Problem for the Day

[french frank]

Firefox is my default browser and on my MacBook there seems to be a corrupted file where my master password is no longer recognised. I think I've found instructions on how to access a backup, but I'm not sure I'll succeed, or if that will work. Resetting the password will involve all my bookmarks and logins/saved passwords being erased … Since the bookmarks are synched, I assumed that will affect them on my desktop too. Don't know about the passwords., though as they are on the same FF account, I assume they will go. Maybe if I do nothing, I'll only have the inconvenience of the pop-up asking for the password and having to cancel each time. Into the Unknown.

I assume I could export the bookmarks to Safari?

[Padraig]

Disappointing that you did not seem to get any assistance, f f. I hope I am luckier.

My problem for the day is that I have been instructed to close down to allow a new version of microsoft 10 to be installed, as the old version is soon to be out of date. I am quite happy the way things are. My question is, Do I just do as I am told?

[french frank]

Disappointing that you did not seem to get any assistance, f f. I hope I am luckier.

My problem for the day is that I have been instructed to close down to allow a new version of microsoft 10 to be installed, as the old version is soon to be out of date. I am quite happy the way things are. My question is, Do I just do as I am told?

Well, I did sort that one out, Padraig. The HDD, however, is now confirmed as Finished (though I've looked out an old WD HDD which though not very big was enough to take a clone copy).

As for Windows 10 - the Windows cleaners will be ready to help you out, no doubt. On a Mac I declined to upgrade to Catalina and now Big Sur is imminent. Me, I'm staying put where I am, no matter what they tell me!

[Padraig]

Me, I'm staying put where I am, no matter what they tell me!

Exactly my inclination, f f, and I commend you for a fast and positive service on this technological helpline.

[Bryn]

Disappointing that you did not seem to get any assistance, f f. I hope I am luckier.

My problem for the day is that I have been instructed to close down to allow a new version of microsoft 10 to be installed, as the old version is soon to be out of date. I am quite happy the way things are. My question is, Do I just do as I am told?

By Microsoft 10, I take it you intended Windows 10. If so, what version are you currently running? Mine is "Feature Update" 2004, updated at the end of June. It is "up to date". Unless you have some fancy version of Windows 10, AFAIK, updates can only be delayed by up to 1 month. The latest "Quality Update" (KB 4566782) was earlier this month.

[french frank]

I commend you for a fast and positive service on this technological helpline.

Bryn's your man!

[Padraig]

By Microsoft 10, I take it you intended Windows 10. If so, what version are you currently running? Mine is "Feature Update" 2004, updated at the end of June. It is "up to date". Unless you have some fancy version of Windows 10, AFAIK, updates can only be delayed by up to 1 month. The latest "Quality Update" (KB 4566782) was earlier this month.

Thanks Bryn. Yes, I meant Windows 10. As far as I can see from your post, I am up to date, last update being 12.08.20.
So it's OK to close down and let them install a new version of Windows 10?
I dread the ramifications of such surgery, but then I've survived 2 Covid tests so what the heck!

[Cockney Sparrow]

I lost my (extensive) bookmarks in Firefox last year. I would suggest backing them up (possibly also export to a file if Firefox allows it) as it was a major pain.

[Bryn]

Thanks Bryn. Yes, I meant Windows 10. As far as I can see from your post, I am up to date, last update being 12.08.20.
So it's OK to close down and let them install a new version of Windows 10?
I dread the ramifications of such surgery, but then I've survived 2 Covid tests so what the heck!

It might be worth checking via Settings/Update & Security/Check for Updates first.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks Bryn. Yes, I meant Windows 10. As far as I can see from your post, I am up to date, last update being 12.08.20.
So it's OK to close down and let them install a new version of Windows 10?
I dread the ramifications of such surgery, but then I've survived 2 Covid tests so what the heck!

Famous last words...

[Bryn]

Famous last words...

Fair comment. I do have one, somewhat dated, small HP notebook that I eventually had to give up on Windows 10 on and upgrade to Linux. I only stick with Windows 10 on other machines due to the software packages, such as Sound Forge Pro, and various other Windows-specific music-related software I have installed on them.

