Archive for the ‘Computer’ Category
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 24, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Looks like I used that title before but on a different subject. I am my worst enemy. Often I say jokingly that ‘I am passed my sell-by-date‘ or that ‘my shelf-life has expired’, new versions of ‘I’ve got one foot in the grave’ or ‘I’m in God‘s waiting room’. I laugh but the serious side of it isn’t really funny. Oh I can blame some of the things I do on my age with tongue in cheek but it is often down to a lack of forward thinking. A few weeks ago I wanted to cancel the automatic subscription facility on my Internet security provider account, which is Symantec. I have Norton 360 version 5 protecting my computer. What happened was this, I had purchased Norton 360 v4 before I had bought this computer and when I discovered that Norton 360 was pre-installed I kept hold of the disk version I had bought so that I could use that when renewing my subscription this year. Mistake number one. The present version is one up on the disk version, which I hadn’t noticed. I was having difficulty in locating the instructions to cancel the automatic subscription but the staff at Norton were able to help me. It turned out to be a very easy procedure but from the software it was easy to locate. Why they don’t make things easier I don’t know. The guy who dealt with my problem extended my old subscription by one calendar month so I got a bonus for my trouble. The present subscription was about to expire in 11 days so I took out the disk I had bought and loaded it. The screen display showed me that the disk version wasn’t as up to date as the one installed, which was the first time I’d realised my error. However it isn’t now possible to claim a refund on my original purchase of £59.99 which I could have done within 60 days. I don’t think I have a monkey’s chance now at over twelve months! I opened my Norton account and renewed my subscription for two years thus gaining a small discount on today’s prices (£124.99). The 11 days were added and now I have 741 days left at time of writing. Now back to the disk and the loss of £59.99. The only way out I can see is to sell it at a huge discount or give it away so that the other person can then update the product and thereby gain something from it. I should read the small print or have someone to hold my hand but that would be more of a distraction…..LOL. I have learned my lesson.
Shirley Anne
0.000000
0.000000
Posted in Computer, Money, Wisdom | Tagged: Computer, God, Norton, Norton 360, Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, Security, Software release life cycle, Symantec | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 9, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Now that I have your attention I am not really daft, honest! A few days ago I was messing about on my computer, an Acer 894 3G, when I discovered yet another of its capabilities. When I bought the machine earlier in the year I decided I would buy a machine with a high-end specification, not because I wanted to spend all that on a computer that was going to have limited use but rather because I wanted to buy something which might prove useful later. Since buying the machine and using it I have found it capable of many things. Getting back to the other day, I was investigating its use in making movies through the built-in webcam, something I didn’t know was possible but reasoned that it might be. After all, why have a webcam that can only be used for communication? So I made a short recording and realised that it was recording sound too. I should have known that because the built-in microphone is used for web communication! I am daft at times! LOL. Now that I knew I could make videos with sound I experimented recording whilst I was playing my guitar. Unfortunately, although the recordings went well, the sound reproduction wasn’t as good as expected and it made the guitar sound ‘tinny’ with little bass, nothing like the instrument itself. I am thinking it might be better to use an external microphone instead. For voice communication the internal microphone is excellent but unless there is a way to adjust the parameters for music recording the external microphone might be the best option. I am not sure how to do that yet. I have programs for editing soumd and video and will need the same for recording. It is early days but I have found a new toy to play with. Perhaps I can record some songs soon, not sure about the singing though! LOL
Since I wrote this (a few days ago) I purchased a usb condenser microphone via the Internet and received it yesterday.
Shirley Anne
0.000000
0.000000
Posted in Computer, Hobbies, Music | Tagged: Audio, Entertainment & Arts, Microphone, Music, Sound recording and reproduction, Universal Serial Bus, Webcam | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 20, 2010
It isn’t often that I make remarks like that but today has been one complete pain in the proverbial a**e! It was today that E and I had a hot-air balloon ride for the third time of booking. Each time thus far we have been thwarted by weather conditions. I thought the weather was fine with winds of only 8 or 9 mph but it seems that it depends on winds at a higher level in the atmosphere. It might be calm down at ground level but it may be blowing a storm a half mile up! So E and I got up around 4.30 for a meeting at 7.30, 80 something miles away. We phoned through as we were told to do to find out whether the flight was on or not. It was cancelled! That meant a cut in sleep. I resigned myself to yet another disappointment.
