I no sooner started to work on my PC with Optimizer Pro pop up and told me that I 1607 that needed cleaning up.  And, it wanted me to subscribe to it’s cleanup web site.

How can that be?  I just turned on my machine.  After all, how could a new machine have 1607 problems that needed fixing.  So, I ignored it being unsure of just what it was all about and suspected that it was a virus of some sort. I clicked “ignore” and it went away.  Great!!

When I got my new laptop home, I unpacked it, plugged it in and turned it on.  It fired right up, found my wireless site.asked for the password and connected to the world.  I could now start customizing my PC as I needed it to be.  YES!!!  So far, so good.

Since my laptop died after only 4 years of service, I knew it was time to buy a new laptop.  So,  I check the Best Buy website to see what I could get for what cost.  In the past, I have always purchased Dells.  But since the premature death of my Dell laptop, I no longer have any loyalty to the brand.  So, it was the most bang for the buck.  And, in the end, Best Buy had a HP that was $100 cheaper than the Dell offerings.  So, 10 minutes later after work, I was out the door with PC in hand.  YES!!!

The other day, my laptop PC went to sleep on me.  Since this happens quite often, I did not think much of it.  But, when I went to wake it up, it didn’t respond.  So, I tried again.  Still no response.  That is when I realized that it was gone.  It passed away quietly in its sleep.

Oh, I tried rebooting it.  I tried several times.  But, no response.  I tried to put in the “safe mode” but it wouldn’t load.  Then I tried to run the repair program but it just locked up on me.  Finally, I loaded the diagnostics disk and began running that.

The diagnostics disk told me that the memory was fine as was the CPU and the various I/Os.  But, when it got to the disk drive, everything failed.  After analyzing the results, I concluded that the disk controller had died.  And, since this is a laptop, everything is built into the mother board so it is doubtful if it can be repaired.

According to a local mattress store, you should change your mattress every 8 years.  Well OK!  I am sure that they are not biased in any way.

After reading the owners manual, I learned that my car radio has an anti theft protection system built in to it.  If the radio ever looses power, It won’t operate until you enter the five digit security code.

Great, how do I find the security code? Well, It should be on my radio card.  What radio card?   I don’t know!!

I checked the owners manual and they assured me that if I couldn’t find the card, I only needed the VIN and the radio serial number and the dealership could help me.

Great!!.  I could get the VIN easily  enough but the radio serial number was another matter.  I didn’t even know where to look.  Fortunately, I found the radio code card in the glove compartment.  I entered the code and the radio fired right up.  Cool!!

I will make a point in writing down that code in the owners manual.

When I got home, I pulled out the owners manual to see just how to reset the maintenance code.  Sure enough, there were the instructions.  Push in the odometer button for ten seconds.  When the display starts to flash, push it in again for five seconds.  Your maintenance indicator will be reset.  And so it was.  Cool! One problem solved!!

When I started down the road after the oil change, I noticed that the radio was off.  Since most mechanics shut off the radio, I didn’t think much of it.  Then, I noticed that my clock was also flashing.  Then, I realized that the dead battery had reset everything.  So, after I had reset the time, I tried to turn on the radio.  But, the radio display kept asking me to “enter code”.  Since I wasn’t sure what code it wanted or even how to enter it, I deferred that for another day.  I just wanted to get home.

When I went to get into my car after the oil change, I stuck the key in the ignition and gave it a turn.  The lights dimmed and it just made a chattering sound.  Great, a dead battery.

And, I knew why it happened.  The head lights will stay on as long as the drivers door is open.   And, since the mechanic was trying to reset the maintenance indicator, he was sitting in the car with the drivers side door open.  Thus the head lights stayed on for a half hour, thus the battery went dead.

I quickly went back into the office and announced my dilemma.  Moments later, the mechanic appeared with a battery boosting box and got me started.  Great!! I was tired and hungry and just wanted to do home.

Normally, an oil change takes about 1/2 hour.  But, for some reason, this one was taking much longer.  And, usually when that happens, it means the there is something wrong with the car.  I was a bit concerned until the garage manager asked me if I knew how to reset the maintenance indicator. Apparently, the mechanic had been trying for over a half hour to reset the maintenance indicator.  Since it was getting late and I wanted to go home, I told them not to worry about the maintenance indicator as I would reset it my self.  They were elated and I cashed out to head home.