Direct MP3 Download: Podnutz Daily #55 – Am I Stressed Out?
More on the Toshiba motherboard from hell
Still getting the BSOD
“Plug and Play has detected an error most likely caused by a faulty driver”
Always at the point “Set up is now starting Windows”
Today I took the MB out the laptop
Added CD drive, 1 stick of RAM, and hooked up the screen.
That was it. Ran it. No change.
Used my Driver Packs disk thinking maybe
the Toshiba Recovery disks are not loading the drivers for the SATA HD.
No change either with the HD in or with it out.
Last ditch effort: Decided to flash the BIOS.
Toshiba website had a BIOS update
AND I could burn it to a CD with their utility!
Ran the CD with the updated BIOS. No issues.
Put my Driver Packs CD in and started Windows set up again.
Got to the point where BSOD was showing up
but this time it said “Set Up cannot detect a HD”
At this point I KNEW that it was working.
Put everything back together.
Tightened all the screws..
Put in her setup disk again
… you guessed it ….
PNP BSOD again at the same spot.
Tried my Driver Pack disk again (since it worked before)
PNP BSOD again.
Going to either buy a new Mother Board
or run over it with my car in the parking lot.
This mystery is PHYSICALLY making me sick!
Ended up leaving the shop early due to stress.
Shop is getting slammed while I work on this Toshiba.
Meanwhile: Dad was rockin’.
He was rolling through the computers left and right
I was sitting there angry and he was cruisin’.
Didn’t want to bring him down with my attitude.
A moment of perspective: I talk about how to handle the rough times.
Just do the best you can. Don’t stress out.
Per Dad: It is not a life or death situation.
Voice Mail from Luke about the leaf blower:
(Decided to play it.)
“For the love of Mike! Don’t buy a leaf blower!”
One gallon air compressor 5lbs or less.
(Steve cannot find one at 5lbs though)
So I am on the fence with the leaf blower.
You guys talked me out of it plus
it is $95 when all is said and done.
I will probably end up buying an air compressor and a refillable can
which is a great alternative trying to save money on canned air.
Harbor Freight Tools
Another Voice Mail from Luke:
He explains how to migrate your iTunes library from a Mac to PC or reverse.
Email from Al:
“I heard you are the one to ask from a number of fellow tech geeks..”
Al wants to know how to take a HD from one computer
and connect it via USB to another computer and look at the user files.
I give him, from memory, my “insane & roundabout” instructions to get it done.
Email from Brad:
I use a limited account on XP.
Is that better for web surfing?
I have never used a limited account
because I like having administrator privileges.
But I have heard that it IS safer because you do not
have the authority to install programs like spyware.
Brad also wants to know how to get more hits
on a local search. I direct him to EP 8 of Podnutz
for info on converting the hits that you are getting to business.
Podnutz #8
Email from Ashton:
Ashton offers a way to see Experts Exchange advice without paying.
If you Google a problem and Experts Exchange offers a solution
(and they usually do)
Just click the Google cached link at the bottom of the search result.
This will give you the cached page of the solution. Free.
I also add as a solution that my viewers mention if you scroll to the bottom of the page
you can also see the advice that they offer.
Special Thank You to Mike Smith of
The Mike Tech Show
For mentioning my podcast and sending so many great listeners my way.
Email from Craig:
Craig told me about the refillable can of air available at
Harbor Freight Tools and speedysupply.biz
Email from Moe:
“I learn more from your podcast than anywhere else on the net”
Dead Think Pad R51. When I power it on the fans spin but nothing else.
No video or HD activity.
CD will not eject.
I have tried swapping out both the HD and RAM. No changes.
I am thinking it is the Mother Board, but want some advice.
I advised Moe to check the seating of the wireless card.
I’ve had a Think Pad before where the wireless card
was not seated properly and was shorting out the MB.
Just pull out that wireless card and re-try the system before you buy that MB.
Moe goes on to say:
He had a computer that would not connect to the internet.
After several other ways of trouble shooting he found the problem.
Customer was using McAfee at the highest security setting.
This was blocking the internet connection.
Lowered the security setting. All is well.
Podnutz #23 soon-to-be-released
Guest Steve D’Amico from Long Island, NY SMDComputer.net
