Mornin' all

[jadesfire]

How's everyone doing? It's been kind of quiet on the flist of late, so I hope that's just because everyone is super-busy, not because the ground's fallen out from under your feet, Ike or no Ike.

We're off to visit a vineyard today. In Oxfordshire. It's slightly surreal but cool too. Full report when we get back. Since I don't drink, I'm taking my little laptop and am going to bash out my artword fic (at last!). The battery should just about last long enough...

Speaking of the laptop, any Linux experts out there? Can anyone translate the help forum for me? . The Acer runs Linpuslite, which is easy for noobies like me, but after I installed the updates the first time I turned it on, it's had boot-up issues. It will turn on eventually, but it spends waaaaay too long on the blue Acer screen. I found this thread in the users forum, which describes my problem too, but since the phrase "BIOS re-flash" means absolutely nothing to me, I'm still kind of stuck... Could anyone put this in English for me? Please? *begs* I'm considering sending it back as faulty, which I really don't want to do, but if it's not going to turn on reliably, I think I'd rather have one that would!

I'm posting my Big Bang promo tomorrow, so any more questions from anyone? I know not many people have read it, but some of you have! Anything at all? I'll answer anything (within reason ;))

Do drop in to say hi. I've got another 3 days at home on my own after this, and I'm starting to think I'll either smother or murder major_jim if I don't talk to people a bit more ;)

Comments

[avon-09.livejournal.com]

Just passing by cos geekiness is not my forte. I'm reading spn, writing a huge TW fic, trying to avoid life and just off for coffee *HUGS*

Have fun at the vineyard *hic*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Passing is good! It's nice to see people :)

The vineyard was great, thanks - tiny but fascinating.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

A vineyard without drinking?? But where's the fun then? Only kidding, wishing you a nice day!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I just went to do the driving. But yeah, it was good fun, thanks :D

[unfeathered]

Can't help with the computer stuff, I'm afraid, but dropping in to say hi! I know I don't comment much on people's RL posts, but I do read them. :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*waves* I'm like that - it's nice to remind each other that we're here every now and again :) Nice to see you - hope your week gets better!

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Can has metaphorical ground out from under feet; attempting recalibration of entire social life.
Can't help with the linux q, but have passed it onto knirirr, if that's ok, to see whether he knows.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*passes spirit level* Hope things get back on an even keel for you soon.

That's great of you, thanks. The 'beginners' guides that assume you already know what a shell and kernal and other things mean are really annoying!

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

The BIOS is built-in software, separate from the operating system, that deals with booting up and detecting hardware &c. before handing over to the operating system. To "flash" the BIOS is to (re-)install it to the chips on the motherboard where. On those threads they suggest that the version of the BIOS that they are discussing is rather buggy and should be upgraded. This process is not entirely without risk and is generally not recommended unless you are comfortable with doing it.

It might be worth trying to boot it off another distribution's rescue disk (perhaps gOS (http://www.thinkgos.com/)) to see what happens, but if it is a BIOS problem then I would take it somewhere to be fixed or return it as faulty if I were you.

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

Huh. This household has been watching Oz & James Great Wine Adventure and is wanting to go visit vineyard. I've been to vineyards about 4 or 5 times, but every time it's either in the middle of winter or just the start of spring, so all the vines are just bare branches with no leaves or anything. I think I might want to do my research this time and find a time to go where there will be actual GRAPES HANGING FROM VINES instead of just sticks...

Have fun!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It was really fascinating - the place is tiny, and we didn't see actual grapes, just the various vats, but it was interesting none the less. I'd definitely recommend a trip for interest value!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got an answer on the Linux problem, because that stuff still confounds me. I have managed a few things, but I don't know how! And I'm running a different version on my machine, I think. :) Sorry to hear you might have to send it back. Better now than having it keep doing it for a long time, then losing stuff off your hard drive, I suppose.

Hope you enjoy the vinyard. :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the guys at the computing centre can get me sorted out. As you say, better to find out now, but still, I want to keep it if I can!

The vineyard was fascinating, thanks, even for this near-teetotaller!

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I'm at work, sitting (until a few seconds ago) halfway in the dark. But the light over my desk finally decided to come on, so maybe I can actually see what I'm doing now!

Somehow one does not think of Oxfordshire as a probable place for a vineyard, what with England being cool and rainy. :) There's a vineyard not too far from where I live that specializes in wines made from a couple of kinds of local wild grapes. I've always wondered what the wine tastes like because those varieties are very pungent.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Half the country seems to be in the dark at the moment - glad you have some light again!

