Computer Talk - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Caroline13 · 07-18-2022, 06:08 PM

Just talking to a friend and she is about 10 yrs younger than me and has been involved in the computer world probably since late 60's, me didn't learn my first desk top until later 80's at a job on a Mac....Oh how I resisted.

But years have passed and I still only have a desk top and my Lenovo is a Windows 7 and works just fine for me.

She has had many desktops, high end being Sony and recently she went to a Dell. Dell was my first one ever.

She's got laptops, smart phones/Ipads and a big stash in her life.

I have no smart or Ipad systems...don't want any.

Another friend is having Windows 10 installed on her "old puter" and I'm not there and as far as I'm concerned I'm good with my Windows 7. My needs are few. Forums, shopping, banking, and in general stuff that interests me.....

I was kind of shocked when my friend said she didn't care if she lost everything in her desktop computer, and I feel the same,,,nothing that I
can't start over with.

Anyone here "close" to my thinking about losing everything.

GentlemanJim · 07-18-2022, 06:42 PM

Well, I am totally non-concerned about losing everything.....but for reasons different than you.

I'm using a version of Linux that has all my programs installed onto a single "read only" USB thumb drive, which I have a second copy of in my desk drawer. So all the cookies and other crud that gets written to my system while using the web...only gets written to memory. And all I have to do is shutdown and reboot, and my system comes back fresh as day one. So I can even descend into the deepest darkest corners of haxor havens like 4chan...and not worry about catching evil bugs.

All the "dirt" just hoses off.

There is a down side to this.Anytime I want to add a new program, or update an existing...I've got to do a complete new install...in fact if I so much wanted to add just one bookmark, or change the auto log on for just one forum...I'd have to do a complete reinstall if I expected the changes to become permanent.

But I've found that with a little planning, I can just make notes of desired changes, and wait until I have a list long enough to make all the work worthwhile...typically twice per year.

For me, the piece of mind is worth the extra hassle.

Originally, I got my start in PCs using IBM's OS/2 operating system, which was a completely different animal from the consumer level versions of windows that were popular. And I used a back up and recovery program that made a complete copy of the existing system onto a seperate, removable hard drive (the old pull out rack style hard drives) that I kept in my bedroom closet.

Anytime I had serious problems with that system, I'd just boot to a special maintenance partition, go get my safety back up out of the closet, enter a few key strokes, and go make myself a sandwich. Come back about 45 minutes later, and my complete system was back to original.

I really miss OS/2. When IBM discontinued it, I was extremely disappointed

Caroline13 · 07-18-2022, 07:31 PM

GJ, all that you just said is pretty much mumbo jumbo to me, I was married to a software genius and that goes back to the days of Univac. We were so mis-matched, I danced and had to give it up as he had 3 left feet...I've digressed..

stevea · 07-18-2022, 09:14 PM

I am on my second MacBook and "losing everything" doesn't concern me. My first Mac was on its way to crashing (kept shutting itself down) but they still managed to copy stuff from it to the new one. And the only "stuff" on it was colors and choices on how it operates. Redoing the password file was a bit of trouble, but I had everything written down (still need pen and paper for some things!)

So if for some reason the old one would have totally crashed, no, setting up a new one really wouldn't be an issue, other than resetting passwords.

In the working world I had a Dell desktop, I think. Whenever that had to be replaced, there was always something that went wrong, and something I used didn't copy to the new one properly. Getting a new work computer was always a hassle.

Caroline13 · 07-18-2022, 09:22 PM

This Lenovo that I own is a Professional model and I bought it from a company who just bought a bunch of new Lenovo's, and they were closing down, and I got one, it was probably a couple yrs old when I bought it and I'm probably using it 7-8 yrs by now. I've had a bit of work done on it as on/off button was wearing out...found a great tech who knew what surgery to do on it....finding him was like finding gold.

GentlemanJim · 07-18-2022, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline13

GJ, all that you just said is pretty much mumbo jumbo to me, ..

Well, you know what a "thumb drive" is right?

Well, instead of having my operating system and programs installed on a hard drive inside my computer, I have my operating system and all it's programs installed onto that little thumb drive. All my drivers, all my art programs, video editors, 4 different web browsers, word processors, the whole shebang.

