Scariest computing moment?
-
Random question of the day. What's the most worrying moment you've had regarding computers? Examples: Installing the 'new' server software and hoping it doesn't mess up your corporate network? Performing a data 'slide' on your 200GB hard drive? I'm a bit of a chicken and back everything up before doing the slightest thing, however I was really worried one time when modifying the way my forum database structured itself. No backup option was avaliable for me by the host. It was a fairly complicated algorithm for copying records, assigning new ID's and values etc... based on other parameters. All I needed was the server to hang or one step in the process to conflict with something and several thousand records would be damaged or lost. I crossed all possible parts of my body including fingers and touched as much wood as possible.
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
Jonny Newman wrote: What's the most worrying moment you've had regarding computers? Anytime I attempt to restore from a media written to by an IOMega device X| Cheers, Tom Archer Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. * Inside C# -Second Edition * Visual C++.NET Bible * Extending MFC Applications with the .NET Framework
-
Random question of the day. What's the most worrying moment you've had regarding computers? Examples: Installing the 'new' server software and hoping it doesn't mess up your corporate network? Performing a data 'slide' on your 200GB hard drive? I'm a bit of a chicken and back everything up before doing the slightest thing, however I was really worried one time when modifying the way my forum database structured itself. No backup option was avaliable for me by the host. It was a fairly complicated algorithm for copying records, assigning new ID's and values etc... based on other parameters. All I needed was the server to hang or one step in the process to conflict with something and several thousand records would be damaged or lost. I crossed all possible parts of my body including fingers and touched as much wood as possible.
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
Over the weekend I was trying to see what the hell was making so much noise in my case. I normally have 6 fans going (2 CPU, 4 case) and 2 HDs. I'd unhooked the two top-rear exhaust fans (don't really need all that exhaust in the winter) but it didn't help. So my next thought was maybe one of the HDs is doing it. I first unhooked both HDs, and sure enough it got really quiet. So I hook one HD back up, no noise. Unhook it, hook the other one up, ZAP! :wtf: I had forgotten to power down the computer before hooking up the drive, so I got a nice big spark between the power cable and the pin in the drive's power connector, and the power supply's safety circuitry kicked in and shut the power off. This just happened to be the HD with all my source code on it, and my last backup was too long ago (before Xmas). So, you can imagine how much I was screwed if that drive had been killed. Lucky for me it booted right up and you've never seen me do a full backup so fast. ;) --Mike-- Ericahist | CP SearchBar v2.0.2 | Homepage | 1ClickPicGrabber New v2.0.1! | RightClick-Encrypt There is a saying in statistics that a million monkeys pounding on typewriters would eventually create a work of Shakespeare. Thanks to the Internet, we now know that this is not true.
-
Jonny Newman wrote: What's the most worrying moment you've had regarding computers? Anytime I attempt to restore from a media written to by an IOMega device X| Cheers, Tom Archer Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. * Inside C# -Second Edition * Visual C++.NET Bible * Extending MFC Applications with the .NET Framework
Zip drive/discs are the bane of my existance, however its currently the only large capacity diskette storage that is affordable. CD-R's are great, but they are easily damaged and are WORM media. Sure CD-RW are re-recordable, but all the ones I've tried have a limited lifespan and are slow. I have not tried the Predator or the Peerless devices.... Maybe it has no peers because everyone else has discovered that CD-RW,Zip and/or extra hard discs are more efficient and cost effective per Gigabyte (maybe not zip). When was the last time you met someone with a Peerless drive?
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
-
Over the weekend I was trying to see what the hell was making so much noise in my case. I normally have 6 fans going (2 CPU, 4 case) and 2 HDs. I'd unhooked the two top-rear exhaust fans (don't really need all that exhaust in the winter) but it didn't help. So my next thought was maybe one of the HDs is doing it. I first unhooked both HDs, and sure enough it got really quiet. So I hook one HD back up, no noise. Unhook it, hook the other one up, ZAP! :wtf: I had forgotten to power down the computer before hooking up the drive, so I got a nice big spark between the power cable and the pin in the drive's power connector, and the power supply's safety circuitry kicked in and shut the power off. This just happened to be the HD with all my source code on it, and my last backup was too long ago (before Xmas). So, you can imagine how much I was screwed if that drive had been killed. Lucky for me it booted right up and you've never seen me do a full backup so fast. ;) --Mike-- Ericahist | CP SearchBar v2.0.2 | Homepage | 1ClickPicGrabber New v2.0.1! | RightClick-Encrypt There is a saying in statistics that a million monkeys pounding on typewriters would eventually create a work of Shakespeare. Thanks to the Internet, we now know that this is not true.
Jesus, and I still worry about letting static loose in my PC case. I normally leave the case plugged in to the wall, but the wall socket turned off leaving it earthed but not powered. I'd never touch that thing while its turned on, mainly because there are so many fans in it that it would probably eat me.
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
-
Zip drive/discs are the bane of my existance, however its currently the only large capacity diskette storage that is affordable. CD-R's are great, but they are easily damaged and are WORM media. Sure CD-RW are re-recordable, but all the ones I've tried have a limited lifespan and are slow. I have not tried the Predator or the Peerless devices.... Maybe it has no peers because everyone else has discovered that CD-RW,Zip and/or extra hard discs are more efficient and cost effective per Gigabyte (maybe not zip). When was the last time you met someone with a Peerless drive?
