Computer Crash

We had a computer crash over the weekend. Friday, I checked my email while on facebook and something came up that told me my computer was getting viruses (or something) and I need to do a scan. It 'looked like' the window shield thing, so I said OK thinking Norton antivirus was catching something, but I was wrong. It was too late to do anything about it. After that my computer worked OK except Internet explorer would not go online. We tried to fix the online service, but our computer kept telling us we were already online, but we could not go anywhere. After most of the day of trying to figure that out, and giving up, we decided to start the computer from the beginning. We’ve had it over year anyway. They used to say you should start over every now and then anyway. So then I spend a whole day backing all my personal files from the computer to my hard drive, glad that I could! Got it done Saturday night, so we could take Sunday off from the computer. Now, I am putting back what we need on the PC. One step at a time. :)
The next day I was on my laptop and decided to check the mail. Wrong! The same e-mail came in and the same message came up, but this time I was quick enough to say 'NO!' and the laptop seems OK.

The whole goof-up to mess up the computer lasted about 2 to 3 seconds. It’s amazing how fast a computer virus will mess everything up. Usually, Norton catches everything, but for some reason did not get this one.

TY Lord, for what we have learned about computers during the last 30 years!!!!!!!!!!!

A Valuable Lesson

I learned a valuable lesson today. Actually, an expensive lesson. I learned that you cannot use a different plug in for an electronic device if the voltage is different. I accidently plugged in my external hard drive using the old external hard drive's cord. You would think that two WD drives with the same plug would be the same, but NOT! I don't know why they had to do that to me, but then I don't know why I wasn't more careful. Anyway, the newer drive is dead .... with all my backup info on it. Ouch. We are hoping we can get the data off and onto a new drive when we can buy one. If not ... oh well, it's not the end of the world. I just hate losing the back-up data ... and the $100!
The whole time we were in Germany, I only goofed up with one mismatch plug in and If I remember right it was the external speakers to the computer. And that was complete different voltage system over there than here.
Steve says, "You are telling them?" "Well, Yeah maybe I can help someone else not make the same mistake. Not that any of you would do such a thing!"

Passwords

What can I say about them? Each year we try to come up with a unique password to use for our accounts. I just finished for this year. It is frustrating. People say, "Well, it's easy. I use the same few and if it is not one, then it is the other." I've tried that. Then one place wants no special characters, another place wants no numbers, another wants .... etc. so each place ends up with its own password and I sure can't remember them all! I've about decided that if I can't get into a place, so what!
Really, this year, I am trying to down size my web experience, by cutting out some places. I was able to cut out a few and we still have more than 80 places we have to log in to!
Happy New Year!

That does not Compute

Computing can be a wonderful thing. Well, I don't know if I'd call it wonderful. But ... convenient ... fun ...adventurous ... aggravating .... tiresome ....


We recently updated to Windows 7. Which is a 64 bit. Which means many of our programs do not work with the update ... so that mean re-buying the ones we use a a lot and throwing out ones that no longer work (or giving them to people with older operating systems). We did this same thing a few years ago. I just know it is MS's way of selling more 'stuff'. They must get a percentage from all the other companies selling software. I think a computer nerd sits behind a screen .... bored ...coming up with new ways to do things ... and thinks, 'hey, I can do this little change and drive them all crazy! hehehehehe

Like when they changed File Manager to Windows Explorer ... not taking into consideration that there was already a Internet Explorer (or did they?) It took me forever to get used to that and I still call it file manager most of the time ... which is what it is, BTW, a file manager. Hello!!

Well, I think we almost have it how we want it again and I told my husband that this is the definite LAST time I go through this. I am too old to be jerked around by a bunch of young people designing new products to change the way things are done!!!! whew!!!!                      

Photo Editing

I spent the last hour working with my Adobe Elements 6 to create that photo at the top. 2 weeks ago when I did the original one, I could change the background colors behind the butterflies. Today, for the middle one, the background was white. I wanted something different, but for the life of me, I could not remember how to do it! So, I decided it could be white for now and when I uploaded it it, it is light gray. That works! Whew! I could have stopped 45 minutes ago! Computing just boggles my brain. I think because I do too many different things with it, I can't remember all of all. And then, I learn something, and don't come back to it for several weeks or months, and I have trouble figuring it out again.
It is the same with making pie crusts for me, so I guess I can't blame it on the computer. ha!