Technology

I recently had to get a new laptop. It was in May or around then. I debated about getting a tablet but then again, I need my laptop for my writing. I have a smart phone which is way smarter than me that I use. At that time, they only were selling laptops with Windows 8 loaded as the Operating System. I felt that I could handle that because I did work Help Desk and am attuned to new technology. Well, let me tell you, it has been a ride that at this time in my life, I wasn't prepared for.

Thank goodness one of my neighbors, a teacher, had received a copy Windows 8 for Dummies which she gladly loaned to me. Now I feel comfortable with it, but I don't know it as well as I did XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. I'm getting by.

My point is the upgrade that is now available, Windows 8.1. First off, I wanted to back up my work but learned that's not available in my version. Alrighty, then. I proceed with the download and install. I wait for about twenty minutes, the screen has a green line indicating the percentage of the download. One percent in twenty minutes. Huh? I check again in twenty more minutes. I'm now at four percent. At this point, I've resigned myself that this is going to take a while.

I go downstairs to start dinner and get it in the oven. Maybe a half hour tops? I come back upstairs and my page is at the beginning of the Microsoft Website, the one that says "Download now.' What happened to my current download? I check Task Manager and it shows that there isn't any download in progress. Really? At this point, I'm clicking all over the place trying to find out what happened. I came out empty handed.

My laptop is behaving as normal and you know what? Do I really need this update? Nope. Not at this time.