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
I've had both zip and jaz and they both failed. I'm now using an iomega cdr that's making some very ugly sounds when working. It's definitely time to check out some alternatives. Cheers, Tom Archer Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. * Inside C# -Second Edition * Visual C++.NET Bible * Extending MFC Applications with the .NET Framework
-
Random question of the day. What's the most worrying moment you've had regarding computers? Examples: Installing the 'new' server software and hoping it doesn't mess up your corporate network? Performing a data 'slide' on your 200GB hard drive? I'm a bit of a chicken and back everything up before doing the slightest thing, however I was really worried one time when modifying the way my forum database structured itself. No backup option was avaliable for me by the host. It was a fairly complicated algorithm for copying records, assigning new ID's and values etc... based on other parameters. All I needed was the server to hang or one step in the process to conflict with something and several thousand records would be damaged or lost. I crossed all possible parts of my body including fingers and touched as much wood as possible.
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
Probably the scariest moment for me was while I was working on something, don't know what, during a summer storm. I had pretty much ignored the lightning outside. Then lightning struck something near my house. I could feel the electrical surge going through my body in the dark. After the ordeal was over (and the power had come back on) I just sat there staring at my black computer screen fearing the worse. Fortunately the system powered back on (my biggest fear), sure I lost what I had been working on but my PC was safe. Other scary moments include: Pointing out the power supply while the system was running I once installed MBM and the temp on my processor said 90C (turned out to be a config error) Convincing my dad he needed a new mobo and then having the same problem with the new mobo installed (ended up being bad ram) Thats all I can think of right now Matt Newman If you chose to continue this discussion, I am fully prepared to make you my bitch. I invite you to ask around, and you'll find out that I'm quite capable of doing so - John Simmons on Trolls
-
That probably was the only HP scope that ever had a display bright enough to be usable! I hated the things, and the department that ordered them for the company. :mad: "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
lol. The HP 181A storage scope and the 1741A not only provided me with the wherewithal to buy a house, it was also my stepping stone into the HP 8566A DC to Daylight Spectrum Analyser. Which in turn led to my first trip to the USA. Good days those :) Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
-
Jesus, and I still worry about letting static loose in my PC case. I normally leave the case plugged in to the wall, but the wall socket turned off leaving it earthed but not powered. I'd never touch that thing while its turned on, mainly because there are so many fans in it that it would probably eat me.
Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]
Jonny Newman wrote: mainly because there are so many fans in it that it would probably eat me. Oh my god, the mental picture of this had me almost crying from laughing so hard :laugh: Jeremy Kimball
-
Probably the scariest moment for me was while I was working on something, don't know what, during a summer storm. I had pretty much ignored the lightning outside. Then lightning struck something near my house. I could feel the electrical surge going through my body in the dark. After the ordeal was over (and the power had come back on) I just sat there staring at my black computer screen fearing the worse. Fortunately the system powered back on (my biggest fear), sure I lost what I had been working on but my PC was safe. Other scary moments include: Pointing out the power supply while the system was running I once installed MBM and the temp on my processor said 90C (turned out to be a config error) Convincing my dad he needed a new mobo and then having the same problem with the new mobo installed (ended up being bad ram) Thats all I can think of right now Matt Newman If you chose to continue this discussion, I am fully prepared to make you my bitch. I invite you to ask around, and you'll find out that I'm quite capable of doing so - John Simmons on Trolls
Hehehe...when I was growing up, this happened not once, but twice. First time, lightning struck the transformer outside the house at the pole. I wasn't at the computer at the time, but let me tell you, you never want to see a TV set being struck by lightning while it is on :) Total damage: 3 tvs, 2 cordless phone, one microwave, one stero system all kaput. Computer was triple surge-protected, but this was before phone line surpressors were available, so the current flowed through the modem and nicely nuked everything inside the case. :( Second time (less than a year later, to boot), lightning actually struck the top of my damned house. Fried everything that was replaced above. And my mom wondered why her homeowners insurance policy rates went through the roof after that :P Jeremy Kimball Lightning does strike twice :)
-
lol. The HP 181A storage scope and the 1741A not only provided me with the wherewithal to buy a house, it was also my stepping stone into the HP 8566A DC to Daylight Spectrum Analyser. Which in turn led to my first trip to the USA. Good days those :) Rob Manderson http://www.mindprobes.net **Paul Watson wrote:**What sense would you most dislike loosing? Ian Darling replied. Telepathy Then I'd no longer be able to find out everyones dirty little secrets The Lounge, December 4 2003
Well, they obviously worked for you! That's more than any HP scope ever did for me. They never did make a phosphor bright enough to rad in a well-lit lab, and the persistence of their displays was terrible. My handy Tek465/DM44, on the other hand, is readable in daylight, even though it's probably over 20 years old. Now there's an oscilloscope!:-D Rob Manderson wrote: DC to Daylight Spectrum Analyser I've long lusted for one of those... What HP did with RF gear was sinfully good, even if the display was useless. "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
-
> Shift-Delete and when it takes one or two seconds longer than you > expected. The worst thing is that I've become hardwired to use Shift-Del...I can't use the Delete key on its own anymore. I hate the Recycle Bin. Mind you, those 1 or 2 times I would've had a use for it...I *wish* Windows hadn't me trained at that point into using Shift-Del all the time...