#This&That&TheOtherThing -#ComputerWoes & #HappyDays

/ Marcia Meara

THIS

As I posted last week, we had very poor Wi-Fi signal in our house, and we relocated the modem to fix the problem. It did. For a whole week, we had Wi-Fi in every room! And all it cost us was some labor.

THAT

Alas, on Friday morning, I started losing the internet connection. Things got worse and worse, and finally, my ancient pc just quit, and we lost Wi-Fi and all else, even though that should have stayed on. I was gone Saturday, but Sunday, we tried everything we could think of. The old pc would come on, but internet/ethernet/whatevernet was GONE. Period. As was the fan in the old computer. So we headed over to Best Buy to get a new one.

THE OTHER THING

The display of computers at Best Buy left me in shock! The were so SMALL, compared to the corpse of mine. When asked how old my dead PC was, I really wasn’t sure, but guessed it was over 5 years old. Maybe 6 or 7. Then later, I realized I wrote WRR on that computer and that was in 2013. My final calculation was that it was somewhere between 12 and 15 years old. No wonder I didn’t know what new ones looked like! But the upshot of it all is, we got the new computer, started setting it up, and in the process discovered the co-axial cable was kinked, which may have been why we lost the Wi-Fi, too. It came back on as soon as I sorted that out, and so far (knock wood, fingers crossed) we have a strong signal throughout the house.Ā 

And I have the new pc set up (IT’S FAST, FAST, FAST compared to my dinosaur), and running now. Easiest set up I ever did. Sadly, I’m no where near done reinstalling a lot of programs that I’d collected over the years. Some of them may not even be compatible with this computer. But I’ll replace them with whatever works. In the meantime, I’m online, I’m able to access my blog, email, Amazon, and all the biggies. And if the bridge don’t go, the creek don’t rise, and the Wi-Fi continues to function, I’m BACK!!

Whew. Just in time for Wednesday’s Ten Things post, too. But, I’m afraid I’m likely to be very busy over the next few days, getting as many of my favorite programs back as possible. In the meantime, you guys have a wonderful rest of the week ahead! (NOTE: I almost lost my mind not being able to access the WORLD online! Missed you all, and I’m so happy to be back. Hopefully it lasts!!)

51 thoughts on “#This&That&TheOtherThing -#ComputerWoes & #HappyDays”

    • Thanks, Harmony! I’m so glad to be back, you wouldn’t believe it! I hope I wake up to a blue light brightly shining from the modem tomorrow. The flashing red one was making me crazy! šŸ˜€ ā¤

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  2. You are amazing, dear Marcia. I probably would have been a nervous wreck, but you are bouncing with energy and excitement. So wonderful! Good luck with everything. šŸ¤—

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    • Oh, trust me, Gwen. You are glad you weren’t around me Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and half of today. I was as stressed out as I’ve been in years, and SO not a happy camper! Snarling, snapping, and bursting into tears now and then. ACK!!! The last few months were stressful enough, without losing my link to the world. But I’m breathing much easier now, and even daring to smile a bit. I SO hope this is the end of the computer problems! Thanks for your well wishes, too! GRATEFULLY accepted! šŸ˜€ ā¤

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    • So far, so good, John. I needed a new computer, for sure, and if the Wi-Fi continues to play nice, I’ll be doing a happy dance every morning. (Slowly, you understand, but still happy!) šŸ˜€

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    • I’m astonished at how much faster it is, Darlene! Guess they’ve made some improvements over the last 12/15 years or so. šŸ˜I’m loving it. (But keeping a wary eye on the wi-fi!) šŸ’–

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    • I love everything about it, Yvette. So far. As long as the wi-fi signal continues to work, I’m happy. It was the almost FOUR DAYS without being able to get online or write or SHOP that was driving me crazy! But now, it’s looking much brighter around here! šŸ˜€ ā¤ļø

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    • I’m zooming down the road, waving at everyone on the sidewalks, singing and laughing and enjoying life again! šŸ˜€ ā¤ļø Thanks, Michael!! šŸ˜€

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  8. I’m with Gwen! I’d have been a woeful heap. I’m really delighted that you’ve sorted out the Wi-Fi and the computer – the only way is up! šŸ˜€ ā¤

