Complications to getting a Vive.. my options as of now

Posted on 08-30-2019 by Benie

I’m not going to mention that I also had to get up early in the morning today because of the cat, but I had placed the order for the Vive, and it was going to come by next week.
This is no longer the case, and has a chance to never be one… all because of an overlooked technicality.
Has nothing to do with my computer, though; but the wall-mounting brackets for the
sensors (both are called a ‘base station’). I thought they had special tape or glue on them that you can take off the protective cover and place it on the wall.
Instead, looking it up (some time after already placing the order)…

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUU—!!! And when I told my parents that don’t understand what VR is (let alone even know what the hell I’m talking about if I was to explain it to them), they were NOT happy to hear what I would have to do (and said “no holes”).
I canceled the order.. what stung is it said “Your order is being prepared for shipment.” Luckily, I was able to get a full refund– but I’m going to have to wait ’till tomorrow or maybe Monday until the $533.93 is returned to the bank, before I can try again. 😖
–
So, this sucks, and I felt I was going to be stuck with WindowsMR for the rest of my life.
However, I had forgotten there is an alternate mounting method for the base
stations;

These (or something similar to them)! “Skip wall mounting your HTC VIVE Base Station”
These will WORK! 👍 And what I saw in the bank, I actually have more than I thought. So when I get the money back, I can re-order the Vive, and these.
A question still stands though; where am I going to put them? With War at work right now, he can’t really help me figure that out (or even if my room could handle a Vive in the first place).
If my room can’t even handle a Vive, then canceling that order was a good move. Because I could take that money and purchase the Samsung Odyssey+ instead, which is on sale for $300 right now ($320.99 with tax) (typically $500, the price of the Vive).
As of right now, all I can do is wait for Nigh to get back from work or whatever he’s doing right now.

EDIT: Several hours later I was in a call with him. We went over my options to get myself back into VR (or WMR -VS- Vive). He tried everything he could think of to help me with trying alternatives to put the base stations.
And after two hours of that, the results are in– I’m going back to WindowsMR. Mainly because he feels there’s just too much risk involved that I’m not going to get full
tracking (especially whenever I decide to go for full body).
–
So, I’m going to get the Samsung Odyssey+ the moment the money has returned to my bank. *sigh*… But in the back of my mind, I keep thinking of the issues I had with my old headset. I still have ZERO idea what is causing this ‘low power state’. But it seems to be linked to the ‘headset image freezing’ issue (as it behaves similar).
I still feel it’s the headset, as I had other devices plugged into that same VR Ready port and they showed no issues.
I can only pray this newer, better designed one, doesn’t have the same if not worse issues. It at least would show me, solid proof it’s not (or is) an issue with the motherboard. ..I pray not. Hell, why not also get one of those powered USB 3.0 extension cards as well? Maybe ask Jusper if he’s free, see if he has any recommendations.
But, at least the buttons on the new motion controllers will be very familiar to me, and I won’t have to change any hand gesture binds in Unity (neither would I have to change anything in Playspace Mover). So that’s a win-win right there.

EDIT: …Is there a God? Maybe, because fortune has smiled upon me moments as I was about to head to bed. Had checked to see if they put the money back in the bank.
Ohh.. fuck THAT, because I just got September’s check! YES!! I can order the Odyssey+ now! 🤸

Though I still do have a bad idea about going back to WMR. I saw something that very much troubles me, yet also gives me hope at the same time that the issues with my current headset may not be my fault.
I’ll write a blog post later. For now, I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.

EDIT2: *grumble sounds*.. Was woken up at 8:40 in the morning by a panicked (for
me) mother, telling me how I got my check, but “$299.99 was taken out by Amazon!” I calmed her down explaining the entire thing, assuring her I would have enough to survive the month.
Tried to go back to sleep after that. Almost did, then I’m hearing Discord pings coming from my phone. Reach over and grab it, and it’s a few messages from Jusper.
…And he’s telling me what I was fearing I would see; “don’t get the Odyssey+”, saying the screen door effect is worse than the original Odyssey. Well fuck. Hopefully I still have time to cancel the ord–

F***K!!! 🤬 Welp, I guess I’m stuck with it. Or do what it says and refuse delivery, then wait to get the original Odyssey. Maybe I’ll talk to Ruffy later on this morning and see if he can either confirm or deny Jusper’s words.
Going back to Jusper, I asked him if he had a recommendation for a USB 3.0 extension card, and he does. Said for me to get this… which, looks exactly like the one Wuffer was offering me a discount for.

Oy vey. 🤦‍♂️
Anyway, he suggested that I either get that, or get this; a USB 3.0 hub. I’ve decided to go with the internal USB route and got the card instead (and it will arrive in the same time frame as the Odyssey+), installation is as ‘simple’ as that Ethernet card for mother’s computer (that father totally didn’t install for me as he got impatient).
Close inspection, the card has the ‘Fresco’ chip; the chip that was recommended to work well with WMR.
I just feel an internal has a higher chance of working to fix the issue, as it would put less strain on the motherboard (according to Zagro). The power would be coming directly from the PSU. Plus if it doesn’t work, then I got the Odyssey+ to look forward to.
–
At one time, Jusper had also suggested that I get this instead; feeling confident it would fix the ‘USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW’ issue. But this forced me to get out of bed and look up my motherboard, just to verify if it has a USB Type-C. Sure enough, it doesn’t.
Good call, me. So he said all I can try is the internal or external mode of extending my USB 3.0 ports.

Finally, when I was telling him about how I can’t even set up stands for the Vive’s base stations, he said “Waist level works. As long as they arent really close to you”.
Strange, that’s not what Nigh told me yesterday. Plus, didn’t I read that they “have” to be at least 6′ high? Maybe that’s only for room scale, and it seems so after I asked him.
Hmmm… still would be kind of risky as I could knock them off by accident (or them still not giving me full tracking).
And also spoke to Ruffy about what Jusper said about the Odyssey+, who says “your friend has no idea what he’s talking about”. Said you can adjust the lenses so it’s not blurry, while also fanboy level defending the Odyssey+ saying there’s “literally NOTHING wrong” with it.
That’s good, since I’m going to be stuck with it either way. Heh. Good thing it didn’t let me fully cancel though.

EDIT3:

It’s coming TOMORROW! I’m both happy and terrified at the same time. Assume the USB 3.0 card should also be shipped today, which should hopefully curb my fears (that it’s not a fucking motherboard I have to replace).

Posted in Computing, Drama, Personal | Comments Off on Complications to getting a Vive.. my options as of now

Finally testing my headset –Results are good (for getting a Vive)

Posted on 08-29-2019 by Benie

Something I keep putting off since I said I was going to do it, mainly because I’m scared of the results. I want to get the Vive so much, but something keeps reminding me I’m only going to waste my money (and the issue could be in my computer, or something attached to it).
Acid yesterday, kindly reminded me the GPU could still be at fault; that it doesn’t matter if it runs non-VR games.. he says “VR is more demanding” and my GPU may not be enough for it. So I might be forced to change priorities and get a better graphics card instead of a Vive (or something else).
Even Zagro, one time, said in a private call: “you’re going to be pissed if this thing works after you send it to me”.
–
Discovered when unplugging the non-essential USBs (and my secondary monitor), only three USBs were non-essential (minus the two that connect to my external hard
drive). One is the Bluetooth dongle to my wireless headphones, and the other is my HOTAS. And the last one, I’m not even sure what it does. I’ll have to plug it in and figure out what Windows installs for it.
As of now (after having to install the software from the Microsoft Store), MR Portal is showing all green– it passed the PC check, saying the USB 3.o port is fine. Now wants me to get the controllers paired up. Have to charge up some batteries before I do so.
This is a good sign, but it also worries me at the same time. 😣
It could be my graphics card cannot handle VR as much as I was told it could (more pricy to fix), or it could be the headset is taking more power than it’s supposed to from the motherboard (less pricy to fix). It’s a process of elimination.

