h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My beautiful sparkly iMac's gone bang! Well, not literally, but I have no screen, just some white letters on a black background. At one point it told me I didn't exist. I'd just done some work with SystemWorks to fix computer problems - it took me a while to do it and I had to run the programme several times. Finally, it said, it had fixed all the problems. I went to get back to my hard drive, and it tells me it's not a directory. I couldn't get the CD out - then when I did - I can't get it to open, so I can't insert any disks in. I spent ages trying to get it to respond beyond the black screen. Nothing! So until I get it fixed, I can only go via Roy's computer.

Did it get a virus do you think?
Fb

Fb,

I am told Macs are not really susceptible to viruses, as they are configured differently. Mine is a li'l ol' Mac and I it. Would be devastated if it cracked up.

Singing Fish,

You must be very upset. Seems you have a at the moment. Hope you can get it fixed soon. As a Mac addict, but not at your level, I do sympathise, they are usually invincible. Please let us know how you get on

Websailor

It's not impossible to get a virus attack on an Apple (but it's certainly a lot rarer) - I recall this news item last week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3741871.stm

Sorry to hear about this, ZSF... From personal bitter experience I sympathise. My bro-in-law works in Apple tech support for the UK market. He's on hols for the next two weeks, but if you are still experiencing problems then, let me know.

Woodpigeon

for that Woodpigeon, but at least I was more or less right - nothing is perfect after all

Nothing like tempting fate is there? Lucky you, to have a bro-in-law like that

Websailor

Hi Fb,Websailor and Woodpigeon,

No,I've not sorted it out yet. I'm told it's not a virus. I spent over 1 1/2 hours on the phone to Applecare. I may need to back up my disk (which I can't do as I haven't the means - it needs another machine) and then erase the disk and reinstall the operating system. I may have to take it to a dealer and pay for them to do it - so much for the Applecare protection I paid for for three years - it's supposed to cover telephone support and physical support. One of the dealers they referred me to was PC World, however I don't have a lot of confidence that they know a lot about Macs - I went to them for extra memory and they sold me the wrong bit a while ago - then they couldn't get the right one for ages. Anyone else is in North London - a real trek if I have to take the computer to them.

I had the distinct impression I was talking to India when I phoned. They were nice people, however I had the greatest of difficulty understanding what they were saying. The second person mentioned putting the Applecare disk in and I've done this. It's chugged away for ages - I'm not sure, but it may have hung on me. I'll leave it a while and see. After all, I've nothing to lose.

I really do feel quite despondent about it.

o/|

Thank you for your offer to talk to your bro-in-law, Woodpigeon. I tried to repair the computer using the Applecare disk a bit earlier, but it seemed to hang on me, which was disconcerting. I may take you up on it if I haven't sorted it out by the time he comes back from hols.

Well, I now have computer access, but not my files or my e-mails. Not sure if there is a way I can get those back?

hi Zarquon,

Perhaps you could try asking zoomer? He has a Mac and seems quite knowledgable about computer stuff. If you don't know him, just tell him that 'az sent you'

U200838

He is a lovely person and very generous, so you don't have to worry about asking him for some help.

az

PC World are sh... very bad, for PCs, never mind Macs. I wouldn't trust them with a typewriter, so I'd advice against it, to be honest duck. I wouldn't want you to end up in a worse mess

I know how frustrating being without a computer can be, esp. when you've got used to it being there. Hope it's sorted soon .

Missing you ZSF: I guess you're not back up and running yet?

Fb

I'm now up and running, Fb! Hi KA! *waves*

It was a bit of a blow, though, especially as I thought that macs were much more stable than PCs - still don't know what happened. I lost *all* my data - e-mails, addresses, photos, files. I didn't have a back-up disc - and I didn't know how to do one. Now I've reinstalled Panther, but not OS9.2, and I find i can't play stuff that requires the earlier incarnations. I'm reluctant to reinstall those in case it over-writes what I currently have. And I thought I was reasonably computer competent. Well, they say pride goes before a fall!

Glad you are up and running again, but I am sorry you lost so much. Are you managing to back up this time?

It shakes your faith a bit when that happens. Do you think you could have been unfortunatel enough to have had a bad one in the first place. You know, accident waiting to happen? I know what you mean about Macs. I too thought they were the best. Love mine to bits. I would have a breakdown too if anything happened to mine.

I don't think many of us are truly computer literate when it comes down to the technical stuff, unless in that line of work. I agree about PC World. Certainly no place to take a Mac.

Websailor

Hi Websailor,

well, I *think* I've backed up to a disc this time, however I've not tested it, and I'm not sure I quite know how. I too love my Mac - however the lack of a proper manual has been a bit of a handicap. I like to see things in front of me and I like to be able to flick through. You can't really do that on a computer - you have to decide what you want rather than be able to discover what's there. See what I mean?

PC world? Ptui!

Traveller in Time on his head
"Well, I do not know much about Apple Macintosh. As far as I know it has basically the same kind of electronics as any other computer.

That is a silicon chip based processing structure, magnetic data storage and powered by electricity.

I have learned in years of electornic repairs and maintenance
--A) Anything that heats up burns out once (the silicons)
--B) Anything that moves wears out (drives)
--C) Anything humans touch breaks.

Mostly happening in the reverse sequence. Though actually I am always amazed if anything goes right in these computers as there are millions of ways to let it go wrong. And just one way to make it work just as you desire."

Hurray! ZSF is back with us

Welcome back!

Fb

How true, TiT

I've generally thought (although up till now, I've not applied it to computers) that it's better for me to find a great number of ways to be happy. If I am only happy if things go in one particular way, I am always liable to be unhappy (only one way to be right, millions of ways to be wrong).

I don't mind problems as long as i can learn from them. So far, I haven't learned how or why this problem happened. All I have learned is that I need to back up regularly!

Yup. Totally agree ZSF: don't put all your happiness eggs into one basket... way too dangerous. But I'd never applied that to computers before either. There is a lesson here for us all

Fb

Have a look round for a called "Mac for Dummies" . No offence intended honestly . Mine is an older version, but it is my bible, and you get such a laugh with it too. I am convinced Macs have a sense of humour lacking in PCs. Of course, you could say yours has a sick sense of humour at the moment, but that's by the way

Mine was given to me as a present, but would be worth every penny. Even if there isn't one up to date enough to cover iMac, I am sure it would still be very, very useful.

Websailor

I bought a version of Mac for Dummies, Websailor, but it was mostly about OS9. I've now got a copy of 'MAC OSX Panther Edition' and it's much better. Since the crash, I don't have OS9 at all - I think I should have installed it first, but if i install it now, it would wipe the disc again, and I'd have to go through the whole procedure. I haven't tested the back-up I made - I need to back up again, I know. I'm afraid of losing everything. That's all it is, cowardice!

Putting all eggs/happiness in one basket - good comparison, Fb. I did try to keep away from being on-line as much as possible during the time when my router died. It died immediately after my coming back from holiday, and I've only just got a replacment, so this is my first connection which isn't being individually charged! Phew!

I've a couple of entries to sub-edit and picks to make.