COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Stanley]

Irony alert Kev. (I'll have to stop doing this.... Sorry!)

[Tizer]

I'm determined to dive head first into Ubuntu... Just haven't had the time or energy!

Steven, don't wait until you think you've got `the time or energy' or you'll never do it! All it needs is an hour or two to install Ubuntu and download the outstanding updates. You can learn it by using it. I was very busy running my own home business when I first started using Ubuntu about 7 years ago...and I knew very little about software and computers. I loaded it alongside Windows but soon dumped MS and worked on Ubuntu alone. I had to keep an old Windows PC for many years to deal with any `legacy issues' such as accessing Pagemaker files but that was always kept well away from any Internet connection.

I think it's terrible that schools and colleges still concentrate on proprietary software and bring up kids and students believing that the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Adobe are the only way to access computing or to work on computers and software. And so much of the school and college budgets go to those companies while Cameron, Blair, Brown et al cosy up to MS. Similarly with big private companies and public organisations and institutions that depend on MS software. I suppose our defence forces still use proprietary software? I can remember when I started on Ubuntu and I read a magazine article describing how the navy was wedded to Windows - but I can't remember whether it was the Royal Navy or the US Navy. Probably both!

[Steven Chorkley]

Windows 8 on my laptop advises to make a back up of the OS in case of loss. PC World say that it will cost £X to buy a replacement. However, a pal in the trade says that at a push Microsoft will replace it free if you really press them. They don't give a product code on purchase.

Ah... Yeah. They do this trickery of installing the key into the computer itself. (actually the BIOS). If you want to read into this google SLIC keys. It's a pain. You can just back your computer up and reistall onto the same machine without having to enter the key, but if you change computers they will force you to pay for a new key. Personaly I don't think that this is acceptable as it is the software you have purchased from Microsoft (even though you will have payed through the manufacturer). There is a way around this using tools off the internet but unbelivably it is classed as Piracy.

I'm determined to dive head first into Ubuntu... Just haven't had the time or energy!

Steven, don't wait until you think you've got `the time or energy' or you'll never do it! All it needs is an hour or two to install Ubuntu and download the outstanding updates. You can learn it by using it. I was very busy running my own home business when I first started using Ubuntu about 7 years ago...and I knew very little about software and computers. I loaded it alongside Windows but soon dumped MS and worked on Ubuntu alone. I had to keep an old Windows PC for many years to deal with any `legacy issues' such as accessing Pagemaker files but that was always kept well away from any Internet connection.

I think it's terrible that schools and colleges still concentrate on proprietary software and bring up kids and students believing that the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Adobe are the only way to access computing or to work on computers and software. And so much of the school and college budgets go to those companies while Cameron, Blair, Brown et al cosy up to MS. Similarly with big private companies and public organisations and institutions that depend on MS software. I suppose our defence forces still use proprietary software? I can remember when I started on Ubuntu and I read a magazine article describing how the navy was wedded to Windows - but I can't remember whether it was the Royal Navy or the US Navy. Probably both!

Hahaha! Fair point! I can't afford to play with it at the moment though. I have mock exams first thing in January so I need my computer to work flawlessly!

And yes. I have to agree. My high school was totally dependant on Microsoft, they didn't even accept that Apple existed, never mind Linux! They didn't even physically allow a computer into the school if it didn't run Windows.

Thankfully my college are a lot easier. They allow all devices, although of course, most lessons are again based around MS.

[Pluggy]

My sister in Laws Compaq/HP laptop started reporting at the Bios screen that it had lost its serial number, the computer continued working so she didn't worry about it, until about a fortnight later Windows 7 decided it wasn't a legitimate copy and stuck a notice on the desktop. It didn't have a product key sticker, after doing some searching it turns out its not unknown for these laptops to lose their serial number and since the serial number generates the product key......

Several options, send it back to HP and get the BIOS repaired (a small fortune if its out of warranty), buy a new copy of Windows, or install something else. Back in the old days, you pried the BIOS chip out of its socket, bought a new one, or reprogrammed it yourself and stuck it back in. Laptops have had the BIOS chip soldered to the board for a number of years now, so you're stuck with the computer reprogramming it itself. About a 50% chance of turning it into a complete brick with no road back. So much for progress.....