During the morning I spent some time on my computer. I had downloaded a program that re-arranged my registry and consequently rendered my computer unusable for online browsing. It is simply a matter of programs not pointing to their correct paths. Easy to say but time-consuming to correct. A friend has offered to correct the problem on Sunday. She is a Godsend! In the meantime I am back on my dinosaur. (Sorry dinosaur, you have been good to me…LOL)
So today we decided to dine out and forget my problems. That we did and had a great time at a place we often visit. We have become valued customers there and the staff always enjoy our visits as much as we like going there. It is so good that the head barman apologised today for not having ‘our’ table ready! There is one table we try to sit at each visit, mainly because it is easier for E with her disability. Later we decided, or rather I decided to visit the supermarket to buy some more wine. Whilst there we met with a mutual friend, a Christian lady who constantly asks E if she would like to visit her and her husband socially at their house. You have to understand that E isn’t a committed Christian so the idea is perhaps not her number one priority. I have known Terry and Eric for years, long before my transition, so I am comfortable with the idea. We have arranged to meet a week this Friday. I hope E will be relaxed about the prospect but I know she will enjoy it.
So tonight I switched on this machine only to be confronted by other problems. Thankfully they are now sorted and I can get on with some browsing. It’s just been one of those days! Perhaps Satan is having a go at me? Well if he is I am not taking the bait!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer, Drink, Happiness, Wisdom | Tagged: Christian, Computer, Drink | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 16, 2010
Today is such a beautiful dry and sunny day that you would be forgiven if you thought it was still Summer. There is hardly a breeze blowing and it is very warm in the sunshine. It isn’t quite so warm in the shade though and facing north toward what little wind there is. The official temperature is 12C with a 10mph wind. I am however staying indoors as I have something to do.
We went out last night and had dinner to celebrate E’s birthday and it all went well. It is one of those places where you get seated and then decide what you want, drinks, starters, mains etc but then you have to order it at the bar. That is ok I suppose but during the evening I think a waiter/waitress service would be better. E and I often go there but during the day when it is less formal and we don’t mind. The food is naturally brought to the table as are the drinks, except for those you buy initially at the bar. The rest of the service is as you would expect in any restaurant. I don’t think we will be using that place again in future for any evening outings, day times yes.
Anyhow, yesterday morning I was having trouble with my laptop again. It isn’t so much the machine itself (I am presently using it to write and post this), it is how it is connected to the router. It is an older machine, a Compaq Presario 2500 and has stood me in good stead for about six years or more, however it never had a wireless connection in-built as modern machines have but I was able to use a plug-in card to do the same job. A year or so back I lost the ability to connect wirelessly so I reverted to using an ethernet cable which connects me directly to the router. The only snag with that is the computer needs to be fairly close to the router. That wasn’t a problem unless I wanted to roam about the house and remain connected to the Internet. Added to that the machine needs a new battery as this one lasts about five minutes without a power supply. You get the picture. I am tied down to the sofa! Well yesterday the ethernet cable began playing up on me so I replaced it but it still gives me grief occasionally. I have a couple of new leads which can be used if necessary but I think it could be the actual socket that is getting worn out, after all ethernet cables are not meant to be used on moveable computers so they don’t have the flexibility that other leads might have. Enough was enough and I asked E if she would come with me into Liverpool to buy a new laptop/notebook computer and that’s exactly what we did.
