This post will show the agenda and video
used September 12, 2015
at the Temecula Valley Computer User Group (TVCUG) meeting
on Blogs.
Here is a link to the 7 minute video Don showed :
Here is the agenda Don used at the meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Blogger Setting - Using my CLB-TVCUG blog
Blogger has 5 groups of settings which one needs to understand. This is so that their blogger blog can be arranged to operate as desired. Having a basic understanding of the options available leads to a better blogging experience.
I will use my CLB-TVCUG blog as an example showings some of the basic settings.
The five blogger settings categories are -
The first category is "basic" and includes the blog title
(CLB-TVCUG) , the Blog Address (computer-lunch-bunch.blogspot.com), and
the blog author & email (Donald McLaughlin videodon27@gmail.com).
The second setting category is the "post and comments".
This includes details about who can comment and if the comments need to be moderated (reviewed).
The third setting category is "mobile and email". Here you can enable posting via your email (disabled), adding comment notification email (videodon27@gmail.com) , and add folks you want to see new posts (provide a list of their addresses in the box). There are 4 shown in this example.
The forth setting category is "language & formatting". I chose English and the Pacific Time Zone. Pretty simple.
The fifth setting category is "other". This has the important option to delete your blog. If you are just trying out blogging as an experiment and are worried that you can't get out of blogging. This is where you do it. Remember, however, anything you created could have been saved if you made the blog public.
The setting for "your open ID URL" gives you some protection.
I have selected, "no trusted sites yet".
This summary does not cover all the option but should give you a basic understanding of the most basic options available for a blogger blog.
I will use my CLB-TVCUG blog as an example showings some of the basic settings.
The five blogger settings categories are -
 | |
The second setting category is the "post and comments".
This includes details about who can comment and if the comments need to be moderated (reviewed).
The third setting category is "mobile and email". Here you can enable posting via your email (disabled), adding comment notification email (videodon27@gmail.com) , and add folks you want to see new posts (provide a list of their addresses in the box). There are 4 shown in this example.
The setting for "your open ID URL" gives you some protection.
I have selected, "no trusted sites yet".
Blogging Basics 101 by Jessica Knapp - tips for doing a blog
This is a good resource for more experienced bloggers. Jessica Knapp has this website -
bloggingbasics101.com
I have borrowed some of her material and posted it here for easy reference for those who want help with creating their blog(s).
bloggingbasics101.com
I have borrowed some of her material and posted it here for easy reference for those who want help with creating their blog(s).
Friday, August 7, 2015
Upgrade from W7 to W10
Posted August 7, 2015
Now that I have a W7 PC, I can try to get a free upgrade to W10 from Microsoft. I went to their web site and looked for the upgrade download. They wanted me to install all the updates for my W7 OS first. That seemed foolish as I was going to go right to W10 so why update the old 2009 version of W7?
They had some options:
First, you could request and upgrade and get on a waiting list or download the upgrade either to a DVD or USB flash drive. As I had to remove the worn out DVD R/W drives from the "test" PB and installed a DVD-ROM optical drive, burning a DVD was out. I had a spare new SATA DVD R/W but the 2005 vintage PC needed the old IDE version.
They also allowed you to down load to a USB flash drive.
I decided to download the upgrade to a blank USB flash drive. They wanted 4 GB min but I used a 32 GB flash. The down load took over 3 hours so I know my WiFi interconnection is slow. The idea of having a USB flash was to use the W10 upgrade on other PCs. I used it on the one I down loaded it to.
The upgrade from the USB flash drive took a few hours which included the setup time before I got the to the W10 screen. Here is the initial screen -
I started looking into the W10 operation.
No more IE, instead you have a newer internet browser (MS Edge). -
The Control Panel has been replaced with "Settings" - Not really too different. Here is the opening screen and the System Settings Screen for my "Test" Computer -
The START button has been returned (I guess it was taken away in W8.1) and give you the basics -
I need to try using the computer after installing some "aps" (Useful Programs) and source data like, text files, images, and video clips.
Video-Don-27
Updated Post - March 22, 2017
I have since this time, had to buy a new laptop as my old HP laptop failed in the summer of 2016.
It was a Vista Machine which I purchased in April of 2009. The model was HP dv7-1243cl which had a large 17 inch monitor. The DVD R/RW drive was slim to fit into the laptop case and worked poorly. It was also flimsy in construction, in my judgement. I had trouble loading CD and DVDs using it. Other than that, I loved it. Eventually the processor failed and I took it apart to see how it was made. I will post those photo in another post, in the future.
The point is, I now have a W10 HP laptop, and am slowly learning to use Windows 10. In general, I don't like it much. My HP Vista desktop also failed in 2016, I bought a new desktop last year as well.
I got an ASUS with W7 on it and like W7 better. I am using the large flat screen monitor I got when I got the "red test PC".
I have many books and manuals on earlier versions of MS Windows OSs but not a good Windows 10
manual yet.
So, in summary, I am using W7 mainly. and learning W10. Most of my real computer work is done on the Desktop where most of my "good PC SW tools" reside. The newer W10 wants me to buy new SW tools. I can't afford two sets of many sets of software.
Here are some of the tools:
Photoshop
MS Office (I still use 2003)
Pinnacle Studio (I have version 18 on the W7 but still have a license for 14 & 15 which were on the two Vista Computers which failed in 2016.
ACDSee 20 (My older version 7 is no longer supported)
FantaMorph 5 from Abrosoft (morphing SW)
GIF Animator 3 (no longer supported but still installs and works)
Splash Lite (Free video player - supports MP4 which I use mostly as my Camcorder creates these)
Nero for CD and DVD data creation or copies.
I am slowly adding tools to the laptop.
VideoDon27
Note - Much of my "computer work" is editting photo images and creating videos for my YouTube accounts (2 - Yahoo and Gmail based)
Now that I have a W7 PC, I can try to get a free upgrade to W10 from Microsoft. I went to their web site and looked for the upgrade download. They wanted me to install all the updates for my W7 OS first. That seemed foolish as I was going to go right to W10 so why update the old 2009 version of W7?
They had some options:
First, you could request and upgrade and get on a waiting list or download the upgrade either to a DVD or USB flash drive. As I had to remove the worn out DVD R/W drives from the "test" PB and installed a DVD-ROM optical drive, burning a DVD was out. I had a spare new SATA DVD R/W but the 2005 vintage PC needed the old IDE version.
They also allowed you to down load to a USB flash drive.
I decided to download the upgrade to a blank USB flash drive. They wanted 4 GB min but I used a 32 GB flash. The down load took over 3 hours so I know my WiFi interconnection is slow. The idea of having a USB flash was to use the W10 upgrade on other PCs. I used it on the one I down loaded it to.
The upgrade from the USB flash drive took a few hours which included the setup time before I got the to the W10 screen. Here is the initial screen -
I started looking into the W10 operation.
No more IE, instead you have a newer internet browser (MS Edge). -
The Control Panel has been replaced with "Settings" - Not really too different. Here is the opening screen and the System Settings Screen for my "Test" Computer -
The START button has been returned (I guess it was taken away in W8.1) and give you the basics -
I need to try using the computer after installing some "aps" (Useful Programs) and source data like, text files, images, and video clips.
Video-Don-27
Updated Post - March 22, 2017
I have since this time, had to buy a new laptop as my old HP laptop failed in the summer of 2016.
It was a Vista Machine which I purchased in April of 2009. The model was HP dv7-1243cl which had a large 17 inch monitor. The DVD R/RW drive was slim to fit into the laptop case and worked poorly. It was also flimsy in construction, in my judgement. I had trouble loading CD and DVDs using it. Other than that, I loved it. Eventually the processor failed and I took it apart to see how it was made. I will post those photo in another post, in the future.
The point is, I now have a W10 HP laptop, and am slowly learning to use Windows 10. In general, I don't like it much. My HP Vista desktop also failed in 2016, I bought a new desktop last year as well.
I got an ASUS with W7 on it and like W7 better. I am using the large flat screen monitor I got when I got the "red test PC".
I have many books and manuals on earlier versions of MS Windows OSs but not a good Windows 10
manual yet.
