Tried to fix external drive, now laptop gives a "NTLDR is missing" error on boot and will not go any further. [more inside]
posted by SamuelBowman on Dec 9, 2009 - 16 answers

I am out of my depth at work. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2009 - 13 answers

I have had two major professional failures in a single week. I would like insight into a couple of aspects. Sordid details inside. [more inside]
posted by sidd.darko on Oct 10, 2009 - 21 answers

I bought a MacBook Pro in June 2007. Since then, its needed a new hard disk drive, right cooling fan, and DVD read/write drive. Is this normal wear and tear? [more inside]
posted by uaudio on Aug 31, 2009 - 38 answers

I am a failure as a gardener and a human being. What the hell did I do wrong with the vegetable patch? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Aug 17, 2009 - 30 answers

I just pulled an older computer out of the closet to donate, and yesterday it booted up fine. Today, I get an error stating "A disk read error occured, press CTL ALT DEL to reboot." I used UBCD for Windows and I cannot see the hard drive when I boot from there either. What other avenues should I explore to try and fix the disk, or is it toast and the files unrecoverable? I am willing to open it up. Thanks in advance. [more inside]
posted by jules1651 on Jun 26, 2009 - 7 answers

FaxFilter: Our fax line won't receive all the faxes all the time, only some of the faxes some of the time - and even then not with any consistency. Google-fu (and even bing-fu) are failing me. Of course, there's [more inside]
posted by sio42 on Jun 17, 2009 - 8 answers

Looking for some RSS feeds with heavy doses of schadenfreude. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Jun 11, 2009 - 20 answers

Please teach me how to get into a car, in the rain, with an umbrella, without soaking myself. [more inside]
posted by subbes on Apr 3, 2009 - 14 answers

How To Write Technical Training Films? [more inside]
posted by turgid dahlia on Mar 9, 2009 - 0 answers

I massively screwed up a finalist interview today. I got really nervous and just ... well ... babbled. In the interview before this one, the hiring manager (we'll call her Liz) had basically told me that I was the leading candidate for the job (which I really wanted) but that she needed me to meet with the area heads before she could make an offer. She even offered some advice on the best approach to take with this group. When I got in the room I just became tongue tied and talked all around the first question without ever really answering it, and things went downhill from there. Now I need to write Liz a Thank You note, and every draft I write is taking on a sort of apologetic tone. ("I'm sure everyone could tell how nervous I was....") In such a situation, what's the right thing to say or do now?
posted by anastasiav on Sep 25, 2008 - 14 answers

What do accountants who fail the CPA exam/fail to get CPA designation do for a living? How much do they get paid? [more inside]
posted by onepapertiger on Aug 18, 2008 - 10 answers

I've been using my Xbox 360 for almost a year without any networking problems. As of two days ago, it will not log into Xbox Live and the problem has gotten worse. [more inside]
posted by cgomez on Jul 19, 2008 - 4 answers

How do I update Ruby/get RoR working? (OS X 10.4). [more inside]
posted by theRussian on Jun 23, 2008 - 5 answers

Why is my 6-10 yr old Kenmore Dishwasher not draining? [more inside]
posted by iamabot on May 19, 2008 - 3 answers

Bizarre Hard Drive Failure Filter: Is it possible that my desk from Ikea is helping to send my hard drive to an early grave? [more inside]
posted by fenriq on Apr 5, 2008 - 20 answers

What happens to the losing side's swag in a big sporting event? (Obviously, it's disposed of. But how? And by whom?) [more inside]
posted by bardic on Feb 8, 2008 - 7 answers

My laptop either doesn't see the HDD on bootup (cannot find OS), or stops seeing it a few minutes into use (BSOD). Could this type of problem: a) be reasonably easily resolved by me for small amount of cash b) be easily resolved by a professional for a reasonable amount of cash c) be best resolved by selling it on ebay for parts or repair for a reaonably small amount of cash? [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Jan 20, 2008 - 3 answers

Do relationships between the same people ever work a second time round, after a long period of time in between? [more inside]
posted by Dillonlikescookies on Oct 10, 2007 - 30 answers

I tried to install Vista but the install failed. Now when my PC boots I have to jump through some hoops to get it working. Help! [more inside]
posted by lemonfridge on Sep 17, 2007 - 3 answers

A month or so ago, I became unable to add new tracks to Itunes. Whether I try to add via clicking on the track, dragging into iTunes, or adding the track from the file menu, the result is the same. I have also tried changing my preferences so that the track does not copy to the iTunes library when it is added; still the same. When I try to add a track, my hard drive just spins and makes a little clicking noise and iTunes goes into "not responding" mode, with the spinning pinwheel. [more inside]
posted by fastbacker on Jun 6, 2007 - 7 answers