The Computer Files Draft Post

The Computer Files chronicles the life of my original IBM 486/66 PC from 1994 to 1998. A life that began with MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 and ended with Windows 95. It witnessed the rise of id Software's DOOM and the eventual downfall of Sierra On-Line. It suffered numerous problems through the years and it could just barely run Windows 95 near the end of its life. Finally, on Christmas morning of 1998, I was given an HP 586/366 PC. My dad and I took a hammer to the old IBM 486/66 in our driveway. A scene reminiscent of Office Space.

The Computer Files

The Computer Files, Folder 1: ExoDOS (MS-DOS and Windows 3.1)
The Computer Files, Folder 2: CD BDEC (Windows 3.1)
The Computer Files, Folder 3: HIGH Memory (Windows 95 and MS-DOS Mode)
The Computer Files, Folder 4: You've Got Mail (AOL and the World Wide Web)

Memories of Doom/IBM 486 (for Folder 1: ExoDOS)

My grandmother and aunt picked up my first computer from a business, to the best of my recollection, known as NET Computers. It was a custom IBM 486/66 with four megabytes of RAM. I knew next to nothing about computers in 1994. So little so that when I began playing SimCity 2000 and noticed the landscape had edges, I thought I needed more RAM to build bigger cities. I quickly upgraded to eight megabytes of RAM. SimCity 2000 remained, of course, unaffected. My aunt gave me a copy of the original SimCity and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. The computer itself came with Doom and Epic Pinball pre-installed in MS-DOS. Doom transported players to the one place nobody wants to go, but it was truly something else in 1994.

That computer was plagued with its fair share of problems. It often suffered from disk read errors, and there were even times in which it would fail to boot at all. I eventually had no choice but to take the computer in to be serviced, and in the process, Doom was completely wiped from the drive. It was not long before I became eager to get my hands on the game again. While browsing a small computer shop with dad, I happened to eye a copy of Doom sitting on one of the software shelves. I was curious as to what exactly the term "Shareware" meant on the game's disc and proceeded to ask a clerk about it before making my purchase. I was told that the label was no big deal; that the complete game should be on the disc. Well, imagine my surprise when I came home and found that only Knee-Deep in the Dead was playable from the episode selection screen.

Nintendo Rhapsody (World 1: Far From Home Redux)

Nintendo Rhapsody is an ongoing story about how Nintendo, and video games in general, helped me through some of the harder times in my life. Each chapter, known as a 'world' in Nintendo Rhapsody, is rather self contained with introductions and conclusions.



World 11-1: Alone in the Dark

When I was eight years of age, I lived away from home five out of seven days a week for a period of six months in East Los Angeles at a facility known simply as The Diagnostic School. On Friday afternoons, I would be released to spend the weekends at home with family. Every Sunday at 5:00 PM, I would have to return to The Diagnostic School for the forthcoming week. Once there, I had to eat cafeteria food. I grew to loathe cafeteria food.

On those particular nights, however, I would often choose a bag of Skittles. I hated Skittles. I greatly preferred M&Ms, but Skittles was all that they seemed to have. I would sit on the far corner of the cafeteria, my back to the window, eating my bag of Skittles. All the while, dreading the days and week ahead. I peered out into the darkness of the night every so often.

Nintendo Rhapsody Notes

A place for my unrestrained thoughts and ideas on the subject of current and future Nintendo Rhapsody chapters. This page also contains some unused content for earlier chapters. Different chapter introductions and extended content.



World Minus 1: Earthbound (Pre-Prequel Chapter)

Prologue: A Birth of Umbilical Proportions

My initial reasoning for the existence of this pre-prequel chapter is that I couldn't seem to find a place for the Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird experience in the opening to The Schoolyard Menace. I went to see the movie at a drive-in movie theater with my parents in 1985. I stuck my head out of the sunroof of our Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the duration of the movie. It was my first moviegoing experience, and it was truly something else. The movie shaped my early childhood, and Big Bird became like an idol to me. I feel as though the experience deserves its own dedicated section, and I am now thinking that it would make more sense thematically in the preceding chapter to The Schoolyard Menace. More than likely the concluding section of Earthbound.

