Computer Issues

[David Nicholson]

………………..and so to Windows 10!

I’ve spent most of the last couple of weeks glued to an array of computers and am fast approaching the stage where I’ve managed it. (It) being the move to Windows 10.

I didn’t take up any of the previous Microsoft offers to take the free version of Windows 10 because I always felt if MSoft was giving me something free then there must be a catch in it----- it’s the kind of perverse thought that runs in my mind. But, given that Windows 7 will not be updated or refreshed after early January 2020, and my trusty desktop is perhaps reaching the end of it’s life I thought I needed to take the plunge.
I did look at new desktops but given my aim to try to manage the move from 7 to 10 myself I plumped for a new laptop to make it easier to run two computers at the same time.

I’m far from being a “geek” in computer and from the start I resolved to proceed both slowly and carefully. Not carefully enough it seemed! I have never been very disciplined as far as regular backups are concerned and my first problem was dealing with the loss of many of my files for 2019 related stuff (ie my 2019 flower pictures and flower data bases) Yes, I know, I should have done a full backup before I started and my last one had been sometime in 2018. I spent nearly a week trying, using  all sorts of free software to recover what I was firmly convinced was in my recycling bin but had been lost in the ether. I was able to recover some of it but significantly less than I liked. You can’t win ‘em all?
I do have though a 3Tb external hard drive which held my last full backup as well as copies of family photographs. I did find this much easier to use in moving programmes and apps and what have you from the desktop to the new laptop than MSoft’s ‘One Drive’….additionally my external hard disc never once tried to flog me Cloud space!

Much of what I have is now working on the new laptop and the old desktop is strangely quiet with only a copy of my favourite browser, Opera and a copy of Internet Explorer just in case disaster strikes; my version of MSoft Office I haven’t tried to transfer yet although the fact that the Windows 10 Office package is now only on a purchase only basis probably mitigates against my being successful. I have downloaded though a free package called Libre Office to evaluate over the coming weeks.

So, do I like Windows 10? If truth be told it’s a bit like the curate’s egg, some of it I like very much others I hate and Edge falls into the last category. No matter, I shall continue to use Opera. What I do hate is MSoft’s attempts to flog their goods and services at each and every opportunity and this leads to spend as much time as I can preventing them.

Perhaps the thing that pleased my most in the whole operation is that I managed to transfer all the settings, address books and my emailing file system from Thunderbird without losing anything. Although Thunderbird is a stonkingly good email handler it is the Devil’s own job to find out and understand how it works behind the scenes and this has taken a lot of time to work out. So, if anyone currently using Thunderbird and is contemplating migrating to computers new I’m the chap who could help.
There is still much to do. I need to re-set up my printer, I’ve had it for around three years and hope this will be successful. I’m very much missing my 23” monitor (the laptop is only 15”) and is not top of the pops graphically so I must try to work out to re-use it. 

[Graeme]

David

Ditch Edge and get Firefox

Also for MS office there are a number of sellers on Ebay offering keys - I think I paid £4.99 for my last install - you just put the key into your microsoft account and download a link

Good luck with Windows 10 it annoys the hell out of me but I will have to 'upgrade' my last remaining laptop with it on in January and then they are all Windows 10 - although I do still have a very old HP with XP that just gets used with the nursery label printer - I pulled the wifi card out of it a while ago so it does not have chance to get on the internet   

[ian mcdonald]

Someone has just asked me how to reduce the file size when sending photos. by email. Under windows vista if you right clicked on the image on screen there was the option to reduce the file size then attach the image to an email. I,ve just tried this on windows 10 and it has told me I need to create a microsoft outlook profile. More complications.

[Alan_b]

Someone has just asked me how to reduce the file size when sending photos. by email. Under windows vista if you right clicked on the image on screen there was the option to reduce the file size then attach the image to an email. I,ve just tried this on windows 10 and it has told me I need to create a microsoft outlook profile. More complications.

