…and it is void of all my programs and settings. This is going to be a slow build. All the conveniences I have set up over the last 6 or so years are not here…not to mention my programs, like word processsing, etc.
Win 7 is pretty doggedly determined you are going to use Bing, which is the stupidest, most intractable search engine in existence—but it can be disabled and tossed. If you Manage Addons, or some such, install some of these alternatives, and insist, you can be rid of these pre-sets that MS so loves. I reset my home page. And am slowly building my Favorites Bar. But it may take a couple of months to get everything the way I like it.
The good news is the screen is good. The keyboard’s a little stiff. I think I can fix that. The touchpoint is a little strangely biased, but I think I can fix that too, when I find the right screen. And over all I think I’m going to be satisfied with this machine.
Jane’s in the other room cursing. Our HP printer just did some weird upgrade we didn’t want and now something’s screwed. I’m now asking myself if I want automatic updates on this machine or not.
I am glad to hear that your new baby is here! Happy birthday to it.
Happy Days!! Well of course it takes time to grow
your own programing. I detest Bing!! Yeah,my HP
printer and HP laptop ignore each other so no
printouts for me.
If you can, set your computer to notify you when there are upgrades, but not to install them or even download them automatically. There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to get on the computer quickly for something, only to have your computer wander off into update land for 30 minutes or longer before the thing condescends to boot itself. It’ll be much nicer if you can pick your download time–maybe leave the computer downloading while you take a dinner break or something.
I did the Windows File Transfer utility to migrate things from Vista to Windows 7, and I’m not at all pleased with the results. Some programs are missing, some won’t flat-out work with Windows 7, and some apparently do not have drivers for various peripherals, such as my scanner.
If your programs are on your external drive, you might just want to run them from there, and that way, the laptop drive doesn’t get filled up with stuff you don’t want there. Unfortunately, though, they load into memory much more slowly. But at least they’re not subject to accidental erasure if I make a mistake with Windows.
Um, I hope this doesn’t mean you use Internet Exploder to surf the web? Please tell me you don’t use it…
Firefox has a variety of add-ons available, including X-Marks, a wonderful utility that backs up your passwords, cookies, and bookmarks to the cloud. This allows me to have the same setup in Firefox on ALL of my computers, without me having to do a lot of work. I recommend it highly.
Beyond that, rather than do the work yourself, you should find someone locally who can do it for you. You’d be surprised how much work geeks will do for a case of beer!
😆 Well, I tend to use IE in default of better sense. I got a little annoyed with Firefox, but I am going to give it a try, particularly the Mozilla e-mail program—I’m so annoyed with the MS mail programs I could spit. They’re always developing problems.
I’m liking the keyboard on this new machine: easy reach, accurate re the old one I’m used to. They’ve moved all the top keys into a position upper right, but a reach for DEL still gets DEL the way it used to. A lovely key, DEL. The mouse is like weightlifting to get it to move, but that may improve as I figure out the system.
And now I face the onerous task of getting files over onto the new machine. I need my Word Perfect, Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker; and I’ve got WP already. And Firefox. I’ve got 3x the disk on this one as the old one, so I’ve got tons more room, but I am going to strictly limit what I do load.
Scared myself—drift the cursor on Win7 and the desktop appears, blotting out what you’re working on. Cle-ver… not.
But otherwise it’s just going to be a slow go, moving files. I’m putting all my megs of pix onto the terabyte drive and CD, and taking in only new ones. Carefully named new ones.
I am SO going to keep this disk organized.
Congrats on the new computer!!!
Firefox irked me too, and now I’m happily using Chrome. Since some time back it has all the extras that FF has, and it’s a much more modern browser, human interface-wise 🙂
Mind you, I’m not in the Google-boat, I dislike monopolies any way they come. But this one is worth it.
“I am SO going to keep this disk organized.”
Ah, I still fondly remember making that promise with the very first computer I ever owned that had a hard drive (a whopping 20 megs, it was). Still haven’t really managed to pull it off, although my new external drive is still relatively organized. Well, except for the “Random Junk I Have No Idea What It All Is” directory full of…stuff…copied from my old laptop.
