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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 Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.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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Replies |
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Tizer
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Posted - 22/12/2010 : 11:50
"Talk Talk have installed the latest gubbins in the Barlick exchange"
But was that before or after Stanley threw rocks at it?
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marilyn
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Posted - 23/12/2010 : 05:06
We have had computer upsets this afternoon. Poor Febby has been tearing his hair out, and muttering obcenities. It was time to renew his security...which he did...then it locked him out of his own computer and wouldn't let him back in. Quite funny really. He was having a bit of a melt down. He isn't the most patient of people at the best of times. All fixed now though.
get your people to phone my people and we will do lunch...MAZ |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 23/12/2010 : 06:13
Tiz, after. They got the message! Maz, one of the benefits of Ubuntu is that I have no need for security or disk maintenance, bliss, cheaper and so far so good! My compter does exactly what it was meant to do, gets on with what I tell it to do and not going off to do a lot of procedures necessary to keep Windows running anywhere near acceptably. I'd love to see someone make an estimate of how much expensive computer power Windows uses for these suprfluous procedures. I'll bet it's bigger than we think! Pluggy?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 23/12/2010 : 09:49
quote: Stanley wrote: My compter does exactly what it was meant to do, gets on with what I tell it to do ...Famous last words?
A computer's sole aim in life is to screw up humans and it will achieve this sooner or later... |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 08:04
Heather, yes, I thought that as I wrote it!
I had a cold call yesterday that gave me some small pleasure. I usually just hang up but I was intrigued because she was telling me I had a computer problem I didn't know about. (It was for some miracle software to make Windows faster) I let her go on for a while and then sold her she was flogging a dead horse as I was on Linux. The line went dead! Very satisfying.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 08:36
I've had a few of my customers telling me they've had such calls recently, none of them payed much heed fortuneatly. I've actually converted a few to Linux (beside Stanley and Chris) in Barlick although usually for age of machine and Microsoft licensing issues rather than security. An aging machine runs Ubuntu pretty well wheras its doing a good impression of a slug on valium with XP / Vista. The ones running 7 are still pretty new.
Need computer work ? "http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 11:21
Getting you in and changing the OS was the best move I've made for a long time Plugs. Apart from the fact that it runs beautifully, for the first time in my life I feel as though I am in complete control. I love that, must be something in my genes!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 12:22
Perhaps Pluggy could turn Barlick into the first all-Linux town in the UK. Now that would be something to celebrate! (Although we could allow some non-conformist Mac addicts!)
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moh
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 14:45
I'm getting between 48 - 54 Mbps now - what a difference - just got a bigger router.
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 24/12/2010 : 16:52
That's the fastest connection I have ever heard of Moh. Mine's 14mbps. Are you on cable?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 25/12/2010 : 11:50
Yes - on Virgin. Just checked it is 48 today.
Say only a little but say it well |
Big Kev
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Posted - 25/12/2010 : 20:32
quote: moh wrote: Yes - on Virgin. Just checked it is 48 today. Cable?
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 26/12/2010 : 04:41
I asked the same question Kev and yes it is. Just shows what the handicap of copper is and the cure. Despite bloodcurdling predictions of overloaded internet yesterday I noticed no difference.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 02/01/2011 : 16:43
I expect my slower speed is down to the fact that I'm connected wirelessly because the telephone point is some distance from where I use my computer.
An ethernet cable would have sped things up but putting it into perspective, it's still 11 times faster than I've had for the last 3 years. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 03/01/2011 : 08:07
The size of files you have to handle! It must be like heaven. Think what 50mps would be like. Roll on fibre!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |