h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Things keep going wrong. Right now I'm at 25% of full functionality as far as the important stuff I'm working on is concerned. I still haven't found anyone to help me get my monitor fixed, so I'm limping along with this one. I can't scan in new paintings or sketches until I get a proper one again.

And I've also managed to badly injure my right index finger. While gardening. It's been sore and stiff and swollen up for the past two days. I am not that great a typist, usually having relied on it a lot, so now I have to type with mainly the middle finger of my right hand, and even then the index finger gets sore from a lot of this. With my art, I can still sketch, but the stiff finger costs me a lot in terms of control. So the past two days I've just been doing some rough sketching.

So anyways, I'm really limping along right now. I have at least managed to write the next installment of Colours of Wildlife today, and will try and do the second Phyto-Philes tomorrow. I'm rather depressed as a result of this, and feel very useless. This means I have less confidence for getting my monitor fixed as well ... with my 'issues' my big problem is actually speaking to people and asking them for help ... so far I'm trying with friends, I don't know if I would be physically capable of getting 'computer shop' people to do this for me ... I really really hope I can get back to some decent functionality sometime soon because I'm really getting despondent.

That can be frustrating. Take care of yourself.

Do you have a computer service that makes house calls? We have something like that. They came and fixed one of my computers once, and it was worth the extra money - surprisingly affordable.

, and make sure you've got antibiotic on that finger.

sound advice from Dmitri, Willem. Do you have any aloe? I can't do without mine, I swear it would cure a broken leg.

and I hope you get your monitor fixed soon!


GB

oh Willem, feeling despondant is horrible and I know how difficult it is to ask for help

I wish i could help out practically with the computer monitor, there is a small problem with our geography.

I feel a bit despondent about things going wrong in my house, are you any good with plumbing, if we could hip hop a continent or two perhaps we could trade 'fixing things'

anyway I was going say to keep that finger clean, and rest it well, in between typing and sketching, but I see I have to get in the queue behind antibiotics and aloe

Willem, oh, what a pain literally! Try not to be too downhearted, we all get like that to varying degrees when things go wrong, and they usually go wrong two or three things at a time when you can least cope.

Could your sister or brother in law make any calls for you to get the ball rolling for some computer help?

Oh, and please see someone about that finger if it doesn't feel better soon.

Things will look up I am sure, these things come to try us, but each time we overcome something it makes us stronger.

Like others here it is rather frustrating that we are too far away to help, except to listen. I hope spelling out your woes has helped a little, rather than bottling it all up internally.

Take care,

Websailor

Hello folks! Thanks for caring. My finger is much better today, I hope it will be fine soon. Still haven't done a thing about the monitor though. I don't know about folks coming here to fix my computer Dmitri ... I'll have to really trust them to let them come into my home. I would be willing to pay a fair price ... but I'm always worried about people trying to cheat me.

Anyways Galaxy Babe I have a garden full of aloes, but they're not the medicinal kind! But the finger is coming along nicely anyways. I managed to do a lot of writing and a bit of painting today.

Peanut I'm useless with plumbing as well! I'm living 99% of the time in various universes different from this one; there's only a small sliver of overlap. 'Ordinary stuff' totally mystifies me. I have difficulty caring for my *physical* self and for taking care of mundane things. On some things I don't know where to start. I don't have a clue how to make money. I don't have a clue how to get a girlfriend. I don't have a clue how to ask IRL people for help. For me those things exist in the 'deadly' part of the Universe inhabited by other people. I really believe that I am going to die if I try going there.

Oh, Websailor, I don't think my sister and brother-in-law could help. They're far away and *very* busy. I'll just have to figure something out.

Are there any used computer monitor choices?
I have heard old TVs can be used. We could probably ask in ask how to do it.
Used monitors are quite inexpensive. I just do not know the possibilties in your area to get either for a minimal fee.