[Steven Chorkley]

My sister in Laws Compaq/HP laptop started reporting at the Bios screen that it had lost its serial number, the computer continued working so she didn't worry about it, until about a fortnight later Windows 7 decided it wasn't a legitimate copy and stuck a notice on the desktop. It didn't have a product key sticker, after doing some searching it turns out its not unknown for these laptops to lose their serial number and since the serial number generates the product key......

Several options, send it back to HP and get the BIOS repaired (a small fortune if its out of warranty), buy a new copy of Windows, or install something else. Back in the old days, you pried the BIOS chip out of its socket, bought a new one, or reprogrammed it yourself and stuck it back in. Laptops have had the BIOS chip soldered to the board for a number of years now, so you're stuck with the computer reprogramming it itself. About a 50% chance of turning it into a complete brick with no road back. So much for progress.....

This is where I think piracy has it's place. It's not classed as illegal in this sense either. There's nothing we can do now except rely on UEFI to take BIOS's place.

[Pluggy]

UEFI replaces BIOS so it does the same job at a simplistic level (granted, UEFI is more complex/sophisticated/all encompassing/controlling ), so it still a BIOS in my book. I'm too old to change now.

[Stanley]

I know the feeling......

[chinatyke]

Whilst I was reading again about Thomo's misfortune of losing some important information I decided to back up my Mac. When I installed the new operating system last week I made a full back up to my Apple Time Capsule which is a 500GB external server and HDD. I also keep a complete back up on a spare external 320GB HDD, belts and braces and all that stuff, which is produced using a free (donation ware) program called Carbon Copy Cloner from Bombich Software. It is a superb bit of software but I think it is just for Mac. In the past I sent them a $20 donation when I used it to restore some things I had lost. Their advertising banner was a small pig with 'we are here to save your bacon' or something along those lines. Today I found that I had to update their program because of my new OS and that it had changed from donation-ware to a commercial product costing $40, although there is a free short term offering. Now here is the good part, anyone who had donated prior to July 2013 was given a free registration code. Yippee! So in fact by chance I got it at half price.

[Steven Chorkley]

Whilst I was reading again about Thomo's misfortune of losing some important information I decided to back up my Mac. When I installed the new operating system last week I made a full back up to my Apple Time Capsule which is a 500GB external server and HDD. I also keep a complete back up on a spare external 320GB HDD, belts and braces and all that stuff, which is produced using a free (donation ware) program called Carbon Copy Cloner from Bombich Software. It is a superb bit of software but I think it is just for Mac. In the past I sent them a $20 donation when I used it to restore some things I had lost. Their advertising banner was a small pig with 'we are here to save your bacon' or something along those lines. Today I found that I had to update their program because of my new OS and that it had changed from donation-ware to a commercial product costing $40, although there is a free short term offering. Now here is the good part, anyone who had donated prior to July 2013 was given a free registration code. Yippee! So in fact by chance I got it at half price.

Wow! No fair! I used to love that software... but then decided to stick with Time Machine when they started charging.

[Stanley]

It's coming to the time of year when I back up the current year's work to an external hard drive and then start on a new one. All done manually. During the year I do occasional copies to a large pen drive.

[Stanley]

Tripps drew my attention to note making applications. I found Cherry Tree for Ubuntu. Anyone had any experience of it?

[Pluggy]

Tripps drew my attention to note making applications. I found Cherry Tree for Ubuntu. Anyone had any experience of it?

No, I just use gedit which is built in (Linux alternative to notepad in Windows). Put 'text' or 'gedit' into Dash Home.

[Tizer]

Like Pluggy, I tend to use the default Ubuntu text editor (Gedit) to keep a record of any bits of text and I make sure the file name is something relevant that'll allow me to find it easily in a search. I'm cautious of using any dedicated applications because there's always the danger of not being able to migrate the archive when you update the OS or move to another OS. Using the text editor also avoids having extra applications with no other function. If you do want to try out note-taking software (or any other software) make your first port of call to the Ubuntu Software Centre by clicking on the orange icon in your task bar on the left of the screen. Put `notes' in the search field and you'll find there are several offerings for note-taking. Each has stars rating it and a number showing how many people have provided a rating. `Tomboy' is highly rated for example. All the software in the Ubuntu Software Centre has been tried and tested on Ubuntu and you can safely install and easily uninstall it in minutes. Try as much as you like - have fun!

[Steven Chorkley]

I use evernote and Google Keep. Both are fantastic for note taking. I use Evernote to store images of revision material and am able to organise it really easily.

