My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Apologies and A Lesson Learned

I'll start this tale with some lovely photos for you to view since the story itself might be boring but there is a need to tell you what happened. Also I need you to email me with your blog address if you were on my list on the blog. I can add the ones from my Google Reader but they are not necessarily the same. So if you want me to put your blog on here, let me know and I'll check it against my other list. I need to get busy on it soon.


~*~

First of all, I need to apologize for not keeping up with the blogs I love and check each and every day. Also for Pink Saturday and not visiting the participants, especially the ones who visit me. But life can throw you curve balls and we can do some really stupid things sometimes! ME......for instance.

This is why we have used Apple Macs for about 25 years now.

On 8/29/09 the new OSX came out: Snow Leopard, OSX or 10.6 to be exact. I ran to the MacLife store in Boise to buy it for $29.99 and came home and installed it. That same day I received my new HP Printer all-in-one and installed it. It didn't work properly and I called HP and asked for help. That sweet woman stayed on the line with me for about 2 hours and doing numerous tweaks and fixes and nothing got the printer to work correctly. She checked with her higher-ups and they said the drivers weren't up-to-date yet since Apple released Snow Leopard about 4 or 5 weeks early. So since I wanted to use my new super-duper faster printer and scanner, I went back and installed OSX 10.5 or just plain Leopard instead of Snow Leopard (SL).

Here's where I need to eat a bit of humble pie for telling friends and my ebay groups and anyone that will listen to this ol' lady to THINK before you do anything with your computer. When I re-installed Leopard, everything was as it would be when you reinstall any new Operating System or get a new computer: pretty much nothing personal on there or as I should say: zip, nada, nothing but the original OS just waiting for you to add your email accounts, PhotoShop, Office for Mac, photos, personal things, etc. But.............

I also subscribe to Carbonite because you just never know when something will happen. I also have an external HD. I also have Time Machine—exclusive to Apple Macs. So I wasn't too worried. But as luck would have it, all this transpired on a weekend (doesn't everything significant in your life to do with "business" happen on a friday night at 5:01 PM?!?! It usually does for me. I also have a laptop which I try to sync with my desktop since we travel with our laptops and I've learned from experience I want them both to have all the same things on them. So I'm pretty much covered. Except for my photos on iPhoto. They may not be on both computers.

So monday morning, 8/31/09 I'm on the phone with Apple getting their help. They came to the rescue magnificently. I always, always get a representative who is kind, considerate, patient, understands exactly what I need and walks me through it and then gives me their name and phone number and extension AND their work email to call them back or email if need be. I've tried it and they are back with me in just a matter of hours but they guarantee to be back within 24 hours. I've read where they rank #1 in customer service and they absolutely do with me!

Then monday afternoon I was back on with Apple again. They were on the line with me for a total of about 5-6 hours over the course of friday, saturday and monday and just shined magnificently. They never kept sending me to someone else. THEY did the trolling if they needed to get extra help.I'm going right to the bottom line here.

My Mac is restored to exactly what it was and what was on there. I've had to do a lot of reloading of the applications/programs such as PhotoShop, Office for Mac, iLife and Quicken (let me say here that the Quicken rep. was a true gentlemen also!) gave me a code to go in and download Quicken 2007 again for free. I wasn't charged a penny for any of this, not a penny! Just the hardest working reps at each place I went. It's been frustrating because I messed up by not properly taking off the new OSX and going back to the last version. But even Carbonite (whose help I didn't need after all because my Mac did it ALL!) was astounding in helping me. Now, I ask you, when in the world do other reps give you their number and extension and email to let them know how things are??? I am astounded with their help in this trial I've put myself through.

All this was going on as I was preparing to head out for our last camping trip of the year. Squeeeeeal!! All done for this year anyway. I'm still getting my blog back in order because during all this (my stupid button was on overdrive here, chicks!) I inadvertently was going to try a different template but while working in a browser that I don't usually work in I hit "save" and just about passed out when I saw that it went ahead and changed my blog template. But because I saved a copy of my template on my computer I could put it back in BUT things went a bit wacky then. Some of my widgets didn't appear, ones that did appear were different graphics/photos from the "title" of the sidebar gadget and it wiped out my blogroll. Yes, I can rebuild it and will but first things first. Hubby's desire to drag me off to the "wilds of Idaho" outweighed pretty much everything else at that point. Plus while doing all this I had 2 new molars crowned and was experiencing pain since the temporaries were put on 8/9/09. Could life get any more hectic? I don't even want to know!!!!

21 comments:

  1. Connie, you are amazingly technologically able! I have you on my link, but am not sure if I'm on yours.

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  2. Just wanted to stop by to say how much I enjoyed reading this post & to say hello. You have a great blog and really interesting photo's too. Best wishes and thank you for sharing...

