When Bad Things Happen To Good People

No.  Don't worry.  Nothing bad - in relative terms - has happened to me.  It's more of a commentary about certain situations that crop up in life.

As a computer support person, I know a lot of different tricks and diagnostic tools when a computer is not working.  But what happens when my computer at work doesn't work?  It's not like I can call a computer support person because I'd just be calling myself.  Hmm...options:

1.  Stare at the computer and wait for it to stop being frozen (I did this twice, waiting up to five minutes each time)
2.  Reboot the computer and hope that whatever was causing it to freeze would figure itself out (I ended up doing this four times).
3.  Use advanced diagnostic skills and tools (and some swear words) to restore the computer to a previous date in hopes that the problem will be removed (I did this three times).

Finally, after restoring my system three times AND wasting ninety minutes of my time, I was able to get my computer back in working order.  The real problems began after that.

I had checked my email from another computer and seen several messages that were of an important nature.  Plus, I had been visited by two other people with information that they needed (once I had access to my computer because that's where the files were).  Prioritizing the list of emails and information required I can now say that I am caught up from the ninety minute delay to my morning.

I may be a computer support person.  I may be patient when working with my clients and other support people.  But when it comes to my own computer not cooperating, I can honestly say that I get mad.  Doesn't the computer know who I am?  Shouldn't it bow down to my superior knowledge and might?  And if it doesn't, should there be significant punishment?  Who knows.

What I do know is that I am glad that it finally got working so that I could get my work done.  I have a lot of files that are on my computer (though they are backed up a few other places, just not convenient) that would have been difficult to replace.

Moral of the story:  Always back up everything you do.  And don't get mad at the computer support person when their computer is not working.  It's just as hard for them as it is for you.



Until tomorrow.