OFF THE WALL QUESTION for a computer

[woodone]

Peteski~
Sorry with all the info, I forgot to say - this is an older desk top HP unit.
The key board is wireless has well has the mouse- the mouse always works, but the keyboard fails.
There is some sort of receiver that is plugged into the computer that shows any movement or key strokes via flashing a blue light.
When keyboard fails-you do not see flashing light when you hit any key, but the mouse flashes when you move the mouse.
I figure it is a setting some place, but have yet to find it.

[RBrodzinsky]

Simple question - have you tried putting new batteries into the keyboard?

[CNscale]

Yes, there are emulator programs that allow you to run Windows from the MacOS; my hat is off to the people that can get them running.  Talk about problems!

I'll have to disagree with jdcolombo on this point -- I've never had any trouble using virtual machines on a Mac - both VMWare ($) for work and VirtualBox (free) at home. For me Windows is just another window. .  The real downside is having to pay for a Mac *and* a copy of Windows just to run a few Windows-only apps.

Regarding Mac vs Windows - the point I would raise is that Apple is extremely arrogant from the perspective of backwards compatibility -- newer software simply won't run on hardware that's more than a few years old, so budget for replacing hardware every five years or so. I even have external hardware like printers and scanners suddenly rendered obsolete by a macOS upgrade. (I keep old computers running old versions of macOS in order to keep using old peripherals and old apps). Of course ignoring backwards compatibility is one of the ways Apple minimizes problems in their OS.

With that in mind, the downside of an iMac is that you can't replace the CPU without replacing the display as well. A Mac mini with a good quality third-party monitor might be a more cost effective option.

[reinhardtjh]

I'll have to disagree with jdcolombo on this point -- I've never had any trouble using virtual machines on a Mac - both VMWare ($) for work and VirtualBox (free) at home. For me Windows is just another window. .  The real downside is having to pay for a Mac *and* a copy of Windows just to run a few Windows-only apps.

Same experience here, mostly.  I've used VMWare Fusion and Oracle VirtualBox for Windows (and Linux) on my Mac with relatively few problems.  VirtualBox is a little more difficult networking wise if you want to set up bridges and networking between the host and guest but most people will never notice.

Regarding Mac vs Windows - the point I would raise is that Apple is extremely arrogant from the perspective of backwards compatibility -- newer software simply won't run on hardware that's more than a few years old, so budget for replacing hardware every five years or so. I even have external hardware like printers and scanners suddenly rendered obsolete by a macOS upgrade. (I keep old computers running old versions of macOS in order to keep using old peripherals and old apps). Of course ignoring backwards compatibility is one of the ways Apple minimizes problems in their OS.

With that in mind, the downside of an iMac is that you can't replace the CPU without replacing the display as well. A Mac mini with a good quality third-party monitor might be a more cost effective option.

I'll agree with this with one note that it depends on which Mac you choose.  It didn't used to be this way but Apple has changed.  I have early Mac Mini's that I have done CPU upgrades on which extended their life through a few more OS/X versions.  But you can't do that any more.  I had a 2006 Mac Pro I used up until 2015 with no issues. I swapped it for a 2009 Mac Pro that I'm still using in 2020, but only for a few more years, probably. A hack might let me run macOS Catalina, but Big Sur is out of reach and anything after that will probably be Apple Silicon.

[woodone]

Rick, the first time this happened , that was the very first thing I tried.
This may have solved the problem- I kept on looking at settings- and found this- I was connected to a metered connection- I turned that off and so far that has had the system working?
My biggest problem with solving problems with the computer is I never know where to look- Is it the server-or MS?
Working now, so I thank you all for the support.
Jerry AKA woodone

[woodone]

WELL—-I should have knocked on wood or something- tried to use keyboard just now-does not register on the screen.
Turned off the computer and then restarted keyboard now works again ?
Go figure!

[peteski]

WELL—-I should have knocked on wood or something- tried to use keyboard just now-does not register on the screen.
Turned off the computer and then restarted keyboard now works again ?
Go figure!

Does the kbd use the same USB receiver/plug as the mouse installed in the computer's USB port, or it has a separate receiver plugged into another USB port?

Did you try new batteries in the kbd?

By the way, reboots of MS windows computers fixes a lot of problems. It is called "three-finger salute" or CTRL-Alt-Delete.  This is from the  old days when that combo of keys would make the hung computer reboot.

[woodone]

Yes new batteries-yes the kbd & mouse share the same input port. But the port does not look like a regular USB, it’s is much smaller ,I am guessing it is an USB. There are mor than one and I have tried different ones.
When I look at my settings-internet/then at WIFI it shows off-even when on if I look at the expanded options it shows the server’s router not connected to WIFI. But when I got the router from my server I was told that the router did not have WIFI
Way above my tech skills on this/don’t understand most of the acurmends  used.

[peteski]

Yes new batteries-yes the kbd & mouse share the same input port. But the port does not look like a regular USB, it’s is much smaller ,I am guessing it is an USB. There are mor than one and I have tried different ones.
When I look at my settings-internet/then at WIFI it shows off-even when on if I look at the expanded options it shows the server’s router not connected to WIFI. But when I got the router from my server I was told that the router did not have WIFI
Way above my tech skills on this/don’t understand most of the acurmends  used.

