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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob


3044 Posts
Posted -  17/12/2010  :  10:26
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 Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.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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Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 18:25
And Windows 7 update has crashed my internet connection again from the desktop.  Good job I have a laptop I can use.

I'm now going to disable my automatic updates and only choose which ones I allow in.

I'm really hacked off about it.


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Big Kev
Big


2650 Posts
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 19:43


quote:
Anni wrote:
And Windows 7 update has crashed my internet connection again from the desktop.  Good job I have a laptop I can use.

I'm now going to disable my automatic updates and only choose which ones I allow in.

I'm really hacked off about it.

It's probably your network card river that needs updating. Start the machine with the recovery disc and roll back to before the update, update the driver and then install the Windows updates again. Or give Pluggy a call...


Big Kev

It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. Go to Top of Page
catgate
Senior Member


1764 Posts
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 20:21
........or install Ubuntu 10.03  Wink


Every silver lining has a cloud.


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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 13/04/2011 : 09:36
Yes, give Pluggy a call and move to the sunlit uplands of Ubuntu! There's a new world awaiting you Anni. You can transfer all your files and your computer will seem faster. If you have any software that can only be used on Windows and which you need now and then in the future, you can keep Windows as a separate partition on your hard disk but don't use it on the Internet (or put in a second hard disk for Ubuntu and keep the first one for Windows, again not connected to the Internet - that way you can also increase your storage capacity).


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Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 13/04/2011 : 10:03
I have never been able to use system restore on this computer.  It just always fails.

I am guessing I don't have a recovery disc.  I have the installation discs and have checked the driver and it says it is OK.

I'm guessing there are some files missing from the library.

This does seem to be a Windows 7 problem and not just a "my" problem, but they haven't brought out a fix for it.

And the idea of having a fight with Dell/Microsoft about it is just beyond me at the moment.

I'm sure Ubuntu is much better - well it can't be any worse can it? LaughingLaughing

  I didn't need lessons on how to lick a stamp.  In fact, you don't even need to lick them anymore.  I'm having a "I hate computers" week!


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pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 13/04/2011 : 16:09
From memory when I dealt with your computer before Anni, there was an issue with the driver, it said it was OK but didn't work.  I downloaded and replaced it from the manufacturers website (Mental Blockage - Dell ?) which worked, its likely Microsoft think they know better and Windows has put back the Microsoft approved driver which doesn't work.........

 

 


Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"

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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 13/04/2011 : 16:45
Anni, Ubuntu really is much better. You just have to get your head round the idea that the Windows way is not the only way in the world and that you'll have to learn a bit more. But someone like you won't find any difficulty, you'll be up and flying in no time at all. What sort of software do you use most? On Ubuntu you've got Firefox and Thunderbird for browsing and email; OpenOffice for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases. All of those you can have on Windows too. There is Adobe Reader for PDFs; Gimp for graphics editing (one of the best); gThumb for handling photos; and loads of other software for all kinds of tasks. And it's all free. You just download and install any package easily in a few minutes from the online repository, try it out, and if you don't like it simply uninstall - it doesn't leave any nasties behind.


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catgate
Senior Member


1764 Posts
Posted - 13/04/2011 : 17:25


quote:
Tizer wrote:
Anni, Ubuntu really is much better. You just have to get your head round the idea that the Windows ......, try it out, and if you don't like it simply uninstall - it doesn't leave any nasties behind.

And what is more it also cleans up after itself, gets rid of all the unnecessary files (like dead .dll files) and also wipes its own botty!!!


Every silver lining has a cloud.


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 05:58
Anni, They are right, linux based OS is everything they say. My advice would be to get Pluggy to clean you out, install Ubuntu, 64bit of Plugs says you can handle it and sally forth. I kept an old IBM running upstairs for the odd occasion when I need data that only Windows can handle like some of the genealogical progs or my old scanner. It really is life changing, you don't realise until you have changed how much of your life was being controlled by Windows. And everything is free and legal.......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 10:11
Stanley, have you tried Gramps software on Ubuntu for genealogy?


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Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 20:50
Thanks Pluggy.  I had forgotton what we had done.  Having spent all day trying to sort this out and downloaded the driver from Dell (not to mention Thunderbird having a problem backing up via MozBackUp), I think I am going to have to reinstall 7 again because that is what had happened before I called you last time.  I have put my Net Gear router on and that didn't work either. 

It is beginning to look (to my untrained eye), that when Microsoft downloads some update, it messes with the registry.

Although I have the external hard drive back up, my big fear is loosing all my files.   Not that I probably will mind, they seem to be replicated all over the damn place.

Once I have got it sorted out, I can give the Ubuntu some thought.  

 


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pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 15/04/2011 : 07:58
If its any consolation, from my experience Windows 7 is the most problematical when it comes to Windows updates.  I've had a few come to me with 'It was OK until the last lot of updates......'

It's the network driver thats screwed, nothing you plug into the ethernet port will work with it in that condition.  If I didn't want to wipe everything, I might be tempted to buy a cheap NIC off Ebay, put it in and disable the built in one in the BIOS

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fast-Ethernet-Network-RJ45-LAN-PCI-Adapter-Card-100Mbps-/250591193104?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkCards_RL&hash=item3a58662810

These old 10/100 cards had the wrinkles ironed out of them decades ago and they are plenty good enough for  even the fastest broadband.

 


Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"

Pluggy's Household Monitor Go to Top of Page
pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 15/04/2011 : 08:01
Does require confidence to take a screwdriver to your PC though.....


Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"

Pluggy's Household Monitor Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 16/04/2011 : 06:31
Anni, one way to get rid of one of your fears would be to buy an external hard drive and copy all your personal files over on to it. Then it doesn't matter what you do to the PC you are safe. I have used a separate internal HD for my data for years. Keep it entirely separate from the one containing the OS and the data.


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 16/04/2011 : 10:26


quote:
Stanley wrote:
Anni, one way to get rid of one of your fears would be to buy an external hard drive and copy all your personal files over on to it. Then it doesn't matter what you do to the PC you are safe. I have used a separate internal HD for my data for years. Keep it entirely separate from the one containing the OS and the data.
LaughingLaughingOh Stanley - I have one.  I just do not trust my abilities to set my automatic back up correctly nor for me to remember to back up on a regular basis.  I lost a lot of data in 2007 which caused me untold problems and since then - well hand me some more tablets. LaughingLaughing

However, strangely enough, opening the tower to insert a new network card does not faze me in the slightest.  Thanks Pluggy - the computer is under guarantee so I will speak to Dell on Monday, but at the price for the network card, I have ordered one because do you know what - I just know that Dell are going to make life difficult.

I did a complete reinstall last night having found a way round the email back up problem.  The wireless is working on my desk top again, but I still can't get internet access with the cable. The weather is nice today, so I am going to do some gardening.

Thanks for your help.


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