Hang in there Willem. I always feel especially stressed once 3 things have happened,
I am sure you are quite frustrated.
We are here to listen if that helps a tiny bit

Hi abbi! I don't know where to buy monitors, old or new. I'm still trying to get information about that from friends over here. I really need something that's very good for my graphics work. And I'm not sure my previous monitor is actually totally broken. It can still display things, but only for a quarter of a second, then it suddenly darkens. Why does it do this is what I want to know. Maybe there's something about it that can get adjusted to make it work right again. Even before this latest thing it displayed a strange quirk for many months. On switching my computer on the first time, the screen would remain blank even though it is booting up perfectly. To get the screen to actually show something, I had to press the reset button ... then suddenly the screen would display everything perfectly. I just really want to know if my screen is in fact fixable, or whether I should buy a new one. I am distrustful of computer shop people if I don't know them ... they might try to convince me to buy a new monitor even though the 'broken' one might be easily fixable.

I totally understand not wanting to go to a computer store, for the very reasons you mentioned.

I was hoping a used tv could work as a monitor.
We have used goods stores where outdated ,small tvs are about the cost of a good loaf of bread.
I remain hopefull that option might become available.

I had a monitor that needed to be reset each time, it worked for a year or so before burning out.

Sorry you are having issuesIknow you want and need to do your work!

Willem would you like me to ask in Ask for you?

you have probably thought of this but as a temporary measure would it help to adjust the brightneess/contrast setting on your computer?

I think you can do this somewhere only not sure where

or if not in ask, I could ask people here, like Pastey or Peet, I'm thinking might be able to help

I'm very sorry that this is going to sound patronising but have you checked all your leads?

My tv goes an interesting hue of green sometimes, particulary if I have the window and there is a change in temperture, I have to jiggle the scart lead a bit

Hello Peanut! Don't worry about sounding patronising, thanks for wanting to help. Yes, I have checked the leads, I've also plugged the monitor into another computer and it's always the same thing. The brightness/contrast has to be adjusted on the monitor itself, and if it isn't showing anything, nothing can be done. The thing is it CAN work because when switched on it displays correctly for about a quarter of a second, then it goes dark and will not show anything any further, except if I switch it off and on again, when it's the same thing ... a quarter second of correct display followed by darkness. You might put the question on ask if you're willing to do that, I would appreciate it, but I think someone will have to come here and see the situation for him/herself ...

Willem, what kind of monitor is it? (I ask for research purposes, as I know nothing.)

I looked this problem up, ignored all the stuff you and I couldn't possibly deal with - such as anything that involves opening things up and/or the dreaded words 'soldering iron' - and came up with this.

If you have an LCD monitor, it could be the backlight.

If that is so, a quick and dirty answer was, 'try to lower the illumination on the controls'. Then, after it's running a bit, sneak the illumination back up.

They also just about all say that if it's the capacitor (your guess is as good as mine, I am clueless), then it can be replaced. But it's so expensive, you'd do better to buy a new monitor in that case, as it would be cheaper.

I don't know if any of this helps, but at least you didn't have to pay for the advice.

http://www.howtodothings.com/electronics/a3543-how-to-use-your-tv-as-a-computer-monitor.html

This is a link that describes how to use your tv instead of monitor
The resolution will be lower, althogh best with a small tv screen

There are differences (cables)with cable/satellite , wifi or digital and analog but itseems all can be done.

There is talk about gamers and their connections ,You do NOT need that info, the connections or a updated video card as far as I can tell.


I do not want to overwhelm you with info.
You might need a connector cord that you do not have. But still cheaper than a new monitor.

There are microsoft and apple sites that explain it too. I woul be happy to find more links if you like.
They are talking about newer equipment in some cases but there is a way with the older.

Hi

well there is no harm in Asking, so I have put a description of the problem on Ask -thread called Computer Monitors (inspired title don't ya think )

If you would like to just read any responses I am happy to host that thread if you like

Ask is a little quiet at weekends particulary so we might have to wait a day or so for reply

How is your finger?



Peanut

Hullo Willem!

Hope you are OK, and that your finger is getting better.

Computer problems can be really tiring and headachy I find. We have a friend who helps us out, I call him cyber-doc. heheh. I couldn't do anything without the doc.

I would offer advice, if I knew anything at all. .

Good idea Peanut! Put it out on the Ask thread.

Good work peanut!

Seems Willem needs to posts the specifics about his monitor for anybody to be of help.