Four Trips and a Soggy Crawfish

First things first. My major project of the day was to get my studio machine up and running. So a quick system check first thing this morning and nothing...still having the same problems. So a quick search on the internet and i found some potential solutions...at least solutions to exonerate one component at a time.

First test was to make sure the power supply was still working. A quick test confirmed that it was still working. So, now i tried to make sure the motherboard wasn't shorting out to the case. So i did as the internet suggested and placed the motherboard on the box (to eliminate any grounding issues). Turned everything on as i normally would, and nothing. Same thing as before. This got me thinking...well, maybe the power supply is bad (even though the fans turned on). So, i checked the pin connections with my volt meter and sure enough, the power supply was outputting the wrong voltage. The +5V pin was outputting +8V. All the other pins were outputting the proper voltage.

So, off to Frys i go to get another power supply (trip #1). Returned the defective one and bought a slightly more expensive one (glad i did...this new one runs much quieter!) Came home, installed the new one and hooked everything up...and poof...small puff of smoke billowed from the motherboard. I never could locate the source of the puff of smoke. Didn't think the motherboard was going to work after that...and i was right. It was at least still doing the same thing that it had been doing.

So, off to Frys to return the fried motherboard (trip #2). Get to the customer service desk and make it through the return process when the lady asked me if i had the metal cover plate to the motherboard. Sonnova...nope...i grabbed everything except the face plate. She wouldn't let me return the item without that plate. So home i went to retrieve the required item.

Now back in line at the customer service desk (trip #3). The return went well, and i had my store credit in hand. I looked at some other motherboards to see if i could find something a little different. My other choices were not in stock...so i went with the same motherboard as before. I at least had experience in putting it together...so not a terrible choice.

Got home and opened the box and couldn't find any mounting hardware (screws). I was livid. They won't sell a motherboard without the cover plate, but they will sell the motherboard without any mounting hardware. I decided i'd hook up the motherboard to see if it would power up. And, yes, finally, it powered up with no issues. I scavanged the house to see if i could find any screws. no such luck.

On the way back to Frys to get some computer screws (trip #4). Found what i needed and returned to the house. Hooked everything up, screwed the motherboard to the case, made all the necessary attachments and powered it up! Wooohooo!!! it powered up with no problems. So, i closed up the case, moved it to the studio, and then hooked it up to the monitor (josh, the computer kind). Every thing was working properly...so i decided to start the Windows XP installation. Things were still progressing smoothly. Windows loaded properly...Success!!!

Unfortunately, it was time to go. I had to attend a crawfish boil. so, that is where my studio machine has progressed to. I am further along than i have been this whole week. I'm excited. Tomorrow, i'll start loading software and configuring the computer the way i need it for the studio.

So, i'm not a crawfish eater, but i enjoy attending the boils. They always seem to be a good time. This one was no exception...Even the rain couldn't stop the boil from continuing. But it was very soggy for an hour or so. At least it kept the heat from being unbearable. Most of Less Than Serious was there and all of Finding Reason. We talked "shop" and even received some good comments on "Love-Hate" (even nearly 4 months after the show) That makes us feel pretty good. We are also talking about future gig plans. There is a possibility that we could get together with Death Carpet Trio and perhaps another original band and play a show somewhere. That would be a blast. But more songs must be perfected first...maybe by the end of the year? Don't hold your breath...and of course i'll let you know what develops.