Talking with Acid while waiting for the batteries to charge, he still feels it could be the graphics card being the fault, and recommended I get what he has. But with the majority being DisplayPorts, that card isn’t going to work for me; I need a DisplayPort and two HDMI ports (or, just three HDMI ports and get rid of the HDMI to DisplayPort adapter for my primary monitor).
Decided to go a bit further into setting up the controller pairing process (to get it ready). I’m also asking Acid to please find me a card that has the ports I need. Then I happened to glance at the lower right of my screen (the Notifications) and saw there’s two messages.
…One of them showed;

Ohh, HERE we go!! 😃 Yet it didn’t make sense as the headset was sitting idle for an hour.
Anyway I checked Device Manager. Sure enough.. my good ole friend “USB_SPEED_TOO
_SLOW” is back for more. NICE! It’s NOT my computer!! WOOT! 🤸

Saw another issue, assuming it might be saying something wrong happened with the Bluetooth adapter.

Unplugged and plugged the cable back in, error persisted. So it’s not the Bluetooth adapter. Reading the error of how it says it “stopped this device”, reminded me of what I saw in Event Viewer of Windows trying to restart the headset drivers 5 times and
failing.
Went to the Event Viewer… but now I have more questions than answers;

‘BTHUSB’. …Assuming ‘BTH’ was the abbreviation for Bluetooth, is it now saying there’s an issue with the adapter now?! After finding out ‘BT’ is the actual abbreviation, and
this ‘BTHUSB’ is a driver, I tried to figure out what it does. Didn’t tell me. So I tried to look up the Event ID and got several cases of the issue (with laptops and Bluetooth).. but nothing that seems close to my issue, though.
Is this a sign the issue with low power, could be linked to the Bluetooth adapter? No, I don’t think so. Looking closer at the error, it’s stating there’s a device connected via
Bluetooth that’s at a Low Power state.. aka the headset. Thinking about it more
carefully, the fact the motion controllers are a part of the headset, it assumes the headset itself is a Bluetooth peripheral.

So what have I eliminated (that was a probable cause) from this exercise?
-GPU stress caused by VR games.
-Too many USB ports connected to the back of my computer.

What I have discovered…
-Issue happens just from the headset sitting idle for an hour.
-An error about Bluetooth, that makes no sense to me.

What I still don’t know (that could be a probable cause)…
-The headset taking too much power from its USB 3.0 port, and I had it plugged into the VR Ready port (and only had it and the Bluetooth dongle plugged into the USB 3.0 ports).

Something inside of that headset, is broken. So thank GOD it’s not my computer (or something I did when I upgraded the hardware)!! That is SUCH a relief off of my
chest!!! 😌
Going to shut down, pack the headset back in its box (and the controllers), then undo what I did; get back to normal.
–
After doing so, CHKDSK suddenly felt like it needed to run and fixed some apparent issues with my C drive. Strange. Very strange. I hope this isn’t a sign the drive is going to fail soon. That’s just what I don’t need right now!
Did further look into it, and it was basically Windows apparently bitching at me for not shutting down Windows the right way. 🙄 It doesn’t like how I press the power button on my computer, so it ran CHKDSK just to make sure there wasn’t an issue. And according to Event Viewer…
Volume C: (\Device\HarddiskVolume4) is healthy. No action is needed.
Good! Good good good, good good good.. GOOD!! 🙂 One less thing to worry
about.
Anyway, on top of this, mother had just let me know that she “smelled sewage” coming from the pipes when she was outside this morning, so she has to give me $50 less than what she promised ($250).
Still, I will have enough to get the Vive (that $250 combined with the money in my bank account)… but barely. Going by calculations, I will have $22 left in the bank. Aka, it’ll take awhile to bounce back from that.
*sigh*… On one hand I feel bad about accepting this money, as having it around for a just incase scenario is more important. I just don’t feel $50 is going to cover whatever’s going wrong under our house (I say it could be over $2.000+ and them having to dig up our yard to replace the pipes). Pray that isn’t going to be the case, but smelling sewage outside isn’t something you want.
Mother says $50 is what they would typically need to come out and take a look. And if it’s a rusted pipe or something, our homeowner’s insurance should cover most of the cost (and the $300 won’t do much help anyway).
–
So, I’m still good to order the Vive from Amazon by tomorrow, but that depends when father gets his pension check (which hopefully will be tomorrow).
Now if I was to go all the way and get full body tracking on top of it (which isn’t going to happen anytime soon), I would guesstimate the total cost would be close to $1,000. OOF.
I’m better off saving up to get the Valve Index.. after I get the Vive of course (which I hear has very high praise from VR enthusiasts).

Posted in Computing, Personal | Comments Off on Finally testing my headset –Results are good (for getting a Vive)

Another culprit? / Life without VR / That thing about Cola

Posted on 08-24-2019 by Benie

It’s been 12 days since I’ve been VR-less (due to a new issue preventing me from even setting the boundary), and I feel like my sanity is cracking. 😖
I also feel so stupid and childish even thinking about making a post like this, yet I seem to be going through the five stages of grief (with my VR headset), and I feel I’m between 3 and 4: Bargaining and Depression (of saying “I wonder if I plugged in my headset, maybe I could get it work just one night.”)
——————————————
Another culprit (to my headset issues…)?
This came from what Zagro told me a few days ago (in VRChat), of another possible culprit of this specific type of WMR headset. Said he looked around and read that the Lenovo Explorer (maybe possibly) takes more power than it’s supposed to, out of a USB 3.0 port. I mean, that would make sense of why it suddenly went unstable at times. But, it doesn’t explain why it didn’t happen before (with my old hardware).

That thing is the ‘missing link’ here; trying to link what happened in the past, what happened 5 months ago, and what’s happening now to one centralized problem, just doesn’t seem possible.. let alone just trying to link what happened in the past and the screen freezing issue.
But maybe I’ve been looking at this the wrong way all of this time. Instead of feeling “it didn’t happen before”, I need to look at something that happened before I ever got into VR– something that didn’t come to mind until I started writing this blog post (and its context was quite different than it is now). And that, is that pesky FX 9590. You know, the one that I once thought was a ‘solid upgrade’ from my 4350? Yes, that thing. Of course it was an idiotic move on my part (as the Ryzen 5 2600 blows away the 4350 and the 9590 combined).
But I digress. When I had the 9590 installed, I wasn’t getting its full speed. Discovered my old motherboard doesn’t support it, and got something that does. And when I had this thing installed… that’s when the beeping and the ‘computer shutting down before
POST’ issue happened (and I thought it was the motherboard).
With this known, it seems similar to the headset issue not happening with my old
hardware (because I wasn’t unlocking its full potential). With the upgrade that I did.. hello issues!
See the similarity? This is why I just can’t say it’s truly the headset, especially when I remember getting this one error message I never saw before (and wonder if it could be pointing to the true culprit of what Zagro’s saying);

