So where did I put that backup disk

Words to fear - "Unable to locate HDD device". I have a distinct sinking feeling about that message on my home PC last night. The failure has the symptoms of a head crash. Arrrrgh.

On the plus side, I have fairly recent backups so the worst I will lose will be a few recent emails and some photos I hadn't loaded to Flickr. Nothing I cannot do without. But its still potentially a real annoyance.

I will try all the obvious things to fix it, but if its a head crash then the disk is a goner. I was planning to get a new machine early next year anyway so I guess I will bring those plans forward rather than try to put another disk in the current, rather old, box.

Its a good thing I have the work machine so I can stay in touch. Losing web news sites, email and lj connectivity would drive me nuts I think.

Impulse

That hard disk is as dead as dead can be. Something has broken off inside and gouged it to bits.

So there were decisions to be made. Get another disk and rebuild the machine? Not too difficult but the rest of the machine is getting on a bit and was going to be replaced soon anyway. So the decision is easy - get another machine. I may rebuild the old one too if I can get a cheap disk - I would like something to play with linux on - if I can find somewhere to set it up that is.

Next decision. Build a machine from components to get the exact spec I want at a lower cost than a package system. In the past I would have built up a system, but my computer use has changed. Its just a piece of furniture these days - a gateway into the internet and a document preparation platform. I only need a standard platform with a bit of tweaking. The payoff is in speed of delivery and probably reliability.

Who to buy it from? Well this would normally take quite a bit of research. The thing is, that is already done. So many people ask me what computer to buy, that I quite regularly have to do this research. My colleagues are happy with the machines I suggested they go for - it seems only fair to practice what I preach.

So the order is in place. In the meantime I will be grateful that my work PC is a notebook that I take home for "support" purposes. Although using it is like working through treacle.