Mount Airy Learning Tree's Computer Volunteer Group



Meeting notes for 7/14/04

Projects
We worked on projects and had some discussion of topics relating to those projects.

Stan & Wes looked at a problem with his floppy drive. The light stayed on and it did read. They swapped out the ribbon data cable and the drive itself and tested both devices in another PC. It was determined that the problem was the ribbon cable. Elaine had a similar problem with inconsistent reading of CDs. Again the solution was to use a new cable. Perhaps the lesson is that drives are two important and using new cables is a good idea, if practical.

Station 8 has a burnt out power supply. We will have to get a new one and replace it next week.

Jonelle & Valerie continued work on setting up a PC to serve as master for the set of PCs going to the church computer labs. They ran into a problem booting from the Windows 2000 CD, "NTLdr" would not load. The machine would boot OK from a floppy drive. Again the problem was attacked by swapping elements to determine the cause of the problem. After eliminating the CD Drive, The CD-ROM and checking the jumper settings, we resolved to get back to it next week. I did some searches on "Windows 2000", "NTldr" via the google search engine.

Valerie had a problem getting her mouse to work. There was no mouse device type showing in Device Manager. Her problem was resolved by installing the mouse drivers from the motherboard CD.

Donyen downloaded and tested a new copy of Service Pack 1 for XP. We have a couple more PCs ready for the local school kids.

Upcoming Events
Wes will be at the Irish Pub/restaurant tonight 9:30, performing in the Karoke contest. Germantown and Durham Streets (across from Mt. Airy Presbyterian).

Saturday Project
We will meet at the lab at 10 and configure PCs for the playgrounds and the churches.

Cookout
When: Saturday August 21st. 12:00 until. Where: 221 W. Upsal Street

Web Site
We have a couple of people interested taking up Susan's offer for instruction on maintaining our web site. Donyen two others have expressed interest. You other two can email me to remind me, who you are.

Stan's Description of the Group
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I work with both Greg and West on repairing my computer built in class. We troubleshot and found that the problem was the flat cable was bad. Replaced and tested A/OK. Work with other students on troubleshooting and repairing computers that were either the students, or from a number of projects that Greg is involved with. During all this repair, fixing and building, Greg would bring the class together from time to explain, define, or show how certain problems can be isolated and solved. As busy as ones mind is in solving problems that are at hand Greg still finds time to ask additional questions on how to solve other Hardware and software problems. When class is done, one leaves the building knowing that your mind is due a time-out from Greg's "deep fat fry". Yet knowing full well you'll be back for more good torture. Wes is his honorable sidekick and is to be mentioned in the same vein.

Thanks Stan for giving me a starting point on the meeting notes.

Gregory W. Jenkins
Instructor/Coordinator



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