Gauge
Posts: 5689
Joined: 6/17/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: smileforme50
Ok....the back story....I'm an idiot....I admit it. I screwed up my laptop. Or maybe I thought I screwed it up more than I really did, and in trying to fix it I screwed it up even more. But I think I tried to download something and along with the download I MISSED saying NO to some of the "extras" and toolbars that some software "gives" to you. It ended up changing my home page, adding a few toolbars I didn't want, and then my avast! anti-virus software started telling me a "threat was detected" anytime I tried to use Google Chrome instead of Explorer.
I tried to uninstall things but that didn't work, so in a fit of frustration I did a "One Key Restoration". My Lenova laptop has a feature where you can tell it to wipe out the hard drive and remove everything on it except what was already factory-installed when you first removed it from the box. Yes....before I did this, I did save the files and pictures I wanted to keep to an external drive. I figured anything else I had I could get back from a website where I got it to begin with (Yahoo Messenger, Adobe...etc)
Funny thing....and the first question....when I came back to CollarSpace, I noticed that since I did that restoration, the times imprinted on my messages and posts aren't accurate. There's a 3 hour difference. I sent someone a message at 10:30 (east coast US time) but when I look at my sent items, it says I sent it to them at 7:30 this morning.....? Does anyone know how to coordinate my CS time with the real time??
Second question....the BIG mistake I made in all of this was that I totally forgot about my MS Office 2010 software. I don't know.. I think in my peak moment of idiocy I was think that was part of the stuff Lenovo partitioned and it would stay on the hard drive. I admit it....this is where I really f***ed up.
Since I STILL have the box the computer came in, all the paperwork that came with it and all the receipts, I thought I MUST HAVE put the MS Office key code in with all that stuff right? Nope.....DAMMIT!!!
Which means I need to buy MS Office again.....DAMMIT!!! (Did I already say that?)
So my second question is....which type do you think I should buy? They have.....
.... their regular ol' "Home & Student" which just has the basics....Word, Excel, PowerPoint and One Note for $139.99.
..... Office 365 Home....which is only $99 .99 and gives you Outlook and a few other things...BUT that's with a one year subscription that I guess you have to renew every year....and how much that is I don't know....
....they also have....Office 365 University....which also has a "subscription" but that's for 4 years instead of just one....and it's only $79.99
Which one do you have and what do you think about it? Which one would you get? Does anyone know how much these subscription renewal amounts are?
I'm leaning toward University...not only because it's the cheapest, but also because I'm thinking I'm going to want to upgrade to a new version in 4 years anyway.....
Mistakes:
1. Never be in a hurry to install any software.
2. When installing software READ EVERYTHING carefully. Every single screen might give you one of those "nifty" toolbars or add on programs that you do not want or need.
Thoughts:
1. Wiping your system will definitely fix it, but it is a pain in the ass, and you have to do all the updates etc. Best not to fuck it up to begin with.
2. Get a good spyware program. Spybot Search and Destroy is a good one, there are others but Spybot is one of the more trustworthy ones out there. You can get a copy at www.majorgeeks.com (majorgeeks is an extremely trustworthy site)
3. If you get a toolbar or browser hijacker, don't panic. One of the worst things that people do if something happens to their electronic baby is they panic, this usually leads to more bad decisions. Look up the toolbar on the internet, even if you have to use your phone. Find out how to uninstall it and then do so. Look up how to restore your home page of your browser. Learning how to take care of small problems will go a long way to helping you remain calm when trouble strikes.
4. Call Lenovo and/or Micro$oft. They can help you get back your office program. If they cannot, or won't, then fuck them. Convert to the free program Open Office ( http://www.openoffice.org/ ) as far as I am aware, Open Office will work with Micro$oft files and I found Open Office to be a hell of a lot easier to use and a far cry less expensive. It is also very customizable.
5. Impatience and electronics do not mix. If you get frustrated, walk away, get a drink or a snack, take a walk, sit in the corner and cry, begin a belly button lint collection, but STOP CLICKING SHIT! Get your head cleared and go back to it. You have the internet at your fingertips, do not be afraid to use it. There are plenty of good tech forums out there ( majorgeeks, Tom's Hardware, bleepingcomputer to name a few) with plenty of information for poor schmucks like me who had to learn the hard way how to fix computers.
OK, that is all I have for suggestions or comments. Good luck!
_____________________________
"For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men." Herman Melville - Moby Dick
I'm wearing my chicken suit and humming La Marseillaise.
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Ok....all you computer geniuses....a couple of question... - 
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