Egypt4u

Thanks for that H An easy download and a familiar working screen with all the old menu icons instead of all that MS 2013 complicated stuff.

A word of warning though if anyone else uses your tip. Make sure you only download from www.openoffice.org There are many other addresses offering the download but my virus protection threw up a warning of unsafe source sites.

Yes I meant to post you the safe site, but by now I know you guys will be watchfull about what you download from

I've had a look at the update on the Microsoft site, and I don't like some of the things I read. I certainly don't like the idea of losing Windows media player, and having to use a separate USB device for the same purpose. Or the fact that if you use a USB floppy disc drive (I do) then the drivers may not work! Nope! Not going to reserve the update yet.

You still use a Floppy Drive?

Ah ha! I knew you would have that reaction, Horus! I have four embroidery machines. One takes pre-recorded design cards; one links directly to the PC, but the other two use floppy discs. I design on the PC in the (extremely expensive) software, then send it to the floppy, which is then inserted into the sewing machine. I then push a button on the sewing machine and walk away! Of course, I need to change thread colours manually!

OK, now I understand your problem RS, but your only objection to Win 10 is that it will no longer support the older and now defuct legacy 3.5" floppy disks. Unfortunately that is a problem that will not go away and although my sources tell me that they MAY try and modify the OS before it's release to be backward compatible for the good old floppy disk you will eventually hit a brick wall with the technology of your machines. One solution may be to try and convert them to accept a USB thumb drive although I do not know if this is cost effective for you to do. I have added you a link to a website that manufactures such a device and you may wish to read it and follow it up with some enquiries on availability and price.
http://www.floppytousb.net/

Yes, Horus. A few years ago, the option was there to update the sewing machines to accept a USB stick, but at a cost of £250 each machine. I chose not to go down this route, and many of the ladies that did are regretting having done so. A new sewing machine fully compatible with all the new bells and whistles will cost me £4000 - £6000. I think not!

Yes that would be very expensive, but looking at what is on sale I have found the same thing on Ebay and at £50 it would be worth a gamble to upgrade devices, it is designed for things like like electronic organs and other gadgets and it should work on your machine so long as itwill fit OK. It says that it replaces your existing 3.5" floppy on your device, so all you would need to do is to remove the cover on your machine and unplug the two cables then remove the existing drive (which almost certainly will be a standard PC Floppy Drive Cassette) and then replace it with the new Cassette then plug the cables back into the appropriate sockets .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roland-E50-Ya ... 2a51ba938e

Horus, I know I'm a woman of many talents - but I really don't think they stretch as far as you are suggesting! Many thanks for the info though.


Ps. Just had a look at it and it looks waaaay too big!

RS, don't be mislead by the picture they show, it will be no bigger than the standard 3.5" floppy drive found on any older PC and I would imagine that the bit on your machine where you put the disk is the same size. Think of it like this, a DVD player may look very big and have lots of fancy knobs and buttons, but it is basically the same DVD player as on a normal PC, but sitting behind a customised slot. A typical Sky Plus box just has a standard hard drive fitted similar to what most laptops have in them, manufacturers love to use standard parts on equipment and there would be absolutely no reason to design something special for your sewing machine when a standard part is available off the shelf so to speak. Take a photo of that part of your machine and I could tell you for certain if it would fit and I am willing to bet that after unplugging it you could remove the cover in minutes.

As soon as I get the time, I'll do that, Horus - take a photo, I mean. Thanks for your help.

Got a few things to say -

@RS - WOW!!! Your creations must be fantastic! How about some photos???

@ H - I couldn't do the type of upgrade you're suggestion at all! Way too complex for me. I got lost even on the 'fix' of Kiya's freezer and that does even touch into cyber world.

Thats the problem sometimes, us engineering types can often find some things very easy to sort out that others may struggle with. Like Rs's machine, I just know that if she lived nearer to I could probably swap them over to read a 'thumb drive' instead of a floppy disk quite easily.

WOO HOO - I just got the ICON that allows me to reserve Windows 10!!

Has come somewhat later than what you all had reserved but am happy to have clicked "Yes" I want to reserve it and now have a little icon sitting in the lower right hand corner of my monitor waiting..........no indication how long the wait will be but when it is released to Canada am sure I'll get it

I read a while ago that Windows 10 will be free for one year, and then, if you want to keep it, you pay to do so. Mmmm! What happens if you decide not to keep it? Does anyone know?

RS, you will hear all sorts of rumours about it, but the truth is no one really knows what it involves until the launch. My guess is that they had such a disaster with the previous O/S's that they want a big take up of the new one to regain their lead, so offering it for free will not hurt them in any way, once it becomes established as THE operating system to have after say the first year, then they will charge others for it. Even now with this free offer it is unlikely to get a rapid take up as people are still sceptical as to how good it will be and many will stick with Windows 7 or Win 8 & 8.1 if they have recently bought a new machine. If they were to try and impliment a payment after 12 months they would have to make that clear at the start and also give you the option to revert back to your old O/S, so no, just another rumour if you ask me.

Thanks for the advice Horus. I have Windows 8.1 on a laptop bought this year, so have decided not to take up the three "free" offers I have had so far. I think I'll wait and see. I wouldn't mind if they brought back Windows XP though.

I think your assessment is probably correct Horus. The free release of Win10 is at the end of this month so we can expect all new computers (except Macs of course) to be pre-loaded with Win10 in the very near future. And that is where Microsoft will recoup the cost of the new OS.

I shall be happy to get rid of 8.1 which is the most unfriendly system I have used, and my first computer was gas fired Why did they mess with XP when it was SO popular?

Although I have 'reserved' my free copy, it is something I will consider when I see the implications. At the moment I am running Win 7 and am quite happy with it so in no hurry to change over, what I may do is to put it onto my Laptop leaving my main machine untouched and see what it actually involves, if it is crap I will just reformat the laptop back to Win 7