I think there’s a natural law prohibiting well organised data on computers 😉
I recently installed Windows 7 on both my laptop and desktop. I appreciate it after a few years of Vista shenanigans. 🙂 I’ve given up on Firefox and gone with Google Chrome and I really love how the tabs work. I do notice that with Windows 7, it’s easier to erase my work by accidentally brush over the trackpad on my laptop – and it doesn’t recognize my fingerprint reader at all. Otherwise, I’m loving it. Much more stable and more intuitive in resolving issues.
GRRRRR,intuitive is how MS describes the Bing
thing! I now have had Firefox 3.5.6 for a few
months and finally got rid of freezes the former
incarnation of it visited on me regularly. The
email companion is Thunderbird. I loved the 2.0.0.3 version,unhappily my current wireless
internet provider doesn’t support it. Files and
files of beautiful stationery and can’t use any
of it!!!(crying yellow circle)
I’ve only used Bing for the aerial photos in the map part. Unfortunately they did something last month that make those load at the speed of molasses in January … in North Dakota. And while it’s taking its time loading images, the cursor is ‘sticky’ – it wants to stick to buttons and links, regardless of what you’re trying to do. Grrr.
Re Auto Updates: I’m still–well, Win7 hasn’t been out that long, and Vista…!–on XP and just a week ago, M$ pushed a patch that put some number of XP systems into the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death). In plain language, something that made the system unable to start (boot), though you can choose the color of the Screen Of Death, as I recall, as long as you do so before the patch.
If you had a boot disk, recovery was just a matter of tedium (and maybe a Te Deum–look out for that ICBM); but if you had a laptop and no boot disc, or a netbook with no drive, as my Aussie friend would say, you were well and truly screwed. (Apologies, ladies.)
So, activate auto-update downloading of patches by all means–you don’t want to miss one of M$’s legion of security holes. But don’t let it install *anything* without checking with an independent source. I check with PC World. The details of last week’s disaster are here, and thankfully, I stopped installation of that patch (if you’re missing users…):
Microsoft Pulls Patch that Causes Blue Screen of Death
http://www.pcworld.com/article/189210/microsoft_pulls_patch_that_causes_blue_screen_of_death.html
“This week’s incident was not the first where a Microsoft update has harmed rather than helped. Two years ago, a set of updates for Vista sent machines into an endless series of reboots. Similar problems stymied users who tried to upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) in May 2008, and others attempting to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 last October.”
That’s why I’m still using XP. Or, on one machine, Win98 – some of my software isn’t upgradable. (Could be worse: some of the stuff where I work doesn’t work with anything after IE6. A lot of stuff will be breaking soon, I think, although the IT guy on my train says they’re working on fixing the software so we can go to something more recent.)
To be clear, this was a patch pushed for XP, not Vista or Win7. I, too, have a Win98 system for older software, but I keep it “autistic,” unconnected to the net.
I’ll have to check out T-Bird. Thanks for the recommendation.
I don’t like Firefox either. I use it’s cousin SeaMonkey. Another browser deserving a look is Opera.
Thunderbird is a great e-mail programme, I use it despite SeaMonkey, being a suite, coming with one of it’s own. Thunderbird is how I follow your blog, via RSS feed, I also use it as a calender programme.
CJ, I suggest you “Get Add-ons” for “sync”. I can’t recommend a particular synchronization add-on, but maybe someone here can.
What’s ‘sync’?
‘sync’ in this context is an abbreviation for ‘synchronise’, meaning to copy user settings between different computers, user accounts or operating systems. There is special software for this purpose.
Sabina: I myself do use SeaMonkey, too, albeit the outdated version 1.1.18 for the time being. 2.0.3 is current and also capable of displaying RSS feeds.
