Completely.
So I ran diagnostics and every trick in the book to no avail before taking it into the campus tech support people. They identified the problem as a glitch in the software update for AirPort (the Mac program which regulates a computer's WiFi connectivity). Their solution, and I'm not joking, was this:
Tech Support Guy: So, there's a problem with AirPort, basically.
Me: Ok, that sucks. What should I do? Can I revert to a previous version of AirPort?
Tech Support Guy: No, actually, our Apple-certified expert recommends that you re-format your hard drive.
Me: Wait, what do you mean by re-format my hard drive? Are you suggesting that I erase everything on my 160gb hard drive?
Tech Support Guy: Yes, but back everything up first of course.
Me: (contemptuous stare)
Yeah. Way to go Apple. You certified someone who rather than going online to find a solution, suggested REMOVING EVERYTHING FROM MY COMPUTER. Speaking of going online to find a solution, I did just that after I got back to my dorm. Apparently this is a fairly common problem and therefore decently documented. I fixed the problem in 10 minutes, with no effect on my hard drive.
Long story short, UI Tech Support is stupid. Don't let them within 50 feet of any electronic item that you value.
much respect,
josh
PS: Just a little PSA here: what happened to my computer is apparently a glitch with the most recent update for AirPort that causes any computer that operates in a large WiFi network (such as one that might exist on a college campus) to lose wireless internet connectivity. If you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro and you go to college, it's probably a good idea to avoid the update. If you should somehow accidentally install it, simply restart your computer in "Safe Boot" mode and then restart it again to fix the problem.
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