Screwed again by corporate America

[Cyrano]

I use a three year old Dell computer and printer. I used Windows 7 and upgraded to Windows 10 early last year.

A Windows 10 upgrade/fix was downloaded yesterday and it disconnected the communications link between my computer and printer.

I've spoken with Dell. I've spoken with Microsoft. And I've gotten the same answer from both. To put it as politely as possible, the answer is this:"Nothing we can do about it, sir." (In other words, you're fucked.) "Buy a new printer."

Ahh, the wonders of corporate America. Once the Orange creature takes over the White House, I have no doubt that all regulations will disappear and corporations will be free to screw us beyond our wildest dreams.

So here's the bottom line: There's absolutely nothing to prevent corporations from telling us all to bend over. Sigh.

[kimbutgar]

1. I have two old computers ( Lenovo) with windows XP that I still use

My other laptop still has windows 7 which I refused to upgrade to 10. I brought my son a new computer with windows 8, updated to windows 10 and the computer crashed and died. Had to get a new hard drive. I will never buy a Dell or HP again.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. I'm still using Windows 7 and XP too. Also refused the Windows 10 "upgrade" offer.

[frazzled]

2. Take it down, Jimmy

(in the words of the late, great James Brown). This is your problem with corporate America? I think there are more earth shattering problems. And don't get me wrong, it's a problem (it's happened to me). But this is about technology, not about capitalism or corporate structures: I'm not sure they can take into account every old printer that will suddenly become incompatible with the ever-changing technology.

Try downloading a updated printer driver for your model of printer that is compatible with the new software (that was our recent solution--because our printer is quite old, but still in good shape; it wasn't supported by latest Mac operating systems; a new printer driver obtained from the Internet worked, but we'll probably have to upgrade soon; we just hate to get new junk when the old junk still works). Or worst comes to worse, yes, you may have to get a new printer.

[Cyrano]

4. Thanks for the advice, frazzled

I'm pretty tech savvy, and there's no software anywhere that will make my printer and computer compatible. My main complaint is that both are only three years old.

I'll probably donate my printer to someone who still uses an abacus, get a new printer, and grumble about this until the next update comes alone and I get screwed again.

Stay sane and be well,

Cyrano

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

5. Exactly why I will not put my personal backups on the cloud and still

buy CDs and rip my own audio files. You don't own anything they have control over. In fact, I keep copies of everything on non-networked media and disconnect from the web when I access or save so they can't touch it. (At least not as easily.)

I paid a lot of money for my HTC phone, choosing it over other phones for certain features I preferred. The updates have removed most of those features and the camera went wonky (a known issue inflicted on most of the One M7s, which they would not fix because I didn't complain soon enough about it.)

Can you imagine if after you bought, say, a stove you liked they come into your house and took off some of the parts? Seems like the same fuking thing to me.

[Cyrano]

6. Sounds like you know how to protect yourself

One more thing that I've mentioned to family/friends who "don't get it." I've told them that if they have Skype, to throw a towel over the camera when they're not using it. They don't get it. They don't realize that others can gain access to that camera -- and therefore have a keyhole into their homes.

Most don't know what I'm talking about.

Same with those who share their lives on Facebook. I ask them why they don't just post their social security numbers and be done with it.

I'm always amazed by those who use today's technology, but can't/wont understand the dangers, the pitfalls, and the thousand ways you can get screwed.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

7. I guess it shouldn't surprise us. Now that nearly half of the voters picked Trump,

I've pretty much lost my faith in humanity's ability to rise above what's easy and actually put a little effort into educating and enlightening themselves. We're all that way to a certain extent, but I thought we were on a trajectory away from those tendencies. Instead, the worst in people has been validated and encouraged and is on the rise. It's so difficult to keep positive these days.

Another thing about facebook I think is bad is that it is a boring, unaesthetic, homogenized mini-web that is all many people ever bother with. Businesses, bands, information sharers on a variety of topics, etc., used to make cool, interesting, attractive, creative websites. Now, most just have an ugly, boring facebook page.

As for web cams, yep. I keep a tiny sticky note over mine expect when I'm using them.

[JDC]

8. Seems to me that the printer manufacturer

Should have a Win 10 driver. That dll incompatibility is probably the issue. If it is a dell printer, sorry, now you know to never buy a dell printer again. I have an Epson that was relatively inexpensive and lets me AirPrint from iPhone, iPad etc via the wifi.

It's the ink $ that gets ya anyhow.