Friday.... - Freeze-Frame Radio

sgmorrell · Low in Fiber High in M-SG

Friday....

ghostdancer · Ghost In The Machine

Happy Friday all!! I get to start my weekend early due to another snow day. We are under a heavy snow warning all day and it's really been coming down....1 to 2 inches per hour coupled with 15-25 mph winds causing it to drift. We're supposed to end up with 7-9 inches, while down in Woo's area they say 9-10 inches. We already have 4 inches on the ground so we'll probably get more than they are predicting. Another good day to stay inside!! biggrin

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

We made it through the night with nothing but rain, but it started to snow on my way in. Things are getting slushy and slick. But at least we didn't get all that snow, I don't even you guys at all.

In other news, when it rains, it pours. When I got home last night, I pressed the button to turn the computer on, and it didn't come on. I unplugged everything and plugged just the tower into the wall socket (in case the surge "protector" was bad), and it still wouldn't come on. The light on the power button will light up, but that's all it will do. *Sigh* time to go computer shopping. You know, at this point, I'm glad I don't own a house, I'd be afraid at what would break next.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

A quick search says that the problem with my computer is probably the power supply. It looks like a power supply is a couple hundred bucks, and I've been wanting to install more RAM, which is another hundred or so dollars. I went to Best Buy last night and found a laptop I like for $700, and there's a floor model for sale for $630, so I'm tempted to just give up on the old computer and buy a laptop. (Why do I have this sense of deja vu?) But, I haven't backed up lately, and I really want some stuff off of my old computer. I wonder if I can find someone with a power supply that'll work with my computer just long enough to copy My Documents. And then I'll have to figure out how to hook said power supply up, I really don't know much about hardware.

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Welcome to February.

Mz, a power supply should only be $30 or so. I'm gathering parts to build two new computers for the church. I'm getting 450 watt power supplies for $29 each. Unless yours is some kind of special supply or something strange about it.

If you want to give up on the computer anyway, you can get a USB external hard drive enclosure and put your old hard drive in that. Then you can plug that into the new computer and get your data off the drive. Plus when you are done, you can wipe the old drive clean and have some external/backup storage.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Hm, I must've just found a fancy site when I Googled. How hard is it to put in a new power supply?

But I didn't realize laptops had come down so much. I'm still debating on whether to buy new memory or just a laptop.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Hm, and the external USB hard drive enclosures seem to be pretty cheap too. But I'm not exactly sure how it works. Would I plug it in and it would just download everything from the dead computer's hard drive?

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

I'm sick of snow.

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

A power supply is not hard to replace. All the power cords just unplug and a couple screws hold the supply in the case.

After I think about it some more, It may be easier and cheaper to just get a used supply off of Ebay like this one. The new ones will have a bunch of SATA connections that you wouldn't need for your older system.

With the external enclosure, what you would do is remove the hard drive out of your old computer and put it in the enclosure. Then you can plug the USB from the enclosure into the new computer to access the old drive and then copy your files to/from it that way. The old hard drive basically then becomes a really big USB thumb drive.

allycat · Cat Scratch Diva

Mornin

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Hello Miss Kitty.

Woo Hoo · The Chosen Woo

Yep we were closed today due to the snow. Bad thing is that I couldn't get back to sleep. So I just stayed in bed disgusted until about 9am. Had to fill the kerosene and spilled it. Dealing with computer issues as the scan had detected something. Not really a good start to a snow day. hmm

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

But the good thing about a snow day, Woo, is that you CAN go back to bed and just start the day over!

allycat · Cat Scratch Diva

Hiya Web

Jeremy Riggs · Do I look a little pale to you?

WebGuy wrote:

With the external enclosure, what you would do is remove the hard drive out of your old computer and put it in the enclosure. Then you can plug the USB from the enclosure into the new computer to access the old drive and then copy your files to/from it that way. The old hard drive basically then becomes a really big USB thumb drive.

