Bite the Bullet and take the embarrassment

[Brickwizard]

A couple of weeks back, we got a new to us Motor,
One thing I notice on holiday, the maps were years out of date, so I decided to get them upgraded, the local dealers quoted me £86 to do just the maps and aprox £190 to do the full system upgrade and wanted the car for a full day. Like a fool, I Decided to do it myself...

I found the download page , and it only offers downloads for windows or Mac,I thought no problems I will download it and run it in one of the compatibility apps or an Orical box, but no it would not even let me download, Now It's well over 20 years since I used windows, so had a word with neighbour to use her laptop well after nearly an hour it still would not download, Why we thought, after a while I said lets check how much drive space you have, we need 60gb,,Ahh she only had 40 available.so back home moping

Then a flash of lightning,, I had a Windows 8 drive I removed from an old laptop, connected it to an old XP motherboard booted it, went to download site...download failed must be windows 10H2 or newer or W 11,..proceed to the nearest solid wall and bang head. So at 10 am yesterday I started to try and install W10H2 as an upgrade to w8, well it was like watching paint dry, but eventually [around 4pm] I got it installed, then I hit the Microsoft I won't let you use it without a licence number [return to brick wall and bang head again]

Back to the computer and it asked for my Microsoft business member log in [remember what I said I have not used windows in over 20 years and could not remember it ] put in my e-mail and to my surprise it was recognised immediately, and a second step sign in code was sent to me, I entered the 8 digit code and boom my wind 10 was licence. And working [but only at the speed of a slug trying to climb an iceberg]

Back to car download site found the right one for my car, hit the button and away, it not only downloaded the maps by the full system upgrades, it finally finished at 10 pm last night.

This morning a new day dawns, I set up the old motherboard with win 10 and my download from last night, put a 32gb usb3 in the slot and hit the go button to write the programs to the USB, the Old motherboard being USB 2 took around an hour to write the USB, its now brekki time, switch of the jerry rig take out usb and put with car keys, had brekki and coffee then out to the car.

Now it's 10o/c and I am at the car, turn on the engine [it must be running whilst the updated are going] put the USB in and started the update and "" warning this may take some time""!!!!! True to its word I sat there engine running until 11-30 when it bleeps completed re-boot re-started the system and all is now well

After a lot of boring work we now have a fully updated Sat nave and car system, so I took it to the garage and bought it lunch [1/2 tank deisel]
And the embarisment I now also have a slug of a Windows 10 fully licence OS

 

[Trynna3]

Welcome in da club.
My other half decided to save money and fill my car air conditioner gas by himself. He broke it. It didn't cool at all, in summer.
I took it to Kwikfit where I used to do servicing and MOT, they had a very skilled guy there. Not anymore. They quoted me £900. I was desperate to have it done asap, but they said they didn't have the right person to do it.
So I found a smaller private garage and they got a new, generic, part, £400 with the work.
It is not what it used to be, it makes sound when it turns on and off, ie. it is noisier and IMO lil' less efficient.

But he changed a timing belt in his engine the other day and fixed other bits, saving us money there. I think the humiliation over this was a punishment enough for him LOL.

RE SatNav - Tomtom sent me a message that they quit supporting SIM in my current device. That to keep it working the same way I'll need to pair it with my phone.
I am going to use my phone only. Bye Tomtom.

 

[Condobloke]

you poor bugger !...you really did not deserve all of that , Brian !

Well done, with all that you got done, and the tenacity to hang in there.

 

[wizardfromoz]

I've just signed into "The Office" here, saw the notification for this thread, and thought "'Allo, 'Allo, 'Allo, this will be interesting"

...and it was.

Brian, I could feel the angst coursing through your veins, and was on the edge of my seat, had to break off and grab another coffee.

Almost as good as watching "Silent Witness" or "Spooks".

If I were there I would pin a medal on your chest.

