Whew

[susandennis]

I am now kind of under control.  The laundry is laundrying.  I have showered.  (Here's a tip, when you cut off half your hair, you only need a half blob of shampoo.)  The files are all put away.  I tossed out a bunch of crap but still managed to cheat a little.  There's one drawer that just has stuff tossed in - to be sorted later.

The computer is fine.  I can't find my MS Office software.  It was old anyway.  And it's going to be a year until the new comes out so I guess I'll go get the latest version tomorrow.  But I've managed to get most everything else installed and operational.  I finally have my online life organized enough so that tracking down critical software and passwords and products keys and stuff was not that much of a chore. 

I have rebooted a number of times and tossed in some cold boots just to make sure everything comes back as it should.  The ethernet controller is still not installing and I have no idea why. It came with the computer and has no software of its own. I guess I need to get onto the Dell site and track down a solution there.  But, so far the USB is working fine for the DSL modem.

I do need to install anti spyware stuff and some other bits and pieces.  But, mainly, I'm good.  I always hate the idea of reformatting and starting over but it's never as bad as I imagine it will be.

Comments

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

What do you use for antivirus software? I've had McAfee up until a few days ago, when my subscription expired. I don't like it at all, and it gripes my butt to pay for it every year. It's irritating when it downloads automatically and messes up other programs.

But I don't want to catch a virus, either. What to do, what to do.

[susandennis]

For virus protection I use the paid version of Grisofts' AVG - http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1. You could try the free version, but I'm happy with the paid one. For spyware protection, I use Microsoft's http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx - but I don't keep it running, I just launch it every now and again to clean up.

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you!!!

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

My hero. I have not gotten the courage to do it yet.

Sure would be great for my computer however.

[kyrielle]

I don't know what you use office for, but you might want to check out OpenOffice, if you haven't. I've been very pleased with it once I got used to the controls.

[susandennis]

Interesting. You are the first person I've heard who has a positive take on Open Office outside of the price. I'm glad to hear it. Thanks. (I'll probably stick with MS this round mainly because I'm so used to it and my membership in the MS alum org gets me a pretty steep discount.)