Simple Computer Clean-Up Steps For Us Non-Techies

I don't know many people who like to replace an old, failing, slow-as-molasses computer with a new one. Regardless of how many times a day you curse at that stupid desktop or laptop computer, you are familiar with where your documents are, how to pull up Word or Excel, and what apps will do what. There is comfort in familiarity, even if it is frustrating.

A fact of modern day life is that you will have to replace that old machine at some point. While computer companies suggest you upgrade to the newest and fastest every two years or so, most of us can resist that siren call of planned obsolescence. We wait until it takes 5 minutes to boot up, or the hard drive begins to sound like an old lawnmower.

I speak from current experience. I am in the midst of moving my life from an eight year old desktop computer to a laptop. For decades I've believed I'd only be comfortable with a big CPU sitting on the floor, complete with DVD or CD burner, and a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse sitting on a desk.

Guess what? A laptop works just as well. It has double the hard drive storage space, three times the RAM memory, and a keyboard that makes just as many mistakes as my old one (hold on, that is my typing?). Saving about 20 pounds and lots of space, I made the move a month ago. Of course, I am still behind the times; many folks have decided either a tablet or smartphone are enough. But, for blogging, and other functions, I needed something a bit more robust.

I am approaching the transition slowly and with an overabundance of caution. The budgeting program I depend on is loaded on the laptop, but not set to take over until January 1st. All the programs and files I want from the desktop were put on an external hard drive. I upload what I need, when I need it, to the laptop. If there is a new program or web site that looks interesting, it is tested on the old computer first.

There are still plenty of hassles. The laptop has to be set up to work and look the way I prefer. Connections between the wireless network and printer must be reconfigured. The default programs for opening email or viewing videos must be selected. 

Even so, I am very happy with the move. The laptop is many times faster than its older brother. The screen, at 17", is generous by laptop standards, but smaller than the old monitor. With a crisper screen I am quite content with the somewhat smaller size. By only transferring programs or files when I need them, the process is not overwhelming.

All that said, most of you are not about to upgrade or replace your computer. It is expensive and only undertaken when need be. Readers have asked that I provide a few basic computer cleanup tips, so this seems like an appropriate place to put them. If you are not changing electronics, but would like to make what you own operate a little quicker and be more reliable, here are some ideas from a non-computer expert that have worked well for me over the years.

1) Make sure you have well respected anti-virus and malware programs operating and regularly install any updates they offer. The world is a nasty place; there are lots of bad actors who want to make your computer life unpleasant, or dangerous. 

2) Run a basic disc cleanup every few months. Navigate to your hard drive (usually found in your files area), right click the :C drive, click on Properties. That will open a screen that has a clickable box labeled "Disc Cleanup." Click it, and follow instructions. This step allows you to get rid of all sorts of junk that can slow down your computer and eat up hard drive space. Most good anti-virus and malware programs offer similar steps to clean up data clutter. Disc cleanup is one of the simplest ways to reclaim wasted space and speed everything up.

3) Be sure you have Windows updates and Microsoft security patches installed whenever they become available. I suggest you allow them to install automatically, meaning one less thing to worry about.

4) Type Control Panel in the search box usually found in the lower left corner of the home screen. Click it and find Programs, Uninstall a program. Click that link. Every program installed on the hard drive will be listed. Choose uninstall for any software program that you no longer use. Only uninstall programs you recognize. There are plenty of things on that list that the computer needs to operate, so if you don't know what something does, leave it alone. 

5) Most of us forget this step, but is essential if you have a desktop computer with the big box holding all the components on the floor. Dust kills computers. Be sure to use a vacuum cleaner on any vents, fans, or openings you see where dust can become trapped and choke off air flow into the computer. Actually, the inside of the computer should have this same treatment, though most of us are hesitant to take the thing apart.

6) This is a little more advanced but can make a big difference in how quickly your computer starts up each morning: change the startup programs that load when the power switch is turned on. Rather than try to walk through all the steps in this post, follow this link. This makes quite a difference in how long you wait for your beloved baby to boot up.


I can only speak to Windows, so if an Apple reader would like to leave the steps for a Mac, that would be great. 

