If there are gods of irony or karma up there, they’re probably looking down at me right now and having a real laugh at my expense. I have no one to blame but myself.
Several nights ago I received my umpteenth warning from Windows that it could not perform security updates, as my Windows 7 operating system was out of date. I told myself that 2024 was definitely going to be the year I bought a new laptop.
I bought my current laptop in February 2012, a Toshiba Satellite L750 with a custom trim in gloss chocolate. (It came with a 500gb hard drive and 4gb RAM if you want to get technical about it.)
For the last 12 years, it’s served me very well.
As December marks my 18th year of blogging, I thought I’d write a blog singing the praises of my Toshiba and how I hope it gets me through the next couple years, at least. I did what I always do—I wrote my blog on my desktop using a 2009 blog-editor. I added photos to it using a 2009 photo-editor.
I moved it to the internet (to my online Drafts folder), then waited until the next morning to post it on my blog. I always wait and publish new blogs in the mornings.
Anyway—this past Thursday morning, I turned on my laptop, it revved up like it always does, then sputtered out. I checked my charger, tried it again—my laptop sprang to life for 3-4 minutes, then out it went again. I spent the day trying to get it working, but it’s pretty much kaput.
Panic set in as my whole digital life was on that machine. It’s where I manage my investments, track my retirement spending, read & send emails, and write my blog.
I have other ways to get to the internet, like my Samsung Galaxy tablet—it allows me to read ebooks, watch movies & Youtube videos, go online and read others blogs—but I cannot create blogs on it. I can’t edit photos or compose blog-drafts on it.
In fact, the only reason you’re seeing this right now is because the “love story” I wrote was moved online before my laptop croaked. I’m using my tablet to change what this said.
So I suppose what I’m saying now is, I may be off the grid for awhile. I need to buy a new laptop, and learn Windows 11. I have no idea what I’m going to use to edit photos or write blog drafts with, as I’m pretty sure those 2009 editors on my Toshiba are not compatible with today’s operating systems.
Here’s what I ordered from Amazon this morning, set to arrive next week. Wish me luck, and I hope I get to talk to everyone again real soon.
Oh, Doug. That's terrible to read. Wishing you luck and hoping you learn to use and love the new one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shawn--see? I should've planned ahead like you did with yours.
DeleteOh, so sorry to hear this Doug! Technology; we love it when everything goes right, but when things go south, it's a PIA. Good luck with your new laptop.
ReplyDeleteCarole
Carole you're very kind, like always. Thank you. 😊
DeleteNothing lasts forever, Doug. And I've found that most changes/upgrades work out for the better. With your tech savvy, you'll be back up and galloping along in no time! Gotta say though, your computer screen was way-y-y-y better organized and neater than mine which has a 'hoarder house' vibe about it.
ReplyDeleteFlorence, thank you so much, I sure hope so. I gotta tell you though, when I saw your recent (wonderful) blog, I thought "I can't compete with this!" so this is only fitting, haha. I hope I'm back by your next blog. 🙂
DeleteI tend to delay changing to the next piece of technology, too, Doug. But not as long as you :) It is usually my 39 year old software engineer son who "keeps track" of my technology stuff and prods me to the next thing. He's an Apple person and therefore so am I. I used Windows in the early days at work and it seemed fine but I have to admit I think Apple is really good. You'll be humming along again soon--and likely will say that you're glad that your old one died. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Don. That's what I need, you know--a 39 year old software engineer of my own, haha. Seriously, good for you Don and I appreciate your input here, as always. I hope I'm back soon.
DeleteAsk around your senior center for technology help. They may have someone who volunteers to help older users keep up with technology.
DeleteThanks dkzody, I'm not embarrassed to admit I already did that! We have a young woman named Angie who comes in weekly. I told her I needed help learning the new Windows.
