Internet Explorer not responding

If you do a show-on-desktop from the Metro version does it still not work?

Try following some of the advice here

http://answers.microsoft.com/e...19-b90b-4f367919f5c7

Thanks, but shortly after posting the message, Internet Exploder (the version which I could access!) decided to lock on one page and wouldn't let me enter any new urls.  So I've reinstalled Windows 8 Pro (complete faff IMO), and have most things back up and running.  Funnily enough the Naim Forums wouldn't accept my password on trying to login, and I've had to reset it!

Now I just have to finish reinstalling my programs, sending a rude email to Sibelius (Avid software) about difficulties with their website when reinstalling that program (for some reason that site kept trying to assume I was in the USA and wouldn't give me GB or UK as an alternative country!), and figure out why my Radeon graphics card isn't appearing on the screen option bit, although I have installed the driver, and Device Manager says its there and working OK (hmm ...)

(The first person who suggests changing to a Mac will be met with abuse ... )

All seemed to be going well until this evening.  I'd got all my programs back on - including Handbase Desktop and Keeper Desktop, for which I had to contact the companies for the registration codes (i'd managed to misplace them).  Even my Epson all-in-one was working wirelessly (it had stopped communicating some time ago, and I'd been using it via USB, but couldn't use Epson Scan), and my Canon 700F scanner software was working.  Then the PC decided that it ought to upgrade to Windows 8.1.  Foolishly (?) I let it carry on.

Now the scanner software for the Epson will no longer load (but the printer still works wirelessly and I can scan/copy using its own little control screen), likewise the Canon 700F, which scans ok from its buttons, but when I try to launch MX Navigator (the scanning program), it tells me that the Scanner isn't a 700F!  Tried the obvious and downloaded/installed latest versions from Canon website, but no joy.  On-line suggestions involve changing a setting within MX navigator (the Canon scanner software), but it won't even open to let me get at its options!  Can't be anything to do with WiFi, as the Canon is connected by USB.

Bloody computers ...

Time for a MAC, Not cheap to start with, but they work for non-computer types like me. I'd never go back to Windoze.

I do have a very old little Sony Vaio laptop with Linux, which in comparison to my MAC is like exercising an elephant, but it is completely reliable, and allows me to keep almost all my new digital photos from occupying space on the MAC, which is reserved for AIFF files for iTunes!

I have had several Windoze based computers, and they don't seem to do well for me. always something going wrong or settings changing without command from the operator ...

ATB from George

Time to "upgrade" to Windows 7. Solid as a rock on my laptop. Mind you, XP runs fine on my desktop as well, despite Microsoft pulling the plug on support.

There's a theory that OS's from Microsoft alternate from good to bad.

98 was bad.

2000 was good.

ME was bad.

XP was good. 

Vista was terrible. 

7 was (is) excellent 

8 is rubbish

Roll on windows 9

Another concerned XP user here : (

I do wonder why Microsoft has stoped supporting XP,

unless it's just to force people to dispose of their hardware and spend their disposable income money on them all over again.

Do we need to be security careful with no support?

I read somewhere that Internet Explorer is not good to use anymore,

and should change up to Chrome or Firefox...

Debs

I understand where you're coming from, Debs.  I moved to Windows 7 on an Acer laptop when my old Vaio laptop died (bust screen).  Worked very well and don't recall any particular problems with it.  The only reason I finished up with this new (well, a year old now) laptop is that I wanted a good gaming one with a decent graphics card in it, and ordered it with Windows 8, as that seemed to be what all the new machines were coming with. Wish I'd ordered it with Windows 7.

Just installed the Photo Gallery part of Windows Essentials because I had a load of SWMBO's photos to process (mainly for Red Eye correction) prior to trying to make her prune the number she wants printing (sigh).  The Windows download site wouldn't let me just have that bit, and I had to install Movie Maker (don't want it) as well.  Had a few scans I wanted to crop as well (legacy of the Scanner Software not running since reinstalling).  Would you believe that for quite a few of the Scans/Photos editing buttons (red eye, crop etc) are greyed out?  Checked that the files weren't read only (they weren't).   Finished up installing GIMP, which works but is tedious to use for multiple files

George, as I've said before, I have used Macs (and Apple IIs some years ago) quite extensively, mainly because one of my former colleagues insisted on having them as the ICU computer terminals, and also because my youngest and her husband have MacBooks.   They don't seem particularly more stable than Windows, and are considerably more expensive.

For me to change to a Mac would involve several thousand pounds outlay.  After all, it's not just the computer, it's the software as well.  Just think how much a replacement copy of Sibelius 7.5 costs, for instance.  Not too mention Mac versions of Microsloth Office, dBpoweramp, making sure my QNAP and Buffalo NAS's work with Mac, etc etc.  I'd need a new Harmony Remote, too, as I can't update mine (if I want to change any of the  Activity settings) using USB 3.0, but have to use the only USB 2.0 port on my laptop.   Really makes me hanker after my old Acorn RiscPC  which was totally reliable and IIRC never crashed on me.   Only gave that up because of lack of software to do some of the things I wanted to do.

John

p.s.  I can still scan using different dpi settings with the choice of greyscale or colour, but have to do it via Device Manager.  That's OK for just a few files, but very tedious if doing a lot.  Could be really annoying, as I am contemplating purchasing Photoscore Ultimate to go with my copy of Sibelius.

No, it doesn't surprise me. Another recent Microsoft con is that Office now comes as a 1 year subscription, meaning you have to fork out for it every year.

As for photo editing software, have you ever tried Picasa (freeware). A superb and easy to use editor that does the job.

Partially solved the Photo Gallery greyed-out problem.  On looking at the files affected, it seems that they are all bmp files.  Jpg crops OK.  Very strange, because I don't recall Photo Gallery behaving like that in the past.  Think I'll have to uninstall, download and reinstall to see if that cures it.

Noticed another little foible since reinstalling Windows 8.  Previously  my laptop was noticing that I had a USB mouse connected and automatically disabling the built-in mousepad.  Now?  I have to press FN F1 to disable the mousepad, and the mousepad seems to re-enable itself every time the screen display blanks (I have it set on ten minutes)  I hate mousepads because I keep catching them while typing and moving the cursor.

I use my laptop as destop replacement and never take it out with me!  Stopped using a box PC (correct term?) because I got fed up of banging my right knee against it (kept it under my desk)

I think that 13 years is beyond a reasonable lifespan. And seems to be three or four times as long as Apple support theirs.

That's exactly what I told my ex  

(note - ex )