I May Have Killed My Mac!

[RPCookin]

You know, most likely, you can get a mouse and plug it into your USB port or another port. Just buy it to fit whatever port you might have open. So while this is not optimum, it's a work around. Most computers are like that. Your screen goes, hook up another screen, your keyboard goes, hook up another one, your mouse goes, hook up another one.

I have a laptop that this advice would be lost on. After living for 2½ years right on the beach in the Bahamas on the windward side of the island, none of the peripheral ports on my Asus laptop work except the one where the receiver for my cordless mouse is plugged in. The salt air corroded everything beyond repair, except that the computer still works flawlessly.

None of the USB, HDMI, Ethernet, or audio ports work, the DVD drive can't read a disk - only the power cord and the one USB port for my mouse still function (I don't dare unplug the mouse receiver). Wi-Fi works so I can download anything that's downloadable, but can't use anything that needs to be plugged in.

 

[dragnlaw]

After the history of your laptop, might I suggest you dig deep in your pocket, have the poor thing bronzed, hang it on the wall, and digging deeper into your pocket - go and buy a new one!

 

[Andy M.]

I talked to the repair facility where Apple sends old Mac for repair. They told me how much a repair would cost and recommended I lay the old Mac to rest and buy a new one.

I went to the Apple store and spent a bit of time going over their two lower cost options and ended up with a 13" MacBook Air.

It's a nice new machine and has newer technology I'll have to get up to speed on. I've signed up for a class this morning to get things going in the right direction. I did a bit of set up last night and transferred over all my old files from the backup.

When I'm done, I'll be able to access the files on my Mac from my phone via iCloud. That's cool.

 

[blissful]

Andy, good for you!
RPCookin, how lucky for you to have lived on an island! I clean out my keyboard and ports with a stiff bristled paint brush. It's amazing how much dust and dirt gets into them when you aren't using them. High pressured air cans are also good for blowing out ports and keyboards.

 

[Addie]

I am still not up to speed with the new (very small) tower that my grandson bought for me. I can't get over how small it is. It is sitting on my desktop instead of in the slot near the floor.

I am actually afraid to stroll through it. I don't always understand when the screen tells me to do something. What if I go to a page I definitely don't want. Like porn. So I stick to what I know. But someday I am going to sit down and read the whole book that came with it. I know I can upload pics from my cell phone, but I don't know how. I am one of those folks who keeps and files all the manuals and paper work that comes with the object. I gave my professional iron to my grandson's wife along with the manual. And I had that iron for more than 15 years. They don't just get tossed in a drawer. They go into a file.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

...When I'm done, I'll be able to access the files on my Mac from my phone via iCloud. That's cool.

Couldn't you do that before, Andy? I've been doing that with my Droid devices and my Google account since 2011. I can do anything on any one of my devices and they all know where I've been since they are all synced up.

...I don't always understand when the screen tells me to do something. What if I go to a page I definitely don't want...

Just think of it as if you walked into a room with a lion: Just Back Up. As in, hit your "back" key so that you go to your previous page. If you think that won't be good enough, do a "hard" shut-down of your computer: Push and hold the power button on your tower so that everything powers down at once. It will take a minute or two longer for everything to get up to speed, but at least you ended the immediate threat.

 

[Addie]

Thanks CG.

The sad part is I started learning computers when you had to do it all in DOS. But once I left the working world, I didn't bother to keep up with all the new technology. There were days when I wished I was still using my electric typewriter.

 

[Andy M.]

Couldn't you do that before, Andy? I've been doing that with my Droid devices and my Google account since 2011. I can do anything on any one of my devices and they all know where I've been since they are all synced up...

The capability has been there for some time, CG. I just never felt the need. With this last failure, I decided it was time for me to do it. I'm signed up for an iCloud course at the Apple store Friday morning. I hope that will solve some of the missteps I've made in the past 24 hours.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

Got it, Andy. Because Himself has been in IT all his working life, he's of the mind to set it up BEFORE you need it. Good thing, to, since all our vacation plans in 2011 were on my laptop that crashed. Got everything back as soon as I signed into my new laptop.

 

[RPCookin]

I don't back up to the cloud... backup would never finish, just keep running forever. My main folder for my photos is over 200gb by itself. I store and back up everything on the internal hard drive plus 2 externals - Internal is 750gb and the externals are 2tb and 3 tb. Primary storage for the photos is an external HD and I work on them from that.