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    • Thanks, Trish! I’m so happy to be back and can’t believe how fast (and SMALL) this pc is. My biggest problem right now is I can’t get Microsoft Office installed, despite paying a LOT extra for the program. They gave me instructions how to do it, but so far, I’m floundering with that one. Still, I haven’t even had the pc 24 hours yet, so I’m trying to breathe deeply and tell myself I can do this. SO happy that everything on Google came back, but still having problems locating things. The set up is vastly different from my old pc, so it’s going to take me longer than I first thought to finish getting everything back. But I shall prevail! And best of all, my Wi-Fi is still working fine, so far! Fingers crossed, knock on wood! šŸ˜€ ā¤ļø

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      • I have every confidence that you’ll have your new pc knocked into shape very quickly and you’ll really appreciate the extras once you know about them. I’m still clinging on to Windows 10 because I’m scared of the update… šŸ˜€ ā¤

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        • I was too, Trish, but a forced update attempt to Windows 11 (while I slept in blissful ignorance) may have been one of the things to precipitate this mess. My poor old pc was lying on it’s deathbed, and something pushed it over, for sure. And there was a huge, somewhat scolding, alert stating that my computer could not handle Windows 11, and the upload was stalled. Just be aware, if you don’t keep telling them NO, they’ll try to sneak it in during your off hours.

          Really, mine was dying, anyway, so whatever the final nail in the coffin was, it just forced the issue. Wish I’d been better prepared for it all, though. Better get back to trying to find where everything is now. (I can’t say I’m impressed with the new taskbar system, but I guess I’ll figure it all out eventually.) And good luck with Windows 10! Hope it doesn’t disappear in the night. šŸ¤žšŸ˜‰

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    • Yes, large, heavy, and slow about describes it. But you know, if I had my choice, I’d have stuck with it, rather than go through this long process of getting everything back, and losing some programs forever. Still, this is what I have now, so I’m going to try to focus on the fact that it’s MUCH faster and works fine (so far) with my monitor, speakers, etc. I’ll eventually learn my way around it and replace the programs that aren’t compatible. Probably.

      In the meantime, long live your old dinosaur, at least until YOU are ready to move on. šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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    • Thanks, Priscilla, and ME too!! I’ll be somewhat scarce while I learn my way around this one, and get my programs back, etc, but at least I can communicate with you guys again, and use my email, etc. And the Wi-fi held overnight, and looks fine today. It’s also reaching throughout the house again. So if THAT continues to work, all will be well, I hope! šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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    • Thanks so much, Rae! I was a basket case for four days, and I’m so happy to be able to communicate again. I’ll slowly get everything else either BACK or REPLACED, but being “connected” is vital to me!
      ā¤ļøšŸ˜Š

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  12. I know what you mean! Iā€™ve spent all morning trying to work out social media stuff for authors. Not easy when youā€™re my age. šŸ™‚ Good luck with it all!

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    • Just found your comment, Judy. Sorry, but things are still pretty scrambled here. And I know what you mean about things getting less easy with age, believe me. (I’m 78!) But determination to master the things you want to do will get you through. Thanks for the wishes, and good luck to you, too! šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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    • You’ve got that right for sure, Jaye. (It IS Jaye, isn’t it? I think I recognize this new profile.) I have righted the cart, I think, but there are still a LOT of apples spilled all over my floor! šŸ˜Hopefully, by the end of the day, I’ll have made substantial progress in returning them to where they belong! Thanks for stopping by! šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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    • Exactly so, Craig. I’d spent nearly an hour online with Spectrum Friday and they were clueless as to why they couldn’t get it working either. So, that was a HUGE relief. I do find myself looking over at the shelf constantly to reassure myself the blue light is still shining brightly. I never want to see that blinking red one again!

      I’m still mind-boggled about the age of my old pc. I’d never realized just how ancient it was. It worked, and I was happy, and the years rolled by. But this one will end up being much better all the way around, if I can get the installation of Microsoft Office to work. And if I can figure out where to find all the programs as I add them back. See you in a couple of months! (I HOPE I’m kidding! šŸ˜‚)

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  15. When the internet doesn’t work, it’s like the world ends. Then to have your computer go on top of if–ugh! I feel for you.

