Running a computer 24/7 ?

[Jack]

Well folks...found i couldn't hang on till after the house renovation in May...
...so i've now got a new computer.

Thankfully it cost less than half the price of my 5 year old one!
Stayed with XP (but upgraded to Pro), and my economy drive has now started...
...installed AVG anti-virus, and a number of free spyware programmes etc.
Eventually managed to get my e-mail sorted after three days calling my ISP helpline...in India
So i now have a big backlog of msgs to reply to...and me being a "two fingered" typist won't help!

I ran my old pc (not without worry!) 24/7 for a while, when one night i suddenly realised i'd not backed up since Februrary.
I was just setting out the CDs to do this, when the screen went a funny checked colour, then completely black.
Turned pc off & on quickly, but i was too late; it wouldn't start...aargh!
Another 3 days spent trying, but i eventually gave up and plugged the new one in.
Though setting it up to how i used the old one is another thing, but will get there at some future point.

Alas, i've lost a folder containing old e-mails i'd sent & received to a number of folk in the last 5 years.
Seems i somehow missed it out when i individually copied the folders in My Docs to CD.
And lost my TS pms for the last couple of months.

Also lost about 6 mos of work finding out where my granny Isabella Bruce Brown got her middle name from.
(it comes from her Gr-GM Isabel Bruce b.1779 Tulliallan on her mother's side)
I'll now need to spend a good while gathering all the proof again...'twasn't all that easy the first time.
It got rather complicated because the names involved were mainly Anderson, Brown, and Jones.
But i least know it's out there somewhere...just remembering how i did find it is another thing...!

So, as has been mentioned....get into the habit - Backup Regularly & Often !!!
It's like insurance - gives you peace of mind, and hope you never have to use it...

I've been most fortunate in that i didn't lose everything...
...but because i didn't back up often enough i've now got many months of unnecessary work ahead.
My usual guddle has just got more guddled...

And again my thanks to all for your support throughout, much appreciated.
Cheers - Jack

[SarahND]

Hi Jack,
Glad you're back in business!
I've been trying to back up, but seem to have LOST my little external hard disk that I use to backup my files Have turned the house upside down, called the hotels that I've recently stayed in (all too many in the past month, as I've been on the road) and still nothing In the meantime, all this precious data I was collecting while on the road is sitting precariously on my laptop Will do something else for the time being, but it's very frustrating!

And lost my TS pms for the last couple of months.

Looks like you'll have enough work on your granny's middle name to keep you busy without all the extra work for others that is presumably in those pms

Welcome back!
Sarah

[Ina]

Hi Jack.

Congratulations on the new computer.

We all depend on computers nowadays.......don't know how we managed to survive without them in the past.

Regards,

Ina

[Moray_Lass]

Hi Jack

Your data and hard work is not lost - from what you describe it is either the motherboard or power supply that failed. Your hard disk is safe and you can get it back by taking the hard disk out and putting it in a cheap enclosure - you can get them from £1.99 + extortionate postage at Amazon. And you have an instant external hard disk drive useful for backing up as well. Other option is to put the hard disk inside your new computer but you may not want to open you new machine.

[Jack]

Oh dear Sarah,
Maybe your hard disk is just lurking in bag or pocket somewhere?
But perhaps backup your laptop files onto a CD meanwhile?
Or get one of those wee USB thingies to do that?
I do hope it turns up very soon.

You're so right Ina,
Until abt 5 years ago a computer was just a name to me...
...no real knowledge of how useful they could be.
Without it i would never have known about relatives around the world.
Nor found the odd goings on in my family - i think near everyone has a "skeleton cupboard" !

That is good news Maggie,
An hd enclosure certainly sounds the gadget that i need...
Just noticed i've lost months of work on a neighbour's family too.
I've already had a look around various sites to see what's on offer - lots!
And idiot proof is one top priority...for obvious reasons!

Cheers - Jack

[Currie]

Good on you Jack,

Here’s hoping your new computer has a long and happy life. Maggie has the right idea. I was reading the other day about all the perfectly functional computers that are going into landfill or are stored in people’s garages or whatever never to be used again. Maybe even if you could get hold of one of those you could put in your old drive as a secondary and access it that way. Trouble is all those redundant computers are never around when you need them.

I just spent what seems like the whole of the last 24 hours investigating a Trojan Keylogger my spyware program told me I had on my machine. I ran a full scan and it came up again, read up on it to see how dangerous it was and what it would have been logging, did a virus scan, (nothing) downloaded software to do an on-line scan (nothing) installed another spyware program (nothing). Then did scans of my other networked computer (nothing) and checked my internet bank balances on that (not nothing this time fortunately), ran the original spyware program (nothing). So it looks like it was nothing but a false alarm. As far as I could work out its intent, had it been there, was to collect passwords for a game I’ve never heard of and that’s all (hopefully). It was supposed to be lurking in System Restore so I deleted all my restore points. I think I might change my passwords (now what was my mother’s cat’s name again?) but maybe it really is there after all, watching and waiting for me to do just that. Spooky!

Alan

[SarahND]

Oh dear Sarah,
Maybe your hard disk is just lurking in bag or pocket somewhere?

Found it! It had slipped into the lining of the suitcase, down from an outside pocket into the depths... Whew!
Hope your problem is resolved as easily!
Sarah

[Jack]

Thanks Alan,

Maggie's suggestion of an enclosure for my old hard drive certainly is a great idea.
I've no more space about my desk to put a spare tower!
And i do hope that the keylogger has completely disappeared from your system.
Seems deleting the restore points got rid of it, but no doubt you'll be keeping a close watch...

Great news Sarah,
So it was the quiet sigh of relief, or the very loud yippee...
And next trip keep it about your person!
Perhaps in your hand luggage?

Jack

[Malcolm]

Some time ago I upgraded to XP.That was a mistake, I should have left the old operating system in place because the old computer wasn't up to the demands of the higher specification and slowed beyond what my patience could bear. I kicked it a few times but all to no avail.Could this be a part of your problem. I should add that I ended up buying a new computer
At other times I was advised that the computer was simply trying to run too much stuff for the available RAM. Using the Cntl, ALT, delete facility closed things down that were not needed for the task in hand.
I don't see a problem with leaving the computer on overnight if it helps. Just close down the internet setting although something tells me that this is not the best solution to your problem.
Something else you might like to consider that might seem a bit basic and not very techno. Open up the computer and put the vacuem cleaner to work. Try not to touch any of the clever bits though. You can puff on those. You might be surprised at the ammount of fluffy stuff that accumulates inside.
It might just help. If it doesn't, you can at least claim to have been thorough with the housework.
M

[Hugo]

I agree with Mary; leaving equipment switched on 24/7 produces fewer reliability problems, and the fewer soldered connections the better (this is why solid state circuitry was a step improvement in reliability).

Close all windows.

Physically disconnect the phone line from the router.

Reverse the sequence in the morning.

Hugo