Posted by Tania Kindersley.
The computer has died. THE COMPUTER HAS DIED. It is absolutely, categorically, unremittingly brown bread. (Catastrophic smart error in the hard disk, it tells me, before the screen goes again to black.)
My lesson in patience is reaching Olympic bloody levels. Actually, what I hate most is the waste. A clever machine is now a useless black box. It shall have to be disposed of somewhere. Like Andie MacDowell in Sex, Lies and Videotape, I really worry about the garbage. I know some people regard computers as disposable items which must be updated as soon as the new device is released; I always secretly hope each new one will last forever. I set them up, I have all my music and my pictures and my audiobooks and Mark Kermode and his glorious podcasts. It's a little home. I know my way around. And then: it's gone.
Now I have to start all over again. And this time, I didn't even throw a glass of water over it, which is what happened last time. I am trying not to be too livid, but I am having to breathe very, very slowly.
In compensation, the mare was at her goodest and sweetest and dearest today. We did some new training and she was a model pupil, as if she had decided to go to the top of the class to make up for yesterday's minor freak. I must remember that as I swear at my dead machine.
The book and all my word documents (all two hundred and forty of them) are safe, but I think some of my photographs may be lost. My own stupid fault for not backing up as I go along. I always think I learn that lesson and I never do.
Any advice on new laptop would be gratefully received. I'm never going near Dell again; too burned now. I did have an HP Pavilion I loved; I don't know what the new ones are like. I want speed. I want power, and reliability. Just like in cars, really. So if you have your own loves, do let me know.
Blogging will be very limited, I'm afraid, until I am up and running again. I'm typing this on my tiny back-up device, which is like writing on fag packet. The disadvantage of touch-typing is that small keyboards which are not QWERTY standard are wildly frustrating.
Patience again. Patience, patience.
And do let's hope Frankel wins on Saturday, because then my crazy ante-post bet will pay for the new item. If not, it's bread and water for the duration.
Tania, it sounds like the virus mine had- Smart HDD? Some form of malware that makes you think it's dead. Maybe there is hope. Fingers crossed. Mine was fine after a day at the computer shop.
ReplyDeleteOh Marion, you give me HOPE. Never understand about viruses though; I strictly refuse to open anything, even if it is not an attachment, whose sender I do not know. But can someone infiltrate even through AVG and stern email maintenance? Anyway, I'm going to see if I can find a computer shop. (Not easy in rural north-east Scotland.) Thank you.
DeleteI had anti virus software too and still got it. It gives you lots of scary sounding warning messages and nothing but a black screen? I don't understand computers either but hope that is what's wrong.
DeleteYes, exactly that. Then won't boot at all; then does endless checkdisk, then more black screen of death, with one taunting white arrow in the middle. Bloody viruses; I thought I was safe. Another life lesson, I suppose. Thank you so much for comparing notes; nice to know I'm not alone.
DeleteI had a virus once - before it did anything, it disabled my AVG. That was the scariest part. Fortunately, it did not do lasting damage; it just messed things up because it kept me from opening programs, and therefore stopped my work cold in its tracks. But what a wake-up call! (And by the way, the virus did not arrive via email ~ it happened automatically when I clicked on site while researching.)
ReplyDeleteLike you, I vowed always to back up everything, but didn't quite do it as often as I should have. Thank heavens your book was saved. Sounds like it's time for a really sharp guru before purchasing and equipping a new computer (and if you had a sharp one last time, maybe a sharper one now ~ or in other words, a teenager).
Good luck.
Bird
Bird - a TEENAGER. Best idea ever. Going to get one now.
DeleteI am far from being a computer whizz, but I do use it every day, and I just LOVE my new big screen. So much more restful on the eyes, and über-brilliant to be able to work on two pages side by side.
ReplyDeleteMine appears to be called a Packard Bell, but more than that I do not know!
Good luck with solving your problem
Sharon
Tania, get an Apple Mac. That's all I have to say. Apple. Mac. Speedy! Reliable! Easy peasy!
ReplyDeleteWhat Lillyanne said. Mac Mac Macketty Mac. Get a Mac and you'll never look back. P.S Not paid to say that.
ReplyDeleteLive happily ever after with a Mac. End of story.
