Finally……..

I’ve got the HDD back for the laptop

It arrived yesterday, so last night after I got home from work, and sorted out dinner for Ellie and I, I set about installing software.

First off I completely formatted the HDD, and then opted to install Windows XP again. Would it install? Would it heck as like! So the next plan of action was to try Ubuntu.

This was a breeze to install. Very easy to understand the on screen instructions. The only real decision that I had to make was whether I let Ubuntu partition the HDD itself or I did it manually. I settled on the first option, having had a disaster the last time I messed around with the partitions!!!

Once everything was installed I rebooted and, hey presto, there was a fully working installation of Ubuntu!

I’ve even managed to get the NAS up and running. Now all that needs to be done is get all the old data from the DVD’s and put it on the newly installed system.

The only thing that I now need to do, is install the drivers etc, for the wireless network card. There also seems to be a small problem with my sound card too, as it is not making any sounds at all. I guess that it could be the driver’s need updating.

Anyway, apart form that everything seems to be going well.

As it is, it’s early days but everything looks good for the future

The computer saga drags on

Yesterday, I got all excited when a package arrived from the company who were doing the data recovery.

It was a case of good and bad news.

Good News : the package contained DVD’s with all the recovered data on it.

Bad News : there was no HD with it

I’ve been in contact with the company today and the HD is in the post, so I can expect it in the next day or so. That’ll be a relief I can tell you.

Computer Saga - another update

It seems like the saga that was my computer is finally coming to a close.

I managed to find a firm who it seems are able to recover the data from my HD. This is good news, as I’ve been told that there is over 20Gb of data retrievable. So all being well we should receive the HD and recovered data by Fri.

Here’s keeping my fingers crossed

So that’ll be the job at the weekend, reinstalling everything on to the laptop. I think this time I’ll install both Windows and also Ubuntu Linux. See how that works out. I’ve also bought us a network storage device to use as a storage centre for our photos and documents. I must remember to keep backing this up - don’t want a repeat of this saga!!!

I’m not happy - Yet another computer update!

Friday night after work I went to see if my laptop was ready.

Good job I did, as I don’t know when I would have received the phone call saying that it was ready. On the previous occasions that I’d been to the shop, they had repeatedly said we’ll call you when they have some news. I’m still waiting!!!

Anyway, it turns out that they can’t recover the data - I reckon that they’ve just been stringing me along. The only good thing is that they’ve given me a refund as they couldn’t recover the data. How nice of them!!!

So I took my laptop home, and then I discovered that they’d removed my wireless network card from its slot - NOW I’M WELL PISSED OFF!!!

Off back to the shop we went to see what the hell they were playing at, as there was no reason for them that I could see to remove the card in the first place. I explained the situation to the lad on the desk and he went off to see what was going on. He came back a few seconds later saying that the guy who’d been working on it had gone home.

So, I thought, can’t you have a look for it!

As if he was reading my mind he went back into the room and had a look with another technician. They looked like they didn’t have a clue. After a few minutes of vague searching the lad said they couldn’t find it and the technician who was working on it wouldn’t be in until Sunday, and that he’d get him to ring me as soon as he came in.

Well, guess what? I’m still bloody waiting!!!!

So, come dinner time I’m off to give them a piece of my mind and demand that they either find it or give me a new one to replace the one that’s gone missing!

Just thought I might mention the shop now - PC World - not recommended!!!

So now I’ve got to explore a new avenue to get my data recovered, but I know one thing for sure, I don’t think I’ll be going to PC world again!

Another Computer Update

Just been to the shop to pick up my laptop as I was told it would be ready.

And guess what?!!

Its not !

Apparently everything crashed overnight while they were retrieving the data from my HD. I’m not impressed

Anyway the technician was working on my laptop while I was there and was pretty confident that it should be done today, but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow before I can pick it up, as there’ll be no time after work.

All being well we should have the laptop back tomorrow, and then comes the job of reloading all the information back onto the laptop.

Gemma will be pleased as she’s not really been able to get online and talk to her friends. I’m sorry babe, I messed up

I’ve also ordered our external HD to link up to the network, this should arrive on Monday. Fingers crossed anyway. Once we’re all up and running I’ll let you know how it’s all going.

Bye for now

Computer Update

I’ve checked with the shop where I’m getting my computer data retrieved and it should all be ready tomorrow.

Way Hay!!!

All that I’ll need to do then is reformat the hard drive and install the OS (whether thats Ubuntu or Windows, still not sure!), and then transferring the data from the DVDs that they are putting the information onto.

Don’t know how long this will take but I’m sure that everything will be fine very soon.

I’m also going to get us an external HD that we can hook up to the network in the house. Might reduce some of the load on the computer.

(Note to self - remember to back up everything!!!!)

Computer Dilemma

What to do?

Last week I was resizing the main partition on my laptop, trying to create a little more space. Whilst in the middle of the operation, the laptop had a power failure, it may have been overheating. Upon restarting the laptop, and restarting the partioning software, it was found that there was no recovery setup. And the partition was now listed as an unknown format.

“Oh, f**k,” I thought!!! “There goes all my photos etc!!!”

Luckily it doesn’t seem to have destroyed much of the data, if any, as I can see the filenames etc when I boot up into DOS. I’ve taken the laptop to a local computer shop and I’m getting them to get the data off the hard drive for me, as I have no way of getting it off by myself or indeed a recent back-up.

This is an important lesson! Make sure you back up data regularly (and especially when you’re going to be messing around with the hard drive! )

Now the question is: Do I reinstall Windows or should I move to Linux?

I’ve been looking at Linux for a while now, and the Ubuntu distribution seems to be favourite at the minute. I’ve previewed it before the little mishap occurred and was toying with the idea of a dual-boot system.

The other problem may be that when I bought the laptop there was no Windows operating system disk supplied, so I may have to install Ubuntu anyway.

I’m due to get my laptop back on Wednesday, so I’ll see what the damage is and then make my decision. It may even be a dual boot, who knows.

But one thing is for sure, I’ll be backing up on a VERY regular basis!