dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 6, 2015 11:11:22 GMT
I got a new 1TB,Windows 8.1 machine from my grand daughter as a gift back in February of this year. I didn't much like Win 8 but was able to get around in it. I figured if I was going to have to learn a new OS I might as well try Linux so I installed Linux alone, totally deleting Win 8.
Now that was a mistake, I could have installed Linux alongside Win 8,,,,the 1TB Machine could handle both OS's but hardhead that I am I went full speed ahead without giving myself the option of using Win 8.
I have learned that Linux and Adobe don't like to play together so I can't install PSE or LR on this Linux machine. I do have both of them installed on my wifes computer but am unable to Home Network them together. I could run back and forth working on her computer and coping info on a flash drive and then back to the Linux box etc etc. I really don't know if I could work on PSE via a Home Network, even if I could get the Network set up and working, if she was working on her computer at the same time.
With the Win 10 upgrade soon to be available I'm going to go back to Win 8 and then do the upgrade when the timing is right. In the mean time I'll be able to get PSE and LR up and running at my desk. I'll call Microsoft about the procedure of re installing Win 8 this morning. I may have to buy the Win 8 software or whatever but that's what I'm going to do.
What do you think of that as a plan? If you have any other suggestions please holler quickly as I'm itching to get started.
dick
|
|
Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by Squirrel2014 on Jun 6, 2015 14:13:14 GMT
Hi dicklaxt First off, as the machine had Win 8.1 install initially, you shouldn't have to pay for the OS again. Somewhere on the machine there should be a green'ish coloured sticker with numbers on it. That will have your Product Key. Hopefully, Microsoft have been able to help you out already but, being weekend, that may not be the case I'm not an expert, and am not claiming to be! However, these are my thoughts, having read your post - If this is a laptop, and depending on how you installed Linux/reformatting etc, you may still be able to reset to Factory Settings. I would think that would be worth a check. Also, I would strongly recommend you getting advice from a tech forum. I always have got excellent help from PC Advisor forums www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forum/ . They are great guys (and gals) on there, very experienced and more than happy to help. Also, if you post on there, there's a good chance you would get fairly prompt response, ie within minutes/few hours. Please keep us up to date on your progress. I'm interested to hear how you get sorted. Hope you get sorted very soon Julie
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 6, 2015 17:26:45 GMT
Okay here's what has happened thus far. I spoke with a tech at Microsoft in California and they suggested I contact the place of purchase and get the recovery disk. The guy I need to talk with will not be in until about 3 PM today. It is convenient only about a mile away. If he will let me borrow that disk for about an hour I could be up and running before dark tonight. I'm making progress.
dick
|
|
Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by Squirrel2014 on Jun 6, 2015 19:50:10 GMT
Will you be making a new recovery disc for yourself once you've got Windows back on? Always to have a good Recovery disc, or System Restore disc(s) I've made a copy of my PC hdd, jus after a re-installation so I'm hoping that will help, should the time come when it's needed. Have made recovery discs on my laptop - when I first got it. Again, hope they work when/if the time comes Keep us posted, eh?
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 7, 2015 16:59:54 GMT
I spoke with the local tech/mgr at Office Depot and he said he does not have the recovery disk but bring the tower in and he will get Win8.1 back up and running. My wife is going to drop it off later today.
dick
|
|
|
Post by Andy on Jun 7, 2015 21:49:05 GMT
It might be too late and your computer has already been brought in, but many computers come with a recovery partition on the hard drive that allows you to restore to the original settings and operating system.
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 7, 2015 23:17:16 GMT
That may very well be but I am not savy enough to know how to do that,,,,,,,,and besides it's already in the shop with a free of charge reinstall.
dick
|
|
Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by Squirrel2014 on Jun 7, 2015 23:49:17 GMT
When you get your machine back it would be useful if you could make an image, or clone, the drive so that, should any problems happen again in the future, you will be able to use the image/clone and get back to your 'clean' install There's help around, which would help you do this.
|
|
|
Post by Andy on Jun 7, 2015 23:59:05 GMT
That may very well be but I am not savy enough to know how to do that,,,,,,,,and besides it's already in the shop with a free of charge reinstall. dick Hard to beat the service being provided for free!
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 11, 2015 11:02:57 GMT
I must not be living right,,,,things are not going my way lately. My wife picked up my computer yesterday and and it had a Recovery Disk, I think thats what it was, in the chute. Now I have never booted up a computer this way nor been down this avenue before but thought what the hell and hit the "On Button". I was able to follow along for a while until I got to a dialog box that told me there was a Driver missing and everything came to a screeching halt waiting for me to correct that situation. Now my driver is this little old lady I live with and that lets me sleep in the big bed so I quickly was in over my head.
I suppose in all seriousnous I could complete the task if the driver wasn't missing. I need a lot more info than what that dialog box was giving me plus I have never retrieved a driver from the net ,burned a CD and installed it. I'm going to write a detailed note to that tech and have my wife take it back to him one more time with instructions that when it returns to its place on my desk it better be ready for me to give it a name and sign in.
dick
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 11, 2015 19:14:15 GMT
okay, I'm back to Win8.1 ,I have a recovery disk. I am on that machine right now and all is well except for color of images on this forum. The text and graphics are okay as well as the Red Color headings as before. I haven't checked images at another site yet to try an isolate the problem.If anyone else could speak up if their color is off here and let me know it would help. Thanks dick
I went and checked around on other sites,its also funky there as well so it's not this site.
Story of my life lately now where to start looking for a setting that has gone awry. I sure hope it is not something internal to the computer.
dick
|
|
|
Post by Andy on Jun 12, 2015 0:33:09 GMT
Its unfortunate the store couldn't correct your problem, but I've never had much confidence in the technical skills of many of the staff I have encountered.
|
|
dicklaxt
Established Forum Member
Posts: 397
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by dicklaxt on Jun 12, 2015 11:28:01 GMT
I found a small circle Icon on my Bookmarks Bar that was half black and half white, I clicked on it and it was a Contrast Icon and the colors were checked "Invert Color" or something to that effect. I checked "normal" and that fixed my problem. I then deleted that Icon from the Bar as it was something new that just happened to be there on the recovery efforts.
dick
|
|
Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by Squirrel2014 on Jun 12, 2015 11:34:27 GMT
I found a small circle Icon on my Bookmarks Bar that was half black and half white, I clicked on it and it was a Contrast Icon and the colors were checked "Invert Color" or something to that effect. I checked "normal" and that fixed my problem. I then deleted that Icon from the Bar as it was something new that just happened to be there on the recovery efforts. dick Brilliant to hear this! Well done Julie
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Jun 12, 2015 17:19:08 GMT
Dick, glad to hear all is well now. I am just adding some information concerning recovery discs. It may help others.
Usually a computer will come with the appropriate utility to create recovery discs. All you have to do is follow the Wizard and create recovery discs on a flash drive or on a DVD.
Some computer manufacturers (ex. Dell) will provide recovery discs (as well as backup discs) free of charge if your computer is still under warranty. They will contain the factory-installed operating system, drivers, and utilities.
|
|