Monday 21 November 2011

Old Kitty - 0, Techonology - 1

Bloggie friends!

I am thankful for SOME new technology.

Seriously, for one who doesn’t own a mobile phone and never will, one who pooh-poohs e-readers and all things e-format, one who will never drive a car or learn to and one who continues to but fails to learn to swim or ride a bike or rub her tummy and tap her head at the same time, admitting to this is a Big Thing.

You see over the weekend, my pc crashed catastrophically. The only way I could revive it was to reset the whole thing to “factory settings” circa 2005/2006. LOL!

Yes I lost all my writing and documents. Note to self: always back stuff up! Grrr!

But I didn’t lose any pictures of Charlie, my angel kitties and those of my sister and her kids’ visit to England from Australia in 2009. I only managed to keep these precious pictorial memories because of these:



Yes bloggie friends, if it hadn’t been for digital cameras and their little diskettes and if it wasn’t for Boots the Chemist able to transfer photos to CDs, I’d have lost my beloved pictures too.

Charlie says: Over the weekend, I read the papers and fluff up my furrs.



p.s. I didn’t lose all my stories – luckily I sent a load out to critiquers and to myself via email so am able to retrieve these.
p.p.s. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

81 comments:

mshatch said...

I've had this happen to me before; it's awful! I'm much better about backing up now.

Charlie looks fluffy!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

You sound awfully chipper for one whose computer just crashed. But so glad you have your pictures and your work in other sources. I email myself my work as well. Whenever I finish another draft, I email it to myself, and delete the previous one. I knew a woman who had backed everything up but even the back up computer got stolen. So I figure emailing covers all my bases.

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

Whew!! That sounded scary. We sure are glad you got the good stuff back!
Mom tries to send all our pictures to Photobucket (but sometimes forgets). Picasa seems to have our blog photos, but it is a mystery to us.

~ The Bunch

Tucker The Crestie said...

Oh, no, that's just terrible! I'm so glad you didn't lose EVERYTHING!

Angela Ackerman said...

Oh I'm glad you didn't lose everything. The same thing almost happened to me--computer crashed but I sent out the MS the day before to be critiqued.

Now, I send myself an email every time I do a revision of my WIP. Close calls have made me paranoid!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

m.q said...

what a disaster!!!Luckily you still have the pictures and all emails :)

mq the Bean
Meow Meow Family

julie fedderson said...

That sucks! I am paranoid about losing stuff, so I periodically back up on a flash drive and email myself. Used to use dropbox, too. Glad you didn't lose the important stuff.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Kitty, get an external hard drive! Back up often.
Glad you didn't lose any stories or photos. Charlie would never forgive your computer and would torment it for months on end.

Lexie said...

Oh man, I can't even imagine losing all my stories and photos in a computer crash! Things like that are the sorts that give me nightmares. (Almost literally to!) That must be so frustrating to lose a lot of your stuff! I'm glad that you were able to save some of it though. :)

--Lexi

Katnip Lounge said...

You naughty girl! If you use a technology, you MUST be able to save your work! Otherwise, go for pencil, paper, and prints. SRSLY! Computers will always die at some point, you crazy Luddite; at least purchase a portable hard drive to back your stuff up. It won't hurt, I promise!

charlotte's menagerie said...

Glad things didn't turn out too badly. I can't imagine not driving; even though I do live right next to Uptown Shopping Center with a great grocery store. But when I walk over there, I have to be mindful not to buy more that I can carry home.

Thanks for your comment. Aren't comment grand.

Mr Puddy said...

Oh !!! Big Hugs to your mommy, Charlie !
You are a lukcky one, Your food don't need to keep in HD., No lose here...tee..heh..heh
Take care
xx

LynNerdKelley said...

Oh, I feel for you and know what it's like. I'm so glad you didn't lose all your writing. I send my manuscripts to myself via email also. Great way to back things up. But I've lost a lot of pictures and other documents in our old computer, which crashed. No fun!

Lexi said...

Poor, poor you!

Glad about your photos. I had something similar happen when my last computer went; I didn't loose everything, but some photos went. Now I use Dropbox for my important documents - it's really easy to use, and stores things away from your computer.

Brigid O'Connor said...

