I am at the end of an extremely rocky 2-week trip through technology hell. Sharing my experience with you will hopefully help you avoid some techno-malady. It has been no fun, but it’s OK with me if you chuckle, here and there.

When not on the road, I’m working on a laptop  (accompanied by a 22″ monitor). I’ve had a desktop computer as a back up. The recent release of the Apple Snow Leopard operating system caused me to think about replacing my desktop computer with a newer laptop. The Snow Leopard system would only be compatible with my current laptop and any new computer I would by.

I hadn’t had much occasion to use the backup computer, so I thought I’d check it out, and see how it was working. Sadly, it was running very slowly and noisily. That likely meant a bad hard drive. I took it in for service, expecting to replace the hard drive.

Then, almost two weeks ago, my main laptop started having ‘issues.’ Error messages, running slowly, and generally misbehaving. I run automatic backups using a built-in Apple service called Time Machine. I suddenly noticed that my machine had not run a full backup since the beginning of August.

I managed to back up all the data on a different external hard drive. For extra safety, I was able to burn the data to a set of DVDs. This was time consuming, but very important.

Then, I reinstalled the operating system. And then, transferred in the data (applications, programs, etc.,.) If Time Machine had a complete backup, this would have been a 1-click, couple-of-hour process. Unfortunately, it was a time consuming manual process. Without boring you with the minutia, I completed this process four times. Each time, believing I had solved the problem (thinking it was a virus, software problem or yet a second failed hard drive).

After the fourth time, I was at my wit’s end. Work was not getting done. Emails were not being answered. Phone messages were piling up. It was like being in an unending hailstorm of communication.

I went to the Apple store with a mission. Buy a new 13″ laptop as my primary machine. Take in the 15″ laptop for service under the extended warranty progrm.

Brought home the new machine, and began the process of migrating data from the backup drive. After spending a day and half on that process (I was getting very good at it), I hit the wall again. My brand new laptop would complete its start up. Happily, in Las Vegas, there are several Apple stores, so I mad yet another appointment to see one of the Apple store Geniuses.

There I was, at the Apple store in the Forum Shops at Caesars on a Saturday night, pleading my case. The Genius was kind and calm. After we walked through the issues, he took the unit to the service area, while I wandered the store. He came out 20 minutes later, and offered the old cliche, “Well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want first?”

My response: “OK, I’ll bite. Good news first, please.”

“We’re going to replace your computer, tonight. It has a defective hard drive. It’s the first I’ve seen in this store, since this new line of laptops was released a couple of months ago. The bad news: We’re not able to transfer any of the data from the defective drive.”

I exited the store with a new machine, but was back at square one. The balance of the holiday weekend was spent restoring data to the newest member of my computer family.

Where things are, this morning: I have managed to transfer all the data. I believe I have salvaged all the email, too. I am now attacking the backlog of communications and tasks.

Here are the various lessons learned, some of which may be helpful.

• Hard drives will wear out. It’s important to recognize symptoms of possible failure and get them serviced ASAP.
• The odds of having three computer failures within two weeks is incalculable.
• The cost of lost business and neglected is far higher than the cost of repair and backup systems.
• Software conflicts are a pain. Macs are less likely to get a computer virus, but they are not immune.
• Although I employ good practices in backing up data, I’m giving some additional thought to enhancing that process, further.
• Add your own lesson here…

Metaphorically speaking: I always drive with a spare tire, I just didn’t imagine I would need too.

Normally, in this situation, I ask clients for patience and understanding. Today, I’ll be asking for pity.

One more thing: What’s your back up plan? Specifically, for computers and customer information files, etc.,. If this computer failure had happened to you, what state of affairs would you be in?

Wish me luck,

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

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