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The art of computer repair

They say that computer programming can be more of an art than a science, and that might well be true. In fact, dealing with computers sometimes seems like an art – a black art to be precise. There are times when they appear not to follow any kind of logic whatsoever, just the opposite you’d expect from computers.

Take, for example, yesterday’s case of my ex’s computer display not working. I go and look. Check the connections. Everything’s plugged in okay, but nope, it’s definitely not working. Logic dictates that it is probably either a problem with the monitor, or the video card.

Okay. So I come back later, lugging along another monitor, and another video card. Plug the replacement monitor in, and presto, it works. Okay. So it must be the monitor that’s faulty, right? So I shut down the computer, and ponder where a good place to buy a cheap monitor might be.

Just before I go, I plug the old monitor in again. I’m not sure why. And I’m also not sure why I turn on the computer again. It boots up. Perfectly. Display ‘n’ all.

Weird. Black art, I’m telling you.

By Daniel Bowen

Transport blogger / campaigner and spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association / professional geek.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia.
Opinions on this blog are all mine.