[paw broon]

What a weekend!  My pc gave up the ghost and refused to start.  As my tech knowledge is about enough for the back of a stamp, I couldn't fix it.  So, today it was off to the computer shop.  I've dug out an old, slow, under-powered  W7 machine and fired it up - it needed some dry kindling and soon it'll want a shovelfull of coal, but at least it's working. Hopefully it's only for a couple of days.  I'll try to sort out the wee problem with the latest Buck Ryan and upload it but don't hold your breath. 

[The Australian Panther]

Well, Paw all my sympathy.   I just hope you have been doing regular back-ups on media that is not on your PC., The PC can be replaced, but the data cannot. I am on other [non-comicbook] forums - primarily music sharing blogs - and people asking for help because they havee lost all their data is a common occurance.
Having had this happen to me, I now only use the computer [laptop] to connect to the internet and create or edit documents and images. I save all data on a stand-alone drive. It's always possible of course to save data to the CLOUD.
I hope the diagnosis is that the patient will recover quickly!

Cheers!           

[Andrew999]

Gosh - that's a hard blow - I hope you manage to get the data back from the hard drive.

[paw broon]

Fortunately, I transfer to a desktop drive.  Then copy that to another big volume drive.  Being a bit paranoid about losing stuff, I also use a couple of smaller portables as emergency stores.  My pal, Vince - a collector of many things - holds a fair portion of my comics downloads and I in turn hold copies of his audio and tv files.
Anyone reading these posts who's new to all this, or a bit less fastidious with their files should take note.  Back them up.
Fingers crossed.

[paw broon]

Well, I got my pc back and virtually all the files that were on it.  I just had to re-load some progs, which was quote good fun, and informative as I found new versions  or alternatives.  The old w7 machine has been put away safely in case of more problems.
My main concern isn't  the pc, or covid 19 for that matter, as my brother-in-law has been told his cancer is terminal.  My sister is in poor health anyway and I don't know how she will cope. 

[Andrew999]

I'm very sorry to hear that, Paw - that's a hard, hard blow. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts.