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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    Default Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Spent 5 hours at my inspection yesterday and easily over 3 hours on the report today. I was in the process of finishing it when my report form locked up on me and wouldn't respond. Panic setting in. I reboot the computer and get a message that Windows updates were processed. No!!!! I can no longer open the file for this inspection and it application locks up. I deleted all my voice notes and now must start this report over again when it was 99% completed.

    This is the second time and automatic Windows update has screwed me but not nearly as bad as this time. I could throw this computer through the window right now.

    Crawl Space Creeper
    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Nick,

    Sorry about your report, but ... turn off the automatic Windows updater - the next time it will be some other automatic updater, but not Windows ...

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
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    2,809

    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update



    Work at turning off all Auto Updating. Often there is tracking being inserted that you may not like.

    Don't rely on Auto Save.

    SAVE early SAVE often. 3 sec can save hours of effort.


  4. #4
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    Mar 2007
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    Thumbs up Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    I saved dozens of times while working on the report. It made no difference. The auto update corrupted the file and I couldn't even open it. I would just get that little spinning circle and the application would not respond.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    I saved dozens of times while working on the report. It made no difference. The auto update corrupted the file and I couldn't even open it. I would just get that little spinning circle and the application would not respond.
    Sometimes just saving is insufficient, better protection is obtained by saving then closing the file (which really 'saves' it) then reopening the file.

    Sometimes, on larger and/or critical/time consuming work I will save as 'filename2', then save that back as 'filename' - that truly gives you a usable backup file in case something like you described occurs.

    It's a lot more work to have to recreate a couple of hours work than to save as 'filename2' every 5-10 minutes. The most you need to recreate is that last 5-10 minutes, and many times you improve the way you say it in your report.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Memphis TN.
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    4,311

    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    I saved dozens of times while working on the report. It made no difference. The auto update corrupted the file and I couldn't even open it. I would just get that little spinning circle and the application would not respond.
    64MB Pen Drive Flash Memory USB 2 0 with Cap Brand New Free Shipping | eBay

    It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie! Our Gang " The Pooch " (1932)
    Billy J. Stephens HI Service Memphis TN.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma City
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    357

    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Get cloud based report writing software and you wont have to worry about that.

    If it weren't for lawyers, we would never need them.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Charlotte NC
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    2,304

    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Nick I feel your pain. My best advise is to not panic the next time. Open the windows task manager to see what has taken control of your PC. Go have a cup of coffee and give it a little time to clear itself. Then if you have to you can close your report software using the task mgr. rather than using the Vulcan death grip. The reboot is most likely what killed you.

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Never had an update freeze up a report, but I've lost two nearly finished reports over the years to other reasons. Frustrating beyond commentary although not beyond expressing very bad words.

    My updates are set to manual so I control when I do them. It may be a freak occurrence that an update messed you up, but it isn't inconvenient to manually do updates.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Southern Vancouver Island
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    And no advise from us is going to bring your file back now. Sniff.

    Frank, I agree that the Cloud is good, but there are times when it is not available for connection reasons in my area. So that is not foolproof either. Have you ever tried to download from the Cloud and had no connection? Talk about watching the spinning wheel.

    I hate rework. One thing that happens to me sometimes is I run the battery low on my laptop and it goes black screen on me. But usually plugging in the charger and rebooting takes me back to a saved file.

    Nick, as others have said, there are ways to turn off updates, but you need those updates to block viruses.
    We are slowly losing control of our own destinies.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    And no advise from us is going to bring your file back now. Sniff.
    I also have had to reconstruct a report lost to a computer crash - I was finishing a 7 hour inspection and as I was just about to make the table of contents and ... the screen went black ... and then came back on on as the 'blue screen of death' (it was that long ago, yes) ... make all the notes I can then go back to the office to recreate the report on my office computer.

    Frank, I agree that the Cloud is good, but there are times when it is not available for connection reasons in my area. So that is not foolproof either. Have you ever tried to download from the Cloud and had no connection? Talk about watching the spinning wheel.
    You can now get a 'cloud' you can take with you.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    There's only one solution......I am handwriting all my reports form now on.





    Naaahhhhh!!!!!

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    No need to go back to the stone age. I'll bet Windows 3 could handle a basic inspection report. There would be virtually no viruses or spybots or whatever the cybergeeks are planting these days.
    But the Blue screen of death would always be lurking in the shadows.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    There's only one solution......I am handwriting all my reports form now on.
    Naaahhhhh!!!!!
    Don't go dissing the pen, bro.
    The pen is mightier than the pixel.
    Don't believe me? When has anyone poked their eye out with a pixel?

    I rest my case................

    But seriously, I'm not interested in doing anything but flying a plane in the cloud. I don't rent my inspection software and I won't rely on some cloud to write a report. Each to their own, but that's not for me.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Screwed BY Automatic Windows Update

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    But seriously, I'm not interested in doing anything but flying a plane in the cloud. I don't rent my inspection software and I won't rely on some cloud to write a report. Each to their own, but that's not for me.
    Not even in your own cloud? Or are you VFR?

    My Cloud

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

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