“…temporarily unplugging any other USB devices connected to your PC.”
Clearly, again, this is not an issue with the GPU (even though it was the first thing I blamed, how it’s taking the full load instead of the CPU). This error is telling me what Zagro has been telling me for awhile; too many things plugged into the back of my computer.
I need to try to have only the essentials (Keyboard/Mouse, Microphone, Bluetooth, and of course the headset) plugged in and see if it happens again (including only having one monitor plugged into the GPU). If it doesn’t, then I’ll know for a fact the headset is pulling too much from the motherboard (and a USB 3.0 extension card should fix that) instead of focusing on a Vive.
But if it does happen, then it’s not the motherboard (or the GPU); it’s the headset.
———————————-
Life without VR (when you’ve been used to it for awhile…)
But that’s just one thing, it’s also (still) wishing I could hug people again. It’s like, since I started getting into relationships, I lost all purpose of the true reason to play
VRChat; chatting with friends. Or it’s just what I’ve always have done in the past.. go to an area with lots of people, and watch them have fun. Did it in WoW, so many times. Just hang out in Goldshire (on the Lion’s Pride Inn roof) for hours, watching people have fun dueling and chatting while waiting for timers to reset on soloing old raids (or waiting for auctions to clear).
That was my enjoyment in that game, which is why I kept on asking “why am I playing this? I’m not doing it the way I should.” I feel the same for VRChat now. Except, VRChat doesn’t have a subscription-based service (nor any expansions that kept the game interesting, like WoW).
———————————–
That thing about Cola
Now as I said, relationships and Kovo are the only real reasons I play anymore. But one relationship is still in question (and has been for months). ..Cola, which I still feel at times.. he may not really want to be part of my poly (but is too scared to tell me up-front). Funny thing is, I’m too scared to ask him if he’s still interested. I feel he’s only being nice to me, that he doesn’t actually love me.
So basically something very strange happened yesterday…
–
Was another one of those days where I wanted to sleep infront of my computer from no VR, then I saw Cola online and joined him. He showed me what avatar he’s been working on, and I felt we were going to cuddle like we always do… until Stylez shows up and I feel like I’m being ‘cock blocked’.
Then Nigh shows up. They’re all talking with Cola, while I stay quiet staring at the main mirror (trying not to tell anyone how I feel). Stylez leaves and Cola comes back to me. Feeling happy again he’s with me.. then he leaves for another world. The FUCK?! And the world he joined.. had Ashi in it. Well this is a big fat NOPE from me!
And he kept doing this, going to another world five minutes after I joined. And in one world I was almost standing infront of him as he ran by me into an awaiting portal to go to a rather boring world.
Felt like I was stalking him, so I decided to stop and got off…. nearly throwing my headphones off of my head in frustration. But, it did get slightly better with Blue finally coming on and talking to him about what I went through. I have absolutely zero doubts if he loves me; he does. And if it wasn’t for Red Fox (he still loves me), I’d probably disband the poly and want Blue to be my BF (on a closed relationship).

Dunno what I’m doing wrong, but I’m pretty sure it’s nothing retarded like “he doesn’t love me because I don’t have VR anymore” He knows I don’t have VR and is saddened it failed on me, so this isn’t the reason.
The only other thing I can think of, is Cola just simply needs to ‘be reminded’ he’s still part of my poly (by showing it). Still been thinking of that pose thing Kovo suggested. Or even better, if Kovo could teach me how he’s able to have a dancing avatar infront of him. I can have one of all three, doing different dances.
Now that would be cool. Heh. 😏 Next best thing to a body pillow (when you don’t have VR), right? This way they’ll always be there with me, in spirit.
Speaking of body pillows, I wish there was a way I could set up a system I could make a pillow appear (and then be able to interact with it, as if I was in a world I created).

Posted in Computing, Drama, Love Drama, Personal | Comments Off on Another culprit? / Life without VR / That thing about Cola

Was the Lenovo Explorer, too cheap? / Someone else has similar issues

Posted on 08-23-2019 by Benie

Was the Lenovo Explorer, too cheap(ly made, like a PS4 controller)?
Still trying to think of what the hell happened all of those months ago (after I upgraded the hardware in my computer). Still don’t know what was causing the freezing in the
headset (and why it seemed to only happen in VRChat). Granted, I don’t have any other VR game that I will enjoy playing for hours (like I did VRChat). Can’t really play
Beat Saber that long as I start to get frustrated with how many times I miss, or wearing myself out too quickly. And GORN is the kind of game that requires you to be standing
up (something I cannot really do).
But when telling people about what headset I had, I’m getting signals that I may’ve fucked up when I got the Lenovo Explorer; signals such as it’s not a “premium WindowsMR headset”. This is very strange, as the first few months I got my headset, I was being told I got a good deal and “that’s a good headset”.
The last response came from Ruffy, who felt like I should buy a Switch Pro controller instead of getting the Vive. He said “EW”, followed by “THATS A NASTY HEADSET MAN”. Said I should’ve gotten the Samsung Odyssey (which wasn’t released at the time I got the Lenovo Explorer).
———————————-
Someone else has similar issues
I will probably never find out what exactly caused all of the issues that were plaguing me for months. However when I was doing Climbing Carnival (in Desktop) last
night, someone may have a slightly similar issue to mine– Blueberry. He has WMR, and told me at that time “well it keeps say the usb doesnt work”. When asking if it’s something similar to the ‘Check your USB cable’ thing that I’ve been getting, he said “yes thats what it is”.
He showed me his headset, an HP WMR. It’s the same headset Zagro has. But when asking him if he had a similar issue of the screen freezing up, he said no (that it’s just the USB that isn’t working).
That is not comforting he doesn’t have that same exact issue, but the fact he too has
a ‘Check your USB cable’ issue, does give some hope. I just need him to..
A: Check his Device Manager, and see if the ‘USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW’ thing is also present.
B: His computer’s specs.

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Was the Lenovo Explorer, too cheap? / Someone else has similar issues

Happy 43rd Birthday to me

Posted on 08-20-2019 by Benie


Horray, another year that I’ve been alive. Definitely surprised. 43-years-old. Damn! 🤔
And like two years ago, not a single “Happy Birthday!” email.
Hell, the only email I got today.. was about sending a Lenovo PC. Uhh… it’s a VR headset? I mean technically, it is a computer. But not in this sense!
But it turns out, I wasn’t even ready to send it to them– would’ve had to print out even more than just the shipping label. Was told I would need to fill out this ‘Inventory Control Sheet’ and have that printed out (as it was supposed to go in the box).
This is the 21st century, why do companies think we still have printers? ..Oh, that’s right. Because of the price of replacement cartridges! That and no one has invented an alternative to it.

…You know, this was going to be the first time in my life, I would had been celebrating my birthday in VR. But that definitely changed about a week ago, and I feel so crippled without it… as in, I can’t express my love to my poly group. I sad. 😢 But, I don’t think they really care that I can’t hug (or make love to them), for they love me for who I am.
I just wish I could do more.
–
And of course my friends on Discord have been wishing me a happy birthday. That’s really sweet of them. Even Kat sending me this adorable drawing of my avatar;

Oh my GOD, I LOVE IT!! 😍 Thank you SO MUCH!! 🤪 No one has ever drawn a picture of my avatar before, that’s why I absolutely love it. I wanna see more of this! 😁
And the guy who’s doing my new avatar, made this for me in Blender;

I have the best of friends. Can’t thank you all enough. 👍

Now speaking about emails again, I didn’t even get one from Nintendo, which is a shocker of what I said back on the 8th.
However, I did get this when I logged into my account today;

“Here’s 300 coins for staying alive!” Thank you. 🙂 That’s nice of them. And I also decided to take this day to get my Switch Online account going (the $20/yr thing), mainly because in about a week from now.. this thing is coming in the mail;

WOOT! I see a 70% chance of keeping it, due to its high replay value (playing other players levels, designing your own, story mode, etc..). But, it all depends on how it feels for me.
If I may barrow a quote from Dashie: “rage the FRUUUUUUUK OUT!!”, then yes.
–
Anyway, this birthday is turning out better than last year: Best Boi community shutting down the month after, and the AUFF also closing and ‘laying me off’ as a moderator. Yeah.. that was a rough birthday. But I didn’t have the friends that I do now. Maybe in the old MRT Server, but not really in VRChat.

.
EDIT: With the passage of time, my birthday is now officially over (August 21st is here). Overall (if I was to rate this day with a 1-10), I’d give it an 8. Could had spent more time in
VRChat (such as being in a birthday world), but I feel the love and support I got from my friends (even a few sending me hand-made gifts) made up for it.
Infact, a quarter of me wishes it didn’t have to end (almost like the feeling of leaving an Impalong in Wurm).