And, since it is set up as "read only" no one can give me a virus, or other malware.

So, just like you, I don;'t worry about "losing it all" because the way I set myself up, I'm pretty near bullet proof.

Plus, since I made a second copy, even if the one I use every day gets broken or lost, all I have to do is reach into my desk drawer and get my copy, and I'm right back in business.

That way if they EVER do decide to reactivate the political folder here, I can be ever vigilant, and ready to pounce.

So, like you, I don't worry too much about the computer taking me off line.

GentlemanJim · 07-18-2022, 09:35 PM

And, as a side bonus, since I can put that thumb drive on my key chain, I can have my programs, browsers, and bookmarks with me, wherever I go.

Caroline13 · 07-18-2022, 09:38 PM

Yes, I've seem a thumb drive and never used one and would not know how to. The political board will not be reactivated.....I get plenty of stimulation on other boards and quite frankly so so sick of it all, but I still do some activatist talk that I try to get others to Open Minds.

GentlemanJim · 07-18-2022, 09:47 PM

ehh, I can deal with it either way.....but suspect that eventually the members who always seem to get their way, will press for reinstatement....just call it a hunch...progressivism seldom sleeps.

And if that ever does happen....https://youtu.be/W-apaIOOoAo?t=24

Caroline13 · 07-18-2022, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

ehh, I can deal with it either way.....but suspect that eventually the members who always seem to get their way, will press for reinstatement....just call it a hunch...progressivism seldom sleeps.

And if that ever does happen....https://youtu.be/W-apaIOOoAo?t=24

I'll Be There, great song. Listening to it now.

stevea · 07-19-2022, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline13

This Lenovo that I own is a Professional model and I bought it from a company who just bought a bunch of new Lenovo's, and they were closing down, and I got one, it was probably a couple yrs old when I bought it and I'm probably using it 7-8 yrs by now. I've had a bit of work done on it as on/off button was wearing out...found a great tech who knew what surgery to do on it....finding him was like finding gold.

As I said I got the first Mac in 2016, but found later Best Buy had sold me a 2012 model, which ticked me off. That Mac had 2 2 Gb memory cards, for a total of 4 Gb memory. This is not much memory for 2016 or now, but was probably OK in 2012. Anyway I bought 2 8 Gb cards and had a friend replace them, for a total of 16 Gb. It ran much better for around 8 months, then it started shutting itself down as I mentioned. I removed those new cards and I should probably sell them! The old hard drive--I removed that and took a hammer to it. I couldn't find any shop--Best Buy or mom and pop--that would put a new one in it, but it was probably the problem. After a mom and pop said we have to also do this and do that--for more $$--I gave up and bought a new one.

Caroline13 · 07-19-2022, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

As I said I got the first Mac in 2016, but found later Best Buy had sold me a 2012 model, which ticked me off. That Mac had 2 2 Gb memory cards, for a total of 4 Gb memory. This is not much memory for 2016 or now, but was probably OK in 2012. Anyway I bought 2 8 Gb cards and had a friend replace them, for a total of 16 Gb. It ran much better for around 8 months, then it started shutting itself down as I mentioned. I removed those new cards and I should probably sell them! The old hard drive--I removed that and took a hammer to it. I couldn't find any shop--Best Buy or mom and pop--that would put a new one in it, but it was probably the problem. After a mom and pop said we have to also do this and do that--for more $$--I gave up and bought a new one.

All I can remember is my boss back in the 80's trying to get me "enthused" in the tech mania and his words were "but we will have more SERVICE"....that has turned out to be such bullroar, Service out there is Horrible and has gotten worse in recent years, and when the puter works good, it's great but
when it doesn't talk about FRUSTRATION.... If I could talk to my old boss today, he would get a mouthful from me of where we've landed.

From my point and being up there in years, I know plenty of elders Never got into tech and I know some who did and have left it a lot.

stevea · 07-19-2022, 01:28 PM

Tech never works when you need customer service, other than simple things like when does the store close.

The systems in use by large companies (call trees, as they were once called; now we also have A. I. chat bots) are remarkably BAD. Their main design characteristic is the ability to keep you from talking to a person. They pass that test with flying colors! Which is why the bean counters probably love them.
From the customer's point of view, they are nothing but a barrier to keep you from getting the answer/help you need.