So glad you managed to save all your photos, phew!
Good luck gathering your stories, I hope you retrieve most of them:)

Fuzzy Tales said...

Oh, please do buy an inexpensive memory stick, maybe 8 or 16 Gigs, and back everything up. :-(

I'm glad you didn't lose your photos, though, and that you have some of your writing, at least.

Marg said...

Oh Gosh Jenn, that is terrible. Weren't you smart to be able to get it back. I don't know if I could do that. Good job. Hi there Charlie, you are looking good.

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Oh no how simply awful to lose such valuable stuff. I am glad you got photo's back and that you still have some stories. If you have no cd writer in your pc then email them to mum in future and she will put the all on cd for you and it will be a pleasure.. Hugs GJ xx

Hannah and Lucy said...

What an awful shock to lose so much stuff - I think I'd have run down the road screaming. Do you know anyone who can try and retrieve your "lost" data - I won't make any suggestions as I'm as thick as a plank when it comes to computer stuff and am lucky to have a neighbour who programmes computers and whatever else for a living. Have you tried kicking it?
Take care
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Dave King said...

Commiserations. I have had the like of that happen to me, and know what a trauma it delivers. So sory to hear. thank Heaven for the great mercy of not losing the pics, though - or is that down to you? Whatever, don't beat yourself up. We've all not done it and we all know we should'a done it.

Talli Roland said...

Oh, Old Kitty. That bites the big one! Thankfully you didn't lose precious memories... but still. Eek!

Unknown said...

Oh no :( Computer crashes like that are so awful! I'm sorry you lost so much, but glad you were able to retrieve some pictures and documents. Yes, yes, back up EVERYTHING!

Rene said...

That stinks, we are sorry you lost some data! At least you had the important stuff though.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oh my gosh, well at least you have your pictures and some documents.
That's awful though.
Since I download "Dropbox", I find I'm saving much more often because of the ease of use and it being just a simple click and I'm done.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Well at least you still have lots of the impawtant stuff!!!

Angie Paxton said...

Oh,wow, my heart dropped to my toes when I read this post. I'm so glad you were able to retrieve most of your writing via your emails. And yay for paper copies of pictures! I'm going to go backup my laptop now.

Unknown said...

Technology makes me crazy as well. I do backup everything with email however.

Luna said...

So sorry about your computer! Thankfully you were able to save so much because you had copies. Yikes! My laptop has been doing some wonky stuff. Guess I better do some back-ups just in case.

*Hugs*

Creepy Query Girl said...

So sorry you lost your writing! That really stinks! But being grateful for what was saved is very thanksgiving-y of you:)

Patsy said...

Aaaah! How annoying. I'm glad you didn't lose absolutely everything.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Kitty. I'm glad you have the photographs, but I'm sorry about the other losses. If I lost my computer I'D be lost! But I so far remember to do back up!!

Since you're not into eReaders, I'm going to send you PDF files you can read on your (newly revived) computer of my two recent self-published stories. To pay me, you can write a review on Amazon. That would mean the world to me (and Jen). See Jen waving ~~~
Ann Best, Memoir Author

Janet Johnson said...

Oh man! What a terrible feeling! So sorry to hear about it. :(

But thankful your pictures are safe!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oh my gosh--I'm off to make backups... eek.

So good to hear you didn't lose ALL your stories and yay for the photos!

LTM said...

oh, thank goodness you had your pictures backed up! Next to my books, those are my most backed-up files. (I also have them in several locations.)

CDs win! :D <3

Helena said...

I'm so glad you've got copies of your writing somewhere! I'm so paranoid about technology and my computers, I've emailed myself works in progress and completed manuscripts. That way they always exist in cyberspace. But photos are so important I want the real, physical ones around.

Soggibottom said...

These things Happen... I repeat AGAIN... back up, back up, back up... ALL THE TIME .............
Save what you can and remember the rest... THEN NEXT TIME BACK UP......
Charlie, your looking as cool as every me dear little fluffy mate :-) X X X Hope Santa is going to send you lots of CATNIP for Christmas... if he doesn't promise we will..... :-) X X X You don't have to have a back up of catnip, it goes a bit soggy when loved. :-) X

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Well now that is a bugger.
Hope things are going better on the computer front now.

