I am pretty sure I hate computers

CD of Acronis

 
Oooof...
 
I had a bad experience with Acronis a few years ago and haven't been back. It seemed to be a pretty comprehensive product,  but it felt like it took over my system and was impacting performance. When I uninstalled it, it left things hanging; i.e. the system back-up dialogs in control panel still had Acronis modifications to them. I'm sure things have improved since then, but I just can't get that bad taste out of my mouth...

I have Acronis too, but I only use it by booting from a separate CD...  I keep hearing that I should have chosen Paragon instead.

Abacus?
 
McQacus?

That's b/c it's open souirce! No one owns the IP for the abacus. Now the Abacus® is another story all together. Just like the pp&j vs the PP&J® trademarked by Smuckers.
 
http://lunchboxlowdown.blogspot.com/2011/09/crustables.html
 

You should make Windows Recovery Disks in case something happens. When I got my computer, the license is embedded into the software - one computer - one license for whatever  Windows OS version on the machine. If all fails, I can get on the Internet to the manufacturer and download Windows OS again from the cloud.
 
The cloud computing is what is changing everything. Unless you bought a separate version of Windows OS like in a box or something, then computer manufacturers install the OS and it is all there. Actually there is a backup copy of Windows 7 OS also on the computer and then also the OS installed on the computer (both doing something whatever). If something fails then Recovery Disk should fix it (but you have to make probably about 3 DVD's for that) or the manufacturer has a program where you can also make DVD's of the OS incase something happens, or else (if registered with the computer) the manufacturer has the OS that was installed on your machine to download again if needed from the Internet.
 
The only thing I see with my computer is that the manufacturer uses the same OS for several versions of the computer whether you have certain features (needed for different computer models) or not. It gets on the computer whether you need it or not (probably taking up a little more room).
 
That is the reality of computers nowadays. If I wanted to upgrade I could but then Microsoft is connected to or the manufacturer and of course to change to a different version of the OS of say Windows 7 or upgrade to Windows 8, there would be the difference in price to what they want for it.
 
You make your own DVD's to recover or copy the OS system instead of getting a DVD with it on it (at least with my computer.)
 
 
PS everything is going to a cloud (mainframe computer that can hold your files or like the OS) and that is what I do not like, but again everyone is going to follow on with it other then Microsoft say for software.
 
 
 

mike_mccue
I kind of feel ripped off.

Or ill informed?

mike_mccue
Microsoft publishes the statement that you can use any Win7 install disks as long as you have a Win8 Pro License and can tell them what it is.
 
Toshiba doesn't mention that you don't get a Win8 Pro license when you pay them for Win8Pro until you pester them and then they explain that your motherboard got a Win8Pro license and you don't get to know what it is.
 
It is a Catch 22.
 
:-(

No it's not!
 
You need to file a Consummer Complaint about this against Toshiba, on your state's website. This is down right robbery and a chance for Toshiba to use the same license 1000 times or more!
 
And if you and I did that we would be in jail!
 
Nail the bastards!
 
Now you know why I do not buy name computers! They are allowed to rip you off, and we do absolutely nothing about it!

Laptops are a pain to build, Mike, because they are so tightly packed. Personally, I don't want the job.
 
I've taken them apart to the last screw and re-assembled. It's a real pain.

mike_mccue
FWIW, The only OEM computers I have ever owned are laptops.
 
I've always built my on desktops or commissioned them from Studiocat.
 
I sure wish it was affordable to build your own laptop.

You do know that both Jim and Scott offer laptops?
 
I knew that you did.

bapu

mike_mccue
FWIW, The only OEM computers I have ever owned are laptops.
 
I've always built my on desktops or commissioned them from Studiocat.
 
I sure wish it was affordable to build your own laptop.

You do know that both Jim and Scott offer laptops?
 
I knew that you did.

 
 
I know that Scott offers laptops. With all due respect for the very good work he does... I just want an affordable all arounder laptop. I gave up on using a laptop as a DAW several years ago when my bulletproof P4 system was replaced with this nifty i7 I had to settle for. I need a laptop to work on some photos, do some simple video edits, update a website etc. etc.
 