I'm not sure what you have then.  What is the brand/manufacturer/model of the wireless  keyboard/mouse unit?
I also still think that the wireless keyboard and WiFi problems are separate issues.
I'm also confused by your problem description.  What do you mean by a "server" . Your misbehaving PC?

I'm really not too well versed in Win 10 configuration. I use it on my work laptop, but I find it very hard to get to its various configuration settings. Microsoft has really done a great job hiding all that stuff,  renaming, or moving things around from previous Windows versions. As if they don't want users to mess around with the settings.

I'm still happily using Windows 7, XP, and even 98SE.

[nkalanaga]

I'm with Peteski - I'll keep my XP.

Actually, I HAVE a new PC, came with Windows 7, upgraded to Win10, but aside from setting it up, it hasn't been out of the box again.  I set it up, added all the Win7 updates, got it ready to run, then backed up the entire system.

Then, I installed Win10, got everything working, and backed it up again.

When I do, finally, have to use it, if I don't like Win10, just wipe the drive and reinstall Win7!

Hopefully my old one will run for many more years, by which time my new one will be a new antique.

[C855B]

I find it interesting/depressing that we have to expend so much effort defending our systems against mandated "improvements". Microsoft's updates are haphazard at best, Apple's annual OS twiddling, as mentioned above, is arrogant and intended to force re-purchase of 3rd-party software. IMO, PCs as a tool plateaued 10-15 years ago, and all the BS they force us to swallow just to run faster or better hardware is aggravating.

The single MS system I have is a Bootcamp partition on a late 2014 Mac mini, and it is running Win7 after much work loading obscure drivers. Win7 under Bootcamp wasn't officially sanctioned by then, but there were workarounds. Internet is unplugged when I run Windows for the one or two apps I use, so little risk of being hacked, either by MS or the bad guys (...interchangeable at times...).

I run OSX 10.10.5 on the Mac side of this system. This OS is six years old now and hasn't been getting security updates for at least three. Good thing the Mac OSes don't get a lot of love from hackers. Too much work, I guess.

My main web and e-mail server is running OSX 10.9.x. Apple started deleting OSX Server features in 10.10, so in a way it's on borrowed time. I keep telling myself I'm going to migrate web, etc., back to Linux (it was on Linux originally, from 2001 to 2005), but I'm more or less tired of futzing with computers, and Linux is work. I guess by the time my hand is forced to migrate, there'll be a $50 Raspberry Pi 5 that can handle my insignificant server traffic and I can free-up a little rack space.

When my wife's ancient Mac mini (PowerPC G4!) running OSX 10.4.11 shoots craps, she's either going to have to live with her iPad2 for everything, or learn to love Raspbian on a Pi 4. She's pretty much a Luddite when it comes to computers; I frequently have to re-teach basic tools and techniques that should be second nature since she's been a graphics professional since <forever>. I'm afraid her head's going to explode trying to learn a non-Mac.

Win10 and its professional derivatives were just coming online when I retired. I am so, so glad I no longer do the computer $#!+ for a living.

[DKS]

OK, this may be closing the barn doors, so to speak (and apologies if this has already been recommended--I just skimmed the thread) but a word to the wise: always have a plain, old-fashioned wired keyboard available as a backup. You can get one for a couple of bucks, or maybe even less. When all else fails, unplug the wireless keyboard receiver (usually a little USB dongle), plug in the old dinosaur, and reboot your computer. (Same goes for the mouse.)

[peteski]

I agree with DKS - I always thought that wireless keyboard and mouse on a fixed disktop computer seems a bit over the top.  There is really no need. Well, unless you have a 64" flat screen monitor (well, they are all flat screens nowadays) and you like to sit in a your recliner clear across the room while you are surfing the Web.

I do have a Bluetooth wireless mouse I use with my Dell Mini laptop (XP), and it does occasionally hiccup (but the touch pad is there in front of the built-in keyboard) for when that happens.  The reason I have a wireless mouse is because this laptop was a hand-me-down form my GF (whom I affectionately call "technology whore") and the mouse came with it.

I use a wired USB mouse on my Windows 7 laptop.

[woodone]

DKS Yes, that has entered my mind, I have several laying about the house, but none have the correct plug? I have yet to go shopping.
Peteski, the keyboard is a HP, at least that is the logo on it. Made in (you guessed it China) this came with the PC when I purchasded it.
One of my problems is understanding when reading some instructions they use acronyms. That to me is like talking in an foriegn language.
Its like me saying to you, BTDC or ABDC or some thing like SOHC and never giving you an explanation has to what I was Referring to.
Some of the gear heads will know but most will not.
I have read some things that used acronyms and I was never able to find a reference to them. Therefore did not understand what I had been told
Has for (server) that would be my cable CO. which provides my internet. E-mail and so forth.

[peteski]

Acronyms are a pain in the butt (especial at large companies like the one I work for, and there are many with multiple meanings), but for general consumer acronyms Google search is usually pretty good at figuring them out.  If the keyboard cord plugs don't fit, you probably have really old keyboards with a PS2 connector (yes, another acronym).  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port



most common USB connectors  ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware ) used for keyboards look like this:



There is also a keyboard connector even older than PS2, but I doubt that you would have a keyboard that old.  I did include links to explain the acronyms.