 

[Andy M.]

It was recommended to me not to back up to the cloud as well. I was talking about backing up my data, (documents, photos, music, etc.) so I can access the data when I'm away from my Mac using my iPhone or iPad.

 

[GotGarlic]

Really? Why would someone recommend that you *not* back up to the cloud? And how is what you're doing different?

I've been backing up using Backblaze for a few years now. It took a few days to get it all finished when I first set it up, but after that, it only backs up anything that is added or changed. It's well worth it to me.

 

[Andy M.]

When I back up to an external drive (SSD) I backup everything on the computer including the computer's operating system, all software/apps along with data.

My backups to the cloud would just be the stuff I created/saved - documents, photos, etc.

The recommendation to not backup to the cloud is based in part on the fact that you have to pay for cloud space. Right now I'm paying $0.99/mo. for 50GB. That amount would not allow me to backup the entire contents of my Mac.

In the event of a Mac failure, my immediate need is for my data.

 

[GotGarlic]

When I back up to an external drive (SSD) I backup everything on the computer including the computer's operating system, all software/apps along with data.

My backups to the cloud would just be the stuff I created/saved - documents, photos, etc.

The recommendation to not backup to the cloud is based in part on the fact that you have to pay for cloud space. Right now I'm paying $0.99/mo. for 50GB. That amount would not allow me to backup the entire contents of my Mac.

In the event of a Mac failure, my immediate need is for my data.

I see. Well, when my computer crashes. I don't want the old operating system and software; I just get a new computer and reinstall. That way, stuff gets cleaned up and I only have the stuff I currently want and use.

With Backblaze, I can restore to any device. I also have my photos on Google Photos - same as the Mac cloud for Android/Google devices, but there's no cost. Sometimes I back up to an external drive, but I've run out of USB ports, so it isn't always plugged in.

 

[Andy M.]

I see. Well, when my computer crashes. I don't want the old operating system and software; I just get a new computer and reinstall. That way, stuff gets cleaned up and I only have the stuff I currently want and use...

When your hard drive crashes and you get the hard drive replaced so you don't have to buy a whole new computer, you'll be happy to have your old OS backed up. If you decide to get a new computer, it will be smart enough to not replace its new OS with the old one on the back up. But it will add other applications you put on the old computer after you bought it (such as MS Office) so you won't have to pay for them again.

 

[GotGarlic]

When your hard drive crashes and you get the hard drive replaced so you don't have to buy a whole new computer, you'll be happy to have your old OS backed up. If you decide to get a new computer, it will be smart enough to not replace its new OS with the old one on the back up. But it will add other applications you put on the old computer after you bought it (such as MS Office) so you won't have to pay for them again.

I use a 16-inch laptop connected wirelessly to a full-size keyboard and mouse. A hard drive failure happens so infrequently that I'm better off getting a newer computer. And I don't have to pay for software again (unless I decide to upgrade) because I have it either on a CD or in my backup on Backblaze.

 

[RPCookin]

I see. Well, when my computer crashes. I don't want the old operating system and software; I just get a new computer and reinstall. That way, stuff gets cleaned up and I only have the stuff I currently want and use.

With Backblaze, I can restore to any device. I also have my photos on Google Photos - same as the Mac cloud for Android/Google devices, but there's no cost. Sometimes I back up to an external drive, but I've run out of USB ports, so it isn't always plugged in.

Nice thing about a semi-custom tower... I have 10 USB ports (even that rusty laptop had 4 before they started to corrode), six 2.0 and four 3.0 high speed. My external drives use 2 of the 3.0 ports, and the other 2 are used for stuff I plug in at need. My wired keyboard and cordless mouse each use a standard USB 2.0 port. 27" monitor is on HDMI.

Seems like every time I buy anything these days it comes with another USB cord.

 

[Andy M.]

I also bought a solid state external drive (1 terrabit) for backups.

 

[GotGarlic]

I've been meaning to get a USB hub, but it hasn't been a priority.

 

[RPCookin]

I've been meaning to get a USB hub, but it hasn't been a priority.

Make sure that you get one that has its own power source. The type that draws power from the port it's plugged aren't as functional.