Wow, I remember when having a 10mb hdd was a lot of room.

Today, I got my fully functioning Windows 1903 (build 18362.239) that was on a small 500gb drive, onto a 2tb drive.  All is working. The only issue I had was RoboForm AI whining about it not being activated.  Seeing as Windows 10 is the only place I have this version of Robo AI on it, I just reactivated it, disregarding the "this will deactivate from the other machine!"

Cloning your HDD to a larger HDD or even to an SSD shouldn't be so fekking fiddly. But it was. After two days of trial and error (making sure to NOT do anything that would endanger the 500gb drive) it's done! 

Wow, I remember when having a 10mb hdd was a lot of room. 

A variation of the 'bait and switch'

There are people out there doing something called 'bitcoin mining'. They have found some sort of way to use specific graphics cards to make this easier.

Because of them, just about all computer stores that have these cards have deliberately jacked up the prices of what the have in stock to increase their profits.  I'm not saying higher prices on new stock because the manufacturers/suppliers are pushing up their prices, but on already in house stock.

I had one company try that bullshit with me.

The card was, with shipping and 3% PayPal surchage, $311.  They had 5 in stock. Order one, and when I checked back, their counter said 4 in stock, meaning I had successfully purchased one.

I get email this morning from the store. "Unfortunately, the cards you are after are not currently in stock and there is a major shortage Aust wide as everyone is after these cards for bit coin mining. We expect a shipment in this morning"

Anyone surprised that they're charging $90 more? 

I have said it before, and I will say it again... next time you try to screw me, kiss me first.

Found the same card on ebay for $30 less than what they were charging, NO paypal surcharge, AND free shipping

Finally! Only took two tries.

I finally got a straight answer from MicroSoft in regards to getting my poor Vaio back to abby-normal Windows 8.1 after the disaster that was Win10 update.  All I needed was a new Windows 8 license key, because the Windows 10 disaster invalidated my current one, even with the roll back. After almost frying my computer, JM had the audacity to tell me that a new License key would be $40... Excuse me?

So, I  gave them my ASSURE info, then let my son Alan tell them the problem.So, Alan took over the keyboard and told them that the Win10 almost bricked my computer, took 3 hours to login to be able to roll it back, but I am still having persistent problems, and need a new OEM key to do a Repair Install (aka fixes specific issues without doing a factory reset) and that it was update to Win8 on the Vail was a digital download. 

Ta Da! New OEM key provided, and dling Windows 8.1 Pro with Windows Media Center! (not so much I need Media Center itself, but I need specific DLLs that allows other programs to work.

That's a relief

It's a small expense, but beats what it could have been.  Turns out the desktops'  power supply is the issue.  Alan checked it out, tested it, and the power supply on my desktop is kaput!   The good news is, is that that is the simplest easiest fix in regards to the inside of a computer.

And, as much as the issues with the Vaio irk me, I am so glad I have it. 

It finally arrived

The Orico USB 3 3.5” sata drive enclosure arrived today.  Unplugged the MediaSonic enclosure, dismantled it, and removed the hdd from it.  Put it in the Orico, sealed it up, plugged everything in.

Computer discovered it, loaded new drivers for the new enclosure.  Drive was momentarily visible in Explorer…. then it disappeared.

I saw it in Device Manager, in HDD Sentinel, and even crappy SeaGate Tools could see and test it, but it was missing from Disk Management and Windows Explorer.

So, I went down the check list:  removed it from device manager, and 'scan for changes'. Still not visible.  Swapped ports.. still no joy.

*sigh*  Rebooted, checked BIOS.. all good. Continued to login, and TADA!

Will be sending the MediaSonic (marketed as Hotway Rock HDL-SU3B 3.5in USB3.0 External Enclosure in Australia) to the programmer of HDD Sentinel. Maybe he can figure out how to get it to report HDD data (errors, write failures etc etc) before a catastrophic failure happens so others can use them.

EUREKA! (not the TV series, although it was quite good)

Ever since I got the new motherboard and CPU installed, got the computer back up and running, I have been hammering away at little things.

Soundblaster Wireless headset not working - Alan and I kept working on it, no joy. So I bought a new wired headset, but before tossing the SB one into the computer recycle bin, I decided to test it on Wing 's computer. It worked. Brought it back to my desktop. Uninstalled everything again. Rebooted again. Reinstalled everything again. Pressed the sync buttons and in less than 5 seconds it connected.

