I couldn't believe it. I turned on my computer, and all I saw was a blue screen and a strange notice asking me to choose a language. This wouldn't be a problem, except that when I chose the USA, the computer would go no further. It gave me some options. I could turn back the system to an earlier update since Windows had updated earlier that day. That option didn't work. I could not type anything. I could not search for anything. I could not send an e-mail. I could only restart the computer (and go right back to that blue screen). I had a ton of work to do on my computer, but luckily I had a second computer that I could use.

Call to Technical Support

I contacted technical support for my laptop. It was a chat conversation. I used my second computer (the one that was working). Why does technical support want to take us through all of these hoops to solve a problem? They had me turning my computer off, removing the battery, cleaning the battery, reinserting the battery, and they wanted me to do an online system check which checked my battery on the broken laptop. Actually, I already knew that I needed a new battery! I always plug my laptop in to bypass buying a new battery. The battery wasn't the problem. I could tell that the tech support person was reading directions to me from a script, so I sent a chat message telling him that I would chat with them later.

My Backup Plan

Meanwhile, I used my second laptop. I happily typed away on it, and I was so pleased that I had a backup computer to use in case of an emergency. I had bought the extended warranty for the broken computer, so I knew that free help was on the way for that one. I typed up my Odyssey blog post, I wrote reports. Everything was all good with my backup computer. Then... I took a break. I turned off the computer. When I went to turn on my backup computer it powered up for a moment and then it turned right back off. WHAT?! I tried again. The same thing happened. I unplugged the computer and used a different outlet. Still nothing. The computer would power on for a second and then it would shut off. I couldn't believe it. My backup computer wasn't working! My second computer did not have a warranty, so I could only take to get it fixed myself.

I chatted again with technical support about my first computer (the one with the warranty), and this time the person told me that I should mail my computer in for free repairs. The company representative told me that they will send me a box to ship my computer to them. However, all of my data might be gone. All of my hard work, up in smoke. Luckily, I saved all of my stuff on a backup drive a few days before the computer decided to go on strike!

So, my advice to you all is to have a backup plan for your backup plan. I ended up buying a laptop to replace the one that wasn't under a warranty. That was my Plan C. I'm happily using my new computer now. Also, be sure to back up your stuff outside of your computer. To keep things going in your life, when your technology fails you could:

1. Be familiar with the computer lab. Have everything that you need to get up and running in the lab!

2. Make an arrangement to borrow the equipment from a friend

3. Rent what you need...

4. Have an emergency savings account to buy a new computer, phone, or whatever...

5. Own a variety of devices that you could use for comfortably writing reports and handling business for school school.

It's great to have a back-up plan, but do you have a back-up plan for your back-up plan? Have at least two (preferably three) different options of what you can do if your tech fails you.