Oops.

[Fumesucker]

2. Have a backup computer ready to go if your primary unit goes Tango Uniform?

I don't spend much on computers because I assemble them from junk and bits and pieces but I try to have one good one and a cheapo ready to swap in for basic browsing, email and so on if the good computer has a cardiac event.

I see perfectly functional old desktops for thirty to fifty bucks on Craigslist pretty regularly. It takes about ten minutes to unplug and plug all your connections and swap a working box for a non working one.

Then for a few dollars more you can get a USB hard disk interface and plug the HD from the broken computer into the working one and suck out your data.

While you're running on the backup computer then you can take the time to shop for a new "good" computer at the best price, panic mode buying is seldom really frugal.