A Virtual Shut Down October 20, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in 10392516, Business, Efficiency, Home-based business, Internet Marketing, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, back up, back up plan, clients, computer hardware, computer repairs, marketing, potential clients, small business owner.Tags: backup plan, computer, computer problems, hardware, virtual, Virtual Assistant, virtual office
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Oh, that makes my skin crawl just typing it! But it happened to me last Friday. I had a computer tech out to my virtual office for some repairs and I noticed he kept rubbing his head and was on the phone quite a bit and finally I ventured in to ask how it was going and he said, “I have some news and some not so good news.” Those are just not comments you want to hear when someone is working on your computer, your livelihood!
So basically he was trying to do something that required my product key from my computer and it wasn’t accepting it, which made the computer unavailable for use. That’s my best description. I’m a virtual assistant, give me a database or some websites to design or social media sites to update and I’m your gal! But this hardware stuff is way over my head. I just know I turn it on in the morning and it usually does what I need it to do.
As I watched him drive away Friday afternoon with my computer on a gurney, my thoughts were, “will I ever see it again and will I ever work again?” Now I did have the good sense to recently buy an external hard drive and all of my client files reside there, and I have another laptop that came over on the Mayflower that I was able to check some emails and not feel so isolated from the world. So I knew I wasn’t completely dead in the water, but just the thought of reloading my programs and re-setting all of my passwords on my main computer just made me sick.
Well, there is a happy ending to this story. Late Sunday evening I got the call that my computer had survived the surgery and was doing well. I am happy to say I am writing this blog on it even now and I believe it is going to make a full recovery.
In my virtual world, having a virtual shut down is a potential death sentence to my business, but because of 
a few systems I had put in place I was able to have a little peace knowing that I could still function until all was well again.
What’s your plan when the “Grim Computer Reaper” comes calling?
Terri, I’m glad to hear the computer has made it through the surgery and I’m sure you’re now looking at putting together your Disaster Prep Plan. These little gizmos surely are our lifeblood and having the external backup is a definite lifesaver. I’ve only needed to recover from a backup once and was so glad to have it. Glad it ended well and happened over a weekend.
I have to smile at your post; as a technician, I’m usually the guy on the other end of this exchange. Not long into my consulting experience, I have started highly recommending external drives like Western Digital’s My Passport or My Book. These are a great value and oh so portable.
Your business sounds very interesting, I must say. The online world has so many opportunities for those with a little creativity.
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My heart would be in overdrive, Terri. I use Carbonite back up and really like it.
I love Carbonite too, Sue.
Hi Terri, I loved your post…when I have had computer issues in the past I would simply get up and move to another computer (I have 4 to choose from). I have no patience for their quirky behavior! I’m one of those people that would simply open a window and toss it out (next computer will be a Mac
I use a Western Digital purse-size unit for backup – love it.