We had a serious thunderstorm Monday night. Next morning main computer, trusty old Blackbox, a Compaq, was no longer on the internet. Windows claimed the network cable was unplugged. It wasn't, but the little green LED that indicates connection was out. After some blundering around, I fired up trusty laptop, and lo and behold, he went right on line by wireless. So, that means cable modem is alive, and the router has enough life to do wireless. I'm using one to those wireless routers that puts out a wireless signal AND drives four RJ-45 jacks. Blackbox is connected to one of the RJ-45 jacks. Maybe the Ethernet cable failed, or Blackbox's network adapter got fried. Or the router got half fried, so the wireless still works but the RJ-45 jacks are toast.
So I pull out a PCI wireless adapter card and plug it in. But the install CD refuses to run. So I decide to blow away some of the antivirus software that has been bogging Blackbox down. After a bitter hand-to-hand struggle I get rid of Microsoft Security Essentials and ZoneAlarm. Neither went easily or quietly. But after killing them both, the install CD started to work, and the wireless card connected and Blackbox is back on line.
Joy. And, I knew that the antivirus stuff was slowing him down, but wow, now he is back in his old form, quick and silent. Love it. So I am gonna run barefoot for a while.
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