life is random and unfair
October 11, 2006
This morning was my morning to finally relax a tiny bit because I'd gotten a lot of writing (and various life) stuff done yesterday. As I was opeing documents that I needed to alter slightly and print for class, my computer locked up.
Odd, I thought, my computer never locks up.
When I tried to restart, I got this weird little three bell tone, then nothing. So I tried again. Same thing. And again -- this time with a heart full of horror and disbelief -- nothing.
So I called tech support, who told me that I'd have to take it to my nearest authorized Apple Store, which is in Albany. And I explained where Albany is in relation to where I am. And they are sending a box in which I am to pack the remains and return to them. It is, of course, fantasitcally expensive but I can't see any other way. It would still be expensive if I drove it up to the Apple Store and had to pay them to look at it.
Of course, this comes on the heels of having to have $1000ish worth of work done on the car. Just when we were starting to get caught up...fart.
Right now, I am in shock. It's like someone hacked out a piece of my brain. Fortunately, I'd backed up most of my files within the last few months -- but I susepect there will be lost data. As well as some lost pictures, it now dawns on me. Gah!
But the biggest deal now is that I feel completely cut off from the world. *sob*
I can still check email and whatnot via the Hub's machine whenever said machine and I are in the same room. But there will be some lag. If you really need me for somethin', call.
I am going to continue running about in a panic.
I've sent this to my geek friends (as opposed to my nerd, crazy, or neurotic friends) to see if they have any ideas.
Was the computer off completely when you turned it on this morning?
What is the model?
When the screen froze, did you have to manually power down?
When you tried to restart, did anything appear on the screen, or was it completely dark?
Posted by: matthew | October 11, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Call these guys?
http://24.97.214.77/index.htm
Posted by: matthew | October 11, 2006 at 11:01 AM
It is a PoweberBook G4 15" running OS 10.
It had been on all night.
When it froze, I had to manually power down.
When I tried to restart, the screen stayed dark *sob* and I got the three dongs of doom.
And -- I'd call those guys but they don't do Macs.
Maybe my next computer should be a PC...
Thanks for helpin', tho.
Posted by: Adrienne | October 11, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Euw! Might as well lop off an arm as lose your computer!
Good luck. I've experienced the three dongs of doom--those Apple people really know how to dramatize a situation, you know?
Posted by: Ann | October 11, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Those PC guys might be able to refer you to a closer Mac shop?
Posted by: matthew | October 11, 2006 at 12:44 PM
GAH! This happened to me some time ago -- it was the motherboard. Motherf*cker, I said. Anyway, for some bizarre reason Johnstown has a Mac consultant and so I was in better shape from that standpoint. The consultant went to bat for me as far as getting Mac to hork up a bunch of new stuff for me (now it'll burn DVDs, for example). The consultant said it was the worst problem he's ever had to work on. I feel for you...
Posted by: Shelley | October 11, 2006 at 01:45 PM
More info from my geeks:
I'm not a Mac expert, but was it three beeps or a three-tone chord? And do you happen to know what model? On PCs 3 beeps typically means your memory is either bad or just needs to be re-seated. The sad-mac chord could be the same thing... if the screen isn't even lighting up I'd suspect memory, or if it is a desktop I'd also make sure the cards are all seated. I'm not sure, a bad fan might also cause that error. If the drive was bad I'd think you'd see the sad-mac icon on the screen, or some other "I can't boot" message - depends on the model of computer and version of MacOS.
Memory is easy to get to in most mac laptops and desktops. I'd try re-seating and if there is more than one I'd try taking one out, then the other, and see if that helps.
Posted by: matthew | October 11, 2006 at 03:29 PM
The PowerBook (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz) Memory Slot Repair Extension Program
is available for certain PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz) computers
that were manufactured between approximately January 2005 and April 2005.
Affected systems will exhibit one of the following symptoms:
* The computer does not start up; instead, there are three short
beeps (typically) followed by the the sleep LED flashing periodically.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303173
There is a list of affected powerbook serial numbers on that page.
-Andrew
Randy Yarger wrote:
> I'm really familiar with that model and my only input is that it's
> built as tough as nails. I've seen one have an entire can of soda
> spilled on it to the point where it was sparking and smoking and after
> a week of sitting (with hard drive and other removable parts removed),
> it turned on and was as good as new.
>
> I'd go with Ben and Andrew's advice... Remove the drive and back it up
> then reseat anything that's removeable (RAM, HD and battery). It
> wouldn't hurt to smack it around a little either.
>
> -Randy
Posted by: matthew | October 11, 2006 at 04:31 PM
Matthew- You and your geeks rock. My computer is doing exactly what the memory slot description described. My serial number isn't in that range so we'll see how this all plays out.
It could, of course, be something entirely different...
Posted by: Adrienne | October 11, 2006 at 05:28 PM
Maybe a shiny new MacBook is in order? :)
Posted by: karrie | October 12, 2006 at 09:42 AM