[Dave Rice]

EBay is very hot on these things these days.

I’ve had no problems with the Office keys either, and they were checked by MS directly before i even downloaded the software.

[Dave Rice]

Good point but the choice of backup client isn’t really the focus of this, I’m looking more at the server end where it’s just a recipient for whatever client meets your needs.

For the server itself (not the data) I may just image the system drive and keep that safe as barring windows updates nothing is going to change. I think that’s why servers are so reliable, that don’t have to put up with users installing and uninstalling software and generally dicking about.

[Dave Rice]

If I was starting from nothing I’d almost certainly have just bought a DS216Play with 2 x 2TB WD Red drives and a 2TB USB drive for backup, but this was a repurpose exercise.

Why Windows? Because I know it a lot better than I do any Linux distro and now W10 Pro is a tenner any cost argument is gone.

I want something more than just a plain vile fault like FreenNAS. The plan had always been to check out Amahi, but some digging threw up problems like this and the fact it likes to be the DHCP and DNS server.

I’ve always had issues with setting share permissions on Linux boxes, it’s very arcane compared to tick some boxes and choosing options from drop downs.

Storage Spaces: I have no idea on rebuild times or how it deals with uneven sizes, but parity takes one disk. So in my 3 disk pool that’s a third of it.

Backup of PCs: The server is just the target for the backup software on the PC. I use the inbuilt Backup and Restore (Windows 7) but it could be your favourite backup app. I created a shared folder on the server called Backup and create a folder for each PC inside that.

Backup of the Server: I’m looking at this. One thing that won’t be backed up is the backup folder. Like my Synology boxes it’ll probably do a nightly data backup to an attached USB drive and a weekly archive to Amazon Glacier. Glacier works brilliantly with Synology but I haven’t tried a Windows client yet.

EDIT – one problem with  J1x00 (and AM1) boards is only 2 SATA ports as have most mitx boards. Might as well just get a Gen 8 HP G1610T for £129 after cashback. The Gen 9 Pentium G4400 is only £105!

[Dave Rice]

OK I’ll have a go  :good:

Windows 10 can do all that Windows Home Server did and will only cost you a tenner for the software. MS have made it easier (as well as cheaper) and there are many online “How To” guides out there for setting up data shares.

As I was using previous generation hardware I had to get that up to date first, which HP didn’t make easy. Or you can start from scratch. Buy the latest Gen 8 server for only £127 after cashback http://tinyurl.com/hwhhc4k , 2 x 3TB drives for £155 http://tinyurl.com/jyomvrrb and W10 Pro for £10 http://tinyurl.com/jg6g9nu

TBH these days I would point people towards the much more friendly Synology NAS servers but you still need to understand some terminology to get where you want to be.

Most small businesses still need someone like me to get them up and running and don’t have any interest in learning what they can do with it. But neither do they want to pay for any support, even after it all goes Pete Tong and they have no backups.

[Dave Rice]

All you had to do is look at the ridiculously easy “Windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assistive technologies” requirements http://tinyurl.com/h5evwfp

I say had as they don’t even bother to list any examples of “assistive technologies” any more.

Let’s just say if you use an unusual mouse or have ever zoomed in cos you haven’t admitted you need glasses (or haven’t had an eye test for a while) you qualify.

I think a blind eye is being turned with both eyes.

[Dave Rice]

Today’s purchase (and successful installation) of W10 Pro http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152396384450

Key turned up in email at the same time as the purchase confirmation.

[Dave Rice]

Tell me about it.

[Dave Rice]

My CCTV camera has been vibrating all day and it’s firmly mounted to the wall in a reasonably sheltered spot.

[Dave Rice]

It’s coincidence but a new campaign of this old scam must have started as I’ve heard of a few others.

If you want to stop these scams and other cold calling dead, get one of these  http://tinyurl.com/hzyebxq

Yes it costs £98 but as a home worker I can tell you it’s worth every penny. Only one of them has had the nerve to brazen it out and they probably wish they hadn’t.

Legitimate callers are quite happy to wait a few moments and those on your white list don’t even know it’s there. Those on the black list get a very polite feck off.

It’s easy to use; 1 to answer a call, put the phone down to reject. * to put caller on the white list or # on the black list.

Oh, it’s an answer phone too.

Best gadget I’ve ever bought. If you have a cyanogen phone you can have it on your mobile for free.

[Dave Rice]

I suspect there may have been some updates needed or being installed. People told MS they hated the intrusion of updates so it does a lot of stuff silently.

Pinning programs to the Task Bar is really easy.

I find that using the search bar is probably the quickest way of finding a program than trawling through the Start menu, but the pinning method is the same.

So, in “Search right here” type ie and you’ll see under best match Internet Explorer.  Right click it’s icon and choose Pin to Taskbar.

With Edge right click on it’s icon in the Taskbar and choose unpin.

If you want to move an icon just drag it left or right on the Taskbar.

Dead easy.

[Dave Rice]

I might agree with you if Dwynne’s experience was typical, but it isn’t.

I’ve probably done over 100 upgrades / installs / resets of 10 by now and never had anything remotely like this problem.

As for dumping the support, wait until your Linux user goes into PC World and buys the latest flashy all in one printer.

Or spends £100 on MS office and wants to know why it won’t work.

Been there, not doing that again.

[Dave Rice]

I’ve never had this problem with 10 and I’ve done loads.

I use Ninite to get the software on too so I know it works.

Check your date and time in case it’s the classic issue where the browser rejects a site as it’s certificate has expired.

I suspect though it’s edge and as BL says, IE is still there and for all it’s faults it’s still capable of getting Ninite running.

What annoys me is when I use Chrome I often get a pop up from Microsoft telling me how much better Edge is!

[Dave Rice]

 

OK sorry for the confusion.

I thought this was a PoE camera, it isn’t.

[Dave Rice]

If you go here https://www.ispyconnect.com/man.aspx?n=foscam# you can generate the url required for VLC to access the rtsp feed.

Noting special about a POE cable because there is no such thing. The power is carried on the “spare” pairs of an ordinary Ethernet cable.

You have a power injector that does this. One Ethernet lead goes from the injector to the switch. The other one goes to the camera.

Or you can buy a switch that provides the POE.

My DVR provides the power to the cameras directly connected to it. That makes installation so much easier and usually cheaper.

[Dave Rice]

You’d be amazed how people just don’t notice.

From a security point of view it’s good that they do stick out so the bad guys can see them.

Avoid the temptation for push notifications until you have motion detection absolutely right.

Which is probably impossible as rain at night will almost certainly be detected as motion.

[Dave Rice]

My Aunty had great results from steroids, the only problem was she wasn’t allowed to stay on them.

[Dave Rice]

Don’t delete the partition (it has to do with the boot process), I don’t think you’ll be able to anyway, but by all means hide it.

Sleep depends on certain functions being available in the BIOS, it may be that the PQ5L SE is now too old.

[Dave Rice]

Good luck. I guess you’re used to being asked what farm you live on by now.

I’ve always had a good time in Manchester on work visits.

At least they have a tram but they still can’t get properly integrated transport sorted. I have no idea why we Brits just can’t do it.

[Dave Rice]

I agree.

[Dave Rice]

 

Here’s the final word from the Govt.

Domestic CCTV: using CCTV systems on your property. http://tinyurl.com/zdl8wtq

3.3 Letting people know about your CCTV system
Ensure that you are transparent to those around you when installing your CCTV system. You can do this by:

1. informing your neighbour(s) about your system
2. putting up a notice informing people that recording is taking place

I went down route 1 but you’re not even recording.

[Author]

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