human meltdown

By basd on Jul 7, 2009 | In -arghhh!!

So, I have this new job that takes up 14 hrs. per day. So, I can't maintain my computer system or waste time typing blog entries.

But, today I had time for "system maintenance." I updated my WindowsXP computer (which I use as a file server) to IE8 over the weekend and today added the new iTunes. And thus began my descent into Arghhhland and human meltdown.

...

Ok, the descent began yesterday. My work asked me to scan a file and email it. But, my main computer was packed up to go ... to work. So, I scanned on my XP computer, but suddenly my linux box, on which I run an rdp connection to work, would not connect to my shared XP drive. What? But, I had limited time, so I found a work-around. And today tried to fix things.

Well, as it turned out, my XP server would no longer allow logins. My first suspect was "Bonjour," Apple's zeroconf networking tool. Some web surfing told me that it (a) can interfere with Windows networking and (b) does not cleanly uninstall. So, I rolled back to a prior restore point.

Also, my other WindowsXP that seldom gets used, on my dual-boot machine, would neither browse to or connect to the XP box. ???

Still nothing. Hours of attempts to fix, attempts to troubleshoot, still nothing. So, I decided it was time to continue my effort to move away from the XP file server to a linux-based server that I started implementing recently. But -- suddenly that NFS system was not sharing either. Arggghhh. Double-argghhh. Human roll-back! Where is my typewriter, I am completely tired of computers and never wish to see one again!!!

More hours wasted, while I rolled the XP back to a prior restore point -- prior to IE8 and recent security updates. Simultaneously, updated the linux server box. Re-set my main internet connection. Stand on head while engaging in unattainable yoga positions. Whatever. (As these are both some of my oldest computers, disaster-implementation is very slow. Lots of arrghhh-time.)

Magically, the XP roll-back resulted in normal drive sharing to be restored. Simultaneously, the linux NFS shares sprang back to life. (I honestly don't know whether this was due to the updates or some interference that was occurring from the XP box.) And, therefore, my music collection is probably functional again (as it runs from linux but the files reside on the shared drive).

Now I don't know what to do about XP upgrades. Install them and risk losing my connectivity? The main thing is, I have work that has to be completed on Windows and I have to be able to hand-off files to my linux systems. Which I have accomplished for years via a windows share and a mount.cifs connection.

Today was not pretty.