Hardware

Windows 10 and Wi-Fi.. Updated

By Mike

What I know so far: Broadcom sucks, as in the adapters fitted to some laptops, the Lenovo G780 for instance,  and Realtek doesn’t suck because all but one of my wireless computers are Realtek and they all work well. I tried a different internal wireless adapter in the G780 but it wasn’t different enough and is still using Broadcom drivers, and still cutting out after maybe 20 mins use. For now, I have a USB adapter in the side of the laptop, Realtek driven, and it is working flawlessly. So, I have now ordered an internal Realtek wireless adapter for Lenovos and … Continue reading Windows 10 and Wi-Fi.. Updated

A couple of projects..

By Mike

Project #1.. a Compaq Presario M2305NR These started to get reviews around December of 2005 which puts the machine firmly in the XP era. Weighing in at 6.5lbs, it was regarded as eminently portable, and it was well built, a real brick. Equipment includes a built-in fax/modem, 24x CD-RW, and WPA2 G wireless capability. That was then, and this is now.. It is all 32-bit and is kitted out with a stunning 512mb RAM and a PATA 60Gb hard drive which is on its way out. I don’t like running XP as it is severely out of date, so I decided to … Continue reading A couple of projects..

OEM support in general..

By Mike

Windows: Under OEM terms, the computer manufacturer is responsible for supporting the operating system with which the computer is supplied. The OEM gets Windows for a cheap price, as do you, the end user. The actual price paid is that the OEM manufacturer will pass the buck, tell you it is all Microsoft’s fault and to contact them directly, and Microsoft will ask for money. So, you get stuff like this in forums.. I have just spent an hour on the Microsoft chat line but they were no help at all and only wanted to sell me a 99$ support … Continue reading OEM support in general..

Twenty four hours later..

By Mike

.. and no thanks due to the Logitech Forum whatsoever, I managed to work out the issues I had with pairing the unifying receiver and Setpoint. Initially and because I had the same mouse as in the kit, I paired my old mouse with the receiver. It worked like a charm but for one small issue. The mouse in the kit had already been paired, so my system was showing TWO M705 mice. The only way I could find to rectify it was the concept of pairing the original mouse with its original receiver. The process completed but did not … Continue reading Twenty four hours later..

New and old..

By Mike

If you read my last post, you will know that I have just bought a keyboard which is probably going to be discontinued by the manufacturer in the not so distant future. The keyboard in the MK710 set is VERY basic. There isn’t a feature on it which does NOT appear on the Logitech Access keyboard of thirteen years ago. The most basic drivers would keep this keyboard running, and that is a good thing. My computer case is a Coolermaster CM690 II with the extra purchase of the USB3.0 header top panel. I don’t have USB3.0 because my present motherboard … Continue reading New and old..

My new keyboard..

By Mike

It is a Logitech desktop set MK710, and I bought it from my local Staples store for $70 incl. tax. In the box: A nice Mk710 keyboard, soft and quiet keys, mimimum of crap around the perimeter (basic controls). Batteries are pre-installed. An  M705 mouse which will be a spare as I already have one. Batteries for the mouse are included separately. A Unifying wireless adapter, and a USB extension cable to allow for better siting of the wireless transceiver. I have been supplying my own from the outset of wireless anything, and it is a nice touch by Logitech … Continue reading My new keyboard..

Wi-Fi in general.. Desktop v Portable/Mobile

By Mike

Domestic Wi-Fi can connect at slightly over 90 feet, assuming that both ends of the connection can clearly see each other, and that there are no other 2.4Ghz devices around which could cause interference, like wireless keyboards and mice and cheap radio control cars and helicopters. In this way, you could sit on a patio at the back of your yard and keep in touch on your notebook or tablet without too many problems Trouble is that desktop computers don’t have an antenna type good enough to do that because the likelihood of them ever being more than 6 feet away from the wireless … Continue reading Wi-Fi in general.. Desktop v Portable/Mobile

Upgrading to Windows 10..

By Mike

Microsoft have allowed for free upgrades from Windows 8 and Windows 7, so why not Vista and XP? Windows 7 didn’t become public until 22 October, 2009. Computers on sale in stores after this date were of varying quality, some not too good running Vista with full driver support, let alone Windows 7. Personally, I wouldn’t upgrade a computer of mine unless it was at least a late 2010 release because of patchy to non-existant hardware driver support XP machines are almost in a different galaxy. As good as some were in their day, without full driver support, one has the … Continue reading Upgrading to Windows 10..

A complete Windows 10 re-install.. (Updated)

By Mike

.. and all because of some really stubborn malware picked up yesterday. I am pretty good at removing it 99.99% of the time, but this one stumped me. So, looking to do a clean install for a while, I bit the bullet and backed up the most important data that I would need to re-construct the system, and here I am again.. 🙂 The install went well and passed by fairly quickly, but I have been left with one or two operational issues that I didn’t really have before. Issue #1.. IE11 and Outlook now behave like Edge was doing, that … Continue reading A complete Windows 10 re-install.. (Updated)

OneDrive not free or cheap?

By Mike

When SkyDrive first appeared, I was offered 5Gb of storage FREE. Not too long after, I was offered 25Gb storage free if I signed up. So I signed up and now I have 25gb of cloud storage that I am unlikely to ever use even if it is/was free. Then, like a bolt from the blue, and apparently late one evening.. “The year-old promise of “unlimited storage” for every Office 365 Personal, Home, and University subscriber is null and void.” The above deserves an ‘OUCH’ from those who like clouds and those who have to use them because they only … Continue reading OneDrive not free or cheap?