(no subject)

I've discovered today that every single software problem I've ever had with my laptop is directly down to Norton Anti-Virus. So I fired Norton and decided to go for Trend. Norton, in a suspiciously virus-like manner, will not uninstall So I'm reformatting my machine, firing XP Home in the process and installing a licenced copy of Pro that I have lying around. It is more than likely a decision that I'll regret but I'm just fed up with dealing with all the problems and I want it fixed. 

Hopefully my next post will be a gleeful one detailing how fantastic my laptop now is and about how oh-so-fast it runs, but it maybe one of dispair when I realise that as many problems as I had with the laptop, at least it was configured to my liking. 

Oh, and I changed my layout back to the original - it feels like my journal again. 

Ok, no more putting this off - I'm diving into the deep end. Yikes.

(no subject)

Le upgrade is complete. Obviously, my internet connection and network is back up. It only takes a minute to restart (not 15). Google Talk works, I've finally managed to download IE 7 and Messenger Live (which I have already abandoned in favour of Trillian, for now). I must say this tabbing business in IE7 is a bit disconcerting. It's why I really wanted it but the urge to go down and launch a new browser every 5 seconds is going to be tough to kick. My task bar looks decidedly lonely now that I've only got one instance of IE running.

I had my first moment of dawning horror when I discovered that I hadn't backed up 'My Pictures'. Luckily, I use the big ole desktop for most picture related things but I did have a few good ones on here that, sadly, I think, are toast. 

Thanks to molly_coddles, I've a shiny new (and free) anti-virus solution. It's stayed away from me so far so I think we're going to get along just fine;) 

I tried to download the new Office beta but was thwarted because they think they know my credit card billing address better than I do. Think I'll borrow the old man's credit card tomorrow and do it. I'd rather have the beta than reinstall the MSDN copy that I had before. I've got through about a quarter of all the pieces of software to download from the list that I made before I wiped, it got a bit tiresome so I've given up for the night. 

The day's project has been a success - it's like having a brand new machine and I'm mighty pleased with the results.

ETA. I made one more download attempt. That was to download the lunabar that all R/T writers should be equipped with.

ETA 2 - I was just about to go to bed to an episode of 24 when I realised that I don't have the factory-installed DVD player anymore. Does anyone know of a free DVD decoder that doesn't install advertising software and works?