The Journey with My First Computer: Learning, Failing, and Thriving

It was 2006. I was in 8th class, and life was simpler. No smartphones, no binge-watching, just school, cricket, and the occasional dose of Cartoon Network. Then one day, my uncle brought home something that would change my world—a used HCL desktop computer. It wasn’t the latest or the greatest, but to me, it was nothing less than magic.

It had a white CRT monitor, a bulky CPU, and a keyboard that clicked loudly with every press. The moment we plugged it in and the screen lit up, I felt like I had entered a whole new dimension. The Windows XP startup sound was music to my ears. I had no idea how this machine worked, but I knew one thing—it was mine to explore.

At first, I didn’t have internet access, so my time was spent tinkering with MS Paint, Solitaire, and Notepad. I would type random things just to see letters appear on the screen. It felt like I had a superpower. I didn’t know coding, I didn’t know how computers worked, but I was already hooked.

The Unexpected Disaster

Just as I was starting to get comfortable with my new digital playground, disaster struck. Within a year, the entire motherboard got damaged. One day, it just refused to turn on. I had no clue what had gone wrong, and we had to call a repairman. His verdict? The motherboard was beyond repair, and fixing it would cost around Rs. 20,000. That was a huge amount back then. So, my first computer journey ended abruptly.

I was heartbroken. The device that had opened up a whole new world was now just a lifeless box sitting in the corner. I didn't know much about repairs, and honestly, no one around me did either. My dream of becoming a computer wizard was put on hold, but not for long.

A Second Chance at Exploration

In 2008, I got a second computer. This time, it was another HCL desktop, but in black, with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It felt like an upgrade in every way. I was older, a little wiser, and this time, I wanted to do more than just play Solitaire.

I started exploring every part of the system. I learned how to install software, navigate the file system, and even mess around with some basic settings. But my biggest discovery was Dangerous Dave—a game that looked simple but was an absolute nightmare to complete. I never managed to finish all the levels, but I kept coming back to it, determined to get better.

Looking back, these two computers were more than just machines. They were my introduction to technology, my first step into a field that would later become my career. I didn’t realize it then, but those hours spent clicking around, breaking things, and figuring them out shaped the way I approach problems today.

The journey that started with that old HCL desktop led me to where I am now. And even though my first computer didn’t last long, it gave me something far more valuable—a curiosity that never faded.

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