Sorry I wasn't around to reply yesterday, I certainly must thank you all for your kind words and your generosity of spirit. In terms of insurance, there is a block insurance that comes with the residence hall, so I should get about half of what I had back. As well, after talking to the police last night -since it seemed like I was doing all the investigating, they told me that apparently there's a CCTV cam on top of the garbage bins just in front of the only residence entrance. Whether they'll find anything I don't know. Sure as hell took them forever to figure that out. Thankfully the guy -with the benefit of hindsight I shall name him Steel Balls, since... well... he did have them to come in on me like that. I wonder what would have happened if I had caught him. Probably would have made a daring 'escape' through the window of the second floor, with a bit of help from me :D But yeah. He didn't get to my passport or cash. And with the CCTV thing it's all good news. Regardless, the shock is still there. And I sleep like a log, something I didn't know before. Basically there was a fire alarm in the entire building two nights ago and I slept through it as if it wasn't there. I'm thinking of going and getting my head checked :D But yeah, that's about it. Thank you all again for the kind words, I truly appreciate them. I would go on a rant just so I could tell you how much I truly missed this place, but I'd rather not. Your good juju towards me is enough :D Mihnea PS: Khai r0x0rz j00r b0x0rz

I hope they will catch him. And especially good news is that about passport and cash.

When you get up and running again pc-wise maybe we could send you stuff to replace the downloaded .mats and textures you lost.............?

Yeah, let us know how we can help get you back up and running if we can. :c) :::picturing dozens of bryce artists searching through their directories for meshes and mats::::

Hopefully the camera will show the culprit and you can get your stuff back. Its good they didn't get your passport and cash. Where are you going to college and do you have your Bryce disk with you ? I wish I could sleep like you, I sleep very lightly, an ant scurring across the floor will wake me up. :-(

i thought i slept lightly too, but after a 13 hour flight and a 3 hour coach to nottingham from heathrow... jetlag's a bugger. and yeah, I still have all my disks, and in terms of mats I'm sure I could still find them. All my models were thankfuly online so that's not a problem either. Cheers! Mihnea

I'm glad there was a camera, hopefully it still has the tape and stuff for it... I's a shame that this happened to you in a new place...is this your first year there? and did you know anyone there already? Hopefully it's just a prank between friends, in which case needs some hefty retribution! If not, and they dont keep the laptop for personal use, (which would be really stupid) check out any local second hand pc shops...the ones around here will buy old pc's for a very minimal price, fix em up, or rebuild, or use for parts and resell... would be a place they might dump yours, or for you to get a "in the mean time" pc... There's one here that sells OLD OLD laptops with minimal requirements for as little as $200 or go all the way up to about $1200 for top of the line used ones. I wish you the best of luck Drac! and am glad you can still come here to talk with us, even if you can't make anything (yet).. Jen

many thanks. there's no prank. it was my first night at the university, and most of the students on the floor are international comers as well. not to mention that i've made it pretty clear to them that i'd break their legs if i found out it was one of them >:) Drac (alfa male)

Nottingham? Did you say Nottingham? My friend any hope of getting your stuff back is now lost...the Sheriff of Nottingham has always been inept. Of course, you might try posing as a poor person to see if the culprit ends up mistakenly giving your stuff back to YOU. Sorry man....went of on a tangent there. May have to do a cross period render of Robin Hood sneaking into a residence hall. Best of luck on getting your stuff sorted out.

Well Drac, seems that with any luck, you'll get at least some of your stuff back. I'm glad they had a cam in the area, only have to have your fingers crossed now that it recorded something. The Dorm's insurance deal sounds like is going to be a little helpful. Oh, and you're very lucky that they didn't manage to help themselves to your cash and especially your passport! I guess it's going to take a while before the sock wares off. Keep us updated.