Our Mom has double back ups and of course she has iCloud.

Amazon offers free a certain amount of online storage which is a good place to park stuff like your stories and even pictures.

External hard drives are great though. Mom backs up frequently.

sending our softest purrs
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

CCL Wendy said...

O noes! I'm so glad you were able to save the pictures, though. Also our writings are impawtant, the pictures are irreplaceable.

Thanks for your kind words about Dante's grampa.

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm so relieved you didn't lose your stories. And lovely Charlie photos of course.

You need to back up, Girl! Next time, right?

The problem with technology is that at some point, you'll have to buy some of it. The stuff you relied on just won't be available anymore or compatible.

(I'm still with you about Twitter.)

Stina said...

My computer was attacked by a virus two years ago. I did lose photos. The ones I hadn't backed up. Fortunately I email all my valuable documents to myself, so I didn't lose my mss.

Of course I ignored my husband with the new computer and bought antiviral software. ;)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Oh my! Losing one's hard drive is such a disaster. I came close once and now I always use an external backup drive.

I do have to begin downloading my photos to discs soon, as I have thousands, and they are taking up room.

Simon Kewin said...

Phew! But, yes, back up back up, back up!

Smudge said...

my dad could take a lesson from this. This computer is likely on its last leg, and so far the only thing dad does is email himself all of his writing. He and mom had better get their sh*t together and back up their pics and everything else before its too late!!

Susan Fields said...

Oh no! Thanks for the reminder to back my stuff up - I haven't done that in a while. I'm so glad you have your pictures and some of your stories!

klahanie said...

Thank goodness you managed to save all those treasured photos.
And speaking of mobile phones, our buddies in North America have 'cell phones'. Gosh, didn't realise you could have a phone in your cell :)
Take care
x

Anonymous said...

Oh No!!! That happened to me in 2002 and I cried BUCKETS and yet I'm still pretty lazy about backing up.

So glad you managed to keep some stuff. Sending stories to yourself on emails and keeping the emails is also a good way to retrieve them.

Rick Watson said...

I'm a freak about backing up. I suggest you spring for a mac and buy an external hard drive.
The mac makes an incremental backup every few hours and more frequently if you like.
It doesn't ask, it just does it in the background.
I actually have two images of my data. One that is connected to the mac and the other that I carry in my briefcase which gets backed up every Friday (the drive, not my briefcase).

Hart Johnson said...

Urgh!!! So sorry for losing so much stuff! I've taken my laptop to experts to make sure I don't lose stuff. I regularly email myself stuff now, but I'd still be a wreck to lose my computer.

Deniz Bevan said...

Eek! Oh no! Glad to hear you had the photos on backup. I've really got to backup all my writing - I always email the latest draft to myself at the end of the day, but don't really remember to back up anything else...

notesfromnadir said...

Yes, I've lost docs due to not backing 'em up. I'm so glad you were able to save those kitty photos. :)

wildcatwoods said...

We know all too well computer crashes!!! Glad you saved your pics and stories!

fairyhedgehog said...

Oh dear, Kitty. I'm glad there were some pictures that were saved.

Purrfect Haven said...

god.. to blog after a technology crash... it inspires me! Lovely to discover you. Helen and her Darcy and Bingley xxx

Tracy Jo said...

So sorry to hear about your computer!! Glad you had sent some of your writing out so you can get it back. Good reminder for me...must back up! :-)

Karen Jo said...

I am really sorry that you lost so much in your crash, but glad that your pictures and some of your manuscripts were saved elsewhere. Thank you so much for your kind words about Emma. I really appreciate it.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

OMGoodness! I am so sorry you had this happen. My computer kind of crashed. Luckily I was able to save most of the photos and all of my documents before it was completely gone and I had to buy a new one. Karen's idea about email your ms to yourself is a good idea.

(hugs) Cause I'm sure you need them...

Ellen Whyte said...

Goodness, now you are a dinosaur! And I thought it was just me who is grr about mobiles and endless "contact" chatter.

Love to Charlie.

Anonymous said...

beautiful cat, Happy Thanksgiving!! +follow

Words A Day said...

