Compocalypse '09, Plan of Action

[cleolinda]

1. Scream "GODDAMMIT!" when power goes out. Scream louder when it goes out again. >CHECK

2. Reboot. Computer is dead, claims system file is missing/corrupt. Realize situation is dire. Go into shock. >CHECK
(Note: what you saw last night, between LJ and Twitter, is pretty much the most upset I will ever, ever get, barring maybe the death of an actual human. That is what I do: zombie calm.)

3. Go to parents' computer and freak out on LJ and Twitter. Calmly. >CHECK

4. Get advice from My People. >CHECK

4b. Realize that shock has eaten my brain, and that "Windows Setup" CD is actually Windows XP CD, which I do have. >CHECK

4c. Assure them that most of the crucial documents are backed up in Gmail, Gdocs and online storage, a lesser number on a thumb drive as well. However, music, pictures and vast wilderness of earlier drafts are not backed up. > GO BACK AND DO THIS

5. Go to link supplied by several readers, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545. Think about printing out instructions. Fail to do so. >CHECK

6. Go to bed early and pretend none of it happened. >CHECK

7. Sleep in late, continue to exist in denial. >CHECK

8. Breakfast. >CHECK

9. Feel somewhat restored. Go downstairs and print recovery instructions. >CHECK

10. Tremble at idea of actually carrying out instructions. >CHECK

11. Procrastinate. >CHECK


STEPS NOT YET IMPLEMENTED

12. Carry out recovery instructions.

12b. If recovery succeeds: immediately go out and buy external hard drive, back up all files. Terabyte: sexiest word in the English language as of this particular moment.

12b.2. Finish @#$% e-book for moneys and buy new computer. Not risking this shit again. Need more memory anyway.

12c. If recovery does not succeed:

12c.2. Scrape up non-existent money for new computer.

13. Do not let people take up a collection. Tell them to wait until I have something to actually sell in a one-for-one exchange. Shudder at memory of the phrase "fandom whip-round."

14. Clean amidst inconvenient panic because Charter guy will have to come perform modem-installing hoodoo.

15. Drink.



Also, our dryer died this morning.

Comments

[flamingtoilet.livejournal.com]

Wow, when it rains, it really shits, doesn't it?

Hope you get your appliances repaired soon.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Oh, your icon brings me joy. (It would even if I hadn't gone last weekend to a theater-in-the-park performance of, I kid you not, "Amok Time.")

[colleenpowell.livejournal.com]

Could Sistergirl's boyfriend assist with the modem instead?

[emerald-skies.livejournal.com]

I know whatcha mean about stuff dying. Our electric stove quit on us last week in a rather exciting way; I heard that classic electrical hum, the lights flickered, and when I came out my folks were desperately trying to shut off the stove 'cause smoke was coming out from one of the switches and two burners were heating even though they were off. We wound up having to pull the circuit breaker and the repairman told us it'd be cheaper to get a gas range instead (and we had to get used to the smell of burning plastic).

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

Wow. I wish I could offer helpful advice, but I can't, so I'll just say that I hope everything works out.

15. Drink. Indeed.

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Methinks step 15 should have been step 1.

Hope things work out.

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

I really hope the recovery succeeds. I will be sending you good computer recovery vibes!

Also, our dryer died this morning.

Oh, Cleo. I'm so sorry. **hugs**

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm really just beyond caring at this point, honestly.

[threeparts.livejournal.com]

I know it all looks very daunting, but if you break it down one step at a time it becomes much easier. I definitely know about the 'go to sleep and pretend nothing happened' process - I just shut down every time this sort of thing happens. Sometimes you just need some brainrest to get into the right frame of mind to start picking up the pieces afterwards.
Rremember that you have plenty of computer whizzes paying attention here. If you need to come on LJ and flail, we can throw a bucket of water on you, pass over a towel and point you in the right direction. It'll be okay. :)

[ipomoea.livejournal.com]

Come on girl, get on step 12! If it doesn't work you're no worse off than you are right now. *encourages*

Bad luck about the dryer, hope y'all don't mind line drying or that there's a laundromat close by for the time being.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind it if it weren't raining.

:-(

[countykent.livejournal.com]

Had the same situation last year. After trying all the "restore" options with zero success, I took my PC back to the "glorious geeks" (said lovingly, and yes, they all look 14) who originally "built" it for me. They were able to restore pretty much everything. It did take two days and being without it for two days seemed endless. But at least I got it all back.

Anyone around your area who could do this for you? Gosh, I hope so.

Fingers crossed for ya.....

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

Terabyte: sexiest word in the English language as of this particular moment.

So true.

*crosses fingers for you*

[violet-anchovy.livejournal.com]

Also, our dryer died this morning.

Well, we can just organize a little fandom whi--

Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

[sunni-sideup.livejournal.com]

OMG. What is this hell you are going through?

Well, external hard drives seem to be excellent investments. That way you can save yourself the horror of WHAT IF I LOST EVERYTHING whenever computers decide to die.

