My son got one recently and loves it. He says he hasn't over or under cooked anything with it. He's bringing it home when he comes for us to try. Looking forward to trying it.

I had something similar and it drove me nuts. I started to think it may be the video card. I wrote down al the keyboard steps to restart it and was able to do that blindly using the keyboard. So I replaced the video card and now it works fine. When the screen was dead on wake-up or virus. I thought the machine was frozen but the tower iights were on and saw disk movement.

Interesting that the video stops both times he starts taking the tiles out. That's the only time I noticed it stop. Coincidence?? Or the trick?

Your not alone!

And one's that not a rule but should be included.....

"A slap to the face is an insult —
to the back of the head is a wake-up call."

Worked for a global bank. Each country was different. Here in the US we had a program called TOP (Time Off Program). I had 38 days a year in it. It included all sick, vacation, personal days in it. Your choice how and when to use. National holidays were paid if the bank closed. Being in IT in the backroom that wasn't as much as the branch people.

I've bought new and refurb cameras and lenses from them with no problems at all. Got what I expected in great shape for a very good price.

Personally I think good is the norm. I see that in the far greater majority of people I deal with every day. BUT the news (TV, paper, or online)focus on the bad. Why, numbers of readers/ratings. I just read an article that basically said kids trick or treating will wind up in the ER. "Record high number" of kids go to the ER on Halloween. Another example is the recent storm that came up the east coast. "The 1000 year storm" as it was referred to on a lot of TV news and papers. I'm still trying to find out where the records were kept 1000 years ago on weather? I trust what I experience not read on goo vs. evil.

Jerry, you want to have only the "Windows Update" line checked and then click "enable". Try that. But be sure only the "windows update" line is checked. Otherwise everything will be enabled.

About the guy who used to make his SS #, etc public. He doesn't anymore. A friend in the computer security field told me his identity was stolen a few times as a result and he stopped. When you think your smarter than the person who feels they have nothing to lose you've lost.

I use a product Start8 from Stardock. It makes Window 8 ack just like Win 7. It's only $4.99. The desktop can be set up just like Win 7 and you have the option to toggle to the standard win 8 interface from the good old start button. Then Ctl-Tab and your back to the Win 7 style interface. Here's he link to see about it.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/download.asp

The lottery? It's gambling. If I'm playing poker and it's a big pot, hey the winner takes all. This sounds like the way they play kids sports today. No score, everyone wins son there are no one feels bad. Hey, it life. Every moment is a risk. In the lottery, in the games, in your car. So I am for if you gamble and have the wining hand, take it all.

Good to know about the Mac and CrashPlan. I use it on my various windows machines and haven't had an issue yet. Their unlimited cloud backup is nice but I want my data somewhere I can get my hands on it.

I've tried the software that comes with drives and bought one's like Norton Ghost. Didn't like them. I found CrashPlan and for me it works great. You can download for a trial which will backup local and to the internet, their site ir one of your choice. When the trial is over you can only backup local to your 2nd drive. Very flexible setting for performance among others.

My father who passed when I was 12. Now in my 60's I whish I knew him better,,,