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COMPUTER PANIC

By Joan Snodgrass

Services for Real Estate Pros with Midamerica Referral Network

August 24, 2007 10:13 AM

WHERE'S THE "t"?

I'm not really addicted, I tell myself........until my computer crashed and I realized that it held ALL my important info. I know - I should be backing up all that data routinely, but I didn't. Panic time.

So here I sit today, struggling to make our 10 year old Gateway do what I want it to do - AND IT WON'T. Letter T It's Taken me three days to finally get back on Active Rain.

Until yesterday, when I found it would be a week before I got my Dell parts and my Shell Knob repairman got it working again, I had no idea how often we use the letter "T". The old keyboard I am using, doesn't like to have it's "T" key pushed. It rebels by allowing me to use it for a phrase or two and then (as it is now argh) it gets sneaky and just won't work.

By the time you realize it didn't connect, you are two sentences along and have to go back and correct. A few times of this occuring and I find myself getting up-tight and personal with that key. Where is the nearest hammer?

Please God, let my Dell get fixed soon.

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Andrew Trevino

ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA

Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale

Joan, I can feel your pain. My Palm died today as I was entering some important info into it. I realized that all of my calendar is there, as it's the only place I make my schedule. Luckily for me, I was able to get it working again...now I'm putting it all on the calendar in my office.

Aug 24, 2007 10:22 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Not to worry Joan.

This happens to my keyboard about every 6 months.

It's crumbs.

Just turn the keyboard upside down and give it a couple of hard wacks on the desk. The crumbs will fall out and the keyboard will work.

Works for me.

Joan Snodgrass

Midamerica Referral Network - Kimberling City, MO

Andrew: Misery loves company. Thanks.

Lenn: Bless you. I tried it and got a few crumbs. This is the keyboard where my husband has snacks and plays around. I think the T is working!! - got to take that back - it is working a little better so still thank u.

Gurjit: Never thought I'd have trouble with a 2 yr old Dell, but it's the power source.

Aug 24, 2007 10:33 AM

Mary Warren

Las Vegas, NV

I was going to suggest the same thing as Lenn...I always when on my computer it seems...and I've had the same thing happen. Buy yourself a couple of flash drives (the 2gb size) and start backing up your info from your computer...You can get a couple of them for less than $50.

Aug 24, 2007 10:38 AM

Sometimes if wacking the crumbs out doesn't work I will pry that particular key off and it may be something stuck under the button that is impeding the key from going all the way up or down.

I found a paperclip under the space bar once.

But, if all else fails, keyboards are cheap. Igo through one abour every 2 years. I wear the letters off a lot of keys in about 6 months but that isn't a problem.

It's the crumbs.

Aug 24, 2007 11:10 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Get a Mac! It took me twenty years of PCs to make the switch, and WOW! The quality is just amazing! I sure it's possible to crash one, but it hasn't happened. And it's so easy to back stuff up that if mine did crash, it wouldn't be the disaster it was when my trusty old Viao died.

Aug 24, 2007 03:29 PM

Joanne Hanson

Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO

Summit County, Colorado Realtor

My gateway had the W key that worked intermittently. I pried the key off to get Lenn's crumbs out and had a heck of a time getting it back on. But it worked when I got it back together. I guess we are going to have to quit eating and typing at the same time!

I wondered where you had been Joan, welcome back!

Aug 24, 2007 04:38 PM

Frank Rubi

Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA

FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Joan, no fun. Your post reminds me to start a back up now. Once you lose everything, you dont want it to happen again. Good Luck.

Aug 24, 2007 09:51 PM

hanks all - that was supposed to be THanks (darn T)- maybe I should explain that I haven;'t actually lost everything - it is still on the Dell - just don't have the Dell until the power supply part comes in. You do feel so handicapped without access to those files and programs. Like I can't get on my mls, unless I drive 15 miles into my official office. Frustrating!

Aug 25, 2007 02:41 AM

COMPUTER PANIC

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