u/reduser876

I am so so so angry. Just got a new PC and in the process of getting it set up. I was forced to create Microsoft account to get started but was able to make a Local Account and that is all I am using. I signed out but didn't yet delete the MS account. Maybe I knew deep down I would need it later.

I bought a 1-time purchase of Office 2024 to avoid the subscription baloney. I was annoyed that I had to buy it via the MS account. But bought it, installed it, and signed out of MS account again. Since when do you need an account to buy software. I have never needed to in the past. Go to website->pay money->download->install-> use. (admittedly I haven't bought software in a while)

today I went to use Word and could not. I had to login to MS account (not an easy thing, the login sequence is so stupid), enter the key and activate (even though I "installed" it yesterday while logged in. The product is tied to the account. So I can't even freakin use Word without being logged into the account!!!! that is making me very angry!!

So angry I am actually considering looking into Word/Excel alternatives so I can throw out the $191 dollars worth of crap and sign out and delete the MS account. But I hate change and I love Word/Excel so I probably won't. maybe this rant will help.

Any details on what they are signing off on?

I have a regularly scheduled "physical" coming up but will have to get a pre-surgical signoff within 30 days of surgery which is not until October.

Is the pre surgical one just mostly paperwork and vitals?

I am thinking maybe I will just reschedule my regular one.

And is the pre-surgery physical covered as part of the cataract surgery by insurance? (In particular Medicare)

I need to buy a new hdmi cable to do this. The monitor is hp2159m from 2009. PC is brand new Dell QCS1250.

Looking at a current (I think) Anker (Anker HDMI Cable 8K@60Hz, Ultra HD 4K@120Hz HDMI Cord,48 Gbps Certified Ultra High-Speed,Compatible with PlayStation 5,Xbox,Samsung TVs,and More (3ft))

Any concerns?

(This is only a temporary arrangement. My nice, new, large monitor is currently hooked up to my ancient PC (2009). Once the new PC is configured and ready to go, I will swap hardware. It might take awhile to re-organize & re-install 17 years of crap - LOL! And I need the old setup to remain just the way it is cuz it is used to connect to my work laptop.)

I have a sad plant with just a single new petiole. It's been out on the deck in the shade for a month or so. Doing well. But obviously I want it to grow more. Will it be happier in the sun? It's acclimated now so I don't think it will burn.

Backstory: This houseplant plant used to be so huge and top heavy that it would easily fall over in its' 9" ceramic heavy pot. I felt obliged to repot it to a bigger pot which I did fall of 2024. It was a difficult repot. Needed 4 hands only had 2. Some of the rootball got disturbed in the process. Anyhow it has struggled indoors ever since. I lose a leaf. get a leaf. lose 2. get 1. Lose 1 get 0. I was praying the last leaf would hang in there until it could go outside this spring. I felt I could save it if it could last til spring. So I downsized its pot (probably shoulda done that much sooner). and the remaining petiole has just opened. That's the whole plant!! I need it to put on some serious growth outdoors before it comes in again in the fall. I'm willing to give it a grow light indoors if necessary to get it back in shape. I have 3 friends that have gotten pieces of an earlier generation of mine (my current plant was the 4th piece about 7-8 years ago when I divided it and shared it). It would be very embarrassing if I lost mine and theirs are all doing well.

2026

2016 - before the split

I just installed a new router (TPLink BE3600) and big sigh of relief that got it setup ok and my phone and PC are connected no problems.

But I can't connect my Printer to it (Canon TS9520) circa 2020 (in great shape does not need replacing). Printer menu scrolls through available networks and I see my SSID and select it. It does not ask for a password! and then fails of course.

I did a little research and found may need to update driver. Which I did thru the tiny on-device menu. Repowered router and printer (edit)

When I setup the router, I used the same SSID and password that my old router had. My phone was fine with that. I didn't even have to reconnect. Just looked at phone and it was automatically using it. I don't think that's related to my printer not asking for password. I have a neighbor's wifi (shared wall) and it never remembers that password. I always have to re-enter it. So I don't think reusing is related but I'm mentioning it just in case.

I think I even manually retyped SSID no difference.

Any other ideas of what I can try?

SOLVED: Thanks to u/kimputer7 WPS method

I am about to swap in a new router. There's a ton of wires and such as usual and my brain gets confused easily! (software yes; hardware no!)

My most failproof method for something like this is to take all the inputs going into existing router and plug them into new router and then proceed with powering everything up.