DeleteCan't you go to the store and buy it? That way you can take it home the same day. It's going to be hard to not blog for that length of time. Happy trails. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gi-gi...take your old one over to Best Buy and let them walk you through a new computer and how to move all of your files (that can be moved) to the new computer. I am an Apple user so I use the Apple Store like that. They take good care of me. Best Buy has also taken good care of us during the pandemic. My husband just bought a new HP directly from HP and it arrived yesterday. He will be spending a few days setting it up and migrating his old files.
DeleteGigi, dkzody I wish I could--but I'm unable to get to a place like Best Buy on my own, and I was anxious to get a new laptop asap. As for moving files and such over, I don't see how that's possible as the old computer cannot be turned on. Luckily I have most of my stuff "in the cloud".
DeleteIf you are backed up to the cloud, then it will be super easy. All my files are backed up to the cloud and whether it's a new Mac or new iPhone, it all seamlessly comes together.
DeleteTo be honest, I'm only about 50% backed up to the cloud. But in the last year or so I've saved a lot of stuff on a couple of flash drives that I need to look at once I get the new computer. I was not prepared for this!
DeleteSo sorry to hear that, Dug. Got me wondering how old our laptop is. It's a Dell and so far, any problems that have come up, the Geek squad at Best Buy have fixed online without us having to take it in. Good luck with your new one! We use Apple iPhones, but have always had Dell laptops.
ReplyDelete... just checked laptop receipt... bought in 2016. Is 7 years old 'old'? oh, and have been meaning to tell you that we've been watching the new 'Frasier' and it's OK. Thought Niles son was a bit overdone, but seems better lately.
DeleteThanks Rian, I used to own a Dell waaay back (around 1999) and loved it. And 2016 sounds pretty new to me :^) On the subject of tv, do you happen to have HBO Max? Their show Julia (about Julia Child in the 1960s) is absolutely wonderful and has 2 Frasier characters in the mix. David Hyde Peirce (as Julia's hubby) and Bebe Neuwirth as Julia's best friend. It's a terrific series. :^)
DeleteDug, it's Dec 15th... where are you? Have you got your new computer yet? We miss hearing from you. As for the show "Julia" I think we saw it a long time ago and it was wonderful. Unfortunately we don't have HBO Max.
DeleteRian, I'm very sorry it took me a week to see this! I did get my new laptop but was battling some health issues and didn't get to 'play' with it yet. Thank you for this lovely message, and I hope you get to see Julia again someday, I am dearly in love with that show. :^)
DeleteGood luck with the new laptop Doug. I think you'll find that Windows 11 has more a look and feel of a tablet (or that's what I'm told, as I don't have such a thing). I remember the first time someone told me that Windows 10 used apps...I about freaked until I was told - it's just another name for software. Well, sorta. Change is hard.
ReplyDeleteThank you Maebeme... well, I was already looking (on my tablet) how to make Windows 11 look & behave more like Windows 7. Why do they have to make everything so complicated? Progress smogress. (Sorry, you're right--change is hard.)
DeleteLosing a laptop is a kind of death indeed; it brings home to us the bond we have with our computers and how much of our lives they hold in their electronic "hands." I hope you adjust quickly to the new laptop but from experience I know that it's going to be a learning curve and a PITA. I have to be honest that every time I upgrade I want to get rid of technology completely. Then I buckle down and do what I have to do. Just like you will, Doug! I'm still working with Win10 even though my laptop is urging me to go to Win11. My favorite OS? WinXP by far.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret! I appreciate what you said here, glad I got to hear with someone from Windows 10, at least. (Oh and for the record I loved Windows XP too, haha.) As for those bonds we have with our contraptions... yes, so on point. I feel funny not being on mine today.
DeleteI LOVED XP!! Best ever.
DeleteI am an Apple user, and I bought my latest laptop last June. I had a five-year-old one and wanted some faster bells and whistles. I've been very happy with it and just last week upgraded by 2018 iPad to a new one. I hope you are as fortunate as I have been with everything migrating perfectly. I look forward to seeing your next post... sometime.
ReplyDeleteThanks DJan, I just wish I had that same migration opportunity but I waited too long to transition, my fault 100%. At the very least I have a lot of my digital files online in the MSN cloud. When I upgraded my tablet this summer, it was a breeze. Windows computers are a whole other story.