Scott seems to go the extra mile and IIRC he has a custom bios prepared for his laptops so they'll work as a DAW. Pretty cool stuff!
 
I considered trying to do the bare bones laptop computer for myself a few years ago but the pricing prohibits my enthusiasm as a solution for my particular needs.
 
The i7 laptop I am about to retire has a 18.5" display... my new killer diller i7 laptop has a 17.3" display. At the rate of downgrading I have experienced since my P4 fried it's 3rd LCD I would be happy to settle with a store bought Win7 machine. This new $1300 Toshiba was the cheapest Win7 with a 17+/- screen I could find. I desired Win7 because I don't want to upgrade all my seldom used, but vital to my interest, apps that will not run on Win8.
 
Progress :-S
 
 
BTW, Jim R hasn't advertised a laptop for a couple years. ;-)
 
It seems like they have turned in to a major PITA.
 
Which reminds me... how long did your laptop (the one I am envious of but don't think I can afford) work before you had to send it back for service?
 
Anyways... moving forward.
 
all the best,
mike
 

BTW, I wasn't able to learn from Adobe that my old Adobe free standing software wouldn't run on Win8.
 
I had to learn that by reading tirades posted by irate Adobe customers who found out the hard way.
 
Adobe simply avoids or dismisses the question leaving it's licensed users to find out support info like that via scuttlebutt.
 
:-(
 
I'm pretty sure "dislike" isn't a strong enough word.  :-)
 
 
 

mike_mccue
BTW, I wasn't able to learn from Adobe that my old Adobe free standing software wouldn't run on Win8.
 
I had to learn that by reading tirades posted by irate Adobe customers who found out the hard way.
 
Adobe simply avoids or dismisses the question leaving it's licensed users to find out support info like that via scuttlebutt.
 
:-(
 
I'm pretty sure "dislike" isn't a strong enough word.  :-)
 
 
 

I learned a similar thing about Java and Win8.....although, there's some sort of work around it, I still couldn't get it to work.  
 
Java does advertise "Over 3 Billion Devices Serviced"..................I doubt it. 

mike_mccue

bapu
(not braggin' mind you)

Prolly cause you sense that my DAW is hooked up to a 30" screen?
 
:-)

My DAW is a 30"
 
My lappy is on the other side of the room @ 27"

Still going strong!
 

BTW, I wasn't able to learn from Adobe that my old Adobe free standing software wouldn't run on Win8.

 
Oh, no....I have n't tried re installing anything Adobe yet.
 
I am pretty sure that I hate computers as well, and I am pretty sure that I have been forced to learn way more than I cared to about maintenance on them.  
 
Two weeks ago, I installed a new 2T HD in my DAW, so that I could finally upgrade from Vista 64 to Win8 Pro 64.  I had no trouble installing the HD.  I had lots of issues with the Win8 install.  I finally ended up on a 3 hr session with a Microsoft Tech who took over my machine and worked it out.  It was not letting me register the OS even though I had all the correct Keys and Reg numbers. 
 
Then I loaded MS Office.  Same issue.  Wouldn't take any of the authorization Keys.  Called them last Saturday and did another 2hrs one on one with a Tech.  Turned out to be a hidden Sprint file that had lodged itself somewhere in the install.  Keep in mind, this was a complete CLEAN install from the beginning.  
 
I now have about 80% of the plug ins installed on the DAW; the ones that I plan on installing anyway.  I am leaving behind anything that I have n't used in the last 6-8 months and keeping them to a minimum.  It was an extreme challenge to get all of the plug ins installed, especially having to track down serial numbers, reg codes and product keys for each of them.  I had a lot of issues with SSD4 EX registering and had to get on the phone with a Tech there.
 
Needless to say, I have documented everything, logged all of my particulars in a safe place, and set up directories this time around that make more sense and are easier to work with.  Plus...the good news...  X3 runs better than ever on the old DAW with much less stress on the 4 cores.  Even the CPU fan runs quieter and seems like it doesn't have to work as hard.
 
Now to take a break and recover from all of this, then eventually shop for a little more RAM.
 
Sheesh...all I prefer to do is make music.