Trials and tribulations

[caz963]

Gah - I have been computerless for best part of today. I've been having some problems with the broadband connection here for a few weeks; it's just taken to dropping in and out when it feels like it which is incredibly annoying when I'm in the middle of something. Also, the phone line has been playing up; having a conversation with anyone on the land-line has invariably led to me having to ask the other person to yell so I can hear them over the inordinate amount of crackling and hissing coming down the line. Of course the two problems are related, and no - and I count myself fortunate in this - it wasn't to do with the actual line (which would have necessitated dealing with bastard BT), but rather with the connections in the house.

To cut an even longer story short, my Dad came round earlier and we managed to sort it and so far - fingers crossed - its fine.

The other problem was with my laptop which kept dying on me for some unknown reason. Another long story involving much yelling and frustration but which again, seems to be fixed courtesy of a trip to the local laptop fixer (Dad, again).

I hate it when things like that go wrong. I mean, I'm quite capable of doing basic, routine things on computers, but when they don't work, I'm at a bit of a loss.

Luckily, I've learned the hard way to make regular and comprehensive back-ups - although the problem with that is that I now have four or five copies of certain files, which annoys me, because I like things TIDY, dammit!

*deep breath*

So before I roll into bed, I am going to try to resist the temptation to organise and re-organise and do something more constructive instead.

Like edit fic.

Comments

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I don't know how I'd cope with an external back up option as well! I have 3 hard drives on my PC, one of which I use specifically for back-ups, and every so often I transfer stuff (mostly work-related) onto it for storage. I have 5 USB sticks, various CD backups... I just never feel very organised!

Camping was good - the kids loved it and we had a good time; I'll post some stuff later. Unfortunately, I have to get some work done this week before Abigail's birthday and our next trip to Kent.

[digitalred93.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear the trip went well. I apologize for being out of commission so much this summer. The book deadline looms, I'm fighting a stomach problem which I'll share in September, once I know more. Suffice it to say, I've lost 15 pounds...which I really didn't need to lose. So obviously, something's up.

Seriously though, you should try and have at least one off site backup option. Things happen. Fires, damaged equipment, you name it.

Better to be insane and alive than sane and with no backups.

Also, consider a wireless backup -- that's my next purchase. I'm trying to find a PC version of Apple's Time Capsule:
http://www.apple.com/timecapsule/