My new Radeon X1950XTX has arrived.

Just had to order a new graphics card for my PC as the old one started to fail whenever I ran up an 3d heavy games. The reason I'm unhappy is because it looks to me like it failed due to incorrect fitting by a company that I used to do some work on the box about 8 months ago.
Last time the power supply went, taking the main board with it. Not willing to pay HP over £200 for a new main board to fit in the current case I just got a local PC repair company to replace the case, main board, power supply and transfer all of the other Pc components over onto the new case.
Only now have I realised that when they fitted the graphics card they blocked off it's ventilation. So it looks like it's finally over heated.

I've now settled into my new role with the departments Collaborative Tools Unit. It's been quite a change but I'm enjoying it so far.

Also I've now seen sense and decided not to try and run the London marathon as it's far too close to the wedding and various wedding party dates. More important things to enjoy so I'll just have to enter through the ballet again next year.

I may be on the move out of the departments Applications & Desktop team and into the Mail team.

I've been offered a 2 year secondment into the University's Mail team to assist with the role out of the Lotus Notes collabrative tools set, as well as providing on going support for our GroupWise and Squirrel Mail services.

I'm not getting too excited yet though as I was offered a similar secondment 4 years ago but it never came off. The main problem at the moment is finding someone to take over my Assistive Software responsibilities. So I'm just going to have to wait and see what happens this time.

I joined Information Services in September 2001, when I was appointed as the Graduate Centre I.T. Assistant after completing my MSc in Science Communication. As part of this role I provided user support and acted as Insrv representative within the Centre. During this time I developed my knowledge of the Network and the Applications and Operating Systems used. As my knowledge increased, so did my ability to successfully troubleshoot user problems.

After eight months in this role I successfully applied for my current position as an Applications Specialist. My initial appointment was on a one year contract covering the secondment of another Applications Team member. At the end of this period, my contract was then extended for a further three years. I have now been moved onto a permanent contract.

My main objectives have been to:

• To obtain an overall knowledge of support and hardware to provide general help and advice to University Computer users
• To provide installation support for special needs software
• Develop and maintain a secure I.T. environment in which students with special needs are able to take their exams
• To provide specialist support in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet package
• Develop application installation skills by deploying applications on the Windows XP service
• Co-ordinate an Insrv policy on special needs applications and to deliver these applications where appropriate
• Assist in the provision of training

I now seem to spend most of my time taking part in projects where I am responsible for the deployment of the applications through our network.