Just have to make the time to do it

The 500gb HDD has arrived, and I have my windows 10 ready to install on it. Just have to find the time to do it. 

I get irked when people try to brow beat me into just upgrading the OS on my Windows 7 desktop. Everything works. Why the hell would I want to overwrite it?

But, with the advent of many software makers making things for Windows 8 on up (yes, there are still some that make software compatible for Windows 7) I have to so something. But I want to keep working with software that is no longer sold or supported, and the same thing with some 'legacy' hardware. I still use Windows Media Center for watching and recording free to air TV (wish I had the older version that would also stream Netflix, but alas)  

Enter the Dual Boot system. 

I guess I'll have to set up my laptop to do things while the installation is going.

Playing around with On1 and Alienskin with CS5

I know quite a few people who still use CS5, don't want to rent CC, and didn't get CS6 because they didn't need it, and they feel left out because too many software makers aren't including it in their new plugins and tools.

Because I actually still have CS5 (and CS6, which is still being supported) I test and experiment to find ways to make things works.

I posted before on how to use On1PhotoRaw 2018 as your default RAW editor.  It slams Adobe Camera Raw to the sidelines when it comes to what it can do.  But you do have to go through a few hoops to get it to work with CS5 as a plugin, but there is a way.

But moving on to Alienskin.  I had been using OnOne Focal Point 2, but with the installation of On1PhotoRaw plugins, it doesn't work. You get a JAVASCRIPT error. 

 

If you remove the photoraw plugins, it will go back to working. That is rather fiddly to have to do. 

Enter Alienskin Bokeh.  I installed it to CS5 years ago, and have kept it updated. It's one of the few Adobe compatible plugins you can SELECT what host program you want to install it to.  It works just as well as OnOne Focal Point 2. I really liked Focal Point, but seeing that AlienSkin can pick up where FP left off, means I still have that tool as part of CS5.

I declare Monday "The Menagerie Day"

With the help of Alan, the cats' food and water dishes have been scrubbed and refilled. Their sandboxes cleaned and refilled.

I went outside, took down, scrubbed and refilled the hummingbird feeders.  I had a chorus of Wattlebirds, and at least two varieties of honey-eaters while I worked.  When I was finished I counted 5 adult (young and resident) Red Wattlebirds, and I heard the unmistakable sound coming from the Jacaranda tree of a young fledgling Red Wattlebird begging to be fed.

Windows 10 or not to Windows 10...

Simplest answer.. yes and no.

My Windows 7 box works great. As long as I don't install those "Quality Rollups". I do keep on top malicious software/malware definitions, but I'm fed up with Microsoft disabling what they deem is outdated software.  I also have 'legacy' hardware that Windows 10 will not even recognize, and there are no drivers for said hardware/devices.

But many things will not function unless I'm running Windows 10.

So, my solution is this: I'm getting a 500gb hdd, and I will install Windows 10 on it, and create a dual boot system.

I'm quite sure some of my programs will be migrated, or duplicated on the Win10 drive, but I will treat it like a really buff "Virtual Machine".

Back to the sort of beginning?

It's no secret that I have been recovering from a total knee replacement (chromium cobalt, no less!) had a few setbacks during rehab (my fault for overdoing it) and one helluva set back when an L Plater t-boned us on the passenger side of the car (three guesses which side I was sitting on) No injuries needing hospitalizing, but did have MRI on head and neck, and xray of left knee.  No fractures..yay.  Bruised and sore, boo hiss. Mild concussion means on and off headaches.

I would say today I am almost back to where I was prior to the car accident. Left knee is still sore, but manageable with just panadol and ibuprofen combined. Right knee, the chromium knee, is back to just feeling 'thick and heavy' (I've been told this is normal)

The forced inactivity has been a bit wearing. The not sleeping is really a downer. Being tired all the time.. not fun. (Here it is, 10am and I'm already yawning.)

My stationary bike and I are getting reacquainted since the car accident. Have to take it slowly, 10 mins, and work that to twice a day, then three times a day again.

I see Dr N for the compartment syndrome testing next Monday. Not looking forward to that, though.

The art of the polite complaint

I have been ordering from one certain online store on a regular basis for several years.  And typically, within two business days after I've submitted and paid for said order, they would send out "FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100".   Seeing as every order I have submitted has been over $100, this timing got very annoying... and I told them so, politely.

I got a response.. and a $15 gift certificate for my next purchase, good for one year.