Windows XP SP2 won't install on selected partition

Building a new box for an upcoming lan party, I ran into a problem where I couldn't get very far into the Windows installation because of a loop in the setup process.

The installer asks me to select or create and select a partition on which to install. I do so, only to be taken to a page that says that the selected partition is not compatible with Windows XP.

Thinking I'm outsmarting the computer, I use a Linux boot disk to create and format a partition with NTFS, then reboot to XP and try to use this partition again... with the same results.

At this point, I should mention that the new box has a 160g 7200 rpm sata drive and a 250g ide drive. And that the 250g ide drive was showing up first in the list of drives.

After stumbling upon the exact Google search term, I learned that Windows XP in a little finicky about the drive to install upon appearing first in the list of drives. Since my 250g drive was appearing first, Microsoft didn't like that.

So I unplugged the 250g ide drive and tried again, but then my CD, which was a slave wasn't recognized since there was no longer a master. After moving the appropriate jumper and rebooting, everything is now working.

Hours wasted on this...

Fridge won't make ice? Kenmore Coldspot

My ice maker in my side-by-side Kenmore Coldspot fridge stopped making ice suddenly, so once the supply in the hopper was exhausted, I started to diagnose it.

Google searches gave me a bunch of nonsense about replacing the icemaker component, but come on... I removed the door to the ice maker and up at the top is the water dispenser that fills the tray where the ice is made. And behold a icicle hanging down blocking the water.

I grabbed wifey's blow dryer and warmed the dispenser and the ice pushed it's way out and then the water tray filled up. Now it's all working.

That's it. Your mileage may vary.