The Day My Computer Died

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aztech

I've always been a skeptic when it comes to technology, especially
computers and the Information Age. I used to think it was crazy how
people would put their total faith into a machine, some even more so
than in their faith in humanity. Human beings are flawed, imperfect
creatures. I say this in a positive way because if humanity were
completely positive and perfect we would have nothing to learn, and
life would lose its vitality and mystery. Computers come from the same
universal reality as humanity, so I believe that we should look at
technology in a similar context. Computers are not infallible pieces
of nature's perfection.

I've come to learn that computers are great tools for human society.
They can be functional in innumerable areas of everyday existence,
helping to simplify many aspects of our lives. However, as today I
discovered my computer had 'died' after a lightning strike had hit my
house and subsequent power surge, the realization came that a complete
faith in our progressive technology is simply not practical. I'm not
saying that like the Luddites of the early era of industrialization we
need to destroy this stuff, I'm just saying that we must realize that
like all things in life, technology can and will become sick and die
on occasion. Working at an Internet Web Hosting company I have been
witness to many of these illnesses, and it has been very fortunate
that human 'doctors' have been present to undertake surgery.

It's a real bummer when something goes wrong, but these occurrences
are necessary in a space-time continuum that is in constant flux. If
you are a spiritual person, you might say that there's only one thing
in life to have unwavering faith in: Magical existence itself. You
might be asking yourself by now, 'What is this guy talking about?' I
think I'm just rationalizing the

http://www.dontplayplay.com/html/Humor/20060929/25534.html
 
aztech wrote:

If you feel your post is relevant in more than one newsgroup in the future -
please crosspost instead of multiposting...

If it is spam (which it feels like):

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And to answer the fundamental part of the tirade - you shouldn't trust
comuters completely - that's why there are usually backup systems for the
backup systems that catch things when they fail - and why it is always
suggested you backup the stuff important to you on external media in-as-far
as the home computer is concerned.
 
I've always been a skeptic when it comes to technology, especially
computers and the Information Age. I used to think it was crazy how
people would put their total faith into a machine, some even more so
than in their faith in humanity. Human beings are flawed, imperfect
creatures. I say this in a positive way because if humanity were
completely positive and perfect we would have nothing to learn, and
life would lose its vitality and mystery. Computers come from the same
universal reality as humanity, so I believe that we should look at
technology in a similar context. Computers are not infallible pieces
of nature's perfection.

It's a real bummer when something goes wrong, but these occurrences
are necessary in a space-time continuum that is in constant flux. If
you are a spiritual person, you might say that there's only one thing
in life to have unwavering faith in: Magical existence itself. You
might be asking yourself by now, 'What is this guy talking about?' I
think I'm just rationalizing the

Yes I can relate. Though I have been working as a service engineer for many
years...
and though I actually took a few computer classes way back in the punch card
days...
and briefly owned a ti-99 computer back in 1982...
I grew to shun technology...and stayed as far away from computers as
possible.

I do a lot of writing...and always used a manual type-writer ...I'd always
laugh at folks who told me long tales
about what they had to to to get their computer to print. I'd always tell
them that all I had to do was put in a piece of paper and go.
A new ribbon once a year...and a couple drops of oil every five or ten
years.

I even threw away my TV and to this day I have never missed it.


However...in 1999 my girlfriend gave me her old computer...and I soon became
hooked on it like everyone else.
Since I've done service work all of my life it seems...It did not take me
too long to be very good at repairing computers...
(The very people who helped me learn how to use one...are now amazed that
they turn to me when something goes wrong.)

The funniest/ saddest thing I ever saw was one night two of my
friends...middle aged men...
came over to my house with their computers wrapped in blankets...and
terrified looks on their faces.
Like mothers with ill babies!

Anyway I got their machines all fixed up and they went home relieved.

As to your dead machine...there is a good chance that all that was taken
out...was the power supply.

Most of the machines I've worked on that suffered lightning strikes...simply
lost the powersupply and nothing more.

And though maybe a few did have worse damage...I;ve never yet seen one come
in with a dead harddrive...
so chances are your machine can be easily fixed...and if it's something
worse...at least the data is probably still there on your harddrive.


BTW: My typewriter (from around 1939) is still on my desk...I never moved it
when I got the computer...
and I still use it from time to time....It's never let me down.

I even have a carbon-copy backup system! <G>
 
philo said:
Yes I can relate. Though I have been working as a service engineer for many
years...
and though I actually took a few computer classes way back in the punch card
days...
and briefly owned a ti-99 computer back in 1982...
I grew to shun technology...and stayed as far away from computers as
possible.

I do a lot of writing...and always used a manual type-writer ...I'd always
laugh at folks who told me long tales
about what they had to to to get their computer to print. I'd always tell
them that all I had to do was put in a piece of paper and go.
A new ribbon once a year...and a couple drops of oil every five or ten
years.

I even threw away my TV and to this day I have never missed it.


However...in 1999 my girlfriend gave me her old computer...and I soon became
hooked on it like everyone else.
Since I've done service work all of my life it seems...It did not take me
too long to be very good at repairing computers...
(The very people who helped me learn how to use one...are now amazed that
they turn to me when something goes wrong.)

The funniest/ saddest thing I ever saw was one night two of my
friends...middle aged men...
came over to my house with their computers wrapped in blankets...and
terrified looks on their faces.
Like mothers with ill babies!

Anyway I got their machines all fixed up and they went home relieved.

As to your dead machine...there is a good chance that all that was taken
out...was the power supply.

Most of the machines I've worked on that suffered lightning strikes...simply
lost the powersupply and nothing more.

And though maybe a few did have worse damage...I;ve never yet seen one come
in with a dead harddrive...
so chances are your machine can be easily fixed...and if it's something
worse...at least the data is probably still there on your harddrive.


BTW: My typewriter (from around 1939) is still on my desk...I never moved it
when I got the computer...
and I still use it from time to time....It's never let me down.

I even have a carbon-copy backup system! <G>
I hope that isn't implying that hd's don't fail. They do, but
fortunately it's fairly rare. My son's hd stopped turning. The good part
is all the data was probably intact. The bad news is we had no way of
getting at it (yes, for an arm and a leg there are people out there who
could help out).
Dave Cohen
 
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