That lightning – great photo, bad shock. It totally killed my computer. I spent the better part of Saturday running here and there trying to resolve the broken beast’s problems – after 4 hours the upshot was that I needed a new computer.
Here’s what you gotta know about protecting your machine and your data.
Did you know that those surge protectiors – even the expensive ones – are really one-time use devices? If they do stop the bolt from the blue, they won’t stop it a second time around. After the fact, the manufacturer kindly let me know.
Did you know that even though you back up your data (I have mine on 2 redundant drives and an online back up service – Carbonite), created by Windows XP, if you need a new computer you’re forced to use Vista – you can’t buy XP anymore. But Vista won’t play nice with XP drives!!!! It’s taken me the rest of the weekend to open about 6 client folders, there are hundred of images in each and each time I tried to open one I got “you don’t have permission to access this file…” “You aren’t the owner of this file…””You need to elevate this action…” Yikes – evey file I have is now so locked down I can’t even move it to a USB stick! REALLY!!!!
I am appalled that they can actually sell this shite. Bill Gates you are an evil evil man!
I won’t even talk about the joy I had trying to reinstall my software…
Well, sorry for the rant. But take heed if you think you can painlessly upgrade to a new computer (for whatever reason) because your old XP HD is still working fine so you can just plop it into the new case, or add it as a USB drive. hahahahaha. Not gonna happen.
Linda Vich says
So sorry about your computer troubles, Alex! Computers are great when they are working. Not sure about your problem with your drives, though . . . if you are talking about external hard drives that you simply store data/photos on, you should have no problem plugging them into your computer and using them! I just got a new desktop with Vista 64 and my old EHDs work fine with it! Just got a new laptop with Vista 64 and same thing! I would ask your computer guy about this . . . it could simply be some authorization thingy with Vista . . .
Linda says
I just had a new computer custom built last week and got XP with it no problem.
alex says
yeah, custom machines are different. But MS officially stopped selling XP in the spring and if you go to buy from the usual suspects Vista is the only “choice.”
I’m getting a small netbook with XP and can’t wait!!! (Also investing in a 2 TB BU drive.) 🙂
alex says
Hey Linda V!
Long time no talk!! Thanks for the encouragement. Unfortunately I installed my old drive as a mounted drive so this is why Vista is protesting! Got it sorted out after a weekend of wringing of the hands and gnashing of the teeth, not to mention the guzzling of wine!
Andy153 says
Hi Alex – switch to a new Apple Mac and run XP alongside the best system. All the drives will run and in future, any problems – for 99% of them, and they are rare, just switch off the machine and restart and it sorts itself out. Andy.