Jessica, April 2 is a bit late to order dahlia plants from dahlia specialists (tubers might be OK but most suppliers would be sold out of many varieties of tubers....), but still acknowledgement would be nice, just to know that 'THINGS ARE WORKING OK' ...... I have ordered from Buddy Dean - HILLTOP GARDENS for the past 3 years. In fact i usually make 3 orders, one in November, another in late December (when his Web site has usually be somewhat updated ...) and again in early February (when surely his website ha been updated, usually ) ........... Buddy and Kelly seem to "automatically combine these orders" as I have received all in one shipment .. .BUT never get an acknowledgement, although the first year they did phone me with a question on my order. I ask for April 15 delivery, as need that in i Rome, GA so that the plants get well rooted and growing well before hot weather comes along in mid-to-late May ... BUT 2 years ago thought they had 'forgot" and then surprise the box of plants arrived the first week in May. Last year the box of plant arrived about April 17. THIS YEAR I AM STILL WAITING and WONDERING - as it is MAY 10, and I should have had these no later than May 1, so that they could have been potted in 4" pots to develop a solid root ball, before transplanting out to open garden. BUT I have gotten QUALITY - DISEASE FREE ( Virus Free) plants from HILLTOP and some varieties that just cannot be found anywhere else these days. Specialty Dahlia Growers do it as a "labor of love" - normally as a "hobby" while supporting themselves with another regular full-time job. BUT - the other 3 dahlia plant suppliers I order form (think the only ones currently shipping plants) all COMMUNICATE and honor SHIP DATES or let one know if a variety is having difficulty rooting in a particular year- so COMMUNICATION is IMPORTANT in EVERYTHING ...... This year I've spent several hundred $$$ on plants order from HILLTOP, but if they do arrive withing the next week or two, I'm afraid it will be "too late" for our hot weather and will have to toss them, as too late for the growing conditions of my climate in Georgia ..............

hard drive failure... I might want to look in bios and try to assertain if the hard drive parameters are set correctly or maybe set it to automatic detect. If that's not it, probably open the case and unplug the cables to the hard drive and reinsert them, both on the hard drive and the motherboard. Something to start with anyhow. Could be something as simple as the time is set incorrectly or the cmos battery on the motherboard is old and needs replacing.

Normally, users only work "offline" when they don't have an Internet connection. You could compose new e-mail messages, or replies to messages you've previously received, but they don't get sent out until you again have an Internet connection. It's handy for folks with laptops who often are "in the field" without Internet access. Check all of your mail settings to see if there's anything about working in "cached" mode. If you find that, and it's checkmarked (or somehow set) to work in cached mode, change it so that you do NOT work in cached mode. ("Cached" is pronounced the same as "cashed." Working in cached mode is working offline.)

Alisande, Is it possible to use the computer mostly between 10 - 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.? This applies only to U.S., Canadian, Russian or Chinese users - who work within four to six time zones: Should reduce the problem - unless you live on the East coast and conduct a cross-country business. Seriously - is there a certain time of day when most of your incoming calls arrive? Would it be possible to avoid using the internet during those periods (i.e. write messages to get ready to send several in a short period)? Keep yer mind busy -it delays senility (I hear), joyful guy