Computer troubles

Computer troubles never fail to interest me. This time, it all started with Windows 2000 refusing to react to my commands to open my folders. Interestingly, the problem seemed to be confined to Internet Explorer and the interface program, explorer.exe. Given that the two are closely entwined together, this came to me with no surprises.

After tinkering with the settings for a while, I managed to get the thing working -- only if I restart the computer while holding the CTR key, essentially by-passing all my start-up programs in the Start-up folder.

In the end, I got fed-up (I never did manage to find the offender) and did a complete re-install of Windows 2000. I had to re-install all my applications. The big headache was trying to install the plethora of patches Microsoft has posted on its Windows Update site (almost as if they were proud to be patching their own software); my only connection to the Internet is a pitiful 28.8 kbps connection (well, it actually is a 56 K modem working on a poor quality land line), and I was debating between installing the patches and doing my usual web roaming.

In the end, the huge download didn't justify the bill I would have to pay at the end of the month (as an infantry private, my pay isn't exactly a lot), so I figured that I would have to postpone my download until I felt free enough to do it...

You net evangalists need not worry. I've gotten enough preventive software to avoid being a nuisansical presence on the Internet: Grisoft anti-virus which I update religiously, Lavasoft Adware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Guard, all of which are updated as and when possible. Not to mention Zonealarm, which is the firewall of my choice. (Actually, I was getting worried about it, judging from recent reports from end users... Perhaps it is time to start shopping around for alternatives?)