[count-01.livejournal.com]

Makes me wish I'd ganked that OMGONOZ icon of yours. Because, jeez.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Just for you. I think mcity on JF made it.

[mrs-baileyan.livejournal.com]

*de-lurks*

Please tell me you have your computer plugged into a surge protector, if not, for the love of Pete, get one! Also, invest in a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) for your computer/monitor. (The external hard-drive is also an excellent addition.)

Good luck. Computer problems suck goat balls.

*re-lurks*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

It did have a surge protector, yes. Although this UPS I keep being recommended also sounds like a fine investment.

[kellyrfineman.livejournal.com]

Oh Technology, why do you fail us so?

*crosses fingers that computer can be saved*

[akathorne.livejournal.com]

My dryer died last year and I couldn't afford to fix it for over 6 months. It wasn't as bad as I was afraid it would be, but I'm only one tiny person. In a house of at least three people, I would imagine that would get really ugly quickly.

I still think there is something wrong with the electricity at your house, you've had way too many appliances crap out on you in the last two years.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, very possibly. Although it also may be that all the appliances are roughly the same age, so... they're all going to the Great Sears in the Sky together.

And yeah... we're currently up to five people living in the house. It ain't pretty.

[angelene.livejournal.com]

Terabyte: sexiest word in the English language as of this particular moment.

Not to add to the current turmoil, but I feel it shall be noted that "terabyte" gets a lot less sexy once it's accompanied by words such as "[terabyte] of data lost forever in just one gulp of hardware failure and/or power surge/outage". (Not to mention the scary Solar EMG Apocalypse that might or might not be going to happen in late 2012). So ehrrr be careful with that? Invest in an UPS all the same. This doesn't look like something that Won't Ever Happen Again if you just buy a new computer (re: "buy new computer. Not risking this shit again").

15. Drink.

That too. Always.

And don't worry! You can do it, I'm very very positive about that. ;)

[angelene.livejournal.com]

Grrr, sorry for the triple posting. Stupid LJ is stupid. =/

[maxiekatt2.livejournal.com]

Do you have gremlins?

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Speaking of (http://chris-walsh.livejournal.com/data/phonepost/11927.mp3)...

[ahirutwin.livejournal.com]

That's a really good plan. Especially the printing out instructions part. And the drinking part. *encouraging thumbs up*

If you do end up getting a new computer, though, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD, GET AN HP. I've had my laptop for almost six years and the worst problem I've had is a frozen hinge. O: As for their desktops, my dad's had his for five years and the one before the one he has now he had for around seven. HP 4EVA. <3

[robin-nibor.livejournal.com]

The two HP desktops we had back in like 2002 crapped out on us within like three months. However the HP laptop I have has worked pleasantly for the past two years, so who knows.

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

You have my full sympathy. I hope you will be able to get it working soon. :-(

[wumbawoman.livejournal.com]

Ah, don't you love being a grownup. We are hoping our refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and microwave don't partake in some appliance jihad which I'm almost certain is being organized by my personal laptop.

Makes urban homesteading that much more appealing.

[beag-beran.livejournal.com]

Can't offer any helpful advice I'm afraid, but here, have some moral support

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Can't offer any helpful advice I'm afraid, but here, have some moral support <hands over big pile of moral support. Possibly with virtual alcohol.>

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

*massive amounts of hugs and squishing*

So what, in the end, have you lost in the way of files? While I can't offer monetary help (and know you don't want that anyway) if you've lost music or the like, that, at least, I could maybe help replace. (Although I am fairly sure your collection of '80s music far exceeds my own.) :)

So wise of you to back things up! I had a similar problem a few months ago, and now that I have an external drive I LOVES IT. FYI mine is a Verbatim drive; so far no problems and mine came with a recovery software program, though I haven't used it. If your computer is older, make sure you know whether you'll need a hard drive with its own power source - my laptop is 6 years old, and the USB wasn't powerful enough for the first external drive I tried, so I had to go back and get one that plugged into the wall.

Let me know if there's anything I can do (even in the *just being there as someone to panic to* realm. I've been doing that a fair bit recently anyway, for various friends and all. Heh). *hugs*

[lost-garnet.livejournal.com]

Steps six through eleven seem very Zen in a hobbity kind of way.

Also this is why I do everything longhand. Mmm technological paranoia.

Hope things get recovered!

[softnewtowel.livejournal.com]

my husband hates all new computers and insists on always building his from scratch. he is a handy technology wizard who also is able to fix any major appliance...

what you need is one of him for your house! *begins cloning process*

[ann1962]

If the recovery doesn't work, definitely try freezing your hard drive. Weird but true. It worked for me for one of the two dead hard drives I had. I got everything off of it when I tried this method. Everything. It was miraculous.

Hard Drive death

[suzeclues12.livejournal.com]

ooooh - Seconded - I've heard/done this!