Posted in Drama, Personal | Comments Off on Happy 43rd Birthday to me

The results of the call with Lenovo…

Posted on 08-19-2019 by Benie

Nervous as fuck, about the following…
-Failing to explain the problem(s) right.
-That Zagro might be right about the warranty (even though I should be in it, the Rift S may’ve fucked me over).
-If they’ll be willing to send a shipping box, but ask “do you have a printer for the shipping label?” (like Newegg)
Anyway… here we go.

Called the Monday-Friday number, getting confused of the options and hit a random button. Luckily for me it was what I needed to get ahold of someone.. who I can (you guessed it, barely understand). What’s worse, the person could barely understand me. Went through hell just to give the person my name. Then came the part when I was asked for my serial number.. woo boy, that was fun.
Luckily I still have the box the headset came in (and it has the serial number). Was asked to take a picture of it with my phone and then send it to a special email. Between this
time, I was asked to explain the issue (which I did to the best of my abilities). But with the person having a hard time hearing me, I’m not sure if it was all explained. It doesn’t seem like troubleshooting steps were even taken to account.
–
With that done, I was placed on hold (while the person checked the picture I took). After the hold, the person gave me the actual serial number (which is much shorter than what the headset shows). Then I was told something about the warranty expiring (it wasn’t that clear to make out).. but what did was being told I would have to take it up to somewhere like Best Buy and get it repaired. I’m all “WOAH Woah wait.. why can’t I send it to you guys?” Was told about the warranty again. Told the time it did, but again it wasn’t clear enough to me.
…But a saving grace happened, when the person asked “wait, do you have the receipt?” YES, from Amazon! Told them what day I ordered it, and was told to send a picture of that too. A much longer wait, and then was told “we will extend your warranty”.
THANK YOU, ZAGRO for reminding me about the receipt last night!! 👍

So as for RMAing the headset for repairs (if it’s truly what’s been causing the issue), at one time I was going to pay $35 for a box and a shipping label (would had been $15 if I used my own box). So they’re charging $20 extra.. for just the shipping box.
Then I got told that I would be called back in a half an hour, so the person can speak to their manager to get the warranty extended. And as expected, I got a call back from them. And then the bad news started pouring in…
1. They can not send me a shipping box, as it’s not a laptop. So I decided to put the headset in its box.
2. The one that will be handling the shipping (FedEx)… I will have to go to the local office in my city and drop it off– they do NOT do pickup. FUCK!!! My parents are not going to like this. 😣
3. After paying $16.05 (includes state tax) for the shipping label, I was asked if I have a printer. Said no, so was told to ask the people in FedEx to print it out for me.

Right, that’s about it. Was told that as soon as I send it to FedEx (and they’ll send it to Lenovo), it’ll take 9 business days to get there. I pray I can convince my parents to take me after my birthday, because I don’t wanna do it on my birthday.

EDIT: Guess who’s stuck with the headset now? ..This guy! Father took me there, which was hard to find. We search nearly 10 minutes trying to find the damn thing. I have to then ask some business where in the HELL it is, and was told it’s in our Walgreens.
Go to our Walgreens and take the package in. Was told to go to their Photo
department, which I do.
After pulling out my phone and showing the worker there the shipping label and asking them if they could print it out for me, the worker tells me “sorry, we don’t have a way to print it out. You have to go to a FedEx Store.” Asked “I thought this was a FedEx Store!” Says “This is a FedEx Drop-off location.” Ask “well where is there a FedEx Store in my city?” They check their phone and say “not in this city, but the neighboring ones”.
You don’t know how fucking PISSED I am at Lenovo right now. Forced to go home. All of that time wasted, dealing with a 102*F heat index on top of it.
When I got home I called Lenovo back.. guess who I ran into; the woman I originally talked to who I can barely understand (and who can barely understand me). Explained what happened and how I just “want my $16.05 back. I’m done with this crap”. But also when I asked “is there a way you all could allow me to use UPS instead, because we have a store here.”, at first she said yes, then she said “they won’t accept the package”. WTF?! Just give me my fucking money back already! And no I didn’t use those words, but I came
close.
It’ll be back in my account in 5-7 days (not “5-7 business days”), and if it’s not then just call my bank.

UGH.. what a headache this issue has given me!! But I almost feel I should actually send it to Zagro (find a way to pay for the postage) and have him test it. I trust him more than Lenovo right now.
One other thing (not that it matters anymore, but..), the warranty has been extended from February 25th to September 21st. And when asking “could I just get a replacement headset?”, the person told me the window for that has been closed 10 months ago (ends the month after purchase.. that’s just awesome). 😒 The warranty I have now is for repair only. So even if they really wanted to send me a replacement, they can’t.

EDIT2: It’s the day after my birthday. Got an email verifying I want a full refund of the $16.05 they took from me, and it should be in my bank within 3-5 business days (aka no sooner than the 28th).
What burns is what it shows at the bottom of the email;
Status: Solved- Fixed on first response
No, you did not fix my issue.. because you fuckers want to use FedEx instead of UPS!

Posted in Computing, Drama, Personal | Comments Off on The results of the call with Lenovo…

Headset issue makes me regret X (and a possible culprit)

Posted on 08-16-2019 by Benie

(X) as in..
…getting a Switch (so I would have more money to throw away in a desperate attempt to fix this thing)
…upgrading my computer (I would rather suffer with 11FPS than fear when.. whatever causes my headset’s screen to freeze
…ever getting into VR (that way I wouldn’t have a need for it)
…not having the knowledge required to FIX THIS F***ING THING!!! 🤬

So, what happened before that had temporarily fixed my issue in the past…, no longer works; for this one issue has been split into three;
-“Check your USB cable/USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW” (Screen freezing) [NO KNOWN FIX]
-“Check your Display cable” (Screen freezing) [NO KNOWN FIX]
-“Check your USB cable/USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW”, happens in other games (10-15 seconds after taking off headset) [‘Fixed’ with a restart]
So much so, that Zagro can no longer help me with it (as he’s got his own issues to
fix). Also because I said something that triggered him; “why me”. And I would say it
again, because this is ridiculous. No-one that I know of, has these same exact issues. And yes I know other people have issues that they feel no one else has (but.. I don’t really care right now). I know that shows my self-centered side, but I don’t care! I WANT THESE ISSUES FIXED!!!
*sigh* So anyway, I’ve been telling anyone that has asked why I’m not in VR. They’ve given me their suggestions (such as switching the secondary monitor and the headset’s HDMI cable ports, and checking the CPU/GPU/RAM usage). Another one who I overheard that has WindowsMR, claims their headset broke a year after they got it.. and they have the same headset that I do (Lenovo Explorer). They added that they sent it to Lenovo, and they (Lenovo) wouldn’t fix the problem (only offering another headset).
The person says the fact my issues aren’t going away, is a sign that my headset could be nearing the end of its lifespan.
And another one says “Windows Mixed Reality is supposed to be a temporary solution. It’s not designed to be used for an extended period of time. You’re supposed to be getting something like the Oculus or the Vive.” That was the original plan, and I’ve stated it’s going to take me months until I get up $500 for the Vive (+ controllers and sensors).
–
Finally, when telling them where I got the parts (to upgrade my computer), they felt I got screwed and should had gone to Newegg. One also said the AMD line of video cards
sucks, how they’re cheap made (and I should had gone with NVIDIA). Yes, I’m totally happy with paying $700+ to get a GTX 1660 or something like that. 😑

Anyway, I’m strongly considering on getting that USB 3.0 extension card. I’m starting to side less on a GPU issue and more on a USB issue, and I’m thinking that asking something like the Linus Tech Tips forum, I’ll get a few recommendations.