Bluetooth - for some odd reason, Windows 7 lost, for want of better word, the system tray and Control Panel icon for Bluetooth. I could install some antiquated software that would allow me to upload via Bluetooth, but I couldn't SEND anything.  I got into a Microsoft Assure chat, and after checking everything, he said I had done everything to troubleshoot, and suggested I contact motherboard manufacturer.  Well, I did, I sent an email, but I have never been one to sit on my hands. 

I looked around, and found a 'generic bluetooth driver'.  I plugged in the Bluetooth Dongle, let device manager run. Then updated the driver by selecting "Microsoft Generic Bluetooth Driver" from the list.  Well, I still don't have an icon in my Control Panel, but I do have it on my system tray. Also, I can send and receive now via bluetooth.

Mislabled Monitors - Windows Color Management has my monitors mislabeled (#1 is the primary, #2 is Secondary, but WCM has them backward.) but Windows "Screen Resolution" has them properly labeled.  I had a list of things to try, but none of them worked. Can't swap cables, as one is HDMI and the other is DVI.  I did all that was listed on each and every MS help and official sites. No joy there, as most of them kept pointing me back to the same useless pages.

So, I kept working on it.  I checked Nvidia control panel. All good.  Display Fusion Control panel. Also all good. Actual Windows Manager, multiple monitor settings... WTF?  I never selected that setting. Let's see what happens when I deselect it. Colors go wonky, icons shifted to other monitor, but now the monitors are properly labeled!  Moved icons over, saved their position, reloaded color management profile for the monitor and now Primary is #1 and Secondary is #2.

Nerdz Rool!

After a bit of chitchat with a Microsoft tech

And reading a bit more, I figured I would play around some more to get the old bluetooth dongle to work.  I followed on help site, but Windows kept trying to install many "Bluetooth Peripheral Devices".. over and over.

So, instead of trying to find hardware specific driver, I found a 'generic' Bluetooth driver. I shrugged and figured what the hell.

I unplugged the bluetooth device,  uninstalled the WIDCOM and Broadcom drivers. Rebooted.  Plugged the device back in. Picked Generic Bluetooth Adapter, and voila, both it and the Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator loaded without a hitch. Paired my phone with it, and was able to send and receive.

Nerdz Rool!

As I know that during Beta Testing, little things matter

I have been testing the beta version of the Pulse camera remote. And with the exception of a few things, I haven't found anything not to like.

Started off rocky, as mine arrived a bit earlier than expected, and the web page for it with instructions and links to the phone app wasn't set up. A few traded messages and that was rectified.

The device:  Small, compact, easily set up on the camera (I'm currently testing on a Canon 5D3).  My one issue is the cord is a bit short and tight. Yes, it's wound like a spring, and if I pull it a few times, it does stretch, but before I did that the rubber port covers on the camera and the tension of the cord was pulling the plug from the remote socket.  As I typed, some stretching of the cord helps.

The App: Once you get the Pulse on your camera, power up the camera then the pulse.  Paired up with phone via bluetooth without incident.  App found my camera set up without issue.  My one complaint about the app, is that the "Back" button on the phone, instead of going to previous screen, it exits the application.  So, if you are in settings, press back after you've adjusted something, it exits the program, rather than return to the previous screen.

As I typed, in beta testing, little things matter.

Side effect of desktop being offline

Every security program is really bitching about scans/checks/virus definitions being outdated and long overdue. 

So, between updating those programs, and uninstalling/reinstalling drivers, I have been kept busy (thereby out of trouble.. mostly.)

After a good night's sleep

And some more reading, I was able to get the Replacement Replacement Seagate External drive to be visible and accessible.

The biggest problem with all versions of Windows from 95 on up to 10, is the error codes or lack thereof can have multiple causes, or none. 

The fun part is trying to figure out which is it and rectifying it.

Oh, my desktop computer,

How I have missed you! Let's try not to have another meltdown, ok? 

Had a bit of a panic when I got  NTLDR is missing when I first booted up.  Then I remembered, just go into the BIOS and change the boot order.  Yay! No more NTLDR... but then I got UEIF error in regards to the OS.  Ok, reboot, back into the BIOS, go into the advanced settings, change the Security to OTHER OS.  That problem solved.

Booted into Windows.  Well, once again, one program says my left monitor is #1 Primary, but another says the OTHER one is.  I can live with that. 

Connected the two powered USB hubs. A USB3 and a USB2.  Then I added one device at a time. Once the drivers were installed for it, connect another.  Rinse, and repeat as necessary.  The only thing I can't get connected is the replacement replacement Seagate drive. The USB3 Sata Bridge on it just won't play nice. Fine. Alan can have it.

