By the way, my uncle thinks it has something to do with the old com-port device we plugged into the motherboard. Because the Windows 7 corruption mentions something about "device changes" or something like that. Would that in fact be an issue?

Personally, I think it's because we kept hitting that power switch. The new front panel came with its own wires, and they were a mess to plug in. When we tested to see if the machine was working, we didn't have it connected to a monitor and the power switch was instant, wheras hitting the power switch on my last machine would automatically tell Windows to shut down. And the testing was done more than once. (We assume we got it connected properly, or else it would've fried.)

I'm also curious whether a GeForce 9800 GTX+ requires that fancy 24-pin connection for the monitor. 'Cause, well, that was weird. We tested on an old CRT monitor, and couldn't get a signal. So we assumed a new monitor needed to be got. And so I spent $200 on a new monitor. And then the monitor didn't recieve a signal. Well, the monitor came with some disk, I presume for installation (it's an HP monitor), but I couldn't figure out how to access the disk. Not when there was absolutely no signal getting to the monitor. Eventually, I called my uncle over (he helped with putting the computer back together earlier). And at first the problem persisted, and then, all of a sudden, at random, the monitor started reading a signal. That's when we saw the "Windows is corrupted" dealie.


Because we wound up messing around turning the thing on and off a bunch, that might've been the cause. And that might've been why the test on the old monitor didn't work. Which means I might not have had to spend $200 on a new one. Which kinda sucks, but kinda not. 'Cause now instead of having an old 16" CRT monitor, I have a new 20" widescreen flat monitor. Granted, I was hoping to stick with the CRT, 'cause I figure a graphics card would have an easier time with a 4:3 monitor than a 16:9 monitor. You know, less pixels to display at a time. But it's still a big leap in technology.

Anyway, let me know what you think about all this. (Also, you'll note that I am not confusing the monitor for the whole computer. )


Edit. Bleh, and now the monitor's randomly decided not to recieve a signal, again.

Personally I think that there was more damage to the computer than just the outside of the case. First off, there's no way that serial plate would mess up anything. Specially if there was nothing ever connected to it. It's just copper wires. And besides, I've been using the same thing on mine and SK's copy of Windows 7 as well... and we have no problem.

There is no such thing as software for a monitor. The only thing that junk is, is like the lastest version of adobe reader, a digital manual, and some other useless software you'll never need. The video port you are talking about is DVI. VGA was the standard and has changed a good ways back. The difference is that VGA was an analog signal and DVI is a digital one. But anyways, the fact that your monitor is picking up and dropping the signal tells me that you either bought a faulty monitor (highly unlikely) or that your computer which you received damaged is messed up (much more likely).

And as far as the turning on and off a computer... if you work on a computer, you are going to HAVE to do that from time to time. I do it myself, and while it might not be the best thing for the power supply, it's not something that would fry a computer unless there was already a short somewhere in it.

This really sucks that you're having to deal with this, but I think that it's the damaged computer you got in the mail than it is the serial plate or brand new monitor.

Okay, well here's the next issue. Since we already installed the serial plate, if we send it back, that gives the company an excuse to say something along the lines of "oh, you changed something" and place the blame on us. Besides, I've lost so much time, already. I'd like to avoid the hassle of getting another computer in the mail if I could (especially if it means going through the hassle of giving this one back).

Also, here's something I didn't quite mention. When Windows 7 was giving that error message, it pointed to a specific file where the error occurred. I doubt this matters when it's the actual machine that's broken, but maybe it's useful info regardless.

Yeah, companies love to use that. But I am 110% sure that if there is anything wrong with the computer (which isn't even in question) the damage incurred whenever it was dropped or kicked around during shipping, not when you used a port that's meant to be used for a purpose it was designed for. Just take out the serial plate and put back in the blank plate that was in its place. There's no way they'd know anyways.

And knowing the files that are corrupt won't really change the fact that it needs to be reformatted to work... and that's assuming there are no hardware issues.

Yeah, whatever issue is going on, it in part involves the hard drive. Because aside from the one-and-a-half times we got a signal, there doesn't seem to be any activity from it. (One-and-a-half, because we got a signal with a garbled mess.)

Also, as it turns out, there was a Windows 7 installation disk. It was in the box for the motherboard. And I totally saw it there, before. Gosh, I'm forgetful. Who knows, the one time we had the thing functional, we might've quite possibly been able to use the disk to fix it.

Anyway, we called them. I have to send the computer back. Unfortunately, that's proving difficult as well, because I have to go to their web site to do so, and their site isn't letting me log in. Something about a certificate error. So I sent them an e-mail just now. Hopefully they can set me up through that.


...Ugh. You just can't make this stuff up.

Let's Play (With Draygone) - Get a Working Computer

Hey, while I'm waiting for my computer to come back, I could use some advice. To avoid the situation with my computers overheating again, with this one we had three cooling fans installed, including an "arctic freezer" cooling fan, plus one more sitting on the graphics card. As it turns out, having four fans running in a tower is a little loud. Makes me tempted to put it in the same cabinet my other two computers were, just so it wouldn't be as audible. Any suggestions?

