So I had laptop issues. Thought I had solved them. Turns out, I didn't. I had to reboot my laptop to the factory settings. I saved my files and the work I wanted to keep. I was in the process of putting everything back together when I hit a huge snag: I was loading my hard copy of Poser 9 back on my machine when I realized that my DVD/CD ROM drive has stopped working. I tried everything I knew to get it working: update the drivers, uninstall and reinstall; nothing worked. 

I am in the Philippines; away from trusted support, and the cost will undoubtedly be more than the machine is worth (it's a 2009 Toshiba Satellite) to fix it. This laptop has other issues anyway. My then 3-year-old son damaged 2 of 4 USB ports. They were connected to the motherboard so I couldn't fix them.

Money has become an issue. I was planning on buying a new laptop anyway. But then life took over. I had a few 'emergency' issues that took the laptop funds away for now. My plan to get a great laptop and a copy of Windows 7 from Amazon went out the window. I am going to head into town and see if I can get a cheap DVD/CD ROM external drive somewhere. It only has to work long enough to get Poser back on my machine. Wouldn't it be a hoot to find out that I have to install software from a CD or DVD to get that to work? Where is the sense in that?

Anyway, I am just hoping to get back on track again soon. There is nothing more frustrating than having problems like these to go with real life problems. This hobby and my laptop were meant as relaxation after a long day of reality.  

If I had a nickle for ever time a woman told me to get lost, I could buy Manhattan.