Upgrading computer systems – tears and joys: Day 4-14

The continuation of our computer upgrade saga…read from the bottom up on this post to start at the beginning.

Throughout the week I gradually installed back on some of the miscellaneous programs I had been using. Most are utilities or add-in’s that I had downloaded from the Internet. Boy, these aren’t organized as well as they should be. I’ll be working on a solution for that!

My folders had a mix of programs I really use and paid for, plus programs I downloaded the trial version and don’t care about now. I am really getting to see which utilities help me be more productive. (For instance, I am really missing my Outline utility…as I do research it is how I collect my thoughts and information.) I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to find these on my hard drive as there is “real” work to do to make up for the time lost last week.

The connection to the server keeps dropping. I’m trying to figure out if there is a pattern. The tech guy had installed a switch box that allowed my Dell and the server to share a monitor, keyboard and mouse so I can save space in my home office. (My office was never designed for two workstations!) He dropped by to put in a new box as he thought that might be an issue. Nope. But I like this one better. You can just push the button and you are on the other computer. Before, I had to hit Scroll Lock, Scroll Lock, + and if I didn’t get it just right it wouldn’t work. I felt like I was doing morse code. Was that how I had to talk to my computers now? Help me!

Throughout the week, my poor tech guy, in between my hectic client load and his (you know, this time was not in either of our calendars) tried to figure out with Microsoft what was up. Thank goodness he can now access my server from his office. This is a benefit.

I worked most of the week from my laptop because it had a stable connectioon to the server. This was possible because my assistant was on vacation. But, it just isn’t the same as a workstation computer. Plus, I hadn’t loaded on all my programs…after all, this wasn’t the computer I would be using every day.

I got back on my Dell when I was told to change some lower level setting in Network Connections to a different speed. It would only take a 10 MBps option (which I know is slower than 100 – the other option). My computer became a dog! Opening applications took forever! I only endured this for a few days and decided to set it back on my own. Thank goodness my feeble brain could remember where to go. I don’t care what the tech guys say.

On Day 12 (a Friday), I was told to lurk around my computer and watch for it to drop the connection to the server. When it did, I should immediately run a program that would collect a bunch of stuff for Microsoft. My tech guy says the program is really cool. I’ll just have to trust him, because all I want is the problem to be fixed. I did this. Of course, the laptop started dropping the connection too so I ran the program on it for Microsoft. Now we have to wait for their tech guy to talk to my tech guy on Monday.

What have I learned thus far?

1. Never underestimate a computer upgrade and/or server install.
2. I do miss featues of ACT!, especially being able to see everything by a person’s name. Or finding a vendor by the industry type because I couldn’t remember their name. Outlook is not a contact manager…I’m going to have to look into what Microsoft offers for small businesses which I haven’t been impressed with yet. They have a void in this area.
3. That darn Murphy was right…what can go wrong will go wrong.
4. Keep hitting the save button. It’s not fun to re-enter your info.
5. Have your downloaded files better organized.
6. Overall, I have more patience than I thought. Maybe because this is my constant prayer? This is surely testing me.
7. I keep thinking…what am I really supposed to be learning from this???

It isn’t over yet…more in a few days!

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