Mourning The Loss Of My Computer

OK...My daughter assures me that I have plenty of "real friends," but I feel so sad today...my computer crashed this weekend and I am without my laptop. I have soooo many blogs saved to my "favorites" and I don't know where to find them!

The biggest problem is that I may have lost pictures, videos and documents that I really want. I have an portable external hard drive that I use to back up stuff (occasionally) and I can't remember the last time I used it...Ugh!

Does anyone know anything about how to recover lost data from a bum computer? Tomorrow I take my baby - I mean computer, to the doctor - I mean computer repair guy. For $50 he promises to "diagnose" the problem. I am hoping that the hard drive is alright, because that way he assures me for mere $125 he will help me recover my precious pics and documents.

I need my computer back soon because sitting at "the kids" clunky, old desk top computer is lame. These are the only pictures I found in the "pictures file."

(I know for a fact that my son has never even had a Monster drink)

(My son's dream - to be like "Mike")

(I have no idea why this has been saved)

Since my thirteen year old daughter (and computer advisor) would prefer that I not glom on to her laptop, I better get mine working soon...

My email is still working, but I have no "contacts" right now. Feel free to shoot me an email and let me know if you have any "techy" advice for me!