Wireless client config

Shit, today I went to my new office carrying my own laptop computer, which is an IBM ThinkPad.  In it I have IBM software to configure the wireless client, which I like much better than the Windows one.

At the beginning there were a lot of problems trying to get my computer connected to that office's wireless network.  It's help desk guys weren't that brilliant, and at one point they almost switched the wireless configuration to be done by the Windows software (not IBM), or so I thought.  Then by the time I was about the leave the office, I saw that my computer had downloaded one more Windows update, just one, and on Xmas day?  Very odd, but I let it install anyway.

Now that I came home I get the surprise that I constantly get disconnected from my own wireless access point.  It was very annoying, and I couldn't undo the "use Windows to configure the wireless client" because clicking on the OK button would give me an error message.  Yes, I also looked up on the net how to solve that problem, but the solution they wrote didn't work on my computer.

So at the end I give up and just input the encryption key into the Windows wireless client configuration program.  Now I don't have any more problems about the constant disconnection.  I wonder if the guy at the office did check that checkbox when I wasn't looking (I doubt it), or is this caused by this strangely timed Windows update?

The all new, Firefox 2.0.0.1

About three days ago I let Firefox update itself to 2.0.0.1, and since then I've noticed that now my anti virus takes way longer to scan the whole computer than it used to.  Now it takes perhaps 60% more time than before.  Other goodies have also started to misbehave, like my Serial-to-USB adapter, sometimes stops working out of the blue and the only thing that brings it back to life is rebooting Windows.  Annoying.

TV cable box kaput

This is really annoying.  About 30 minutes ago I was watching Star Wars Episode II on cable TV, and about 10 minutes into the film, the cable box shorted.  I didn't have anything strange in the whole apartment, just the cable box like turned off and on really quick and after that I couldn't make it work anymore.

I called the help desk and they suspect that it's shorted, so they'll send me a technician first thing in tomorrow morning.  Arrrgh!!!

By the way, yesterday afternoon I was marveled thinking that my high speed Internet connection at home hadn't failed me for quite a while.  Then when I get home in the night, it's not working!  It doesn't matter with which of my modems I try, the ISP's server is simply unreachable.  So I call the help desk and they tell me that everything on their side looks fine.  The girl arranges for a technician to come visit my apartment the following day, I thank her and hang up.  Then a few minutes later, inexplicably the connection returns, and so far it's working fine.

Strange detail

Since a few days ago I've noticed that my precious new speakers don't sound as loud as they used to when they were spanking new.  I already used the computer's built-in volume buttons and the software volume control, and they just won't blast like before.  I must be missing something.  I can't believe they just can't play as loud as before for no reason.

New printer

Today I went to buy a new printer for my apartment.  I wanted a small one that can also print on the surface of CDs, so I did a bit of research on the Internet before stepping out.  I thought I'd get the Canon iP5000, but could only find the iP5200.  A bit expensive, but hopefully will last long.  I like it because apparently it can print on both sides of the paper without somebody turning the page around by hand.

Now that I brought it home and tried to set it up, it took me perhaps almost two hours.  I thought I'd go crazy cause something that should be ready to use out of the box, simply refused to print anything.  At some point I even thought it might be a defective printer and I might have to hitch a cab again and take it back to the store.  Ahhh, but finally I was able to print two test pages, so that's okay.  Well, I guess the ink cartridges were a bit dry or something.  Man, I'm tired.