Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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#86183 of 91731 Re: Computer is finally fixed! [imidazol97] by imidazol97

Dec 06, 2012 (7:01 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Dec 05, 2012 7:32 pm)
>I'd get a backup system in place. Myself, I use DriveImageXML and make a backup to an external hard drive.
 
No one commented but on the suggestions I need to make clear something I said. The term backup is used for a system that makes copies of files that have been changed during a time period or of just a group of files regularly. That is available as part of Win7.
 
I used the word backup, but what I prefer working with what should be called drive images, which also is available in Win7. With a drive image, the external drive is not connected to the PC in event of an attack or major problem. But the drive image can be overlaid on a new installed hard drive or over a problematic old one that has been reformatted.
 
Avira has not let me down and it's free. But I check to be sure it's updating and gets run every 3 days. I had XP system failures with AVG when I was using it (free). One virus or malware turned off the antivirus. Another time ADobe Reader had virus weaknesses that got past AVG. A third was caused by diskperfect or diskeeper, two defragmention programs.
 
I have 4 external hard drives, 1 Terrabytes, 1.5 Terrabytes, 1.5 Terrabytes, and 2 Terrabytes. I have each drive image on more than one external. I never unplug and external drive until the system has shut down. Many users report failures on externals in the reviews on hardware sites, but I believe it's related to the handling more than endemic failures in the externals.
 
Had a call a couple weeks back from a longtime acquaintance who knows little about computers but had a no boot on their old PC. They had no usable method for recovering photos and all else. From what she said her now ill husband may have used a backup style program sometime. But I couldn't take on trying to help because I was tied up here. And I've been burned trying to help folks at little or no charge in past.
 
I've probably bored everyone now, but folks need a nap as we get older.

#86184 of 91731 Re: computers [tjc78] by verdugo

Dec 06, 2012 (11:36 am)

Replying to: tjc78 (Dec 06, 2012 6:16 am)
I backup both my home and work computers all the time. If they died I wouldn't lose a thing.
 
Amen!!! I'm paranoid myself. This is my setup:
 
* Home PC has a RAID 0 disk array, so I always have an exact copy
 
* Home PC that does incremental back ups daily to an internal drive and does full back up once a week. Photos and videos get backed up in real time. I use SyncBack.
 
* External hard drive that i back up once a week and that I keep in a fire-proof safe at home
 
* I back up things as well to a cloud service (MS Sky drive)

#86185 of 91731 Re: FINALLY, I GOT MY CAR BACK [tjc78] by explorerx4

Dec 06, 2012 (4:32 pm)

Replying to: tjc78 (Dec 06, 2012 6:20 am)
He got 40k more out of his trans than I did!
I used drive it hard and overload it by a lot.
Like I told my wife, We bought an Explorer to do an Expedition's job.
I'm glad I bought an extended warranty for it and kind of feel like I got my money's worth out of it.
I would never recommend it as a vehicle for someone else, but I will hate to give it up some day.
Our family has had so many good experiences with it over the 10+ years we have had it.
I think one of my favorite memories when my oldest daughter, maybe 17 at the time, came home from practice, walked in the house and said 'Hey Dad, that 4x4 low is really great for getting out of the mud'.
When I went out to look at it, there was mud everywhere, especially underneath.
When she said 'do you want me to clean it up?', very sternly I said Don't you have some homework to do?.
Then i pulled it into the road and spent about an hour hosing the mud off it, but I was laughing to myself the whole time.

#86186 of 91731 HAVE YOU EVER LOST YOUR CAR? by abacomike

Dec 06, 2012 (5:23 pm)

I finally "took" some "me time" this afternoon and left Dad at home and went Christmas shopping for my grandchildren as well as shopping for gifts for my kids and my father. My first stop was at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, FL. The place was jammed, but I got some great gifts at more than reasonable prices. I got my Dad a 42" HD TV and will finally be able to get rid of his 15 year old tube TV in his bedroom. He doesn't see very well so this will definitely light up his life. Bought lots of clothing for the grandchildren as well as tons of Wii cartridge games my DIL said they wanted. I'll ship them out to California tomorrow.
 
I then went to Boca Town Center. The place was so crowded, I was lucky to get a parking spot. Bought Sees Candy for the neighbors and slippers for Dad and shorts and shirts for him. After about another hour of shopping, I came out of Bloomindales and started walking toward where I parked my car - or should I say where I thought I parked it. I searched for 20 minutes but could not find the car. I started to worry that maybe someone had stolen it, but felt that would be difficult without a key and in broad daylight. I stopped a police car and asked him for some help. He asked me if what kind of car it was and he asked if the Mbrace was active on the car. I said it was, so he asked me to get into the patrol car and asked if I had the App on my phone. I said I did and then it occurred to me - there is a function on the App that will show me on "MAPS" where it is parked if within 1 mile of my phone .
 