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  3. Wow, you had a busy day didn't you? My neighbor has been complaining about Snow Leopard also but I had no idea what she was talking about. I love reading your blog so I am just happy you are still able to post.

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  4. There is nothing better than getting great customer service. I'm glad you had a good experience with all the representatives.

    I had really great customer service with HP awhile back. I was really impressed with the knowledge and the helpful attitude. It sure did make a difference in my perception of them.

    I wrote about my experience on facebook. This was just before I started my blog.

    Have a great day.

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  5. Connie:

    I love to read you and hope I am on your list. I too love MAC and hate computer problems but you sound like you know what you are doing.

    The Raggedy Girl

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  6. My husband tried to install leopard on his mac and it broke the CD rom! It sounds like everybody's computer was breaking this weekend!

    You're welcome to drop in for Coconut Cream Pie any time you like...it's one of my favorites!

    And I can't wait to see the picture of this Chihuahua! I LOVEE puppy babies!

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  7. Mornin' I'm back,

    I got ur message....I've put up the pic, and put in a link to ur blog for others to come and visit.

    Thanks Connie. I appreciate it. Your a doll.

    Love & Prayers,
    Ronda

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  8. Hello Connie, thanks for your comment today. After reading your post today I am not sure I understand everything but I do know you went through a lot of trouble. I also have a MAC and I love it. I use a laptop primarily. We too have had wonderful service from the MAC people. It is all good.

    I do come to you site on occasion, mostly on Pink Sat. I am adding you to my blog list today. Thank you for adding me to yours.

    Have a wonderful day.

    Hugs...Jeanne

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  9. Well, I'm just glad you're back and posting!

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  10. Hi Connieness! Poor poor thing! I'm so sorry you've had such puter problems. I don't use a Mac, but a Dell. My son-in-law loves his Mac. I guess it doesn't matter what PC you use, if there's a problem it sure can be an ordeal to get it going again. Glad you're up and running!
    Thanks for joining me in my joyness!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  11. You never cease to amaze me, Connie! You have been through a lot and I don't know that I would've had the patience you had. I probably would've hired someone to fix the whole mess. I give you a ton of credit!!!

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  12. Hi Connie,
    My goodness you poor little thing. I had a problem with my computer back in May, I bought a new laptop and hubby set it all up for me, but then I had trouble with my email and so I had to set up a new email account and then forgot to let people know.
    I am so glad you are all fixed and ready to blog. You my dear of course are listed in my favorites. I have not signed on to follow any blogs because I have not figured it out yet, so I have all my favorites listed as "favorites".
    Take care and enjoy your day,
    Elizabeth

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  13. Oh Connie, I think top marks to you for perseverance as well! If there is one thing that I don't cope with, its computer issues!!!! Well done to you and your support crew - lol - Rachaelxo

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  14. and back tracking through your posts, a belated Happy Birthday wish to you! Rachaelxo

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  15. Well Connie, you lost me at Snow Leopard and got me back somewhere around the wilds of Idaho. I didn't understand a thing in between except that I love good customer service too.
    I'm gald you're up and running again.
    Hugs,
    June

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  16. Hi Sweet thing!
    I have so missed you. Am so glad to hear that you are okay and have not blown away, even though you would like to blow away your computer and its problems.

    Amy is not good. They called in Hopsice this last week. I don't need to tell you what that means. I am going home the end of this month and will be there for 17 days, and I am just praying that she is still there when I get home.
    It is very critical at this time.

    Take care sweetie. Stop back by soon. I continue to bring out fall. I am so ready for it. Country hugs and love, Sherry

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  17. so come by for a visit when you can. lol....You lost me at the first line. xo Lynn

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  18. Sorry about your computer trouble, Connie. I added my email to your list and I hope you get all your addresses back in the system.

    Love those pictures. That's a cute idea with the name on the egg.

    Kathi

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  19. Oh my, Connie. You were in a real fix! LOL. Hope things are better....you can certainly add my blog address to your list. Do I give it to you here?

    http://www.jillianspages.blogspot.com

    and this one too:

    http://www.bellarosaantiques.com

    You were right...you are computer savvy! I kind of got lost after a couple of paragraphs down. But I did catch the part about THE LAST CAMPING TRIP OF THE YEAR! Yay!

    Jillian

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  20. I'm so sorry. I HATE computer woes. Good thing you seem to have a knack for getting awesome tech-support! I just might have to have you call in my problem next time one arises.

    ~Stacey

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  21. Oh Connie!!! My goodness girl, what an ordeal you went through!!! You make me want a Mac more than ever now....I used to be Graphic Designer and worked on them but have the ol' PC here at home...but would LOVE to have my own Mac ~ someday!! It's so good to hear how helpful they are ~ I'm glad all is settled back down. Wishing you a great weekend sweetie, xxoo, Dawn

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.