[Stanley]

Thanks Kids...

[Tripps]

I don't think you can compare Treepad directly to a text Editor program. It does much more than that, having a heirarchical structure, which you control. It can also be installed on a data stick, together with the associated files. Easy to back up. I've downloaded the windows version of Cherrytree, and it is very similar to treepad, for which I paid a few dollars, a long time ago. I won't change, but it looks better if anything, and seems to be free.

As regards its expected life - well that's a problem with all software. I'm just having to retire a Creative mp3 player, due to it not being recognised by the more modern versions of windows. Not sure what the answer to that problem is.

I always hesitate to recommend anything since everyone has different needs, but that's what works for me.

[Stanley]

David, you tweaked me when you mentioned digitising the Local History Index. It will be a massive task but I fancy having a crack at it. But if and when I start I want to be sure I am doing it the right way....

[Tripps]

David, you tweaked me when you mentioned digitising the Local History Index. It will be a massive task but I fancy having a crack at it. But if and when I start I want to be sure I am doing it the right way....

As Mr Alan Partridge says "back of the net"

Or as I increasingly think these days "posterity beckons". Yes - you are right to give it some serious thought before starting. The modern jargon is 'scoping it out'. Worth the effort I'd say though. What a research resource, which becomes easily available to anyone interested.

[Stanley]

I'm getting serious about it. Question is, does anyone know of a platform that could be used to do it? I'm assuming it would be a 'database' but what is there that could handle perhaps 40,000 entries?
Pluggy came round yesterday and attacked the problem I have with a programme I wanted to run. He sat there muttering to himself for over an hour but in the end he did it. I have my maps running now but will wait till I have me readers before I fully explore the possibilities.
Today will be a good day for my full annual back up to external hard drives.....

[Stanley]

I decided to do the annual backup and experienced a brain fart in the system. I plugged the external drive in OK and transferred this year's work to it. So far so good. I created a new folder in FM3, ARCHIVE14 but when I tried to create new folders it would only let me do it as untitled, couldn't edit the box or rename. So I shut down and tried to login but it wouldn't let me in! Bit of a think, the only thing that was different was that the Seagate external drive was connected so I unplugged it and tried again. Everything fine, logged in and created the new folders in ARCHIVE14. Plugged the external drive in again and checked that I had a good transfer, all OK. I shall do the transfer again to my other external drive so I have two copies. Computers are funny aren't they!
15 minutes later. Archive 13 backed up onto the Samsung drive as well so I have two copies as well as on the FM3 HDD. Safe as I can make it! Go on, you know you should be doing the same (if you haven't done it already!).

[Tizer]

I'm getting serious about it. Question is, does anyone know of a platform that could be used to do it? I'm assuming it would be a 'database' but what is there that could handle perhaps 40,000 entries?

I'm no expert so can't advise but perhaps you can clarify for any potential helper what exactly you mean by `digitising the Local History Index'? Do you mean transferring data from a card index to your computer and storing it in a database for you to access? Or do you mean putting data into a database on a public web site for other folk to access online? In the former case you may be able to do it in the Libre Office database package called `Base' if it can handle that many entries. If it's online then I suppose it depends on the software offered by the chosen web site.

[PanBiker]

40,000 entries is nothing to a decent database, don't know what's available for your chosen platform though.

[Pluggy]

I'd have a better idea if I knew what the 'Local History Index' was.....

I wouldn't tie anything into a propitiatory file system. It wants to be easily exportable to any system should the need arise. 40,000 entries could easily live in a .CSV file which could be accessed by practically any database front end.

[Stanley]

Individual cards vary from a few words to about 500 for a complicated one. I haven't counted them but no more than 50,000 cards. I'd like it in a format that I can use on the FM3 as a database and one which is capable of being given to other organisations or individuals on say DVD and in such a form that they can install and access it.
No probs logging on this morning, brain fart was something to do with the external drive but both of them are updated.

[Tizer]

40,000 entries is nothing to a decent database, don't know what's available for your chosen platform though.

Ubuntu now uses the Libre Office suite by default and the database package is `base'
http://www.libreoffice.org/features/base/
Stanley will have Libre Office word processor, spreadsheets and presentation software installed by default. Base can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Centre. If Stanley opens his Libre Office software and clicks Help on the top menu, then searches the Help for `database' he'll find information about Base there.