The 11 Upgrades
Because the Internet Means s**t's Gonna Change ALL THE TIME!
Windows 10 hits its end of life on October 14! This is a think I talk about on my tech support calls when it comes up, because of course it does. Did this for XP, Vista, 7, and 8. Might have even mentioned this for 95 and 98, because those versions of windows were around when I started doing this shit back in 2006.
It goes like this: Microsoft (and Apple with Apple OS and iOS, and Android with its OS, and Linux with their myriad builds) updates their active operating systems for their lifetime. That usually begins to end when they drop the newest version (in this case, Windows 11). They support the older OS for a while fully, then it hits its end of life. Then they stop updating, except some occasional security fixes, or occasionally pushing major updates (like Microsoft Edge all the way back to 7). But eventually, security holes start appearing as no one is updating for the older operating systems anymore. If we didn’t live on the internet, this would be fine. So upgrading ALL THE FUCKING TIME FOREVER is a way of life.
A couple years ago, I was running all 10 computers, 4 to be specific, plus the Chromebook I’m writing this post on. And even with the Chromebook, I have an old one at home that can’t update anymore. This one, too, will reach that point one day. But then my work computer broke, I fixed it, but then broke again, specifically something corrupting with my Windows install (there may have been some hardware shit too). So it got replaced first.
Then my daughter had to head off to school. Her computer was already basically dead, so she replaced it with a solid laptop which I no longer have to manage, though I am still the person to call (tech bitch 4 life!!!!) when shit goes sideways. Luckily, it’s mostly the school’s websites, so not really my problem.
So that left me my primary game/production/streaming/fuckaround rig, and my son’s computer. So we get to September, and I’m looking for new computers for both of us, because none of the refurbs I’ve been buying can handle the 11 upgrade. Speaking with hetero-lifemate Lars, I have a couple options: he can sell me his old rig which is still better than what I have, or I can buy something much newer.
During this, something popped on my son’s computer. Bricked it, and the monitor in the process, so something of a power surge (which reminds me, maybe a better surge protector is in order…).
[Pauses to order one. Seriously.]
So he got Lars’s’s’s old rig. It’s not the best looking in the world, but it has a solid processor. Went through setup weeks ago, but my son, who’s really special needs, living in a group home, and hates change (see the subtitle) had issues with the setup, ESPECIALLY when we couldn’t recover his Microsoft account (he didn’t save or remember passwords, and had no recovery options set up). That ground shit to a halt. I did get his hard drive from the bricked computer, though, and recovered all the porn shit he had saved on it (no there was no actual porn). So today was the day I went back over, and even through the fighting (and opening the new monitor I gave him for an early birthday gift (and I want one now!)) I finally got it set up (because 11 forces you to set up with a Microsoft account now), but encountered an issue between the video card and the processor that I can’t resolve. So I think the only solution is a video card.
Luckily, I have that solution. The only issue was that it’s still in my computer, the last 10 computer. But I decided to build my own, for the first time in decades. That means the following list of parts: a power supply, case, motherboard and processor (got those as a combo), SSD (got the most updated kind or whatever), memory, and cooling system for the processor (liquid cooled, 3 fans and a pump). Thanks again to Lars for helping me source parts and not forget shit. Most of the rest of my shit will migrate from the old computer, except for the fact that the computer world has moved over to Display Port cables. And my shit mostly uses HDMI, DVI, and even the old 15-pin motherfuckers. Seriously, the same connection from the old desk-murdering CRT monitors that made cinder blocks look light. Because when they would brick, you wish you were handling cinder blocks.
A side note, it’s why nobody wants anything to do with any old TVs either. flat screens may be more disposable junk than some of the old TVs, but goddam, they are so much lighter and smaller.
So I had to figure out how to assemble all this shit. There was a lot of trial and error and me not finding my tools and working in my daughter’s room (in the process of becoming the guest room since she’s moved out more permanently). Luckily, between reading and my magnifying glass/LED cell phone light combo, my ability to figure this shit out did not fail me and after a lot of poking and prodding ad dropping shit on the motherboard and stalling out because I am the master procrastinator (and bator):
There’s nothing like hooking up a bunch of parts that can be sensitive to static discharge, cost hundreds of dollars, require connecting a dozen different wires to simple prongs in tight spaces, and since the whole thing is covered in glass so you can SEE ALL THE WIRES, it has to all go together right (mostly). I had to fix the memory, but when I hit the button and all those fans and LEDs lit, then the CMOS popped up on the screen (after telling me I fucked up placing the memory). it was a sigh of relief. Some adjustments to everything later, and I got Windows 11 installing on a new drive.
I finally got the Display Port cables today. That means I can swap computers.
Which means I have a computer that can run some cool-ass games. For me, that one Star Wars starfighter one (it’s in my Steam library because sale, but I have yet to play it) and Baldur’s Gate 3. As well as improvements on everything and a better chance to stream.
In the end, I learned several things I will forget over the years before I have to upgrade hardware again. But relearning shit is literally how you function on the internet, and literally how I am still doing internet tech support after almost two decades (also, the job has good health insurance, so fuck).
So if you haven’t made the leap to new hardware, fuck it, you don’t have to relearn THAT much. But it’s also the price for being on the internet.
A quick PS, since Ohio’s fascist Republicans snuck an age verification law into the budget that they couldn’t get passed so now you have to get verified if you want to see adult-flagged stuff on websites like Bluesky, or even just go to Pornhub so you can jerk off to futanari anime (chicks with dicks!). I did the verification on Bluesky. Then I found a free VPN (Proton, in this case), and defeated the christofascist censors in 5 goddam minutes.
And it will probably come in HANDY (get it?) in other ways. Like organizing the ANTIFA meetings and evading whatever other censorship comes down from the fascist regime.
So after you upgrade your computer to 11, do some reading on ways to protect yourself from the scammers and the criminal governments, whatever goddam country you’re in.