I read your first post and didn't get round to replying. Glad you get at least some insurance back, even though it doesn't help you get back the stuff that was on the laptop. I am with the others about any files you want. Nottingham is a bit far away, unfortunately I no longer have any contacts there to help you, but do know someone down this end of the country(SE) that is in the IT business and maybe could help you with a 2nd user laptop, at reasonable price. He does all my teccy stuff,so knows the sort of specs we need for Bryce etc. I will have a word with him if you like. How we would get it to you is another matter, but I am sure something could be worked out.

Sounds like it could be an inside job (someone from inside your block). I hope they find out who the theif is and take the appropriate measures. Good luck on the recovery of your property its got to be tough without your computer and not being able to do any CG.

I was thinking the same thing for a bit Greg, but then I remembered what it was like at my dorm back in the day. It could be someone in the dorm, but it also could be a friend of someone in the dorm, or a past student. No matter what, it sucks. The cops have probably taken that into consideration, but it couldn't hurt to check.

That's a bad thing to happen. If you need anything like mats or models, just im me your address and I'll send you a cd. Josselin

I feel really sick Drac that you have come all the way to this country and the first thing that happens is you get robbed. Not all folks from the UK are like that though and I'm glad to hear they didn't get everything, although losing your computer is like losing a leg. I know I'd be totally lost without mine. I hope things start looking up for you from now on, and like the rest, if there is anything I can do to help just give me a shout. 8) Cheers Catlin

Good luck Mihnea! PS: helping him escape would've been very gentleman-like of you. ;)

Drac: Just realised you are in the UK. Sorry this happened to you on. We're not all thieves... I've backed-up all my Poser freebie downloads to a CD. Send me your snail-mail and I'll post you a copy gratis. I live in Wales so postage is not a problem. We have a not-too-bad chain store here called 'PC World' you might get a half-desent laptop there for a reasonable price. Plus there are loads of mail-order companies in the UK who delivery in 24hours. Check out 'Computer Shopper' magazine....for bargains and stuff..... Hope this helps. The Bryster

I have a volumetric snow texture I could email you. Unfortunately I use most of the ready made textures with Bryce. I hope they get the bugger. If you still need the 100 dollars, let me know and I will try and wire it to you. Pedrith :)

Don't know what happened, drac, I missed that post. But may peace always favor your sword. Sleep lightly...

Dang, I gotta pay more attention, thought you were still in Korea..;) I'm not aggrandizing myself or anything, but go by the 3d links forum here , I've got all the web sites for mats, poser, and bryce that I found from 2001 to about July or so (probably need to upgrade it)..that should refill your system in no time. On the plus side, you can probably get the equivalent PC that you had, (if it's an older one), for half the cost now..good luck.

hey Drac, Glad you had insurance....even if it don't cover all that was stolen...at least you have a starting point.....hope the camera caught the lil punk that stole your stuff. If you need any help with anything just hollar. Take care, Teri R

Oh no, was that the fancy laptop that you just recently got?? Jeez that must suck...

Drac, in the UK there are many used systems advertised in the local papers. You could find yourself a really good deal if you scan the used ads. I know it won't replace what you had but you never know. Best of luck dear. 8) Catlin

Attached Link: http://listings.ebay.co.uk/pool1/plistings/list/all/category16144/index.html?from=R0

TTops is probably right...Currys is probably a better option, but a Catlin sez, the papers are full of bargains.... I use PCworld for inkjet paper and blank cds........

Yes Bryster but would you pay their outrageous prices for a complete system? They do say that if you find any component for less anywhere else they will repay the difference and we keep thinking of going in with the prices that we know can be gotten and asking for our money back. lol 8) Catlin

I don't anymore. I got my son to rebuild my entire system for 160...sort of trade-in/part exchange...but then he works in a computer shop. Still it all depends on how desperate you are, how much money you have, how much time you have, how well you know the country you happen to be in at the time. My son could probably do an ok 2nd hand entire system for 300-400....still I don't suppose Drac knows where Aberystwyth is......

..........or Glasgow.................lol 8)

One of the best sources for cheap PCs in the UK is Micromart, it's a weekly usually as some good second hand / refurbs in it. Glad you've got your Cash and Passport still Drac.