So, in summary, I am using W7 mainly. and learning W10. Most of my real computer work is done on the Desktop where most of my "good PC SW tools" reside. The newer W10 wants me to buy new SW tools. I can't afford two sets of many sets of software.
Here are some of the tools:
Photoshop
MS Office (I still use 2003)
Pinnacle Studio (I have version 18 on the W7 but still have a license for 14 & 15 which were on the two Vista Computers which failed in 2016.
ACDSee 20 (My older version 7 is no longer supported)
FantaMorph 5 from Abrosoft (morphing SW)
GIF Animator 3 (no longer supported but still installs and works)
Splash Lite (Free video player - supports MP4 which I use mostly as my Camcorder creates these)
Nero for CD and DVD data creation or copies.
I am slowly adding tools to the laptop.
VideoDon27
Note - Much of my "computer work" is editting photo images and creating videos for my YouTube accounts (2 - Yahoo and Gmail based)
Windows 7 "Test" Computer
Original Post - August 7, 2015
I have used most of the Microsoft Windows programs starting with W95 and going up to W7.
I liked W98 and XP and was forced to go to Vista which I still use along with XP. I had W7 but went back to Vista and after wiping the Hard Drive. I re-installed the original software using the backup disk. I felt it was always nice to have the install disc as it was common to wipe a hard drive and go back to day one (the day the PC was born - or at least turned on for the first time at my home).
I never use Windows 8.1 and now that you can get Windows 10 for free I decided I need to at least try it.
So I needed a PC with Windows 7 that I would be willing to use as a "test" computer.
I had an old computer that needed work to get going again and I decided that would be the "test" PC.
It was built as a custom PC in 2005 so I began as an XP based computer. It got upgraded to Vista and later to W7. But the Hard Drive needed to be replaced. I bought a new 2 TB HD and installed Windows 7. It has a 3 GHz microprocessor and 2 Mega Bytes (MB) of RAM.
The upgrade disc allowed me to load a black HD as long as I didn't need the files.
Here is the PC -
Update - March 22, 2017
I got this PC from the wife of a computer friend of mine who passed away. So she sold me his computer and a bunch of other computer related items (Monitor, Printer, cards, cables, and Software0.
I since have abandoned it as it was difficult to use and upgrade.
I have had many other computers which I got from other people and experimented with. As newer versions came along I have abandoned them as well. This PC was born as an XP computer and was a 2005 vintage machine. It got up graded to Vista and later to Windows 7. When I later tried to up grade it to W10 (after the free upgrade period from MS was over) I could not get it authorized as I had not authorized the earlier version (why do the up grades when I was just "passing thru" to get to W10. Anyway it has been recycled along with many of my older computers and monitors (mostly W98 and XP based machines).
I have used most of the Microsoft Windows programs starting with W95 and going up to W7.
I liked W98 and XP and was forced to go to Vista which I still use along with XP. I had W7 but went back to Vista and after wiping the Hard Drive. I re-installed the original software using the backup disk. I felt it was always nice to have the install disc as it was common to wipe a hard drive and go back to day one (the day the PC was born - or at least turned on for the first time at my home).
I never use Windows 8.1 and now that you can get Windows 10 for free I decided I need to at least try it.
So I needed a PC with Windows 7 that I would be willing to use as a "test" computer.
I had an old computer that needed work to get going again and I decided that would be the "test" PC.
It was built as a custom PC in 2005 so I began as an XP based computer. It got upgraded to Vista and later to W7. But the Hard Drive needed to be replaced. I bought a new 2 TB HD and installed Windows 7. It has a 3 GHz microprocessor and 2 Mega Bytes (MB) of RAM.
The upgrade disc allowed me to load a black HD as long as I didn't need the files.
Here is the PC -
Update - March 22, 2017
I got this PC from the wife of a computer friend of mine who passed away. So she sold me his computer and a bunch of other computer related items (Monitor, Printer, cards, cables, and Software0.
I since have abandoned it as it was difficult to use and upgrade.
