Update

This is my computer update.  It is back, and though I don't want to sound like an idiot, I will confess to exactly what happened.

My computer crashed last Friday after the power in the garage went out.  The power goes out in the garage (which is converted into our family room) every year when my fiance tries to turn on the x-mas lights in our backyard.  Our backyard is on the water, and every year there is a contest/show where people ride a boat up and down the water to look at the x-mas hospitality on display.  Ours is the minimum, but we do have some festive looking lights and deer.

So the computer went off due to power failure.  When I tried to turn it on again, it was slooooowwwwwww.  Windows never actually booted up properly.  It was crashed.  I tried to do a system recovery, but at the final step where it says congratulations!  It went no farther.

I took it to a mom and pop computer shop close to my home and here's the breakdown:

$45.00 to run a diagnostic test (takes several days and is waived if your problems are serious)

$120.00 for a full re-install of windows.  Here's the embarrassing part, much of my windows components had been deleted.  Did I do it?  Probably.  I've had this computer for 3 years, and who knows all the crazy crap I've done to it.

$45.00 for data back-up.  It worked, I have a file I found in windows explorer with my name on it.  It's not everything, but it's a lot.

So the total was $165.00.

I'm still uncomfortable working on this... er, "my" computer right now.  It's totally different.  I have only scratched the surface of knowing what I have lost.  Mainly programs that I need for doing my schoolwork, etc.

So... let the hazing begin...