Microsoft OS

FU*K-N-PISSED.   All this "Update to Windows10" is fine and dandy ----- for those who want it.  SOME of us want to wait and see what the collective outcome is -- Microsoft is known for some junky OS!!!!!   (Just THIS gal's opinion - bring back XP!)

I have been waiting to update to the Windows 10 to see which programs will and will not be affected. Purchasing new software because something doesn't run on the new Windows isn't within my budget right now.

Microsoft in all its controlling glory has sent down "Important Updates" to my computer.  I usually install the ones that say "Important", assuming that MS knows what is and what isn't......  But now, after the updates last Weds or was it Thurs?  Several of my programs don't run.  Upon trying to "fix" these, I tried a System Restore - and each time it fails.  I cannot go back to a previous day before these updates.  Their suggestion?  Try running the CMD prompt as Admin and run SFC/scannow.  Failed.  It tells me there are corrupt files; details are included in the CBS log.

When I view the files on screen, first there are a HUGE amount of files that are "corrupted".  All of them appear to be related to some telemetry client files with amd64_microsoft_windows in the long string of letters/numbers it gives.  many appear to be .json files.

C'mon Microsoft - get your shit together.  There aren't other options out there for those of us who depend on Windows programming to do what we enjoy doing.  The LAST thing I want to do is come home, boot up and find that I can't run my programs any longer.

Computer UPDATE

What a weekend.  My main purpose was finding an IDE to USB cable in order to check the hard drive of my old computer.  Only way to get something so specialized is to head to the local Fry's Electronics store. Tthis one isn't so local to my location, 20 miles out on the freeway and back.  Been a while since I've been in one - they are HUGE!  At first I was wandering and feeling lost, but eventually found my way to the computer cables and asked for help.  Got my product and headed out the door.  Now, it's been years since I had to do actual finagling on a computer innards, but I was excited - I hated being without the photos I hadn't backed up yet, since October wasn't officially over.  No excuse for September, other than procrastination.

I got home and attempted to make all the plugs fit.  Much to my dismay, I had the wrong set.  And I wasn't feeling up to driving back, so I did other chores and things around the house.  But inside I was restless and fuming because I hadn't been smart enough to bring along the old hard drive... but enough procrastinating.  After supper, I headed out again to return the wrong cable and attempt to get the correct cable.  A really nice guy named Mario helped me out :)  I was feeling much more optimistic about this as I drove home.   Open the box, get it all connected and bummers.  Nothing.  A little research on Google always helps, and I noodled and reconfigured the jumper on the pins -- yes, my hard drive was that old!  hehehe  The next time I plugged in power, the hard drive whirred to life in my hand and it was an A-HA moment!  But still no recognition on the new computer to read this hard drive.

Back and forth with ideas and web pages, more swearing and then the moment when I was ready to give up, and maybe wait for a clear head in the morning when a friend said "hey, turn the drive on its side, let gravity put things back in place....."  and when I did that, turned it on, my new computer went haywire and pulled up all the drives.  I clicked and was in AWE as I saw my old menus.

Happily I started clicking and dragging the old to the new.  There were over 500 pix I hadn't backed up, and it took 30 mins to get all my music moved to the new!   With the rest of the data transferred, I started looking at the programs.  And was feeling all too bummed out, because 99% of them won't run on Win7 and I was so happy with the old programs I had.  Nero and Photoshop being the two programs I used the most, I tried using the Windows version:  Movie Maker.  and while it might suffice in a pinch, and may have to for a little while, I do not like how the options are all or nothing.  Nero let me choose individual times for photos, and Movie Maker has this thing about panning across the photos that I don't like.  I don't really want my pix as a movie, I like them as slides.   And the limitations on photo editing with Windows is ... horrendous.  The only thing I"ll use it for is cropping, but the rest of the options aren't worth the time to learn.


