Computer Curse Continues

So if you'll recall the last point in our ongoing story of woe, my desktop/gaming computer had barfed over a Windows update, leaving me with a trashed C drive, though the D drive in the computer (mostly used for games) was fine.

I've since confirmed that the C drive is readable with an evaluation copy of disk recovery software. Some folders are trashed, but only non-essential ones. Its even possible those are deleted folders and I'd moved that stuff onto the D drive. And I may even have a licensed copy of the disk recovery software on a really old laptop that'll save me buying it again.

So that brings us to this weekend.  I needed to set up to copy stuff off the trashed drive onto a new one. I have one drive enclosure to put C into, but needed another for the replacement, So I ordered an identical enclosure from Amazon and decided that the first thing I would do was check if there was space on the D drive for the recovered files - I still have to order the replacement drive, but an accessible copy of the files would be a useful first step.

So first thing to do is put the D drive in the new enclosure. And the buggering thing wouldn't open. It''s a sliding top - just like a big battery compartment - and on the one I have opens without much force. This one I couldn't budge, though my clear suspicion was that some of that stupid cling-filmy stuff they put on electronics goods to keep them shiny until opened had gotten stuck in the tracks, I was pushing, pulling and tugging at it for the better part of an hour, And I only finally got it open when I hammered a couple of jewelers screwdrivers into the barely perceptible gap and used them as levers to spring it free. Stupid cling-filmy stuff confirmed as the likely culprit.

So the open enclosure is sitting in my lap. I reach over, pick up the D drive, slide it into place, then reach out to put it down on my computer desk.

It's a left-handed reach to the only clear space. My left arm is the one with the neurological diagnosis of "something's clearly not right", and I've been pushing as hard as I can with that arm for the better part of an hour. Just as I get the enclosure up to the desk the muscles in my forearm start spasming, my arm starts twitching uncontrollably, and I rap the enclosure hard on the edge of the desk. Not once, but three times.

You can probably imagine my look of horror at what I'd just done,

*Headdesk* *Headdesk* *Headdesk*

I plugged it in, and nothing. Oh, shit. So I very carefully set it aside, and left it until yesterday when I'd finally gotten up the nerve to take a look at it. And it's pretty much confirmed, my D drive is dead, the computer recognises a drive has been plugged in, but says "please insert a drive" if you try and open it, The disk recovery software doesn't even get that far, it can't tell there's even a drive there.,

On the bright side, its only game stuff. On the dark side, it's every saved game from the last four years, tons of building in Ark and Valheim, dozens of hours of modding in other games.

Currently staring at my left arm thinking "You have betrayed me!"