EDIT: Actually, fuck that. I nearly have a possible culprit of this issue– believe it’s the headset afterall (and it’s something I may’ve done to it by accident). It cannot be a faulty USB port, or a faulty port on my video card. Because if it was, I would be having issues outside of VR– VRChat works fine, outside of VR (except for occasional pauses caused by memory leaks, but that’s just a VRChat thing).
How do I know? I was playing Rec Room (setting up my account). Had to take off my headset to further set up my account. About 30 seconds later.. black screen and it telling me to “Check your USB cable”. So, this is the same issue, without VRChat. It’s like my headset has had enough of my shit. Perhaps I simply “got lucky” during that grace period when it wasn’t disconnecting on me?
Basically, what the one that’s been doing my sona feels could be the issue, is something either inside the headset or the cable. Didn’t happen at first, it took time. And as for it happening since I upgraded my hardware, he believes it could be “corrupted firmware”. Everything’s pointing to that headset.
–
Today, I tried reinstalling Mixed Reality Portal (had to do it through the Microsoft Store oddly). After logging into my Microsoft account and not knowing if I had it installed, I finally got it going and started the set up process. I had moved the chair out of my room to begin setting up my boundary (had my hand on my headset). As I was tracing, it black screened again.. but this time it went back to the previous menu.
Interesting… it’s happening outside of a game now. I tried putting my finger over the sensor for a bit, then removing it and counting. About 20 or so seconds, I saw the page look like it was refreshing itself. So got back up and tried it again.. almost
immediately, black screen and saying “Check your display cable” Taking it out and putting it back in, no fix. Taking the USB cable out and putting it back in, it worked… for 5 seconds and black screened again– this time saying “Check your USB cable”.
—
I also found another thing– this. This update from Microsoft, was released the same
day when the issue started cropping up again. Not much is known what the update contains (as their ‘change log’ goes to an article that was made a month ago, of a previous update). All I could find was this, showing there’s now support for apps that use ‘OpenXR’.
It shows it was done, August 12th. The same day, the issues happened again. So if it’s not the headset, then it’s something fucky with MR Portal (caused by Microsoft’s
update).
Yet looking in the WindowsMR Reddit board, there are no posts about “Check your USB cable”

EDIT2: So I didn’t properly uninstall MR Portal (through itself), yet I think the damage has already been done. Unplugged the cables and pressed the Uninstall button. Did a restart, and then put the cables back in. This time there was no popup telling me to go to the Windows Store, instead it was MR Portal working as I remembered.
But when going to the compatibility page, the only one that failed.. was the USB 3.0+. That nearly confirms the headset has a flaw in it. And again in Device Manager.. “USB_SPEED TOO_SLOW”
*sighs*… There is nothing else I can do, except call Lenovo this Monday and see if I can get it repaired for free (via the warranty). If I can, then that’s great. If I can’t, then the headset (and the controllers) are going in the fucking TRASH!!
Wolves however, feels that if the warranty is void (due to the hot glue I used to secure the headset to the halo, then I should take it apart and see if there’s any cables or other things that could be loose. But I dunno about that.
Maybe just send it to Zagro and have him do it; use it for parts.
–
This is upsetting and annoying that it came to this. To think, for months, the issue.. was literally strapped to my face. If it was truly the MR Portal update, I doubt it would affect the USB cable (as I said, there’s been NO reports of it). It HAS to be the headset.. and the fact I’ve been dropping it by accident (or yanking the cable with my leg by accident and it hitting the floor).
What makes the Vive any more sturdy, that it won’t eventually have the same (or
similar) issues?! HUH?!?! 😒 It better be fucking ‘Benie-proof’ for the $500 I’m going to have to shell out for it!! Damn thing’s going to be more expensive than my upgrade! 🤦‍♂️
Ugh. $500 gamble that I don’t end up breaking it in nearly a year after owning it (like my previous headset). But at least.. (hopefully) better tracking (depending where I can get the sensors set up in my room). Going to be ‘interesting’ to say the least.

.
Here’s to hoping I’ll have enough to get it before Christmas, because it’s going to be a long wait.

EDIT3: Nigh last night gave me hope for the Vive, saying there’s a ‘small space’ mode and a ‘large space’ mode. The small space mode would put me in a bubble. And since I’m typically in a seated position, that’ll work for me.
He promises to help me set it up (even setting up the sensors in my room) when I get it. I just pray I don’t immediately have similar issues with it claiming I’m not plugged into a USB 3.0 port.
But this is promising…

“USB 2.0 or newer”. It doesn’t have to be 3.0!? 😯
HELL YEAH!! Running the compatibility check also offers promising results;

Seems my graphics card (and its monitor configuration) is more than ready for the
Vive, and of course (since the upgrade), my CPU has no problem handling it. 😎
Ran the SteamVR compatibility check too (not that I really needed to, but I was curious);

It can run simulated VR just fine. Too stupid to know if this “proves” it’s the headset
still (in the eyes of Zagro).
Moving on, Wufy (when he found out my issue), feels when I tell Lenovo tomorrow about my issue(s), that I should ask if I could get a new headset for free.
He has the Vive, and said he’s had to replace it three times. Said the headset alone is
$300, and they keep giving him one for free (even saying “keep the old one, don’t worry about sending it in. We’ll send you a new one.”), and he hopes Lenovo would do the same for me.
Today I tried going to the Lenovo website and see what I need to do to prepare for this.
I found this, which has a thing where I can type in my serial number and see if the headset is still under warranty. But after using a magnifying glass and writing down every letter, number, and special character I could see and then pasting in in the full serial number, it says (in red lettering): “No Product Found”.
Using Microsoft Edge (thinking Firefox may be interfering with it), shows the same
thing.
Oh well. All I can do is wait ’till tomorrow. Got the phone number to call. Thing is, there’s two numbers: this 24/7 support number, and I believe the other’s the main support number for the headset.
Zagro’s speaking to me again. He says to not be surprised if I have to go through several departments to speak to the right person. I also noticed the hot glue I put on the swivel is loose.. to the point I was able to pull it off. This is good that if I have to RMA it to them, it won’t be seen as a ‘modification’.
Zagro also asked me if I “have the receipt”. Told him I got it from Amazon, so I should be good there.
Finally, as for the serial number not showing up in their database, Zagro feels this might have to do with the Rift S. The Rift S is basically ‘Lenovo Explorer 2.0’. Something about Facebook has bought the headsets (or something that has to do with Facebook), and they have gotten rid of all previous Lenovo Explorers (which means my warranty may’ve possibly got voided by their greed). …In other words, the same thing that happened with the original Oculus Rift, may’ve also happened to Windows Mixed Reality. He warns that I might be stuck with what I have, even though it’s still under warranty.
So, getting a Vive might be my only option to get back into VR.

But, we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Let’s hope for some good luck (either them sending me a shipping box or a free headset). And when I’m finished with my call and know the outcome from this, I’ll likely be making another blog post.