I hope all this helps you make peace with an essential part of modern life. If you are thinking of getting a new system, I wish you good luck and a virus-free experience.

A Relationship Tuneup (or Reboot)

Relationships are tricky. A good one can make your days joyful and exciting. A bad one can make every day seem like a never-ending battle. In the post that continues to be clicked 9 years after being written, Who is that person sitting beside me,  I discussed some of the adjustments that retirement often brings.

This time, I'd like to look at a few of the questions that should be asked as any serious relationship moves forward. Trust me, after 43 years of marriage and almost two decades of retirement I am more an expert in the questions than the answers.

To get the most value from this post you will have to pause and think about your answers. I am assuming a marriage relationship as the basis for the questions. But, any relationship, friendship, a relative, even work-oriented collaboration can produce some of the same questions. So, if you are not married you should still find some benefit in these questions. Are you ready?

Go back to the beginning

Think back to when you and your significant other first became aware of each other. What was it that attracted you to that person?  What qualities did he or she possess that made you think this may be the one?

 Over the years of being together it is easy to forget what made you willing to make a lifelong commitment with this person. What has changed? Are those attractions still there, only somewhat covered up by whatever builds up over the years?

Since all of us change over time, you must ask what are you willing to overlook. If some of what attracted you to that person in the first place no longer exists in the same way, how important is that? While asking yourself, remember you have changed, too. This question goes both ways. With change as the only constant in life have you accepted the changes in your relationship? 

Identify areas that need improvement 

All relationships go through periods of ups and downs. But, it is quite important to recognize when a problem you are having with some area of your life is invading the relationship. Are you taking out that dissatisfaction on your spouse or best friend? Are you taking out misplaced anger or frustration on the person closest to you or a trusted co-worker?

Can you sense any warning signs of building problems? Spending a lot of time on solo projects or in separate rooms doesn't prove a problem, but can point to one. If two people don't enjoy spending time together there are often underlying reasons that need to be explored. Has conversation ceased? How about doing something together outside the home?  Do you still have "date" nights?  How about shared responsibilities? Does one person handle all the "important" stuff? If so, is it because of a belief that the other partner is incapable? That attitude is not conducive to a happy home.

 Trust and honesty

Trust is everything. Without trust there can be no healthy relationship. Are there any trust issues that are harming your relationship? Have you openly discussed the problem?  I'm afraid I've never read anything that says the loss of trust can be improved by ignoring it.

Regaining lost trust requires complete openness and quite a bit of time. It requires humility, compassion, empathy, and a willingness to move on from both sides. It requires a belief in the worth of the effort. It demands respect for the other person's feelings. Some issues of broken trust cannot be repaired. But you will never know if a good faith effort isn't made. 

Think about new activities and interests

Over a period of time you and your significant other will lose interest in some activities and add new ones. Change is part of the human condition. For a relationship to remain healthy there should be at least a few of those activities that you two share. If the interests you once enjoyed together no longer turn you on, look for new ones you could enjoy together.

Compromise becomes important. If she loves to dance and you would rather have root canal work, occasionally you are going to have to find a dance floor and stumble around for awhile. Likewise, if you love watching grown men on skates bash into each other (that would be NHL hockey) your spouse or friend needs to join you at a game or two. Buy that person lots of food or drink. Explain why something played on ice has a rule against icing.

The goal (pardon the pun) isn't to convert the other person to your level of interest in something. It is to share time together and show your willingness to support each other's passions.

Communication is crucial

It is commonly accepted that men aren't particularly verbal while women love nothing better than a good talk. This basic conflict between the sexes trips up a lot of relationships. Texting your feelings to a spouse isn't going to work long term. Discussing the plot line of a TV show isn't enough, either. Sharing of emotions and beliefs is required. Reviewing each other's day must be more than a recitation of how hard you worked and how tired you are.

Communication is hard work. It involves a type of listening called reflective listening. This is when you briefly summarize what you believe the other person has said. Reflective listening is a sign of respect for the other person. You are not formulating your answer while he or she speaks, rather you are actively listening to what is being said. 