I think the problem is that Windows 10 does not know for sure what program you wish to use to send the email.  It sees that you have a copy of Outlook installed and assumes that because this is big powerful email program made by Microsoft then that is the email program you wish to use.  But you have not been using Outlook hitherto so you are being prompted to get down to it - and the first stage of that would be to create a profile.     

[pfirsich48]

May want to consider going over to Linux, I have been using various iterations and now enjoy Mint which works out of the box.  Only have to know your name and where you live to install and works quite well on older computers. Some consider Bill Gates a criminal as he essentially stole DDOS to start his empire-don't be sidetracked by his tossing a dusty nickel from his pocket to trick you

[David Nicholson]

For years I've found it very easy to deal with my photographs on my old desktop. Downloaded from my camera to the desktop; picked up by Irfanview, re-sized and touched up if necessary, and sent to whatever of my picture files before posting on the Forum. 

Not so easy now with Windows 10 and the abomination that is Windows Photos..... which I truly hate. Now, I'm no computer wizz-kid but today it took me all of 2 hours to download three pictures from my camera and reach the point of re-sizing them with Irfanview and posting them to the Forum.

Windows seems to have decided how I shall file my pictures; how I shall re-size them and all without taking into account what I want to do...and I'm very cross!

I wonder if anyone has found a way to take the Windows Photo software off the computer because I don't want it and I don't need it?

[Hannelore]

When you click with the right mouse button on the photo-file you get a pull-down menu and there you can choose "open with" when you click on it you can choose Irfanview. In the settings of Irfan view you can say which file extensions shall be caught by Irfan view automatically. Then windows photo is out.

BW Hannelore

[Hannelore]

My husband, who knows Windows 10 better than me, has the general solution:

How to change default programs in Windows 10

On the Start menu, select Settings > Apps > Default Apps

Choose on the left the option: Default Aps.

Now Scroll down and click: Choose default apps by type.
A big list of file types is loaded and behind each type the default program to handle it.
If you want to change, for instance the program to open a .jpg or .jpeg file, scroll down that list of file types until you see that file type. Right of .jpeg or .jpg you'll see the default program for it. Click on that and you get a list of apps (programs) to handle that file type. Click in that list on the program of your choice.
Then you have changed the default app (program for that file type.

[David Nicholson]

Many thanks for responding Hannelor. Before I had looked at your post I had found the Default Apps option and had changed it to Irfanview but I haven't had time to see if it now working as I wanted it to, I shall do this later though.

[David Nicholson]

Tons better now, just what I wanted

[David Nicholson]

Having now got rid of Windows Photos I am able to use Irfanview as I always have done but I have never been able to crop pictures with it. I have previously used Picasa to crop because it was so easy to use with no technical skill necessary but it was not possible to transport that software to my new laptop.

Can anyone recommend a piece of free software please, all I need is something just to do easy cropping.

[Neil J]

Hi David,
Have a look at GIMP. It's free, downloadable, does all manner of things usually done by very expensive software, and has lots of online help.
I've used it for a decade now and have no complaints. I'm no expert, but I think it is at least the equal of the big names.
Regards,

[brianw]

I have always used Arcsoft PhotoStudio for most of my basic editing. It was v. 5 when I downloaded it but I see is now 6.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for responding Neil but I'm a simple soul and GIMP was far too complicated for me I'm afraid.

Thanks too Brian, but it looked as though Arcsoft PhotoStudio was a free trial but then you had to pay to get the software.

Now sorted I think with a full free version of PhotoPad Image Editor. Looks very simple to use and not a lot of bells and whistles.

[Paul Cumbleton]

I have a (trivial but irritating) problem viewing emojis on the forum. Instead of the actual emoji, I see a placeholder - see examples in the photo screenshot below. I use the new Edge as my browser. I haven't found a solution to this by searching on the Internet, so has anyone any ideas why this is happening?
Thanks

Paul