7th December 2000
Software is a walk in the park compared to hardware; step back ten years and try to install a modem. Devices are (admittedly) easier to integrate nowadays, but headaches are still sure to happen. You're jazzed about this new internal doohickey you just picked up. You stick it in, turn it on, and boot it up. Nothing. Or, worse yet, something that you'd rather have be nothing. These issues are sometimes resolved by switching slots; most likely, you inserted a card (or cord) into an open bay. Consider playing musical chairs with another component; pull the ol' switcheroo! As odd as it sounds, even plug & play devices can be picky. Hopefully, rearranging your hardware won't cause further contentions. As long as you're not trying to jam an ISA board into a PCI slot. That's just crazy talk.