[Serial_Apologist]

Fair comment. I do have one, somewhat dated, small HP notebook that I eventually had to give up on Windows 10 on and upgrade to Linux. I only stick with Windows 10 on other machines due to the software packages, such as Sound Forge Pro, and various other Windows-specific music-related software I have installed on them.

I am still waiting for an opportunity to get over to Orpington, where the chappie who's done all my computer installation and associated work gratis in return for a big favour I did for him a few years ago lives. He can't travel for all sorts of health reasons, but has promised to install Windows 10 for me, which will mean physically lugging the computer there by train - a taxi journey would be prohibitive. My Windows 7 went defunct a couple of months ago, which made Thunderbird unworkable at the same time, so he transferred me to Yahoo! as my provider, and that has now come up with a hitch, meaning I can't access any of my emails! My technician explains this as being down to still officially being with Windows 7: it's fortunate that the train service to Orpington still runs on the pre-Covid timetable! On top of all this, yesterday, the pharmacist who supplies me my 2 monthly prescription have only given me 28 days' worth on pain of my having to arrange a review. In the past the surgery has called me in, but no one there communicated with me back in April, as per usual, and knowing what pressure they must be under I chose not to bother them. Trying to contact the surgery now is like getting water out of a stone; I've just signed on for online communications, but the follow on message states that it can take up to 6 weeks for that to go through - this is just to make an appointment for a basic consultation with one of the team of 12 doctors whose names are different each year I've attended - just to arrange for tests, for which I have to go elsewhere. Now of course I'm fretting about running out of pills, given the timescales involved. I'm not a happy bunny, as may be imagined!

[Bryn]

I am still waiting for an opportunity to get over to Orpington, where the chappie who's done all my computer installation and associated work gratis in return for a big favour I did for him a few years ago lives. He can't travel for all sorts of health reasons, but has promised to install Windows 10 for me, which will mean physically lugging the computer there by train - a taxi journey would be prohibitive. My Windows 7 went defunct a couple of months ago, which made Thunderbird unworkable at the same time, so he transferred me to Yahoo! as my provider, and that has now come up with a hitch, meaning I can't access any of my emails! My technician explains this as being down to still officially being with Windows 7: it's fortunate that the train service to Orpington still runs on the pre-Covid timetable! On top of all this, yesterday, the pharmacist who supplies me my 2 monthly prescription have only given me 28 days' worth on pain of my having to arrange a review. In the past the surgery has called me in, but no one there communicated with me back in April, as per usual, and knowing what pressure they must be under I chose not to bother them. Trying to contact the surgery now is like getting water out of a stone; I've just signed on for online communications, but the follow on message states that it can take up to 6 weeks for that to go through - this is just to make an appointment for a basic consultation with one of the team of 12 doctors whose names are different each year I've attended - just to arrange for tests, for which I have to go elsewhere. Now of course I'm fretting about running out of pills, given the timescales involved. I'm not a happy bunny, as may be imagined!

Heh! Back in the late 1970s I lived towards the top end of Penge High Street and while on placement at the East Malling Research Station, would travel from Penge East via Orpington. Just to make things even more coincidental, earlier today I discovered that my GP practice had failed to carry out my medication review, due last December., so I phoned the surgery and will be telephoned next Friday for one of the doctors to carry out a belated review. The practice is listed as "Requires Improvement" by the CQC. The medics are decent enough but the admit is dire.

[Dave2002]

On a Mac I declined to upgrade to Catalina and now Big Sur is imminent. Me, I'm staying put where I am, no matter what they tell me!

I expect eventually you will have to "upgrade" to Catalina or one of the things which follow it, but for the moment I'd say stick at Mojave as the latest MacOS which might be usable. If you're still on High Sierra might be worth sticking there. Music software and drivers seem to have been particularly badly hit by the Catalina thing, and of course older versions of MS Office become useless.

Good luck with holding off the "upgrades", though I think you might have to allow these in a couple of years tims.

[french frank]

Good luck with holding off the "upgrades", though I think you might have to allow these in a couple of years tims.

I'm on Mojave, but I think most of my apps have now been upgraded to 64bit and I was contemplating moving up to Catalina when I started hearing about Big Sur. I will probably be replacing at least one of my machines soon, so that will take care of upgrades. It's printer software (and drivers) I'm more concerned about. A trip to Currys looms (Actually, I've bought at PC World and Currys without a problem - but always in-store).