 

[MikeRocor]

A couple of weeks back, we got a new to us Motor,
One thing I notice on holiday, the maps were years out of date, so I decided to get them upgraded, the local dealers quoted me £86 to do just the maps and aprox £190 to do the full system upgrade and wanted the car for a full day. Like a fool, I Decided to do it myself...

...

After a lot of boring work we now have a fully updated Sat nave and car system, so I took it to the garage and bought it lunch [1/2 tank deisel]
Ans the embarisment I now also have a slug of a Windows 10 fully licence OS

I'll undoubtedly have to eat these words but I've reached a point in life where I say, "If I can't do it without Microsoft, I can't do it at all."

At the dog training club that I'm joining and which my sister has been a member of for a few years, one of the ladies asked me to help with a simple sounding data sifting task involving the logging of scores and the dispensing of prizes (donated "premiums" that are in addition to the achievement ribbons). Assuming that the lists of dogs vs owners/exhibitors vs show arm-band numbers must already be available from the show secretary and the scores to be filled in as the show progresses and the list of premium prizes either -is- or -can be made- available electronically, I'm thinking this is a simple matter of parsing some files in a script or, at worst, a generic spreadsheet exercise.

No no no. They're using some proprietary software all done up in... MS Access... And it might run on the version of Access that I have on my Windows 7 box (not holding my breath). So I asked for a copy of the package but the lady I was talking to didn't have it on hand and I never did get in touch with the lady who has it. Fast forward a few weeks and my sister is temporarily taking over some show/trial administrative function and she needs the software for that purpose. The lady in charge says, "Lisa has a copy of the show software, ask her to get it to you." My sister sees Lisa (who is the same lady I was already talking to a few weeks ago). Sis talks to Lisa and Lisa gives her the program on "a USB thingy". The USB thingy turns out to be the broken off USB-A end of a device (undoubtedly a thumb drive) but "Lisa says it still works".

"Let me see that." I can see by looking at it that it most certainly does not still work but I can also see that the protruding stub ends of electrical connections are not shorted together so, just to be thorough, I plug it in and verify that it is, in fact, not recognized as being present.

So...

• someone, likely a competent database geek, but one only familiar with Microsoft products, has produced a database system specifically for dog obedience trial administration - but the product lacks this one obscure feature that I've been asked to help with.
• someone at the club successfully uses this system to manage the clubs shows
• someone else at the club uses the system for some auxiliary function. This one thinks she's running it from a USB stick but, apparently, actually has it installed on her laptop.
• I still have yet to even look at the system to see if I can add a (hopefully) simple data extract so I can add in the requested feature (or even just see if I can run the whole mess in the first place).
• Between Microsoft and the users, I'm really kind of hoping this turns into a complete nonevent (I wasn't planning on charging anything for helping with this).

 

[Condobloke]

LOL !! ..^^^^^

Never volunteer until you have the facts....the real facts.....and then be prepared to say....No.

No is a wonderful word.

I volunteered to take some (3000) pics off a neighbours Android phone (the topic is on linux.org)...never bloody again. ( I will heed my own advice)

Take a few pics off...simple stuff !....right....grrr

 

[Brickwizard]

with all that you got done, and the tenacity to hang in there.

If I know something is within my capabilities, then I refuse to be beaten, if I am not sure then I don't mind giving it a try but am willing to get help.

Tomtom sent me a message that they quit supporting SIM in my current device. That to keep it working the same way I'll need to pair it with my phone.

Defeats the object of having a sat nave, And depending on the driving laws in your country, it may be legal to have a sat nav but be illegal to use a mobile phone or tablet whilst driving.

 

[MikeRocor]

LOL !! ..^^^^^

Never volunteer until you have the facts....the real facts.....and then be prepared to say....No.

No is a wonderful word.

