Computer questions you'd be embarrassed to ask any where else!

looksee

Oh thank you! Never occurred to me that it was working like the phone, I thought it was the curser! Brilliant!

Now I know how to control it it could be useful.

Edit - its partly because the touch pad is just one pad on this machine, rather than having three parts, and I am still getting used to where it can or cannot be touched/clicked to make it work.

windowcills

A logitech wireless mouse really puts you in control

But you will have to sit at a desk

looksee

I used to use one of those and it was great, but now I am just browsing with the laptop on my lap, I will get used to the new vagaries of W11!

jj880

Windows 7 was excellent. Microsoft are always tinkering with stuff that doesnt need changed.

My father went from Win 7 to a Win 11 laptop and its a major pain in the ass. He will get used to it eventually.

For anyone who is 24/7 tech support for the elderly I recommend VNC Viewer and VNC Server. Saved us in lock down and have been using ever since. Really great remote desktop software. You can also use the app on your phone to remote into a PC.

igCorcaigh

I use TeamViewer to help my dad with computer issues.

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327806#Comment_121327806

What does teamviewer do in relation to PC problems? Allow someone to access the device remotely?

windowcills

Yes, complete control to anyone who has your id and password,

It means that their keyboard mouse and screen is now controlling and viewing your computer

Anydesk is the same, but takes a little bit more to get it working

Vnc is the same but takes a hell of a lot more work to set it up

People can remover or install programs and drivers, and make tweaks like adding bookmarks and shortcuts to sites or programs,

Its no use for internet problems :)

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121328770#Comment_121328770

Unless VNC has changed recently it was simple enough to set up.

Team Viewer looks to have a lot more features like a ticket system, meetings etc.

VNC is a free no frills remote control setup. Very handy if that's all you require.

😆 yeah not much use if the internet / broadband is down as you obviously cant remote into the device on that network.

windowcills

Vnc requires

1 Access through windows firewall

2 port forwarding

3 And either....

A static ip

A no-ip account and program running on a computer

Or

A user who can tell you his current internet ip

Teamviewer once installed just needs to be clicked on and the numbers readout

OK. No one who needs to ask for help here should EVER install Teamviewer.

Just don't do it and certainly never instal it for a random "helper"

igCorcaigh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121328492#Comment_121328492

Yes. So I can ask my Dad to share his screen, which I can view, and also control the mouse.

TeamViewer needs to installed on both computers, and it is free to use.

Wossack

I just use the windows built in one - ‘quick assist’ I think it is

igCorcaigh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329548#Comment_121329548

I had not heard of it. Just launched it now, but getting a black screen.

windowcills

I have tried Quick assist and it was very limited, you can help the user fix it, but you cant change anything, it lets you see the screen and point like a laser pointer where you want them to click, but you couldnt click anything

But very good point....never give teamvier id and password to someone you dont know

NIMAN

I just bought a cable like this online, to connect some loose HDDs I have to my laptop.

Thing is, when I connect it, the 3.5" hdds I have don't spin. Is it possible that it doesn't have enough power? It is getting power itself as it has a green light on the case.

I have no 2.5" drives to test it on.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329489#Comment_121329489

Ok thats definitely changed. There was none of that when we installed at start of lockdown.

There was 1 email / password sign up to use on both the viewer software and server software. Then a password for each PC included in the "team".

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329660#Comment_121329660

I used a USB to SATA cable to connect to a loose internal HDD before, worked just fine with no tinkering needed.

Could USB version be an issue I wonder....

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329660#Comment_121329660

Yes more power needed. For 3.5 HDD there are cables that look the same as your pic but with an AC plug input on it for the extra power. I have 1. They work well.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329660#Comment_121329660

Yeah, that won't work on 3.5" disks, it's usually limited to around 0.5A to 1A, and that's not enough to spin-up a bigger disk. You could try a double power adapter and that might provide the needed power.

https://www.amazon.com/Charge-Adapter-Extension-Transfer-Charging/dp/B0711R8828

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121329660#Comment_121329660

You can't power 3.5" desktop drives from a USB port. They need a AC adapter plugged into the wall.

Whereas 2.5" are are laptop drives and can mostly be powered from USB.

I say mostly as there about a zillion types of USB ports (might be exaggerating).

NIMAN

Thanks folks, suspected lack of power might have been the issue, as the case of this has a 5v input.

jj880

Here's mine for reference. You'd be surprised what you'll find on your old 3.5 HDDs.

windowcills

Run a scan of the drive with treesize free, this will show the big folders and bypass file ownership issues

Flinty997

Treesize such a great app..

RiderOnTheStorm

I started a new job recently and I have a new email address .... and its really bugging me that it takes so long to type and then I have to double check & triple check that I got it right , whenever Im filling out online forms etc (yeah, first world problems! lol)

Anyway, is there a Chrome / Windows 10 text shortcut / auto-correct / substitution I can do (like my mobile phone does with Personal Dictionary) so i can type 'email' and it automatically becomes Rider@boards.oulwans.oulfellas.com (or whatever.....) ???

CAVE: I cant install anything on my PC as its a work one and I dont have access

please n thanks

Esel

You could create a .TXT file using Notepad or similar which contains your email address.

When you need to enter your email address into a form, do the following:

Open the TXT file and copy the contents to the clipboard

Return to the form and paste

Probably better to just get used to typing the address correctly though.

RiderOnTheStorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121374906#Comment_121374906

lol .... yea, im sure it will be second nature soon, when muscle memory takes over. Ta Esel!

Flinty997

Keeping a txt file with stock replies is very handy or emails. It's a double click cut and paste with no error. Big time saver.

I usually automate stuff, but its a quick workaround if you can't do that.

looksee

Maybe I'm missing something here but on online forms I click in the space, or type in the first letter of my name /address/ email and it gives me the option of filling it in automatically. I am not seeing any security issues here, passwords I decide which ones will be remembered but public stuff like my name and address are there.

(laptop, Windows 10,11, Chrome, Brave)

Flinty997

That's a setting in the browser to remember forms, it's a cookie. Some places might set that to be cleared after the browser closes. Or it might be disabled. Data protection and all that.