Help! My laptop is dying!

[kristievcat]

My dear, dear friend. My very first laptop. She has been with me every where I've been for the past five years - two countries, too many states and provinces to count. She has been through a lot in her few short years; thought I had lost her a few times before but we managed to pull through together. But I fear this may be the big one.

The monitor has flickered off and on for months, but I babied her and loved her and found her sweet spot. The spot where if I push and pull at the same time and don't bump her, she will stay perfectly lit the entire time I need her.

But last night, when I needed her most, her DVD burner failed. You see, I have 5G of hard drive space left. Yep, that's right, 5G! I do not have an EHD to save any of the things I don't need immediately to, so I need to move the files to DVDs. But I can't do that now either.

Money is super tight, and I don't expect to be able to afford an EHD until DH gets paid in February (ah, yes, the life on a crab boat).

So here's my dilema:
*Do I buy a new laptop in February? Oh, it's painful to even type.
*Do I buy a cheap external DVD burner now? This would put me back to status quo, which is not best case senario, but has worked for me for years. Therefore, I could not justify purchasing an EHD or new laptop later.
*Do I buy an EHD in February and continue to gimp my dear friend along beside me as long as possible?

As I type this, it seems that the best option is to buy the EHD as soon as possible and try to keep my girl running as long as she can. I'm going to need an EHD eventually with or without a new computer, right? But that will mean, pretty much, no scrapping and no new kits for a month. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[debilou]

Personally, oh those choices I would go with the EHD

Because not only would it (hopefully) fix your current crisis - but you are right you could certainly use the EHD on any new computer you buy in the future.

So, it wouldn't be a wasted purchase - like I think the dvd burner might be..


Second choice - if you need the dvd - for Adding software (not just for burning).. buy that now.. and, could you buy an inexpensive USB flash drive to use to hold your information?? Some of those flash drives are pretty cheap and hold a lot of information.

IMHO

[addielee]

I would go with the EHD or even a big USB drive. Whatever you can find on a good sale. And BTW, I love your flair card with goals! I think that might be today's project.

[Christine]

:cry: sorry to hear, I totally agree you are going to NEED an EHD at some point

Fascinating about the crab boats, my dh LOVES that show "deadliest catch"

[Teresa]

Ditto on the EHD. I nearly always have one attached to my computer. I keep just the current stuff on the computer, say like a month or two, and the rest is all on an EHD. I have DVD back ups of everything as well. And because I am just a compulsive back up person, I have another EHD for back ups of the back ups. Both the DVDs and the back up EHD are in a safe location. Long after I'm gone, my decedents will have computer data stored on every type of digital storage device known to man with likely no way to access any of it.

[Tara]

I vote for getting the external too! (Or the big USB drive - - that would be cheaper) You'll most likely use both again. I have both and use them all the time. I never burn things to DVD anymore and I can't say I miss it!

Of course, it'd be great to get a new laptop too...so maybe start saving for that! I heard a rumor that new processors are coming out in February so maybe that'll make the older ones cheaper? Who knows! But worth checking...

[jmnodwell]

I love my EHD!! and have two! One is 1T and holds all the info. My scrapbooking stuff is on another 160M that needs no external power source so it can be a portable as my laptop...

Current stuff is on the hard drive and then put on EHD periodically...

[Margie]

I agree the EHD is something you need anyway (so great for backups, I have multiples!).

[kristievcat]

Second choice - if you need the dvd - for Adding software (not just for burning).. buy that now.. and, could you buy an inexpensive USB flash drive to use to hold your information?? Some of those flash drives are pretty cheap and hold a lot of information.

IMHO

:doh: I never even thought about the software issue! Crap! I got PSE9 at Thanksgiving and never loaded it. That's what I get for procrastinating. So I'll have to either get a new laptop or a new DVD for that. Glad you brought that to my attention. I hadn't thought that far.



And BTW, I love your flair card with goals! I think that might be today's project.

Thanks, Addie. It's not really complete, but I wanted to get something up there.




Fascinating about the crab boats, my dh LOVES that show "deadliest catch"

We don't live in Alaska anymore. It's much more subdued in Oregon. It's just him and another guy on the little boat and they get to come home every night. But it's non-stop work for about two to three months - 18 hour days, 7 day a week. It doesn't pay as well as Alaska, of course, but if we live meagerly, it allows us both to be stay at home parents for the majority of the year. And that makes it worth it. Usually we budget very well, but this year they delayed crab season a month so we're having to stretch our pennies.


So, an update: A dear, dear fellow DSPeep has offered to send me her outgrown EHD. So I'm good to go until February when I can decide to replace the laptop or just get a new DVD.:yippee: Does any one know where old computers go when they die? I mean, they don't go to the dump. What do I do with it?

[Margie]

A dear, dear fellow DSPeep has offered to send me her outgrown EHD.

Does any one know where old computers go when they die? I mean, they don't go to the dump. What do I do with it?

DSPeeps rock!!! I've seen signs at Goodwill that they accept old computers, although I tried to donate one once and they wouldn't take it. Dunno there! :think:

[Lauri]

So, an update: A dear, dear fellow DSPeep has offered to send me her outgrown EHD. So I'm good to go until February when I can decide to replace the laptop or just get a new DVD.:yippee: Does any one know where old computers go when they die? I mean, they don't go to the dump. What do I do with it?

What a wonderful DSPeep-er!! I think you should save for a new laptop personally, you never know what else is going to die on the old one!! And our dump takes old e-waste like computers, or check around if a charity or school is going to collect e-waste and donate it there. My school did that and made ~$1000 on old junk!

