Hello BW,
I'd love to help but my IT skills are not up to scratch. I'm using windows 8 on the laptop & I have eventually grown used to it. I think I have reached an age where I can no longer comprehend the advances in technology. I have been considering some sort of IT course so that I can do more, particularly with software.
Have you considered buying a bespoke PC built to your specifications and with the requisite software loaded on to it?
I hope it all works out as I know how frustrating it can all be.

Hello BW,
I'd love to help but my IT skills are not up to scratch. I'm using windows 8 on the laptop & I have eventually grown used to it. I think I have reached an age where I can no longer comprehend the advances in technology. I have been considering some sort of IT course so that I can do more, particularly with software.
Have you considered buying a bespoke PC built to your specifications and with the requisite software loaded on to it?
I hope it all works out as I know how frustrating it can all be.

I must remember to press send once and once only!

The Little Computer Men who used to exist round here and who could be trusted to build computers, fix computers, and not rip you off have long disappeared, sadly.

I won't touch Dell (past ginormous problems that took tens of hours to resolve, and which weren't ever resolved to my satisfaction), and I don't want all the crap that comes with pre-installed systems / software from the megastores that seem to be the only places left to source machines quickly these days. Plus, I don't want to pay the best part of a thousand pounds for system plus software that I already own!

I've heard too many horror stories about problems with online computer companies who build to spec to want to use them either. And anyway, my spec is simple - exactly like the last one...

I guess in 40 years all us 'don't want it, don't need it' people will be dead, so the problem of overly complex technology will go away, but, in the meantime, there is a huge consumer market that is just not being catered for.

I smiled when, without exception, on Wednesday, when discussing this issue, all my Patchy Ladies who had been talked into buying iCrap and/or Windows 8 by children or grandchildren admitted that they'd sooner have back their last computer.

I think I may have found how to install FF without another browser... http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/browser/installfirefoxwithoutie.html

If anyone reading knows about these things and could tell me if that makes sense, I'd be grateful...

I wish I could help but I tend to learn things as needed, and I haven't had to learn this much yet! I do know, however, that I love the free version of AVG. I've used it for years with the windows firewall and have had no problems. I have recommended it to several friends and family and have heard no complaints. And yes, it's great to hear from you again, Blue Witch!

Have now discovered the Windows OS comes with IE inbuilt these days, so one problem solved.

I'm concerned that I'm reaching my capacity to learn new tech stuff. I'm not looking forward to the time when I need a new computer.

New PC has arrived and windows 7safely installed, just need to make it look like XP now then load office 2013 which cost £9 thanks to a work deal and then about 2 tonnes of software and we might be back in action.

"No-one will ever persuade me that cloud storage or web-based email is the way to go"

Agree.

"No-one will ever persuade me that Windows 8 is a good idea..."

Strongly agree.

"I'm more and more frustrated by the difficulty in finding good information when searching the internet...it's really hard to find good info written by real people who know what they are talking about."

Again, agree and Google is crap now. Most of the stuff you find is misinformation that has been shared from one site to the next. Doesn't anyone do any research anymore?
(I know the answer to that question is no, so, let's just ignore it.)

There's always android ...

Android is for touchscreen devices like phones and tablets. And it's owned by Google. Other than that it would be perfect Debster ;)

LaP - you are a thorough reader! Key points perfectly extracted :)

If Z is dreading a new computer, then that suggest that iStuff is getting beyond the comprehension of normal mortals too. Just because they can make complexity doesn't mean they should.

1. The method you've found for installing FF without IE looks OK to me but I'm sure when I did it on my last but one PC I used Windows Explorer (Not IE). The method was similar to this one: http://www.howtogeek.com/125447/stupid-geek-tricks-how-to-download-firefox-on-a-new-computer-without-using-internet-explorer/ but not actually from there as I remember.
2. I wouldn't use anything else but Thunderbird for email, once used to it it's miles nicer than Outlook (mainly because if you mention an attachment in an email then forget to attach something it tells you before letting you send the email). The filters are better too, for Spam and general housekeeping though I'd agree the spam one is a bit convoluted to set up in the first place.
3. Don't know, sorry. Not used Outlook Express for a long time.
4. I just use Microsoft Security Essentials which is free but not included with Windows 7. It used to be reckoned to be as good as anything else out there (as long as you're not daft in the sites you visit and the things you click and I know you're not!). These days MS say it's only recommended as a total solution for Windows 8 but I think that's at least partly them trying to push 8 as the two OSs are essentially the same under the skin I believe.

As for new systems, I had one built to spec a few months ago and the supplier only recommended Windows 7.

On the Windows 7 Pro running XP front the only problem I had was with external hardware that didn't have W7 drivers...they still wouldn't work. But XP software ran absolutely fine. For my old negative scanner I've still got one reliable old Laptop and one clunky desktop in reserve with XP for real still running fine (but they haven't had the latest service packs since they never connect to the WWW anyway).

Thanks NiC, all very helpful/reassuring, particualrly as I know you feel similarly to me about privacy and advertising crap. What anti-spyware do you use these days?

Currently an hour into the Office 2013 download - "It looks like you have a slow connection, this might take some time" it is saying. As if *that* is my fault...

Late to the party as ever, glad you managed to sort most stuffs out, do mail if you have any remaining questions.

One little thing that you may well be missing in Win 7 is the Quicklaunch bar, see here for directions on how to reinstate: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/add-the-quick-launch-bar-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/

Thanks Ham.

I guess the thing is that most people are happy to use programs as they are presented. It's remembering and finding all the custom settings that's a challenge. Once upon a time, there was a choice at the outset - now it's knowing what is possible/desirable and spending hours working it all out.

Thunderbird's way of handling attachments is currently my biggest unsolvable bugbear. I want to click 'em straight off the 'paperclip' attachment icon, but it makes you open the message, and then go right down to the bottom of the screen to open it.

If you are using Thunderbird and there's something that you don't like about it, chances are you need an extension.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/extensions/?sort=users is our entry point and FlashGot is probably what you need https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/flashgot/?src=search

Don't use TBird, so I can't say for sure, as you know I've sold my soul to the Big G, but I suspect that's what you want. Good news is that extensions can be removed cleanly if you decide it isn't for you. Most, given the Open Source nature are also without spyware risk.