ReplyDeleteYes. Sorry. Mac. I have had only two computers since 1994, both Mac, despite the fact that I spend 10+ hrs a day on them (designing books), so you can see that it might also be quite cost-effective...
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the Mac suggestions. Have had mine for 10 months now and love it-will never buy a different kind. They are just so -easy!
ReplyDeleteOh, poor you. I would love to know what you end up with as my laptop has been developing some quirks that are making me nervous.
ReplyDeleteDespite wanting a Mac I've heard that they suit designers more than writers/editors. If someone can dispute that I would be very happy!
Pleased you had better day with the Ravishing Red. :)
Em: I am a writer/editor and I've always used macs. I have worked in-house for five publishing companies and they have all used them throughout the editorial and production departments. My husband is a research scientist and his whole lab uses them. Be happy!!
DeleteThank you, thank you, thank you!! I'll look forward to the demise of my old laptop. :)
DeleteMac. All there is to say. I've had three, since 1995. Never had one die on me. Love them.
ReplyDeleteYes, losing a trusty pc does rather suck the big one. Bonus points for backing up critical files (this from an IT pro who vaguely remembers to back up her laptop every few months. Anything on the server gets backed up to tape nightly).
ReplyDeleteFrom the sounds, could be a virus, could be a software update gone screwy (this assumes the pc is set to update it's software automatically). Terribly unnerving, but that tends to be the blue screen of death with useful technobabble across the top and that's not what you have. To echo the others - viruses are most likely to come via a link on a website these days - people are generally aware of those transmitted by email, but still trusting of websites.
Currently using an HP laptop and content with it, but I don't run it hard. The bonus is that I can hook it up to external monitor, mouse and keyboard if I need a bigger screen for editing the dog club journal.
If you're happy with your current platform, stick with it. Changing over can be awkward, particularly if files have to be converted. If you can hire or borrow a Mac, that's a good way to test the waters and see if you want to go down that path - they are more expensive and keyboard shortcuts can be different. None of which is insuperable, but annoyingly like swapping cars and the indicator is on the wrong side of the steering wheel.
As an aside - while I do server support these days, I've done my fair share of desktop support of both Windows and Apple machines. And seen both die of hardware or software faults or really interesting user behaviour. I generally expect a working life of about 5 years before having to think about a replacement - which is mostly driven by operating system requirements and support. I will NOT run something that is not supported by the vendor - so when a particular OS version runs out of vendor support, that means no more security patches, which means increased vulnerability. And I'm not willing to go down that path.
One word...MAC.
ReplyDeleteMacBook Pro!
ReplyDeleteAll Macs now have a Time Machine app, which makes backing up very easy. Also, you can get Microsoft Word for Mac.
I hope you won your bet! its Monday morning and I am awaiting the news that you've won a million bucks.
ReplyDeleteYes to a Mac. My Mac is like my third hand. (I am a writer by the way, so can reassure the commenter who feared they were only for designers.) Rachel
ReplyDeleteGet a Mac - you won't look back. They're for everyone, not just graphic designer types. They come with seamless back up that you don't have to think about once you've set it up. Plus, it's much, much rarer (though not impossible) to get viruses on a Mac. And they're more chilled than Windows computers - they don't tut at you with irritating messages in a nanny-knows-best way all the time. Take the plunge!
ReplyDeleteI have some more immediate good news... just because your computer died does NOT mean you've lost all your photos. Don't throw it away until you've talked to a good computer tech. My desk computer died some years ago, and I had scads of un-backed-up photos on there. A friend of ours who works on computers for a living was able to pull all my photos off the dead computer, and I now have them all on CD format.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, even things that you "delete" are not actually gone from your computer's recordkeeping system. As many criminals find, to their dismay, once the police have confiscated their computers. Just because you are not able to access the information doesn't mean it's not "in there" and able to be retrieved.
So - don't lose hope for your photos!
halo im adam
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for so many very kind comments. I'm afraid I have RUTHLESSLY ignored your excellent Mac advice, as you shall see in the next blog, but I do really appreciate you taking the time. Also very reassuring to hear about the possible retrieval of the photographs.
ReplyDeleteAnd special message to Mystica: the bet is not until next Saturday. I expect I shall talk of the race at some length!