I know! I was really surprised too, and apparently it is a problem, but they've been making wine for 20 years now, so they must be doing something right :)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Vineyards are fun, even if you don't drink wine. And as for the Linux thing, I'm glad someone could help as I'm a very sorry excuse for a geek and don't do linux, though have thought about it...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It was absolutely fascinating - they have a microbrewery too, which has supplied the Royal Family! All very cool, but very, very small set-up.

Heh, me too! I'm going to brush up my Linux language before I go give it to the *real* geeks ;)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

If you haven't found a geek before tomorrow I could ask husband - he is a twork right now - it isn't his brand of Linux but he *might* be able to help...

ETA - should read comments better before commenting myself obviously

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Heh, no problem - the offer's appreciated anyway! We'll see what happens...

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Heya! The vineyard trip sounds interesting - I hope you give a full report later :)

Sorry about the little computer - it was awesome.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was fascinating - will see if I can get my thoughts in order for a post.

Fingers crossed they can sort it at the computing centre - I don't want to give it back!

[avon-09.livejournal.com]

Just passing by cos geekiness is not my forte. I'm reading spn, writing a huge TW fic, trying to avoid life and just off for coffee *HUGS*

Have fun at the vineyard *hic*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Passing is good! It's nice to see people :)

The vineyard was great, thanks - tiny but fascinating.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

A vineyard without drinking?? But where's the fun then? Only kidding, wishing you a nice day!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I just went to do the driving. But yeah, it was good fun, thanks :D

[unfeathered]

Can't help with the computer stuff, I'm afraid, but dropping in to say hi! I know I don't comment much on people's RL posts, but I do read them. :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*waves* I'm like that - it's nice to remind each other that we're here every now and again :) Nice to see you - hope your week gets better!

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Can has metaphorical ground out from under feet; attempting recalibration of entire social life.
Can't help with the linux q, but have passed it onto knirirr, if that's ok, to see whether he knows.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*passes spirit level* Hope things get back on an even keel for you soon.

That's great of you, thanks. The 'beginners' guides that assume you already know what a shell and kernal and other things mean are really annoying!

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

Huh. This household has been watching Oz & James Great Wine Adventure and is wanting to go visit vineyard. I've been to vineyards about 4 or 5 times, but every time it's either in the middle of winter or just the start of spring, so all the vines are just bare branches with no leaves or anything. I think I might want to do my research this time and find a time to go where there will be actual GRAPES HANGING FROM VINES instead of just sticks...

Have fun!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It was really fascinating - the place is tiny, and we didn't see actual grapes, just the various vats, but it was interesting none the less. I'd definitely recommend a trip for interest value!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got an answer on the Linux problem, because that stuff still confounds me. I have managed a few things, but I don't know how! And I'm running a different version on my machine, I think. :) Sorry to hear you might have to send it back. Better now than having it keep doing it for a long time, then losing stuff off your hard drive, I suppose.

Hope you enjoy the vinyard. :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the guys at the computing centre can get me sorted out. As you say, better to find out now, but still, I want to keep it if I can!

The vineyard was fascinating, thanks, even for this near-teetotaller!

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I'm at work, sitting (until a few seconds ago) halfway in the dark. But the light over my desk finally decided to come on, so maybe I can actually see what I'm doing now!

Somehow one does not think of Oxfordshire as a probable place for a vineyard, what with England being cool and rainy. :) There's a vineyard not too far from where I live that specializes in wines made from a couple of kinds of local wild grapes. I've always wondered what the wine tastes like because those varieties are very pungent.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Half the country seems to be in the dark at the moment - glad you have some light again!

I know! I was really surprised too, and apparently it is a problem, but they've been making wine for 20 years now, so they must be doing something right :)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Vineyards are fun, even if you don't drink wine. And as for the Linux thing, I'm glad someone could help as I'm a very sorry excuse for a geek and don't do linux, though have thought about it...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It was absolutely fascinating - they have a microbrewery too, which has supplied the Royal Family! All very cool, but very, very small set-up.

Heh, me too! I'm going to brush up my Linux language before I go give it to the *real* geeks ;)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

If you haven't found a geek before tomorrow I could ask husband - he is a twork right now - it isn't his brand of Linux but he *might* be able to help...

ETA - should read comments better before commenting myself obviously

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Heh, no problem - the offer's appreciated anyway! We'll see what happens...

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Heya! The vineyard trip sounds interesting - I hope you give a full report later :)

Sorry about the little computer - it was awesome.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was fascinating - will see if I can get my thoughts in order for a post.

Fingers crossed they can sort it at the computing centre - I don't want to give it back!