I volunteered to take some (3000) pics off a neighbours Android phone (the topic is on linux.org)...never bloody again. ( I will heed my own advice)

Take a few pics off...simple stuff !....right....grrr

My problem that way is twofold: I hate to see people suffer when the solution is fairly simple and I just can't make myself assume that people are as dumb as they usually turn out to be. And that makes -me- dumb on at least the first count because I already know that "The solution is never simple" especially when there is money to be made by people who ensure that the solution will never be simple. On the second count I'm the victim of my own honest mistake. I grew up thinking that my circle of friends and my family were all of baseline, average intelligence - but, after several decades, I've come to realize that's not really true and I'm giving way to much credit to the baseline. average human being. So many people are are so dumb! And sadly, at the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, it seems there's a lot of money to be made not just by helping (or using) dumb people but by -keeping- people dumb.

---

I just wrote an unexpectedly long bit about pulling down photos from an Android phone but, since it is longish, I'm going to add it to my thread from last August regarding replacing my broken smart phone instead of adding it here.

 

[Trynna3]

Defeats the object of having a sat nave, And depending on the driving laws in your country, it may be legal to have a sat nav but be illegal to use a mobile phone or tablet whilst driving.

How about the UK? We all have (or should have, some are missing it) a mobile phone holder in the vans at work, exactly to use the sat nav in the phones.
I'll introduce this practice in my private settings when Tomtom stops working. It still might work, just I won't get the actual traffic updates to find a faster route or something of this sort. I'll wait and see. Alternatives are out there.

 

[Brickwizard]

a mobile phone holder in the vans at work,

Phone clips mostly went out with Bluetooth hands free in many vehicles or supplementary blue tooth kits [I still have mine I got some 15 yrs ago and it still works] it means you keep your phone in your pocket or bag,

 

[Trynna3]

Phone clips mostly went out with Bluetooth hands free in many vehicles or supplementary blue tooth kits [I still have mine I got some 15 yrs ago and it still works] it means you keep your phone in your pocket or bag,

I meant using the phone as a satnav, not a communication device. Are you still with me?

 

[Brickwizard]

Are you still with me?

No, I'm with the Woolwich... [remember that one?] there are not so many car phone holders on the market as there was before blue tooth and fixed ones were part of a kit, oh if you do get one, make sure it's not in the middle of your screen, [as you see so many] when I was on road safety, I used to have mine tight to the right of the screen near the bottom corner.

 

[Trynna3]

... make sure it's not in the middle of your screen, [as you see so many] when I was on road safety...

no worries, got the schooling for positioning it, from a pro

 

[MikeRocor]

For those occasions when I use my phone as a GPS, I made a custom phone holder for my car by affixing a phone clip, with swivel, to the top of a tall support (*) that fits in the center-console coffee cup holder. It holds the phone up above the gear shift lever and well below the windshield. It's also handy to the USB charging port. When not charging and not using the GPS function, the phone just stays in my pocket. I rarely have a passenger in my car, so occupying one of the cup holders is no big deal.

*) an upside down Pringles potato chip can. It was going to "just be a prototype" but it works so well I decided to just run with it.

 

[Sherri is a Cat]

Now It's well over 20 years since I used windows

Before deciding to pursue IT, I thought I would never have to use Windows again. I completely eradicated in from my system, put in place measures to make sure it couldn't sneak back in with a DOD wipe to the HDD and EXT4 format. I was beginning to have regrets after starting class last month when I found out Microsoft will still be an unwelcome part of my life, at least for a little longer. To make matters worse I will unfortunately need Windows! All the class computers are running Win 11. I never allowed MS to badger me into upgrading Win 8.1. 11 isn't much different, really just the GUI and some added features.

I have 2 opinions on using still being able to use Windows.I remember too much to believe I've recovered from 20 or so years of abuse. But I did have to think about how to go about doing things so I know I have healed at least a little bit.

A friend of mine recently replaced all the computers in her office. She gave me a laptop with Win 11. Thank God it's a laptop. I won't have to look at it all day when I dont need it. The rest of the time it can stay in my bag.

 

[RabattDigga]

What a mission! You definitely earned that fully updated system after all that back-and-forth with tech, from Windows hurdles to car updates.

