Moving Day

Last week I told you about my computer refusing to start. At that point I was still waiting to hear from my cousin. 


It’s a wonderful thing, having a computer doctor in the family. Unfortunately, Sean had only minimal success resuscitating my ancient machine, and then only after restoring it to its original state. Which means we wiped seven year’s worth of files off the thing. Don’t panic. We saved everything onto a flash drive first.

Sean said I might still be able to use the computer. The dying hard drive MIGHT last another year. Or it might crash later this week. Plus I’d have to reload any files and programs I wanted to use onto it.

Well, hell, if I’m going to reload files and programs, I’m gonna do it on a new machine. Sentimentality be damned.

The new computer arrived yesterday. It’s shiny and black. Okay, so was the old one. THIS one works. That makes it beautiful in my eyes.

This is actually my fifth new computer (third desktop, plus two laptops over the years), so I knew I’d better clear my schedule before I took it out of the box.

As soon as I powered it up, it took over the set-up. I sat back and watched, clicking OK when prompted. Next it downloaded updates. Finally it was ready to go. I immediately started trying to turn it back into my old computer. I installed my favorite programs, crossing my fingers that none of them would blow a raspberry at me and tell me I’d installed them on one too many machines. All went well. I downloaded Google Chrome and Tweetdeck. Chrome is fine, but have they changed Tweetdeck? It’s different on the new computer than it is on my laptop and my old computer. I hate learning curves. I have enough of that to deal with on Facebook.

With most of my programs installed, it’s now time for the heavy lifting. Moving day! I’m transferring all my files and folders from the flash drive to the new computer.

It’s not unlike moving from one house to another. The flash drive is the moving van full of all my treasures.

And a lot of crap.

I’ve been in my current house for almost 30 years. I’d hate to have to move. It’s the same with this new computer and that flash drive. Why on earth did I save all that stuff? I’m a virtual hoarder. Never delete a file. I might need it someday!

Except I don’t want all that old trash in my bright and shiny new computer!

So my task for today (and probably tomorrow and the next day) is to sort through it all. Copy what I really need onto the new computer. And then what? Delete the rest from that flash drive? Or leave it there, stashed in a drawer? I’m a computer version of the person who rents storage units because they don’t want that junk in their house, but they’re afraid to get rid of it!

But at least flash drives are smaller and cheaper.


Comments

Liz Milliron said…
I have an external hard drive full of crap "I might need again some day." But I know how you feel. When I bought my MacBook I hated the thought of loading it up with oodles of files again. I've been (mostly) successful at keeping it clean. Mostly.
3/20/12, 11:33 AM
Becky said…
I have two computers sitting in the basement because I'm afraid I might loss something important, personal or sentimental. Dan made alot of cute things on that first machine. Doing what he does best graphic design. And of course they still work and I might need one. Who is going to need a computer from 1994? One day they will go to The Goodwill. Somehow they rescue them for charity. By the time I'm ready to let go there may be three. Lets face it I'm a hoarder. But not to the point where they can put me on a TV show.
3/20/12, 12:50 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mom Update

Image
It’s been a while since I wrote anything about my mom. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve probably noticed a number of posts recently about long nights in the ER with her. I appreciate the kind concerns and prayers from friends and family. But while I know they’re well intended, the “hope she gets well soon” sentiments cut like a finely honed blade. Mom isn’t going to get well. She has good days and bad. More and more of the latter. Today’s “good days” are about the same as the bad ones a couple months ago. She has vascular dementia. In addition to her mental slippage, her legs have grown weak and uncooperative, adding to her pre-existing balance issues. We plead with her to call for assistance to get out of bed. Unfortunately, she can’t remember that she’s had numerable falls lately, so she continues to try to get up and around on her own, resulting in more falls. And in more trips to the ER. She has dislocated her right hip twice now. She’s hit her head more times ...
Read more

A New Face

Image
I've been hearing over and over lately that I need to get new headshots done. People who only know me from my online presence complain when they meet me that I don't look anything like my picture. Hmmm. Is that good or bad? I'm still not sure. However, the fact that I now wear my hair a lot longer than I used to is a fact I can't deny. The problem with new photos is...well, I'm older than I was when I had those last ones done. If I could get away with posting a picture of me when I was 25, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Seriously, inside my head, that's still what I look like. Outside? Not so much. But I caved in this weekend. After shooting over 60 frames, I came up with four that I like. So I'm posting them here and asking for a vote. Which ONE photo should be my new "face" for my online persona? Choice #1 Choice #2 Choice #3 Choice #4 Leave a comment with your favorite. Okay, I get to make the final decision, so this...
Read more

The 2010 Confluence Writers' Retreat and Flood

Image
For days, the weathermen had been forecasting “THE FLOOD.” With melting snow pack combined with heavy rains, they were suggesting everyone pack up the women and children and move to high ground. Of course, our writers’ retreat was scheduled to be held at Paddler’s Lane , on the scenic banks of the Youghiogheny River in Confluence. “Confluence.” As in the point where the Yough (pronounced “Yawk”) is joined by the Casselman River and the Laurel Hills Creek. As in the place I spend a large portion of my summer at our camp. I scoffed at the panic mongers. Flood? Heck, it floods every spring. I ain’t afraid of no stinking flood. So off I went. Loaded up the car Friday morning under sunny skies and headed east, with joy in my heart. A whole weekend with my Sisters in Crime in a gorgeous house with lots of food. And writing. Oh, yeah. Lots of writing and—better yet—workshops with Ramona Long . First stop: Panera Bread in Uniontown where I met Sandy Stephen, Susan “ West of Mars ” Gottfried, a...
Read more