Gettin stuff done - PC Edition **boring!**
The latest big project in Operation: Clean Your Shit Up has been my PC.
I've had this desktop since college, early 2005 I believe. The final nail was already in my academic coffin when I got it so it's not like this computer + WoW = failure. It did provide a nice balm to the breakup with Michelle, however.
I hadn't updated my security software since then. I mean, I let it run automatic updates and all but eventually, providers get sick of you freeloading on them and they put out a new release which you have to pay for before they will update you again.
Now, it turns out my computer wasn't so poorly off. I found roughly a dozen infected files under initial deep scans, which isn't bad at all for an internet user's computer.
I managed to clear off about 60gb of hard drive space through a combination of cleanup utilities, deleting old games, and changing my software's space quotas (no more 22gb of old system restore points, etc).
I also removed a crapton of software that was running constantly in the background and slowing down my system. I found old Photoshop drivers, old versions of Java running four deep (four of the same thing, all out of date, all running where I couldn't find it without hardcore security software) and all kinds of shit clogging up my processor. It's no wonder my computer used to take 12 minutes to boot up! Now it's down to roughly 2.5 which isn't at all bad considering how much specialty hardware I have (fancy hardware needs fancy software which needs time to get up and running).
Somewhere in the process of optimizing my registry, I allowed a virus into my system. A seriously nasty one that immediately began offering false error messages disguised as my own antivirus software. I'm not sure what it was doing but within minutes I lost Trillian, AIM, and both Explorer and Firefox. The first time it hit me it even hard-shut down my system without warning! I was able to slip onto Firefox long enough to search it and learn a little. At Kurt's suggestion I booted up in safe mode and ran a system restore. I lost about two hours' work cleaning up my registry but since something I did in that process let the virus in, I'm not too worried about taking it back.
It was really upsetting! After spontaneously deciding to pour ten hours into cleaning and optimizing my system, I managed to blunder into the first serious virus I've had on this machine since I got it. It felt good to track it down and eliminate it, though.
This whole project has led me to have a much greater understanding of what's on my computer. I cleared out a lot of old games which I still have discs for should I change my mind. I got my Start Menu and Desktop all clean and organized. I even cracked the case and used canned air and a DustBuster to clear out piles of dust and dog hair. Got all the fans cleaned, q-tipped the axles where I could, tightened all the screws and put it all back together shiny and clean.
The only thing I can really think of now is tie-wrapping my cables together a little to help break up the general clutter behind the desk but everything is accessible now and nothing is lost or getting yanked out so it's mostly a mental thing. Generally speaking, the computer is about as clean and maintenanced (invented a word!) as it's going to get. It makes my soul happy.
Next project on the computer is to continue the work Steph and I have begun on my iTunes library. In college, I had a few friends dump entire external hard drives' worth of music onto my PC. I imported it all into iTunes without really looking at it. Here and there I also ended up with random fantasy music, Anime soundtracks, and all kinds of scary, unlabelled junk. We have begun a holy crusade since the arrival of my new iPod. Every single track is going to have proper information attached. Random shit I don't want has been getting deleted wholesale, almost 30% of the original collection is already gone. Most exciting for me as this is my first color iPod, we are also attaching cover art to every single track so I can play with all the sexy Apple graphical interfaces. Hopefully by roughly the end of the week I'll have a totally clean and civilized iTunes library at last. It's exciting since my iPod is big enough to hold my whole collection six times over. Once I know what I have, I can see about getting more from my dad's enormous (250gb) classic rock collection, Steph's collection, etc. I've found many instances already of having five or six versions of the same track, downloaded from different sources or slightly misspelled. Soon it will all be clean and perfect and it won't feel like throwing the dice every time I turn on iTunes.
Once the computer is finished, next mission is the top shelf of the closet. All the sweaters need to come down, get refolded, donated as needed, and then restored with better organization up there. I still have a basket and a full hamper of dirty stuff that needs put away and room is dwindling rapidly. I will probably end up packing a box to bring to Steph's in case of emergency. I hope she doesn't notice my plan to stealthily invade her storage space bit by bit.
Next up is cleaning out the midget closet. I know there's some cool toys in there I haven't really touched, and a whole big foot locker I should be able to clean out and use either for sweaters here or miscellany of mine at Steph's. I need to get rid of some of the random junk in there and get the boxes unpacked and sorted even if I end up repacking them. I'd like to end up filling that closet with things I don't plan on taking with me when I move, eventually. Less-favorite clothes and books, random memorabilia like my Boy Scout stuff, and other things that are worth saving but not worth carting around if I can steal closet space here.
As an alternate plan, I may use it as the holding area for things that I have no use for here like decorations or kitchen stuff. That way I could pack some of that stuff early and have it all boxed and ready to go, but also tucked out of sight. This plan is a ways down the road yet, plenty of work and play to happen before I'm that deep into the closets (careful addition of "s")
It remains encouraging and exciting getting my life all organized. I feel a little more peace inside with each bit I manage to bring into line.I found out the new job will be delayed thanks to the change in Presidents (they needs all the polygraph guys to grill new govt. employees so there's a delay on granting security clearances) but it shouldn't be more than a few weeks. Plenty of time to spend on these projects without giving up social behavior. I may need to beg an extra shift or two to supplement the modest income in the intervening weeks but a tax refund should help and we'll see.