Posted in Computing, Personal | Comments Off on Headset issue makes me regret X (and a possible culprit)

A bad day gets even worse

Posted on 08-14-2019 by Benie

Plaqued with an old issue I was hoping I would never see again (that’s still not fully
fixed), and drama that I thought was done has now resurfaced.
First off, the issue with my headset. Guess what? Zagro’s fix, didn’t work (as expected, as it didn’t work before). …Because the fix was incomplete. I was supposed to also set the other two AMD USB 3.X host controllers to the generic driver. Basically, these three all need to be changed to the generic driver, for the fix to work (according to him);

Zagro has also doubled down that it is NOT the sign of a faulty motherboard. He also
says “lets be real: you know how many devices you have plugged into the back of your computer. You might be overloading your motherboard’s power rail.”
Now I did notice when it happened again (and I was listening to Chillhop Radio), the page acted like it was having trouble loading. So it seems that when it happens, it freezes up ALL of my USB devices (not just my headset).
Interesting enough, I also saw this;

Curious how this fix dropped the same day I started getting the issue again, but it’s merely a quiescence, and I do not believe (at all) that this is related to my issue. It just doesn’t seem plausible with the whole “USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW” thing. Even the VR Ready port (the one that’s designed for it), claimed it’s “too slow”.
Anyway, knowing I’ve done this same thing before (and it stopped disconnecting my headset), I believe this should fix my issue. Now though I haven’t tested it in
VRChat (yet), I’ve been doing a series of restarts and WindowsMR has booted up normally everytime– this is very promising. 🙂 Hopefully when I get in, that I won’t have a disconnect issue. And if so, then setting those three to the Generic driver is definitely the way to go.
It made me think.. what if my old motherboard didn’t use this ‘ASMedia’ thing controlling the USB ports (ergo, why it didn’t happen back then)? Asked Zagro and he said it uses a ‘Renesas’ USB 3.0 chip instead, and it “uses its own drivers”. Ok, but that still doesn’t give me solid proof it’s not my GPU causing the issue.
But Zagro assures me this is the issue, and has been known since 2017 (the year WMR was released). And from what I saw with how responsive WindowsMR is when booting it up, it’s unwise to doubt him.

So while I was dealing with this, Blueberry DMs me unexpectingly saying “i think we have a small problem” and sends me a DM of him and Insanely. And what I saw almost made my jaw drop to the floor. Insanely.. just dumped Blueberry. What?! I was as confused as he was and confronted Insanely, which he claimed Ashi made him do it.
..This completely goes against what Aftershock told me (and him). He tries to explain it better, saying Aftershock told him to leave Blueberry at first, and then Ashi told him, over not wanting “to be spyed on from blueberry”. Ok, that is understandable, but you don’t need to leave Blueberry over it. He said I’m right and went to talk to
him.
An hour into Wednesday morning, it starts up again with Blueberry asking “benie why does this keep happening”. I questioned, and he posted another DM with Insanely
saying “fuck you” to Blueberry.
Okay, did Ashi tell my son this too? Asked Insanely, and he’s blaming Aftershock for it. Alright, I’ll ask him, and Aftershock tells me a completely different story claiming (with proof) that Insanely doesn’t love Blueberry anymore. I know for a fact that Aftershock does his best to avoid drama, so now I feel I’m being lied to. I ask him to please end this, and he says “yes”.
And an hour later, it’s confirmed; he lied to Aftershock, Blueberry, and myself. Insanely now claims he too was jealous of Ashi being with Aftershock, but I’m not going to forgive him. Not until he seriously makes this up to Blueberry, who had no idea what the fuck he did wrong to deserve this!
I’m on Blueberry’s side for this one, for Insanely should had used better judgement. Plus trying to cover up his lie by continuing to put Ashi under the bus (infront of
Aftershock), instead of just admitting he lied? …This is a new low.

EDIT: He managed to apologize (and sent me what he said). Though IMO, I didn’t feel it was sincere and told Blueberry my opinion. And he.. doesn’t care anymore. I can understand why, but told him that he deserves to be respected as a person. But
he… doesn’t feel anything anymore; a hollow shell of his former self. Tried everything I can think of, to snap him out of this. But nothing works.
Talking with Insanely who at first didn’t understand what he did wrong with his
apology, now sees himself as a “monster”. Told him to treat Blueberry with respect (which he failed to do), and he says I’m right. But when I kept harping at him that he messed
up, he lied to me yet again …about Ashi being the fault. This is getting quite
ridiculous.
I don’t even know if he truly loves Blueberry anymore (and I’m pretty sure Blueberry feels the same way). Both of us, just don’t know what to believe, and I feel Aftershock is the only one that could help untwist this puzzle. But I have a feeling he too is getting tired of dealing with this.

EDIT2: Insanely seems to have woken up from what he was before, saying I’m absolutely right about still blaming Ashi for what he (Insanely) did. He has tried to be as sincere as he can to Blueberry, and he saw what I tried to tell him; Blueberry just doesn’t care anymore.
I dunno what to do, except telling him that Blueberry “needs some time”. But, I’m done dealing with these children– told him to “take the wheel” on this.
Pretty much like Aftershock right now; neither of us wanted to get involved in this. But I have since forgiven Insanely, since he now sees what I was trying to harp on him about.

Posted in Computing, Drama, Love Drama, Personal | Comments Off on A bad day gets even worse

A good Monday night.. a bad Tuesday morning

Posted on 08-13-2019 by Benie

Though, yesterday (Monday) wasn’t really going to be a good night, but it turned out better than expected.
How it started is I saw Cola online. Wasn’t sure if I should even come on, as I’ve been once again having my doubts over if he still feels the same love as I do for him. But I went on anyway. Coming into the world, a random person came running up to me, acting like they knew me. I don’t remember them, but I try to focus on finding Cola. After looking around the main building, I couldn’t find him. Assuming he was in the private room, I went in and clicked on the door. There was Nighwolf and Cola, and Nigh was all “the door was
locked, how did you get in here?” I tried explaining that the light was red, which allowed access. But he swears up and down the door was locked.
Fine, whatever. You two are having an obvious private conversation, so I’ll just leave. I half expected one of them to come running out and apologize, but it never happened. Felt ‘done’ for the night after that (and to the point I was nearly considering of removing cola from the poly).
Then I noticed Red Fox was on and I went back on. Good thing, as I was able to do it with him. And during it, cola was trying to get invited to our private instance.
Once Red and I were done, I saw cola was in Kovo’s world and went there. Cola (in his own way) showed me he was still interested in being part of the poly, so I gladly reversed my decision. My apologies for doubting you. I still love you. 🙂
So now I’m hanging out with him and Red Fox. Now if only Blue could come online, then I’ll be able to get a group photo of all four of us. Asked Blue if he could come, and he said he would in 10 or so minutes. And with cola saying he had plenty of time, hopefully we’ll be able to get that photo done.
While I waited, I hung out with other friends. One of them noticed a flaw with my avatar and pointed it out. Another friend told me that he could fix it for me, and I sent him the blend file that Erodac made for me.
He did, and I told him how I’ve been looking for someone that would do the attachments onto the model. He asked for my sona as a reference, and I showed him. Then he told me that he could do a commission of my sona, and to name my price. Kovo came up to him and said “$45 to $70”. The friend said “that’s too much”. I stood there a bit
confused, wanting to say that I was going to be charged ‘hundreds of dollars’ to have a commission.
He then surprised me, saying he would do it.. for FREE.
You can’t be serious! You would give me something I kind of wanted since I was able to upload something to VRChat for the first time?! ..Yes, he was, saying he has nothing better to do, and it would be quite the challenge for him. So..
Hell Yeah - Hell Yeah Hell yeah
DO IT!! 😀 Why would I ever turn down such an offer?! What an awesome early birthday gift that would be! Much later, he sent me the fix to my model. He said there was a lot of “rushed jobs” of improper weight painting.
Understandable with Erodac. Glad I’m not having to rely on them anymore.
More time passed, and BlueBio joined. YAY! Now I can finally do the group photo of
my ‘non-commitment polyrelationship’ of the three I’m inlove with, and have Kovo put the picture on a wall in my room!

After that, I told them that they can go back to what they were doing before. Moments later, Kovo comes into my room asking me if I wanted them to check out the new ‘porn world’ he’s been working on.
I’ve seen the world before, and it’s.. well, what you would expect from Kovo: every room having pictures of porn on the walls. And it’s been updated (more rooms with even more porn on the walls. Yay..). So as we’re exploring, I noticed cola going in another room (but we keep exploring the rooms and stuff).
We were about ready to head back to Kovo’s world. Entered the room I saw cola run into and I see him… laying down on the bed infront of me.

