Not complaining... just telling it like it is. HELP I need a tecno geek to read this!

What is going on with my  computer!!! I am so frustrated with it that I have had to walk away from it so I wouldn't toss it out the window more than once.

It started simple enough.  Josh wanted me to do a video IM with him.  He has a nice new lap top and while he has been gone we have enjoyed talking to each other online.  We talked about getting web cams (not my favorite idea but I know the kids would think it cool to see daddy on the computer).  We have a nice digital camcorder that some how or another you are supposed to be able to use as a web cam as well. We wanted to test it out before we went ahead and bought web cams thinking we if the the digital camcorder worked we would only have to buy one (save money).   I haven't bothered to hook up the camcorder to the computer in like 2 yrs lol because to take video off of it uses alot of memory space and we are running low.

I thought it would be a simple thing as plugging it in using the USB port cable it came with.  LOL FIRST I HAD TO FIND THE CORD.  My office/den is a mess and the last room to be unpacked.  Found it in a box of cords all tangled together.  Plug and play is apparently not the way it goes.  Ohh software.. ya I must need to install the software that came with the camera?  So I went on another hunt threw all my back up disks in a different box.  Did I meanten that this was at 4 in the morning?? LOL  My cat thought he should help look too.. getting in front of me in each box.

I am thankful I found it or else I would of not figured out another problem my computer is having.  I ask you.. how does your CDROM drive that came with the computer and CDRW drive that you installed over a year ago JUST disappear off of showing up in "My Computer"????????!!!!!!!!!!!  A horrible virus?  A sign your computer is about to crash??? Or very very very naughty children messing with things they never should be near in the computer????? I have no clue but it seems to me it would take a lot of clicks of the mouse to uninstall TWO drivers off my computer and I would of caught the kids doing it in time and I have done all the spy searching and virus checks.

I did a system restore of course.  THANK YOU POWERFUL COMPUTER TEC GUYS who ever thought of system restore!!   LOL How many of you have had to do that and it has saved you?? It solved my trouble for the time being with the CD drivers disappearance and I was able to pop in the CD with the camera's software.

I KNEWWW the software was already installed on my computer but since it was over two years ago I could not find it anywhere.  I had to uninstall and reinstall.  I figured ok.. NOWWWWW  we are in business.  Plugged the camera back in.. still nothing.  Found the directions that came with the software but the instructions I found for the camera it's self.. well I have versions in Spanish, and French.. but my English addition is no where to be found.  I tried following the instructions for installing "USB Video Streaming driver for Windows XP users"  I must of been having a blond brain fart because they seemed very confusing to me.  Nine steps spelled out clearly enough but it all hinged on when you plugged in your USB cable the "New Found Hardware Wizard screen popping up"  And you guessed it.. it wasn't popping up.  I tried to get it to come up manually from the control panel.  This was one of the points I walked away and decided to give it another shot later.

Ok so when I went back to do it all over again..... my cd drivers went missing AGAIN!!!!!!! Poof.. vanished.. no where visible in My Computer or in properties or any other place you can think to look on your computer's hard drive.  WHAT THE HECK?  I tried to look at event viewer to see if maybe I could determine what happen. No clue how to read those.. but interesting to know I have a bad block of memory on my computer according to it.  I have spent countless time trying to figure out what should be a simple thing.. hooking up  my digital video camera for a Video IM talk session and still have no fruit.  I WOULD just go out and buy a cheap webcam lol but hey, you  need a CDROM driver to install that software too.  = O

*Sigh*  So I am going to do another system restore.. the good it will do me I don't know if I can't figure out how my CD drives get taken off in the first place.  Technology is a wonderful thing.. IF you can figure out how to keep it running properly and use it. 

BUT I am thankful I can still hook up to the Internet in the first place and that my computer even turns on.  THEN I really would complain. LOL