So now I have a new computer (for £1300), an Acer Aspire 8943 series model which has eight times the disk space of this machine at 640GB HDD and has an 18.4 inch-wide screen against this one which has about 15 inch. Of course it has many other features too like Bluetooth, Blue-ray disk RW, remote control receiver, MMC/SD/MS/MSPro/xD-Picture Card enabling all these portable device cards to be read, numerous other ‘ports’ and usb connections too, some of which I have never heard of. It even has a fingerprint recognition pad which can be used to enable any activity including boot-up making it more difficult for unauthorised access. To put it in a nutshell it is an up-to-date machine (probably until next year….LOL) and far outstrips this little Compaq in many ways. I have been considering buying a new computer for more than a year so I thought I’d finally go for it. I am slowly transferring data from this machine and my external disc drive units on to the new machine and of course trying to get used to its different functions, even Windows 7 although Windows XP has been very easy to use. I may consider installing the Apple Mac Operating system at a later date.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer, Weather | Tagged: Bluetooth, Compaq Presario, Computer, Laptop, Liverpool, Router, Weather, Windows 7 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 10, 2010
I am about to take an axe to this computer! All kinds of strange things seem to be happening with it lately. Most probably it is the site I have been visiting that is causing the problem. Which site might that one be….well this one actually. I have been finding that I am not getting connected or if and when I do I am being held back. My cursor in uncontrollable sometimes and I get locked out of the thing I am doing at that moment. Thinking it is my pc I try to see if some other program is running, my security program for instance which automatically updates itself might be causing a slow down. Occasionally I switch off the machine and find that all is now correct. It can be very frustrating at times.
Today has been more or less a stay at home day for me with just one local call to assess a prospective job late in the afternoon. I had a really good night’s sleep last night and this has become the norm for me lately. This is a good sign and reflects my worry-free existence. Life is good and I am at peace with my Maker. I decided to begin the clearing out of that space behind the apple trees alongside the greenhouse which I’d wanted to start yesterday, or was it Sunday? I began by cutting the shrubs, trees and blackberry vines back to ground level and then began the task of digging out the roots. That part was in itself a hard job and I have lots more to do yet. I broke off doing that for a while because I had to burn the timber of an old fence and some of the old shrubbery I had removed some time ago. By this time it was way beyond lunchtime and I had to stop. I didn’t return to the garden until my return from the job assessment. As it was late afternoon I thought it best to mow the lawn in case it rains again. It was beginning to look like a jungle! If I find myself at home tomorrow I shall do more digging for roots. Later, maybe not tomorrow, I will lay hard-core and make the ground ready for some concrete. We need a much larger greenhouse and this is the preparation for it. Our little greenhouse has provided us with plenty of fruit which at the moment is not quite ready for picking. There are numerous bunches of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers and also some strawberry plants litter the floor although there are more of them outside. Today whilst we were digging out the roots we had a visitor hop by, a large natterjack toad. This is the second one we have come across in the last few weeks and there is plenty for them to eat in our garden.
We were too tired to start cooking this evening so we bought in some Chinese food instead. Tonight E is glued to the television, most of her favourite programs are on tonight. I will spend a little time on this computer before retiring to the back lounge to play my guitar.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer, Garden, Life | Tagged: Life | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 14, 2010
After yesterday’s ‘fun’ with my computer I was left with one or two other problems. When I tried to log in to certain websites, including my own, I was advised not to because Internet Explorer had them blocked. The reason had something to do with validation certification. However I knew these sites to be safe so I overrode the blocks. It was inconvenient of course and although it didn’t apply to all sites it was still a nuisance. As I glanced down to the taskbar I noticed that it was showing the wrong time so I clicked on it in order to change it. Then I found that the date was also wrong, it was Jan 1st 2000. Now if you remember that was the date whereby it was forecast that older computers would suffer some malfunction because of the switch to the new millenium. A coincidence of course. However when I adjusted the clock to the correct time and date all was well. No more blocks! Now I have no idea why only certain sites were being blocked and not others. Most peculiar. It’s funny how things work out.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 13, 2010