So.  Here it is, Sunday morning.  And I have a new computer filled with old data, and I'm SO happy about it.  All there is now is to get the software I want and need, and my world will feel right again.  With one exception:  A jealous SADIE pug who wants my attention, not give attention to my computer.  LOL

Trojans, Friends, and Heroes

Dealing with someone else's computer always leaves me very frustrated. There's no way to know exactly what was done. And sometimes files aren't where they're supposed to be. Sometimes the user has deleted important files! *grrrrrrr* I give up. I gave up. I quit. This time, it was my son's computer. Now, my son will just have to find $$ to take it to a repair shop, or get another. Anyone wanna buy a HP Pavilion circa 2002?? Complete with a full set of Trojans ( No! Not those kind!!!!! *snicker* )

On another note, a person I regarded as a good friend seems to have disappeared. I know that real life sometimes kicks in, or something else happens (like computer issues!) but ... a note saying "I'm alive, be back soon" or "thanks, I had a good time, but it isn't working out" or "get lost b*tch" would be nice (ok, that last one wouldn't be so NICE, but at least I'd know, eh?) Maybe it was just time to move on; or a hint that I ought to.

And lastly, I interviewed for a different position within the store; nice to know I'm being considered. Its an internal "claims" position. Sadly, all in all, its just a lateral move for me. But who knows, it could lead to bigger and better things! That's what I'm hoping for.

That's all in this tiny corner of the world. Oh, I started watching Season One of Heroes... and liking it so far!

HUGS to everyone!

Tekkie Troubles

As so many of us are ... when it comes to computers ... we can be very inept in the tekkie part of keeping our system(s) up to date. Until there's a problem. Maybe I'm just being 'girly' about the whole thing, but why do tekkies have to make the questions they ask, the things they say they need to know, so complicated? Or ... is it just that when we get our computers, and plug them in, they work. .... so we don't bother to learn anything else about it??

I've gotten an error message twice from my virus scan (McAfee) about a unwanted file in the System Volume .... file. Then, I got a screen that says my BIOS needs to be updated. OK. Given the fact that I've done very little to keep upgraded in nearly two years, its not a big deal. Right? Well.

First, you have to know your "motherboard" model .... (nothing like a mothership, I bet!)

Which leads to a "socket" number ..... ( is that where I plug in my hair dryer?)

I have no idea what my "chipset" is ..... (Poker, anyone?)

Then, somewhere in between screens ....
Which leads you to a totally different web page .....
AHHA! Lookie here ...

"New users should click here" ....

I have reached NIRVANA! a web page for those of us less tekkie inclined (at least I hope so!) ..... but... alas, it leads to a web page that no longer exists. (sob sob sob)
What? and Why????

Now, the other part of the difficulty is being on dial up (*GASP* ?!?!?!?! people still use that?) and the answer is YES! So, I need to be very certain I have the correct item to download, not only for the viability of my system, but because I hate wasting D/L time on something useless!

I got one of the most important drivers downloaded, and installed. And it seems to be working just fine. If you're like me, you wonder if after one of these crazy updates, will the computer work at all??? After several unsuccessful searches through various websites, I resorted to digging out the manual for the motherboard that came with everything else, and Yippee! There's a Cd in there, with instructions as well! to get updates from the internet. ~~score~~ So, that has been done as well. My BIOS is not outdated any longer. And.. I'm blogging one last time, in case something goes awry before I do the reboot for this update....... *crosses my fingers*

For all you tekkie sorts out there ... more power to you! Wish it were as easy for me! To the rest of you, who, like me, stumble through this kind of stuff , hang in there! (I'd say it gets better, but it doesn't seem to!!!)

And to SomeOne very special, who makes things like this possible for me.... Thank You!!
Big Hugs, N!!!

HUGS to everyone!!

Computers, $$, wmt, and EM! - September 24, 2008

Does it sometimes seem things are too good to be true?? When things roll along smoothly for a period of time, it seems it can't last forever, and something happens. Over the weekend, I had a computer problem, and thought it was just a glitch, a one time thing. Seems that maybe it isn't, as I had another one today. I have some really great friends who attempt to help me out with the little things. I'm sure it's not always easy for a computer-savvy person to try and get this blonde to look things up and tell them what's happening. Especially when I think I can remember what the screen said, and then *poof* can't remember much more than a few words. lol. I hate it when that happens! But ... as with everything, its a process. Appreciate your help Andy and Chris !! I'll give it a couple days and see what's what. *crosses my fingers*

In other news.... well, there just isn't much other news! I have been attempting to follow the money "crunch" , altho, crisis is a better word for it, I'm sure. So many blogs and contradicting news blurbs, never knowing what will happen from one day to the next. Some days, I think I have a good handle on things, and other days, its like I don't have a clue. But I'm hopeful and keeping the faith, that things will change; it won't be an overnight change. Those times are long gone. But good things can come from changes. Even when those of us "old timers" want to hang on to the old ways; we need to let go, make room for new things.

