I am back. I’ve been offline, suffering from Internet phobia. That’s what happens to people who have been online about eight years, too old for Internet addiction and too young for retirement (or whatever happens at the final unplugging).

Anyway, I was having one of my sort of annual fits where I feel the need to reformat the computer. Not that it’s a bad thing. I just let my usual optimism get out of hand. I assume it will all go off without a glitch, this time. Wrong. It was the modem, it’s usually the modem. I have a computer (a black IBM NetVista which I bought with a chunk of my wedding money) but it’s about five years old now. The hardware is not as perky as it once was. Still, everything is fine but for the modem and perhaps the CD drive. To make a long story short(ish), I went out and bought a new modem (an AOpen) this time. It comes with drivers on a CD. So, I won’t ever have the modem and lost driver problem again, next time I reformat.

I know there will be some of you thinking “why didn’t you just download drivers from the Internet?” Yes, I thought of that. I even did that. Last time that worked, this time the downloaded drivers didn’t work. Others of you will be snorting at me for even using dial up but I’m ignoring you.

So, I’m back, the new modem is VERY loud. In another life it was an alarm clock I’m sure. But, at least, I get my happily ever after, until the next time the compulsion to reformat comes along.

[tags]internet,aopen,reformat,driver,modem,cd drive[/tags]