My 'puter died

daffy2

Well strictly speaking a bit of it died, a battery which apparently enables storage of useful info, but as it prevents me accessing my browser it comes to the same thing.Thanks to the way it was originally set up I ' do not have administrator privileges' as it snootily informs me so I can't correct it.I have a netbook bought 3 years ago as a back-up and because at the time it looked as if I was going to need something portable, so am not completely cut-off, but it's too clever by half and I spend ages just trying to figure out how to use it so everything takes a lot of time and cursing!
Perhaps son will now respond in useful fashion to requests for help to replace the PC which is 11 years old so its current demise is not unexpected. I have reminded him frequently this year and he keeps promising to deal with it but then other things claim his attention.Not living nearby is a big part of the hold-up but now he has passed his driving test perhaps that will get things moving - literally!

stickywicket

:? Are you sure this is what's wrong, daffy? I didn't think desktop computers had batteries. But I'm no techie.

Mr SW's laptop battery died and he just got the techie boys from the local, independent computer / phone shop to put a new one in. They're very good.

dreamdaisy

Computers specialise in snooty messages, don't they? I find them very irksome, especially when it's the machine's fault that my last browsing session 'closed unexpectedly'. Harrumph.

I am sorry Daffy but I hope your son will expedite matters. I recently took my small laptop to specialists and they were very helpful - and reasonable. DD

toady

Hi daffy. The one battery in a desktop is (as far as I know) the CMOS battery which runs functions the pc needs to remember when switched off (time/date etc) - I can't remember how a dead one affects other things though exactly.

There should be a way for you to get administrator rights, often it is because the admin account is 'hidden' once the non-admin account is set up but you can usually enable the admin when you need - depends on your operating system how this is done.

You may have decided to write it off but If you want to bother having a go at this I can have a look at the right info for you (& of course if you know this info already excuse my interference always worth asking but no offence to your own knowledge intended.)

Replacing the battery in a desktop is possibly more trouble than in a laptop but again not sure on that front, have never had to attempt it.

daffy2

According to my son that's the one that's gone toady, and he explained why that was preventing programmes from running.As for admin privileges, that goes back to when the PC was made and set up for me. I had computer experts 'in house' so did not need to bother with the 'housekeeping'. When OH left my son took over and either did things over the phone with me or sorted stuff out when he came back for visits from uni. A while back he did try to alter that but for various reasons didn't succeed, and TBH it hasn't mattered. I'm not sure it would make much difference in this case as presumably every time I turned the PC on it would have to be done again.
I appreciate the offer of help, and certainly no offence taken, but all things considered I am holding out for a replacement - it has been a priority for a year now(and my ex was astonished that I was still using it) - not least so I can watch video clips of my baby granddaughter, and my daughter's 'baby' - her horse.

toady

Righto my pc must be at least as old but I will string it out as long as possible out of sentiment (and also the fact that I have had so many new/modern/'better' things pack up on me lately that I take a dim view that new will be better) but even I have had to cave & pick up a laptop much like you did with your notebook. Hope you get something that suits & RIP your old machine.

theresak

Computers are like cars, aren`t they? - OK until they go wrong/.misbehave/give up the ghost! We rely on our sons to help, neither of whom live at home now, but fortunately have tech-savvy neighbours if neither son visiting.

Hope you get fixed up soon,

Tezz x

barbara12

daffy I'm glad Toady could help because I hadn't a clue..maybe a new one is the answers...hope you get one soon...

daffy2

And now the gremlins have noticed that this netbook hasn't been used for a long time and has a backlog of updates to be installed. It takes anything up to 30 mins to get itself up and running and then spends hours running updates when I try to shut down, and there's constant chuntering in the background while I'm online so it's v..e..r..y s..l..o..w to do anything. At this rate if I just want to check emails it would be quicker to drive into town and use the library!

dreamdaisy

Oh crikey, Daffy, I am not a technical bod but this sounds very exasperating. I like computers to work faster than me (which, let's face it, is not that great a challenge) but they can be contrary machines. Hang on in there, things will be sorted and - hopefully - soon because your 'voice' is a good 'un. DD

daffy2

Bless you for those kind words DD - much appreciated and at the moment much needed. I have a lot of other stuff going on at present which is proving a challenge and having the IT going mammaries up I could do without.The updates stalled last night at no 56 of 138. Son has just talked me through getting this access but as soon as I try and shut down it is likely to go into constipated mode again. I can't spend anymore time on it today and am working both days this w/end so don't know when or if normal service will be resumed.

stickywicket

I'm sorry too, daffy. DD is quite right. I miss you too when you're not here.

Your netbook sounds to be playing silly asterisks with you. I hope something can be fixed soon. (My tablet only cost about £125.)

dreamdaisy

'Constipation mode'. How very apt, I do like your way with words. I guess we do become attached to our familiar machinery but it still amazes me that you can buy an all-singing-all-dancing modern bit of kit and thirty six hours later it's outdated. :? My smartphone has oooodles more capability than my first desktop, a Compaq Presario. Scary. :shock: DD

daffy2

I'll whisper this so as not to attract attention from the gremlins, but the massive Windows update-fest seems to have abated so I have something approaching usable access. Other programmes are still out of synch, I don't find this device easy to use, and life is still demanding so I will be limited in my contributions for a while yet, although I do try to read what's happening with all you lovely folk each day.

dreamdaisy

I'm whispering back - I hope it's still working and hope to see you on here in the near future. DD