Friday, August 19, 2005

A week in "computer hell"


What a week this has been! It started when the server of SCC ROSA broke down at the end of last week. After having tried to put in a new power supply (didn't help) it was sent to a computer company. They told us the motherboard had burnt and offered to replace it + new processor, memory and harddisk.

I set up a temporary solution by moving the disk containing user data to a workstation and reconfigure the other to access this. That part worked.

Tuesday the "revamped" server arrived. I put the old disk back and started repairing the installation of Windows2003 server. So far no big problems, it crashed once but did not think much of it. Once it was up the problems started. When you repair an installation of Windows2003 (or XP for that matter) it wants to "revalidate" its authenticity by connecting to Microsoft over the internet, before this is done you can't even log in. This did not work. Second option is to call Microsoft, in our case in Southafrica, tell them an endless code you get from the software and then type an equally endless confirmation code to get started. Tried twice and didn't work. Microsoft SA suggested calling their support service.

Decided to reinstall Windows2003 fresh instead. Put the new drive as "master" and installed on that. Finally installed after a couple of the much hated "blue screen of death". Managed to log on and install network and other drivers and to set up the server system.

Tried to authenticate again. Did not work even though internet was working. Strange but nevermind, went home around 9 pm.

Wednesday morning start adding the users, most of them can log on and, after reconfiguration, access data on the server. Some can't though and while trying to sort this problem we get the bsod screen. On restart the server refuses and tells me that a system file is damaged. Try to fix this by copying it from the CD or using the Recovery Console (don't ask, too complicated to explain). Doesn't help.

Try to repair using the CD again. All of a sudden several files can not be copied from the CD and I discover that it has now developed a CRACK rendering it completely useless. So there I stand with a non-working server and a useless CD.

Bring out the old Windows2000 server CD and try to install this instead so we can get the system up. Blue screen of death. Then it almost works for a while until I install network drivers and set up the server system. Blue screen of death. And again and again and again. Try swapping disks, try with one disk instead of two, try disabling various features on the motherboard. Nothing works.

By now I decide to try and install Windows XP just to see if ANYTHING works. After a few attempts with the dreaded "bsod" I give up. I put the data disk back in the workstation and set things back to the temporary configuration. Home late again.

Next morning I give it one final try with Windows2000 server. Blue sceen of death. Then ship it back to the supplier who called this morning. The motherboard they fitted is faulty and they are looking for a new - this could take a few days.

Sometimes when things go wrong they really decide to go wrong in all possible ways.

Thursday, August 18, 2005


I should really write a long posting regarding my "week in computer hell" but will do that separately. Just thought I would post a photo for visa purposes that for some strange reason came out looking like I actually do in real life! Sensation. Too bad it was not for my passport, there I look like some punch drunk weirdo. Posted by Picasa

Monday, August 15, 2005

Monday it is

Monday morning and back to normal. First "full week" ahead of me since we left for Dar 17 July.
Mia is most unhappy with the photo of the 2 of us that I posted, will have to go through how she can post her own blogs and photos!
Checked latest Star Wars at the movies last night with friends Eldridge & Tove. Impressive technically and that it manages to keep the plot going even though one knows that Anakin will somehow become the Darth Vader we have all known for near 30 years now (yes, that is how old the first Star Wars, "A New Hope", is by now). As an old die-hard fan I will probably always like the first trilogy better though. George Lucas once talked about having enough script for nine movies but let's hope he now puts an end to it!

Friday, August 12, 2005


Mia and Orjan on our way to Lazy Lagoon of the coast of Tanzania, late July 2005. Don't know why this got lost when I tried to post first time...  Posted by Picasa
By the way, I am using a combination of Picasa and Hello/Bloggerbot, both free software from Google, to edit and publish the photos. /Orjan Posted by Picasa
Well it seems I managed to post some recent photos of us! They range in time from a "long weekend"-trip to Lake Malawi (great place!) in April this year to a recent trip Mia and did to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in late July.  Posted by Picasa

Bradley and Eric having a bath 7 August 2005 Posted by Picasa

Bradley, Mia and Eric in his "dragonpyjamas" in our kitchen Posted by Picasa

Eric trying to play with all toys at the same time! Posted by Picasa

Mia & Eric at Lake Malawi Posted by Picasa

Getting started! - Orjan

Have decided to try and use blogging to keep friends and family (and whoever else might be interested) updated on what goes on in our life!

For those who don't know us we are a family of 4 living in Harare, Zimbabwe. Writing this is Orjan Sinclair (or Örjan if you can read umlauts) 44 years old, Hellen (called Mia by some, me including) Costa 24 years and our kids Bradley soon 5 and Eric about 20 months old.

For those who know us; don't expect sensations but I hope this can be a way for us to keep our faraway friends and family updated, put up some photos, get some comments and generally keep in touch.

Många som läser är förstås svenskar men vi kommer att hålla oss till engelska i möjligaste mån då våra vänner och familjemedlemmar är spridda över världen!

That was a start, will see if i can post some updated photos later today