4 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Yes, I agree, it may have vulnerabilities, but I think nowadays 'hackers' have much bigger fish to fry than targeting my laptop to see what web sites I visit. I treat it almost like a car, mine is 18 years old, sure, newer ones have loads of bells & whistles on them, but mine is reliable, gets me from A to B with no drama. Yes, I may be involved in an accident at any stage, but that won't persuade me to bankrupt myself to have a shiny new toy. 

It's all about risk assessment, I have assessed that I do not need to buy a new laptop with a new windows, whan what I have does the job... (LapTop is 13 years old so won't really cope with any potential upgrades without grinding to a halt, whereas with a recent SSD upgrade, it's a flying machine!)

It's not the targetted "hacks" you have to worry about, but the generic opportunistic keyloggers, encryption malware, etc. They want money basically, be it through ransomware or just stealing your details.

And there will be sites and files with it setup to automatically try any known exploits.

EDIT:

Have you considered Linux? It's a great way of keeping older hardware on a supported, low resource OS. Especially if it's mostly web browsing you do (i.e. don't need windows apps).

13 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It's not the targetted "hacks" you have to worry about, but the generic opportunistic keyloggers, encryption malware, etc. They want money basically, be it through ransomware or just stealing your details.

And there will be sites and files with it setup to automatically try any known exploits.

EDIT:

Have you considered Linux? It's a great way of keeping older hardware on a supported, low resource OS. Especially if it's mostly web browsing you do (i.e. don't need windows apps).

I tried Linux over 20 years ago, I had many compatibility issues and was not tech savvy enough to use it, I still am not tech savvy enough LOL I've had 'ransomware' emails before - I ignore them. Like I said, I have assesed my risk, and I really don't put myself in harms way as much as possible. I don't do 'social media', banking etc is not done on my laptop, so I sleep easy - for now, so don't you jinx me LOL 

Can't beat a bit of Kaspersky russian spyware, I mean internet security to protect your pc. 

Windows Defender and C-Cleaner, all ive used for years. Some AV can actually cripple your Pc or laptop. After removing ALL the bloatware.

1 minute ago, Jimpster said:

Windows Defender and C-Cleaner, all ive used for years. Some AV can actually cripple your Pc or laptop. After removing ALL the bloatware.

You should add Glary Utilities, and Malwarebytes to that list, I use them all LOL (They're both FREE but be careful that you don'r secombe to an 'upsell' on installing!)

3 hours ago, StephenFord said:

You should add Glary Utilities, and Malwarebytes to that list, I use them all LOL (They're both FREE but be careful that you don'r secombe to an 'upsell' on installing!)

I use malwarebytes only in emergencies, usually on other people hardware when i come to get sorted. I ignore the upgrade spam lol

I much prefer Diskpart via CMD

I really don't like Parcel Force.

Buyer asked for next day postage to NI.  I paid over £30 for the only 'next day' service I could find offering collection.  It wasn't delivered within 24 hours (yesterday).  And has now been 48 hours - tracking shows it as not even reached the recipients local hub yet.

Tried to open a claim with Parcel Force - they won't take responsibility as it was booked through a 3rd party comparison site.

3rd party site won't let me open a case until 7 days after collection!

So what exactly have I paid £30 for!? 😠

That's the second bad experience I've had with Parcel Force within a month.  Third within two months.  Percentage wise they're beating Evri for levels of failure with me...  

oooooh dont get my mind racing, i've got a parcel coming via Evri, a connects2 unit.

1 minute ago, Jimpster said:

oooooh dont get my mind racing, i've got a parcel coming via Evri, a connects2 unit.

Just be thankful it's not Parcel Force!!  

14 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Just be thankful it's not Parcel Force!!  

Yeah, but evri?? 

1 minute ago, iantt said:

Yeah, but evri?? 

I've had far fewer issues with Evri than Parcel Force...  With couriers, it seems like you don't get what you pay for.

I'll gladly use Evri again, accepting that there may be the odd issue.  I certainly won't be paying premium prices for Parcel Forces budget service again lol.

54 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I really don't like Parcel Force.

Buyer asked for next day postage to NI.  I paid over £30 for the only 'next day' service I could find offering collection.  It wasn't delivered within 24 hours (yesterday).  And has now been 48 hours - tracking shows it as not even reached the recipients local hub yet.

