You get the bad news first!
Do you want the good news, or the bad news first? Well you’re getting the bad news first, ’cause that’s how I feel at the moment. Actually I’ll tell it as it happened.
Saturday night I called Mo over to my computer for something. She was only a couple of feet away. “My back hurts” was her answer. “Well, why not use your feet?” I said. “Oh…yes” said Mo, with a look that said “Did I just say that?” We both collapsed laughing.
Laughter over, I turned back to my computer. It had gone to sleep a bit quick I thought, and clicked the mouse to wake it up. It didn’t wake up. I clicked the mouse some more and still nothing. It was dead. 
I tried turning it back on but nothing! I checked the fuse in the mains plug and that was dead too. I changed the fuse and turned it on. Great! It started up and I breathed a sigh of relief, but not for long. It couldn’t find my hard drive. My mood totally deflated, I turned it off and went to bed, hoping that the morning would bring with it one of those unexplainable miracles, and everything would be working again. Wrong!
I am now three more fuses down, a first aid disc stuck in the computer and everything dismantled and packed away until after Christmas. What makes it worse is that a month or so ago my external backup drive went down and I planned to get a new one after Christmas. Wrong decision!
Now for the good news!
I had totally forgotten that when I first got my iMac I decided not to have my ‘My documents’ folder in the usual place and moved it to an old external drive (that still works) thus freeing up more space on my computer. Not only that, I discovered that I also keep my iTunes folder there too, and a backup of my iPhotos! At this rate, I won’t lose too much if the drive is dead. Still it’s a pain losing my 24 inch monitor in exchange for a 13 inch, but great that I bought my Macbook Pro a few months ago!
So I guess there is always a silver lining, even if it is smaller than the cloud.
In the 22 years that I’ve had Mac computers, this is only the second time one of them has had to go to the Mac hospital, and this one is 5 years old. Now THAT can’t be bad eh?
Stumble it!
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Comedy Plus
| 14 December 2009 at 18:42
Not bad at all, but we all hate computer problems. I hope you get this resolved soon.
I loved the try your feet comment. Bwahahahahaha.
Have a terrific day. Big hug.
Comedy Plus´s last blog ..Awww…Mondays #43
Jude
| 14 December 2009 at 18:51
Computer problems must be going around. At least you have a backup. My brother just bought a Mac, but I’ve never used one, I figure real geniuses use those.
Jude´s last blog ..Frustrating Internet Connection Problem
JD at I Do Things
| 14 December 2009 at 19:05
I’m glad there’s a small silver lining, but your infrequent visits to the Mac Hospital STILL aren’t enough to convince me to switch from my beloved PC (tho it’s conked out on me plenty of times).
JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I’m Throwing a Contest so you don’t have to
Jackie
| 14 December 2009 at 20:14
Oh my I am sorry to hear that you are having PC problems. But, glad to know you had the external hard drive.
I use to have a slave drive also and I really miss it. I may try to get another after Christmas myself. and, oh my, what I would give to have a mac!!
If I can ever afford a new computer again it will definitely be a mac.
I hope you get it fixed soon and that you will be able to recover what was on it.
I ran a malware cleaner last night and found 244 infected files. Luckily, none were serious and all is cleaned up now!!
Take care of Mo’s back…I know how she feels.
Love and hugs always to both of you!!:-)
Maureen
| 14 December 2009 at 20:26
See? See? It’s the holidays…. something ALWAYS has to break before Christmas. It’s the law. At least the law in our home.
Sorry to hear it’s spread to you too.
Hope the losses aren’t too bad. No time is a good time for computer problems!
Maureen´s last blog ..Cookie-Toons
Kathy
| 14 December 2009 at 20:43
Husband wants to replace our elder Windows computer with a Mac. I told him “You’re on your own. I don’t know squat about Macs.” Well, that’s not entirely true. Just not as comfortable with them. Hey, can you be his tech support if he needs it?
Kathy´s last blog ..Nevermind the Slippery Sidewalks
Eric "Speedcat Hollydale"
| 14 December 2009 at 21:31
I must be one of the lucky ones, because I have never ever had a computer problem. Strange, no??
I really do not save anything on drives either … everything is at multiple on line storages.