Stop Thinking and Start Doing

OK, it is time to stop reading and start taking action. Relationships are dynamic. Every minute of every day it is shifting in some way.



Your goal should be to have it shift in a positive direction. That will involve taking some action. Adjust your mindset, agree to some things you'd rather not do, and show a willingness to adapt. If your primary relationship is to grow, you're going to have do do some occasional heavy lifting.

Reader's Questions: Time To Ask a Few

One of my favorite parts of the blogging process is reading comments left by readers, receiving emails asking for my advice, or getting notes from authors interested in my thoughts on their new book. That type of involvement makes everything else worthwhile. 

A file folder full of questions has been calling me, asking me to answer some of the thoughts and concerns that you have. Well, since I can no longer close the desk drawer if I don't tackle at least a few of the things in that file, here goes.

Staying in Touch

Several folks wondered about staying in touch with co-workers and friends who are still part of the working world.

Steve noted his problem "stems  from my decision to keep my distance from my old workplace (I was a teacher) because whenever I went back, the stressed-out looks on their faces almost made me feel guilty. All they could really say was how lucky I was (I learned early to stop talking about how great things were for me....). They were all gracious, but the envy was more than palpable - from both the older and younger friends. This was/is pretty frustrating because I had/have such a strong connection and network among still-working friends."

An e-mail said, "Sometimes I miss the everyday contact with my fellow worker bees and the conversation. I probably need to work on this area."

Health Care Issues

As you might imagine this was the subject of several comments.

A lady presented a common situation and a question: " I'm not yet retired. My husband and I are inching toward it; he's down to four days/week, and I'm down to three. The big glitch, from my perspective, is health insurance... He's already on Medicare, but I'm several years away from that. Otherwise, financially, I think we could make retirement work (in a frugal sort of way). But for me to buy an individual policy in New York would cost over $800/month, and that just feels prohibitive. Even though I'm pretty healthy, I'm uneasy about going without insurance. If you or anyone had any suggestions, I would welcome them."

Unease about the Future

One regular reader hit on some of the basic day-to-day problems I had never considered: "I am on countdown now to retirement next May. As it gets closer, all the emotions are being pushed to the side by practical issues. If I can't buy my work computer, I have to buy a new one and transfer everything. I use my work email as my personal (non-blog) email. I have to transfer to a new email account. I have to buy my own health care, and I can't get one of my kids insured. I have to clean out my office. I have to figure out how to do some things for myself that assistants do for me now (I know--I'm spoiled). And so on. Oh, yes, and I have to keep working until May 31! I know it will all get sorted out, but right now I feel a tad overwhelmed."

Trying Other Things

Retirement can be a time to try on a different lifestyle, or indulge your love of exploration.

Jan asked, " What is your opinion on doing Peace Corps work for a couple of years? My husband doesn't have a pension, and would like to get away from his stressful job. I think we could rent out our house and save money by teaching abroad or doing Peace Corps work, and that would be another wonderful adventure that would teach us to be happy with less, and give us fabulous memories."

William wanted to know when are we are too old to try something new. I gather he had read about my guitar and painting efforts and wondered if there comes a time when our mind and body don't respond well to "new."

Other comments and concerns

"Here's the question....when our dog goes to dog heaven, do we enjoy our less complicated life, or do we continue with the complications a pet brings, and continue to reap the rewards of having a true friend to share our lives? There is no right answer, but I'd like to hear what people say."

One fellow e-mailed: "I have been retired a little more than 4 years at 55. Once I retired it so happened that 2 of my kids became homeowners - which meant helping them get the houses in shape. Then one of my daughters was raising money for a charity so that she could run in a marathon on the west coast. That provided an opportunity for my wife and I to take a 3 week trip to see her running. We had a borrowed laptop from one of our kids and it prompted us to learn about the destinations and get a room where we were headed.

Since my wife still works, I am the appointed Travel Director. Since my retirement we have been on cruises to Panama and Alaska, with road trips to North Carolina and the Daytona 500 with several stops including New Orleans. This period of my life has been enjoyable with occasional jobs, some volunteer work, walking daily, watching grandkids and all of the other little things that come up."