Looks like things are going to finally start cooling below triple digits in the next week or so. I'm very ready for that!! Although, a quick drop in temps, and I'd be wanting a winter coat! And .. they must wear them here, we're selling them in the store. Speaking of the store... we're working on a new program for the back room, which is supposed to help control our inventory better. Mostly, it seems like a tool that makes extra work for those who run an efficient department, and helps out the ones who are ... not quite as with it in getting things from the back, to the floor. (I'd continue, cuz I could rant about it for quite a while, but its all walmartian speak, so I won't bore with that stuff!)

The last tidbit ... when I started in the Eaton store in Feb 2005, (wow has it been that long already?) one of the gals who worked with me was Em. (We both have the same anniversary date!) We worked together for about a year, then she stepped up and became a supervisor, and worked her way up further in the ranks within our store. It was a pleasure working with her, and awesome to watch her grow even further. And now, it's finally official: on Monday, she'll be stepping into Assistant Manager shoes!!! I'm so proud of her, and I know she will do great things !!! CONGRATS EM!!!! i love you, and boy do i miss you!! (no tears, tho!!) xoxox

HUGS to everyone!!!

To Cyber? or Not to Cyber?

This question came to mind recently. And mostly relates to folks who chat a lot (yep, that's me, I can usually be found on DALnet) What makes people do it? What kind of people do it? And ... do they get anything from it?

It's not uncommon for me to chat with many people in one evening. And I usually have a very good sense of the person I'm chatting with. Let's see if I can classify them. There's the HNGs , who (IMHO) are there for themselves. They're just looking for someone who might be willing to send a photo, accept one of their "naughty" photos, and talk dirty to them -- which leads to the selfish reason they are there in the first place. But,,, gotta give credit where credit is due: At least they know their mind, what they want, and go after it. (If that were a businessman, or a politician, folks would be saying he's successful, no?) Then there are the posers, the players, ones who will say anything, even *gasp* tell lies!! to get what they're after. (which eludes me, by the way). In that same mix there are others who congregate together because they have a ~strange~ fetish; or they're shy. Either one of these types is usually hard to keep a chat going, unless you have a list of questions to ask them. Even then, some of their answers tend to be monosyllabic. Which can get tiring. There are your Dom types, the bossy types. Toss in a few cross dressers, the bi parties, and you've got yourself a chat room!

So now that we know the players, back to my original question: To Cyber, or Not to Cyber? Personally, it is not something I usually choose to participate in. But that's because I ended up deciding on a few 'rules of engagement' first. It might sound crazy to want something more than just naughty words on a screen. But, why do something if you're going to be bored, and play solitaire while its going on? First, spelling counts. I don't mean typos, I mean words that ought to be spelled correctly. And txt talk doesn't cut it either. (UR pretty means nothing!) Whole sentences help a whole lot. Along with punctuation. Sorry, I know it's not an English class, but if it's tiresome to read, what's to keep me engaged in the action? I wonder how many of you would agree that it can be quite erotic, sort of like being a main character in the middle of a hot steamy romance novel? That is, if done with the right person, one who has a way with words, and can be more descriptive than "oh yeah baby". Then there's the anticipation of never knowing where the next sentence will take you.

Ohh... why did that question come up, you ask?? Well, let me say this. Sometimes you start chatting with someone, and there's a sense, an indefinable something, that just seems right. Add to it the 'rules of engagement' checklist with full marks, and ding ding ding! we have a winner! *winks* When it comes down to it, its really a personal choice. All it takes is one person who bridges the gap for you, and you tumble right on in to it. Happily :)

HUGS to everyone!