While we were on vacation, my laptop started performing blue screen of death/reboot sequences.  I ran all my standard utilities.  When that didn’t work, I downloaded two freeware programs that worked wonders.  Then, last night, the laptop went into auto reboot mode from the get-go.  I switched off wireless, and it booted and ran fine until I slid the wireless switch.  At that point, it promptly rebooted itself.

Sigh.

OK.  I have the cellular wireless dongle.  It should work fine.  No problem.

We got back to the house today, so I searched Sony’s support site.  Lo and behold, but there was a patch for the wireless adapter from 2006.  I don’t think I’ve ever applied it, and one of the symptoms it is supposed to fix is my rebooting/blue screen problem.  I downloaded it to a memory stick and ran it on the laptop.  So far, so good.  But, of course, the wireless was working today anyway.  We’ll keep our fingers crossed and see what happens.

Oh, and to answer your questions from yesterday — 14 years, and, yes, my stay at my folks could take me through the holidays, but I’m hoping Dad’s recovery will be quicker than that.