This post should come with trigger warnings, touching on so many too familiar geezer trappings, especially the fresh hell of having to buy things every month instead of once. That's some deep capitalist genius there.
Re your lost memory sticks: have you looked in the microwave?
Lee ... I am a sole practitioner attorney (hence I am my own IT help desk like you) as well as the Artistic Director for a 60 voice concert choir (www.TheChoristers.org). Last summer I too had old laptop issues. Everything from threats of loss of the use of the laptop for a period of time and difficulty with Outlook raising the specter of months of lost emails. FWIW, I gave in and purchased a new laptop, then got the old laptop repaired which is now my back-up in the event I every lose the services of the new laptop. Also, FWIW, with a subscription to Office 365, you get a GB of cloud storage to back up your computer all in one place AND the ability to speak with a real person at Microsoft to help with problems you may have with an Office product. I was not a happy camper being shoved into all of this ... but, I am in a lot more secure situation now.
This post should come with trigger warnings, touching on so many too familiar geezer trappings, especially the fresh hell of having to buy things every month instead of once. That's some deep capitalist genius there.
Re your lost memory sticks: have you looked in the microwave?
Lee ... I am a sole practitioner attorney (hence I am my own IT help desk like you) as well as the Artistic Director for a 60 voice concert choir (www.TheChoristers.org). Last summer I too had old laptop issues. Everything from threats of loss of the use of the laptop for a period of time and difficulty with Outlook raising the specter of months of lost emails. FWIW, I gave in and purchased a new laptop, then got the old laptop repaired which is now my back-up in the event I every lose the services of the new laptop. Also, FWIW, with a subscription to Office 365, you get a GB of cloud storage to back up your computer all in one place AND the ability to speak with a real person at Microsoft to help with problems you may have with an Office product. I was not a happy camper being shoved into all of this ... but, I am in a lot more secure situation now.
I hurt my neck nodding in agreement.