As the title indicates, I have some bad news for you folks...
My laptop has turned itself into something less than useful. Thursay evening, while I was doing screenshots for Episode Seven, the video card stopped functioning. Being a laptop, it is not something that can be repaired. Production on The Phoenix Imperative has stopped for now.
A friend of mine was kind enough to loan me her laptop for a while, but it doesn't even meet the minimum requirements to run Fallout 3, so I can't even redo Episodes 5 and 6, let alone finish 7. *sigh*
All is not lost, my faithful followers! Even though I can't really afford the expense, I have commisioned a replacement system to be built (desktop this time!), and if the cost doesn't creep up any higher, I will have it by the end of this week. The hard drive from the laptop can be used as a slave drive in the desktop, so I will have access to all the images I have taken. I might redo what I have for Episode 7, just so there isn't any sudden change in image quality half-way through the strip.
Sorry to hear about the misfortune; I know this junk ain't cheap.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it wasn't the HD and that you're able to save most of your data, though.
Also glad to hear that you've decided to go with a custom desktop this time. I know laptops are convenient in their portability, but as you've just learned when one part goes bad it can potentially turn the whole thing into a paperweight. The great thing about custom desktops is that you can switch out the bad parts (or simply upgrade from time to time) and go on about your merry way.
I've had my "new" custom desktop for a few years now, and it has had a lot of use while I've been unemployed. I'm kinda expecting something in it to wear out pretty soon, but thankfully I've had good luck with it so far.
Which reminds me: it's been a few months since I've made a backup of my "C" drive. I'm always telling others how vital such precautionary measures are; I should probably practice what I preach and run a backup within the next day or two...
To be honest, the desktop was the only real way to go this time, if I wanted to be able to use the hard drive from the laptop, with minimal frustration. Another laptop would need to have been almost the exact same as the one I have, due to manufacturers using proprietary driver software for everything, except maybe the video display and the touch pad mouse.
ReplyDeleteThe only new component in the replacement system is the video card, which, I think, is four times more powerful than cards needed to play Fallout 3. I should have even slightly better resolution than the last couple of episodes, and be able to maintain that in acutal gameplay.
I am almost inclined to cancel the system, though, as I'm back to being unemployed again, but I would rather have my own system than depend upon someone else's, as I am doing now. Decision, decisions.
I'd offer you my Dell, but I wouldn't wish that antiquated wreck on anyone. Still, it was good for my first real PC. I say "real" because my actual first PC was one of those true classics with a floppy drive, no USB ports and a huge CRT monitor that consumed the entire desk. Ah, those were the days...
ReplyDeleteLol! Sounds like the first PC I purchased back in 1999. I think it had two USB 1 ports, a serial connection for the printer and a CRT monitor. With, of course, a diskette drive. I remember the true floppy disks from when I was still in highschool (early to mid '80s).
ReplyDelete