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View Full Version : Bad News Comes in Threes



rcnewcomb
03-18-2009, 12:36 PM
Did some carving for a cabinet maker who displayed it at a builder's show. This ended up getting us requests for business with three other cabinet makers.

Murphy couldn't abide this. Bad news comes in threes as well.

1) The design computer has developed some bad issues and probably needs a scorched-earth reload. When it boots Windows Explorer doesn't launch. I have to go into task manager and launch it manually.

2) The power supply on the shop computer went out so the Bot is down through no fault of its own. We don't know if the motherboard fried when the power supply went out. It is an 8 year old system, so do we replace the power supply, replace with a used computer, or replace with a new computer? Most designs are backed up to various thumb drives but is it still a PITA to have to reload a different computer, but is it wise to keep trusting an 8 year old computer?

3) We have been using a kerosene heater to warm the shop first thing in the morning. Michael usually starts the heater an hour before he goes out to work in the shop. This last time when he went back out after the 1 hour warm-up he was greeted with a solid black cloud that went from the ceiling down to waist-level. We didn't have a fire, but we certainly had a "soot". Now everything in the shop is covered with an oily black film.

So, two computer failures and a shop "soot". Glad we got all of that out of the way before April.

woodworx
03-18-2009, 12:56 PM
At least you can still connect to the forum. This is an upside to the catastrophe!

knight_toolworks
03-18-2009, 03:19 PM
I have a backup shopbot computer. the cost of a used computer is pretty cheap both are loaded with the same software and settings. so I just need to switch cables. it may cost less to just replace the computer. you can get referbished dells with xp on them for around 100.00

myxpykalix
03-18-2009, 03:35 PM
By the time you go to the trouble of replacing the bad components and pay for shipping, ect. you're have almost as much as just buying a new one in the $100.00 range. I say go find a good deal and buy two of them. Here are a couple links of places other guys have posted:
http://www.pacificgeek.com/
http://www.microcenter.com/

harryball
03-19-2009, 11:15 AM
Randall, I'm certainly not trying to belittle your problems but sometimes a change in perspective can improve your morale as can sharing your stress as you have done. I would gladly trade my problems in the past 30 days for yours 4 times over, yes including smoke damage to my entire home if I could. I wish you the best... but do yourself a favor, take a deep breath and smile, it could be A LOT worse.

Now... I am doing the same, it could be A LOT worse and I'm thankful it is not.

/RB

gene
03-19-2009, 11:39 PM
Robert
Has a bit of bad luck found you? Always look on the bright side, Someone told me that a bit of bad helps to build character . By now i should be in the movies or something 'cause i have been called a character several times. (and worse than that too)
You will never be given more than you can handle.
Good or bad just keep in your mind " this too shall pass"