COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Tizer]

If your computer `rang alarm bells telling me I had a virus and to download My PC Repair 2018' and the linked site was malicious doesn't it mean your PC must already be compromised?

[Pluggy]

Not if it was a website in a browser. It can say whatever the author wants. I was going to download it, for evaluation purposes but All google comes up with is how to get rid of it. There is close to 100% certainty it won't run on Linux anyway. Nobody bothers writing this sh*t for Linux - too small a target.

Back on the Ubuntu 18.04 trail, the blank screen thing hasn't reared its head of late, and there have been a good number of updates so I'm thinking they maybe got the blighter.

[Stanley]

Good lad Pluggy.
Re. the virus scan, I was foolish enough to pick up the phone yesterday morning and it was 'The Talktalk Technical Department' calling to tell me I had a serious problem..... Really? I cured the 'problem' by hanging up immediately.....

[SPR676]

I get these calls nearly every day and sometimes more than once. Whenever I hear “This is so and so from the (insert Telcos name) technical department” I immediately hang up. I don’t know if my telco does in fact have a ‘technical department’ as such but they certainly don’t communicate with clients by phone unless the client rings them.

[Stanley]

I've always liked Doc's description of those occasional glitches that we come across, he called them 'brain farts'. I had one this morning when posting Steam Engines and Waterwheels. The image I wanted to insert wouldn't work. Normally I have no problem at all and so I worried at it, changing the image in case the fault was in the file and retrying several times. No joy so I gave up in the end. Than I posted Mystery Objects and instead of the image I wanted, the missing image from Steam engines popped up. Huh?????
So I went back to the original steam post and opened edit and found a stray piece of code had appeared in the body of the text. I deleted it, posted the text and opened up a fresh post and attempted to put the image in again. No problem at all! All I can surmise is that somehow there was a fault somewhere in the image programme and for reasons I can't imagine the rogue bit of code got inserted and somehow it was blocking the image.
All is well now and it just goes to show that if you persevere you can beat even a brain Fart!

[chinatyke]

Is that why the text is repeated three times?

[plaques]

Had a glance at the 'Steam Eng...' this morning. Thought "bloody hell, there's to much to reads there, I'll wait while tonight." Now I've time on my hands.

[Stanley]

Bugger, I'll have a look. Only one when I left it. I told you I encountered a brain fart!!!
Sorted.......

[plaques]

Tried to log into (NHS) Patient Access, the site for hypochondriacs. I was treated to a 'New Web experience'. Just click on the button below and enter your ID & Code and Bobs your uncle. According to them I don't exist. Had a quick look in the obituaries to make sure I hadn't died. But I'm still here. Either the New Experience is part of the cock up or the data hasn't been populated yet.

[Tizer]

...According to them I don't exist...

Rather like those people caught out in the TSB debacle who tried to switch their accounts to another bank but ended up with TSB sending out letters saying they'd died. The first they knew was when the council etc started sending letters to their address saying `We understand you are the new owner of this property...' and other letters sent out to relatives, e.g. by pension funds, beginning `We are sorry to hear of your loss...'. TSB's response when contacted by The Times was `We've had a problem.'

[Stanley]

I hate all the time lost when things like this happen. I reckon there should be automatic compensation of the disturbance to the even tenor of your life......

[Big Kev]

Tried to log into (NHS) Patient Access, the site for hypochondriacs. I was treated to a 'New Web experience'. Just click on the button below and enter your ID & Code and Bobs your uncle. According to them I don't exist. Had a quick look in the obituaries to make sure I hadn't died. But I'm still here. Either the New Experience is part of the cock up or the data hasn't been populated yet.

It let me in OK, I must still have a pulse.

[Wendyf]

Colin can get in but all his records from 2011 to the present day have disappeared.

[plaques]

Patient Access now a success. Even my Tuesday's vampire results were in there. I haven't tried all the options yet but somehow the guide explanations seemed to be based on the premise that you know exactly where to go and which option to open as though the guide was only there to confirm what you already know. Not quite the dummies guide that I'm used to.

[Stanley]

I haven't bothered to look, I just check in each morning to the world.......

[Big Kev]

Up until a couple of weeks ago I worked for the company that developed Patient Access so I probably have an advantage knowing how it works

[Stanley]

Ah! So it's all your fault!

[Big Kev]

Ah! So it's all your fault!

Not any more

Just don't mention smart meters...

[Stanley]

I'm waiting for my first bill to see what exactly is happening........

[Big Kev]

I think I know what nPower are doing with my account, it would have been nice if they'd told me...

[Stanley]

I don't, I have had very confusing messages...... I rather think someone noticed the offer of free off-peak leccy....

[Stanley]

I have two matters.....
First is that I ordered a new Logitec keyboard and mouse two days ago from DABS at Blackburn. This one has done sterling service and is still OK mechanically but I have worn the letters off three keys and don't touch type so it was time to throw £26 at the problem. I am informed that DABS is now the BT online shop and their response was to tell me my card had failed. I ignored the mail and deleted it. Then I got a message a day later to ask if they should re-present it. As I know my card is OK I had done nothing. I've told them to try again and today I get a message saying all is well and it has worked. The emails reminded me of the British Gas system, all complications and gabble so it's my last order to them.
Another was a scam mail purporting to be from Amazon informing me that my account had been closed and asking for my details! Fat lot of chance. Using the Tiz method I viewed the source in Thunderbird, copied it and sent to Amazon. They responded immediately confirming it was scam and thanking me for the information. Hard times out there in scam land and they are busy!

[Stanley]

The new keyboard ete arrivee at last. Amazing how much better it feels than the old one! They deteriorate quietly over time and many millions of keystrokes.... Well worth the expenditure of £26..... Last order from what is now the BT shop, the service isn't a patch on the old DABS.

[Pluggy]

Dabs and BT Business Direct ran alongside each other for many years (same products and quicklinks but the business prices were ex VAT) BT bought Dabs back in 2006. No doubt reducing trade has pushed them to consolidate and switch off the Dabs arm. Having a look now - https://www.businessdirect.bt.com/ is still as it was.

If its only just happened, it looks like its had a stay of execution judging by this article from 2016 : https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/2 ... e_website/

[Stanley]

Interesting link Plugs. I had no idea they had changed because the site worked just the same as it always had, simple, quick and efficient. Not now! I shall not be using them again.....
PS the new keyboard is a delight and the funny thing is that I had some minor display issues that never bothered me but were there. I haven't seen them since I started using the new board....