Having been born long before the advent of computers, I am at a disadvantage in terms of repairs as well as maintenance for my computer. The first experience of a serious nature with a PC was with a computer the size of a small house. It carried out the exact functions the calculator of your cell phone does – less, actually.

So obviously, I am among of those who had to recognize late in life how to deal with a computer. And to tell the truth, the majority of it wasn’t too difficult. It made it easier that I got a job working for a company that produced computers, and fixed them also. My workplace was adjacent to the service department, and I frequently took advantage of having that group of 12 good men at my beck and call.

However, I work at home now, and when the time arrived to go wireless on my desktop Compaq, I got somewhat confused. My Internet Service Provider – then Embarq – sent me the necessary USB network adapter, along with the modem. I was glad to find out that all I had to do along the lines of installation was simply connect the USB wireless network adapter right into my USB port.

Of course, I had to make sure that the wireless antenna was not interrupted in its performance by the refrigerator, the cordless phone, the beams in the ceiling; basically, things I could do very little about. In that location, I eventually needed to switch to an internal antenna, which worked better in some way. I could install the antenna myself, thus de-mystifying the computer somewhat.

I’ve transferred, and this time, have had to set up another home office desk, in another challenging location. To my computer’s dismay, I’m in a basement, enclosed totally by cinder blocks. Our new ISP, who shall stay anonymous at this time, insisted I needed a new modem, and my purchase was a Linksys modem.

Fortunately for me, the internal network adapter is functioning fine with the Linksys, and I have not had to purchase a corresponding Linksys USB network adapter, as I believed I might. Emboldened by all this “geek” work, and my fresh knowledge of computers, I have now learned how to confidently crack a case, and install a new hard disk. Turns out I’m not too old to learn a few new tricks.

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Technology and Gadgets