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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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 Posted -
17/12/2010
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10:26
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Over the years I've not done so bad when it comes to working with computers, and most times I can eventually fix things up when it all goes pear-shaped.
Yesterday my Mac went not just pear-shaped but a complete fruit pudding with meringue and custard. Over the past few weeks it had been getting slower and slower until it said: "You know what? I can't be bothered anymore. I quit." And it did.
Fortunately there's a thing called Time Machine which regularly backs up the OS and all files to an external drive, so I wasn't too nonplussed.
Unfortunately my Mac refused even to start up. Missing its core thingies or something.
No probs - just re-install the OS from the original discs. Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.
Went to restore all my settings, files, programmes, etc from Time Machine. Unfortunately my finely tuned and slimmed down original system had bloated by about 20GB when reinstalled - and my drive didn't have enough space on it to complete the job.
Grrr.
My backup drive (1TB capacity) is also getting full so it looks like I'm going to have to buy another to dump my data into, then give it all a good clean out.
On top of that, once you start messing with reinstallations, I find much of my work software needs reactivating from the software companies - it's going to take me absolutely ages to get back to where I was a few, happy and organised days ago.
I hate computers.
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Another
Traycle Mine Overseer
6250 Posts
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Posted - 18/02/2011 : 07:40
Hey pluggs, I hope this ink issue works out.
I was so impressed with the website following your link that I ordered a pack of Epson comptable cartidges for less than 1/2 price of the branded ones and that included 2x extra blacks. Arrived in good time but no need to use them yet. I shall let you know..... Nolic
" I'm a self made man who worships his creator"   |
tripps
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Posted - 18/02/2011 : 08:53
If you mainly use black for printing why not consider a laser printer? I have a Samsung which now costs less than £50 from ebuyer, and after long use have just refilled (quite easily) it with powder from ebay for £6 a bottle, which will do several times.
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pluggy
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Posted - 18/02/2011 : 11:15
The dubious delights of soot and polyester powder. I used to have/still have somewhere a Laserjet 4L circa 1993. It was a bit slow and clunky and I was forced to retire it because offspring needed colour for her work. I don't think I'd get away with a mono laser now. The girls weren'y overly impressed with using the Canon as the main printer either. £55 for a pair of genuine Cartridges that last maybe 500 sheets doesn't appeal the way my daughter now prints stuff out. It was OK when its was a few sheets a week and the cartridges lasted 12 months.
Just managed to get through to the ink company again. They've thrown in the towel and offered me a refund if I send both cartridges back.
Back to square one........
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
pluggy
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Posted - 19/02/2011 : 14:03
I've now hooked up said Canan BJC-6200 (circa 2002) to my little server (grandiose name for a hacked NAS box) so any of our computers can print to it. We have a carrier bag of cartridges for it and after market ones (which work perfectly) cost the pricely sum of £2 eash. Its pictures aren't as pretty as the HP and its quite a bit slower, but you can't have everything.......
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Tizer
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Posted - 19/02/2011 : 14:35
Pluggy, snap!...I've still got my HP Laserjet 4MP (bought in 1995) sitting nearby attached to an old Windows PC (Dan Ultimate bought in 2000) which I use for the occasional legacy job such as Pagemaker documents. It did sterling work for 10 years without ever letting me down and only got semi-retired when I went onto Linux. It was used for general print jobs but also for printer's artwork for our pubications before we went over to PDF and produced immaculate material. (I stuck with hard copy artwork for printing companies for as long as possible because it was much more reliable than PDF at the time.)
We also still have a Xerox fax machine bought in 1989 as a back-up and it still works. More reliable than modern fax machines although it only does thermal paper rolls and it was that which made us change to an infernal inkjet.
I know that modern equipment has advantages that we didn't have before - but why did we have to give up the advantages we already had to get them?
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 20/02/2011 : 05:42
I Have an old HP Laserjet 4P upstairs hooked up to the IBM. Ringo gave it to me years ago and it still gets used for the occasional print job. How old will that be?
Just had a funny turn, I like back-ups and so I looked on the web and found that a brand new Toner cartridge for the Laserjet was only £27. So I've just ordered one. Looks like a good deal for a backup printer!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 20/02/2011 : 13:34
The laserjet 4P is from the same era as the 4L and the 4MP. Circa 1992/1993. I believe they all used the same print 'engine' and the same cartridge.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 21/02/2011 : 05:44
I think you're right Plugs, the same cartridge seems to fit all the '4' series. The original price seems to have been over £100, perhaps they have lots in stock chasing fewer printers.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 04/03/2011 : 13:02
Don't you just love the internet ? I'd got used to most of the adverts being about Ink cartridges since that was what I last thing I seriously searched for, just bought a USB/Parallel adapter for a customer, now the adverts have changed to printer leads and stuff.....
I'm aware that I can screw this process by deleting my cookies, but I can't be bothered to pick out the offending ones and some of 'em are too useful to delete them all.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 05/03/2011 : 05:12
Amazon have got it down to a fine art, forever recommending books for me. Bookfinder, the other site I buy off seems to be advert free, it just does what you ask it to do. Very refreshing.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 18/03/2011 : 10:48
Noticed my MacBookPro was sitting at a jaunty angle this morning and upon further inspection I discovered the battery had blown, distorting the casing.
Not a pretty sight. A replacement will leave little change from £100, although at 4 years old and in daily use I suppose it's not too bad.
I could have extended its life by doing certain things on a regular basis but you know how it is, you get lazy. The notebook is usually plugged into the mains (and therefore the battery is always 100% charged) and it is turned on 24/7, which isn't the best way to preserve battery life!
I should have let it run down regularly, charged it while the computer was switched off and let it rest for a few hours - otherwise known as calibrating (if I remember correctly).
I'm lucky it didn't set on fire - let this be a warning to myself and anyone else who leaves a computer switched on and unattended!
If anyone has any other hints and tips on the matter, please post here.
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 18/03/2011 : 12:49
Well now that Calluna's computer is deceased the IPCC will lower its prediction for the number of degrees global temperature rise! 
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panbiker
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Posted - 18/03/2011 : 12:50
Cally, can't you just run it on mains without the battery or do those lovely Mac people make the battery part of the mains power circuit?
If you can just run it on mains it waill save you the £100, but I suppose you have already thought of that.
Ian |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 18/03/2011 : 14:25
quote:
Tizer wrote:
Well now that Calluna's computer is deceased the IPCC will lower its prediction for the number of degrees global temperature rise!
I shall come round to your gaff and give you a right good slap, my lad!
Actually my Mac isn't deceased, just the battery. That's what's going to cost £100.
Ian, I do mainly run it off the mains (am doing right now) but I need a battery for when I'm working away from my desk. I've got mobile broadband etc so often I take it to clients' or even while I'm supposedly on holiday.
However, the main reason for having a working battery is so that if there's an interruption to the mains supply I don't lose any work. The battery kicks in immediately. This saved my bacon many a time on the boat, though it's less common now we're on dry land (just once in 4 months - quite good for Barlick...)
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
Sunray10
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Posted - 18/03/2011 : 15:01
Tizer, you had better watch out and keeps your door firmly bolted, otherwise you'll get a slap around the chops !!
R.Spencer. |
Computers: the agony and the ecstasy
