Solutions for computer and life issues
Computers are notorious for creating problems, but they can also be wonderful tools for solving some of life’s upsets and emergencies. This week I’ll deal with the solutions to a common computer problem and a traveller’s dilemma.
Windows 10 is three years old and it’s predicted that this month it will overtake Windows 7 as the most widely used Windows operating system. The remaining 30 per cent of people still using Win 7 will have to migrate to Windows 10 by January of 2020 when Microsoft will pull the plug on support for the aged operating system.
Although most Win 7 users have made the transition to Win 10 without major incidents there is one recurring problem. The issue arises when older programs that ran fine in Windows 7 or 8 will not function in Windows 10. Many of these programs are no longer in production or if they are you’ll have to purchase a newer version, or switch to an unfamiliar and perhaps inferior alternative.
However, before you give up on that old but useful program try a little known Windows fix. It’s called compatibility mode and it’s designed to make Windows 10 pretend it’s a previous version of Windows when running a program. It often works and gives an aged app a new lease on life.
There are several ways of checking a program’s compatibility with Windows 10. You should have a search box in the lower left of the Windows 10 screen, but just in case you don’t Microsoft has a help page (https://tinyurl.com/y83opsqp) for making it visible. In the search box type “run programs made for previous versions of Windows” and select the result in the list of choices. This will open the compatibility checker which will scan your computer for apps and list them. You select the program you’re having problems with, run the troubleshooter, and hope for the best.
Another method, which I prefer, is a bit more complicated but gives you more choices for a solution. If the program has an icon on the desktop, right click on it, choose properties, and you’ll see the tab for compatibility. The other way is to navigate to the folder where the program is installed, right click on the program name and choose properties. If you need help there is a guide at the Windows Central website (https://tinyurl.com/yaupctju).
The good news is that compatibility mode is also available in Windows 7, which is useful if you want to run an old XP program. Getting into compatibility mode in Win 7 is a bit easier than in Win 10 and the HP site has instructions (https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c01989603).
Travelling is a wonderful experience and email is great for staying in touch with home and friends. However, if an emergency arises such as a cancelled flight or illness, email may be too slow and you’ll need to make a phone call. This happened to a friend and her dilemma was that she was in Europe and did not have an out-of-country calling plan and the SIM card she purchased in Germany for the phone only allowed phone calls in Europe. The same situation could have arisen in any country in the world. Luckily Google and a tablet, mobile phone, or computer can provide a no-cost solution.
Google Hangouts is a free app (https://hangouts.google.com) for your iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet, or you can use it in a browser on a laptop. Hangouts will let you make free phone calls to any landline or mobile phone in Canada or the U.S from anywhere in the world. You’ll need access to wi-fi and a free Gmail account, which you can quickly get if you don’t already have one. I have used Hangouts to call Canada free from Germany, Mexico and Spain and it worked flawlessly. I even used it to check my answering machine messages while I was travelling.
Whether it’s a computer problem or a real-life emergency, there’s usually a hitech solution.