Aaaaaaaargh!

Hi everybody,

Please stand well away from your computers whilst I scream at the top of my voice.

My computer had to go in for repair last Monday after we were refused an engineer to come out despite having a service agreement.  All three drives had packed up completely so I was unable to back up anything and Windows had also developed a fault.

We were promised that we would have it back by Tuesday afternoon.  Errr - No.  Tuesday came and went, Wednesday came and went. On Thursday afternoon Mike trundled down to the store to find out they had not even started working on it.

We left specific notes as to what was wrong including the fact that we had not been able to back up anything.  Later that evening I got a phone call.  Err, do you want us to back up your data?  I asked them what the instructions said.  Oh, you must want your data backed up then I was told.  That will be £30.  I was told.  Oh well, at least I would not lose quite everything.  I was promised it for Friday afternoon.  Friday afternoon Mike goes there again.  Yes, nearly finished he was told.  Then they said they wanted to ring me.  I was told that everything was fixed APART from the floppy A drive.  They had been unable to rectify that.  That would have to order in the part.  I told them forget it, as long as the other drives are working, I can live without floppy A.  I just wanted my computer back.  No can do I was told.  Once it is in for repairs we cannot let it out until it is fully working because customers will accuse us of not doing our job properly.  But I will sign a piece of paper accepting responsibility I told them I just want my computer back.  It is my property and I want it.  Hurried words from the engineer to his boss.  No can do.  You can have it back in ten to twelve days.

Loud scream from me.  Mike then phones.  I will get another cheap computer he says, that will tide you over and I can have it when yours eventually does come back. He suggested this because this is the second time the drives have packed up on that computer and I no longer trust them.

So the new computer comes home.  I tried to load AOL - it was not having any of it.  I tried repeatedly.  Nothing.  I phoned Dean in desperation.  He came over and spent three hours fiddling.  Nothing.  In the end we gave in and phoned the helpline.  Oh yes, we have upgraded the BT drivers since you installed it, you will not be able to get online unless you do this and this and this.  Luckily Dean knows quite a bit about them and flew through the instructions in no time.  Hence I am able to do this entry now.  But it is 1.20 a.m. now.  I also have a stinking cold and a splitting headache and tight chest.

Was that the end of my problems?  Oh no.  I needed my family tree maker programme back on.  Luckily I had backed up all the information around two months ago.  Dean puts the programme on for me and then goes to re-install the data.  Remember, this represents over twelve years research and several thousands pounds.  Many of my informants who supplied information and photograhs have now died.  Dean checked the disc, the data was there. But will it load on - NO.  It keeps saying that the disc I am trying to load is newer than the programme.  This is utter rubbish.  I have not bought a new family tree maker programme in about three years and the back up disc, as I said, was only created two months ago.  Of course, I do have it also backed up on floppy discs, over fifty of them but I have no floppy disc on this computer.

By this time it is quarter to one a.m. and Dean is on his knees and so I am, especially since I feel so awful with this cold.  He had to give up.  So at the moment we have no idea how we can retrieve those twelve years of dedicated research.

Oh, I also lost all the games I bought and paid for and all my favourite places have gone, all my graphics sites, special sites where I purchased things.

To say I am pig sick is an understatement.  I shall have to spend the weekend, if I am well enough, trying to re-load programmes and trying to find sites again.  If anyone has some good graphics sites please send them to me.

No, Dean cannot help tomorrow. He and Mike are replacing all the work surfaces in our kitchen. Dean has been delivering stuff all week, they have everything they need to get on with it so there will be plenty of banging and hammering going on.  It badly needs doing and I am so grateful for Dean's help but, why of why, does everything come at once!!!!!!!!!

I hope to get back to your journals early next week, provided I have not gone totally insane by that time. 

P.S. Sorry this entry is not accompanied by my usual graphics and a signature but I do not have any loaded right now.  Also well done to all the nominees in the Vivi Awards, many names I recognise.  Big thanks for the organisers for their hard work.  Thank you all for your congratulations on my nominations.  At least when I actually got into my email I had a nice surprise as I had no idea that the nominations had been announced.  Now I must get to bed before I fall off this chair.  It is almost 2 a.m. now. Sighs.