The good news is that there’s a very strong chance I’ll be able to recover the data, which represents everything I’ve written over the last two years.
The bad news is that, in order to do so, I have to send my hard drive to San Francisco and pay more than it would cost to get a new computer.
It’s really enough to make one want to devour a cake made of nothing but chili paste.
Blogging may be light for the next week or so, as a) I am computerless, and b) my hands will be too busy wringing themselves to shreds to deal competently with a qwerty keyboard anyway.
Ouch, I didn’t realize things were so dire. I wouldn’t have been so glib in yesterday’s comment. Hope it all works out. Go easy on your hands.
As Susan Gutfeund so memorably said when her husband was charged with all sorts of financial shennanigans;
“Quelle bummer!”
When we have crashes we use a program called “Disk Warrior” to get our files back and the system up and running again.
Poor Faustus. I think it’s time to get a new laptop. One can never have too many computers or external hard drives.
Oh, come now. There has to be a reputable data recovery service in NYC; you should’t have to mail your baby off to the left coast get your data back.
If the hard disk drive itself isn’t damaged, a competent shop should be able to remove it from the laptop, stick it in something else, and get your data off onto a backup for you in no time and for a reasonable price.
Even if it’s a Mac. Is it a Mac?
If the drive itself is FUBAR, then you’re talkin’ more money. But it should not be more than the price of a new laptop!
Good luck. I suggest you call all your geek friends before shipping the thing off to see if there’s any local help!
Faustus, if you haven’t got a Mac, you should think about it. I just migrated to a powerbook a few weeks ago and love it, particularly the fact I don’t have to worry about virii anymore–so I’m told.
BTW, I see you’ve listed the poems of Dorothy Parker, though the Estate’s appears to have been in touch. I love some of her work and live a stone’s throw from where she lived in Buck County. In a way, she serves as inspiration when I’m stuck on some writing and need a muse.
poor dear sweetie. hang in there. hope you saw Mushlette’s comment before shipping the machine off. She knows what she’s talking about–she works in some computer-geek-related field. Go read her blog if you don’t believe me. 🙂
I remember taking a laptop somewhere in NYC for a similar problem. They told me all kinds of horror stories (a woman with a cockroach-infested laptop; a guy who stood on his laptop like a stepstool) and fixed it while I waited. Even if I could remember where it was, this was ten or so years back so it wouldn’t still be there, but do try looking first…….
xoxo
me
Oh dear lord. I will say a prayer for your computer. Did you send it off wrapped in a pashmina a la Carrie Bradshaw?
I will also see if, in my role as vengeance demon, I can’t arrange a human sacrifice to appease the computer gods.
Sad as I am to hear about your troubles… well, I have to say that a cake made of chili paste doesn’t sound that bad.
I mean, not before noon, but still…
Poor poor baby!
Don’t ruin your lovely hands (your hands look lovely in a pic I saw of you holding up your dog). Besides, what would we, your loyal readers, do without those lovely hands that provide us with entertainment everytime we are online?
We can wait.
Poor M.D. Just take deep breaths.
I wonder what repair guys do with all the porn they find on hard disks.
Hmm.
Alex – whatever it is, they’ll be able to do it a lot with Faustus’s HD. Yee-haw! Bonanza!
[Mush/damian] I have good reason to suspect the good doctor’s dearly-departed is indeed a Mac.
Dear Faustus,
QOUTE:
Friday, September 23, 2005
The good news is that there’s a very strong chance I’ll be able to recover the data, which represents everything I’ve written over the last two years.
‘Data’ is plural!!!
Sergei