COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Stanley]

Yes, we strayed off piste didn't we.....
I omitted to send Mrs Plugs condolences about the car. When I completely wrote off Richard Drinkall's brand new BMW the first question he asked when he was told was how I was, he said he could get a new car but not a Stanley. Same thing applies to her, these things happen and all that matters is how the driver fared. Knowing you, that would be your first reaction also!
[That's off piste as well......]

[plaques]

I'm probably lightyears behind the curve but a nice little site for finding the height above sea level. Free map Tools.

[Tripps]

Yes agreed - a nice little site.
I find that I'm 74 feet above sea level, I think that's me safe then.
I like the map - not sure why but it seems to suit my needs. Thanks.

[Tizer]

Yes, a bit safer than me - we're at 32 feet. Every foot makes a big difference here when you're on the flat Levels

[PanBiker]

533ft, Noah can dock on the Croft next time he's about!

Back on topic, my laptop has developed a small problem. It powers down about 5 - 10 minutes after start up. No warning and no complaints when restarted. I can run it all day after that if I wish, fan runs as it should and there are no other relative symptoms that I can see. Event log just tags "unexpected shutdown", a bit bizarre.

[Pluggy]

Overheating can be what causes them to suddenly shutdown, but they give the problem after restarting. I'd substitute the hard drive for one I keep for the purpose with Linux on, its usually entirely hardware agnostic and shows if the problem is a software or a hardware fault. ( if its Hardware it does it under Linux as well ). A hell of a lot easier than scrubbing and starting again. Doing with with another Windows disk is a grade A pain in the backside because drivers and or Microsoft's licensing does its damnest to stop you. Half the time you get the old BSOD if you try an alien disk in a machine with windows.

[PanBiker]

Overheating was my first thought but it's more like a from cold fault. There is nothing in the OS to suggest it's software based. I'll try removing and refitting the Ram as a first test. I can run any applications I want and keep the machine on as long as I like after the erroneous shutdown.

[Stanley]

I hate faults like that. The only redeeming characteristic is that it seems to be consistent. Good luck with the search!

[Tizer]

It's unfortunate for Samsung that they've got an exploding lithium battery problem just when they've launched a new smartphone. It only takes a few dozen incidents and I suppose then millions of batteries have to be destroyed.

[Stanley]

But every cloud has a silver lining. Apple have had a windfall.... They launch their new i-Phone just as this hits their rival.

[Tizer]

Some weeks ago my sister-in-law's messages sent from her smartphone started arriving in duplicate, then triplicate, now quadruplicate. She hasn't been able to work out what's wrong but it's annoying people, especially when she send a number of photos in a message. Has anybody else experienced this problem?

[Tripps]

Chance would be a fine thing.

I've yet to puzzle out how to send a photo from my 'smart' phone.

[Stanley]

Not a problem I lose any sleep over!

[Tripps]

No - I don't. I have a good go at something then like a gentleman quietly give up.

I like this phrase from Leonard Barras' 'Up the Tyne in a Flummox' -

'At peace with his own inadequacies'

[Tizer]

The family were copied in to sister-in-law's multiple messages and now I see her son replying to her: "Blooming hell mum how many times are you gonna send the same email?"

[Stanley]

What a polite lad.
The council tell me computer junk is OK in the grey bin.

[Stanley]

I have an urgent request. I need guidance on how to get on to Whatsapp as soon as possible. Can I do it from the FM3 or do I need a smart phone? Please help me to do it.
PS if anyone has an old phone that will do the job that would be a blessing.

[PanBiker]

Here's the link to the FAQ section, it's not Linux compatible. Widows, IOS and Android by the look of it. Does it have to be Whatsapp?

WhatsApp FAQ

[Stanley]

Thanks for the quick response Ian. Pluggy was even quicker. He tells me that he will have me sorted by tomorrow afternoon. Oneguy is wonderful!
See Family Matters... I have been told I can come out of the closet.

[Pluggy]

Bit of a complicated beast, Whatsapp cannot run standalone on any PC , it needs to be installed on a phone, once you have that , you can then run it in a browser on a PC or download the windows or otherwise application and it puts a QR code on the computer screen which you then point the phones camera at. It links to the phone and allows you to use the PC to communicate with whatsapp via the phone. The browser version runs fine on linux, but theres no getting away from needing a smartphone. Using the browser version (or Windows/Mac application) does give you a proper keyboard and a decent screen to use rather than using the limited thingies on the phone.

I can see the attraction of whatsapp, hook the phone up to wifi and you can make calls, send messages, photos etc etc to other whatsapp users without incurring any charges on the phone.

[Stanley]

What Plugs hasn't said is that he has just upgraded his phone and this afternoon will come round with his old one and get me hooked up. Wonderful what good friends can do to help.....

[Pluggy]

Not quite, I've been toying with the idea of upgrading the smartphone phone since "the brick" gave up the ghost (dropped once too often I think). Stanley wanting a smartphone (or more accurately, his circumstances making one essential) gave me the push to go ahead. I ordered it last night. I have a degree of faith in Amazon Prime getting it it here today. A day without a phone won't do me any harm in any case.

[Tizer]

Pluggy and Panbiker, thanks for helping Stanley, this is one time when he really does need a smartphone.

[Stanley]

I'll second that Tiz.... Pluggy now has an all singing and dancing new phone and I have his old Samsung. I say old but he will tell you what its capabilities are. All I know is that he took it back to default and so it thinks it's brand new. He has installed my old SIM in it (I've just topped it up, there was only .25p on it!). Then he loaded Whatsapp, showed me how to get it up on my screen on the FM3 and I have sent messages to Janet and Susan. Janet will still be in bed but Susan has replied so it is working. I shall only use it in the kitchen and only for Whatsapp so, as it is connected through my wi-fi it's free and P says I can make calls on Whatsapp as well.
I heard this strange whistling noise and realised it was the phone talking to me..... A new experience.
I've mailed the ladies I am to hook up with, given them the number of the phone and asked them if that means they can include me in the group, if not we need a plan 'B'. We will get there.
Where could you get service like this. For a very minimal cost I have what would have cost an arm and a leg in London. We are lucky to have Pluggy!
Thanks to all of you, we used Ian's link and I now have the FM3 talking to the phone through the wi-fi. A bloody miracle if you ask me. I am a happy bunny.....

[Pluggy]

For the technically minded Stanley's phone is a Samsung "Fame" or 6810P. Its just over 2 years old. Nothing spectacular but runs WhatsApp without issue. We pulled the sim card out of his old Nokia 3210.....