Smashed!

I have a casualty to report. My dear friend, MacBook, was valiantly working hard helping me print off some stuff for my YW when, Luke, decided to climb up onto the desk and accidentally knocked my digital companion on the floor! The computer seems to be working just fine, but the screen was broken so all I see is a spiderweb of vibrant colors that looks like modern art. Interesting, but I'd rather be able to see what I am doing.

So I rushed my bleeding and broken laptop over to urgent care at MacGallery, and the "MacGenius" there told me that the screen wasn't covered under the pricey AppleCare protection that I had purchased. What? I was told when we were buying the computer that I really should get the AppleCare when buying a laptop, because they tend to get knocked around a lot. But now they say that it does not cover accidental damage, only manufacturer's defect. Um, excuse me, if they are manufacturer's defects, shouldn't they fix that for free? Why should I pay through the nose to fix their mistakes? Does that make any sense at all???? Ugh!

Anyway, after establishing that AppleCare is completely worthless, the "genius" told me that it would be $400 to fix my screen, and after I recovered from my near heart attack, he suggested I might get a much cheaper price at another company that fixes computers by mail. So hopeful, I left.

Well, when I called the other place the next morning, I was indeed quoted a cheaper price $399. Terrific. But with shipping costs (up to $100) added, I decided it would still be cheaper to take it back to MacGallery. When I brought it back, another "genius" helped me, and told me the cost would be $600! What?!? Yesterday it was $400, and today it is $600! Yikes! That's half the price of the computer! I told him that I was quoted $400 just the day before, and he sounded skeptical. "I don't know who you spoke to, but the cost is definitely $600." Um, I was talking to a "genius", of course. What, does he think I was making things up? I said, "Wow! Yesterday it was $400, today it is $600, if I come back tomorrow is it going to be $800?" MacIdiots!!!

Needless to say, I did not leave my precious computer in their incompetent and greedy little hands. I came home and did some research and found a seemingly reputable company who would do it for about $300 plus shipping. The problem is that I need to send my computer all the way the Kansas to get it fixed. I don't have a problem with that, except that my computer, (with all my precious photos on it) has not been backed up since my external hard drive filled up over two months ago. I told Dennis I needed a new one asap, and he said he's get me one for Christmas, but then he forgot, and for one reason or another I still hadn't gotten one when the computer got broken. Of course! (Life Lesson #145 - Not backing up your computer insures that it will break down.)

Dennis finally bought me a new hard drive, but since my screen doesn't work, I can't see enough to install it and get it going. I have spent HOURS trying to figure out how to do it. I thought I could hook my laptop up to our PC monitor, but all I see is a section of my background image and the mouse arrow, but no icons whatsoever come on the screen. I tried hooking it to the projector with similar results. But I know it is all still there and running fine, because when I first turn on my screen I can see all the icons on the desktop, including the icon for the new hard drive, but only for a split second before the screen fills up with colors again.

I thought it would work if I hooked it up to a Mac monitor. My sister has a desktop Mac, and I went over there, but we couldn't find a cord that would connect them. Besides, her's is a computer, not just a stand alone monitor, so I don't think that would have worked anyway.

Does anybody have any advice on how I can get this computer backed up before sending it on a long journey? Or should I just take a leap of faith and send it? (BTW I am not a compete idiot. I still have all my SD cards from my camera with my unedited photos on them - I wan't gonna erase them until I backed everything up. So if anything happened, I wouldn't lose all my photos, just all the hours and hours of editing I have done.)

Meanwhile, I shall be forced to take a break from blogging (darn, because I have SO MUCH to blog about!)

Advice please (or, if your have no advice to give, just a wish of luck will be appreciated.)