Computers, computers...

[katrisims]

I had a computer-savvy friend over today. And he was able to confirm what I've been suspecting for a while: the hard-drive of my simming computer might not be able to hold it much longer, and it's time to look for a replacement.

Now, in fact, it's still working just okay, and in fact it's on as I'm typing it. It's currently backing up my stuff, including my beloved sims. But I'd noticed that when running a full virus skan, the computer would in a certain part halt and make "snap... snap..." noises, then after a while go on with the scan as normal. I'm not a huge guru on these matters, but even I was able make the educated guess that a computer is not supposed to say "snap... snap...".

My friend run a diagnostic tool on the computer, and it found a small portion of the hard drive damaged, but Windows was able to put the content from there elsewhere. It was some Windows file apparently not used very often, as the 'puter still worked just fine with it damaged. So, for now it's all okay, but after listening to the sounds the machine is making, my friend said that I might want to get a new hard drive before that one fails.

I particularly like the "before" part of the advice, so I suppose I'll go looking for a new hard drive tomorrow if I can. I got advice on what kind to get, and a promise of help with the installation, so I should be all set there. Thank goodness for friends who know these things!

So, while the situation is good in the sense that the computer still works and I'm currently backing my stuff up (And I also have a relatively recent backup before this as well), there may be a minor thing in here sim-wise. It should be rather easy to get the computer properly back in the business, but it will require a re-install of TS2. And I don't currently have all my disks. Some of them are at my sister's place in a different city, so it'll be a while before I can do the re-install dance.

And of course, seeing how I ended my latest chapter, you can imagine I don't particularly fancy declaring a hiatus right at this moment.

I'll have to think about this, but I might try to manage on the old drive a little longer, so that I at least have the rest of the pictures for the next chapter. (And take frequent backups.) After all, as I'm just making a backup, the worst that could happen is that the drive dies and I lose the freshest pictures (the ones I'm yet to take), have to go on a hiatus until I get the computer fixed, and then have to re-shoot a little. And I can't get the drive replaced right this instant anyway. Maybe it'll stay together for a little while longer. My friend said it might well last for years, but on the other hand it can't be trusted to do so.

So all in all, all is still well, and I'm trying to make sure that it stays that way. Fingers crossed!

Comments

[docnerd.livejournal.com]

Yuck. I hope you get that sorted out soon. MUST SAVE CHARLIE!

[katrisims.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I hope so too! Yuck indeed at computer problems, but it's relieving at least that I can take action before this turns into a computer problem of DOOM.

*goes back to de-uglifying some recently grown adults and vigorously backing up the computer*