tool kit

The Quest

A few years ago I went on an epic quest to disassemble the hard drive (from here on - HD) from an old computer in order to salvage its parts and see how it worked.

I positioned myself on the floor, in my apartment, with HD in hand, a knife and a pair of scissors. (I know what you’re thinking - a knife and scissors? That’s crazy!) Yes, not only crazy but foolish as well. But I knew the risks and these were all the tools I had.

The quest began as I sought to unlock the secrets of the HD’s universe - and I was determined! About twenty minutes later, after nearly slicing through my hand, I was out of breath, struggling to get the specialized silver screws out of the fortified casing.

A Fierce Battle

The battle was fierce! Beeds of sweat formed on my brow as the HD resisted me at every turn of the blade. It would not yield without a fight and its precision went unmatched by my adapted cutting utensils. Only one screw had been released… the marks of combat evident on the hard drive’s casing… yet seven to eight more of its cylindrical kin were still held captive.

How was I to know that my intended blows of wounding would be worn by the HD as badges of honor? Things were not looking good for me.

I was becoming discouraged. Had all of this been for nought? I needed to retreat and re-focus, weigh my options. As I considered the cost of the fight, I thought to myself, “there’s got to be a better way.”
Before realizing what that way was - I dove back into the fray! The concentration was intense as I plowed through for a little longer. However, my persistence was futile.

Why would the HD resist me? What was it trying to hide?

The Realization

I was beaten. I had failed and was ready to give up. The HD had won… or had it? Suddenly, a realization shot through my neurons like a bolt of lightning! The computer store! Surely there were tools… weapons specifically designed to break through the barriers and navigate the rocky terrain of internal computer components!

The saga continued as I trekked across the concrete landscape to the store and spoke with other warriors. They shared their wealth of knowledge and I discovered that such tools… such weapons of warfare did exist!

The Question of Victory

I was quickly on my way, with my newly purchased tools - determined to be victorious. Once home - the battle began again - but this time the HD could not resist my steel precision. It yielded immediately to my strength; the screws were released and the secrets of the HD universe were at my disposal.

Why did it yield so easily? Why did it not resist my will? A new chapter in this epic began to unfold right before my eyes. I stood amazed as I pondered the question that arose from the depths of my being: how much does the successful completion of the task rely on acquiring and wielding the right set of tools?

What quest lies before you? Do you have the right tools?

-Allen Paul Weaver III -