 

[VP9KS]

Yeah, I'm looking at an uncased 16GB thumb drive that failed a while ago, and something is definitely missing. That is just the connector. "But it works on my computer" she said! "The problem must be on your computer". NYUK NYUK.

If you could get the data files they are using, and copy them into a spreadsheet, you could massage it any way they wanted.

Good luck mate!
Paul

 

[VP9KS]

A couple of weeks back, we got a new to us Motor,
One thing I notice on holiday, the maps were years out of date, so I decided to get them upgraded, the local dealers quoted me £86 to do just the maps and aprox £190 to do the full system upgrade and wanted the car for a full day. Like a fool, I Decided to do it myself...

I found the download page , and it only offers downloads for windows or Mac,I thought no problems I will download it and run it in one of the compatibility apps or an Orical box, but no it would not even let me download, Now It's well over 20 years since I used windows, so had a word with neighbour to use her laptop well after nearly an hour it still would not download, Why we thought, after a while I said lets check how much drive space you have, we need 60gb,,Ahh she only had 40 available.so back home moping

Then a flash of lightning,, I had a Windows 8 drive I removed from an old laptop, connected it to an old XP motherboard booted it, went to download site...download failed must be windows 10H2 or newer or W 11,..proceed to the nearest solid wall and bang head. So at 10 am yesterday I started to try and install W10H2 as an upgrade to w8, well it was like watching paint dry, but eventually [around 4pm] I got it installed, then I hit the Microsoft I won't let you use it without a licence number [return to brick wall and bang head again]

Back to the computer and it asked for my Microsoft business member log in [remember what I said I have not used windows in over 20 years and could not remember it ] put in my e-mail and to my surprise it was recognised immediately, and a second step sign in code was sent to me, I entered the 8 digit code and boom my wind 10 was licence. And working [but only at the speed of a slug trying to climb an iceberg]

Back to car download site found the right one for my car, hit the button and away, it not only downloaded the maps by the full system upgrades, it finally finished at 10 pm last night.

This morning a new day dawns, I set up the old motherboard with win 10 and my download from last night, put a 32gb usb3 in the slot and hit the go button to write the programs to the USB, the Old motherboard being USB 2 took around an hour to write the USB, its now brekki time, switch of the jerry rig take out usb and put with car keys, had brekki and coffee then out to the car.

Now it's 10o/c and I am at the car, turn on the engine [it must be running whilst the updated are going] put the USB in and started the update and "" warning this may take some time""!!!!! True to its word I sat there engine running until 11-30 when it bleeps completed re-boot re-started the system and all is now well

After a lot of boring work we now have a fully updated Sat nave and car system, so I took it to the garage and bought it lunch [1/2 tank deisel]
And the embarisment I now also have a slug of a Windows 10 fully licence OS

Ya know, back a few moons ago, I was looking at different replacement vehicles. I looked at a few with built in GPS, and wondered how to update them. I decided to keep my old Garmin Nuvi 2597LMT, even though it does require Windows to update it, because I can set it on my wife's desk for the update. (yes she is the Windows user) This allowed for a wider range of vehicle choices. Another reason to not have the built in GPS/satellite/super wiz bang, is that the "entertainment systems" which include them also have intrusive software which listens and reports your choices of radio stations, driving habits, etc Yes indeed, big brother is looking over your shoulder, and you pay big bucks for the privilege of being spied upon. I chose one without all the bells and whistles, It has served me just fine.

Just because I'm paranoid, does not mean they are not out to get me.

Another thing which I do not appreciate about the newer vehicles, is the expansion of CAN Bus use. Is it really necessary to have head light and tail light assemblies connected to the CAN bus? If you think that I am kidding about that, I saw a video on You tube recently where a pickup truck showed multiple errors caused by water in a tail light assembly loading down the CAN bus. The bloody thing would not run!!!

Happy Trails,
Paul