I have had many other computers which I got from other people and experimented with. As newer versions came along I have abandoned them as well. This PC was born as an XP computer and was a 2005 vintage machine. It got up graded to Vista and later to Windows 7. When I later tried to up grade it to W10 (after the free upgrade period from MS was over) I could not get it authorized as I had not authorized the earlier version (why do the up grades when I was just "passing thru" to get to W10. Anyway it has been recycled along with many of my older computers and monitors (mostly W98 and XP based machines).
Sunday, August 2, 2015
I have found them to be very interesting for a number of reasons:
1. Unlike web sites and wine tasting here in California (both use to be free 10 - 15 years ago) some blogs are still FREE. The platforms are free and the hosting is free ( blog platforms -
Blogger and Tumblr, for example). Those are the two I have chosen to start with here in 2015.
2. You can have almost an endless amount of them. I have started a few this year to play with and learn about them. I hope to spent this year learning what my real "blogger calling" is. In 2016 I expect to limit the types to those I have a real passion for. By having many, you can have different topics in each and cover many interests.
3. You can post a variety of items - just text, images, images with captions / descriptions (like this one), video clips, GIFs, links, and other media.
4. They can be interactive - people can comment on yours and you can comment on theirs.
You have to "join a blog platform" to comment (Similar to Youtube and Facebook). Anyone can view blogs but only active members can interact. You don't have to actually post anything you created but you need and ID and password. You can reblog other peoples posted material on your blog or create your own posts. You can submit items to someone elses blog. You can "follow" their blog and they can follow your blog. So there is a blogging community like Facebook & Twitter.
5. It is easy to quit blogging and delete you existing blog(s). This is a real plus if you are not sure about blogging and want to "test drive" one.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
One of my goals this year is to learn about blogs and blogging. As you are reading this Blogger blog called, "CLB-TVCUG", you know I have started my blogging experience. Currently, I am investigation two free blogging platforms:
1) Blogger, which is owner by Google
2) Tumblr, which is owned by Yahoo
I have two email accounts (gmail and yahoo) so I use the corresponding blog service for each.
I also have a Yahoo Group which I store on-line user information. It is Yahoo based (you need a yahoo account). This is the group -
Video_Don_PC-Users
I allows users to post discussions, files, links and have poles of the user base. You are welcome to join it.
It is a private group so I have to approve membership additions.
My Yahoo email is -
videodon27@yahoo.com
My Gmail address is -
videodon27@gmail.com
Don McLaughlin
1) Blogger, which is owner by Google
2) Tumblr, which is owned by Yahoo
I have two email accounts (gmail and yahoo) so I use the corresponding blog service for each.
I also have a Yahoo Group which I store on-line user information. It is Yahoo based (you need a yahoo account). This is the group -
Video_Don_PC-Users
I allows users to post discussions, files, links and have poles of the user base. You are welcome to join it.
It is a private group so I have to approve membership additions.
My Yahoo email is -
videodon27@yahoo.com
My Gmail address is -
videodon27@gmail.com
Don McLaughlin
I bought a book on the iPAD after reading the 166 page PDF file that Apple provides. I am still reading the book which is vary good (the missing manual series). I just attended a one hour workshop at the local Apple store to also help me get on board with the iPAD. This was good and had 4 people plus the instructor guide us through basics and allow our questions to steer the discussion. It was goo d but one needs many more sessions to really learn how to use an iPAD. I am an experienced computer user and I find just reading the manual is better for me. But, seeing it demonstrated by the instructor is a very powerful learning experience. So I recommend one attend a few Apple workshop as they are free.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Don's computers - Video Lab Update
Origonal POst - March 15, 2015
This blog is not only about just the CLB and the local TVCUG club but covers computer technology in general and those items believed to be of interest to my computer community friends. I attended the Saturday morning TVCUG meeting and was able to visit with some old friends. The topic was Linux. I have two computers that run Linux.
This is a summary of my current computer hardware:
2 iMACs running OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) - His and Hers (I have the old 2009 vintage iMAC)
They are called the iMAC-21 and iMAC-24 (the screen size)
3 MS Vista based computers - An HP desk top, and HP laptop and a friends old custom PC
These have 2007, 2009 , and 2005 vintage hardware, respectively
3 MS XP and / or Linux computers - An eMachine Model W3080 pure XP, a custom dual boot
Linux-SUSE/XP and an old Dell Model Dimension 2350Linux-Umbutu computer.
