I've been planning for a while to get a new laptop but, despite looking around a bit and seeking some advice from some more computer savvy friends, I haven't quite taken the leap of faith from planning to purchasing. The problem is that one of the reasons that I have been planning to buy a new machine is the unreliability of the current one which no longer works without being plugged in and even then cuts out at times. Yesterday while I was working this is exactly what happened: so I switched it back on, tried to enter my password, but no joy. For some reason every time I press any button on the keyboard the computer freezes. The problem with this is that my sermon notes for Sunday morning are on my computer and nowhere else and so, in order not to spend part of my day off re-doing them, I needed to find a way to access it.
So, having realised that it was a keyboard problem it was suggested that I try plugging in another keyboard, which I did. Nothing changed: the new one didn't work and the old one still caused the whole thing to freeze. So I switched off and tried again, this time hitting f8 on the new keyboard as the computer loaded up - and something happened. The new keyboard was working (though only at the 'setup' stage), so I started the computer up in 'safe' mode, went into the administrator (which requires the mouse only and no pressing of keyboard buttons), and changed the keyboard to the new one. I re-started the computer, said another prayer as it started up, and it worked! I was able to enter my password, reach my documents, and transfer the notes to a data stick. This was another clear answer to prayer - and there've been a few clear answers to prayer over the last 24 hours - although I must admit to also describing myself as a "computer genius", which is clearly not true!
So I get my day off, and it's been a lazy day so far after a late night and early morning: although I'm thinking that I might make a quick trip to look at new laptops!
Hey, if you're having difficulties I don't mind ghost writing the sermon for you ;-).
Posted by: ryan | August 08, 2008 at 08:21 PM