This works GREAT. Thanks to Web I did this with two of my laptop drives and I love them. It's almost like having a memory stick that holds 80 gb. Just plug it into your USB and the entire drive shows up as another drive on your system.

Once you transfer what you want to your new computer you could wipe it clean and then use it to carry stuff with you between home and work, etc.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

My old computer is from 2002 and seriously lacking in RAM, so I'm really tempted to go with the external enclosure and buy a laptop. That would give me a backing up plan right there, which was another major flaw with my old computer. With the change in the way I budget, my additional income, and my hubby's raise, we'll have the money for the laptop I was looking at come next week. Granted, it wipes out the savings for a second time this month, but maybe this is just a sign that it's time for a new computer.

pipsar6 · Chocolate Pip Cookie

Happy windy friday.

I'm half waiting for snow - they've had it a few miles north of us but none here....we get it less being on the coast...that's not to say we don't get some occasionally though...

The seas are storming away some and the Ferry drama last night of our shores has resulted in the ferry beaching less than 100 feet away from terra firma. It is quite the Tourist Attraction today. (I've been for a wee look, I admit!)

Riverdance in the Irish Sea

The lifeboat crews and rescue helicopters said the conditions were the worst they'd seen for a long time (the lifeboats are manned primarily by volunteers).
I stand in awe at their work and am so thankful that our notorious Irish Sea claimed no lives last night or this morning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7221855.stm

-- Edited by pipsar6 at 12:21, 2008-02-01

-- Edited by pipsar6 at 12:23, 2008-02-01

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

wow!!!

everyone off safe, I hope!! confused

pipsar6 · Chocolate Pip Cookie

Yes all safely off - only 23 aboard as it was a freight ferry primarily. 19 crew and 4 passengers,

9 crew stayed aboard but this morning the decision was taken to get them off too

pipsar6 · Chocolate Pip Cookie

Aparently bags of compost were being washed up earlier...

They have lost about 3 lorries I believe.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Wow, so glad that everyone got off safely!

garougal · Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult

Hi all! Today's been rather dull. I'm home on medical leave for another day and so bored! I'm sick of sitting here and aching, I don't feel like reading anymore, and TV is just loaded with garbage. Oh well, at least it is almost the weekend. smile

Pip, sorry to hear about the ferry incident. Thank goodness people are OK.

firefly · Reassuringly Expensive

It is a cold and rainy day here. cry

I just got in from work and I plan on relaxing tonight. I got my house clean the other day, so that it one less thing to worry about.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Back to looking at this external hard drive case...

I notice a lot of these mention laptop hard drives. Will those still work with my computer hard drive? What do I need to watch for to make sure I get one that will work with my hard drive?

darleneapd · Cuff 'Em N' Stuff 'Em

Hi everyone!! I went to the Lenny Kravitz concert last night. He did a 9 date pre-release tour for his new upcoming album.
HE played for 2 straight hours and he was amazing. I am definately going to buy his new CD on Tuesday.

Also the venue was small, so there wasn't a bad seat in the auditorium. He looked and sounded great!!! I loved it!

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

MzHartz wrote:

Back to looking at this external hard drive case...

I notice a lot of these mention laptop hard drives. Will those still work with my computer hard drive? What do I need to watch for to make sure I get one that will work with my hard drive?

No, they are not interchangable.

Your hard drive inside your desktop computer is a 3.5" drive. Laptops have 2.5" drives. So, if you want an enclosure for your desktop's hard drive, you will need one for 3.5" drives.

The next thing to check is if you need IDE or SATA connection. You can open the case and look at the back of the hard drive. There should be a power connection and a data connection. If one of them is the big, wide 80 pin ribbon connector like this:

it is "IDE". ^
You said your computer was a 2002 model, I suspect its IDE.

If the data cable is relatively small (like 3/4" wide) like this:

then its a SATA drive.

You may need to chose the appropriate enclosure. You'd want to look for:

USB Interface (not Firewire so it will "talk" to more more things)
3.5"
IDE (or SATA)

-- Edited by WebGuy at 19:16, 2008-02-01