# Fucking computer! Fuck you, you fucking fuck! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108 "2005-01-10T22:10:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chad\_C.Mulligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@Chad\_C.Mulligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_C.Mulligan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/21 "2005-01-13T00:39:29Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > fsck? File System ChecK - standard Un\*x/BSD utility for checking the integrity of your file system and repairing errors. Dates back to the days when a single bit of memory cost over $1000 and programmers had to economize on expensive characters (see also vi, chmod, chown, grep). Used as a substitute profanity due to the frequency with which a failed fsck necessitated a lengthy and painful reformatting of the harddrive and reinstallation of everything from the (lost) original installation media and the (corrupted) tape backups. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/22 "2005-01-13T01:08:09Z")
If **fsck** won’t do it, or you don’t want to dink around with the UNIX underpinnings, you can try to get a copy of DiskWarrior and run that. It totally rebuilds your directory trees from the ground up, which should theoretically solve all your troubles. If DW can’t save your hash, I’d just as well write it off. Still scratching my head over what could have caused this, though… (10.2.8?) ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/23 "2005-01-14T18:18:31Z")
Other boards I participate in (the apple discussion boards, natch) recommended Disk Warrior too, since I have some allocation extent errors-- have since 2003, actually-- and I can’t repair permissions or anything. And have apparently lost BSD. So after backing up everything I can think of backing up, I’m about to launch DiskWarrior this afternoon. Cross your fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/24 "2005-01-15T12:58:05Z")
Disk Warrior ran, many things corrected, but I still can’t repair permissions. \ ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/25 "2005-01-15T23:29:35Z")
What error message are you getting when you try to repair permissions? Also note that repairing permissions is hardly a cure-all, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on that. I’d have more faith in DiskWarrior doing its job, restoring any stray Library files to their rightful places, and a full backup (which is always a good practice for any computer, natch). Still wondering what h’ppened… ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/26 "2005-01-16T05:39:34Z")
It’s not that I get an error message, it’s that viewing or repairing permissions isn’t even an option; those buttons are greyed out when I launch Disk Utility. Some files disappeared into the ether (read: were overwritten because of extent allocation errors) so it looks like I have to run some sort of re-installation of OS X (10.2.8, since you asked) before re-installing the other programs that lost files. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/27 "2005-01-16T07:25:53Z")
Can’t remember if 10.2.8 had this feature or not, but I know 10.3 definitely lets you do an “Archive and Install” of the OS – it installs a fresh version of the OS, but keeps your previous version and all your user files intact. I’d give that a try. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/28 "2005-01-16T09:00:42Z")
If it’s any consolation at all . . . even just for a smirk on your face, my old computer from 1997 is going to meet my .223 this weekend. Want pictures? Just e-mail me. Tripler You think I’m kidding around, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/29 "2005-01-16T13:37:04Z")
I’ll bite and send you an email. But I bet you’re just going to hold them next to each other and go nya nya nya. Either that, or send me another lame picture frame from your workplace 😉 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/30 "2005-01-16T15:03:40Z")
Tripler’s method is, in fact, how I dispose of hard drives, and old monitors, and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. It’s even HIPAA compliant! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/31 "2005-01-17T01:55:15Z")
**My** old computer from 1997 (which actually dates to 1995 but who’s counting) is still doing quite useful and respectable duty in my office. **rjung** is right, an archive and install is the way to go at this point — all the vital components of OS X will be reinstalled but your settings and preferences and documents will be preserved intact. And _this_ time around you’re going to backup nightly to a separate volume, right? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/32 "2005-01-18T04:02:37Z")
Well, I must admit, the .223 acted as much as I figured it would: hot knife through butter. Even at 100 yards. When I tear things apart, I’ll see how bad it fucked up the hard drive. It ought to be cool. Right now, the thing is outside on the patio. I’m letting the snow melt out of it (I knocked it over a few times). The .38 Special surprised me though, as it actually cleared the power supply (the .357 Mag was a given). Now, the _real_ fun was the 20-gauge at 10 yards and 5 yards. It’s amazing what 15 feet will do. Bent the fuckin’ frame to hell! Don’t worry, pictures forthcoming tomorrow. I feel much, much better now. Tripler Blew 'er to hell, I did. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/33 "2005-01-18T13:13:48Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3And _this_ time around you’re going to backup nightly to a separate volume, right?[/QUOTE] Nah, I figure any system that runs with major extent allocation errors for 18 months before causing problems is very close to rock solid. That, and nothing on my home machine warrants a daily backup… Now, if I pick up that ipod shuffle, I might back up some essential stuff twice weekly. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108/34 "2005-01-18T20:22:07Z")
You could also sign up with Apple’s .Mac service and have your essential files automatically backed up on their servers regularly. I don’t use it myself, but if you’re working with Important Stuff™, it’s an option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-computer-fuck-you-you-fucking-fuck/284108.md?page=1)