Ramblings
Home is the sailor, home from the sea... and not too happy about it
Use this Google search box to find stuff on mistywindow or use the JRank search box in the left column on every mistywindow page
Avoiding Windows disasters:
- protect yourself against all the viruses and other nasty stuff that's lurking on the Internet;
- avoid computer Armageddon by carrying out vital and easy computer maintenance.
- set up your computer to run more efficiently;
- what you need to know before you buy your next PC;
- what the vendors should have told you when you bought the last one, but didn't;
- what programs you may, or may not, need in order to make the best use of your computer;
- and a lot of other stuff. See the the Site Map, the Site Indexor the flyout menu on the left to find your way around.
The site is mainly about Windows XP, although users of older Windows versions will find most information relevant. Where there's a major difference, I've said so. In previous Windows versions you will find that the location of some files and folders is different from that stated. You may have to search using Windows Explorer or My Computer (Start/My Computer).
Over coming weeks and months there will be increasing amounts of information provided about Windows Vista.
Computer Disasters-in-Waiting
"They have computers and other weapons of mass destruction"
Janet Reno
- You are not alone. I provide free help to people with computer problems.
I've found that most PC users' knowledge of their computers is insufficient
to allow them to maintain their machines or to use them efficiently.
The solutions are not difficult. - A person I help has written a doctoral thesis on a laptop and at last check had no backup copies of any of her work. One component or vital system file fails — years of work lost.
- Many others, through lack of basic housekeeping procedures, have totally trashed their computers and all data. They have no copies of the data and often none of the original software.
- I was recently involved in a team effort helping a person desperate to reclaim data from a disc. "This will destroy my life" was part of his anguished plea. Happily, his files were saved. Not everyone is so lucky and his stress could so easily have been avoided.
I find keen digital photographers who have thousands of photos on their one hard disk drive, but no copies. People who would be in major strife if their PC died, often don't have the knowledge necessary to prevent that happening or to dig themselves out of the hole if it does.
This website has been created to help such people.
Saving and Backing up Your Data
Sooner or later every hard disc drive will die! all you need do is wait long enough. Mistakes on your part, viruses, or physical damage can destroy your data. The insurance against these potential disasters is here, at Backing up Data. MistyWindow will ensure that you don't allow yourself to get into these unhappy predicaments.
From here, click on one of these links or use the Flyout Menu at the top of the page:
Ubuntu 8.04: Linux on the rise?
Last April I tried the latest release of Linux operating system distribution, Ubuntu 8.04. I wrote in my blog that it was a major advance but that I didn't see it pushing Windows off my desktop for a while yet.
Well, I'm partially eating my words. After many past nibbles at Linux which were short-lived, with the final release of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron I virtually dumped Windows for my day-to-day computing needs for over a month.
For me at least, the Ubuntu Linux distribution has finally evolved to the point where it can do all the things that most people need to do on their computers with no more pain than Windows. What's more it can be installed more easily than Windows by an average computer user.
More info here on my blog: @ my wits' end.
Much as I'd like to, I can't stick with Linux for two main reasons: Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 and Corel Painter X. For all other programs that I use, there's a free open source equivalent that's good enough to replace what I'm using and in some cases better than the Windows equivalent.
Who's Linux good for then?
For any computer user, experienced or novice, who needs a Word Processor, a Spreadsheet, Internet browser, Email, graphic design, photo editing and music it is excellent.
If you're a gamer or need a specialist program like my Dreamweaver web design then you probably still need Windows or a Mac.
In my case I could get by for most web design with an open source XHTML editor, but my knowledge of server side scripting is insufficient to cope with dynamic web templates, so I'm stuck with Dreamweaver or MS Expression Web.
Come on Adobe, port your software to Linux. Strike a blow against world domination by the nice guys at Microsoft.
Please?
