I have actually belonged to this group for ages and now I have reached screaming point. I cannot understand the website. I cannot understand how my computer works. I'm not so stupid but I had to buy a new computer and it has pre-installed vista on it. All I can say is NEVER use vista. It is a nightmare. I have been trying to upload a sample of my work. The latest attempt was tonight but my computer security kicked in and wanted to open up a webpage somewhere else. It would not upload onto this website. I have no idea how I can overcome this. The book was actually finished some time ago but it is typed on 3 different Word programmes - make that 4. Finding chapters is very difficult. I have at last got the first part together but vista objects to filing in numerical order, so they are thrown higgledy piggledy onto a page and I have to sort them out. I am currently in touch with an 'expert' at microsoft and I get a new problem every day. She's had a problem for today so I guess I will have to keep uploading my work for another day, like tomorrow. All I want to do is write. I don't want to become a computer nerd. I hate computers. The only reason I got one was because I could get a printer attached to it which I can't get with a typewriter.

Excuse this outpouring but I really am at the end of my tether.

Feathers

You have my sympathies, Feathers.
I hate Vista so much I refuse to have it on my machine and keep to good old Windows XP (at least, I think that's what I've got, but hubby will keep fiddling with my laptop).
I think the WW site works best if you are uploading via Internet Explorer, as opposed to Mozilla Firefox, but other than that, I don't know what to suggest.
Sometimes I've resorted to copying and pasting extracts into an email to strip out the formatting, then copying and pasting from that, but that's from text copied off the internet, not from Word.
Maybe there's someone who's more computer literate than me who can help.


- NaomiM

Hi, Feathers,

You have my sympathy! Vista is notorious for this - I've often had difficulty sendng word files by e-mail if they've been saved in the new Word format.

Dead obvious, I know, but have you tried resaving all your files into the 'Word 97-2003 Document' option? I had to do this with my whole book when I changed computers. I opened a blank Word file, cut and pasted my old chapters into it, one after the other, clicked 'Save As' and then the 97-2003 option. It means you won't then be able to use some of the new Word features Vista offers - but who wants them? I liked my old XP!!! Still, after I did this I had no difficulty sending my files anywhere.

Beyond this, I don't know. I'm rubbish at computers myself.

Louise

I so sympathise, Feathers! Computers are great when they work well - when they don't they can drive you to distraction. A friend advised me not to get Vista - he had, and has had endless problems since. I wonder if there's any way you can uninstall Vista and put Windows XP on instead? (I know even less than you). Do hope you find out what you need to know.
Susiex

Thank you everyone. Atleast I know I am not alone in my frustration. As you probably all know XP is no longer available and I thought I had been very clever finding a copy of it. However when it arrived I could only use it on a Dell computer. Mine isn't. I have kept it though. I am waiting for some clever person out there in cyber space to tell me how it can be done.

I will try out some of your suggestions. It is vista that is the problem. Still all great artists suffer for their art!!

Feathers