4.08.2010

We're Having Technical Difficulties

My iMac crashed on Sunday. With the girls finally heading back to school on Monday, and my maid taking a few personal days off, I didn't get a chance to call the Apple Care support line until Tuesday. After they opened at 8 am. Which was 8:30 pm in Chennai. And I was on my cell phone (because my Magicjack didn't work on the laptop and we don't have a home phone) with them for over two hours.

After finally diagnosing that it was an issue with the hard drive, we attempted to reinstall the operating system back on the computer, and hope that it would be a quick fix and last until I could take the computer in to an Apple store once we returned to the States.

It worked. That is, until I had to do a software update to bring the operating system back up to where it was before the computer crashed. And then it crashed again.

So on Wednesday, I called Apple Support back, gave them my case numbers, and we walked through figuring out where we went wrong on Tuesday. And re-installed the operating system.

And it worked. That is, until I had to do a software update to bring the operating system back up to where it was before the computer crashed. See a pattern here?

Guess what happened today? Want to guess how long I was on the phone tonight? Care to guess how much the total five hours of calls to the U.S. over the last three days is going to cost?

Apple Care can't fix this one. I have to take my iMac to an authorized service center here. Where I can only hope that they can fix my hard drive without losing all of the information on there. Which probably won't happen. Ok, I know it's gonna be a goner. Luckily, I invested in the Time Capsule, so when I get my computer back from the service center, I know that I can reinstall 'my life' back on there. Though I'm pretty sure I'll be holding my breath for a few seconds as I hope and pray that everything really did back up like they said it would...

But of course the fun didn't just stop there. Not only did the iMac crash, but so did the laptop. Well, the wireless internet crashed. And then the LAN connection conked out. And then my e-mails stopped going out.

And so did my car. Not crash, but cr*p out. It needed a new starter. Yes, Bridget you were right... it was the starter. Or maybe it was the alternator. Could have even been the battery. Not that the mechanic really knew what he was doing, but since I casually mentioned that it could be the starter, he went with it and said that it was definitely the starter... Whatevah. The car now starts. Which is somewhat key to driving it.

The irony of all of this is that for once my internet is working. Quite well I might add. I just don't have a computer that works to enjoy it's 'fast' (ok, decent) speed. So if you haven't heard from us in awhile, haven't seen us on Skype, can't reach us on Magicjack, can't figure out why I don't return e-mails... well... you know...


And if you're wondering how I'm doing on my fundraising goal for my "Faces of Poverty" project, we've so far collected $990... just shy of my original goal of $1000. Woo Hoo!

Since I've been asked for my address from many people, I know that there's a lot more money coming in. So now it's time to up my goal to $1500.

Click here to see how to donate via PayPal.
Or contact me via e-mail to let me know your check is on its way!

10 comments:

Robin said...

Oh no! My condolences, I know all about expensive cross-continental computer meltdowns. I'll think good thoughts for your data.

What is it with starters? We just replaced ours two weeks ago. (And then a week later went and ordered a new car. It was time.)

Mom24 said...

Ugh. I thought Macs weren't supposed to do that. :( Hope they get it fixed, fixed right, and quickly. You have my complete empathy.

Great job on the fundraising. That's really awesome.

Christy said...

Oh boy - what a mess. I freaking hope you have fabulous service and computers once you move back to the states!!!

Donna said...

What a pain!

Our computer has been limping along, near death, for the past year. But since we're in China, they've advised us not to buy anything new until we leave. So I have fingers crossed that it survives for a couple more months.

Good luck getting it fixed. You need that lifeline.

Donna said...

What a pain!

Our computer has been limping along, near death, for the past year. But since we're in China, they've advised us not to buy anything new until we leave. So I have fingers crossed that it survives for a couple more months.

Good luck getting it fixed. You need that lifeline.

Jen said...

That totally sucks. I am so sorry.

Ramit Grover said...

Hi, is Time capsule like a online back up?

Anonymous said...

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Here is the link:

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(If I quoted your text or used your photo(s) and you would rather I had not, please let me know. Please also be sure to check the link(s) that I put up to you, in order to verify that they work properly. If you would rather that I had not referenced you, and/or do not want me to reference you in the future, please also contact me.)

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MissCrystal said...

I have chosen you to recieve a Blog Award
http://lunaticwhimsy.blogspot.com/2010/04/honest-scrap-award.html

anymommy said...

Not good timing. At all. I guess there is no good timing for this kind of frustration. Sending you anti-electronic gremlin thoughts.

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