Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	1/15/2005

A picture named sp2 headache.gif What was I thinking...

If only I had seen this picture first on the Microsoft Japan site, I might have thought better of finally installing the XP service pack 2 on my notebook computer.

The short version of a long story is that I have been off-line since engaging in unprotected internet activities in at back-to-back WiFi hook-ups at Panera Bread and The Atlantic Bread Company in Asheville on Wed. After getting home Friday and spending all night in safe-mode individually finding and deleting 26 adware files, I thought, "what the heck, it ought to be safe to install XP SP2 by now." WRONG.

In rough numbers I spent from 8am this morning till about 10pm tonight installing and trying to get SP2 working. After ten, I spent 3 more hours trying to uninstall the damn thing. (I'm back-dating this post since, I really did start the day planning to post something on Saturday)

In fairness to Microsoft, I suppose I have to say my computer is running the Japanese version of XP Home Edition. I should have thought to add more padding to the time necessary to patch the patch for the Japanese translation of XP SP2. When will I learn? My Apple friends are all laughing at me.

Here is my rough translation of the graphics in that customer service picture:

I'm the guy on the left. The microsoft tech support genius shaking his fist at me is saying,

"Installing our product...Don't sweat it. How much time could it take? It's so simple. Trust me."

11:58:48 AM

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