Large Scale Central

Those bloody microsoft idiots have struck again

General Discussion
#70
Mike Morgan said:
Yes , Timmy , I understand , but why is it that so many people have the same problems ?
Mike... most people do not have the same issues. Those that do are typically also the ones that only put gas in the cars and never do any other maintenance. For the most part, computer users are responsible for what they do with their computers. There is enough news in all the media to warn and describe what is out there and what needs to be done to prevent problems. The major software companies are "not out to get you". The day of just plugging in a computer and it all just works are far from happening yet. But things are moving in that direction. One problem with this course is that in order to do that you would lose more and more control over your system. But, that is what the average user is screaming for and that is just what the major componaies are working to deliver.

Web storage is becoming more and more available and popular. Remember, that the administrators of that storage can access it. Whether they do or not…

Remember also that email is not private. The administrator of your email servers has complete acess to any and all of your email stored on the server, whether they access it or not…

When you have a computer connected to the internet it’s like an open pipe. If you do not have steps in place to protect yourself locally, that open pipe can and will work both ways. On the same note, even with the most locked down systems, if one is not prudent as to exactly what they are doing on the internet you will indeed open a can of worms.

Prudence is the key.

#71

Timmy , you have reinforced the point I was trying to make . We are at the mercy of the computer industry , whether or not we like it .
The car industry used to be the same until Mr Nader nailed them . I don’t happen to like Mr Nader , but he did some good .
Let me tell you something you may not be aware of , the following is true , I leave you to relate its implications to the computer industry .
I used to work in what is loosely termed "the white goods " industry .
They had a public face of testing to destruction the washing machines , cookers , you name it , they all went through the same . And woe betide the designer who did not build in self destruct . That is all I will say .
Think , don’t let the computer industry go the same way --or is it too late anyway ?
As for servicing my own car , when I buy a computer , I expect it to do what it says on the box AND what the salesman says , including free visits to my house when the damn thing never even booted up properly in the first place . At 2 weeks before the guarantee runs out , the computer is going back to the store , and I have a legal right to full refund of ALL monies involved . They are in for a fright .
Mike

#72

hmmmmmmmmm… my point must have been misunderstood then

#73

I think Timmy really has some good points here, and I’m not even tied to Micro$oft. I admit I’m in a computer-related field, but I rarely have computer problems. If I tried to install a new car stereo, I would probably have some problems. When I’m done, it probably wouldn’t work right. The same goes for software. You always have the choice to do some homework and learn to do it right, or take a chance, or pay a professional.

My opinion is that too many people eschew responsibility for changes they make to a computer. Microsoft enables retore points and recommends making a restore point before installing anything. Then if what you installed screws the computer up, you can roll it back. It can’t get much simpler than that. If you don’t follow recommended practices and you tend to blindly click “OK” at prompts, then the problem isn’t your computer.

Downloading and installing software is the user’s responsibility. If you don’t uncheck the right boxes on a lot of free software installs, you can end up with all kinds of crap (google toolbars, yahoo toolbars, etc). I wonder what some people would do if they went to the gas station and filled their gasoline tank with diesel. After all, if diesel fuel will ruin my engine, why isn’t the pump nozzle shaped differently so I can’t put it in my gas tank?

#74

PS… most all software manufactures also recommend backing up your data prior to any installations.

#75

Andrew ,
Have you never seen the message "Unable to restore to earlier point selected . Try another " ?
Have you ever bought a car without an instruction book ?. Sorry , I shall not be convinced as long as they ride roughshod over simple common courtesy . My computer provider–the sales group --will not answer my emails ,yet have a facility that allows you to report defects so that they can bring the right part–even a complete computer to the house to fix the problem . I have yet to see this service work , even after 7 attempts which convinced me it was me and not the computer . Timmy found it was the computer right away ,they have an on line connection to my box , why couldn’t they ? They gave me a guarantee that (dammit , I didn’t want to mention this ) because I was disabled , they would come to fix it . I have that in writing . It is a big company . Very . That is the problem , no personal contact .
So , no I do not like the cheating sods in the industry ,they are not all like it but if you are really confident , how do you really feel about the country’s defence relying on someone’s possible misunderstanding of a tactical requirement ?A software writer may not grasp the nuances of tactics . He may even be a mischief . We let computers control too much , and the more there are , the more people will find to put in them about us . It is happening already in the UK , with sad results ,like 1800 peole have been given criminal records by mistake , jobs lost , families broken up --hey , how’s about making misprogramming an offence ?
Mike

#76

Timmy , I supposedly have automatic backup .
Mike

#77

Mike

If you get the message that says, "Unable to restore to earlier point selected . Try another " … it means just that. Windows does not find a restore point for the date you selected and is telling you to find another (either prior or after). Make sense? It simply means there are no restore points for the date or time you selected. Windows will only allow you to restore to a restore point. Restore points are create automatically on a timed basis, they also are created automatically with the installation of some software, they can also be created manually by you telling Windows to create a restore point. This is what Andrew is referring to prior to installing any new software.

