Friday, April 21, 2017

Technical Difficulties


Well, after complaining about everything other than our computer on Wednesday, our faithful old iMac gave up the ghost yesterday. In lieu of flowers, we encourage mourners to send alcohol.

Seriously, we've got a replacement machine heading our way (a snappy used 2011 model) via Fed Ex, but we're not sure how quickly (or completely) we can get things back to normal-ish. We're guessing maybe Wednesday of next week. Or later if enough of you actually send the aforementioned alcohol.

Have a great weekend, and remember to back up your computers. Seriously, go do it right now.

18 comments:

  1. I know where the "drive" is, but I can't seem to find 'reverse'?
    Seriously, a good back up regimen is a REALLY good idea... nice when the jerks lock up your system w/ ransom ware, you just tell them to piss off as you wipe and reload.

    Or, just make a point to save everything important to a 'back up' media (writable CD, for instance) and you 'should' be good to go.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Getting a 1T external drive and creating an image of your whole system is safe and easy to do, and it only costs pennies a day!




    *Note to self.... hurry up and go do what you just wrote!!*

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've got an Apple Time Machine backup which should put most things right again, though I also had a second partition with a higher OS (and quite a bit of software) that I now can't remember if I had backed up. Gulp.

    In the future, besides everything else, I'll probably use Carbon Copy Cloner to make a copy of EVERYTHING on a regular basis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe Hillary can suggest how to properly maintain your system so that nothing comes to light, er., gets "lost" again.

      Glenn in Clovis, NM

      Delete
  4. Belt AND suspenders - safest bet, for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Heisenberg Backup Uncertainty Principle: The quality of a backup is unknown until a recovery is attempted.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Pete- Even now, I really AM wearing a belt with suspenders.

    @TheOldMan- Well put. I have a number of piecemeal backup solutions, but the test comes when I try to put the old "Abby Normal" brain into the new body. I may well require a sedagive...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stilton,
    Sorry about your machine. Maybe it had an ottenray ainbray.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Please, Stilton, NO sedatives! The work must be accomplished quickly and thoroughly, so take your time to do it right. THEN...you can imbibe while laying back and congratulating yourself on a job well-done.

    If I sound a little dictatorial, it's only because I missed you for soooo long, and kept checking to see if you were finally back. Your brand of humor is especially welcome, and barring 'hell & high water', I don't want you to miss even one day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. My "trusty" 2011 model PC just bit the dust also.
    Not sure why, but it will not maintain internet connection for more than a few minutes.
    Then when I get connection back it is insanely slooowwww...such as 0.01 Mbps last I checked.
    Multiple system restores, system recovery, nothing helps. And the new models of PC seem to be built with the average three year old in mind. Everything is geared to gaming, not real, productive work.
    Maybe it's time to attempt a home build?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Blessed are the pessimists for they hath made backups. . .

    ReplyDelete

  11. A wise man would have two nearly identical computers to cover this very thing.
    (Ask me how I know.)
    Also, you can keep the second one's browsing history erased without interfering with surfing on the primary.
    It'll also be the one you hand over in compliance with a subpoena.
    (see also: a spare barrel and firing for at least one assassination-grade firearm)

    ReplyDelete
  12. DougM - that's a level of foresight rarely seen!

    American Cowboy - it's not hard, and if you have the OS install media it's very price competitive. In addition to knowing that in terms of partial upgrades / component replacement, it's fully compatible. Have built all my own PCs for, gosh, 20 years, thinking on it... I'm sure there are plenty you tube videos that can walk you through it... but if you can't watch... Hmmmm, you have a phone w/ you tube ability? that might help... Yes, the first one is nerve wracking, but one step at a time, and it's pretty straight forward...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I guess we have to play together without supervision until Stilton gets new equipment plugged together & working. From the previous thread: Not going to say my age here; but I'm just right. Anyone younger is still a Pup & anyone born earlier is an Old Fart.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't have anything to do with a company that has AlGore on its board of directors.
    I also like to be able to pull things apart and upgrade or repair. Trail tip: if you want to upgrade RAM, buy the next generation as soon as it's released; the price increases as demand increases.

    ReplyDelete
  15. E-mailing you some Klan McGregor - that should help.
    If only you could get e-mail hmmm.....

    ReplyDelete
  16. MAX Redline - back when I was buying best bang for the buck NOW (as opposed to waiting for holiday sales, and getting the best I can afford) I'd get back issues of PC magazines, and see what was bleeding edge 6 months ago - figure it goes from 'best' to 'doorstop' in about 3 years, so at 6 mo "old" I'd get 85% of the life for 50% of the price...

    Last build I did, the mobo I selected (for other reasons) came w/ a mSATA socket on it, people were paying $200 for a 16GB SSD to use as "super fast cache". Cute feature, never thought I'd use it.
    Then, SSD got cheap... $200 for 512GB? Oh HELLS yes, buddy got a new C:\, now boots in like 15 sec... Ahhhhhh! the time I save...
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yep, my newest build uses an SSD with 8Gb next-gen DDRM but has expansion ports in the bottom of the case in the event that I wish to add more. Very fast. It was a birthday present for my bride. She's pretty happy, as am I, as I don't have to hear complaints about access speed. ;-)

    ReplyDelete