Sometimes, advances in technology give me a pain in the neck, brain, a$$…you pick the body part! Today was one of those days. Perhaps you remember that while I was down in Rochester a couple of weeks ago seemingly almost on my death bed, my laptop also went up in flames. I ordered a new laptop with Windows 8, and initially liked it. Then I tried to get my pictures into Picasa, and ran into many frustrations.
A successful breeding pair of Trumpeter Swans with three growing signets. No ugly ducklings here.
Today was the day to set up a ‘hangout’ on Google+ with our favorite guru Rick. He worked away with me for well over an hour before we came up with a solution I can live with. Thank you so much Rick! I was so relieved!
Just as we were finishing up, I noticed that my computer switched to using the battery rather than electrical power. Oh no, now what? I checked, and power was good to everything else in the rig so it wasn’t like the power went out.
For Pete’s sake, I’ve only had this laptop a couple of weeks! In my mind I had visions of having a lemon, and what would be involved in getting this new problem solved. I shut everything down and sat outside with Emma for a while to calm down.
As I sat outside, I decided to call my son, Daniel, to see if he knew what might be the solution. I had even moved the computer to another outlet, but the laptop continued to only use the battery. Grrr! Perhaps you can guess how that conversation went. He told me to take out the battery. Okay, where might that be? His response, “ MOTHER, just take the battery out!” I’ve never done that before. After flipping the computer over and pushing on a few buttons, something fell off. I guess it’s the battery. 
That’s when he said, “Oh yea, I forgot, I set your computer to occasionally switch to battery power so it will drain and then recharge to prolong it’s life.” Uff-dah! So my panic over no electrical power was apparently unwarranted. Like I said, sometimes advances in technology just give me a pain.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Judy, "JUST TAKE THE BATTERY OUT"!!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI almost, very nearly came close to asking you to 'take the battery out' at the end of our call today - now I'm glad I didn't!!
Anyway, I figured out how to completely automate the import of photos from your picture card to a single, designated folder in Picasa. It's quite simple.
Perhaps when your blood pressure recedes and you're nice and calm, we can connect and set this up instead of the current manual process you "can live with"!
I had fun this afternoon!!
If this computer goes out again, I may just call it quits. I'm not sure I could go through it all again. Technology is so great when it works, but I don't have the patience to deal with it seems like. And since I don't know what I am doing half the time that doesn't help. I'm glad yours was a simple fix for you.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few times when I've had to "take the battery out". Mostly if the machine gets hung up somehow and just doesn't want to do anything. I simply don't have the patience for it. Haven't flung it out a window yet, but when we lived on that top floor in Vienna, I had my moments.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Don't you just hate when that happens?
ReplyDeleteTechnology is a Love/Hate affair. Love the picture of the swans - so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTechnology: Love/Hate is right. Mostly I love it, but once in a while...not so much! If only we could take the "batteries" out of our bodies and recharge them in order to prolong the life! :)
ReplyDeleteWell why would it save your battery be saved by removing it ... I mean.. I KNOW that your ... well why would Daniel set it to such... that's interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy laptop ... MacBook Pro ... well? I charge it at night ... use it during the day time. It runs on electricity when I plug it in ... at least it says it does when I see the little icon thing.
I thought mine had croaked too. I was typing away... poof... it went away. what? do computers have fuses? the laptop was plugged in... got out the manual, did all the trouble shooting stuff. went online ... I mean it had to be a fuse or battery ... stuff just doesn't stop like that.
After all the carrying on and todoing ... my geniusness kicked in ... I looked at the plug. It was plugged in. I plugged it into another outlet... nothing. The Mac has this cute plug thing ... forget what they call it... took me a minute or three to figure out they were calling the plug thing whatever they called it... good grief.
Soooo. I took it apart. It has a take out plug so you can lengthen the cords... ANYway... to make a looooong story short... ha... I took it apart and put it back together and viola...
I do not know what in the world made it come a bit loose... it didn't look loose. I have a cat but she ... I don't know.
I was without a computer for three days ... mulling over my dilemma ... take it to Apple or wait for husband in paper only who used to be a computer programmer to look at it... rather take a beating.... he can't understand why anyone can't understand simple computer stuff... drives me insane.
