Recovering

I did it! I managed to get my entire draft recovered and saved (in multiple places!) after my latest computer disaster. I even found the Changes file I needed to remind me of all the things I needed to tweak. I've updated my Mozy and Dropbox folders too.

In the process, I've been learning a lot about my new Mac.

It didn't take too long to get used to the touch pad - scrolling with 2 fingers, right click is now a 2 fingered click, and scrolling upside down.

I've also figured out most of my short cuts. I used the Home & End, Page Up & Down keys a lot on my old laptop, but they don't exist on my Mac. Between the Function & Command Keys, I've got most of those figured out. Took longer to figure out the Delete key being the old backspace & Fn+Delete being the old delete.

I'm still finding the positioning of the Command key awkward, but I assume I'll get used to it too.

Now, my big problem is switching between the Mac at home and the PCs at school. We'll see how messed up my brain gets with all the switching!

At this point I can't say I've really got a preference for either PC or Mac - I like them both. What about you? Are you a PC or a Mac user?

Back It Up!

In case you hadn't heard, I dropped my laptop a few weeks back and killed it. Killed it dead. No chance of retrieving data. (More on adventures with new laptop later)

Sigh.

Question: When was the last time I backed up to my external hard drive?

Answer: Too long ago.

Reason. Our lives have been even more than the usual chaos lately. Our water slowed to a trickle and for over 2 weeks we were down to the bare minimum of water (no laundry, no dishwasher, 1 minute showers). The crews for fixing stuff like that are awesome here - but it was February & we were one of over 200 homes on the wait list. Too many -40 degree days this year and shutoffs and pipes were breaking everywhere. Also, we still have mounds of snow and frozen soil to deal with. *sigh* Add to that, we had a leak issue in an upstairs room and while fixing it decided to replace the floors too as that was on the plan for summer. Of course, that's where the external hard drive lives (we don't have an office/den). So, it's been virtually inaccessible for a while. I did a back up around Christmas.

BEFORE I started the rewrite of my NaNo novel. The rewrite I'm pretty happy with.

Sigh.

But, I use Mozy. Free online storage. Perfect.

Except Mozy and Scrivener do not appear to get along very well. Each scene & file is restored as a separate file. Each has to be opened separately, then copied and pasted into a brand new Scrivener file.

All 200+ files for this novel. None of which are saved with the name of the file. Nor are they in order.

Thankfully I'd compiled the entire document recently and found this using Mozy as well. MUCH easier to copy and paste each scene from there into the new Scrivener. It may not have every last change I've made, but it's not from too far back either.

I also use DropBox which (apparently) syncs writing automatically. But it appears I didn't add my new NaNo novel to the list, therefore I can't testify to whether or not it works.

Lessons learned.

1. I'm an idiot

2. I need to be more aware of keeping DropBox up to date

3. I need to not be complacent about my back ups!!

4. I'm an idiot

(We still have a bit of snow. 

The blue stake in the front is where the water break was. 

Come on Spring!!)

So, do me a favour, back up your writing Right Now! Go!!!

Belly Up and Back Ups

Well, after my post on setbacks the other day, my laptop went belly up. When I turned it on, I got absolutely nothing, no reaction, other than a tiny light by the plug indicating power. The front light that indicates power said no. Internal conflict. Much better when it's in the book!

The laptop isn't very old - I bought it in the summer, so it's still under warranty. So I've sent it off to the laptop homeworld for some TLC. It appears the problem may be in the motherboard. Maybe it will come back looking like this.

My daughter has a laptop as well, but we don't have another household computer. I can use hers when it's available. Unfortunately she and my son both use it for assignments and studying - and this is the crazy month at school for them right now. So I don't know how much I'll be able to use it.

Long story short... I probably won't be visiting nearly as many blogs this month (or however long it is before the laptop returns from the homeworld). *sigh*

The other problem is I don't back up my stuff regularly. Probably every few weeks or so, but I don't think of it nearly often enough. Of course I haven't done it in a few weeks. The busier I am at school, the less time I have, and the less often I think of it. I have GOT to make it a habit!!

Do you remember to back up your stuff? If you don't, please do it now! I usually just email it to myself at a couple of email addresses and put all the info on a memory stick every once in a while. I've got too many songs to use the online storage. Any better tips? Anyone willing to slap me upside the head every few days and remind me to back everything up?

Okay - the laptop is required - I'll pop back at some point and see how everyone is doing. :)