ANVL » Recent Stuff

Since it’s been a while since I’ve been here, a quick update might be in order:

I resolved the HDD issues from the last post - turns out it was some bad sectors on the Maxtor drive. Not sure why, but after I used the Maxtor MaxBlast 4 utility (click on Software Downloads on the left) to do a low-level format, all seems to be okay.
After I recovered my missing MP3 files, I mirrored them to an external HDD unit (basically a stock drive in an external USB enclosure - look for one here). After going through my ordeal, and helping my sister Helen with her troubles, I think that no one can afford to be without one of these. For the price, you can’t NOT have an extra drive to back stuff up to. Bob got a 200GB external drive for $65. Buy one, get a free copy of SyncBack (or something similiar), and you can set up a very easy way of automatically backing up your critical files (Word docs, Outlook files, MP3s, playlists, etc etc) to another drive. And, better yet, you can take the drive with you if you need to! Whee!!! (wow, sorry, got a bit carried away there…
I bought a new camera, since our Canon S40’s screen bit the dust.
Actually, not sure if it was the screen, since I bought and installed a replacement screen, and the same blank-ness kept happening. Wierd - maybe it was the fact that it got all wet while sitting on the kitchen counter… Nah!
So, I got a GREAT deal on a Canon SD400 from Techbargains and a super-high-speed 1GB SD card from Newegg off of DealRam (thanks Bob!). Should be here soon - can’t wait! Mmmmm….Digic2…..
I also had to get onto a new cell phone. Yeah, “had to”. Seriously. Working at Cingular with a T-Mobile phone…? Had to. I ended up getting the Audiovox SMT5600 that everyone else has (it seems). I got it via Slickdeals.net. Yeah, sounds like I’m a deal junkie, eh? Can’t argue with that… to paraprase DealNews’ slogan: “I’m going broke saving money…” That said, can’t wait for the new phone either…