Backup Your Files!

I've learned several important lessons from my recent computer crash experience. I knew all this stuff before. I've always said to do what I say, not what I do. Those lessons have really been reinforced recently.

• Back up regularly. You can only restore to your last backup
• Set up an automatic schedule. You won't remember to do it. Let your computer remember
• Use a reliable media. All media fails. Back up to Cds, DVDs, USB drives, or external drives
• Use other people's servers. Most of my mail is on Gmail. It's still there. So are the links to some files I had downloaded.
  
• Having a backup image is good. This will restore all your programs as well as your data. However, you must restore to the same hardware configuration that you had when you did your backup.
• Individual file backups can allow you to move files to a different computer and/or operating system.
  
  
  

I haven't set up an automatic backup for my new computer. I have it on the list to implement and schedule a regular backup this week. I'm also going to check into sites that let you upload your backup files. I'll write more about this in another post.

More laptop woes

Apparently I'm not the only one who has an overheated lap(top). There was an article in the paper today warming men that using laptops directly on their laps may cause a drop in fertility. I guess there are several types of consequences to using a laptop in your lap. I'm thinking about buying stock in the company that sells the cooling pads. It may be a trend.

I'm still struggling with getting everything put back together after the crash. I was able to restore the image I had saved. However, it's from the end of April. That means that I've lost everything I'd updated since then. Fortunately, I'd done a backup of the files after that. Not only do I have more current data, but I was able to pull the files over to my new machine. The new machine is a different brand computer with all different hardware and a new operating system. That means that the image is worthless for it. I did get a new hard drive for the old laptop, so that's how I restored the image. However, the new drive ran long enough to restore the image and allowed me to get a couple of files copied to my USB drive, then it crashed again. I haven't given up on the machine, but I have more diagnostics to do on it. Having the new machine gives me some time and doesn't force me into rushing into a solution.

I'll probably wait until I get back from Dallas to tackle the problem. I have a lot to do to get ready for the trip. I can't believe I only have one more week. The computer problems will have to wait, or at least get in line behind all my other "to dos".

Keep Your Cool and Your Computer's Too

As I was pondering on what to write about for this first post, my computer gave me a "blue screen of death". In previous versions that's been fairly common. However, it's the first time I ever saw it on XP. The error screen suggested rebooting. I did that, but got the same message. The hard drive had crashed. It crashed and burned so badly that there were scorch marks on the drive case.

I have used this computer in my lap for most of the year since I retired. I enjoyed the warmth for the computer. However, that same warmth was killing my computer.

To prolong the life of your computer

1. Take it out of your lap and turn it off if it gets too warm
2. Make sure the air vents are not obstructed (especially if you are using a desktop).
3. Don't store it on a pillow or other fabric surface that will obstruct air flow.
4. Dust off the air vents (especially if you have pets).

Have a great Father's Day and cool computing.