Tech Help Needed

Vanity | 03-17-2016 | NRx

[NRx]

I recently picked up a new laptop as my old one was after 7 years finally showing signs that it was about to go tits up on me. But I really really hate Windows 1. Think Vampires and Holy Water kinda hate. The bleeping machine keeps going to sleep if I don't move the mouse in a 3 minute or thereabouts period. And some of the files I migrated from my old computer won't open on the new one. I keep getting a message that says I don't have permission to view the file.

Other than using the bleeping machine for target practice, does anyone have any suggestions?

[Vendome]

[Secret Agent Man]

Serious, have you thought about linux with a nice gui on top?

[taxcontrol]

Go to Linux Mint download page: https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

If you have a 32 bit CPU, down load the 32 bit version. However, if it is a 64 bit CPU - go with that one.

Burn it to DVD, and then boot from your DVD. This will give you the chance to play with Linux Mint. It is great for surfing, email, general use. The great thing about the DVD is that you get to play without changing your laptop. If you want to switch to Mint, you can install either as a replacement for Windows or as a dual boot option.

Trust me, you will be much happier. My 65 year old Mother-in-law loves it. She has very little technical expertise.

[blueplum]

about all I can help with is screen saver timeout
(on my computer)
settings/personalization/click screen saver (lower right icon) /select timer from dropdown choices

[Robert DeLong]

A google search uncovered this advice on the quick to sleep issue.:

I've discovered this issue predates Windows 10 and some online posters noticed something I have been able to verify in my situation. It you restart, boot up, or wake from sleep with the power button the system doesn't go to sleep after a brief period of idling. If you wake it from sleep with keyboard or mouse it does go to sleep. I think better stated would be, it returns to sleep. This discovery explains why at times I have thought the issue had somehow been resolved. Using the power button to wake up a system is an OK work around, but not ideal.

[gloryblaze]

My sympathies. I finally broke down and got a new one about a year ago, after having waited too long. Mercifully, I am old enough to figure this has been my last learning curve.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

With regard to your machine going to sleep, I found this:



Two settings can affect your monitor - the screen saver and power settings.



Change Screen Saver Settings

1. Right click on the desktop, then click Personalize.

2. Click Screen Saver on the bottom of the Personalization window.

3. To change how long until your screen saver activates, increase or decrease the number of minutes in the Wait box.

4. To enable or disable password protection, check or uncheck “On resume, display logon screen.”

5. To change your screen saver, click the drop down box under “screen saver” and chose a different one.



Change Power Settings

How to:

Set your computer to go to sleep after a specified period of inactivity.

Adjust the brightness of your display.

Choose when to turn off the display during periods of inactivity.



Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then clicking Power Options.

Under the plan that you want to change, click Change plan settings.

On the Change settings for the plan page, choose the display and sleep settings that you want to use when your computer is running on battery (if applicable) and when it's plugged in.

For more options, click “Change advanced power settings” and for even more click "Change settings that are currently unavailable" (if available).

When you’re done click OK.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

The permissions thing might be more complex. Some might not open, not because of permissions, but because they are not compatible with the new operating system. But here is something I found that might help with the simpler cases:

You might have to set the permissions for that particular file manually. To do so follow the steps given below:

1. Right click on the File.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Security tab.
4. At the lower end of the window there will be an Advance tab to change permissions, click on it.
5. On the next window click on the Edit tab.
6. Permissions window will open; there you can edit the permission to Full Control, wherein you will have all the permissions for that particular file.

You may also check if you have the ownership of that particular file. To do that repeat the above steps till step 5 and Click on the Owner tab in that window and check who has the ownership of that file, if required change it.

[PAR35]

But I really really hate Windows 1.

Yes, that was a pretty rough version. It wasn't really functional until 3.1. You'd probably be better off sticking to DOS.

Look for the battery management program. That's where you can find setting for how long until it sleeps/shuts down when on battery and when plugged in, what happens when you close the lid, etc. Generally you'll want to set it to run like a desktop when plugged in, but have to balance how long you need the battery to last vs. convenience for battery operation.

As to accessing files - are you logged in as administrator or under a user ID? Are the files in the cloud, or did you move them over by email or memory stick?

[PIF]

Or go here for a good inexpensive warenteed mac from a reputible company

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

[Robert DeLong]

Here is something I found regarding you file issue:

Ran into the same problem with my partners laptop (Going from 7 -> 10 as well)

Are you finding it's just the library folders such as Downloads, Pictures, Music et cetrea it's happening to?

1. Right-click on the drive that is causing the problem.
2. Left-click on Properties.
3. Click on the Security tab.
4. In the first window click on Administrators (your computer name-PC Administrators).
5. Just below the window click on Edit.
6. Click on Administrators (your computer name-PC Administrators) again.
7. Here's the key to making it work. If Apply is grayed-out, check a box in the Deny column. It will then bring up Apply.
8. Check a box in the Allow column. It should check all of the boxes except the last one and uncheck all of the boxes in the Deny column.
9. Click Apply. It should run a scan of the files in the drive. When the scan is finished, click Ok. The first box should still be open.
10. In the first window, click on Users (your computer name-PC\Users) and repeat steps 5-9, of course clicking on Users (your computer name-PC\Users) instead of Administrators (your computer name-PC Administrators).

NOTE: You may not have to click in the Deny column after the first scan is completed for step 10 as indicated in step 7.

Hope that helps

[NRx]

I moved them by memory stick

[rarestia]

Spend some time learning the operating system. Like a new car, you’re not going to be comfortable as soon as you get in. You need to adjust the mirrors, the seat, maybe the steering wheel and the AC vents. The brakes will feel different, and the car will accelerate and decelerate differently.

Don’t dismiss a new OS out of hand because it’s not like the old one. If you think Windows 10 is bad out of the box, I can almost guarantee that the learning curve with Linux will put you on your ear.

There are plenty of YouTube videos on introduction to Windows 10, and take some time reading articles on line for beginner Windows 10 users. Most of all, take a deep breath, and relax. Yes, it’s unusual now, but Microsoft has taken pains to ensure that the user experience in Windows 10 is truly the easiest to learn.

You have to “read the manual” and adjust the OS to your liking. Sleep/hibernate timeouts, resolution, audio quality, icon locations are all customizable. Start asking Cortana for help. Maybe she’ll give you the information you need.

[Baynative]

It’s probably a bit late if you just put out big bucks. But there are a couple of companies doing very well by rebuilding laptops with lots of memory and horsepower and installing Windows 7 so they can function in the real world.

[smokingfrog]

linux

[databoss]

Ditto on the mint. Hassle free computing.

[TomGuy]

Win 10

Win 7 had a UAC, User Account Control.

I had to turn it off to be able to install new software.

It is in the Control Panel:

Control Panel>>All Control Panel Items>>User Accounts
..Change User Account Control settings

[NRx]

I think that is working. Unfortunately it will take hours to go through all the files. But at least I can get it to work. Thanks!

[r_barton]

Get a solid state ssd hard drive for the old laptop. You will be amazed at the speed increase. A 120-gb ssd drive is about $40. A clean Windows 10 install takes about 15gb of drive space. A clean Mint Linux install takes about 5gb of drive space.