Attention Computer Person Who Can Come To WFMU Tomorrow Night.

[Tom Scharpling]

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.

[Dan B]

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

That might do the trick.

[yesno]

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

[Tom Scharpling]

Strike this offer. This computer is fried.

Thanks to all those who tried to help.

Tom.

[senorcorazon]

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?

[Martin]

Sorry about your computer, Tom. That stinks.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

Sorry about your computer, Tom. That stinks.

i second this sentiment.

[Big Plastic Head]

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

[Sarah]

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

[yesno]

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.

[Sarah]

Good news.

[Tom Scharpling]

Yes, it is FIXED.

The exciting adventure will be recounted tonight.

Tom.

[Martin]

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?

[yesno]

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.

[Martin]

True. Thanks for that.