Well now, this is.. interesting! Quickly realized he wanted me to take pictures for a body pillow of himself. And so with him legitimately acting like a porn star (and I was the photographer being all “yeah, baby! Yeah!”), I got about 20 pictures of rather steamy pics of him. Best. day. ever.
Shy Embarrassed GIF - Shy Embarrassed Laughing GIFs
Thank you.. erm, so much cola! This definitely makes up for what happened earlier. Would had done it with him right then and there (since he looked ready for it), but seeing how Blue and Red were still there, I felt it was better we went back to Kovo’s world.
—
And this is when things went from good to bad, as very early Tuesday morning rolled in.
Now it started out alright, until we all got lagged out of the world from VRChat being buggy. Cola went to bed, so did Red Fox. Kovo went to go play another game. So I made a new instance of Kovo’s world, expecting everyone to join. Only a few did (including Blue).
Someone else had created another instance before me, and he went there. So I joined him and we stayed there.
We were in the bar hanging with DJ and Wufy, while the room was getting quite crowded. Assuming that’s why Blue left to my room. Ran in to be with him for awhile, trying to wait for the time where most of these random people leave the world. Blue comes out and then turns away from me, looking like he’s talking to air. I check the online list, and
noticed …Chris is here. Shit! Blue doesn’t know about Chris!
I was hoping Blue would see me and we would go back to the mirror, but he stayed there talking to him. Decided to go to another world.. and I really, really wish I didn’t. Wanted to join Dinger and hang out with him for a bit, while I wait for Blue to notice I’ve left the world.
Dinger’s with Jusper, and is having some really bad issues with high ping. Jusper sees me is is somewhat worried that I’m quiet since I joined (as I was telling Blue about Chris and to avoid him at all costs). Wanted to tell Jusper about Blue being with Chris, but Dinger keeps complaining about his high ping. Jusper tries to help him out and somewhat manages to do so, but Dinger’s not able to see our avatars. Jusper tells Dinger to rejoin the world.
Moments after he does, my headset starts to freak the fuck out (attempting to disconnect itself). ..No. NO no NO!! NOT THIS ISSUE AGAIN!!! The fuck is Jusper’s modded client doing to my headset?! It was WORKING FINE before I joined here!!
I’m hoping the issue doesn’t happen again, switch to my virtual desktop and ask Blue in Discord to please join me here. Says he’s “busy talking to someone”.
..And it happens a second time about 20 minutes later. I’m already mad the fact Chris is in Kovo’s world talking to one of my sweethearts, I don’t need this shit!!
Tell Jusper, and he says “maybe it’s time for an upgrade”. Told him that I have no money to afford another VR headset, let alone get the Oculus. Tells me to stay away from the
Rift S. No shit. He said to at least get the Vive, as it would be “the cheapest option” for me.
Headset tries to turn itself off a 3rd time.. and succeeds in doing so. UGH!!!
DAMNIT!!
Felt done, but I saw my son is now showing up online. Decided to go see him (who was in Kovo’s world too). When I got there, he was AFK at spawn. Told him in a DM “Blue’s talking with… Chris.” Five minutes later, Blue sends me a DM saying he’s in the
tower, “hiding from random shit down there”. I leave Insanely at spawn and go there, and meet with him. There was someone else there, so I didn’t want to tell him ingame (plus I was still pissed at my computer for doing this BS). He DMs saying that Chris is “a bit of an odd one” and something about “he can’t help lewding people” and tried to lewd him. But Blue stopped him. He said Chris freaked out when Blue said he was in a call, and then Chris left.
Blue also said Chris was annoyed when he saw the body pillow of me. “started sayin
shit. and said oh great your one of his sex slaves arent you”. As usual, Chris is still spreading lies about me. They are not ‘sex slaves’. I give them lots, and lots of love and affection. I treat them with proper respect.
I explained about Chris (including that he’s underaged). Blue was glad he stopped himself and thanked me for notifying him.
Insanely came back from AFKLand and met us in the tower. Blue was getting sleepy at the time, and I convinced him to get to bed. Insanely and I went to my home world and hung out for awhile… when my headset disconnected itself again.

Ok, what the fuck. I made NO changes to the back (or the internals) of my computer! It has been working fine, though about a week ago I have been noticing some issues with the headset no longer being detected. I also have been having issues of my Ethernet cable acting like it’s not connected (after starting up my computer).
Went into Device Manager, and discovered something interesting when I went into ‘Mixed Reality devices’ and then ‘Lenovo Explorer’. It showed in the device status;
—
‘This device is working properly.

Device Error : 0x80040203 :
E_DEVICE_USB_SPEED_TOO_SLOW’
It’s in the same slot it was in before.. how in the fuck is it saying it’s ‘too slow’?!
Is there a thing where the speed of a USB 3.0 port degrades over time, causing the glitching I get? Or does this mean the accidental zap when I was plugging in the new
PSU, do something to the ports (of shortening their lifespan)?
Did a search of the error, and this came up on the WindowsMR Reddit board.
That proves there’s a fault in the motherboard. Maybe I should buy another, and then replace this possible faulty one with a fresh one. Thing is.. the key I got for Windows 10 may not work with the new board.
Decided to unplug both cables and shut down my computer for the night. When I got up today, I turned it on and booted it up. This time, no error about the USB port not properly plugged in. Was saying the HDMI cable wasn’t instead. Unplugging and re-plugging fixed that. Did a restart.. where my computer hung on (forcing me to press the reset button). I swear my computer is making me regret upgrading.
Got in, checked Device Manager again, no ‘USB speed too slow’ message. Infact it detected my headset perfectly. Maybe I just did a reset, and the issue shouldn’t happen for awhile? God only knows.
–
And so a Windows update made it happen again. Was a rather big update, but at least my computer restarted normally. Decided to ask the expert (Zagro) if he knows. He told me to go to Device Manager, look up ‘ASMedia USB 3.1 eXtensible Host Controller’, update the drivers but select the ‘Browse my computer for driver software’ and ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’. Select the ‘USB xHCI Compliant Host Controller’ and install it, then restart the computer.
After the restart, WindowsMR is suddenly now behaving normally (the headset is
found, there was no black screen after it). I have no conformation this is what is needed to fix the issue (will be finding out tonight), but Zagro says he has to do it for his headset.
He also says whenever Windows Update hits, I’ll have to do it again. Something about the ASMedia USB 3.0 chip is so fucked (and so is its drivers), and this is something either ASMedia or Micro$oft has to fix.
Finally, he suggests an option to get a USB 3.0 PCI-E card as a way to stop the issue from ever happening again. Going by that Reddit thread, a lot of people recommend one with
the ‘Fresco chip’ that will allow WindowsMR to work with it. Asking Zagro, he said it’s just another manufacture’s name… something similar to this I randomly found. Zagro also said the fact it has a power connector, “it will take the power load off your mobo’s usb rail”. That’s a good thing.
I’ll have to ask around if anyone uses a PCI-E card for their WindowsMR, because he doesn’t. He says changing the drivers solves the issue for him. But again.. I don’t know if his issue is my issue. I will have to find out tonight, but right now it looks good with WindowsMR responding as it’s supposed to.
Finally, when asking if the issue was related to a faulty motherboard, he said “oh hell no”.

For now, I can get to work making a body pillow for Cola. 🙂 I also got to apply the fix to my model, which will take time as well.

Posted in Drama, Love Drama, Personal | Comments Off on A good Monday night.. a bad Tuesday morning

Year old wounds re-opened / Manipulated by ones I trusted

Posted on 08-12-2019 by Benie

Last Friday, I was hoping for a peaceful evening (much like the last two) with no major drama that would warrant a blog post– that changed (and then some). For this drama has also revealed something that has been hidden from me for over a year, that made me wish I never joined VRChat.

