 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Carol Daniels cad@melbpc.org.au |
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Evolution, not revolution, or staying sane one step at a time
A new operating system, application upgrade, updated utilities, new hardware and drivers. If you're like me, your computer is in a constant state of evolution. Evolution is do-able, revolution is a recipe for disaster. Or as one of my favourite authors wrote, "shortcuts make for long delays".
I try to avoid making major changes when I'm working on deadline, but the deadlines come quickly around my house, so my good intentions aren't quite as useful as they could be.
I admit to taking the easy (quick and dirty) option, even though I know I shouldn't. Even though I know that every time I do, I'm putting my work, data and sanity at risk. I won't claim to follow all of these precautions, who'd believe it if I did. But, when I do follow them, I'm glad I did.
Change one variable at a time
This is my mantra. I know that if I only follow this basic rule, I will minimise the number of problems I create. I will also have a reasonable chance of undoing any significant damage. Computers can keep track of multiple changes in N-dimensions. The human brain has difficulty with any more than four. Besides keeping track of several changes made at one time, making multiple changes introduces another potential problem. Your computer system's current "state", is not a state function. Its status is not independent of the process used to bring about that state. Undoing one change is relatively easy, undoing two, three or more and returning your system to its previous state, with any precision is difficult.
Unless you backup
Before you install any new software or hardware, back up. Back up your entire system. Then check the backup to make sure you can restore your system to its current state. Only then should you install the new toy. It's tempting to only back up your operating system, or your operating system and your data, or your operating system, most used programs and your data. That's false economy. Two or more gigabytes of programs, each of them tweaked just that little bit to suit your preferences, can take weeks or more to install.
Watch the clock
Sure, I know, you can install a new program in your sleep. You can whip out the old sound card and whack in a new one with one eye closed. Trust me. You will not be able to undo any problem that arises, if you're sleepy. Never, ever install software or hardware if you have been awake for more than 20 hours straight, or have already had two cups of coffee to keep you alert. If you're a lark, schedule the work for early in the day, owls can wait until after the sun goes down.
Know what comes next
When ever possible, schedule your changes after an important deadline, or with plenty of time to spare before an upcoming deadline. Just one minor problem when doing something as simple as installing a new printer can put a large dent in your schedule.
Read the box
If the minimum system requirements are 64 MB RAM, Pentium 200 and 75 MB free hard disk space, you are not going to be happy with the performance you get from a 486 with 8 MB RAM, and your chances of getting satisfactory performance, even if you can squeeze 75 MB of program in to 25 MB of hard drive, are slim at best.
Read the box (again)
Make sure your old programs will run with the new. If not all your programs, at least your critical applications. This is especially important when you are installing a new operating system.
RTFM
Yes, really. I mean it. RTFM, it won't be fun, but it will save you time and frustration.
Backup your new system
Once you've installed your new toy, and it's working to your satisfaction, even if it's not yet tweaked to the max, back it up. Don't wait until you've fiddled with it for a couple of weeks and lost your preferred settings. Oh, and don't get rid of that original backup just yet. You may need it still, but if you've gone to the trouble of installing and tweaking the new setup, you don't want to have to go back over that ground again. Do you?
I don't claim that these precautions will protect you from down time, lost data or even protect what ever shreds of sanity you have left. But they might, and if they do, you'll be glad they did.
Down the (digital) local
A few months ago I wrote about melbpc.general taking on the characteristics of a digital campfire. Well, things have evolved since then and I now believe it has the makings of the digital local. Members drop in. Stay a while. Spin a yarn. Get some advice. Have a grizzle. Meander home, only to pop back in a day or two. And just like the real life local, you wouldn't believe the things we talk about at the digital local.
There's a fair bit of networking advice, modem tweaking, protocol discussion, software recommendations and Web site sightings, the sort of things you'd expect the fine, upstanding members of this august group to discuss. But there's also been talk of Viagra, polygamy (hmmm I wonder if there's a connection between these two?) and the most civilised discussion of politics ever witnessed, during the run up to the Federal election.
But the Great Huntsman Thread of 1998 is unquestionably the winner for education, entertainment and sheer fright value. If you followed the thread you will know that there are fewer arachnephiles than there arachnephobes active in the newsgroup. Duh, big surprise. You'll also have been treated to the "Best Huntsman Story Of All Time". In fact, I reckon that Colin's huntsman story is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. And it's something only subscribers to Melb PC's Internet service can enjoy. Hmmm, maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere.
Reprinted from the November 1998 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