Tried to open a claim with Parcel Force - they won't take responsibility as it was booked through a 3rd party comparison site.

3rd party site won't let me open a case until 7 days after collection!

So what exactly have I paid £30 for!? 😠

I have much experience with next day delivery to NI. If it's a letter or small parcel, 1st class RM is pretty reliable. Parcelforce is usually OK, sometimes taking 2 days. You have been very unlucky. Amazon I'm ashamed to admit handle next day really well. Hopefully you can at least get some compensation.

15 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

I have much experience with next day delivery to NI. If it's a letter or small parcel, 1st class RM is pretty reliable. Parcelforce is usually OK, sometimes taking 2 days. You have been very unlucky. Amazon I'm ashamed to admit handle next day really well. Hopefully you can at least get some compensation.

It was a 5Kg parcel, so Parcel Force were the only option unfortunately.

I do usually use RM for anything small and under 2Kg.  Though their prices have all gone up at the beginning of April.  As well as the stamps, a basic international letter has gone up by about 10% (from £1.80 to £2) and a UK small parcel has gone up from £2.85 to £3.  May not seem much but margins are so tight on some cheap eBay items that I've had to pull them from sale.  I can't compete with businesses, getting postage and eBay fees cheaper than a private individual.

I don't see how I could get any compensation when PF say it's not their problem when booked through a comparison site.  I don't agree with it though, ultimately it's the same 24 hour service regardless of where it's purchased.

Could you move to vinted as its free for sellers

23 minutes ago, Jimpster said:

Could you move to vinted as its free for sellers

Might try that.  Never used it before, buying or selling.

Things I don’t like…………

20 mph speed limits. I’m getting overtaken by push bikes!!!

5 hours ago, MikeyD33 said:

20 mph speed limits.

Here's a few of questions that it would be quite interesting 'QI' to know the legal answer to.

• Q1: Do speed limits only apply to vehicles ?
• For example do they apply to a horse or a person running ?

• Q2: Do speed limits apply to vehicles that are not required to have any means to measure speed ?
• For example a bicycle or a child's push along scooter ?

• Q3: What is the legal definition of a vehicle ?
• For example is a vehicle something that is mechanically or electrically propelled. Would that include a horse drawn sleigh ?

Cyclist's don't legally have to adhere to speed limits. 

However, if they hit a pedestrian in a 20mph zone, speed would then be considered as a factor.

It says in the Highway Code cyclist must adhere to traffic signs. Speed signs are traffic signs. 

28 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It says in the Highway Code cyclist must adhere to traffic signs. Speed signs are traffic signs. 

It does say that.  But it also says that speed limits depend on both the road and the type of vehicle being driven.  Cyclists are not mentioned anywhere in the speed limit table.

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

It does say that.  But it also says that speed limits depend on both the road and the type of vehicle being driven.  Cyclists are not mentioned anywhere in the speed limit table.

I think the table is only for areas without explicit signs. So cyclist must adhere to an explicit speed sign but they might not have to if it’s not marked but presumed. 

2 hours ago, unofix said:

Here's a few of questions that it would be quite interesting 'QI' to know the legal answer to.

• Q1: Do speed limits only apply to vehicles ?
• For example do they apply to a horse or a person running ?

• Q2: Do speed limits apply to vehicles that are not required to have any means to measure speed ?
• For example a bicycle or a child's push along scooter ?

• Q3: What is the legal definition of a vehicle ?
• For example is a vehicle something that is mechanically or electrically propelled. Would that include a horse drawn sleigh ?

not sure if ive already mentioned here, was pulled over by a copper for speeding on my pushbike downhill as a kid, his words were " i had to do 95 to overtake you, and at that speed had you crashed you'd be dead"

1 hour ago, Jimpster said:

not sure if ive already mentioned here, was pulled over by a copper for speeding on my pushbike downhill as a kid, his words were " i had to do 95 to overtake you, and at that speed had you crashed you'd be dead"

Didn't realise in your era the penny farthing could go that fast down hill. 

Oh, I remember you mentioning it now. And you posted up a photo of you and the copper. 

 

Of course the response to that is - overtaking a kid on a bike downhill at 95mph is even more dangerous.  Would like to hope they'd have better training nowadays...