Another comment noted: "the best gift of retirement has been the gift of time. However, I am learning that I need to use my time with a plan rather than floating through the days as I did in my 'flower child' time of life. I find that having some structure and some flexibility is the best approach. Of course, all of this works only if you have already identified your hopes and dreams and aspirations for retirement."

Finally, Susie was one of several that asked about budgeting. She knows I am a strong believer in their usefulness, but her question was simple: "I have maintained a budget all my life. Now that I am retired, do I still have to keep track of everything? I want to cut loose a bit."

_____________________________

Now, it is your turn to weigh in with thoughts, suggestions, or questions. In summary, here were the major issues raised and questions asked:

• Once you leave work do you leave that work world behind? Should you? How do you deal with jealous friends? How do you simply walk away from what was a big part of your life?
• With health insurance to the point of being unaffordable for many of those still working, what can someone do? If too young for Medicare do you risk everything going without insurance? Are there other  options?
• Have you thought about all the little stuff, like changing e-mail address, getting all your files from one computer to another, or buying a home computer? What other parts of your life have run through your work place that now must be handled in a different way?
• Volunteering can be a good use of your time. What what about something as radical as 2 years with the Peace Corps? What do you do with all your personal belongings? Can you be away from family and friends for that long? What other considerations are there?
• How structured are your vacations and travel experiences? Do you just pick up and go, or do you prefer to have everything plotted out? How do you stay in touch, handle bills and mail?
• Are budgets and keeping track of how your money is spent still worth the effort? After all, isn't it time to enjoy what we have and stop worrying about that $5 coffee?

Pick one (or more) or the areas above and share with us your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. Or, feel free to take on a new issue and raise a fresh question about an area that particularly concerns you. I promise I won't stick it in my file drawer!

Ageism: New Study Confirms What We Already Know

A recent article in the New York Times caught my eye. It summarized a study conducted by AARP that confirms what we already know: ageism in America is rampant in advertising and media. 

Consider these facts quoted in the study:

•  more than a third of the country is 50 or older.
•  About half of us over 50 are employed.
•  We control trillions of dollars in purchasing power

OK, so we are not an insignificant slice of the demographic pie. Yet, the AARP results showed that:

• We make up only 15% of media images
• We make up only 13% of images showing people at work
• Less than 5 % show us managing to deal with technology

What is prevalent are stereotypical media images of older folks either in hospital or medical settings, looking befuddled, and needing help from a youngster to use a computer or smartphone. More likely, our age group missing completely.

I know from personal experience that finding flattering, or representative photos for this blog is not easy. Rarely do I locate a photo of an older employee working at something other than an at-home computer, or as a clerk at a big box store. Photos of business people are invariably under 35. Clean-scrubbed, central-casting type couples with perfect grey hair in perfect home settings are available. Photos of regular people in regular housing doing normal things...not so much.

The solution the organization proposes is obvious: show more 50+ people somewhere other than in a doctor's office, wheelchair, or retirement home. Increase media representation of our age group that shows us not being confused, marginalized, or with your pants worn somewhere up around your armpits. Increase the availability of stock photos so advertisers and media outlets  have a wider choose of vibrant portrayals. 

All well and good, but is there anything we can do? Well, my suggestions may seem somewhat counter intuitive, but they involve ageism that begins with us. Do we act in a way that strengthens this basis against elders? Do we talk too much of the "good old days." Do we allow a clerk or office worker to disrespect us due to our age? Do we purchase products from a company that uses stereotypes to portray us? In short, do we feed the fire with our actions or inaction?

Do we treat others in our age group as less than fully functioning humans? We must remind ourselves that a lifetime of experiences reside in our somewhat saggy bodies that is overseen by a brain that has so much to share.

Sure, sometimes dementia makes it tougher for us to remember something. But, virtually all scientific studies make it clear that loses usually occur with short term memory. Ask me what I had for dinner three nights ago and it will be a struggle. Ask me how to market a product to someone who is indecisive or undecided, and I have all sorts of possibilities for you.

