Joho the Blog
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June 13, 2003
I normally don't write about my daily activities, but I'm so wrapped up in my little world of PC pain that it's driven everything else out of my mind (except for the occasional negative book review). My computer crashed so hard yesterday morning that the crater on my desktop is still smoking. The storefront where I've bought my last n computers really came through. No, they couldn't salvage my PC, but they did manage to clone the drive with my backups on it. Tomorrow they'll put together a new computer for me - a screamer, by the way - which I'll then bring home and spend 30+ hours installing the software on. But this time, it'll be with some confidence that it may last longer than 31 hours. The store is ICG Computer at 358 Boylston Street (on Route 9 at Cyprus St.) in Brookline, MA. Ray helps you figure out what you need, gives you a great price, and remembers you the next time. His staff - two young hardware geeks - are ultra-technical and friendly. If you live around Boston, give Ray a visit the next time you need a computer. Phone: 617-738-5289. And, no, I'm not bartering a blog mention for computer parts, you cynical bastards. It's just such a relief to be dealing with a small store crammed with technical smarts after wandering down the double-wide aisles of the local computer megamart. Plus, Ray's a good, honest hard-working guy...probably just like the people in your own local storefront computer store. Posted
by D. Weinberger at June 13, 2003 10:27 AM
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Comments
I really do empathsize with you here Dave. There was time when I fancied myself a computer geek - a master of making computers work. Then a few months ago, I failed to install my OS eleven times over a week. During that time, various hardware functions would also stop working - keyboard, floppy drive, monitor, you name it! It was if there was an actual tiny gremlin hell-bent on insuring that I had the maximally frustrating experience possible on the human plane of existence. It worked!
I actually got to the point at the end of the week, of foresaking all computer technology, just giving up on the future, taking my computer to the dump, and moving to the hills.
Finally I hired professional help, and it turns out my boot sector (which I'm sure I wiped clean) had a virus not detectable my by Norton Utilities update, but was detected by the pro. He cleaned it, installed it, and it's worked flawlessly ever since.
I'm still a bit shy about working on my computer again - too many battle scars.
Paul
Posted by: Paul Hughes | June 13, 2003 11:00 AM
We never would have thought you so crass as to barter computer repairs for free publicity — after all, how much good would. . . . Well, anyway, we think too highly of you. . . . Well, it just seems unlikely. We kinda trust you, a little. Usually.
Posted by: AKMA | June 13, 2003 11:21 AM
If you've heard this before, I apologize...
Had your computer been a Mac (with OS X), you wouldn't have to spend 30 hours installing software. This is not to say it wouldn't crash (although that is even unlikely--I've had 1 crash in 18 months of using OS X), but you could simply move (drag and drop) about 90% of your software from the cloned backup to the new drive.
Something to consider if you keep having trouble keeping your hardware up and running reliably.
Posted by: jazer | June 13, 2003 12:55 PM
Jazer, there's certainly cloning software for PCs. In fact, ICG cloned my blown backup disk onto a new one using Norton Ghost. Because my boot disk died, you boot to Ghost (I think it runs PC DOS) and then do your clone. Is this similar to what you'd do on the Mac if a boot drive died?
Posted by: dweinberger | June 13, 2003 02:46 PM
There isn't a central (fragile) registry in the smae way.
It is also possible wiht a modest amount of Unix skills to have multiple partitions with different Users on.
But the main thing is FireWire. You can mount another Mac over Firewire even when it won't boot by holding down the T key, whcih amkes it really easy to sort out it's drives.
Posted by: Kevin Marks | June 13, 2003 09:22 PM
I suppose if you are making a clone as a backup, then simply cloning that back onto your new drive, it doesn't matter what platform you are on.
And Kevin, you have two excellent points--the registry is and always has been asking for trouble, and FireWire target mode is invaluable for troubleshooting.
Posted by: jazer | June 14, 2003 11:19 PM