This past week has been rather trying and frustrating, but it ended well eventually.
You might guess that it had something to do with computers, and you’d be right on the money.
It was not something that the computer did inadvertently, but rather my own choice to update the operating system from Windows 7 32 bit, to Windows 7 64 bit.
I had purchased the Windows 7 64 bit software several months ago, and was all fired to update it at the time, when I noticed that Mercury was Retrograde and thought better of it, knowing how frustrating things often are when that planet is in that configuration. Mercury rules transport, communications and information technology, so when it goes retrograde (appears to be going backwards) all sorts of delays and setbacks occur. So, not a good time to upgrade your computer.
Being clear of any Mercury backward influences I decided to gird my loins and update the computer last Monday. This meant I had to wipe C: drive and reinstall the operating system.
The new installation was a success, but I was unable to access the files on my second hard drive, which held all my data. I had backed up to an external hard drive everything I wanted to save on C: drive, but assumed (foolishly it turns out) that the bulk of my data was safe on E: drive.
It wasn’t.
Rather than search for days on Google for a solution to the problem, I gave up and took the computer to the trusty Computer Repair Shop, Cnet Technology, in Preston, which was where I purchased the computer in 2014.
Whilst there I thought I’d upgrade my graphics card as I’d been thinking of doing for a while, the original card being incredibly noisy. It also generated heat inside the case that was hot to touch.
The heat was actually caused by the burn out of one of the CPU fans, so it was lucky that we took the machine to be repaired or it could have been disastrous in the near future. Also, it turned out that the second hard drive was on the brink of death - the reason the files couldn’t be accessed.
The marvellous Michael at Cnet Tech was able to copy all the data from the dying disk to a new hard drive.
It all ended up being quite pricey, but with disaster averted, it was worth every penny and I have a quiet, fast, squeaky clean computer again.
The only problem is that my old monitor is not compatible with the new graphics card and needs an adaptor to work at all. It’s an old fashioned square LCD monitor, so I’m forced to update to a wide screen HD monitor, which I’ve been resisting doing for years.
Having to put up with a resolution of 800 x 600 pix until the new monitor arrives (the screen blacks out if I try to increase the resolution) makes the prospect of a new, bigger, wide screen quite attractive.
So what started out as a frustrating week was conversely fortunate. If I hadn’t tried to update my computer, pretty soon it would have been cactus, so the timing was perfect as it turned out.
I’ll never trust a hard disk to keep on keeping on ever again. Some do seem to last forever, e.g. the one in the old XP computer which must be getting on for nine years of age. At least I know what to look for now if it’s on the point of death and back up my data regularly.
3 comments:
oh empathy from me on all of that. I do not understand most of it, but hate Windws10 which was thrust on me. I am old and resistant to change. I long for my XP days. Life is on a laptop now, but I have kept my first PC due to emotional attachment.
You wouldn't think my lack of knowledge belongs to a person who worked in 1991 backing up [on VCR type cassettes] multiple computer towers in a massive and hot room. I worked for that software developer the day we all changed from the C prompt start screen to Windows with COLOUR. oh the guys went silly. I figured out quickly that Windows buttons were created so the boss didn't have to be reliant on asking the receptionist to do anything screen-related.
I love your meshing of astrology with technology and Dawkins, R can just choke on it.
Also glad to read of another blogger having Dumb Luck this week as I did. cheers.
I'm with Annie, I loved XP, so easy to use and friendly. I blame everything on these tech kids who want the moon on a tiny mobile screen. I thought I'd backed up everything on disk before buying the new CPU but I was going from a 32 bit to a 64 bit and Windows 10 and lost all my precious fonts, none of which I can find on the internet now. Poor Annie O, she'd get an email from me in all sorts of fonts, I even had StarGate symbols. I demanded my old classic screen back and got it. Do these people wonder about users who have arthritis and can't go poking at screens without pain and that includes mobiles.They made me give up my dear old Nokia 2004 and get a whatever 2016 but I turned off the internet, I'll only go so far.
Annie & Jah Teh (btw JT thanks for commenting. I do visit your blog and lurk in the background without commenting) I've grown to be fond of Windows 7 actually. It loads fast and is pretty much like XP and runs all my old favourite software without any hassles. I'll be obliged to upgrade in three years time when support for Windows 7 stops, but until then I'll enjoy Windows 7 while I may and if the computer makes it that far.
Annie I still have a 5¼" floppy disk with the Dos operating system on it. Amazing thinking back on old technology and how it used to be. I get quite nostalgic.
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