When it rains, it pours. ARGH.
This is especially true when it comes to computer issues.
Late last week and Monday, my computer at work decided it didn’t want to play nicely with others, and crashed badly. I believe the problem might have been the NTFS system, because it wouldn’t even fully boot in safe mode.
So, off I went to Best Buy to purchase a new drive and operating system. Unfortunately, it seemed like everyone else decided to do clean installs of Windows 7 that weekend, and the store was completely out of stock of ANY sata drives.
Insanity.
So, we drove to Future Shop, where they, too, were completely sold out of drives. But, I got lucky, and they had one drive left that was housed in an enclosure… I bought it.
On Monday, I spent almost the entire day messing around with the install (note to self: don’t install a brand new OS on a computer that’s three years old. I still don’t have an operating sound card, and given that I work primarily with Radio, that’s slightly problematic to say the least). Finally, after many hours, I have everything re-installed on the work machine.
Monday night, I’m SO sick of dealing with computers that I don’t come within 10 feet of my home machine… But, last night, Barry and I wanted to watch some older episodes of Mad Men, so I turned on my desktop…
To… a USB / motherboard fault/failure.
!@)E*&$@)E&$*@)!(&@#$)@*#)$&@#&)*$
The computer won’t even boot.
This computer is only a year old, and I paid a LOT of money for it.
My wonderful friends on Facebook, after reading of my horror story, insisted that I should give my head a shake and buy a Mac. Really guys? That’s not very helpful. After an investment of close to $3000 for this machine, that’s NOT an option. Please stop offering me the Apple Koolaid for-the-love-of-whatever-diety you believe in.
So, within a couple of days, I’ve had two very important computers insist on taking an extended vacation. It’s just bad luck… And it happens to everyone. Including the Mac fanboys.
Now, I’m left wondering… What the third thing will be?
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Not a good week for tech for you. I had a HD fail this past week too, no wasn’t windows or mac, but one of my external storage array drives. damn frustrating.
Avoid FS or BB for buying drives, go to NCIX or Anitec next time. Larger stock on hand and probably better prices too.
Wow. That sounds unbelievably annoying! I feel for you. Personally, I just got my first Mac – and I really love it, but I’m still happy with my big screened desktop PC. But if you just spent a whole bunch of money on something else, of course you don’t want to go get another new computer. Well, hang in there netchick! Let us know what happens…
Susan´s last blog: Writing with the Young Gunz at Purple Thistle
I feel your pain. Funny writing though, so take consolation that someone was amused.
I’ve found local PC shops a good source for drives, and you sometimes meet interesting people.
I agree with Al… I never by PC parts at FS or BB. Perhaps you might consider Atic Computers next time, which is on Broadway near Quebec. Very aggressive pricing, good stock levels.
I’ve also used Partition Wizard for some basic partition/ unbootable volume repairs (they have an option to let you make a bootable CD for disastere recovery, like this). it doesn’t cover all scenarios, but it’s pretty good. Google “Partition Wizard Home Edition”.
As always, just my two bits. YMMV
Really sorry to hear that Tanya
I love my PC, which is currently on Vista… but I can’t wait to upgrade to Windows 7.
I’m glad to hear you are sticking by on your PC! It’s true — problems happen to both computers.
Sorry to hear about your problems though… perhaps you could go to NCIX or another OEM dealer and just upgrade the parts you need to. It wouldn’t cost much more.
Good luck! Let me know if you need any help… I’ve been building computers for a while now
VancityAllie´s last blog: THE QUESTION OF PREMIUM LIQUORS
I concur.. buy your PC gear from NCIX or other smaller computer shop. FutreShop and BestBuy are meh for computer gear and are highly over priced (as is London Drugs).
As for your issues with machines; Crazy!
Does the computer(s) at all POST? (before trying to load the OS’s image). Can you get into the BIOS setup screen? (del, or some other key(combination)).
Does it even power on? Does the harddrives spin up, does the fan on the CPU/Heatsink spin, etc.
It does drive me nuts when ppl say.. Buy a Mac, or Should have bought a Mac. I love Macs, don’t get me wrong, but don’t assume Macs are without fault too
lol
Thanks for the input guys! I am an NCIX fanatic, actually (and Frontier/Atic as well) but they aren’t open for pick up on a Sunday evening so that I could get at it Monday morning before 7am…
The computer at home doesn’t even post, Tyler. I’m going to have to yank it apart, pull out the front USB ports (which connect to the MB in a very odd place…) and see if the thing will boot with them offline. I believe the short is happening there.
Thanks for the offer, Allie! I think we’re probably on the same level, building-the-bits-wise, but if you wanna come over for a beer and commiserate, that would be fun
Tanya (aka NetChick)´s last blog: U2 and the Black Eyed Peas
Ha! Glad I lost the comment I was trying to post last week… was going to chime in with the NCIX recommendations.
I find it slightly humorous that the Apple users would recommend Mac as a solution to hardware issues. Sure Apple software is intuitive and pretty but from my experience the reliability is dreadful. Over the last couple of years we’ve bought 8 Apple products and none of them have been fault-free. Two of them at least had the courtesy to fail under warranty (although daughter’s MacBook is dying again). Talking to other people that seems typical – some of the Apple users I’ve spoken with seem to treat the AppleCare warranty as an automatic purchase when you buy your Mac. Admittedly an Apple fan might just say the unreliability is because they’re so great they get used more and harder than PCs and I’ve seen no info on the alumin(i)um Macs (which might mean they’re more reliable). But still – I’m not convinced