I'd rather be on Ellis Island.

So my computer's borked. Again. Fuck.

Basically, something went "spwang" and now the explorer and taskbar aren't working. I can get online and access some programs through the control-alt-delete hard run, but can't right-click on anything. I don't know how to reset my system to, say, 11:30 last night. I called my dad and he gave me a couple of numbers, and that's going as well as can be expected.

It's never a good time, but some times are worse than others.

ETA: Okay, I managed to figure out how to copy my stuff over to my external hard drive, so that's going on right now, but my phone's disconnected me from calls and if anyone thinks I should just walk over to the Best Buy six blocks away, please let me know.

It's not a total loss. The "D" key still works.

So my computer's functional. It's not working right - no desktop icons, no navigation bar, no sound - but it's working enough for me to surf the Internet and compose documents, which means two of the three things I need it to do are intact. All right then.

I took it to the Best Buy five blocks away and the problem is that some of the navigation software was removed. I have no idea how or why, and I can create any number of scenarios ranging from "overzealous anti-virus software" to "backwards compatible alien tech" to "Aquaman's elaborate revenge on the surface dwellers." I do know that if I pay them enough, they can keep it in their store from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning, back up my data onto my external hard drive, and then give it back to me. I might go for that one, since I'm at a loss for how else to get back to ideal functionality.

And if anyone knows the reference in the subject line, consider it good for fifteen brownie points and a free ice cream cone.

It's also raining.

Well then.

Restoring my computer to the last point of given functionality - yesterday morning - put everything back where it was supposed to be. I backed up my relevant data to my external hard drive and settled in to do something else.

Then it went "spwang" all over again.

The problem seems to be in the Symantic Antivirus, which was turned off for some reason, which seems to have let something in which destroys the explorer function.

I can get it back to the last point of functionality again, but I'm not sure how to fix the underlying issue. New antivirus, maybe.

Let it go.

After restoring the computer to the previously stable settings - twice - and with the generous help from tech support - who appreciate genuine conversation during waiting periods - I learned the problem that started this morning was a corruption of my antivirus software. Uninstalling it and putting on something else seems to have done the trick. I'm still leaving my portable hard drive unplugged for a few days.

I'm glad it's over for the time being. I'd rather have not dealt with the problem, gone to Ellis Island, and cooked eggplant for my younger brother. Instead I got my tech support calls dropped at least four times, barely left my room, and almost didn't scrape it together to leave to see my younger brother and have dinner at his place. It was worth it, though: we had bok choy with extra garlic, chocolate-covered cherries, Woodchuck spring cider, and watched silly internet videos.

So today I learned how to fix a very specific problem, and got a repeat lesson in how to fix a general one.

Bed a bit early for me, and tomorrow - well. There's that career fair, for one. And maybe even pizza. I'll show up and see what happens.