September the eighth, nineteen-eighty-two was a day just like any other. The sun rose just like any other day. It set just like any other day. "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor could be heard on many a radio that day. It had been a popular song throughout the year. Everyone was pumped for the end of summer and the beginning of fall. That very evening, my mother baked chicken in the oven for my dad and herself. My mother was preparing to settle in for another episode of Dynasty. Her favorite soap opera at the time. Things were beginning to heat up in the Carrington family and my mom was very much looking forward to seeing the outcome. Unfortunately, I had other plans that night. Before she could catch up with the residents of Denver, my mother went into labor with me. My dad quickly helped my mother into the car and we were off to Presbyterian Hospital. The half eaten chicken was left behind - to be cleaned up at a later time. It was going to be a long night!

A story about my birth that I originally intended for the end of World 11: Going Home. It was ultimately far too unusual to include in the project: "Life is the biggest adventure. Mine began most unusually. I glimpsed a wondrous light at the end of a tunnel, but could not follow as a result of my umbilical cord. It had become wrapped around my neck and the more I struggled to free myself, the tighter it became. My time in the womb flashed before my eyes. Soon, I began to lose consciousness. A strange tingling sensation was followed by a strong shift in vibration. I then felt myself go limp. I had died. My heart had stopped and my adventure had seemingly come to an end. Yet I could still hear the melody I enjoyed listening to in the womb. I may not have known what a boat was or just how to row it, but I could almost picture them in my mind. Just like that, I found myself in a majestic place. I was sitting beside a beautiful body of water. Numerous living organisms were rooted into the ground. They had bright colored tips growing from their arms. Some of the tips brushed away and fell into the water below. The water carried them to shore. It was simply astonishing. I was suddenly filled with overwhelming joy as a magnificent being appeared, as if from nowhere, and sat beside me. She asked in a loving voice, 'Do you come here often?' I replied with a smile, 'Actually, this is my first time.' She smiled back and said, 'You couldn't have picked a better time. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom.' I looked her in the eyes and said, 'It really is quite lovely. I wish it were like this every day.' She glanced down at the palm of my hand and said, 'Is that a fortune cookie?' I was, at first, hesitant to reveal its contents, but I finally budged and said, 'Why, yes. I ate lunch over there and this was in my order. It reads: Today will be a very good day. Today you will find your destiny.' She gave me a blind stare and said, 'Well?' Confused, I replied, 'Well... what?' She said with a smile across her face, 'Did you find your destiny?' I replied with butterflies in my stomach, 'I believe so, yes.' With a certain gleam in her eyes, she said, 'My name is Noemi. What's yours?' I said with a happy heart, 'Aratana Hajimari, but you can call me Mike.' Noemi smiled and said, 'Well, it's nice to meet you, Mike.' She stood up, and as magnificently as she appeared, was set to leave. I said in a frantic hurry, 'Wait, will I ever see you again?' Noemi chuckled and said, 'I come here every day at the same time, so there's a pretty good chance.' It was a very good day. I found Noemi and was filled with indescribable feelings. It must have been like riding a bicycle. Once I learned, I never truly forgot. I had not died. I had merely graduated. No longer did I need Nintendo to soothe my aching heart. I could finally spread my wings and fly away. I was suddenly surrounded in light. I felt a great sense of joy and peace, but more than anything, an overwhelming sense of love. It was a state of being not unlike nirvana. I slowly began to regain consciousness and found myself to be in a room full of caring beings. They seemed very concerned with my condition. I was injected with a saline solution while my head was covered in a warm cap. One of the beings approached me and said while trying his best to contain a tear, 'We thought we had lost you, Mikey!' He appeared to possess a brighter glow than the rest. I remained in intensive care for quite sometime thereafter, but I was eventually allowed to leave. Dad was waiting for me. It was time to go home. It was time to enter the third dimension."

"Dear Carol & Chuck - We wish to thank you for the cute 'Little Slugger' sleep n' play suit you brought to the hospital. We will have to take Michael in it to see the Angels play next season. Also, thanks so much for the beautiful poodle flower arrangement you sent to the hospital. It really brightened my stay in the hospital. We appreciate your thoughtfulness." -Paul, Denise and Michael

"Dear Denise: Excuse me for not getting over to your apartment last week, but perhaps another time will be better for us. I understand that Paul has some specific ideas about products he wants for the baby, so I thought a check would be the most appropriate gift, and the easiest answer for everyone concerned (certainly for me). Good luck -- you're going to have an armful! P.S. Let me know when you need a babysitter on a weekend... I'd like to be (among) the first to volunteer." -Aunt Lorilee Moore