My primary computer, the desktop, bit the dust this morning.  The Dell died unexpectedly, and suddenly.  It started having issues last night, I was losing control of the computer.  Today, I no longer could control it.  The computer was rejecting all input devices--keyboard, mouse, etc--and I think that from the days back when I used to use it for downloads through Napster and what not, that it contracted viruses, that Norton-McAfee and other services simply couldn't find, and now today--it is gone completely. . .

While I still have internet access thanks to my far more secure laptop, a lot of bad things will result from this. . .

1: After I release the ten recordings I did prior to this crash over the past couple of weeks, no new Below Average Dave, or Collaboration projects including the Scheduled Matthias, Melanie Lee and Jeff Reuben recordings can be completed until I am able to replace the computer.  The laptop is not capable of handling the recording software or microphone used to produce recordings

2.  While the badave.com website is safe because it is not hosted on the computer, and it is backed up on the laptop in case something like this were to happen, The paraoke files are lost permanently, they were not put onto the laptop, that section was delete anyway, but I no longer have the paraoke files at all.

3.  The Artistry playlist is gone as are the music files that made it.  While I have a list of the planned artists, the secret artists were contained only in that list. . .so the Artistry competition shouldn't see a halt of any kind, but I will only be able to replace the secret artists to the best of my recollection. . .which means some fun rounds are lost.

4.  I have not worked in 3 weeks in the construction field.  I am looking for something more stable, but as long as things remain the way they are--the computer will not be replaced because I have no money to replace it with.  Donations at the badave.com website have stopped all together, I have not received a single donation this year, and what little advertising money comes in has gone right to the cost of the website, at this time badave.com is safe--but all production related to it is not.

5. My participation in contests may be limited because I lost a lot of files and a lot of personal photos and such on that computer, I am going to be very focused on replacing it, so don't expect much in the way of parodies, recordings (other than ten that I mentioned in part one) or participation while I look for another job or wait until something gives in my current one. . .

I'm sorry about this news.  Anyone who wants to help me get a new computer so that things can return to normal, please go to http://www.badave.com/donate.php  I know times are tough, but if anyone can help it'd be greatly appreciated. . .

thank you all for your time,

Sincerely,
David

Oh man that really sucks Dave... If you have a chance go on Yahoo Messanger and I'll help you to be best of my ability to fill in the missing fun artists. (That's pretty much all I can do seeing that I haven't got a paycheck in about 3 months and I got a speeding ticket recently so I need to pay that crap off, or I would be more than willing to help you pay for a new computer).

It's a shame that my 5 songs aren't going to be done for awhile but that gives you more time to practice "She Loves Meat"  ;)

At least you have a laptop, when my fried I was sheesh out of luck... So it doesn't put that much of a damper on you're online time. Other than the recording world (Which is really a shame), but it's a good thing you got these 10 done ahead of time which gives you 10 weeks before you need to get a new computer. Hopefully you can find a new job somewhere, best of luck Dave. Life is hard, you need friends like us to get you through this and it's a good thing you're a parodist because humor is a good remedy for heartache.

All may not be lost, Dave. When my old computer died, it was something that fried on the motherboard. The hard drive was messed up as well, but not enough to completely stop it from working. I was able to take it out of the bad computer and load most of the files I wanted into the new PC.

Ant

Yeesh.  That's always really frustrating.  :-\\

Good luck with the computer hunt - hopefully it's just something wrong with the motherboard and they can switch it out nice and easily. That's happened to me twice before.  Hang in there!

Any luck in getting this fixed yet Dave?

Yeah, sucks very much when that happens. My sister and I have gone through more Dells than I can count between us.

If they were more affordable, I'd say consider making an Apple your next purchase. It would be a double investment because you'd need all new software, but the stability from what I've heard absolutely dwarfs the stability of PCs. Different viruses (and fewer of them), more suited for the demanding stuff it sounds like you're doing (audio streams and editing) and while my PC crashes once or twice a week from whatever, I have several friends who've had their macs crash that many times a year. I know, not helpful in your current financial state, but maybe think about it for the future when/if you need to get another computer.

-Glen

Man, that is really bad. Hope you get the problem fixed up soon.