Does Rick help anyone? ha?
It would help if our computer gurus told us what they'd done. Dave set mine to back itself up but didn't tell me so I panicked when I saw the icon going when I didn't have the external drive connected. I hate it when they just shrug and say, "Not a problem." It was a problem for me! But, most of the time I'm thrilled to live with a computer guru.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is extremely frustrating and the older I get the more I find it challenging. I usually figure it out, but not without a few swear words and some venting first.
ReplyDeleteRick is a good buddy to have. Glad you figured out the mystery of the power issue.
ReplyDeleteDan had good intentions ... he just forgot the part about letting you know ... probably because the settings are second nature to him. I've gotten to where I use the laptop disconnected so that the battery is sometimes almost entirely drained and then I charge it back up.
ReplyDeleteWhen my computer locks up I have to take the battery out... kind of a last resort solution... but I didn't know they could be programmed that way... I'd been totally frustrated and I swear computers just don't like me. Glad you have good folks helping you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful header photo.
ReplyDeleteI think you need a drink after the day you had!
I would say a pain in the a$$...I already have a crick in my neck! What a bother! I have to say, I am at least proud that you could follow the instructions from Rick...I don't know that I could! Joe bought me an IPad to do our blog...I haven't the faintest idea how to do it. I am such a creature of habit!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow....love the trumpeter swan family! And the peaceful scene in your new header photo.
Have a wonderful weekend.
"Take the battery out". I love it! Real easy IF you know how to do it. It's amazing how much stress these technology things add to our lives. Pretty sure they've made life more complicated not easier. I feel your pain!
ReplyDeletesome days are just like that..glad you got it all straightened out!
ReplyDeletenow, how about that drink?
That probably is good thing to let the battery drain but how would us non computer folds know such a thing? LOL
ReplyDeleteThe swans are looking good.
Glad the problem was easily solved!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't know you could set the computer to periodically switch to battery! I know I should do that once in a while myself, but I seldom remember. Rick is a good friend and a great guru. You might try to connect with Geeks on Tour also. They are available through their tutorial videos 24/7 -- just Google Geeks on Tour to find their website.
ReplyDeleteGreat images! You took some amazing shots. That's good that it was an easy fix! Technology can really be stressful
ReplyDeleteKeith
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"Just take the battery out." That would be my time for a blank stare! Nothing more aggravating than a computer acting up. You did the right thing, though. Get away and cool off before heaving the thing out the window. LOL Glad you got everything working.
ReplyDeleteI have learned so much from our resident "Guru". I think he could tell you, in writing, how to tie your shoe!
oh goodness. . .I was feeling the angst along with you. . .glad it all worked out!
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's good Daniel wasn't right in front of you otherwise I'm pretty sure where that 'pain' would have been located ....... somewhere around HIS ears :)
ReplyDeleteKids! Your son isn't supposed to cause you any pain. Good thing it was a phone call and not in person (for him, anyway!).
ReplyDeleteI have discovered that my BP is much better if I stay totally away from any technology...including my "smart" phone....And our computer is still on Vista and Windows7..totally freezes up all the time..usually when I am in a hurry to do something...I'm way better off to go outside and read a book.
ReplyDeleteSo glad your heart and BP survived the stress!
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to say, "Just take the battery out!," when one knows what they're talking about, but it's not such an easy solution when one doesn't have the modern technology education that younger kids have today - automatically. I say we should honor our elders like in many countries of the World, not belittle them because they're maybe not completely up to date with technology. Bet hardly any 20 something knows how to make a linseed poultice!!!
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation we've had Windows 8 for months and I still hate it. It's supposed to be easier but it still takes 3 extra steps to do anything and I can never find anything easily like with Windows 7. HATE IT.
ReplyDeleteI am completely technology challenged. My frustration tolerance is really low. I can relate.
ReplyDeleteI dont even have a smart phone...dont want anything that is smarter than me. thankfully I have sam and of course 11 year old adam. Sam also hated the windows 8, in fact he took it out and went back to 7 on mine
ReplyDelete