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Computer help

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RS232 was a cable interface not a protocol. As long as the two devices it connects have the socket it should work. As to the software that allows them to talk to each other, that's a different matter.
the hardware is ok, win 10 software. even with a usb to rs232 converter does not work....the programs. are for win xp software.
 
Does anyone know if you can upgrade from Win 8.1 to Win 10 for free? Without losing files/photos on computer? It's not for me just trying to help a friend. Regards, RobT
 
Yes you can upgrade free from W7 or W9 or W8.1 see below as one example ...
.
Backup photos and files before doing so ... :)
Also see below
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/windows-7.48114/post-669251
 
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Does anyone know if you can upgrade from Win 8.1 to Win 10 for free? Without losing files/photos on computer? It's not for me just trying to help a friend. Regards, RobT
Rob, I’m not sure now. A few years ago I had to pay for mine. It seems like there is some charge for most things these days!
 
Still free as per OldMohawk's Post #110. I did one about a year ago, no problem, and I have to do one for a friend just arrived in her house from the UK, but am allowing a couple of weeks quarantine before I enter there. I've also done an old laptop from 8.0 to 8.1 and thence to 10.00 without any problems. Assuming the machine is compatible to update to 10 then it's pretty straightforward.

Maurice :cool:
 
Here is some info about update to Win10 without data loss but it still pays to backup data to an external source ... just in case. One way of backing up is to use a plug-in 32Gb flash drive and simply copy all data files to it. It is then simple to copy files back to the computer if necessary. The size of the flash drive will be dependent on the amount of data.
If the previously mentioned Windows 8.1 is accepted by Microsoft for that computer then the user has a licence. Microsoft will allow the free upgrade to Win 10 using the same licence and activation is usually automatic.

Windows 10 is now a very stable operating system. I know someone who as only ever used Apple Macs and they were impressed by Win10 when they saw it in action.
 
Good to hear a good comment about Windows 10. I would not revert to it as you can only ideally use one operating system at a time. When I had dual boot Mint and Windows I only booted Windows once per week to update it, so it was surplus to requiremenrts as they say. I think I still have my 8.1 license details to hand if I needed it.
 
I regularly check my broadband speed which is on the low side of around 14mbps. I thought i would try changing the channel on my router to see if it made any difference. I tried channels through one to ten with no difference in speed but when i tried the last channel ( 11 ) it shot up to 34mbps which was a nice surprise & i`m sticking with that.
 
I regularly check my broadband speed which is on the low side of around 14mbps. I thought i would try changing the channel on my router to see if it made any difference. I tried channels through one to ten with no difference in speed but when i tried the last channel ( 11 ) it shot up to 34mbps which was a nice surprise & i`m sticking with that.
whis mine was. its only 5mps,.... a load of pants.postoffice
 
And here in a rural Greek village we are paying for 50mbps and getting 45 mbps, yet there are villages a few miles north of here who can't even sustain a dial-up line because of the high noise levels. It's a very uneven internet world.

Maurice :cool:
 
It pays to avoid using a channel which a neighbour is using because in rare cases there can be slight interference. My laptop and iPad are both using channel 36 at present and wi-fi speed is same as the incoming broadband speed.
 
It pays to avoid using a channel which a neighbour is using because in rare cases there can be slight interference. My laptop and iPad are both using channel 36 at present and wi-fi speed is same as the incoming broadband speed.
.... channel ?
 
I have BT fibre optic giving 48 mbps but I never download films etc... so I suppose speed is irrelevant. Not being PC wise I don,t know what the advantage of speed is ? Eric
 
.... channel ?
Most routers transmit on two nominal frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5.18 GHz. The 2.4 is split into 11 slightly overlapping channels. The 5.18 is split into 23 non-overlapping channels. Laptops and tablets automatically choose the best channels but if they do not you can manually choose a channel as Smudger has done.
:)
 
And here in a rural Greek village we are paying for 50mbps and getting 45 mbps, yet there are villages a few miles north of here who can't even sustain a dial-up line because of the high noise levels. It's a very uneven internet world.

Maurice :cool:
Absolutely Maurice, you are SO right!
 
I have been trying to bluetooth some pics from my phone, and have now found out this new pc does NOT have a bluetooth
device. can you get a usb device,that is plug and play?
 
I have an iPhone 7 and have Microsoft's OneDrive app in it. I look at a photo in the phone and have option to upload photos to OneDrive and they appear on my Windows 10 computers in about a minute or less in the OneDrive folder on Win10. You can use this from any location provide you are logged into a wifi.

I just tried an expt. I used a usb cable from my phone to my laptop and could see every photo in my phone.
No need to use Bluetooth !
 
Yes Amazon have a few - search 'Bluetooth Adaptor for PC'. Try sending the pics by email to yourself and picking them up on your PC.
 
I always plug my phone into a USB port on my laptop and open "my files" find the phone and copy the pics - usually to my external hard drive. Then disconnect the phone and work on the pics on my drive. I do the same with my camera and my husband's phone.
I have occasionally attached to an email and picked them up that way.
 
Your knowledge of Computers amazes me and makes me realise how little I know. I have a book called 'Windows 10 for Seniors for Dummies' but not much help. We did have free Government funded PC courses on our town centre years ago which I took advantage of but they ceased that ages ago. Still I have enough know how to do what I want. Eric
 
I find 'playing' with computers keeps my brain active. Currently have an airband radio connected to my laptop and just heard BA242 over Ireland approaching the UK to land at LHR. I'm following it on FR24.
ba242.jpg
My iPhone is telling me I haven't done many steps today so will switch off the computers and go for a walk ...:)
 
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