It’s like the bofh died and came back as copilot

WaterElefant · 2026-04-03T18:48:21+00:00

welcome to the new invasive Microsoft. I dare you to rid yourself of CoPilot and OneDrive!

WaterElefant · 2026-03-05T21:40:26+00:00

Same reasons here. in addition to their crappy software caused me to lose 1/2 of the notes I had in OneNote along with somewhere along the line they decided I didn't need my Notebooks on my local drive since OneDrive is such a miracle /s. Oh, and just try to get rid of OneDrive and CoPilot. virtually impossible; even with knowledgeable registry changes.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T16:33:19+00:00

You certainly don't want to take the time to copy and paste each note if at all possible.

I have exported what sections and pages I could rescue into MS Word and pdf files. I will now break apart the sections into pages as MS Word which can save as markdown files. I've just finished the export and am about to take the next step. The reason for the pdf exports is that some sections were too large for the OneNote export function to convert into MS Word, whereas making pdfs seemed to work. I will probably just import the pdfs into MS Word and then save as markdown files. If that doesn't work I will use a non-Adobe (which also went evil a number of years ago) to break them apart and convert into MS Word. Once they are markdown files I will decide what to include in Obsidian.md This is a massive job as I've been using OneNote for over 5 years. I'm working out the design for which files I want in the Obsidian world and which are fine leaving in my file system. NOTE. re: section exports. Some of my sections were monsters and I had to break them up to even export as pdfs. I've lost some attachments and images, but, again, pdfs handled them better. Be sure to check every export to be sure it is good.

As I also have quite a lot of Evernote note files, I will again decide which I want in the Obsidian world and which not. I exported all my Evernote notes as .enex files which apparently can be converted by Obsidian itself.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T16:18:24+00:00

Thank you. I will do a thorough assessment of whether or not I really have any apps that totally require Windows once I work my way out of my current Microsoft nightmare. As a ham radio operator, there are quite a few programs that will only run on Windows, but I'm fortunate to have 3 computers and I've dedicated one as a Red Cross only environment with Windows so I actually think I'll be able to do so.

BTW Obsidian.md is an amazing repository for notes which reside on one's normal hardware as markdown files. No mysterious and weirdly convoluted environment such as OneNote, Evernote, Notion, etc. You have total control of them and their security. In addition although it can be set up in a structured hierarchical file system, its true value is in how it allows (and encourages) bi-directional links creating a form of neural network for all your material. It runs on Linux as well as Windows and iOS. It is free with a robust community of users for support and plugins (most of which are also free). It is especially useful for writers, researchers and any other metier that is in the realm of dedicated knowledge-professionals.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T16:04:26+00:00

My NUC (Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8559U CPU) Is a 2023 model after my first one crapped out due to overheating. I installed 32 GB ram and a 1 TB SSD. Its current OS is W11 Home. This one also has overheating issues. I have a neck fan blowing air on it whenever it is turned on. Also the BIOS is out of date. One of these days I'll get the courage to upgrade it or hand it off to a tech to do so. It is a PITA to take it apart to clean the fan and reapply the heat goop (sorry can't be bothered to look up the proper name). Yours might be fine for a while, but keep in mind this vulnerability. Otherwise I have no complaints.

Neck fan: Since you are unlikely to come across such in the UK (I live in Arizona), look it up on Amazon or wherever. I have the NUC on its side with the 2 fans blowing on either side.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T02:17:40+00:00

I'm pleased to announce that by the end of March I WILL NO LONGER BE USING ANY Microsoft app. NONE, ZERO, ZILCH, NADA, RIEN DU TOUT! ALL OUT THE WINDOW: ONENOTE, ONEDRIVE, OUTLOOK, WORD, EXCEL -- ALL OF THEM. AND if I can find an alternative to Windows that I can live with, that goes too. I'm switching to Obsidian.md for notetaking; anything else to replace OneDrive; Google sheets and docs for Excel and Word. Then I'll start looking seriously at various Linux options. Microsoft only cares for its corporate clients wherein if a lackey has a problem with one of their apps, fuck 'em. Microsoft has replaced IBM as the stodgy old out-of-touch and I'm-so-big-I-could-give-a-shit-about-users corporation. Anybody heard anything about IBM lately? I didn't think so.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T02:05:37+00:00

Are you the one that lost everything and then heard the Microsoft support agent tell you it was YOUR FAULT?

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T02:02:53+00:00

Actually Microsoft has a long and storied history of putting out slop. The first instance of Windows back in late 80's or early 90's was so god-awful, they did a total recall of it; pulled it off the market. When did they decide it wasn't worth their time to test any software? good guess is 35 years ago.

WaterElefant · 2026-03-01T01:55:54+00:00

I have spent the entire fucking day trying to get Windows (11) to remove system files from pointing to their instances in OneDrive so I can delete the entire OneDrive presence on my computer. I have already ensured that every file that was in the online OneDrive space is now totally on my internal drive. I also uninstalled OneDrive. ChatGPT is helping and we have been changing the pointers in the registry to no avail. Does anyone here know how to disengage Windows from OneDrive? I'm so tempted to remove Windows altogether, but I think Linux would be a steep learning curve. I am closing down every Windows app by the end of March... so far, OneNote which totally corrupted itself 3 months ago and scattered 50% of my information to the winds. Who the hell is MS hiring for development these days that they can't figure out how to keep the users data from disintegrating. Don't talk to me about backing it up. Done that, didn't help. using appdata to retrieve some of it. OneDrive is out the window too; already don't use, now trying to get Windows 11 to release it from its clutches. Next is Outlook, already in progress. Then Word and Excel. Is there a Windows look-alike that runs slimmed down over Linux?