With best regards
Ektus
(^_^)
I’m using the older one, too. Although I do have the newer one and use it from time to time. As for the feeds, there doesn’t seem to be and overwhelming difference between SeaMonkey or Opera, for that matter, so Thunderbird came first, Thunderbird stays feed reader. (And the new SeaMonkey version doesn’t know what do with max-width, the older one does so without a fault).
I find it interesting that people are frustrated with Firefox. I originally moved to Netscape in desperation because windows e-mail programs, Outlook Express, was conflicting with something and crashing my computer every time I tried to go online. Outlook Express was installed automatically when I installed Road Runner (Broadband) software. Hours and Hours and Hours of frustration and never solved the problem
I naturally migrated to Firefox when it first came out. Now have it (and Safari) on a Mac. I don’t know what people found frustrated about it. Had no problems with it, though I mainly use Safari. Except very occasionally on a work computer or for Windows updates, haven’t used IE for years. And it certainly is more dangerous.
I’ve never found an e-mail program I really like, though my wife has a pretty good system with her .mac (mobile.me) account. But I don’t have that much traffic and multiple accounts, business, etc. Your needs are, I would think, quite complex compared with mine.
Scot Finnie, a computer writer, blogger, and editor of Computerworld went on at length a couple of years ago about e-mail programs. He operates at least at the level you do.
You might check him out at http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/
I don’t like the way Firefox handles. For example, Firefox has the close-tab button on the tab, SeaMonkey has it on the far right next to all tabs. I prefer that since I quite often find myself closing many tabs serially, with Firefox (and Opera) I have to hunt down each individual tab, with SeaMonkey I just go click-click-click.
With Firefox I also always felt so restricted, it always seemed like one needed plugins and addons for the most simple things. SeaMonkey offers me more native options to set the browser according to my desires (although Opera is even better in that regard).
Additionally, I don’t like how the options menu (and am saddened that Thunderbird has the same).
As far as I remember, Firefox being just a browser, lacks an IRC client, too. SeaMonkey comes with Chatzilla.
I think my major frustration with firefox is that I can guess there are 10,000 plugins out there to handle all I want it to do and make it all I want to be, but in my harried life I just about keep up with the plugins of WordPress and don’t even know where to start looking on Firefox. What I’d like to tell it is: “Make it just like IE, with the tabs so I can look up something somebody wants to know and make it have my favorite places in a bar across the top, plus the 20 others that are in the occasional’ category in a dropdown at the side—seriously, if anybody knows plugins that handle item 1 and 2 I think I can manage the rest. I want some sort of tabs without bringing up a second copy and I want a convenient button punch to get me to a frequently used item.
I hear you! And so many features! I haven’t had to move bookmarks before, but I think this is how:
1. Go to Bookmarks / Organize Bookmarks on your old machine
2. Choose “Import and Backup” / Backup
3. Save the backup somewhere you can get to it from the new machine (network storage, flash drive…)
4. Go to Bookmarks / Organize Bookmarks on your NEW machine
5. Choose “Import and Backup” / Restore / Choose file
6. Indicate the file you saved in 3.
***I have not had the time to test this***
I find Firefox predictable, so I wouldn’t hesitate to do this (especially since the new machine has no useful bookmarks).
If you want to use both machines, you should still get a sync(hronization) add-on. I’ve had good luck with highly rated add-ons, but as I said before, I haven’t used any of them.
I hope this helps.
And in Firefox do View / Toolbars / (make sure Bookmarks Toolbar is checked). You should, then, have a bar across Firefox. You can drag and drop addresses into the bookmarks bar. You can also right click to create folders or access the properties of bookmarks to change their names. (I tend to delete names and rely on the icons.)
If you have trouble figuring out where the bar is, right click around the menu bars. Look for a menu starting “Menu bar” and ending “Customize…” (If instead, you see a menu starting, “Open all in tabs,” you found the bookmarks bar.) If you choose Customize…, you’ll see an area labeled, “Bookmarks Toolbar Items” in the menu bars–that’s where the bookmarks area is. Kill the Customize Toolbar window.
