Bummed.

[zoom-zoom]

Awww...Owlie, what a crappy way to start the week. I hope this means that things will look up for the rest of the week. And happy birthday!

[FunSize]

My boyfriend is a Geek Squad Agent. He seconds the external optical drive to load the operating system. They run about 60-80 bucks. That way too you don't have to be worried about the one you buy and install working with the laptop. It's like a netbook (which don't have optical drives in them cause they are too small).

[Owlie]

Thanks, everyone. DBF made up for it with a nice dinner and an attempt to be adorable that I accidentally foiled.
Quickie update:
The back--much better, but not quite rideable yet. The giant lump is exactly where the stuff that goes in my jersey pockets ends up. That's okay, I suppose, because it's been rainy and windy the last few days.

Computer--I called Dell yesterday to see what they had in terms of CD drives that were compatible so I could at least get the thing up and running again. They gave me three part numbers...none of which actually exist, by the sound of it. I wound up getting the same drive via an Amazon store for $40.
DBF remembered that a friend of ours has the same laptop, which is no longer his primary computer. I'm going to ask him if he can pop the CD drive out so I can borrow it for a day.

The good news is that between my iPod and external hard drive, I didn't lose much. Just some music (which means I'm out $6 from iTunes, but that's okay) and some knitting patterns, which I can download again. Back your stuff up!

[Roadtrip]

Glad things are looking brighter.

Hope the back feels better soon!!!

Shannon

[OakLeaf]

Owlie, glad things are looking better for you - hope your back heals up quick.

And yeah ... what's up, Zen??

[colorisnt]

Glad to hear things are looking up!

Amazing how just a nice little thing can change your entire outlook!

Thought about you today and wondered if anything had changed, so glad to hear about it!

[PinkBike]

zen???????????????????????
whassup????????????????

[Owlie]

Thanks for thinking of me.

There's still some deep bruising on my back, but it's rideable...or it would be if I didn't get a cold! (Mostly over it by now, though!)
My computer is still mostly a zombie. Dell suggested I try a repair installation first. It worked, but my computer is still very unhappy. It turns out it has the equivalent of ebola or something. I managed to get everything I needed to save off it, but I think the best bet for its continued survival is to wipe the hard drive. I just need a new copy of Office and a not-Norton anti-virus...

[Catrin]

I have found in dealing with Windows, that there is only on reliable way to deal with a persistent problem like this - and it looks like you have already thought of it. "Repair" installations have never really helped much, they just seem to put off the inevitable. Depending in the version of your Windows though, a reformat/clean install does not take as long as it used to.