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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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 Posted -
17/12/2010
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10:26
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Over the years I've not done so bad when it comes to working with computers, and most times I can eventually fix things up when it all goes pear-shaped.
Yesterday my Mac went not just pear-shaped but a complete fruit pudding with meringue and custard. Over the past few weeks it had been getting slower and slower until it said: "You know what? I can't be bothered anymore. I quit." And it did.
Fortunately there's a thing called Time Machine which regularly backs up the OS and all files to an external drive, so I wasn't too nonplussed.
Unfortunately my Mac refused even to start up. Missing its core thingies or something.
No probs - just re-install the OS from the original discs. Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.
Went to restore all my settings, files, programmes, etc from Time Machine. Unfortunately my finely tuned and slimmed down original system had bloated by about 20GB when reinstalled - and my drive didn't have enough space on it to complete the job.
Grrr.
My backup drive (1TB capacity) is also getting full so it looks like I'm going to have to buy another to dump my data into, then give it all a good clean out.
On top of that, once you start messing with reinstallations, I find much of my work software needs reactivating from the software companies - it's going to take me absolutely ages to get back to where I was a few, happy and organised days ago.
I hate computers.
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panbiker
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Posted - 06/01/2011 : 17:16
Yes Tiz, that's the one it had slipped my mind that it has morphed into Freecorder. Perhaps it's time I upgraded my toolbar.
54Mbps dongle will do the trick Cally. and your DVD or whatever drive should not be too much of a problem to replace.
Ian  |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 07/01/2011 : 06:30
I had to smile when I saw Heather's description 'grinding noise'. One of the best diagnostic tools we have when dealing with anything with moving parts in is our hearing and in my experience 'grinding noise' always means terminal failure! Doesn't matter if it's a steam engine or a DVD drive, Kaputt! Only one thing worse, a bang and the clattering of metal arguing with itself.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 07/01/2011 : 10:21
Good luck with the MacPro, Calluna. It's definitely worth having a go yourself. I taught myself how to change hard drives and the like and it's very useful to know how (and I'm lousy at mechanical and electrical things!). You probably saw that last year that I built two PCs and installed Ubuntu Linux on them (described in a dedicated OG thread). I achieved it because we are lucky enough on OG to have Ian (Panbiker) and Stephen (Pluggy) and others who will bail us out if we get into too deep water.
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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 07/01/2011 : 17:26
I've checked out YouTube videos on the subject and had a dry run on my own machine. It literally is as simple as folding the side down, pulling out the drive on its carrier, unscrewing various bits and replacing the box of tricks.
YouTube is a mine of information - don't know what I'd do without it. There seems to be a video on just about every subject you can think of - and all free!
As a Mac user, I'm a bit isolated when it comes to sharing advice on computer problems but this has also forced me to work things out for myself (or search for answers via Tinterweb) which is no bad thing.
Same goes for DIY - there's only so much you can ask your mates to do before they stop coming round in case you thrust a saw at them (BTW thanks BK for all you've done so far!) and so I've learned to tackle quite a few jobs myself - which sometimes involves power tools. Normally me and power tools wouldn't be mentioned in the same breath... |
pluggy
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Posted - 07/01/2011 : 17:37
There's a lot of people out there who want a man to do it for them, fortunately for me. I've been snowed up with work this week and I've worked quite a lot of the holidays too. I'll have made a fortnights salary at school this week, but thats working a 66 hour week. Makes up for the times when the phone doesn't ring for days on end.........
One thing for certain, I'm in no hurry to go back working for somebody else. I've decided I love being my own boss, even with the hard work and long hours and times when I wonder where the next jobs coming from.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Sunray10
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Posted - 08/01/2011 : 18:11
Yes indeed, the Agony and the Ecstasy, the OGFB site has crashed this evening for about three quarters of an hour. Must be a "spike" or something similar.
R.Spencer. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 06:51
Plugs. So pleased to hear that you are busy. One thing is certain, when word of mouth really kicks in you may be wondering whether you have a tiger by its tail! When you think of the number of people who are working with macchines that could be improved so much by simple Windows clean-up programmes it makes you weep. Me, actually! It's good news for you!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 10:36
Ray, I lost connection with OG on late Saturday morning and had to give up - and I'm in the south of England not Nelson.
Pluggy that's great news about all the work coming in and that you feel you've done the right thing.
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Sunray10
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 12:27
Sorry about that Tizer. I don't know what causes these things to happen. I'm told its due to a "spike" but I don't really know what that is. Perhaps something to do with lots of people going on to the site at the same time causing the server to go off. I'm no expert on this computer stuff though. Maybe someone out there can tell us.
R.Spencer. |
moh
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 13:38
I've never heard of anyone losing contact with the site before, in spite of days when we have lots of visitors.
Say only a little but say it well |
pluggy
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 14:51
Yeah I couldn't get on yesterday either, I just went to one of my other haunts. I put it down to Doc having it in bits or the ISP having an off day.
The word of mouth is already kicking in Stanley, 2 word of mouth and a repeat customer this week, I take that as meaning I can't be doing everything wrong. I've still got work in hand for next week, I'm determined to have today off.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Sunray10
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Posted - 09/01/2011 : 14:58
Yes it does happen moh. Late last year another website I'm on were having this sort of trouble. The editor said it was the server and what he called "a spike". He says that it was caused by one person somewhere, can't remember where, trying to cause trouble to the site. They managed to "block him" and after that things seemed to be better. But, as I say, I'm not a computer expert. I just expect mine to work when I press the button. Though I do have a basic knowledge of what to do if things go funny.
R.Spencer. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 10/01/2011 : 07:06
Plus, one of the best things about being self-employed is that you can declare any day to be Saturday.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 10/01/2011 : 11:53
A caveat to that Stanley - any day can also be a workday, and often is!
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pluggy
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Posted - 10/01/2011 : 18:54
I'm with Tizer...... 
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Computers: the agony and the ecstasy
