Friday, August 04, 2006

Despite Scratched CD, the "Inter-Web" is Back

The very nice lady whom I finally reached at Verizon after many frustrating hours on hold, with inexperienced help desk folks, or redialing after dropped calls, came through. The "Welcome Package" was indeed on the front porch. I had a little time around 6pm and popped the CD in the drive and started the process. Got two steps done and the wizard vanished -- hunh?

On my desktop was a new icon - restart setup. So I did. Once again, two steps in, and gone. Switched the CD from one drive to the other. Got another step (not because of the switch, apparently) and then it vanished again. I discovered through trial and error that if I let the CD run until the step was complete, I could get a little further. Then I took out the CD and looked at it. Large low depth scrape across the back. Ever had a music CD that stuttered at one point?

Finally, I reached a point in the Modem set up (the initial section was just adding filters on the phone line) that I couldn't seem to bypass at the end. That time I tried clicking through the step at different times, and FINALLY got passed it. I guess that was the last barrier, because the CD finally conceded, completed the installation process, and we are back on the Internet at home. More than that, when I have some more time to "fiddle" with things, there should be wireless in the house. Hopefully it isn't wide open to the world right now :-) but if it is, my goal is to shut it down over the weekend. In the meantime, if you are driving past my house, and you happen to find a free wireless connection, enjoy....

For those of you terrified by security issues, I have a firewall, virus protection, etc. all active on the home machine.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Nothing is ever simple

7/20/06 -- Order DSL
7/21/06 -- Wait
7/22/06 -- Wait
7/23/06 -- Wait
7/24/06 -- Phone call on answering machine, DSL will be activated on 7/27/06 after 6pm
7/25/06 -- Wait
7/26/06 -- Wait -- but where is my welcome package -- they did say 3-5 business days
7/27/06 -- Wait -- check online -- package has been shipped and DSL is pending
7/28/06 -- Wait -- check online -- package has been shipped and DSL has been activated
7/29/06 -- No way to check -- no package
7/30/06 -- same message on line
7/31/06 -- automated system gave me a tracking number -- tracking number says package was delivered on 7/24/06 and left on front porch -- but no package was received
7/31/06 -- start calling Verizon DSL, Verizon Local, and Verizon billing. It appears my DSL was installed on Conceto Lane, and the package was delivered to Concerto Lane -- except I don't live on Concerto Lane. I have now been transferred twice, and in both cases the calls were dropped and I had to start again.
I hope the people on Concerto Lane are enjoying my DSL, but I am NOT going to pay for it!!!!!