    But, I’m also excited you got a jazzy new PC to replace the old one. It’s always a hassle moving programs and files over, but once the work is done, there’s nothing better than a zippity new computer. Come up for air when you can. I’d want to have my computer in order first, too! šŸ™‚ā¤ļø

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    • You are exactly right, Mae. The world disappeared from my life for four days of frustration and hair pulling. I have the basics back now, but I’ve lost so many things, or they’ve been moved to places I haven’t located yet. I haven’t left this computer chair more than twice all day, and I still don’t know what’s where and why. Some things I love about this machine, like the speed and power. I’m not at all sure I like the new system of organization at all. But it will be easier once I’ve actually found everything and reinstalled some things, I’m sure. This is really only Day 1 of that job. I prioritized my email, blog, banking, and the like, so I could at least reach those as needed. The rest will take a while. Heck, it took me over two hours this morning to get Microsoft Office uploaded. They had my old account from years ago, and somehow, when I tried to activate the one I paid for yesterday, it gave me two accounts and wouldn’t let me install either. I’m still not sure what I did to sort it out, but all of a sudden it worked, so I do have Word and Powerpoint, which are both absolute necessities for me.

      But another day or two, and it should start making more sense. I hope. Now I’m off to figure out why my printer won’t work. *sigh* Be back to blogging as soon as possible, and will be checking in tomorrow for John’s #TenThings post! šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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    • Thanks, Joan. I just hope I can learn my way around this thing. My son buys the computers for his whole company and says they get new ones every 3 years. That means I’m 4 or 5 computers behind, as far as developmental stages are concerned. (I figure I had the old one several years before I wrote WRR in 2013, so I’m guessing 12 to 15 years old.) Honestly, I wish I still had it. At least I knew where everything was! But I’m sure when I learn more about this one, and figure out which programs I can reinstall and which I have to replace, I’ll love it. It IS fast, for sure. But what a learning curve! šŸ˜‚

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  17. I’m glad your computer and WIFI problems are fixed and you now have a FAST new computer, Marcia. Enjoy! šŸ™‚ Wow, your old computer is 12 or 13 year old? I had a desktop and a laptop until 12 years ago. After the desktop had some problems, I only used the laptop. I would say I had at least 5 laptops or more in the last 12 years. I liked my xp but we had a friend worked on it and tried to upgrade it with an unlicensed software and messed it up.
    I used to like HP but I’m disappointed with 3 HP. What I have right now is my second Lenovo. I still have 2 HP laying around. They’re not dead but slower than a snail. So I just keep them around for emergency.

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    • Actually, I think 12 to 15 years old, Miriam. I had it long before I wrote WRR in 2013, which was 9 years ago. It was a Lenovo and held up just fine for a very long time. As we say down here, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and it wasn’t “broke.” Granted this new one is super fast and sleek and I know when I finally find everything, I’ll enjoy it, but I’m still floundering around right now. Wish me luck! šŸ˜

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  18. Sounds like we are doing the same thing. I didn’t realize how old my computer was either. It was freezing and reloading constantly. I was afraid one of those times it wouldn’t reload. Got mine new one set up and still uploading all rhe apps. You are right the towers are much smaller now, and cheaper.

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    • Good luck with yours, Denise. Mine is now running fine, as is my wi-fi, so far, but FINDING where things are these days, or how to set them up or personalize stuff is taking forever! Trying to prioritize by making sure the things I need most each day are working, though the printer issue is frustrating. Will give it some more tweaks later today. I really don’t want to have to buy a new printer, too. Gleep.

      But honestly, in today’s world, if the worst thing I have to worry about is getting my new computer organized and working perfectly, I’m a pretty lucky person! Oh, and I just talked to a friend who says if all else fells, Best Buy can help me sort it out remotely. I knew I could call them, but didn’t know they could actually look to see what’s wrong without me going in. That will be my Plan B. Finding it myself would be better, because if I’ve had to track it all down, I’ll know where to look next time. But the Geek Squad at our local store is wonderful, so I’ll call them if need be. Good luck with yours, and may we both have many years of smooth running reliability from them! šŸ˜Šā¤ļø

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  19. Congrats on your new machine Marsh. ARg, I hear you, I don’t enjoy getting new digital devices because it’s like Groundhog Day setting up yet another one, lol. Yay, let there be connection! ā¤

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