Saga of the New Computer

Date: October 26, 2009

      I ordered a new PC because Dell said "We heard you" and offered models with XP - because VISTA isn't allowed in my house. Windows7 won't be either.

      I need the PC and a 24" screen to run FrameMaker 9. Adobe took FrameMaker off the Mac. (Words that can't printed!!!!!!)

      First of all - I was poking the new DELL with as stick. For weeks, I hate PCs and I HATE installing software.

      It sat there, assembled, turned on, CAT5 cable (dog ate the first one) replaced, and I got the security software on it ASAP.
      Then I tried to con my son to come help his mother - he is an IT expert Achitect - but he hates PCs too.

      So finally, I got the dog contained, coralled, tethered, what have you, and I decided to bite the bullet.

      Actually, I should have had a bullet to bite. I always know where the gun is, but I keep misplacing the damn bullets!

      I had moved the Dell over closer to the G5 MAC Tower (early version of the Big Mac Pro). I had acquired a table for it.

      New keyboards (installed). New mice (not yet). Cables out of reach of the Beagle puppy.

      I think I still need a table for the mac. They are "out of stock" at the moment. (Adjustable height "utility" table with T legs.)

      The tented Ergo keyboard is higher than the original MAC keyboard (7 years old and dirty and noisy).

      I have located the trick for how you open a DELL DVD drive (under the My Computer icons - right click on the DVD icon and click on Eject).

      I guess the button to open the drive door was considered ugly.

      I installed the PCMover software on the DELL.

      Then I set up the laptop being retired, and I installed the PC Mover on the Toshiba. This requires balancing the laptop on a pen, because the DVD drive isn't properly seated anymore.      

      In both cases, then you must run updates, which --- wait for it -- REINSTALLS PCMover on each machine!----serial number on only one ----the old one.

      Finally, I have connected at this point 2 CAT5 cables to the DSL modem, and the USB LapLink cable.
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      Now you go thru the list (wait for it) of every application on the system.
      I couldn't see all I wanted, and did select NOT to move old stuff I did find.
      That's the idea behind a new system. Housekeeping.

      SEVEN HOURS and 16GB later, it appeared to be complete.

      I appear to be exhausted.

      I click on a software icon (the desktop looks as messy as the old one - I have work to do).
      Visio came up! Works!

      Ok - Word - Word bitched it wanted a product key.
      I dutifully typed in the Product key for my Office Professional 2007 Upgrade.
      It threw up.

      Thinking I mistyped -- I tried a couple of times. Remember my eyes are tired, they use a weird font, who knows?
      Nada.

      I try FrameMaker - it committed suicide. (My son said yeah - Adobe licensing hysteria)

      I have the disks for FM7.2 and FM8 - I installed FM7.2 - works - FM8 is being ignored (useless waste of money) and I went and ordered FrameMaker 9 which is what I want running anyway!

      I tried CS3 software - I have a whole bloody suite - suicide. Gotta love Adobe.
      This includes Acrobat.

      Now - I drank wine and hugged the puppy and went to bed. My son offered to come up -- but to do what?

      Monday morning - having roamed the Microsoft support site (still needs work guys) more time on that site than I wanted ---
      I got a chat (finally) going.

      They DIDN'T KNOW what to tell me - tried to send me to the support center!

      I bitched back - no - I want a human!
      I got an 800 number.
      Yes - they have one.

      I figured I would need a new product key - I have actually run into that on a PC a long time back - and I was on a company PC at the time.

      OK - the first support person - horrible connection - managed to get my product key and when she said --you need to have a complete install not an update - I screamed - no way in hell! (Well - I rephrased that a little bit----)

      She said I would have to install the ORIGINAL Office 2002 (Fry's installed it - I didn't - 7 years ago - like I am going to find that disk!) - I informed her I don't have 7 year old media! (OK OK I was a LITTLE more polite but I wasn't thinking polite!!!!!)

       Actually, I have Photoshop on floppy disk. I do have it ---- in San Diego --- 484 miles away in a box - SOMEWHERE. Putting my hands on it - another question.

       OK - she puts me on hold ----- comes back ---- I "qualify for free tech support" - well duh!
      They are transferring me - prob a 1-5 min wait.

      In a house with the heat off - I am chilled - I just walked the puppy 2 miles, had pills and breakfast, - I decided hobble to the bathroom while waiting - phone in ear. No - not a Bluetooth - HELD AGAINST my ear.

      OK - imagine this one-handed dance and hobble when they answered faster than I expected. I am dressing while providing my name and hurrying back to the computer while pulling up my jeans. Lovely.

      OK ---- we go thru a certain amount of check list --- and he asks --- what's in the program list ---
      Well --- I scroll down (unbelievable - PCMover MOVED EVERYTHING - WANTED OR NOT!) I found - Windows Student and home edition 60 day trial that I had told DELL NOT to install.

      Delete it. He said. THAT WAS IT!

      Office Pro 2007 now works fine. I was of course delighted and thanked him profusely.
      Quelle Simple!
     
      Now wait - why couldn't the Chat room person tell me to do that????

      Or the first support person???

      45 minutes on a cell phone.

      Tomorrow I will broach Adobe - because - while I have the disks for CS2 and CS2.3 and the new set - CS4 (unopened) - I do NOT have the CS3 disks - which probably went to San Diego to hide with the Photoshop floppy disks. I am uncertain why 2.0 and 2.2 DVDs are even up here - I really am trying to clean house!

      My question for them is -- did PCMover get enough over there for me to install the CS4 Upgrade? Because I don't want to run CS3 anyway.

      I will be putting CS4 on the MAC as well. And the new MAC OS (not Snow Leopard.) and I like my computers to match.

      CS4 includes Acrobat -- or I hope it does. I have Acrobat on floppy disk too! In San Diego.
     
      I need a new MAC PRO next year ---- you know how you do that?
      Image the damn drive. Turn on. Done. HA!

      If you only want to install upgrades - make the old system look like an external drive. HA!

      Quelle Simple!
      Now you know why I am a MAC person.
      And now you know why I am FURIOUS that FRAMEMAKER isn't issued for the MAC anymore!!!!

      Next call? I need to upgrade QuarkXpress on the Mac and the puppy ate the DVD.

Note laptop sitting on a pen ---- see the pretty MAC on the right