Don that is cute and funny.  It is tough when our virtual organizer, file keeper, work holder, picture holder, communication device has a breakdown.  I hope you had your important stuff backed up, just in case.  Sorry to hear about your dilema.

Don

I have been wondering where you have been. Too bad about your laptop. I don't know what Dan will do once his dies - they have been together for 10 years now. : )

Sandra

I would be a lot more strung out without mine.  It seems that you are taking it quite well.  Best wishes.

Believe it or not, they should be able to repair the machine.  Then it boils down to at what cost.  Hopefully, you back the system or at least the important files at least once a week. 

Don't feel bad my wife's laptop crashed the day before she was headed out of town to present two classes. I had to go out and purchase her a new laptop and I'm working on re-working her old laptop. What a pain in the neck. Life expectancy is so short.

Good Luck tomorrow

Enjoy the day without the computer.  It is amazing how they have taken over our life.

Good Luck with the repair

Cynthia - I'm terrible about backing things up.  I know...I know...I should have learned my lesson a couple of years ago when my son gave my old laptop a bath - literally, her took a water bottle and gave it a bath.  He was very proud of himself.  Of course, I had nothing backed up then, nothing at all.  But, after several weeks, my tech guy was able to retrieve and transfer most of my data over to the new computer.  I did lose a lot of articles I had written, and my entire email campaign for the previous 2 years.  I should know better.  My last backup was apparently October 2006.  I know this because I submitted my paperwork to my accountant on Saturday afternoon, and that's the last date of data I had available for him.  Oops.

Sandra- I was extremely busy all of last week, and hadn't been on Active Rain much.  Saturday morning I was going through AR trying to catch up on my reading.  That's when the laptop went into heart failure.  It was devastating.  Of course, I now blame my AR addiction for it's loss of consciousness.  I now try to steal away a few minutes here and there and work on the desktop in the upstairs office to read AR, but with three kids, I don't make it up here much!

Richard - I am really, really, NOT taking this well.  It's like I've lost my significant other... As I told the tech guys today:  My whole business is on this computer, and I'm out of work until you fix it!

Roger - It seems as though the mother board - and the video card - both went.  Or, as I understand it, the video card is on the mother board, so when one goes they both are then gone.  They were able to verify that the hard drive is fine and they will be able to retrieve the data if necessary.  They're checking on my warranty - if I'm still covered for parts, it will be about $200 in labor fees to repair, and they suggest I expect to then buy a new laptop in the coming months to be safe.  If I'm not still covered by the warranty, then it will cost about $750 to repair (the motherboard is about $550 from IBM) and they suggest I then pull the plug, bite the bullet, and buy a new one.  Either way, they expect I'll be up and running again before Friday.  We'll see.  I never count on things like this happening on schedule.

Jay - It always happens when you least expect it. And when you least have the time (and/or the money) to deal with it.  As I tell my clients when things get stressful:  "It's part of the fun..."

Philip - It is rather humorous how the darn computers run our lives.  I've been a bit lost without it.  I miss my calendar. I miss how that silly calendar tells me what to do and where to go every day.  I miss my database.  I miss knowing which prospects and clients I need to follow-up with.  I miss being able to check emails at any time.  I'm sure there is something that was scheduled for this week that I'm forgetting, but if I'm forgetting it, then hopefully it wasn't too important!

Thanks for the reminder to back up!  YIKES!

I will send good vibes for positive healing :)

you are funny. Hope it can be revived. 

Don,

that is the reason that we need always to have backup of everything just in case :)   you never know what will happen.    good luck with your laptop.

Catherine - Yes...back up your computer...back up your computer... Now, if only I would have listened to my own advice!  But, the tech guys did show me a back up system they recommend that will automatically back up all computers in your home - even the wireless ones - for about $300.  I think I may give in and buy one.

Maureen - We're still waiting for the final diagnoses.  I have my fingers crossed.  Maybe I'll go sit outside the repair offices and hold a candlelight vigil...

Ray - Yes, we need to back up regularly.  I obviously didn't learn the first time around.  Maybe the second time will be the charm for me!

Don,

BTW, good luck and hopefully you can save your data

Ray - It looks like I may be able to bring my dear laptop back home - all healed - in the morning.  I'm thinking good thoughts...

Don, I am happy for that, that's great :)

we always learn something by trial and error many times.

I bet it was the candle light vigil Don. 

It's home!  It's home!  And there was no loss of any data!

Read all about My Computer is Home from the ICU.