Only kidding but it’s been a very frustrating evening. I have been saving my vinyl records on my pc, that is saving them as digital files. Normally an album wouldn’t take too long, forty minutes to play it and probably another forty to save it but my security program wanted to do a full system scan in the background which held up proceedings considerably. I should have disabled the security program whilst I was doing this job because it has taken all evening to save one album! When it was done I took the computer into the other room to go online. When I attempted to gain access to this blog I was told that there was a problem with the site’s security certificate and that I should therefore not attempt access. Obviously there was nothing wrong but it’s just another little annoying item that wants sorting on this dinosaur of a machine. It is too late to continue this evening and I am sure it will all sort itself in time. I’m off to bed!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 11, 2010
Have you ever had something that you needed to go right but it went wrong and you tried everything possible to sort it out? A few years ago now I bought a 350GB external hard drive for my laptop because the one I had, an 80GB one, was too small for the job. I was saving music files and soon found the 80GB drive filled. However when I bought the new drive, which incidentally is a plug-and-play device, like the smaller one, it wouldn’t work. Try as I may Windows would not recognise it’s presence. I returned it to the store and they tested it on their machine and it worked! I returned home and reluctantly stored it away until I had more time to try to sort out the problem with my Windows software. Since then I have had another couple of attempts to solve the problem, all to no avail, until today that is. I am still not sure why Windows wouldn’t recognise the device last time but it does now. I have been able to transfer all the music files from my computer to the larger drive and thus free up the space on my C drive. The smaller 80GB drive still has all the music on it, just! However I am going to free that drive and use it for something else. Now I have the new-found space I can begin recording all my vinyl albums to digital format using the usb turntable through the computer. This will take some time though but at least I can do it all at last. I did a trial run last year when I purchased the usb turntable and recorded one of my albums. I can’t wait to record them all. It will be much easier to listen to any track I fancy without having to search through the vinyls and play each disc through a normal player, although at the moment I have yet to set up the hardware to enable my computer to simply be plugged into the set-up. I listen to the radio fairly often but it will be nice to be able to select what I want to listen to for a change.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer, Entertainment, Music | Tagged: Computer, Entertainment, Music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 7, 2010
It has been one of those awkward days where nothing seemed to go right. Today saw the return of the guys doing the windows and doors and they arrived rather late. The new front doors have now been fitted and some more work on the windows has been done, however there are still two windows to fit. The problem here was with the manufacturer as the windows are a special order, different from the others because of their shape. Trims need completing too and a little more work is left to complete on the dormer. Two more days should see all this done. Another guy came to carry out repairs and pointing to the house brickwork and has completed half of it so far. I started the day going on the Internet at 10 o’clock. This is where the day went wrong for me! The computer was working extremely slowly even though I managed to clear all the temporary files. Naturally that took ages because of the speed. I discovered that my Internet security software had become unstable and they (Norton) advised it to be erased and re-installed. I bought the software on-line so I needed to connect to Norton to start the process. Remember that all this time the computer is running extremely slowly which made for a frustrating exercise. Eventually I downloaded the necessary program to uninstall the software and ran it. This then required a re-start. This took an age too. During this time I was being interrupted by the workmen and by E wanting advice on various things. Eventually I was directed to the Norton site and invited to sign in. IO had forgotten the password so I had to request another. This meant collecting it from the email provider. There were problems with the provider and it took a long time to recover the information. This problem was not associated with the speed of my computer but by the site itself. Coincidence? Anyhow I retrieved the password but was then directed to change it, which I did but by now I had to sign in again. I downloaded the Internet security program, which took some time and then had to re-start the computer again! When this was done I was asked to submit the original product key, an alpha-numeric code of about sixteen digits. I was informed that the code was incorrect and I would need to purchase a new one. The old software had 512 days left to run so I wasn’t prepared to pay again! I contacted the help line and chatted to an engineer. He sorted every thing out from his computer station by taking control of my computer (with my consent) remotely. All I had to do was sit there and watch the proceedings. I transpired that I had downloaded the wrong version to replace my corrupted software so he arranged to install the correct one. Eventually all was done by 2.45, a total of four and three-quarter hours later than I went online!