[addielee]

So, an update: A dear, dear fellow DSPeep has offered to send me her outgrown EHD. So I'm good to go until February when I can decide to replace the laptop or just get a new DVD.:yippee: Does any one know where old computers go when they die? I mean, they don't go to the dump. What do I do with it?

Wow!!! :love1::love1: Our local electronics store will take them. Try Best Buy or Fry's or soemwhere like that.

[kristievcat]

Yeah, this is the BEST community. I'm so happy here.

Thanks for every one's help. I'll check around to see if there's a collection site for used electronics somewhere.

[Kathleen]

One thought on software and needing to load something, at least in the case of PSE9, you could download the trial version and install it. Then enter the license/serial number from the one you bought.

[Betsyfru]

Kathleen, that's a great idea to DL the trial version of PSE9! Some really good thinking there!
Kristie, in our area, we have a company that puts on a computer show every weekend in a different location and they accept old computers and related stuff that you want to get rid of. You could check into that to see if your area has something similar.

[debilou]

Just make sure your hard drive is SCRUBBED clean...

There are software programs that will do that.. or you can remove the hard drive and destroy it.. or - talk to whoever you are going to give it to..

If for example you bought your (current) laptop at Best Buy and, you buy you new one at best Buy - they do have trade UP programs - so, you might be able to use that laptop - no matter what condition it is in for an in-store credit..


ALSO, ANY STORE that sells you your new COMPUTER IS REQUIRED to let you turn in your old laptop - so that it can be safely destroyed.. or rebuilt or whatever.. they are required by law - for any electronic device.. You don't necessarily get any store credit, but your laptop is safely gone..

Just make sure they destroy all the data from your hard drive - and, I don't just mean - delete the data. - that can be recovered by thieves easily - there are programs that will make it impossible for the data to ever be recovered...

[Tara]

Oh my gosh Debilou - I just read the little title under your username! LOL!!!!!

[kristievcat]

Wow, I didn't know you could download the trial version and then enter the info from my purchased copy of PSE9. That's great info! Will there be a problem when I go to reinstall it on my new computer whenever I can get one?

And thanks, for the reminder to scrub my hard drive. DH is phobic about identity theft (had his wallet stolen before and it was a mess) so I definitely want to be safe.

I bought My Girl at CompUSA in Alaska. I'm not sure if they're around here. I'll have to check that out to see if I can get a trade-in value. If they offer that, maybe it would be worth it for me to wait to buy a new one when we go back this summer.

[debilou]

Wow, I didn't know you could download the trial version and then enter the info from my purchased copy of PSE9. That's great info! Will there be a problem when I go to reinstall it on my new computer whenever I can get one?

And thanks, for the reminder to scrub my hard drive. DH is phobic about identity theft (had his wallet stolen before and it was a mess) so I definitely want to be safe.

I bought My Girl at CompUSA in Alaska. I'm not sure if they're around here. I'll have to check that out to see if I can get a trade-in value. If they offer that, maybe it would be worth it for me to wait to buy a new one when we go back this summer.




EDITED: you only get a 30 day trial of a Adobe Software package -Then you must purchase the real version of say PSE 9 and input the serial number..

Now on your old computer make sure you register it properly with adobe.. When you buy new computer do this

1. DEACTIVATE PSE 9 on old laptop - Do this by Running PSE 9 - go to Help - Deactivate
2. Uninstall PSE 9 on old laptop

now go to new computer

3. Install PSE 9 on new computer - and, register it -

I wouldn't get rid of old computer until you make sure you get PSE 9 installed properly..

hope that makes sense..

[kristievcat]

Yes, perfect sense, Debilou. Thank you! I always wondered about transfering software. Good to know!

[tshirt]

My dear, dear friend. My very first laptop. She has been with me every where I've been for the past five years - two countries, too many states and provinces to count. She has been through a lot in her few short years; thought I had lost her a few times before but we managed to pull through together. But I fear this may be the big one.

The monitor has flickered off and on for months, but I babied her and loved her and found her sweet spot. The spot where if I push and pull at the same time and don't bump her, she will stay perfectly lit the entire time I need her.

But last night, when I needed her most, her DVD burner failed. You see, I have 5G of hard drive space left. Yep, that's right, 5G! I do not have an EHD to save any of the things I don't need immediately to, so I need to move the files to DVDs. But I can't do that now either.

Money is super tight, and I don't expect to be able to afford an EHD until DH gets paid in February (ah, yes, the life on a crab boat).

So here's my dilema:
*Do I buy a new laptop in February? Oh, it's painful to even type.
*Do I buy a cheap external DVD burner now? This would put me back to status quo, which is not best case senario, but has worked for me for years. Therefore, I could not justify purchasing an EHD or new laptop later.
*Do I buy an EHD in February and continue to gimp my dear friend along beside me as long as possible?

As I type this, it seems that the best option is to buy the EHD as soon as possible and try to keep my girl running as long as she can. I'm going to need an EHD eventually with or without a new computer, right? But that will mean, pretty much, no scrapping and no new kits for a month. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Buying an external DVD is the worst thing to do. You'll never use it again. Either spend the money on a new or used replacment internal DVD and get the monitor repaired Or buy a new laptop.

New DVD about $70 new lcd screen $100 (if it is a bad screen). Plus labor.

Both you can do yourself. Especially the DVD one or two screws and it slides out.