We went to the Mad Cat world (for some unknown reason. Kovo was bored I think). We were throwing those hammers, and I managed to side throw one perfectly into the top middle red orb. WOOT!
About five minutes later, my son’s asking to talk to me in private. Finding no real secure points (except for the roof), I fly him up and we talk there. It is there he brings up the name of someone I hope to never hear from again; AshiPaws. He actually wanted my opinion on the guy, and so I was ohh so happy to give him it. Told him “don’t even bother talking to Ashi. He will just lie to you”.
Blueberry showed up during our conversation, which I tried to tell him to please leave the roof. “I already told him, he’s cool” Insanely said. Alright, fine. So Insanely thanked me and then went back to his own thing. Blueberry on the other hand, DM’d telling me to tell him, that he can still see Aftershock. So I tried to get Insanely back up to the roof, who was having his own private conversation with someone else.
This kind of frustrated me, because I wanted him to come back up here so I can tell him. But I decided to DM him instead. Now himself and Blueberry are DMing me, and others are coming up to the roof wondering what I’m doing. This didn’t help my mentality and I started getting frustrated with everyone. Went to another world to escape this
madness (and try to calm down), where Insanely, Blueberry and I discussed ingame and in DMs about what was going on.
–
So Blueberry’s telling a story of him feeling Aftershock’s spending more time with Ashi than with him.. to the point he claims Aftershock left his latest BF to be with Ashi
more (over Ashi buying him a game).
Insanely meanwhile, was getting extremely annoyed at what Ashi had done to me and wanting to ‘defend’ me as his father by going up and confronting him. Tried telling him to let it go, as it happened over a year ago. But he shook his head no.
Sometime later, Aftershock is DMing, asking me what Blueberry told me. I’m telling them I don’t want to deal with him right now.. don’t want to choose a side. He’s telling me that Blueberry’s lying to me. I don’t believe this, as Blueberry’s never lied before. And to me I just feel that if Aftershock wants to spend so much time with Ashi.. let him. He needs to learn what happens when you don’t listen to your friends’ advice of staying away from bad people. And when he learns, he’ll come back to Blueberry.
Insanely still is saying he’s going to get revenge on Ashi. Still trying to tell him over and over to let it go.. but it’s too late– he already left the world to confront him. God DAMNIT!! ..I don’t want to lose you to Ashi! Keep getting nervous he’s going to turn my son against me by manipulating him.
Blueberry’s now acting like “you don’t understand how bad it’s gotten for me! Ashi has yelled at me, and I don’t know how to deal with so much stress!” …Really? Poor YOU?! But at the time, I wanted to feel what he’s going through as much as what I was going through. Then he starts telling me about Aftershock, how he “treats me like I’m too young to do anything on my own”.
—
Time passes (3:44am), and Blueberry’s getting worried Insanely hasn’t said anything since. But Insanely has been speaking to me, saying “I wanna protect you”. A few moments later, he says “Dad I’m done with this drama dad you were right I shouldn’t bother
ashi…” oh, ya think?? I tried to WARN you! Now you clearly made an enemy of Aftershock for ‘trying to be the hero’. *facepalm* But he sees this as a victory for me, saying I will never hear about Ashi ever again.
Meanwhile, Blueberry’s still dealing with Aftershock and ends up blocking him, making matters worse (for him). But, we go to bed at our normal times.

Saturday afternoon, wake up around 11:30am and check my phone. See a message from Blueberry saying “oh shit I fucked up”. Asked him “in what way did you fuck up”, but never got an answer.
Mid-Saturday afternoon (four hours before dinnertime), my son’s asking how I’m doing and saying “iv talked trash to ashi tords what happend” and adding he’s only trying to protect me.
Son.. for the last time, it happened over a year ago. I do not need protection, thanks anyway. And this kept on going back and forth for the next three hours (with Insanely trying to explain why he did what he did). He claims Ashi ” listened and he actually felt bad for him self bileave it or not”. Bullshit… there isn’t a nice bone in his body for what he did to me and the Best Boi community. We’re talking the same Ashi that faked his own death multiple times, all to get attention. He’s an attention whore, son. That’s all he is. And Insanely claims that Aftershock says, that Ashi is “sensitive”. Oh, then explain why he framed me and got me banned from the BB Discord for a week (and almost turned all of my friends against me in the process).
I’m sorry, son. I have been through this same song and dance before. Ashi will never change. It’s all lies when it comes to him. But.. whatever, I said my peace. Just make sure it doesn’t bounce back at me (such as Aftershock lecturing me). He tells me he’ll do his best, but I’m more worried about Blueberry ‘fucking up’.

That night, Insanely asked again to see me for a private conversation. He explained
that.. Blueberry lied to me. Well now. Guess I was wrong, and Aftershock was telling the truth afterall. He explained Blueberry was jealous over Aftershock hanging out with Ashi instead of him. So he lied to me. Meh, whatever. Not like the first time I thought someone was telling the truth.. really wasn’t.
On top of that, this thing that Aftershock broke up with his BF was only partially true. He didn’t break up with them the way Blueberry stated, it was how the other just felt he wasn’t being a good BF (and felt he deserved better).
Then he told me that Aftershock wanted to speak to me, ingame. Now that I know Blueberry was only jealous, sure. He came into the world, and asked me of my point of view what happened. I did my best to recap what happened the past 48 hours of drama. Then he told me what Insanely told me, saying “Ashi isn’t a bad person”.
–
And that, is when he told me a story that has been hidden from me. Who knows why, but it makes me greatly regret what I have done in the past.. defending a community, who was jealous of Ashi getting bigger than them. He told me the Best Boi community wanted to be the biggest community in VRChat. Then Ashi shows up and starts his own community. They see this as a challenge and tried to ruin him.. just like what Rusty did to my dear friend Creepery.
So I was right definitely right about the mods being corrupted, but it’s worse than I thought. Still feel Twitchin caused Ashi to snap, but I didn’t know the reason.. now I
do.
Aftershock continues on saying the reason Ashi snapped is he was being blamed for things he didn’t do. He also says that Ashi has actually tried to commit suicide, all because of the Best Boi community. So this.. proves what Ashi was telling me before, that he had nothing against me. He also claimed about the banning thing, that he was “protecting” me. Perhaps trying to show me just how corrupt the mods really were.
But that doesn’t explain that guy I spoke to who claimed Ashi did this and that to
him, when I was banned.
Well, that was an eye opener. Insanely and Aftershock then wanted to speak in private. I went over to the mirror and reflected on the past. Then I looked at my arm band and sighed, like it was telling me “what happened was back then. This is the now. Focus on
the now, not back then.” But it almost makes me want to unblock Ashi and talk to him again.. not to feel like I should apologize, but to see how he is without the Best Boi community in his face. Because I still remember a kinder Ashi, before all of this shit started.

It’s now Sunday afternoon. Blueberry finally responds to the statement he
made, saying “i think fluffy may be mad at me”. Told him I don’t feel he is, but he tells me that Insanely hasn’t spoken to him all day. I offered to talk to him in his behalf, and he said to please do.
Didn’t get a response from Insanely ’till nearly midnight into Monday, saying that he doesn’t feel comfortable talking to him, saying “aftershock tells me to not talk to blueberry. He has plans up his sleeve”. After posting what Blueberry told me, Insanely is now unsure if he should go behind Aftershock’s back. But I’m not done yet. I’m actually kind of annoyed at the whining of Blueberry being all “oh poor me Ashi yelled at me”. I could understand if it was recent, but it happened.. over a year ago. Dude, grow up. I’ve moved on, you need to do so as well.
But Insanely feels differently than I do. He knows it’s been over a year, but he reminds me of Blueberry’s jealousy. Plus, Blueberry is 10-years-old.
–
Haven’t heard anything about the drama since this point, and hopefully I never will. All I know is it ruined my weekend. :/

Posted in Drama, Personal | Comments Off on Year old wounds re-opened / Manipulated by ones I trusted