After two months down there was gbs worth of updates.  Yikes. 

Alan knows what I'm like when I start working on computers. I don't eat. I drink coffee, and water and just keep working until things are done.  He all but sat me down with a lunch in front of me. 

Computer Scare, March 21, 2016

Did the Windows update, and all went well. Upon login I get message for HardDisk Sentinel that an external HD, that has been functioning at 100% health, no problems is suddenly at 9% health, get my ass in gear, get a new drive, move data before it's lost!

Just a moment: ran Windows Diag on the drive. Comes back as fine.  Ran Seagate "SeaTools Diagnostics", came back as fine.  Did the point and click, launch, load on files on the drive. All good, all good.  Check cable connections, everything as it should be.

But I can't get HD Sentinel to reassess the drive.

Onto the computer scare.  Updated NetFramework.  Restarted.

Instead of normal start, I get this:

The system found unauthorized changes on the firmware,operating system or UEFI drivers

Go to BIOS Setup > Advanced > Boot and change the current boot device into other secured boot device.

What der furk?  Go into bios, to make sure the boot drive was there, readable etc etc. It was.  Restarted, got same above message.

*breathe, Sandra, breathe!*  Get out laptop, search the above error. Dive back into BIOS, go through the menu, and disable secure boot device.  Restart.. TA DA!  Why this was suddenly an issue, I have NO idea, but problem solved.

Oh, the HD is still saying the other drive is on the verge of dying, but two other diags say otherwise. Me, I am going to use a JB HiFi gift card and go get a new drive. I am NOT going to chance losing all the data again.

Yes and no

IINET said it was my network adapter, I said it was the router.  Well, we are both right.

We got a new router from IINET, as our old one packed it in.  Now, I never had a problem connecting to it, or maintaining internet connection with the old one.

This new one, however, is a different story. If I log in, I have internet immediately.  If I start another program that accesses the internet, I will lose internet connection until I start troubleshooter, or just reset my adapter (quicker than going through troubleshooter which ends up doing that).

I had Windows check for driver update for network adapter, and according to Windows no new driver, mine was latest and greatest. Ever the doubter, I went in search of exact make and model of network adapter, and imagine my (non)surprise when I saw there was a new one.  Downloaded, installed reboot, and still the problem persists.

Did a bit more research, and it turns out that some older network adapters (mine, it seems) aren't loved by new routers. 

Solution isn't new network adapter driver (been there, done that, rebooted to prove it, and I have an All in one desktop) but possibly using a newer USB external wireless adapter.  But until I get one, I will do the disabling/re-enabling network adapter whenever I start a new program that access the internet. Oh joy. :p

Not only no, but hell no

I read an article from a computer magazine.  It says that cloud storage is the death knell for local hard drive storage units.

Uhh, no.  Cloud storage has shown not only is it vulnerable to to catastrophic data loss, but it has also show itself to be hackable. Case in point, cloud storage theft of intimate celebrity photos.  Then there's the Adobe hack and crack where via the cloud they cleaned out people's bank accounts.

This doesn't inspire confidence, does it?  I have 7 yrs worth of photography on one hd hooked up to the computer. And I have two other external drives, which are back ups to the main photo storage drive.  I've not lost data, nor have I had it stolen in all the years I've been doing this.

Cloud storage? Not a chance.

Wow, that was fast!

The faulty 3tb Seagate drive arrived at Seagate repair yesterday. I have the email notification that it arrived and was signed for.
I just got an email from Seagate. My replacement drive is on its way back already. :) 
Now, I haven't gone all hausfrau, but my steam mop (with accessories) arrived.  It works great. That being said, I had to email them because:
1: The measuring cup was cracked in two places.
2: two of the 6 pads don't fit (yes, tried one, it kept slipping off, tried another, it kept slipping off. Tried the remaining ones, no problem.)
3: there was water already in the tank, and unless I find something or am told they're tested for leaks before shipping, this was supposed to be NEW.
Let's see how long it takes for them to get back to me on this.

After testing with both Hard Disk Sentinel and Seagate Tools

The 3TB drive is well and truly kaputnik.  It failed the same way with both diagnostic tools. 














I have filled out all the requisite information, printed out a shipping label, packed the drive and power supply into the original packaging. All that is left to do is put it in a Aus Post shipping bag, and send it back to be replaced.  Turns out it's under warranty until Oct 2015.