Hi Old Kitty, my first comment got lost I see.
Thank goodness you didnt lose your stories, you must of got such a fright.
ps I admire anyone who has managed not to own a mobile...wish it were me:)

Esme said...

thank goodness is right-I have a new back up drive and need to plug it in now-you have just reminded me. Loosing my photos would be a disaster.Have a lovely day.

Hilary said...

You got lucky! You should check out my blog on Saturday. There will be a give away that is right up your alley... I admire you staying so free of technology.

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Oh my word, how terrible to lose so much! But I'm so glad you didn't lose all your stories or any of your Charlie pictures. What a dearheart you are for staying so positive through it all. It's very inspiring.

the writing pad said...

Sorry about your cras - but so glad you didn't lose all your wonderful work - or your precious pics - and well done for taking it on the chin :-)
Hats off to you for keeping your sunny disposition - and not gnashing your teeth down to the stumps !!
All best
Karla

Unknown said...

Now this is incredibly embarrassing. I can hardly believe that after all this time i hadn't joined your blog as a follower. Wierd! Well, I'm glad I am now. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and look forward to keeping up with you and Charlie your darling cat!

Dawn Simon said...

It's awful you lost so much. Thank goodness you didn't lose your stories, and you still have many of your precious photos!

You always have such a great attitude, and I enjoy your comments. :) Thank you for the reminder to back up our computers.

Golden Eagle said...

I'm so sorry that you lost all your documents! But I'm glad to hear you could retrieve some of your stories from email and critique partners--and that your pictures were safe. :)

Elizabeth Mueller said...

It was a bitter sweet thing when I moved to digital camera. I have tons of photos taken, but I haven't developed one single one! :( I miss doing that and wonder about the day when I flood the photo place with all my digital copies.

I'm still dreading e-books. I have a few ebooks, but I still don't like reading them on m laptop. I wonder how I'll enjoy an e-reader?

*sigh*


♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

I'm so sorry you had to go through this! But at least you didn't lose everything. It's scary how much valuable stuff can get lost. It's sad to say, but technology usually wins.
And at least Charlie is as adorable as ever.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Charlie dried himself with the hair dryer. Hey, cats do amazing and spooky things when we're not watching.

Pip said...

How terrible fur you! We is so glad you not loses your picshurs. Special of the angel kitties. Our mommy thinks those are most important.
We loves you! TK

Ann Dziemianowicz said...

Oh dear. So sorry that you lost a lot of your writing. I can't think of anything worse for a writer. Glad that you had sent copies to be critiqued and were able to recover some of your pieces.

Also happy you have pixs of Charlie.

Thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes. Off to my sister's house for the feast. :)

Claudia Zurc said...

OMG! you really got lucky there! I back up at least twice a month. I'm with you when it comes to pics. I would have cried if I lost my pics. Good thing you had a digital camera. Those are memories you can't get back. RE: your stories, another great save! phew!!!!

laughingwolf said...

see kit? NOT ALL BAD in dullsville! :O lol

NOW will you get a MAC? hahahahaha

go get em, charlie :D

William Kendall said...

Arggghhh! Technology!

Charlie looks very relaxed!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Ouch! That hurt. I've lost things before and know it isn't fun. So glad you didn't lose everything - that you still have some stories and your precious photos.

KarenMcG said...

I'm so glad to learn you didn't lose some of your very important photos and your stories.

Little Charlie, you look so cute there.

Although late, thank you for the "Happy Thanksgiving" wishes for "The Boys" and me.

PK HREZO said...

Phew! Thank goodness you didn't lose your stories! Wow. That's such a nightmare. I use Dropbox and anytime I update a word doc I save it to dropbox. It's pretty handy.
I have a friend who ost all her son's baby pics when her computer crashed. SO sad.

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

We're happy you didn't lose any of your photos.......our mama wasn't as lucky and lost all of our photos when her external hard drive crashed.....but she is hoping they can be retrieved from it.

We love the two of ya bunches.

Manzanita said...

Oh, I'm so sorry. This is scary business. So glad you held on to your beloved pictures. I back up everything with an external hard drive and I don't even have anything of real importance. :) Not stories, like you writers do/
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

Lydia Kang said...

Oh, that's terrible! My PC crashed a few summers ago and it was awful. Luckily I got my stuff back but I almost had a heart attack in the process.

Romance Reader said...

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!