These are 2004, 2002, and about 2002 vintage hardware machines.
They are networked together on my Private Home Network which also included my son's Windows 7 PC and the HP WiFi printer.
This has been evolving over the past 14 years since I retired in Illinois and moved to Southern California.
My main computer use (besides email and surfing the interent, is for Video Creation and Photos.
Update - March 22, 2017
Well, the old Vista PC desktop (my workhorse PC) and the HP laptop, failed in 2016.
I since then, have purchased a new W7 ASUS desktop and a new W10 HP laptop.
I disassembled the HP laptop so I still have those pieces and have moved the HP desktop
(HP Pavilion model a6110n) and keep trying to repair it. I have changed everything but the motherboard and associated microprocessor. I now believe the micro had been damaged or failed.
It remains an experiment for an old hardware engineer who enjoys working on "failure mode analysis" which I have done in my AT&T BTL Telephone Development career.
I also purchased an iPAD which serves as a mini-laptop (to get email and search the web) while
not at home. It is easier to transport than my laptops with their 17 inch monitors. The old one which failed and the new W10 laptop. I need big screens to edit images and videos. Also lots of storage and fast micros and supporting motherboards.
The current summary of my PC hardware machines is as follows:
2 IMACs (as before) plus
1 iPAD
3 XP machines but the old Dell with Linux has been replaced by my daughters (I gave it to her)
1 W7 ASUS desktop
1 W10 HP laptop
Video Don 27
This blog is not only about just the CLB and the local TVCUG club but covers computer technology in general and those items believed to be of interest to my computer community friends. I attended the Saturday morning TVCUG meeting and was able to visit with some old friends. The topic was Linux. I have two computers that run Linux.
This is a summary of my current computer hardware:
2 iMACs running OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) - His and Hers (I have the old 2009 vintage iMAC)
They are called the iMAC-21 and iMAC-24 (the screen size)
3 MS Vista based computers - An HP desk top, and HP laptop and a friends old custom PC
These have 2007, 2009 , and 2005 vintage hardware, respectively
3 MS XP and / or Linux computers - An eMachine Model W3080 pure XP, a custom dual boot
Linux-SUSE/XP and an old Dell Model Dimension 2350Linux-Umbutu computer.
These are 2004, 2002, and about 2002 vintage hardware machines.
They are networked together on my Private Home Network which also included my son's Windows 7 PC and the HP WiFi printer.
This has been evolving over the past 14 years since I retired in Illinois and moved to Southern California.
My main computer use (besides email and surfing the interent, is for Video Creation and Photos.
Update - March 22, 2017
Well, the old Vista PC desktop (my workhorse PC) and the HP laptop, failed in 2016.
I since then, have purchased a new W7 ASUS desktop and a new W10 HP laptop.
I disassembled the HP laptop so I still have those pieces and have moved the HP desktop
(HP Pavilion model a6110n) and keep trying to repair it. I have changed everything but the motherboard and associated microprocessor. I now believe the micro had been damaged or failed.
It remains an experiment for an old hardware engineer who enjoys working on "failure mode analysis" which I have done in my AT&T BTL Telephone Development career.
I also purchased an iPAD which serves as a mini-laptop (to get email and search the web) while
not at home. It is easier to transport than my laptops with their 17 inch monitors. The old one which failed and the new W10 laptop. I need big screens to edit images and videos. Also lots of storage and fast micros and supporting motherboards.
The current summary of my PC hardware machines is as follows:
2 IMACs (as before) plus
1 iPAD
3 XP machines but the old Dell with Linux has been replaced by my daughters (I gave it to her)
1 W7 ASUS desktop
1 W10 HP laptop
Video Don 27
Sunday, February 22, 2015
February 20, 2015 - It begins
Original Post - February 22, 2015
This is the start of a blog to be used to learn about blogging using the blogger.com platform.
The scope of this and community will start out with the members of our local "Computer Lunch Bunch" known as the CLB.
