computer had not been turned off. It was fine when I went to bed, but had a white screen in the morning. Yes, it may be the monitor or the card, but I don't have another computer to test the card in or another monitor to try. When booting up, the only thing I see is a white screen, not the normal Windows start screen.

[WT Sharpe]

Now that I think about it, it's got to be the monitor. I'm not even getting a "No Signal Detected" from the monitor when I turn it on without the computer being hooked up. Just a brief white screen, then it goes to black. I'll go shopping today.

[PeterT]

Cable issue?

Does the monitor have multiple video cables and an option to select which video input to use?

[WT Sharpe]

The cable would be cause it to go to white screen when powering on when the computer's off, I don't think.

Anyway, I went to Best Buy and brought home a brand new monitor, and now I'm back in business.

[Rumpelteazer]

Tomorrow I'm expecting the delivery of my photo printer. Normally packages delivered by Post NL are dropped off either between 11am and 1pm or between 1pm and 3pm. At the moment the delivery window is 8.30am and 9.30pm! Of course I have to run errands, I had hoped to do so before the delivery. Now I have to wait until either my parents are back from their errands or until my printer is delivered. Hopefully tomorrow morning the estimation of delivery time will be narrower.

Also, I shouldn't forget to put up our laminated sign to tell the deliverer that he should ring the doorbell (when they see our store is closed they usually don't even bother ringing the doorbell and just leave a note for it to be picked up at the post office).

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

The cable would be cause it to go to white screen when powering on when the computer's off, I don't think.

Anyway, I went to Best Buy and brought home a brand new monitor, and now I'm back in business.

New monitor is the easiest solution and the least concerning. Glad that solved it!

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by CRussel

New monitor is the easiest solution and the least concerning. Glad that solved it!

Since it's no longer a "rant" I posted about the new monitor here.

[cromag]

Did you try giving it a smack on the side?

[WT Sharpe]

Gave it a kick. Does that count?

[missimpossible]

It's pouring with rain and I have to go to two flat viewings tonight. I've had about four hours sleep.

Mondays. Ugh.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by meeera

A lot. Even kerb ramps to get into major regional shopping centres - it's a toss-up as to whether the ramp will be remotely near code. Crappy ramps I can handle with my mobility scooter, but not with my powerchair. And at least half the shops inside are not navigable by scooter at all. The lift to the movies can fit a wheelchair (just); but not a scooter.

Then there are the "security" barriers at supermarket checkouts, which are also cripple-barriers. The one accessible checkout may or may not have anyone actually staffing it: that's a 50-50. Or may have a bunch of new sale displays piled around it so that it's no longer accessible. The Woolies self-checkout is accessible (well, half of it is); the Coles one is not.

Bunnings has no wheelie access from the foothpath. None. You have to wheel through the carpark and hope no giant Dalkeith Tractors mow you down.

Plenty of restaurants and neighbourhood shops have "just one step" (or two, or three). And if you can get in, the toilet may be up or down a flight of steps, or down a tiny winding corridor. If there is an "accessible" toilet, it is likely to be also being used as a storage room for miscellanous items.

The post office agency that carded parcels are sent to is inaccessible. The nearest post office boxes are at the top of an angled flight of stairs with the top "accessible" step barely wide enough for a wheelchair, and with an ineffective safety barrier only around the second stair from the top. None of this makes any sense.

And so on, and so forth.

I've laid complaints about around two-thirds of the above, including a formal HREOC complaint about post office access. No-one cares. (Beyond the occasional pitying "sucks to be you" look, which is unhelpful.) Yes, it's the law that all of the above should be accessible. The problem is in the way that the law is enforced (or not).

Wow, thanks Meeera,

I guess we have it pretty good here in Paradise! A few years ago we had a disabled lawyer who made it a personal crusade to make the whole Island accessible. He didn’t succeed entirely (there are still a few challenges), but things are now very much better.

At the time I was a bit disgruntled at the expense, both in terms of taxes and increased cost of goods to pay for the ramps and elevators, but now I’m grateful.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Tomorrow I'm expecting the delivery of my photo printer. Normally packages delivered by Post NL are dropped off either between 11am and 1pm or between 1pm and 3pm. At the moment the delivery window is 8.30am and 9.30pm! Of course I have to run errands, I had hoped to do so before the delivery. Now I have to wait until either my parents are back from their errands or until my printer is delivered. Hopefully tomorrow morning the estimation of delivery time will be narrower.

Also, I shouldn't forget to put up our laminated sign to tell the deliverer that he should ring the doorbell (when they see our store is closed they usually don't even bother ringing the doorbell and just leave a note for it to be picked up at the post office).

Yup, gotta just love those delivery windows.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yup, gotta just love those delivery windows.

It wasn't out for delivery until almost 10am, so I got up early on my day off for nothing. Luckily it was just delivered after noon and I was able to run my errands and be back in time for the Tour de France.

I love the printer. Whilst watching tv I printed the pictures I took last week, wrote my journaling and embellished it. No more planning when to order my photos necessary.