Database Error

[Dollythehun]

I am downloading 6 updates now...will check when it's done.

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The vulnerability affects at least everything since Windows XP. I don't know about earlier versions of the operating system. Microsoft released the security patch for this flaw in March 2017 but many users have not applied it.

Microsoft stopped supporting XP for almost all customers several years ago. They stopped releasing updates. There are many businesses running XP who did not want to switch. They are paying Microsoft for continuing support. Only large businesses can afford this; it is very expensive. They have been getting system and security updates, but individual users, and small businesses, have not been getting these updates.

Today Microsoft decided to release a free security update to Windows XP (and above) to all users, even ones not paying for ongoing support.

So everybody who has any version of Windows since XP needs to perform a Microsoft update to get the security patch. People whose machines are set to automatically update should have it installed already. But many XP users stopped looking for updates when MS stopped supporting XP.

[Dollythehun]

I have Windows 7. I was recently told by the shop to keep my machine, and not get a new one. My machine prompts me when updated become available and I install them. However, when I went to control panel, I found 6 available for download. I am assuming I can now get on with life and not worry

We are already dealing with a family member's fraud and that person has no debit card or computer. Go figure.

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Many people prefer Windows 7. I agree, keep it as long as you can and Windows 7 keeps getting updates.

Sellers of refurbished computer hardware still offer Windows 7 professional 64-bit to customers. This is often installed on off-lease equipment that originally had Windows 8 or 10 on it.

[Dollythehun]

They told me I still had more than half my memory and they​ thought I should just keep it. So twice a year I take it in for a tune up. It was good enough to get me through my MA and I hardly use it except for work. Thanks for the nudge gentlemen, I am completely updated..I hope others do the same.

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It may still be possible to upgrade that computer. I would recommend you ask the computer shop about this, and upgrade as much as possible. Parts for old computers become more difficult to find as time passes.

If you put into it as much random-access memory as it can hold (RAM, working memory) it will run as fast as possible. Computer people use the term "memory" to refer to the RAM, the contents of which disappear when the computer is powered off. This is different from the permanent storage space, the hard disk, which has a permanent record of what is placed onto it when the power is off.

Most computers don't ship with all the RAM they can hold. It is good to fill it. The BIOS needs to be upgraded before this is done. The BIOS is a semi-permanent set of instructions on a chip on the motherboard that tells the computer how to power up. This can be modified when upgraded BIOS programs become available, and they usually do.

The computer shop should know how to do all this. I would strongly recommend people put as much RAM into any computer as it will hold. The increase in speed is very noticeable.

And the hard disk (permanent storage) in the computer is probably not as big as it could be. They rarely ship with the largest disks available at the time of sale, and larger disks become available quickly. Your shop could install a larger disk and transfer your existing information onto it. This would give you even more time. I suspect when the shop told you more than half the space was available they were referring to permanent storage space on your hard drive, and not your random-access memory.

Another approach people take is to leave the original hard disk in the computer, and move things they don't use much to a portable hard disk that attaches via a USB cable. These peripheral drives are quite inexpensive. When access to those files is desired the portable drive is plugged into the computer.

[Dollythehun]

They offered that. I declined. Now I mostly use my phone or tablet...

[Leafmite]

I actually thought the site had been taken down. I got some very weird stuff when trying to get to this site. I actually took it off my links. I just decided to take a look today and here it was!

Security....

I use a pair of external drives and back up everything on my computer often. I back up everything on both drives so that I have a back up of a back up. You never know when technology will fail. The external drives are kept completely unplugged when I am not backing up my files and data. Before backing up anything, I run anti-malware/spyware programs and take my computer offline. It only takes a few minutes to back up if it is done regularly as you only need to back up anything that you have added. I back up after I have added anything that I would mourn losing (precious pictures). In this way, if I would be hit by a ransom or other malware attack, it won't be too painful. I would advise everyone to do this. The other thing that you should never do is to click on a link or open photos in an email unless it is on a device on which you have nothing important and that is not linked to the rest of your home network. Do not have emails open automatically and if an email doesn't seem to be from a familiar source, do not read it and just delete it. Be careful what other links you click upon when you are browsing the internet. Check the link before clicking on it to make certain it is going to the right site. Do not click if the link does not seem right. Keep your anti-malware programs updated and run them often. Do not read email at work and, if you own a small business, make it a rule that outside email is not to be read on company computers. If you think you might have blundered, take your computer/device offline immediately and run anti-spyware and go to task manager and end the process.

To make things easier for your family and friends, when sending Photos, make certain that they can see the photos in the email instead of needing to click on them. When sending links, tell family and friends exactly what the link is and make certain that the link is safe before sending it.

I hope this helps!

[MattWoelfsen]

Is there any plans to address the inability for Tapatalk users to access this website on Tapatlk? I normally use Tapatalk and I am still getting error messages on Tapatalk.

I am accessing this website via Safari. This is my back up access. I don't mind that I have to through Safari. Tapatalk is a very convenient app.

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It is nicer to see the big pictures on a desktop monitor. And anybody can access the site via a browser on a phone.