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I'm back in Shell.

I'm back in Shell. Made it, just barely, on the flight to Quito. I had just enough time to get the e-mail server back online here before the plane was ready to take off. I hit the ground running in Quito and worked on the computers in the office from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. I had some maintenance and software upgrades to take care of. After dinner I began work at 7:45 on the Ross's computer. They had problems with it a few days ago and tried to re-install Windows. When it was all said and done they thought they had lost most of their data and e-mail wouldn't work. I wiped the drive clean, installed Windows and other programs, but then when I went to apply patches to Internet Explorer, the original problem returned. So, after removing the patch, I was running OK again. Then, since I had found and saved their e-mail, I tried to get that restored. And I ran into problems with Outlook Express to the point it wouldn't run. So back to re-installing Windows98. Also had to install a CD burner for them so they could backup their files. Whew! By the time it was all put back together, including all e-mail messages and addresses, it was 2:30 AM. I dragged myself upstairs to the guest apartment and hit the sack.

I was up at 7:30 to head to the hangar with Mike so I could fly back to Shell. I was willing to take the bus, but he said he'd fly me, as he knew I needed to get back to Shell soon. The reason? At 6 PM last night, while I was in Quito, the e-mail server locked up. No e-mail or internet access for the MAF families or clients in Shell. Yikes! The problems just keep on coming. So we were in Shell by 11 AM today, and I was able to get the server back online without any problems. Mike flew a flight into the jungle, and that really helped out the guys down here. And then at the end of the afternoon there was a sick child that needed a flight to Quito, and Mike was in the right place for that. So, travel wise, the plans worked out perfectly. I had allergies in Quito this morning, and still do. I 'm glad I didn't have to ride the bus with allergies.

Oh, the other thing that is broken. The Makuma server, which connects to the Shell server via HF radio, isn't functioning. I've been working with one of the missionaries in Makuma to change the times that the server connects to Shell. We've been communicating via e-mail on an alternate system. After all the necessary changes were made, now the server in Makuma won't connect at all to our server here! I'm still not sure how I'm going to take care of that problem. With only one pilot and plane flying, it won't be easy to get out there myself. And it seems we've run to the end of our rope with me giving the instructions by e-mail. Maybe then can send the server to me on the next flight? We'll see

A few more poeple have trickled in this afternoon needing help with computers. I've taken care of some, and others need to wait until tomorrow. I'm a bit gun shy right now, and when people walk towards me I wonder if I should go hide before they tell me they have a problem with their computer!