To discuss an electronic obit

Computer, Andy's laptop, died on Sunday due to complications with a virus. It was 4 years old.
Computer, who was called "HP" by his friends and "What Macs Pee On" by his enemies, had lived a good life until Sunday afternoon, when its owner tried to download pornography a game no, it wasn't porn that he was too cheap to buy. The computer's owner has asked not to reveal the game due to the sensitivity of the event.*

Despite epic effort by its owner and its owner's hot girlfriend, Computer could not be saved, fighting against the epic virus until only its Welcome screen would appear, the "Welcome" phrase now just a cruel irony for Computer's final goodbye. The exact nature of the virus was not clear, although Computer is blaming it on Al Jazeera or possibly Gary Coleman.

Computer will live on in spirit, though, as System Recovery cleaned out the hard drive and gave Computer a second chance, like a friend who comes back from a coma but has amnesia.

Computer's owner said he was pleased he had coincidentally recently backed up several files, including lots of photos. But he can't help but think there are pieces that will be lost forever-- including many blog-related items. Now, he is now up against the task of finding files, re-downloading programs and finding all the sweet Natalie Portman photos he had.

Andy's computer will not be buried or cremated, although he did consider drop kicking it once during the final few hours. In lieu of flowers, please leave your comments about your own losses with computers.

* It was Rollercoaster Tycoon. I was trying to get my coaster on like it's 1999, just about the last time I played it. There's a reason I wanted to build an amusement park. See the next post, a late Weekend Update, for details, which will include a photo worth seeing.