Oh that's easy, turn the volume up on your computer.

Thinking on it, I had it sitting with the vents facing in my general direction. Gonna try sitting it on the other side of my desk, in the corner of the room. Will be less air circulation in that space, but I assume it'll still be open enough for proper ventilation.

BTW, they finished repairing and testing my computer, and are sending it back tomorrow.

Pray for me.

Man, if the slightest issue still arises get every last cent back from them and let me build you a computer. I could even hand deliver it at magcon... though that's kind of a ways away.

Hope very thing works out for ya. You are do for some good luck.

So, today I quite literally hopped for joy, giggling like a schoolgirl. :3

Bleh. Figures, the WMM files I created before aren't compatible with the WMM 2.6.

Well, I expected as much. Means when I edit older episodes for YouTube, I have to use the finished versions and can't do any extra editing to them. Means also I can't re-edit the episodes of The Spiteful Dead that I want to un-minisode. And, of course, this means I'll have to re-edit the episode I was 24 hours away from finishing when my computer died. But at least I have all the source files.

Bah, and I just realized, this means I no longer have my own copies of those episodes of Spiteful Dead. I deleted them in anticipation of re-editing them. Only copies are now on Viddler, and WMM can't edit those files.

Okay, guys, I'm drained. Partly because I've had so much trouble getting this ONE episode out. Partly because life is hectic right now. And partly because I've got other projects that need a lot of effort put into. That last one in particular is the reason I've decided to end the special editing I generally do in my LPs. It'd be nice if one of my projects was easy-peasy compared to everything else, and my LPs are it. So, Episode 1 of Let's Play "Whispers of the Woods" will be the last fancy-pants episode. Hopefully you guys won't mind. After all, the main idea is to give feedback on these games, not to impress people with my editing skills (which hasn't done much to garner extra attention, anyway).

Speaking of which, I've been on the fence whether to make Whispers my last LP or not. I've even considered whether just to stop right now. Well, eventually, this "show" of mine will have to come to an end, but I think this decision to do easier editing will allow me to get to the games in my queue a lot faster (some of which have been in there for quite some time). Probably I'll be able to go back to two uploads in a week. Three if I have the time. I'll go ahead and finish off the queue before I make the decision whether to end it there. Although, if anybody else wants to request something, feel free to. Even if I don't get to it, it'll be there if someone else wants to tackle it.

To be honest, I'd probably not LP near as much had I put the effort you did in yours. All I do is play the game with the screen recorder going. All one take. The only time I ever do anything is for a joke (like the Power Rangers theme when the dragons fuse in Chrono Cross), or if a boss battle is taking too long and needs a bit of fast forwarding. But that's ever so often. You, on the other hand, go all out all the time. And I can see how that would be draining. So I'm kind of glad your backing down to how everyone else does it.

Mostly I was hoping that a fancier LP would garner more attention, and thus, more attention for the RPGM community. In fact, I thought that having an intro (with a custom sprite!) would be an instant attention-grabber. But I guess editing prowess doesn't make up for an oft-lackluster commentary.

You know what? I'm glad I'm giving up on special editing for a while. This edition of Windows Movie Maker is annoying. I can no longer trim both the video and audio clips at the same place. If I trim one and move to the other, it'll set itself to the beginning of the clip, not at the spot where I was. Gonna be annoying just making sure the commentary is in sync with the video. Plus, any time I import a video, it puts the video in its own folder. I don't want that, I want all the videos where I can see them!

Arg!

I hope that AVS4YOU place gets back to me. Their editor is less annoying.

EDIT. Actually, you know what? Skrew it. I went back into the audio file and re-saved it as an MP2, instead. As it turns out, this actually works in AVS Video Editor. No three-second de-sync. Consider Windows Movie Maker abandoned.

Okay, seriously. Can I just not win? Now I find the program doesn't use animated .gifs. >_<

Yes, it'll definately be a relaxing change of pace, to skimp on some of the editing.


Let's Play "Whispers in the Woods" Ep1 - Into the Valley

In my only second RPGM3 LP, we are introduced to the character Lex Johnson, who is on his way to a village filled with bad rumors. As it turns out, the trail there isn't a very happy place, either.



Interested in the game you see? Just click [HERE] to download it.
(RPG Maker 3 for PS2 required.)

Vonwert's non-noticing of this so far has made me paranoid that he didn't make this.
*double-checks*
Phew. I'm safe.


Let's Play "Whispers in the Woods" Ep2 - Forbidden Love

Lex Johnson has made it to the cursed town of Minguna Pasta, finding it almost devoid of life, save for a few mysterious figures...

See how many of the game's puzzles you can solve faster than me!



Interested in the game you see? Just click [HERE] to download it.
(RPG Maker 3 for PS2 required.)