Chains that just won't set me free

[austin_dern]

They didn't call, but the web site status update said the iBook was ready. I called to confirm; they ... didn't answer, but I left voice mail with my service number and phone number. After I finished grading they hadn't called; I called them and they said it was ready.

They replaced the logic board, and also the LCD screen which their tests indicated showed colors incorrectly. I hadn't noticed. I did try booting it and found it ... got partly through the startup, then blanked out to the Darwin/BSD screen, which is where I came in Tuesday. The technician eventually found there was a problem with the hard drive; he doesn't know how it was missed, although the hard drive could be mounted by another machine.

He asked, ``You are aware that while we will try to preserve data, if the hard drive is bad there may be data lost?'' Yes, I'm aware of that. ``Do you have any critical data there?'' Does a computer ever not have data its owner considers critical? ``Is there anything particularly critical?'' Sure, my book; I'd also like my e-mail, and wrote out the directories they'd be found in. ``Because we will try to preserve any data.'' All right. ``So we should try to save the entire user directory.'' Ideally, yes, ``But we can't guarantee there won't be data loss if we have to replace the hard drive.''

I don't want to sound dense, but was he trying to ask a question?

So another night without the iBook, and another call tomorrow ...

Trivia: The Abwehr Enigma machines had the letters `QWERTZUIO' on the top row of keys; `ASDFGHJK' on the middle, and `PYXCVBNML' on bottom. Source: Hijacking Enigma, Christine Large.

Currently Reading: Skyscraper: The Search for an American Style, 1891-1941, Roger Shepherd.

Comments

[argon-centaur.livejournal.com]

I suppose like any responsible company they wanted to make sure you understood that data loss was possible. Believe it or not, even after being told something and even signing documents reflecting what they were told, people will claim, "You never told me amputating my hand would mean I couldn't play the piano any more."

I have to say though, these service folks seem to be pretty careful about that. I've taken my cell phone in for service, and when picking it up found only later that all my numbers etc. were lost. Of course, now that they use the little memory cards that doesn't happen as often. Still, you'd think they'd warn you.

Still, sorry you don't have your computer. I know what a hassle it is losing something you get used to having as second nature.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Well, there's the thing; I'd already signed the repair authorization form which acknowledges I'm aware there's the risk of data loss. I can't be made more aware, and if they wanted proof I was properly notified I should have been given a fresh form to sign. I wonder if he wasn't just talking until I left.

[dashingpooka.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I've contemplated simply removing the hard drive before sending it in. Agh. Because sometimes I think they do so out of randomness.

A friend of mine had his ghosted before sending it in, which turned out to be a good measure.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Well, but taking it out doesn't help if there's actually a problem in the hard drive, which there seems to be. All I can do is hope it's not so serious they have to completely wipe the drive, at least not without trying to make some copy of what's on it.

Most of the files were backed up reasonably recently -- a couple weeks ago, anyway -- but where would I get Matlab 5 now?