COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Big Kev]

Given that the product key for whatever windows won't Work for Windows 10 (Its given a new one as part of the upgrade process), what happens when Microsoft stop offering the free upgrade and the HDD dies ? I generally use some hacking software to make a note of it, so that 10 can be put straight back on in future.

Missed that one, I'll do that when I get home, cheers.

[plaques]

I have just done (yesterday) a 8.1 to 10 upgrade on the laptop. No problems since it has minimal other bits on it. I noticed that I'm allowed to take a copy of windows 10 as a backup but it didn't say what size it was but there again I haven't really tried to look for it. The original 8 suggested a USB stick but I wondered about using an external hard drive. Any thoughts on this?

[Big Kev]

As long as the machine will boot from the external drive I can't see it being an issue.

I've been looking at some Powershell scripts to take off the unwanted apps, I have no idea why I would need an xbox app

[Stanley]

Ah! The dreaded Product Key.... I wouldn't recognise one if it jumped up and punched me on the nose...
Kev, in your position I would have done the same with that Cortana.... Why anyone needs a disembodied voice talking to them beats me.....

[Tizer]

Do you remember about 15 years ago Windows had a little figure that popped up in the bottom of your screen? I can't remember what it was called but I zapped it immediately!

Beware emails from `Industrial Cleaning Materials' bearing an invoice as an attachment. We had it yesterday and I looked it up on the Web. The company is genuine and hasn't done anything wrong but its details have been hijacked by malicious types and used as spam. The attachment contains a macro that infects Windows computers and gives access to the hacker. Apparently they are now targeting small businesses.

There's also a surge in email and internet scams in general due to the upcoming festive season. They know people will be doing more internet shopping and will be easier to catch.

[PanBiker]

I cant remember the key combination now but there was a hidden feature in W95 and W98 where if you clicked the Windows flag from within the system properties applet it invoked a Star Wars type credit scroll. It ran for about 10 minutes with all the names of the programming and marketing team and eventually ended thanking the tea and coffee trolley lady. Never been able to find anything similar in any of the later Microsoft GUI's.

[Stanley]

Tiz, I can remember that little helper. It was funny at first, especially when he jumped on his bike and scooted off, but like you I soon zapped it....
You lot amaze me with your expertise........

[Pluggy]

It wasn't Windows, it was Office, His name was Clippy aka 'Office Assistant' :

You could change it from a paperclip to other cartoon like figures. Irritating in the extreme.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_Assistant

[Tizer]

That's the one Pluggy. That web page shows there were many other similar `assistants'. Thank goodness I missed them!

[Big Kev]

Product key retrieved and safely stored away for future reference. The exe I used shows the original Windows 7 key too. Just need to strip the rest of the (cr) apps off of it and I'll be happy

[Stanley]

On recent experience, it's minders I need, not 'assistants'.....
Pluggy, call round when you have a minute. I attempted to install an upgraded driver for my printer the other day and failed miserably. Since then it will print one file but if I want to print another I have to switch the printer off and restart.... Usual terms....

[chinatyke]

Just an observation: The OGFB site loads as fast as lightning here in China and so do individual pages. Probably at the same speed you are accustomed to seeing but we don't. Most international sites are very slow here, even Hotmail. Google is crippled because of interference by Big Brother and a lot of sites load Google analytics/ads etc in the background and are consequently slowed to a crawl. Well done OGFB, top marks.

[Stanley]

That's good to hear China....
Earth to Pluggy.... Printer?

[Pluggy]

I'll be round this morning Stanley.

[Tizer]

Just an observation: The OGFB site loads as fast as lightning here in China and so do individual pages.

That's because Pluggy breathed on it!

[chinatyke]

Just an observation: The OGFB site loads as fast as lightning here in China and so do individual pages.

That's because Pluggy breathed on it!

Well, I just wish he was here!

[Stanley]

He was here this morning for an hour. I now have a clean printer installation bang up to date with the latest upgrded driver.... I can print as many copies as I like now..... Shall we mail a clone of him over to you China?

[Stanley]

Slight hiccup this morning. I had just got the FM3 up and running when everything went dead. I checked a couple of fuses but they were OK so I had a look at the consumer unit. Sure enough, the pertinent trip had blown out for some reason. These units are great for safety but so sensitive! God knows what tripped it but all seems OK now..... (Fingers crossed!) I don't need alarming things like this before I have woken up properly.

[Big Kev]

Are all your light bulbs still working? I had a bulb fail in a lamp which tripped the RCD.

[PanBiker]

Same here yesterday, one lamp failed on the loft lighting circuit and took out the RCD for the floor and the mains fire alarms that went over to battery.

[chinatyke]

Are all your light bulbs still working? I had a bulb fail in a lamp which tripped the RCD.

Yes Kev, all are OK and I have over 100 LED bulbs between the 2 apartments. Thinking back, 1 did fail early on and it was just a dry joint which I re-soldered and it has been OK since then. Bear in mind I only bought cheap ones and not big names like Phillips or Osram etc so I'm expecting and can live with the odd failure. I'm still delighted with them and reckon they have already paid for themselves. Nowadays I don't think twice about leaving the lights on, best thing invented since sliced bread. Anyone want 100 x 25/40W tungsten filament bulbs? (To be collected from Nanning of course!)

Shall we mail a clone of him over to you China?

He'd commit hari-kari if he had to put up with the vagaries of the Chinese internet and China Telecom - our ISP. Their company slogan is 'Customer First, Service Foremost' but unfortunately they don't know the meaning and it's 'take it or leave it' when you complain. It's just corporate fraud on a grand scale by a government owned company. That's my rant for the day. VPNs are illegal but many people use them to get around the ban on Google, BBC, social media sites etc; I don't because I don't want to fall foul of the law.


EDIT: Sorry Kev, Just realised you were asking if Stanley had a failed bulb.

[Pluggy]

I used to have a toaster that tripped the RCD on a regular basis, it had quite wide grilles in front of the elements and bread would curl around the grille and touch the element. I can't imagine a slice of half toasted bread carrying much current.....

[Stanley]

That crossed my mind Kev because it has happened to me before but up to press I haven't found any failed bulbs or any other reason. Something in the socket circuit caused a spike but as yet I haven't found it. It's a good fault really, it shows how safe these trips are but an annoyance when they do their job too efficiently!

[Tizer]

A friend of ours is troubled by her smoke alarms going off without any smoke present or any other obvious reason. She changed the batteries but it still happens and so she's probably going to fit new ones. Do they start giving false alarms as they get old?

[PanBiker]

They can be adversely effected by dust build up in the detector, a good blow out can help.

I should have also added that spider residence can also have a the same effect, same cure, worth a try before replacement.