Most of these folks are computer users in Southern California and have been members of the local computer club know as TVCUG. The Temecula Valley Computer Users Group. I joined the TVCUG in October of 2003.
I am also learning about using an iPAD and have found Apple products to be a nice addition to my computer collection. I am an Electrical Engineer who is mainly focused on technology hardware (vs software).
I use software as a tool while software engineers write their own software.
I like the fact that blogs are still free and you can have more than one. I have tired creating my own web site but find the platforms available now with Blogs are easy to use.
Video Don
Updated - March 22, 2017
The TVCUG meeting have ended and have been replaced by a "second Saturday" gathering for lunch of some of the older members.
There is a new iPADer's monthly meeting (third Monday morning - for breakfast) group which had formed. I only joined after having and iPAD for some months. This group is growing a bit and users bring their iPADs with them. So besides the discussion, there is real time using and help among the users. The meeting place has a private room for us and free internet access.
The CLB still meets monthly but membership is declining. It is now more of just a lunch at Sizzlers on the 4th Friday of the month.
I am the only person doing blogging among these three computer related user groups.
Video Don
This is the start of a blog to be used to learn about blogging using the blogger.com platform.
The scope of this and community will start out with the members of our local "Computer Lunch Bunch" known as the CLB.
Most of these folks are computer users in Southern California and have been members of the local computer club know as TVCUG. The Temecula Valley Computer Users Group. I joined the TVCUG in October of 2003.
I am also learning about using an iPAD and have found Apple products to be a nice addition to my computer collection. I am an Electrical Engineer who is mainly focused on technology hardware (vs software).
I use software as a tool while software engineers write their own software.
I like the fact that blogs are still free and you can have more than one. I have tired creating my own web site but find the platforms available now with Blogs are easy to use.
Video Don
Updated - March 22, 2017
The TVCUG meeting have ended and have been replaced by a "second Saturday" gathering for lunch of some of the older members.
There is a new iPADer's monthly meeting (third Monday morning - for breakfast) group which had formed. I only joined after having and iPAD for some months. This group is growing a bit and users bring their iPADs with them. So besides the discussion, there is real time using and help among the users. The meeting place has a private room for us and free internet access.
The CLB still meets monthly but membership is declining. It is now more of just a lunch at Sizzlers on the 4th Friday of the month.
I am the only person doing blogging among these three computer related user groups.
Video Don
Creation of my CLB-TVCUG Blog
Original Post - February 22, 2015
I mentioned to the CLBers at the Friday February 20, 2015 lunch, that I am starting a blog to learn about blogging. This is that Educational Blog, to be used to help us learn about blogging. This Blog is based on the Blogger platform, which is owned by Google. So, if one has a gmail account, it will be better to use that blog platform, as it will have more features. Google Blogs become part of the blogspot.com domain.
I plan to send email to various CLBer's and hope they try to access this blog. If they can, they should either comment or post something. If they are having problems, just send an email to me at:
videodon27@gmail.com
Video Don
Updated - March 22, 2017
I now have 6 blogger blogs and 2 Tumblr Blogs.
One of the Tumblr Blogs has become my "main blog' with links to the others and I hope to keep this arrangement for some time (likely all of 2017 and maybe 2018).
The main Blog address is:
http://video-don-27.tumblr.com
I mentioned to the CLBers at the Friday February 20, 2015 lunch, that I am starting a blog to learn about blogging. This is that Educational Blog, to be used to help us learn about blogging. This Blog is based on the Blogger platform, which is owned by Google. So, if one has a gmail account, it will be better to use that blog platform, as it will have more features. Google Blogs become part of the blogspot.com domain.
I plan to send email to various CLBer's and hope they try to access this blog. If they can, they should either comment or post something. If they are having problems, just send an email to me at:
videodon27@gmail.com
Video Don
Updated - March 22, 2017
I now have 6 blogger blogs and 2 Tumblr Blogs.
One of the Tumblr Blogs has become my "main blog' with links to the others and I hope to keep this arrangement for some time (likely all of 2017 and maybe 2018).
The main Blog address is:
http://video-don-27.tumblr.com
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