I fixed my laptop! It turned out all I had to do was reinstall the operating system. Unfortunately I didn't have a copy of Ubuntu. So I downloaded it from the site, but I couldn't find my blank cds to make an image. Then I found the blank cds. But in the meantime Ubuntu was offering free cds of its upcoming new version, so I ordered it. I didn't expect the cd to come for another few weeks, but I just got it today. So I turned on the laptop, put the cd in -- and it installed!


On the other hand, I have no idea what uninstalled the previous version and cacked my system. Some mysterious Linux bug? Something to do with the BIOS? A Dell gremlin? Who knows! That's why I won't be storing any important data on the laptop. In fact, I try not to store too much on the desktop -- you just can't count on computers not falling to pieces at a critical moment. In fact, this isn't the first time it's happened to me -- so I've learned that if I really want to keep something, I have to either save it online (least secure solution), save it to a floppy or a cd (somewhat more secure but then things can happen to floppies) or print it out if possible (best in the case of text -- I'm still pissed off that I lost that one copy of the short story I wrote for that creative writing class). And it's also why I've kept one of my manual typewriters -- because you never know.