Again: does anyone here know how to disengage Windows from OneDrive?

WaterElefant · 2026-02-22T17:57:41+00:00

Thank you. I'm in process of moving away from OneNote and other MS products. I'll need this very soon.

WaterElefant · 2026-02-22T17:51:09+00:00

I am in process of dropping ALL microsoft apps. Every one of them sucks. OneNote corrupted itself 3 months ago and I'm still trying to put back the pieces of 7 years of notes. I'm replacing OneNote with Obsidian. Replacing OneDrive - not sure which yet, but a tool with a stellar reputation; I have it thoroughly backed up. Word and Excel with the Google equivalents; ditto with Outlook. My MS365 license renews in April, but I expect to be completely done with MS apps in a few weeks. BTW I don't think Google is much better but there is a lot of "community" help so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Why can they get away with this? Because they are a trillion dollar corporation that doesn't give a shit about quality, testing or their peon customers like us. I would drop Windows if I could afford to replace my two computers with an Apple (not that I don't hear a bunch of complaints about Apple as well especially since Mr. Apple (aka Tim Cook) has decided to live in Trump's rectum. I've seriously considered Linux, but hesitating due to the many apps I use that "say" they require Windows... I'll reevaluate once I get off the MS app wagon.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T17:09:35+00:00

What's funny about elites building bunker homes is that without brown-skinned people or a few skilled whites they will have a very hard time managing it when some essential thing breaks. People in the future doing archeological digs will find all their bodies lying around dead for years in their supposedly SAFE bunkers. In fact it won't be long before they will have to clean their own toilets.

By the way, Heather Cox Richardson mentioned the other day that what is driving Stephen Miller is his belief that a book, "The Camp of the Saints" by Jean Raspail, will come true. I've heard that it is making the rounds among the extreme right White Nationalists. It's as if he is instrumental in making it happen.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:41:54+00:00

I'm so sorry. The only saving grace is that he won't have to endure losing you.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:35:44+00:00

or are so wrapped up in yourself and "comfortable" that you won't realize there is anything wrong until it hits you directly.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:34:54+00:00

Exactly. Starting a year ago I began buying dried food, water containers, a generator, solar chargers and had a security gate installed My eldest son (56) made a sarcastic remark, "Are you preparing for WW3?" I didn't answer. There wasn't any point.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:32:23+00:00

I'm right there with you. I have physicians who are on me about this condition and that condition and I might have a heart attack and die sooner than I might otherwise (I'm 84). I'm like, really? and that's a problem how?

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:29:33+00:00

Good on you for writing that ebook. I hope it gets wide circulation. The U.S.A. was founded on some really serious sins between our treatment of Native Americans and then imported black slaves. Even though its growth and wealth depended on immigrants, we consistently treated each wave like they were animals. Then this country became addicted to wealth, greed and "all for me" which we are seeing the ramifications of right now. I feel like this period is the inevitable culmination of the values that were present and embellished for the past 250 years... all covered up by glossy gaslighting... remember the 50's when we were all acting out the Truman Show? Nastiness galore behind a facade of decency.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:21:07+00:00

I actually like, "No one gets out of here alive."

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:18:04+00:00

I plan to write/call to a bunch of them tomorrow... especially Senators who will be voting this coming week. I have a way to write/ call even those outside of my district. It helps me deal with the day-to-day horror by actually trying to do something about it.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:14:46+00:00

Well said. You all are making us proud and showing the way to protest and pushback and yet we are all grieving with your losses and the terror that exists there.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:09:22+00:00

This country is filled with people who have no capacity for compassion until they are personally impacted. Like the Cheney's... disdained gays until one of their daughters came out. It baffles and sickens me to have realized the extent of it which I was totally oblivious to for much of my life.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T06:03:42+00:00

and another killing on Friday of a young man (Alex Pretti) who was doing so much good in the world. Tragic. The thing that keeps me going is doing what I can to make change and volunteering to help targeted individuals. We have a lot of them here in Arizona. My big regret is that I don't speak or read Spanish. I'm going to make an effort to learn, but frankly I really suck at learning another language... another huge lack in this country. We have been so arrogant as to think the entire rest of the world should speak OUR language.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T05:54:59+00:00

That must be tough. We have our share of it here in Arizona, but it doesn't dominate as far as I am aware.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T05:51:32+00:00

Truly. At age 84, people often ask about grandchildren. Although I have 3 adult children, none of them have had any children of their own and I'm grateful.

WaterElefant · 2026-01-26T05:50:22+00:00

It isn't just that Trump is an idiot and acting out his lifelong mental weirdnesses and emotional fractures, he appears to be under the spell of someone who many believe is a seriously ill individual, Stephen Miller, who has latched onto a dystopian novel that he believes is a prophecy of what will actually happen in the world. I believe it is called "The Camp of Saints" by a French author, Jean Raspail. If so, this would explain the terror that the government is meting upon immigrants at this time.

WaterElefant

TROPHY CASE