And believe it or not, something like this did happen to me when I was starting to use Linux!

I was attempting to dual-boot #EasyPeasy (an #Ubuntu derivative for netbooks waaaaaay back) and didn't know that you could partition and install from the live installer. So instead I ran a tool that did the partitioning from Windows XP. Halfway through I lost power and bricked the HDD. From that point and on, it was Linux or nothing! #coldturkey