However, I have a vague recollection that the MOCA Adapter has funky sequencing requirements. Does it?

My direct deposit date is Friday the 19th. Will it show up the day before?

I know that's tomorrow, but it never comes til the end of the day and I need to plan if I can do grocery shopping Friday.

EDIT: I should have clarified. My official date is 4th wednesday. I always get it the friday before.

I'm finally ready to replace my 2009 beloved Dell Studio XPS 8000 Windows 7 Ultimate (Intel i7 860 @ 2.80Ghz; 8GB RAM, 64bit) It's making a few whirring noises intermittently and I'm not interested in replacing the next part. I have replaced power supply and video card long ago. Could be round 2! Time to move on sadly. I have so much software on here that I will not be able to get again, and the setup and transition is so aggravating, I hate the thought of moving on, but better to do it now before current one dies and I am in a panic.

So I started looking at replacements and I am overwhelmed and unfamiliar with all the new acronyms and specs. 17 years ago the above specs were high-end. I am kinda spoiled and always try to futureproof electronic purchases by getting the most I can afford. Apparently it worked with the Dell!

So what specs are important these days comparable to above? I use mostly for business, browsing, youtube. Might like to do some video editing. I tend to have dozens of profiles, tabs and apps open at once. I also use as a client for multiple remote laptops to use a single monitor. I need network shares. Probably need W11 Pro. Need 1TB storage. (Have 1TB now with about 50% free)

Not interested in a laptop. Have one. I tried to wean myself a few years ago to move to a laptop and I couldn't stand it.

Favorite manufacturers?

Can I get equivalent PC for under $1000?

Had a consult with opthamologist today (3rd one's a charm!) and it was very refreshing.

I have mild astigmatism in both eyes and toric was never brought up (1st doc recommended it). They don't upsell to do Laser w/monofocal like the 2nd doc did. 2nd and 3rd doc both agreed no toric needed.

I'm not quite sure if eyeglasses post-surgery for the mild astigmatism will be needed. She didn't think so but she kept falling back to "you don't need toric". Okay I know, but I still have astigmatism. Will discuss that more with next appointment (the actual surgeon). I think she said he will calculate residual astigmatism.

But the doc did say I have Anisometropia which was a brand new word for me. She called it mini-monovision and said my eyes are 3 diopters apart which she was surprised that much and no discomfort. (I thought mini-monovision is 1D target apart?)

Can anyone explain what Anisometropia now means post surgery? She said the surgeon will probably target plano leaving the right a bit nearsighted. No surgery needed on right for a few years at least (grade 1+) I'm wondering if the brain's current adaptation to favor the good eye over the bad eye, will be a problem when I have 2 "good" eyes. Is my brain currently merging good and bad? Or just favoring good?

This first pic is from my ~15 yo bifocals. 2nd pic is auto refractor. Greek to me!

https://preview.redd.it/my5mkyourr4h1.jpg?width=2261&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad9f618651fe9abe373311f0487ec8c2691b38eb

https://preview.redd.it/wjp3s0purr4h1.jpg?width=1582&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de06a844b3b2c2f840483bf439baa232bc91f0d0

I make chicken cutlets regularly and freeze them (boneless skinless thighs).

They get used for sandwiches, salad mix-in and chicken parm. And I love all those uses. I amp up the panko with generous amounts of montreal steak seasoning or chicken seasoning and they are flavorful enough. But, I am bored and feeling the need to change it up. Not a big spice person. Ideas?

EDIT: Thanks for all the ideas! I should have said that a goal is to still use cutlet V2 in a sandwich or cut up in a salad. Also, my cardiologist would request low-fat and low-sodium. I know that will kill the vibe for yummy but I'm open to compromise: low-ish

I didn't get it but I heard about it. I am curious to see it.

Just received medicare part B EOB dated 5/1/26 for 11/2/2025 thru May 1 2026. Confusion factors:

1. It's very much incomplete. I had plenty of part b activity Jan, Feb, mar,april

2. dates overlap with one i got dated 1/20/26 for 9/30/25 - 1/22/2026

3. what about part A? Was hospitalized Jan 5-8 this year. Curious to see those numbers.

I got a medigap summary recently. It only showed a little bit to demonstrate the deductible paid. (Plan F-like)

I've avoided creating a Medicare.gov account intentionally all these years and would like to keep it that way.

Does anyone know their schedule/practices?