Caroline13 · 07-19-2022, 02:19 PM

I'm going thru a couple frustrations NOW...the pharmacy I've dealt with the decades and their push this button, push that button stinks, but I've had to deal and manage, TODAY, I've been trying for at least 2 hrs to get them and I get to a point and the message comes on "we cannot connect your call now, goodbye"......

Another is a bank conversion to a new bank with my long time bank, the 800 help line is busy busy busy and I've tried to do the changeover on my own and get to a point and I'm stuck....

Could be just too many people need help and and companies are overloaded.......Too many people period.

On the pharmacy issue I just heard that a major part of our city had a power outage and I woke up to that this morning, and could be the pharmacy is affected and had to go to a generator and this could be a big part of the issue.

GentlemanJim · 07-19-2022, 04:13 PM

It has always seemed to me like there has been a competition of sorts between hardware manufacturers and software developers.

Hardware manufacturers will enlarge hard drives, expand RAM capabilities, faster processors, etc and then a year later the software developers have all bloated their products to REQUIRE that capability as their new minimum requirement.

I remember back in the 1990s, a 9 GB hardrive was huge, now days a basic Windows install can hog up over 100 GB, all by itself. And when I bought my own first PC, I wanted to splurge, so I got 64 MB of RAM, and all my PC literate friends acted like I was ignorant for wasting money on RAM that I would never need. Now, I wouldn't buy a new machine having less than 16 GB of RAM.

I use resource monitoring apps from time to time, just out of curiosity, and it truly amazes me how much RAM some programs consume, just to launch.

07-18-2022, 06:08 PM	#1
Caroline13 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 30, 2021 Location: So Calif Posts: 14,483	Computer Talk Just talking to a friend and she is about 10 yrs younger than me and has been involved in the computer world probably since late 60's, me didn't learn my first desk top until later 80's at a job on a Mac....Oh how I resisted. But years have passed and I still only have a desk top and my Lenovo is a Windows 7 and works just fine for me. She has had many desktops, high end being Sony and recently she went to a Dell. Dell was my first one ever. She's got laptops, smart phones/Ipads and a big stash in her life. I have no smart or Ipad systems...don't want any. Another friend is having Windows 10 installed on her "old puter" and I'm not there and as far as I'm concerned I'm good with my Windows 7. My needs are few. Forums, shopping, banking, and in general stuff that interests me..... I was kind of shocked when my friend said she didn't care if she lost everything in her desktop computer, and I feel the same,,,nothing that I can't start over with. Anyone here "close" to my thinking about losing everything.
	__________________ Inexpensive Health Insurance = Grape Seed Extract Keep It Simple Last edited by Caroline13; 07-18-2022 at 07:23 PM.

07-18-2022, 06:42 PM	#2
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Well, I am totally non-concerned about losing everything.....but for reasons different than you. I'm using a version of Linux that has all my programs installed onto a single "read only" USB thumb drive, which I have a second copy of in my desk drawer. So all the cookies and other crud that gets written to my system while using the web...only gets written to memory. And all I have to do is shutdown and reboot, and my system comes back fresh as day one. So I can even descend into the deepest darkest corners of haxor havens like 4chan...and not worry about catching evil bugs. All the "dirt" just hoses off. There is a down side to this.Anytime I want to add a new program, or update an existing...I've got to do a complete new install...in fact if I so much wanted to add just one bookmark, or change the auto log on for just one forum...I'd have to do a complete reinstall if I expected the changes to become permanent. But I've found that with a little planning, I can just make notes of desired changes, and wait until I have a list long enough to make all the work worthwhile...typically twice per year. For me, the piece of mind is worth the extra hassle. Originally, I got my start in PCs using IBM's OS/2 operating system, which was a completely different animal from the consumer level versions of windows that were popular. And I used a back up and recovery program that made a complete copy of the existing system onto a seperate, removable hard drive (the old pull out rack style hard drives) that I kept in my bedroom closet. Anytime I had serious problems with that system, I'd just boot to a special maintenance partition, go get my safety back up out of the closet, enter a few key strokes, and go make myself a sandwich. Come back about 45 minutes later, and my complete system was back to original. I really miss OS/2. When IBM discontinued it, I was extremely disappointed
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

07-18-2022, 07:31 PM	#3
Caroline13 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 30, 2021 Location: So Calif Posts: 14,483	GJ, all that you just said is pretty much mumbo jumbo to me, I was married to a software genius and that goes back to the days of Univac. We were so mis-matched, I danced and had to give it up as he had 3 left feet...I've digressed..

