So I had yet more computer troubles. To fill you in on the gaps, my computer stopped working in December when Kayle's parents came out for a visit. The warranty had ended about 6 months prior, so there was not much that could be done except to get a new computer. As you might imagine, this can be rather difficult in Zimbabwe as anything electronic (let alone a computer) is extremely expensive, selling for double than it would anywhere else. This is due to a couple of reasons, the first being sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by England, the US, EU, Australia, etc. Secondly, the government has recently been charging ridiculous import duty on items, in some cases 100% in foreign currency. So, what would cost $1000 USD anywhere else would cost a Zimbabwean $2000 USD because of government greed.
Well, anyway Ken (Kayle's dad) and I had to make a quick trip to South Africa. We ordinarily make trips over the border to buy goods such as flour, sugar, and oil because they are either unavailable or too expensive in Zimbabwe. So, after we got back from Harare, where we had gone for Calvin's birth, Ken and I went off to Polokwane, SA, a 5 hour drive. We left at 5 AM, got there around 10:30, shopped for everything we needed and picked up a new computer, checked into the lodge, repacked the car very carefully, and went to bed. We left Polokwane at 5 AM the next day and went back to Zimbabwe.
So, all is well for about 3 months, then unexpectedly the new computer stops working (both HP Pavilions). Evidently the problem that had affected the previous computer was the same exact thing that affected the new one! I only found this out after some research online. In the process I also discovered that the old computer happened to be covered under a warranty extension from HP. Apparently there was a problem with the AMD based motherboards that caused the display adapters and wireless adapters to stop working.
Well, fortunately there was an American here who could take the old computer back to the States to be repaired. HP in the US was so helpful, bending over backwards to help me out. The South African HP, on the other hand, was incompetent, inept, and ambivilant. I had to call several times to get anywhere and then I had to call a separate support line to get them to fix it. Anyway, I then had to drive back down to South Africa (again... a 5 hour drive) to bring the laptop to be repaired! We managed to plan a trip out of it with some Australian friends here.
So, I had to leave the broken computer down in SA for repair and that in the middle of exams and the like when I needed to all sorts of grading. Fortunately Kayle let me use her computer for about a month. Finally, when someone from the college was going to SA again I managed to get the repaired computer back when he returned.
What a hassel!