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The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: Tom Scharpling on January 13, 2009, 01:06:18 AM

Title: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Tom Scharpling on January 13, 2009, 01:06:18 AM

My Mac G4 laptop won't turn on.

When I turn it on, it beeps three times and nothing happens.

I wrote a 20 page document on this thing today that I didn't back up. Most everything else is backed up, but I need that off of it, and I need this laptop working.

If you are a computer-savvy person and you are in the NJ/NY area and you are free tomorrow night, I would like to talk to you.

I will make it worth your while if you can help me out here. I am screwed without this thing.

Write me at toms@wfmu.org

Thank you!

Tom.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Dan B on January 13, 2009, 01:16:49 AM

http://macosx.com/tech-support/mac/g4-powerbook-os-10-3-won-t-startup/3910.html

That might do the trick.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: yesno on January 13, 2009, 01:30:00 AM

Document is likely safe!  3 beeps @ boot indicates a RAM problem.  Crunching and clicking comes along with a hard drive problem.

Rush Limbaugh bitched about his Mac on the air about a year ago (I read on Mac sites--I'm a Michael Savage man).  Apple sent a guy like the next day.  I see no reason why the same wouldn't work for The Kid.

My tweets on the matter:

Possible easy fix is to re-seat RAM chips, http://bit.ly/nJVH http://bit.ly/EtYY

At the very least 3 beeps means the hard drive is probably fine, so your document probably will be recoverable

longshot, hold down "T" when booting, if firewire symbol on screen yr in "disc mode." attach via FW to other Mac as external hd

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Tom Scharpling on January 13, 2009, 02:55:59 AM

Strike this offer. This computer is fried.

Thanks to all those who tried to help.

Tom.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: senorcorazon on January 13, 2009, 07:30:39 AM

Allow me to be the first to address the laptop directly: "How dare you!"

Computer problems are the worst, worse than traffic on the BQE. Here's to a computer miracle rebirth?

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Martin on January 13, 2009, 08:56:39 AM

Sorry about your computer, Tom. That stinks.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on January 13, 2009, 11:09:35 AM

Quote from: Martin on January 13, 2009, 08:56:39 AM

Sorry about your computer, Tom. That stinks.

i second this sentiment.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Big Plastic Head on January 13, 2009, 11:15:07 AM

Oof. This 2009 thing sure isn't winning any prizes yet.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Sarah on January 13, 2009, 12:31:47 PM

I hope you can nevertheless somehow retrieve your document, Tom.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: yesno on January 13, 2009, 12:35:17 PM

Quote from: Sarah on January 13, 2009, 12:31:47 PM

I hope you can nevertheless somehow retrieve your document, Tom.

Success reported on Twitter!  Yay "geniuses."

I recommend backing up all laptop files online.  iDisk, Jungle Disk, etc.  Saves a lot of heartaches.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Sarah on January 13, 2009, 12:42:44 PM

Good news.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Tom Scharpling on January 13, 2009, 01:12:00 PM

Yes, it is FIXED.

The exciting adventure will be recounted tonight.

Tom.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Martin on January 13, 2009, 03:40:52 PM

Quote from: yesno on January 13, 2009, 12:35:17 PM

I recommend backing up all laptop files online.  iDisk, Jungle Disk, etc.  Saves a lot of heartaches.

This sounds like something for me. Any recommendations? Experiences? iDisk seems to be Mac only. Jungle Disk is amazon-owned - wtf is that all about?

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: yesno on January 13, 2009, 04:10:27 PM

Quote from: Martin on January 13, 2009, 03:40:52 PM

Quote from: yesno on January 13, 2009, 12:35:17 PM

I recommend backing up all laptop files online.  iDisk, Jungle Disk, etc.  Saves a lot of heartaches.

This sounds like something for me. Any recommendations? Experiences? iDisk seems to be Mac only. Jungle Disk is amazon-owned - wtf is that all about?

iDisk is Mac only, yep.  Jungle Disk as far as I know is not owned by Amazon.  It uses Amazon's servers which they make available to anyone to use.

Jungle/iDisk are good for when you want to keep a bunch of documents in sync between computers.  So I have an iDisk with local copies (that sync) on my laptop and my desktop, so I can work from either.

A simpler solution is to just get a sftp site somewhere and have stuff be automatically backed up to the internet.   Or you can put yourself on a waiting list for a https://www.backblaze.com/ invite.  http://mozy.com/ is pretty popular, too.

I just think that with the kind of work people do on laptops you want backups ASAP, not just to happen when you get home.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Martin on January 13, 2009, 04:22:40 PM

True. Thanks for that.

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: KickTheBobo on January 13, 2009, 06:34:41 PM

did you try rebooting?

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: Stupornaut on January 13, 2009, 06:48:00 PM

Quote from: KickTheBobo on January 13, 2009, 06:34:41 PM

did you try rebooting?

KTB, IT

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: A.M. Thomas on January 13, 2009, 07:24:13 PM

Quote from: yesno on January 13, 2009, 04:10:27 PM

Quote from: Martin on January 13, 2009, 03:40:52 PM

Quote from: yesno on January 13, 2009, 12:35:17 PM

I recommend backing up all laptop files online.  iDisk, Jungle Disk, etc.  Saves a lot of heartaches.

This sounds like something for me. Any recommendations? Experiences? iDisk seems to be Mac only. Jungle Disk is amazon-owned - wtf is that all about?

iDisk is Mac only, yep.  Jungle Disk as far as I know is not owned by Amazon.  It uses Amazon's servers which they make available to anyone to use.

Jungle/iDisk are good for when you want to keep a bunch of documents in sync between computers.  So I have an iDisk with local copies (that sync) on my laptop and my desktop, so I can work from either.

A simpler solution is to just get a sftp site somewhere and have stuff be automatically backed up to the internet.   Or you can put yourself on a waiting list for a https://www.backblaze.com/ invite.  http://mozy.com/ is pretty popular, too.

I just think that with the kind of work people do on laptops you want backups ASAP, not just to happen when you get home.

Yesno:

What do you think of solid-state drives?  I know they're very pricey at the moment, but I'm sure they'll become more reasonable in a couple of years.  Will they reduce, or even eliminate, our collective hard drive problems?  How much more reliable are they than conventional hard drives?

Title: Re: Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.
Post by: yesno on January 13, 2009, 08:04:59 PM

Solid state drives are less prone to mechanical failure.  They're not perfect; in fact, they're slower to write to.

But Tom's problem was not a hard drive problem.  And you would want to back up a laptop just because of loss and theft.  Or smashing/spilling type damage that could break anything electronic.