I had the “new” version of T-bird and hated it,no delete,no trash,no spell check actually nothing that I usually use. I snarled and snapped my way thru the Mozilla Forums until somebody told me where I could download my lovable 2.0.0.3. I found my plugins and addons by searching “Firefox addons/plugins”. I keep my favorites in “bookmarks”.
I guess needing simple ways to use a computer is
all I need. I can’t imagine doing what you guys do with your computers. When Firefox was freezing all the time (seriously, ALL THE TIME)I was tempted to try
Sea Monkey.
I like Firefox. I’ve got a toolbar for general purpose things, another couple of toolbars that I pull in or out as needed. Bookmarks: added a folder to the toolbar and use that although I’m slowly migrating my bookmarks to del.ici.ous. For feeds, I use an add-on that isn’t as clean as the IE one but is more than adequate; CTL-Shift-F and there they are.
I used to use IE8 with Vista but there were just too many problems with Ancestry on that platform. They SAY there shouldn’t be problems but I just found it too frustrating to bother with.
Hate T-bird; just too much like a heavy duty corporate mail system without the conveniences. I just use AOL webmail or windows mail; I don’t need fancy.
Hi —
Passing through Leesburg between manatees and mardi gras…
I’ll be back around 8PM EST (I hope).
I’ll call then with your missing email info!
I use Firefox and Chrome with Windows 7. I never see Bing. (I only see Bing at work because IE is the official approved browser, and even there I use Firefox most of the time.)
It’s been a while since we corresponded; several years ago, when I thought it possible to hold back the tide, I would report on your and Jane’s content when it appeared in USENET. Yep, that _was_ a while ago.
May I make a few suggestions regarding browsing?
1) The XMARKS extension for Firefox, Chrome AND IE is very worthy. It synchronizes bookmarks with a stored set Up There In the Cloud, and, yes, synchronizes them between different browsers, so you can maintain ONE set of bookmarks on ALL your machines.
2) Read It Later lets you mark a site for later perusal without adding it to your ever-expanding pile of bookmarks.
3) WOT (Web of Trust) warns you if you are about to click on a link on a website with a poor reputation.
4) AdBlock Plus and AdBlock Plus Element Hiding Helper prevents advertisements from displaying. Speeds up browsing a bit and lessens distraction.
5) NoScript blocks JavaScript from sites you don’t know, reducing security risks further.
6) InFormEnter stores common answers to common data entry fields in your browser and allows reuse of that data on other web pages with a click.
7) BetterPrivacy and Targeting Advertising Cop-Out both scrub Flash cookies and other deeply hidden bits of data off your system to allow you more privacy in browsing.
I find those are the important ones to install; others are lagniappes.
As to your new Dell, I would _strongly_ recommend backup nightly, using a directory synchronization tool, to another hard drive on your home network, and a weekly burn to DVD+/-R (not DVD+/-RW !) to go to a safety deposit box or other safe off-premises location if you have no other backup strategy. You could also use an off-site over-the-wire service like Mozy, iDrive, Mediafire, et al: Most offer 2GB free storage, and you could rotate through them for your overnight backup until you’ve decided which you like best for your offsite backup partner. Windows Live offers 25GB for free; see http://www.skydrive.live.com/
Here are reviews of some over-the-wire backup providers. I regret they’re not all fresh, but this will give you a chance to learn the questions to ask:
http://online-data-backup-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.macworld.com/article/142606/2009/09/online_backup.html
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5245&review=Online+Backup+Service+Buyers+Guide+2009
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288745,00.asp
http://www.gadgetadvisor.com/tech-news/evaluating-online-backup-services
http://www.macrium.com/ offers a free cloning product I have found useful, as well.
And, if you make it to Orycon, I would be pleased as punch should you deign to sign the hardcover of REGENESIS my sweetie bought me for Valentine’s Day. (I got her laser grips for her .357, which balanced out nicely, I thought; her safety, my sanity, for the unscratched itch which was CYTEEN, lo, these many years).
73s/Very best regards,
John Bartley K7AAY {ayt] ARRL [daht} net