Technology - bah!

[esther_a]

My daughter's laptop had a virus. And that virus was pretending to be virus protection software and kept popping up with warnings that the laptop had 30 viruses!! Thank goodness for google and geeky forums for all their assistance! So after spending all day installing virus and malware protection and other software to remove unnecessary files and defragging the hard drive that all seems good.
But...
Today MY computer, my PRECIOUS computer died. When I turn it on it says something about the USB device being "over current status" and the computer spontaneously shuts down. Bah! That's too tricky for me, so it's off for a visit to my friendly computer shop. I won't have lost any files, but there'll be no scrapping from me until it's fixed.
It's not easy or cheap, this computer stuff, is it?!!

[dugarner]

Ooh, I got one of those horrid viruses a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't run a backup in about three months, and I was walking into my bedroom to run the backup to my EHD when everything looked funky. Thankfully, it was one that mimicked antivirus software. I let all the windows pop up, then I did a drive backup before I tackled the problem. It was particularly vicious and required me to do a lot of poking around and deleting in the registry. I fixed it and cleaned it up, but not before our internet provider emailed my hubby and said we had a bot virus. $#(*&#$$ !!! I have enough confidence in my repair/rebuild abilities that I don't run antivirus software, it slows everything down and makes my computer almost unusable.

I hope you get your laptop repaired, glad you won't lose any files!

Definitely a love-hate relationship I have going with computers.

[connieg]

Technology is wonderful, until something goes a stray, then it's a big headache. Glad you won't lose any files!

[js_74]

Oh no, what a pain Esther.... Hope all gets fixed soon, was looking forward to seeing more of your P365 pages

[carollee]

Oh no! Breathe Esther, big deep cleansing breathes!!!!

[anke]

Wow, I am impressed with you ladies for tackling those repairs yourselves. I would have no clue as to where to begin!!! I detest computer viruses, that's one of the reasons I like the Macs...

[PaulaSG]

That stinks Esther! My dh is the resident computer-fixer in the extended family so we are constantly battling viruses for various family members. Hope your own one gets fixed soon!

[earlofoxford]

There's nothing quite as wonderful as a computer when it's whirring along and nothing quite as awful as a computer when something goes wrong. It reminds me every time how tied I've become to it. Hope your troubles are sorted quickly, Esther!

[digigrandma]

Sorry, Esther! I hear you! You're so lucky that you are so computer savvy to be able to fight off the viruses. Now, I hope the shop is able to get your laptop running again in short order. We go crazy without our computers, don't we?

[iUma]

Hope is it resolved soon cause it CAN make you CRAZY!!

[HeatherPrins]

yep the logic board on ours just went (after the apple care expired, of course) and is far too costly ($900) to repair so we had to buy a new computer. Love the new 27" iMac but wish i wasn't forced into buying a new one just yet.

[Julie DeGuia]

Originally Posted by anke

Wow, I am impressed with you ladies for tackling those repairs yourselves. I would have no clue as to where to begin!!! I detest computer viruses, that's one of the reasons I like the Macs...

I'm wiwth you Anke... wouldn't have a clue! Hope it all works out Esther!

[lizj]

Bah!

[blhdvm]

Originally Posted by Julie DeGuia

I'm wiwth you Anke... wouldn't have a clue! Hope it all works out Esther!

Me either! Fortunately, I have found a wonderful person who does great work at a reasonable price!!

[KimR+]

How frustrating!! Hope things get worked out quickly and you can be back doing what you love again soon!

[Janet1949]

Im with Anke and Julie... I would'nt have a clue where to start.. I would be running, I mean RUNNING as fast as my twinkle toes could go to the friendly computer fixer-upper... ha!

[readstoomuch]

Sorry for your 'humbug' woes, Esther.

I am always so impressed with your computer savy . . . so I know that you will come out on top! Best wishes!
Meantime, my computer is at a nearby Apple Spa getting a makeover of her Optical Drive . . . thank goodness that my Apple Care is still current!!! I miss my baby bunches . . . hope that you get your baby in top comdition soon, Esther!

[MIDA78466]

In a former life I had a complete IT department at my disposal. I never learned anything more than turning it off and on. Don't have an IT department anymore but have a computer repair guy that takes care of all my Windows (work) computers. I've had a Mac laptop for scrapping for three years. Still don't know anything about computers. Just bought a new Mac and it is still in the box. The computer repair guy doesn't work on Macs but has agreed to get on the phone with Apple and move all my info over, install printer drivers software, etc. Call me dumb--I just don't have a clue. So, I have an appointment for Friday at 11AM with the computer guy.

I envy all of you that an troubleshoot your computers!

[esther_a]

Oooh, Terry!! Have fun on your new computer!!
I think my problem is a broken USB connection - caused by shoving a USB cable in crooked when I didn't have my glasses on! I think it may be shorting the mother board. The technician just said "It seems to be working fine now". I asked if he disconnected it and he said "Oh no, it's hard wired to the motherboard. I can't disconnect it. I just put some sticky tape over it." Huh?! I hope he's not going to charge me much for that!! I'm afraid it doesn't fill me with much confidence.

[js_74]

Sticky tape!?!?!?! LOL!!! Sounds like the MacGyver of all computer technicians!!! Fingers crossed

[Jane_Bond7]

LOL Esther, I mean about the tape, not the computer problems.... I hope that fixes it and you are back up and running! It's amazing how dependant on them we've become! Keeping my fingers crossed for you too.

[esther_a]

Thanks for all your sympathy! It's good for the soul to be able to have a little vent to such sympathetic ears!

Yes, my computer is back and working - and I got a LO done . All they did was bend one of the USB pins that was shorting out, and replace the tape!! BUT they did not charge, so that was sweet of them.

I also took in another laptop that was playing up - a 2nd hand one I bought for $200 (it was my work computer) for my other daughter. It was reliable for me, but kept crashing on her!! They didn't diagnose the problem there, either, but cleaned it and ran a "service" on it and charged $130! I hope that's the end of that!

Then yesterday one of the blinds in the kitchen broke... so on it goes

[maureenreynolds]

Oh I hear you I hear you. Just before Liz went into the hospital...can it be last Saturday?, I had thought I might call apple again to get the last of my iMac issues resolved. I know half of what I need to know and am no way a Sarah or Heidi, but I grasp a lot of it.

Of course, now I am still waiting for time to make that call. I told Dick he can either do it for me, or be sure Liz is fine for the time I need to be on the phone working through it. None of my preferences 'hold' but we did delete the preferences files while fixing problem A. Now some of the fix has left me with problem B. I really hope it resolves because the beauty of a 27" is its size and beauty, but the downside is ..its size in lugging it into the store.

All in all this is one of my upscale problems right now, but oh "Mama, don't take my Kodachr"...er Mac!!!!! I make no bones about it, I'm hooked.