Bad days

[fpb]

I am at the end of my tether. Both my computers are now virtually useless - the older one's CD reader drivers are shot, which means I can only reach it via floppies, the other does not acknowledge USB ports, floppy port and data CDs, allowing itself to read only audio CDs, which my damned hi-fi can do better anyway. I cannot even use the nuclear option, format the hard drive (e.g. destroy everything and start again). In the case of the old Compaq this would do no good, since without a CD port I could not re-install Windows, and in the case of the Toshiba, the software actually will not accept the order - it keeps claiming that there is another active program, even where I have switched off everything - evidence of an active virus. In fact, I have had signals of the presence of a virus called devo.BOOT, but the only discussion of what to do about it that I found on the net was in Portuguese and no good to me. I have done that search, as well as writing this, on a public library computer.

Oh, a little side note: this disaster has so far cost me over £100, which I could not afford, and resulted in nothing more useful than an argument with the repairman who gave me back the Toshiba with the bug.

Comments

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

I think there is a conspiracy - my entire UK flist has problems with the internet this past week.

http://www.itforcharities.co.uk/pcs.htm has a bunch of listings of groups who do PC refubishment for the joy of helping. Maybe they can help you? Realize IT is the only one that rings a bell, but I can't say anything about it - one imaginary friend must have mentioned it to another. Maybe they'll take the two that are broken and give you back one that works.

Good luck.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

This just might be what I needed. At any rate, it is wonderful to have friends. Whether it works or not, thank you for letting me know.

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear this. Wish I could do something to help, but 1) I'm on the other side of the world and 2) I'm clueless. So I'll just wish you luck, and send my sympathies.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Thank you anyway. But if you look at rfachir's comment above, there is not only a good clue for me - which I will follow up - but one for anyone who finds her/himself in my situation: it might just be possible to find help on the Internet. Let us all bear this in mind from now on. (Half of my anger and despair was just the feeling of being alone to deal with the mess. A helpful suggestion, even should it happen not to work, was good just because it broke that sense of loneliness.)

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

That's the good thing about LJ and all that. There's usually someone willing to give a bit of support, even if they are on the other side of the world.