If only that I could help in fixing your machine... As for the viruses, I mostly use Avast along with a bunch of removal tools; And oh, maybe getting Linux (Ubuntu or Linux Mint) would do, since they are less vunerable, although you have to get used to the new interface.

Sorry to here it.  I've had several close calls myself with drives going south.

If you can, purchase one of these:

http://www.newertech.com/products/usb2_adaptv2.php

I have one, and have been able to retrieve data from hard drives on crashed machines more than once.  If the drive itself is completely dead, it of course won't work.  This will allow you to hook up any drive from almost any machine (PC or Mac) onto anything with a USB drive.

I found a computer for 3 bucks!

I wouldn't trust it, but since it's only 3 bucks what harm can it do?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Cheap+Computer&hl=en&cid=32452710599288539&sa=title#ps-sellers

I found a computer for 3 bucks!

I wouldn't trust it, but since it's only 3 bucks what harm can it do?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Cheap+Computer&hl=en&cid=32452710599288539&sa=title#ps-sellers


dude that's not a computer for $3.00. .  .that is a computer component for $3.00 and a drive from a company with a name "DrivesforUs" is not likely to handle a recording any better than a tape Recorder for kids. . .you are really silly Matty. . .I'm focused on finding a more stable job so I can get a real computer. . .but at this rate it may be months before I get back to recording, 9 songs left in the wing

dude that's not a computer for $3.00. .  .that is a computer component for $3.00 and a drive from a company with a name "DrivesforUs" is not likely to handle a recording any better than a tape Recorder for kids. . .you are really silly Matty. . .I'm focused on finding a more stable job so I can get a real computer. . .but at this rate it may be months before I get back to recording, 9 songs left in the wing


Are you still capable of helping me with my recordings? Or do I have to hold off for months before I can release something new by me as well?

Are you still capable of helping me with my recordings? Or do I have to hold off for months before I can release something new by me as well?


Audacity actually does work on my laptop so I can edit yours still. . .

Audacity actually does work on my laptop so I can edit yours still. . .


Good, Cause I'm going to work on "Stolen" my parody of "Frozen" tomorrow...

Geez Dave...that totally sucks!- >:( >:( :(
I'm so sorry...computers are so vital and yet so expensive...I wouldn't know what I would if my own system would crash (if I had one).

Keep up the spirits.

I sent you a PM basically saying the same thing as others about it being the motherboard.  Also, I should have the CD with the paraoke recordings from Tampa last year if you want them :)

I just thought I'd mention that my lousy camera man orders stuff from newegg.  It's a save place to order from if you want to do that when you get the money.

Well, my computer started up today. . .unexpectedly it had absolutely no issues, and acting as if it never had. . .but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet, I'm going to take a shower, do my daily routine stuff, and then try and record something on it and see if it's still holding, I've already gotten any files of it I care about it to be safe while it's up, some good news in this really awful week, if I'm real lucky, the computer was having a blonde moment, we shall see.

Well, my computer started up today. . .unexpectedly it had absolutely no issues, and acting as if it never had. . .but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet, I'm going to take a shower, do my daily routine stuff, and then try and record something on it and see if it's still holding, I've already gotten any files of it I care about it to be safe while it's up, some good news in this really awful week, if I'm real lucky, the computer was having a blonde moment, we shall see.


http://1fattybombatty.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/fingers-crossed_sxc-776014.jpg

Great News, I cleaned out the computer, not that it looked dirty, I found what appeared to be a hotel key card in it that was mangled up. . .upon taking it out and cleaning some gooey stuff that I suppose may have been either Kool-Aid gunk or something else, It seems to be working fine. . .we shall see. . .but to those who made a donation, after I get caught up on obligations in recording for others, I'd like to record something of yours and post it to the AmiRight All Star list, and the Mad Music Archive under your names. . .I will PM you closer to when this happens, but suffice to say, that money now may come in handy with the other issue if ASCAP decides simply removing everything isn't enough  (In which case I may need to beg for about another $250 or so in donations)

Great News, I cleaned out the computer, not that it looked dirty, I found what appeared to be a hotel key card in it that was mangled up. . .upon taking it out and cleaning some gooey stuff that I suppose may have been either Kool-Aid gunk or something else,

;D