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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 Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.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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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 10/01/2011 : 21:57
I haven't a clue what month it is, never mind what day. I dare say that comes from being self-employed for nearly 24 years. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 23/01/2011 : 22:05
Completed the self-installation of the new optical drive.
First attempt had it connected and sitting pretty in its designated position, only for me to find when I tried to open the drawer that it was blocked by the computer's casing.
I discovered (thanks to YouTube) that what I learned was called the bezel had to be removed and once I'd done this it works perfectly. The bezel is the plastic door or flap on the front of the drawer - some computers need it, others don't, depending on the casing's design.
The RAM installation was a breeze. An extra 2Gb cost roughly £65 but for a tenner more I could have 4Gb, bringing the machine up to a respectable 5Gb in total.
The USB wi-fi dongle caused a few headaches regarding drivers and configuration but a call to D-Link's tech support sorted that out. The only problem is that I lose connection when the Mac goes to sleep or is shut down - I have to go through the whole configuration procedure again. There will surely be a way to overcome this, so my new best mate Mark at D-Link will be getting a call tomorrow.
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Sunray10
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Posted - 13/02/2011 : 15:02
The BT Yahoo network having problems at the moment. Emails not getting through. Been like this for a couple of days. Nothing in my inbox today, other folk with the same problem.
R.Spencer. |
Tizer
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Posted - 15/02/2011 : 09:49
Here is a tale that might help some other people solve their problems.
My father-in-law is in his 80s, has Parkinson's disease and suffers depression and some confusion but he manages to keep using his computer for email and browsing (and reading the jokes I send him from this site). I try to help him with his computer problems but he's 150 miles away in the SouthEast so it has to be done over the phone. Also I use Linux and he uses Windows which complicates it further. He told me recently that he had been `switched to different email software' and was having trouble learning how it worked and couldn't find his email address book. He couldn't explain how he was `switched' but thought it was the ISP (NTL) and had been phoning them but getting no joy ("kids with no knowledge or experience" was his description of the NTL customer service). To be fair to NTL, I doubt they had anything to do with changing software on his computer. He also thought "Google was involved". I wondered if he had got onto a webmail service instead of his Microsoft Outlook.
I was concerned there might be security vulnerability and in the end I had to advise him to contact his usual computer service man. To cut a long story short, the man solved it over the phone - he provided the simple directions on how to re-set Outlook as the default email software. I still don't know what the default had been changed to or how, but father-in-law is now a happy bunny, thank goodness! The moral is, always look for the simplest solutions first.
Edited by - Tizer on 15/02/2011 09:50:14
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Sunray10
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Posted - 15/02/2011 : 17:27
Yes, Tizer you are right. If I get problems like what your father-in-law had I just reset to before the problem occured - that generally does the trick. Also try to delete the problem - then reset to what you had before. It can be a nightmare if you don't know what you are doing.
BT / Yahoo is back to near normal now - thank goodness.
R.Spencer. |
pluggy
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Posted - 15/02/2011 : 17:43
A positive report on the customer services of a computer related company for a change. I bought some after market ink catridges for my printer about 3 weeks back. I put the black one in last week. Today it suddenly stopped half way through printing something and refused to go any further. Flashing ink light. I went to the control page and it said "Black ink cartridge has failed". I groaned and expected a load of grief when I rang up and complained. I got straight through ot a nice lady, who confirmed I'd bought said cartridges from them and then said we'll send you another one, you should have it by Thursday........
http://www.cartridgediscount.co.uk
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 16/02/2011 : 05:59
Plugs. Get half a litre of ink and a hypodermic syringe! Works wonders for your printing costs.
http://www.refillinstructions.com/
This site gives instructions and work-arounds for any funny business with coding etc.
Many years ago I tried refilling colour but never had any success so I gave it up. If your printer demands that colour cartridge is functioning, try filling it with black ink. Never needed to do it with HP Deskjets but I think some printers demand this. Always better to refill while there is some ink in the cartridge.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 16/02/2011 : 11:59
Used to do it in the past Stanley. I gave up to it with the increasing sophistication of modern cartridges with their chip inserts. Modern printers often don't take kindly to it. Theres a lot more to it that just refilling it with ink with many printers. Like convincing the monitoring chip that it isn't empty so it tells the printer it can continue printing. These things don't usually respond to the actual ink level, they just count how many squirts the cartridge has performed.
My printer uses the HP 39 & HP 44 catridges, which are missing from your magic site (along with many others).....
So if you've got a 6+ year old printer that still works, hang on to it, and buy ink and an hypodermic like Stanley says.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Big Kev
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Posted - 16/02/2011 : 12:08
I could never be bothered with trying to refill cartridges, I can get compatibles for £3 each for my Epson printer...
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Tizer
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Posted - 16/02/2011 : 13:56
My HP fax won't accept refilled inkjet cartridges, we tried it but had to buy new ones.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 17/02/2011 : 06:15
Long live the inkjet 3650!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 17/02/2011 : 13:40
Indeed Stanley, I got the replacement cartridge from the company today which is bang on time, unfortuneately it doesn't work. Ink light still flashing, although the message I get from the printer has changed, now it says "Black ink cartridge is of an incorrect type". It looks identical to the other one, I'm getting depressed now. I don't really want to pay HP their ransom for the genuine article. The agony and the ecstacy, although it tends to major on the former. 
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Tizer
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Posted - 17/02/2011 : 17:05
Time for a replacement replacement cartridge...but don't rush, the solar flare might incinerate your inkjet (a friend of ours has had fax machines killed twice by lightning).
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pluggy
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Posted - 17/02/2011 : 17:25
Wouldn't be so bad if I could get through to them again, I've tried them half a dozen times at various times today and its been engaged every time.
Used to be a common thing that lightning would take a PC out when it had an internal modem. Nowadays the router falls on its sword and the PC survives.
My daughter has an old Canon printer in her bedroom she never uses because the networked HP does did nicer pictures. It is completely unfussy about cartridges, I feel a hijacking coming on...........
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 18/02/2011 : 05:27
Go for it Plugs!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Computers: the agony and the ecstasy