DeleteDoug, so sorry to read this. Like DJan I am an Apple user. My desktop Apple is ten years old and this IPad is five years old. I am so computer illiterate, I rely on Chuck to figure things out for me. Your new laptop looks very nice. The price…wow! Can only imagine how much more that would be in Canada! Hope it isn’t too long until we hear from you again.❤️
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Robin
Robin, I admit I'm shocked--I had no idea you were an Apple user! (Not that there's anything wrong with that...) Well, I know Apple products are pricier but they're also more user-oriented it seems, and better quality. I thought that by sticking with Windows, it would make my own move a little faster, smoother. Anyway, thank R and I hope you're still here when I get back to my blog. :^)
DeleteI’m not going anywhere Doug!❤️
DeleteRobin
Wow! Your 2012 Toshiba had a very good run. I do not know anyone that was able to keep the same computer for as long as you did. With your knowledge of tech, the transition to the new laptop should go well. If you decide you want help, there seems to be lots of independent guys (geeks) out there willing to help.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan, and haha I shouldn't be laughing because you are so right--I held onto that laptop for too long! As for my tech knowledge, I'm afraid I don't know as much as people assume. I'm just going to take things slow and not be embarrassed to ask for help. :^)
DeleteYou’ve made me apprehensive about my desktop – it has everything I do on it as well (even my old music column stuff).
ReplyDeleteFortunately, my music (and such like) is on a separate removable disk (that’s backed up).
Good for you Peter--well. I did start doing this a few months ago (with taxes & finanaces) I just wish I'd done it with more personal stuff. Ugh!
DeleteI did that, ten or twelve years ago. Wrote my blog in Word, copied and pasted. I finally was dragged to Windows 10, kicking and screaming. My computer guru transferred over everything I thought was forever gone.
ReplyDeleteSo, take it slow and easy and the learning curve won't be too bad. And, congrats on saving all that money by not upgrading once or twice in the last decade.
Thanks Joanne--well, good for you for keeping up to date and thank you for making me feel a little better here (reducing my upgrades), I mean it. :^)
DeleteI had a Toshiba Satellite in a pearlised white, loved her so much, and still have her tucked away in a cupboard. I knew she was dying though, so backed up everything on an external hard drive which I plug in to my current ASUS whenever I want to find something from long ago, usually old photos. Before she died I updated to Windows 10 and found it far easier to learn than I expected, it's an apps based program so if you use apps on your phone you should be used to it. Most things you are used to will still be there, maybe in a different place or you access it differently but after a couple of times it comes to you almost as automatically as your windows 7.
ReplyDeleteThis was very encouraging to read, thanks River. And nice to meet another Toshiba to Asus. I wish I was getting Windows 10 instead of 11, why do they have to change everything so often? It's tiring.
DeleteYou might find your ASUS comes with Windows 11 like mine did. I think it's 11 anyway. Can't really remember now. I have the same VivoBook, same size too.
ReplyDeleteRiver it is coming with Windows 11. And good to know you have the same computer! You may be my new go-to person. :^)
DeleteYou'll be fine. My daughter is my go-to person, she's a genius and very patient with me, often writing out step-by-step in the beginning, but these days I try for myself before I ask for help.
DeleteI know the computer before this had windows xp. I think this one is a 10. I don't even know where you find out that information. I don't even know if I want to know. Perhaps it's best to be taken completely by surprise as you were.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's safe to be taken by surprise when it comes to your computer, Ms. Debby! My question is, why does Blogger not post your comments on my blog or even notify me you wrote one. I have to manually add your comment to my blog everytime.
DeleteMaybe your computer knows who I really am...😜
DeleteI forgot to tell you that Best Buy offers same day delivery for $5.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gigi--I did look at Best Buy before buying from Amazon, but Best Buys Asus laptop configurations were pretty pricey. I just wanted something basic. To be honest though, I'm trying to get away from shopping on amazon for things. I love Best Buy :^)
Delete