Category: Science and Technology

Tweeting the installation of Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9926

Posted on by John Keegan in Science and Technology

Win10

I spent Tuesday, January 27, 2015 live tweeting the installation of Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9926 on my 2012 Acer Netbook. The tweets are below. In order to get the latest build of Windows 10 I needed to become a Windows Insider. I went to the site and signed up with one of my Microsoft accounts. That is, either an Outlook or a Live account for some reason my Office365 login information would not work. Once an insider I was given the choice of downloading the technical preview via Windows Update or as an ISO image. I did both. My netbook does not have a DVD drive. So, I download and installed the technical preview through Windows Update. I also wanted a copy to store, so I burned the ISO image to DVD. The update and the ISO image are proximately 3 GB in size; and take approximately two hours just to download.

After the update completed downloading, I took a minute to reconsider my decision to install build 9926. There were some important things to consider. First, this version of Windows 10 is not necessarily ready for prime time. That is, it is not a complete version of the operating system. Microsoft engineers are still making changes to it. There could be unanticipated, catastrophic problems, which could turn my netbook into a doorstop. While my Acer is not my production machine, it does have its uses. The second consideration is file loss there are a small number of important files that are stored on the machine, which I forgot to backup before I finalized my decision and started the update process. All my other important files are stored either on my 1 TB removable hard drive or in my Office365 account so they are available to all my devices iPad, iPhone, and Windows machines. Considering the risks acceptable, I started the hours long update process.

A clean install from an ISO image is faster. I did one Thursday, January 29, 2015. I followed the instructions in this article: “How to install Windows 10 Technical Preview from a flash drive.” However, installing Windows 10 on top or long side of Windows 7 Starter makes it easier to restore the old operating system if needed. Simply, use the Windows rollback feature to restore it. Nevertheless, the update method has one major drawback. Every time one logs-in one has to choose to roll back the machine or use Windows 10. In comparison, a clean install of the technical preview has its own issues. One problem that presents itself right away is Avast the free antivirus software is not compatible with Windows 10 at this time, but Avast did work with the upgrade installation. Another free antivirus program 360 Total Security has a version specifically for Windows 10. What interesting problems and discoveries are in the weeks ahead?

That's Not My Policy

Posted on by John Keegan in Science and Technology

The Comcast representative incident that has made the rounds on the Internet made me think of a time last December when I purchased a protective iPad cover from my local Verizon wireless reseller. It is not as entertaining as the Comcast incident, but to the reseller’s credit, I did get my money back. 

I returned the Ballistic iPad cover to the Verizon store this afternoon. The store is a Verizon reseller, and at first they were not going to give me my money back because as the saleswoman put it all sales on accessories are final. I explained to her my position, which was that I only had the item for 24 hours, never used it, and when I took it out-of-the-box and saw what it was and the way it, supposedly, would protect my iPad I realized it was not what I wanted. I called the store and told the salesman that answered the phone that I would be returning the item within 24 hours. The saleswoman very politely explained that I could exchange the item for another item or she could give me store credit. I explained to her that I did not want to exchange the item for another item, nor did I want store credit I simply wanted my money back. The saleswoman responded, basically, our policy is our policy, and “I’m sorry we couldn’t come to a resolution here’s your item back.” I said, “If I can’t get my money back, and you have nothing I want in exchange, and I don’t want store credit; the least you can do is take the item. I don’t want it. There is one thing you can do for me. Could you please give me the name address and phone number of someone at your corporate headquarters I could discuss your return and exchange policy with?”

She gave me the address and phone number of her corporate headquarters, (no name) and I left the store. I rolled about 100 feet away from the store and parked in front of an empty storefront and dialed the phone number the saleswoman gave me. This company has the worst automated personnel directory I’ve ever heard; only names and extensions no job titles, no departments. Undaunted, I simply dialed extensions until someone answered. A very nice woman picked up, and I explained my problem. She explained to me that the number I dialed was “a back office number,” and there was a different person I needed to speak to. She asked me to wait a moment, and I could hear a discussion the background. Then she came back on the line with a gentleman’s name and phone number. At that point it was dark, and I dialed the gentleman’s number. To my very great surprise, he answered the phone. I identified myself and explained my problem. He said all sales on accessories are final. I explained to him the sequence of events, and that the purchase had not cleared my bank yet. He asked me where the item was, and I told him it was at the store. I didn’t want it anymore. Then, he asked me if I was a Verizon customer. I answered yes. He asked me how far away from the store I was, and I told him about 100 feet. He told me he would call the store and authorize the saleswoman to run my card again giving me my money back. Not wanting to wait until he called the store, I persuaded him to stay on the line until I got back to the store and went inside. Then I handed my phone to the saleswoman and said, “Someone from your corporate headquarters wants to talk to you.” I could hear the gentleman ask the saleswoman, “Did you give him my cell phone number?” She said no. Then she hands me my cell phone and he asked me the same question and I related to him the process I explained above. I, then, gave the saleswoman back my cell phone at which point the gentleman told her to give me my money back.

06 The Problem with Intelligent Design

Posted on by John Keegan in Archive, Intelligent Design, Science and Technology, The Keegan Podcast

I  have written a lot, far more than I expected to, on the topic of Intelligent Design. The central question at issue: Is ID science? Some believe it is, some believe it isn’t, and some believe its debatable. I have come to the conclusion it is not science. The above episode and the links below explain why I have come to that conclusion.

Links