So I clicked on "locate" and about 60 seconds later, it chimed and showed where the car is parked in the sopping mall. It was on the other side of the mall next to Macy's. The officer drove me right to the car. He told me event if I didn't have the App, all I would have to do is call Mbrace and they would have directed me to the car as it is always on telemetry via satellite. I thanked him for his help - he said this wasn't the first time a Mercedes owner had forgotten where they parked their car and since most Mercedes cars and SUV's have Mbrace, it works out great since they can assist the lost drivers in finding their cars.
 
I usually park at Bloomingdales, but the lots were so crowded, I had to park near Macy's.
 
I guess I'm getting old!

#86187 of 91731 Re: FINALLY, I GOT MY CAR BACK [explorerx4] by tjc78

Dec 06, 2012 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Dec 06, 2012 4:32 pm)
I would never recommend it as a vehicle for someone else
 
That is too funny, as my buddy says the exact same thing. His had a very rough first two years in and out of new (unpaved) housing developments but now is just a 70 mile a day commuter. He loves the truck.
 
He is gonna retire it to 3rd car duty and grab a small car for back and forth to work soon.

#86188 of 91731 Re: FINALLY, I GOT MY CAR BACK [tjc78] by explorerx4

Dec 06, 2012 (7:01 pm)

Replying to: tjc78 (Dec 06, 2012 6:38 pm)
I now refer to mine as the 'Government Mule', although I still maintain it.
Mine has a V8 and I would hate to drive it 70 miles a day commuting, although I don't think the V6 would get a whole lot better fuel mileage.
Overall mileage has been 15.94 mpg.

#86189 of 91731 Re: HAVE YOU EVER LOST YOUR CAR? [abacomike] by nyccarguy

Dec 06, 2012 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Dec 06, 2012 5:23 pm)
Mike
 
While I've never actually "lost" a car in the parking lot as you describe it, my wife often comments to me that she often has to click the remote in the Nursery School parking lot to see which dark grey (Polished Metal Metallic) Pilot is hers. She's pulled on someone else's door handles numerous times:)

#86190 of 91731 Re: HAVE YOU EVER LOST YOUR CAR? [abacomike] by jipster

Dec 06, 2012 (9:20 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Dec 06, 2012 5:23 pm)
I've "lost" my car before, but usually I'm close enough to use my panic button on key fob to get horn honking and lights flashing. I usually do this as a last resort, as it is a bit embarrassing having to do so.
 
I usually give myself a verbal message as I am walking away from parking my car somewhere i.e " fifth floor, back row, near exit ramp." Helps me locate my car quickly after work.
 
After a week of driving my Honda Civic, I'm really happy with the purchase. Corners and handles extremely well , comfortable seats and ride. I think it brakes well. A nice looking exterior. As I've said before, the interior panels needs some work. I think Honda may have been feeling the heat from Hyundai and Kia, a few others... and cut a few corners to save money and keep price closer to competitors. But, lower quality interior door panels and plastic trim on dash wasn't high on my list of priorities.
 
I got 47 mpg on the highway today. That was going about 64-67mph. So I'm pretty confident I could get over the 50 mpg barrier on a longer trip, and the car isn't fully broken in yet. Money spent on gas will be about half of what I have paid in the past. OEM stereo is fairly weak. So, I was thinking of putting aftermarket speakers in.

#86191 of 91731 Re: HAVE YOU EVER LOST YOUR CAR? [jipster] by abacomike

Dec 06, 2012 (9:43 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Dec 06, 2012 9:20 pm)
I've "lost" my car before, but usually I'm close enough to use my panic button on key fob to get horn honking and lights flashing. I usually do this as a last resort, as it is a bit embarrassing having to do so.
 
*jipster, in this particular case, hitting the panic button would have done me no good. Macy's is on the opposite side of the mall from Bloomingdales. I went out the Bloomingdales exit because that's where I usually park. But I forgot I parked at Macy's. I would never had heard the horns or seen the flashing lights.
 
I'm glad you are enjoying you new Civic. The neighbor to my left got a silver 4-door Civic last year. She hasn't had it back to the dealer except for oil changes. She buys nothing but Hondas and the are one of the best selling cars down here - inexpensive to purchase as well as to run and maintain. I believe it's a toss up as to what I would get in that market - a Civic or a Jetta. I think the Civic is a better built car and is more user friendly.
 
Just enjoy the car - sounds like you got a good deal!

#86192 of 91731 Drove my Prelude today! by nyccarguy

Dec 06, 2012 (10:53 pm)

My post in Chronic Car Buyer's Anonymous
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