The guy came to take away the skip parked on the new driveway but before he arrived E and I decided to take the opportunity to rid ourselves of more rubbish from the cellars. The cellars are now almost empty of rubbish. Anything else we can dispose of easily.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer, House and Home | Tagged: Computer, General Chat | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 22, 2010
A couple of days ago I was reporting on my compter’s demise. This time the sound system had failed. Well my comuter has been reprieved. It pays to know what you are doing with computers but you would think the very basic aspects not a problem to fault when they go wrong. Not so. Not with me anyway! Sometimes it is the obvious things that we miss. My eldest son paid me a visit earlier, basically to chat about financial matters and how I can help him and his wife over a forthcoming situation. That sorted I asked if he would look at the problem with my computer. Within minutes he had the sound working again. Evidently it was a simple configuration problem which I should have spotted but he corrected it for me. I blame it on my age….LOL. The point is though that now I don’t need to rush out and buy another computer just yet.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | 3 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 17, 2010
Last year I was bemoaning the fact that this computer requires replacing and I was seriously contemplating doing that but didn’t get round to it. Now my audio device seems faulty as the computer tells me it isn’t there. I was attempting to listen to something but found I couldn’t raise the volume. Well you can’t raise something that isn’t there can you? Seems I will need to replace the computer at some point. As it happens I rarely use the sound anyway but I am getting a bit fed up with things going wrong all the time, especially software. I know, I can get things sorted and am often on top of problems but enough is enough. I am not sure what the replacement will be but I am considering an Apple Mac. I will bide my time just now and as in my last post, wait.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 5, 2009
Well it’s been a funny old week has this one. Hardly any work to do at all. I like the leisure time of course but would prefer at least more work than I am getting at present. I have one little job to do tomorrow to end the week. Next week I won’t mind having no work as I start my vacation on Wednesday. No doubt I’ll get lots of calls come Monday…LOL. So it’s kinda quiet here just now. I went down to see Lauren today to have some electrolysis but she didn’t turn up or if she did it was after I returned home. I hope she’s ok. I won’t get to see her now for a few weeks. I went home and mowed the lawn before the forecasted rain appeared. It stayed dry! Typical, although it is getting overcast just as I write. Went to a pub for lunch but needed to return home early. That’s about if for the day. Now I’ll play guitar, watch tv, read and maybe go for a walk. Indoors! LOL. Well it looks like rain! Handy machine that treadmill.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Activity, Computer, Entertainment, Music | Tagged: Activity, Computer, Entertainment, Music | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on June 4, 2009
I have just spent, wasted (?) three and a half hours trying to get my new usb turntable to record my vinyls to my computer. I bought the usb turntable about eight weeks ago but have only just now decided to set it all up. First off I needed to change the power plug as the one that was fitted wouldn’t even go in the adaptor that was made for the job. Ten minutes and it was done. Next I set up an amplifier for monitoring purposes only to find that I needed adaptors for the audio connections (my son can provide them, he has a stock somewhere that he used when he was a DJ). So no amplifier but ok I could monitor via the computer’s speakers. Next I loaded the software using the disk provided and almost immediately had to upgrade it online. Another hour wasted. There were problems even there! So much for ‘plug and play’! Eventually I tried the set-up. The software seemed to be working but I couldn’t hear anything. Then I noticed the audio monitor wasn’t monitoring. It didn’t have anything to monitor! OK, time to check the usb cable which I did and I changed it three times. Still no signal to the computer. Looks like the turntable hardware is at fault. I have contacted the supplier via email and wrote an amusing article about my experiences. Hopefully they will make useful suggestions but maybe I’ll need to return the equipment. Makes you want to go and have a stiff drink. Me? Never!……………LOL………That’s life
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | 1 Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on April 9, 2009
That’s it, I’ve had enough of this laptop I am using. Too many issues regarding wireless connection, memory size, C drive size and other irritations…..actually it is a good machine and has given me good service but it is very temperamental at times. I am running Xp on it, which I prefer to Vista and it seems you can only get Vista these days unless you switch to Mac. My friend swears by Mac. but I have reservations. Anyhow I shall be exploring the possibility of buying a new machine today and see what is available.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | 6 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on April 7, 2009
I am fed up with computers! I have not been able to connect to the Internet since Sunday evening and it’s taken my IP ages to sort out their problem then my own. My router gave up the ghost! I am still having problems with the wireless connection which hopefully my friend can sort out tomorrow. In the meantime I am connecting via an ethernet cable. Why me? LOL……..
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Computer | Tagged: Computer | Leave a Comment »