The next time a store clerk looks right through you to deal with a younger person behind you, politely remind him or her that you are standing right here, and would like to be served. Getting angry or sarcastic would be wrong; it would cement the image that person has of older customers. Thank the person behind you for their patience while you are waited upon, but insist on your right to not be invisible.

Never, ever, tell someone your age or older, that it is silly to (fill in the blank) at "your age." Going back to school, starting a business, learning to surf, setting a goal to hike in each National Park....whatever...no one is "too old" unless they are told so. There is no quicker way to shut down someone's enthusiasm and desire to gather experiences than to tell him or her it isn't possible. 

In the same vein, what limitations do you place upon yourself because of your age? True, physical or financial restraints exist. But, telling yourself you are too old for......only speeds up the process of retreating from life. 

A few nights ago I tried to remember some of the highlights of the past 18 years, the length of time I have been retired. I quickly remembered my time getting a ham radio license and eventually serving as president of a local ham radio club. Several years of intensive involvement in a prison ministry program was easy to remember; it was life-altering in several ways. Of course, this blog popped to mind. After all, it has been a part of my days for over nine years. 

Then, I struggled a bit. Surely in all this time there has been more. I pushed through my memory files and then other thoughts began to flow: involvement as a Stephen Minister and teaching several groups to become lay ministers, traveling oversees and around the U.S. with another couple.

More recently, a few years of Junior Achievement teaching, serving on a board at United Way, and now on the board of the local library friends organization. 

My experience list is not unusual at all. At 70, I have accomplished much of what I wanted to. But, I am not even close to being done. I am not ready for the age-police to tell me my best days are behind me, that I am only fit for playing with grandkids (fun as that may be), watching TV, and griping about the state of our rapidly warming and dysfunctional world, instead of taking some sort of action.

Ageism is allowed to affect us if we allow it to continue unchallenged and we inadvertently fulfill the stereotypes that limit us all.

Your thoughts?

My Climate Change Post Follow Up

Not surprisingly, the recent post about climate activists brought some serious emotions to the surface. Happily, the majority of comments were well-thought-out, civil, and added to our community discussions. Only a few comments never made it to print, or had to be called out for blatantly "fake" statements. I didn't expect my feelings would change anyone's opinions, but it is a subject that I have strong feelings about.

That is one of the joys of blogging: I wanted to express them and I did. That made some people happy, some not. If you don't believe that climate change is real or that humans have a major part to play, it might be best to simply skip this post. It is OK, I will not be offended.

For those still with me just raising the issue of climate change, global warming, and the place of humans is not enough. Something must be done, some action taken, otherwise it is just words. So, as a follow up, I should tell you what my wife and I are doing. Will our efforts reverse the damage? Of course not. Will these steps help lessen the damage? Yes, though in ways too small to measure. 

So, what's the point? It is the power of cumulative efforts. As two people, Betty and I contribute next to nothing. Hundreds, thousands, millions of like-minded people doing whatever works for them, may make enough of a difference to prevent the worst of what lies ahead. We may have already passed the tipping point where some level of change is irreversible. However, immediate steps now can prevent the damage from becoming catastrophic.

Here are the small actions we are taking:

• Using face clothes instead of paper towels and napkins whenever possible.
• Eating meat no more than two days a week.
• Keeping the house one degree warmer in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter.
• Using minimal electricity (including no AC or heat) during our peak hours of 4-7 pm. 
• Turning off lights whenever leaving a room.
• Washing clothes in cold water.
• Running the short cycle on the dishwasher
• Turning the water heater down to 120 degrees from the factory setting of 140.
• Putting TVs and computers on power strips. Turning off when not in use so no phantom electricity is consumed by that equipment.
• Working harder to stop throwing away produce and food.
• Spending the last year with just one car. Next vehicle will be hybrid or plug-in hybrid.
• Buying something only when necessary to replace something else. 
• Buying carbon offsets for airplane and cruise trips.

None of these steps are difficult, inconvenient for us, or make us feel deprived. How much difference do they make in the grand scheme of things? Very little. How do we feel about even this easy-to-accomplish effort? Good. 

Without going back into the deep end of the pool about climate change, can you share anything you might be doing to lessen our carbon footprint? What steps can all of us consider for our lifestyle?