So what the eff happened?
Do not ever, EVER make the mistake of uninstalling Norton without their Uninstall Tool. It screws everything up. Big. Time. I could only operate in Safe Mode and I was panicked, well, freaking out, more like. Not good. I do not do well with tech. I called my friend, Dave and after he talked me down off the ledge, he picked me up, along with my PC and all its parts, then we decamped to his place. I have to say, he is truly one of the most incredible people I know.
Anyway, he set to work. A complete re-install was called for, which took like 5-6 hours, then we had to do all the updates for the system, which as it turned out, I needed like 457 of them. Thanks Windows Vista. I found out the hard way that if you have virus protection running, many of Vista's updates will fail, only it won't tell you they failed unless you are in the Window's Update screen. No, instead it'll go through the automatic updates, tell you stuff has been updated and let you move on.
We kept installing updates and 24 hours later, we were still finding them for my baby. What a nightmare! But, yesterday, after 48 hours, I finally, FINALLY, got the magical "There are no new updates." Now, it's just a matter of getting my software back and other programs as well as all the files that we copied to this external hard drive back onto my computer. It'll take some more time, but the hard stuff is done and I am operational.
The weekend wasn't a total loss, though. In between all of this, I did manage to catch the football games and have some good food and beer.
All of this taught me that on my dating profile, Must Be Computer Geek has replaced Sense of Humor as my Number 1 on What I Am Looking For In A Potential Mate.
So...I'm BAAAACK! And getting my groove on in a victory dance. I may film this, I'm so happy. LOL
Okay, One more thing before I go...
THANK YOU, DAVE!!! (standing on roof, shouting)
LOL who needs humour when you can have a nerdy computer-geek virgin? ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you back. Norton sucks, I highly recommend Avira Antivir which is more effective and easier to handle.
@Maynard LOL True! As long as my computer is kept running, I can go elsewhere for the laughs or better yet, amuse myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I've got AVG for now, but I'll keep Avira in mind.
My significant other is a computer geek and he's gotten more than one panicked call from me in the middle of the day.
ReplyDeleteSo glad Dave got you back up and running!
If computers were cars or any other form of machine type product we just would not accept the level of failure and difficulty involved. Imagine a fridge that refused to switch on 1 day a month or a radio that would not play the channel you wanted. I hope that we're working our way through the prototype stage of computers.
ReplyDelete@M.J. Dave is number one favorite person right now. :) My relief at being back up and running knows no bounds.
ReplyDeleteI think that is so awesome that your SO is a computer geek.
@Emma I echo that sentiment about prototype computers. Wouldn't it be great to have a computer that works problem free for like ten years at a time?
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! I've had to do the re-format and re-install before and it's no fun. However, I think I'm the only person in the world who hasn't had a problem with Vista. Maybe it's scared of me...
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back! Good thing I'm still on XP, and not Vista. Sounds like it'd be a pain for me to have to contend with!
ReplyDeleteVista is what made me buy a Mac. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you got it all sorted out. I'd start having panic attacks without my computer!! Seriously, I'll never survive an apocalypse that includes power outages. :(
I'm so paranoid about my laptop failing, that I occassionally think about reverting to a typewriter. Why does Microsoft make everything so awkward!
ReplyDeleteSee, that's why I married an IT genius ;)
ReplyDeleteu know, sister, we all need a Dave in our lives :) And when you get him you must treasure him, and pet him and call him George :)
ReplyDelete@Alex Thanks! You know maybe I need some of your Captain Ninja magic to work on my Vista.;)
ReplyDelete@Jeffrey Thanks! There are days when I long for XP. It was a great system.
ReplyDelete@L.G. I would so love a Mac. I'm considering it when I have the money to go new.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't survive with power outages, either. :)
@Annalisa I agree! Why does Microsoft have to be so hard. I still think about my old Brother electric typewriter every now and then. What a great machine that was.
ReplyDelete@Lynda That's awesome, your own IT guy. :) I'm hoping I meet one soon. LOL
ReplyDelete@Dezz LOL Dave is the best. I do appreciate him very much and he's going to get an awesome birthday present.
ReplyDeleteComputer geeks rule because they have fast fingers ;) And I am very jealous that you have a hot tattooed librarian named Vince. I will never look at a circulation desk the same way again.
ReplyDeleteComputer geeks are always good to have around! Geeks in general. Glad you're operational again! This is why I've disowned Windows.
ReplyDelete@Julie Yes they do. I am mystified as I watch them work.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe I can sneak a pic of Vince. He is stunning. All that gorgeous ink...;)
@M Geeks rule! I am really considering a change to a Mac. I think it's time I disowned Windows as well.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU DAVE! (glad you're back, MB!)
ReplyDelete@Craig Dave is the best, isn't he? And I am very glad to be back. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Welcome back, Mel! Glad all the problems have been sorted (Curse you, Norton!)
ReplyDeletehaha, this was hilarious!! Hey a computer geek will come in handy especially these days so I think you made the right choice switching with sense of humor as your number 1, haha.
ReplyDeleteI'm soo happy you're back and let's hope nothing goes wrong from here on. You know how computers can sometimes be unpredictable.
@Jamie Thanks! It is great to be back after all of this. And I second that Norton curse. LOL
ReplyDelete@Nicole Yes, I do believe I made the right choice with that switch. ;)
ReplyDeleteVery happy to be back and keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else goes wrong for a long time.
hmmm... maybe you should date dave?
ReplyDelete@vics Well, Dave is engaged to a very dear friend already. I'm sure my geek is out there, though. :)
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