Eric “Speedcat Hollydale”´s last blog ..Yellow Birds Perched up on my Ugly Yellow Shack
beetle
| 14 December 2009 at 21:44
Sandee: I can’t believe it died right on top of Christmas! Typical!
Jude: I am so glad to have my laptop now. I wasn’t so totally lost when it died on me. You don’t need to be a genius to use Macs. Not much goes wrong with them. They are so user friendly, and most things are really simple to do!
JD: Well each to his/her own but women were happy to use a washboard and scrubbing brush until they tried a washing machine ha haaaa!
Jackie: Actually My nephew (Gary) has kindly given me a 17 inch monitor so now I have dual screen from my laptop
You will NOT regret it if you ever get a Mac 
Maureen: The FIRST thing I said to Mo was “This is Maureen’s fault! She put the mockers on me with her post!” I’m not too devastated as I have my laptop. Though I will be if I can’t get it fixed.
Kathy: You will pick what you need to know about Mac’s up really quickly. The hardest part is accepting how easy things are, and not looking for a complicated route for things. I would be happy to be Dave’s tech support, if he needed it
Speedy: I think it’s because you are very clever with computers. I must investigate this online back-up. I think it must be the answer
Barb - WillThink4Wine
| 14 December 2009 at 21:45
Not long ago my business computer’s hard drive died. Luckily I had all my data on DVDs as well as on a backup cpmputer, but when the new hard drive was installed I still had to spend days reinstalling everything. It was then I decided to try Carbonite. It automatically backs all my stuff to their servers.
I waited until Windows 7 came out and bought a new business computer. I logged onto Carbonite’s webside, downloaded the software and logged in. All I had to do was tell it I had a new computer and to start recovery mode. It was the easiest time I’ve ever had replacing a computer. All my data, photos, documents… everything back just as it was. Delightful.
Barb – WillThink4Wine´s last blog ..Gracie Girl
beetle
| 14 December 2009 at 23:23
Barb: Yes, I really must look at something like that. I looked once before, but they were not equipped for Mac computers. I’ll check again I think.
Tarheel Rambler
| 14 December 2009 at 23:43
My biggest objection to Mac is the higher cost. And you have to deal with Apple exclusively. Every time I buy into some proprietary gadget, either they stop making it or they jack up the price on whatever item I need to keep mine working.
Anyway, Babs, sorry for your computer woes. That kind of stuff always stinks no matter what platform you’re working on.
meleah rebeccah
| 14 December 2009 at 23:54
I love ALL THINGS APPLE. And, I just got my very own Macbook Pro! Thankfully YOU already had yours and thankfully you have all of your stuff saved in another place! Whew!!
Maybe you can get a new iMac? That is my next goal!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Devastation Nation
Jay
| 15 December 2009 at 0:50
Oh, thank heavens for that! It’s such a trauma when things go wrong with the computer isn’t it? I hate it.
We have Time Machine which backs everything on my hard drive up automatically several times a day. I’d still freak though, if my laptop died.
Lisa
| 15 December 2009 at 15:21
I’m glad you were able to salvage some of that. I want to get a laptop at some point, or a netbook…something I can take with me when my toddler wants to watch cartoons, but I want to read blogs while watching cartoons. Right now it isn’t possible to do both!
beetle
| 15 December 2009 at 15:38
Tarheel: Yes they are more expensive, but having used both platforms, I would choose mac every time. Even at it’s higher cost. I spent hundreds of pounds on my Windows PC (more than once) to keep it running, and even after that I dumped it.
Meleah: Congrats on you MacBook Pro! I am taking my iMac to Apple tonight. They will investigate it and tell me what’s wrong for free and I will take it from there.
Jay I will be using Time Machine as soon as I get my new external. I don’t want this scare again
Lisa: I must admit that I love my laptop. I always thought it would be pointless for me, but I was wrong on that
Jen
| 15 December 2009 at 23:44
You have a computer that is five years old? Mine never make it past three years and they limp along that last year. I don’t know if I am ready for a Mac, I’m certainly not hip enough for one, but maybe it’s time to consider it since I am on the end of year two with this thing.
Jen´s last blog ..Little of This and a Little of That
beetle
| 16 December 2009 at 3:18
Jen: Oh I have a Mac computer that is at least 12 years old too! Mo uses it. It’s a bit slow for my liking nowadays though
I’ve only ever replaced my Macs in order to upgrade the speed, never because it broke down.
