Things of screws and delicate metals

1. Well I suppose it had to happen sometime, but the hard drive on my PowerBook said it’s last hurrah two days ago. I had noticed that my computer had been running slower and slower over the last few months, but though nothing of it since it was about time for a clean install anyway. Then it slowed to a total crawl. And then it stopped booting. Then, if it could get any worse, it started making a noise like what you get when you stick a pen in a moving fan blade. Which is usually a pretty bad sign.

2. Luckily, I managed to rescue all my files, thanks to a little calm (it seems the days of my breaking things that are already broken are over, which is just as well I suppose) and ingenuity, and a kick arse program. Of course, if I had lost my photos, the scream would echo worldwide. That, fortunately, is on a seperate drive.

3. This still put me in a bit of a dilemma — do I buy a new computer now, or repair this one? I don’t want to spend $3000 on a new PowerBook just yet, so close to MacWorld in January, but I will be buying one in the next couple of months so it’s not worth spending lots on this one. Which is when I discovered a brilliant site called PBFixit which gives you detailed instructions on how to take apart any Macintosh computer, accompanied by excellent photos. So a short trip to the local computer store for a new hard drive and an hour of mucking about and it’s like I have an all new computer.

4. So all’s well that ends well. And because you’ve all been very good boys and girls, you get a treat.

5. Enjoy :)

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