I've had this desktop since college, early 2005 I believe. The final nail was already in my academic coffin when I got it so it's not like this computer + WoW = failure. It did provide a nice balm to the breakup with Michelle, however.
I hadn't updated my security software since then. I mean, I let it run automatic updates and all but eventually, providers get sick of you freeloading on them and they put out a new release which you have to pay for before they will update you again.
Now, it turns out my computer wasn't so poorly off. I found roughly a dozen infected files under initial deep scans, which isn't bad at all for an internet user's computer.
I managed to clear off about 60gb of hard drive space through a combination of cleanup utilities, deleting old games, and changing my software's space quotas (no more 22gb of old system restore points, etc).
I also removed a crapton of software that was running constantly in the background and slowing down my system. I found old Photoshop drivers, old versions of Java running four deep (four of the same thing, all out of date, all running where I couldn't find it without hardcore security software) and all kinds of shit clogging up my processor. It's no wonder my computer used to take 12 minutes to boot up! Now it's down to roughly 2.5 which isn't at all bad considering how much specialty hardware I have (fancy hardware needs fancy software which needs time to get up and running).
Somewhere in the process of optimizing my registry, I allowed a virus into my system. A seriously nasty one that immediately began offering false error messages disguised as my own antivirus software. I'm not sure what it was doing but within minutes I lost Trillian, AIM, and both Explorer and Firefox. The first time it hit me it even hard-shut down my system without warning! I was able to slip onto Firefox long enough to search it and learn a little. At Kurt's suggestion I booted up in safe mode and ran a system restore. I lost about two hours' work cleaning up my registry but since something I did in that process let the virus in, I'm not too worried about taking it back.
It was really upsetting! After spontaneously deciding to pour ten hours into cleaning and optimizing my system, I managed to blunder into the first serious virus I've had on this machine since I got it. It felt good to track it down and eliminate it, though.
This whole project has led me to have a much greater understanding of what's on my computer. I cleared out a lot of old games which I still have discs for should I change my mind. I got my Start Menu and Desktop all clean and organized. I even cracked the case and used canned air and a DustBuster to clear out piles of dust and dog hair. Got all the fans cleaned, q-tipped the axles where I could, tightened all the screws and put it all back together shiny and clean.
The only thing I can really think of now is tie-wrapping my cables together a little to help break up the general clutter behind the desk but everything is accessible now and nothing is lost or getting yanked out so it's mostly a mental thing. Generally speaking, the computer is about as clean and maintenanced (invented a word!) as it's going to get. It makes my soul happy.
Next project on the computer is to continue the work Steph and I have begun on my iTunes library. In college, I had a few friends dump entire external hard drives' worth of music onto my PC. I imported it all into iTunes without really looking at it. Here and there I also ended up with random fantasy music, Anime soundtracks, and all kinds of scary, unlabelled junk. We have begun a holy crusade since the arrival of my new iPod. Every single track is going to have proper information attached. Random shit I don't want has been getting deleted wholesale, almost 30% of the original collection is already gone. Most exciting for me as this is my first color iPod, we are also attaching cover art to every single track so I can play with all the sexy Apple graphical interfaces. Hopefully by roughly the end of the week I'll have a totally clean and civilized iTunes library at last. It's exciting since my iPod is big enough to hold my whole collection six times over. Once I know what I have, I can see about getting more from my dad's enormous (250gb) classic rock collection, Steph's collection, etc. I've found many instances already of having five or six versions of the same track, downloaded from different sources or slightly misspelled. Soon it will all be clean and perfect and it won't feel like throwing the dice every time I turn on iTunes.
Once the computer is finished, next mission is the top shelf of the closet. All the sweaters need to come down, get refolded, donated as needed, and then restored with better organization up there. I still have a basket and a full hamper of dirty stuff that needs put away and room is dwindling rapidly. I will probably end up packing a box to bring to Steph's in case of emergency. I hope she doesn't notice my plan to stealthily invade her storage space bit by bit.
Next up is cleaning out the midget closet. I know there's some cool toys in there I haven't really touched, and a whole big foot locker I should be able to clean out and use either for sweaters here or miscellany of mine at Steph's. I need to get rid of some of the random junk in there and get the boxes unpacked and sorted even if I end up repacking them. I'd like to end up filling that closet with things I don't plan on taking with me when I move, eventually. Less-favorite clothes and books, random memorabilia like my Boy Scout stuff, and other things that are worth saving but not worth carting around if I can steal closet space here.
As an alternate plan, I may use it as the holding area for things that I have no use for here like decorations or kitchen stuff. That way I could pack some of that stuff early and have it all boxed and ready to go, but also tucked out of sight. This plan is a ways down the road yet, plenty of work and play to happen before I'm that deep into the closets (careful addition of "s")
It remains encouraging and exciting getting my life all organized. I feel a little more peace inside with each bit I manage to bring into line.I found out the new job will be delayed thanks to the change in Presidents (they needs all the polygraph guys to grill new govt. employees so there's a delay on granting security clearances) but it shouldn't be more than a few weeks. Plenty of time to spend on these projects without giving up social behavior. I may need to beg an extra shift or two to supplement the modest income in the intervening weeks but a tax refund should help and we'll see.