Ugh.. what a pain!!!

The hard drive did crash, and I took it to the Apple store, and since I had a non-apple hard drive in it (was put together by a techie when I bought it), they wouldn't touch it. Not surprised. Ended up at Staples, of all places, and got a new hard drive for 149.99 and and the one tech there installed it for me for 39.99 Best deal I found anywhere for install.

I had tried most other options to try to fix it (Disk utilities on the start up disk, and bought Data Rescue II last year), but hard drive was just shot. Just glad that I got it done now because of course my principal just had the secretary call me and say that he wants me to put a book order together... they took our school laptops away for inventory, and then the personal one being out of commission, not sure how I would be able to do it. Our school is closed because they are putting a new roof on it, so only option was my own laptop (of course all on my time, not school time/pay). Gotta love how they ask for this stuff over the summer when we're not contractually obligated to do anything.

Strangely enough, it was nice being without the laptop... was getting things done around the house, lol!