Ruth
| 16 December 2009 at 10:38
Yeah yeah yeah, you and my son. He keeps trying to get us to pay the big bucks and switch to a Mac – even after he had to take his an hour away to get it fixed – twice. But I confess when I see the things he can do, I have a little bit of applelust. I don’t think Macs are as intuitive as I would expect, after using PCs so long. I sat at my son-in-laws one visit before he was awake and could not figure out how to open the Internet.
I loved your feet comment to and have to say you and Mo are just the sweetest, I so love hearing your dialogues.
I’m glad your woes didn’t turn out quite so bad as you feared. Hope all will be perfect in no time.
Ruth´s last blog ..self discipline & success
beetle
| 16 December 2009 at 15:16
Ruth: All jokes aside, there is NO comparison. I had a Windows computer and it cost me as much in fixes as it did to buy it, in only a couple of years! It was the worst experience ever in computing, for me. I happily gave it away to the first taker!
I must admit that Mo and I often laugh ’till we cry
Brandy
| 17 December 2009 at 4:57
Now that can’t be bad, loved the way you told the story! Too cute! Have a great night!
Brandy´s last blog ..Do You Eat Out Enough?
beetle
| 17 December 2009 at 5:28
Brandy: Hi, and welcome (if it’s your first time here) No, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
meleah rebeccah
| 17 December 2009 at 8:06
Okay..so what happened at the Apple store?
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Devastation Nation
LadyBanana
| 17 December 2009 at 19:10
Ohhh, something I dread my beloved computer dying
LadyBanana´s last blog ..Winter Wonderland
beetle
| 18 December 2009 at 2:48
Meleah: I’m waiting for a phone call (next week) to tell me what needs to be done. I wanted everything in the store!
Ladybanana: Thankfully this is only the second time in over 20 years, so I can’t complain, though I’m glad I had most of my stuff backed up!
Liudmila
| 18 December 2009 at 13:59
These eternal problems with PC are so sad. I have a PC for only about 5 years, do not undersatand much, and they take me completely out of the head. You are great to have that external disc!
Liudmila´s last blog ..Don’t Forget To Visit In Paris
Swubird
| 18 December 2009 at 19:25
Babs:
There’s not a night go by that I don’t have a nightmare about my book going down with a crashed drive. I haven’t experienced the same problems as you, yet. But I have transferred all my working stuff to an external drive. God hep me if that thing goes out. I also periodically save my manuscript onto a DVD. Can’t be to safe there. If it crashes for any reason, at least I haven’t lost the entire book. I love my iMac, but believe me, it’s definitely brought prayer back into my life.
Happy trails.
Swubird´s last blog ..THOU SHALT NOT STEAL
Margaret
| 18 December 2009 at 21:24
Five years before its first trip to the hospital is fantastic. I hope my first Mac makes it that far. I’ve only had it almost 18 months so far.
Margaret´s last blog ..Rosetta Stone: An NGIP Exclusive Investigative Report
beetle
| 19 December 2009 at 1:21
Liudmila: Yes, I am so glad I had most things backed up
beetle
| 19 December 2009 at 1:29
Swubird: You are right to back up more than once! I lost my backup drive and my internal hard drive, so am so thankful for my other external drive! I will be getting another soon so it’s backup all the way for me from now on!
Margaret: I’ve had Macs that have never needed fixing. I have sold them on in order to upgrade. Macs have a high second user value
maryt/theteach
| 20 December 2009 at 23:24
Yikes, Babs, I’d be beside myself if my computer died like that! I give you a lot of credit for being so calm. I hope everything is on that external drive you found and that your computer will be up and running soon! I noticed on Facebook that your getting a lot of snow over there in the UK. Well, as I said on Facebook, I’ve got a foot of the white stuff here in the US. Happy Holidays!
maryt/theteach´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday
beetle
| 21 December 2009 at 3:03
Mary: Well I have learned over the years that many things lost can be created again. The only thing I would have been devastated about would have been my photos and my mp3 library. Both I have discovered on my external drive. I am a little disappointed to lose all my movie files though.
Yes, we have a lot of snow here and it’s causing havoc on the roads.