Wasted Time

I have had a rough couple of days, which have resulted in a lot of wasted time unfortunately. It all began yesterday morning.

I have a three-year-old Asus, but the only good thing I can say about it is that the battery still holds a two-hour charge, something that none of my other laptops have been capable of after the six-month warranty had expired. Anyway, back to yesterday morning.

I brought it out of hibernation and the hard-drive was making a noise like a clapped out motorcycle, so I thought it was time to set up a routine of automatic, off-computer back-ups. Now, I have been using computers for thirty-four years, so I am aware of the necessity of doing this, but I have not been successful at setting it up on the Asus so far. However, I tried again since the warning from my HD had been so ominous.

This evening, forty-eight hours later, I am writing this to you in the ‘pub’, but I still do not have my back-up routine established.

I have a Recovery Disc, but what use is that if your computer gives up the ghost? The recovery pack does not include the data – my manuscripts and stories – that I will need to pick up my life from before, and I will get a new operating system with the new computer that I will have to buy, since this one is already showing its age at three.

No, the last forty-eight hours have shown me once again that following traditions and accepted wisdom slavishly is a waste of time. An automated back-up of one’s data off the computer is far more important than backing up the operating system.

Luckily, that is the other feature that distinguished the Asus for me – the ease with which it is possible to automatically back up one’s file data to their computers (Cloud) free of charge. I have that working, but I want a physical back-up of my own as well – just n case.

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: Wasted Time