Computing a workaround
Not having the right equipment, I can find ways to spend a whole afternoon. Productivity levels may not be outstanding, but I do get to test my problem solving skills. That’s a good thing, right?
Among my “stable” of computers are a couple that don’t have optical media drives. Size really does matter, in the netbook world. Of course, once the programs are installed I don’t notice (very often). However, vacation is approaching, and I’ve been finetuning things. My GPS device, last summer, proved to be regionally stupid. A lack of maps. I decided to remedy things by reinstalling the original software to my main laptop, followed by the (hours of time needed to) reload of interesting areas to the Garmin.
Since I don’t want to carry the big green beast, I thought that replication to the netbook might be a “good idea”. Turns out that the installation wizard requires “seeing” the various CDs. Transfer to USB flash drives, an external hard drive, a networked CD drive all proved a terrific way to pass an afternoon, ineffectively. The final solution involved transferring the installed directories from one machine to another, followed by a little massage with RegEdit.
Firefox 5 is out, but the Facebook toolbar isn’t ready. There are tricks, and I now have my toolbar back in place. Not sure why the original team didn’t just offer this as a workaround, instead of making me (and countless others) spend time Googling for a clue.
There you have it. Saturday “in the trenches”. The dog was not amused.