07-18-2022, 09:14 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,953	I am on my second MacBook and "losing everything" doesn't concern me. My first Mac was on its way to crashing (kept shutting itself down) but they still managed to copy stuff from it to the new one. And the only "stuff" on it was colors and choices on how it operates. Redoing the password file was a bit of trouble, but I had everything written down (still need pen and paper for some things!) So if for some reason the old one would have totally crashed, no, setting up a new one really wouldn't be an issue, other than resetting passwords. In the working world I had a Dell desktop, I think. Whenever that had to be replaced, there was always something that went wrong, and something I used didn't copy to the new one properly. Getting a new work computer was always a hassle.

07-18-2022, 09:22 PM	#5
Caroline13 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 30, 2021 Location: So Calif Posts: 14,483	This Lenovo that I own is a Professional model and I bought it from a company who just bought a bunch of new Lenovo's, and they were closing down, and I got one, it was probably a couple yrs old when I bought it and I'm probably using it 7-8 yrs by now. I've had a bit of work done on it as on/off button was wearing out...found a great tech who knew what surgery to do on it....finding him was like finding gold.

07-18-2022, 09:35 PM	#7
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	And, as a side bonus, since I can put that thumb drive on my key chain, I can have my programs, browsers, and bookmarks with me, wherever I go.

07-18-2022, 09:38 PM	#8
Caroline13 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 30, 2021 Location: So Calif Posts: 14,483	Yes, I've seem a thumb drive and never used one and would not know how to. The political board will not be reactivated.....I get plenty of stimulation on other boards and quite frankly so so sick of it all, but I still do some activatist talk that I try to get others to Open Minds.

07-18-2022, 09:47 PM	#9
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	ehh, I can deal with it either way.....but suspect that eventually the members who always seem to get their way, will press for reinstatement....just call it a hunch...progressivism seldom sleeps. And if that ever does happen....https://youtu.be/W-apaIOOoAo?t=24

07-19-2022, 01:28 PM	#13
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,953	Tech never works when you need customer service, other than simple things like when does the store close. The systems in use by large companies (call trees, as they were once called; now we also have A. I. chat bots) are remarkably BAD. Their main design characteristic is the ability to keep you from talking to a person. They pass that test with flying colors! Which is why the bean counters probably love them. From the customer's point of view, they are nothing but a barrier to keep you from getting the answer/help you need.

07-19-2022, 02:19 PM	#14
Caroline13 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 30, 2021 Location: So Calif Posts: 14,483	I'm going thru a couple frustrations NOW...the pharmacy I've dealt with the decades and their push this button, push that button stinks, but I've had to deal and manage, TODAY, I've been trying for at least 2 hrs to get them and I get to a point and the message comes on "we cannot connect your call now, goodbye"...... Another is a bank conversion to a new bank with my long time bank, the 800 help line is busy busy busy and I've tried to do the changeover on my own and get to a point and I'm stuck.... Could be just too many people need help and and companies are overloaded.......Too many people period. On the pharmacy issue I just heard that a major part of our city had a power outage and I woke up to that this morning, and could be the pharmacy is affected and had to go to a generator and this could be a big part of the issue.

07-19-2022, 04:13 PM	#15
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	It has always seemed to me like there has been a competition of sorts between hardware manufacturers and software developers. Hardware manufacturers will enlarge hard drives, expand RAM capabilities, faster processors, etc and then a year later the software developers have all bloated their products to REQUIRE that capability as their new minimum requirement. I remember back in the 1990s, a 9 GB hardrive was huge, now days a basic Windows install can hog up over 100 GB, all by itself. And when I bought my own first PC, I wanted to splurge, so I got 64 MB of RAM, and all my PC literate friends acted like I was ignorant for wasting money on RAM that I would never need. Now, I wouldn't buy a new machine having less than 16 GB of RAM. I use resource monitoring apps from time to time, just out of curiosity, and it truly amazes me how much RAM some programs consume, just to launch.