You also stated that, “I supposedly have automatic backup”. This doesn’t really cut the mustard. Either you do or you do not. However, if you think you do but do not know, then that is not going to do you a lot of good if and when you need to recover. Make sense? It is the user’s responsibility to know. Likewise if you do not know how or where the backup is you are never going to know how to initiate a recovery.

#78

Timmy .I have backup . It is automatic , When I ask to restore to a previous date , it tries and comes back saying no , and says try another highlighted point --each of which has a date and comment by it , like "ran Backup programme " or automatic update at a time so that you can restore to prior to update . It’s there , it sometimes works . But sometimes doesn’t .The backup is done on a daily basis . If the brakes on my car were like that it would be a bit sad , wouldn’t it ?
I was told , prior to you putting me a lot wiser , to use advice and recommendations from Microsoft and Yahoo . Now ,I realise that I ought to take a different look .All the advice from MS and Yahoo seems aimed at selling me a new programme . And , as for the selling of software discs which do not contain what is on the cover , what do you do about that ?
Mike

#79

Mike

Backup and Restore points are 2 different things. Windows XP allows for Restore points and to Restore the computer to a previous Restore point. Backup is for your data and typically is a 3rd party application (even though the OS does indeed come with a backup utility) One can also backup their whole computer but I don’t advise doing that. Only backup what you cannot restore (typically your data). But again, your “Backup” function and your “Windows Restore” feature are 2 different things.

When you say that you automatically backup, where are you backing up to? IF you are not backing up to a remote device or removable device there is not typically a lot of sense in backing up.

#80

I have a programme that does it for me to a remote site ,my son has the disc at the moment , but I think it’s Ghost Surf . Or maybe not , I will have to wait until he comes home again .
It’s my sleepy time , so thanks for talking , I’ll see you tomorrow .
MIke

#81

Mike

Again, as I stated, your Backup application is different than your Windows Restore. I highly suggest you do not attempt to restore from your Backup unless you are experiencing a total breakdown of the machine. Depending on exactly what you are backing up will more than likely leave your machine in an undesirable state if you attempt to restore unless you know exactly what it is going to restore. On the other hand, Windows Restore will preserve your data when restoring to a previous time/date stamp. If you are trying to remove the update to your email (which is how this whole new thread got started) Windows Restore is what you want to do.

#82

OK Timmy , that’s what I will try .
Thanks ,
Mike

#83
Mike Morgan said:
OK Timmy , that's what I will try . Thanks , Mike
Here's how you do it:
  • Click Start
  • Click Programs
  • Click Accessories
  • Click System Tools
  • Click System Restore

NOTE: This is where you can manually tell the computer to create a Restore Point prior to any new software installation.

  • Select Restore my computer to an earlier time
  • Click NEXT
  • Restore points will be highlighted in BOLD
  • When you select a date with the highlighted BOLD the right hand pane will tell you information about that particular Restore Point
  • Select the Restore Time/Date you desire
  • Click NEXT
  • The computer will run part of the restore and then automatically reboot the machine to complete.
#84

…Mike…

The solution is to send me your Email Address…and you will be introduced to the “Cycle of Fiends”…and other like minded “Preventers of Email frenzy”…

Fr.Fred

#85
Fred Mills said:
.....Mike.....

The solution is to send me your Email Address…and you will be introduced to the “Cycle of Fiends”…and other like minded “Preventers of Email frenzy”…

Fr.Fred


ummmmm… hmmmmmmmm…

Mike… how did the RESTORE go per the instructions?

#86

Timmy ,
I have printed your instructions , and will try it when I have to , I don’t wish to appear ungrateful , but don’t believe in fixing it if it ain’t broke .I still get my Google toolbar by selection , except occasionally when for some obscure reason I get Yahoo Canada . Most odd , but again , moused out quite easily .
Mike

#87
Mike Morgan said:
Timmy , I have printed your instructions , and will try it when I have to
Most certainly you should not perform a system Resotre unless you have to. That however, is how all of this new thread got started as you recall because you downloaded something you did not want.
#88

Yes , Timmy , quite so . I am heeding the advice you gave --quite rightly , I hasten to add --not to fiddle with things . You didn’t actually put it like that , you are far too polite to do that , but I got the message . And also appreciate the trouble you have gone to to try to help . I shall of course try it , I am sure your instructions are sound --dare I say foolproof ? I shall let you know .
Mike

#89

Timmy ,
I did a system restore , and it did the trick , as you predicted .
It also stopped an irritating feature whereby when I highlighted a "bookmark " , the system picked up the Yahoo address UNDER the displayed bookmarks --hence me getting Yahoo Canada for some odd reason . And a few other things as well .
Thanks , you did good .
Mike