After an over an hour trying every conceivable way to get my desktop connected to the internet (it finally made it through start up when I fixed it), including being told to contact my ISP because it's obviously their fault (I explained very clearly that every other computer in my house, none of which are made by Gateway, can connect to the internet through my modem) my latest tech agent, Stacy (Badge #FT608) has told me that my motherboard needs to be replaced.

Why?

Because they integrate the network card. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Look, I don't know a lot about computers, but I know that network cards are fairly cheap to buy and should be easy to take in and out of a system. I mean, wtf. WTF! They integrated the network card?

"Too bad I didn't know earlier," I told her, "your service guy just left."

I thought I had remained fairly calm considering the extreme EVILNESS I'm dealing with, but she had to launch into the "let's talk down the crazy client" speech (which I've heard before, when I've been much less calm). I cut her off and told her I'd heard that before, and I realized she wasn't the moron that designed the computer, so let's just schedule me that appointment.

But now they're having trouble scheduling the on-site service, because that ass (the contracted-out-to service guy that was in such a rush he left before set up was complete) has yet to close out my request. They can't very well send me a new motherboard if I'm still hanging onto a hard drive, can they? Even though the hard drive is a few hours gone.

OIWE[OASDCLKAMSC;ASDJ.

It's really too bad I'm the designated driver tonight.

Oh. Oh. I have to bear with poor Stacy (Badge #FT608) because she "has to do some extra work" that she didn't think she'd need to do. POOR STACY (Badge #FT608)!

I should introduce her to Pablo (Badge #MP273) and maybe they can console each other.

Still on hold... still on hold...

Oh, she didn't even let me ask a question before she went into her "I'm getting the hell off the phone with you" speech. Neat.

So on-site is coming sometime on or around March 2nd at some point in the day to be announce. AWESOME.

Today’s service agent was Danielle (Badge #FT077).

I explained the problem, which basically was that Windows XP was frozen in set up. And that this is a new hard drive that was installed by their technician this afternoon.

Danielle (Badge #FT077) asked me what discs I have in my disc drive. “None,” I replied. She asked me what the screen said, I told her that it said “Application installer,” but was unable to get the rest out because she interrupted me.

“That doesn’t happen unless you have discs in.”

I reminded her that I had no discs.

The first step Danielle (Badge #FT077) wanted me to take was to open my disc drive. Great, I thought, she’s deaf. No no, I found out, just stupid.

“What discs are in your disc drive?”
“I meant it when I said there are no discs.” Twice.

She then realized that we’re talking about a pre-loaded hard drive. “Sure,” I said, “it’s whatever you guys sent me that was installed today.” After all, she was the one with the screen readout telling her all about my computer. Otherwise why does she need my serial number? But that’s thinking too logically for tech support, I realized.

So her advice? Turn it off and turn in back on again.

Genius. Then Danielle (Badge #FT077) put me on hold for a few minutes before coming back to tell me that she wasn’t going to wait on the line with me while it ran through set up. “You can always call back,” she told me, “if it freezes again.”

Well, since we didn’t actually do anything to fix the problem, I figured it was going to freeze again. “But it could take over an hour to run through setup!” Danielle (Badge #FT077) explained.

Not wanting to inconvenience her, I reluctantly agreed I could call back if it froze again.

And guess what. It did.

Because it’s freezing while installing some ATI something or other, I figured I’d just take out one of my two video cards and see if that makes a difference before I call back and get yet another in a long line of helpful tech support people.

It's kind of weird that Napster gets installed with Windows now. I mean, that's how you know you shouldn't trust Napster anymore. Really.

Had to run a "full restore with backup" to get my desktop working. I don't lose my files, but I have to reinstall all my programs. Cool. I wonder if I still have the Photoshop install doodad.

Well, I'll deal with all the installing when I get home from school. Lots to do today. Going to try to finish my Trusts and Estates final. Maybe do some Independant Study research.

Big plans, big plans.

Of course my computer appears to be frozen in start up... neat. I'm going to take a shower. Maybe it'll be not frozen by the time I get back, so I don't have to weep bitter bitter tears, fling things angrily around my room, and storm off to school in a bad mood.