Ed downloaded Windows 10. I had been ignoring their come-ons to do this, remembering that we always ran into problems. But, hey, it was free. And it turns out that most earlier versions are not compatible with this download. Our PC froze on our home screen -- blinking on and off. Finally got a help screen to pop up - it was one of those deals where Hewlett-Packard switches you to an offshore tech. These techs help dozens of people all at once (for a price) and it takes hours of your time waiting for them to get back to you.

At the end of the day, tech told Ed he would have to buy an external hard drive and he would walk him through transferring all data, reloading the system, etc., and all of this would take place the next day at 5 (when Ed would be home) and all would be perfect.

Remembering my past experience with offshore techs, I knew it would be hours for the new session to complete and no guarantees. So, against Ed's wishes, I called our local tech guy and he said that it was highly likely we would still lose data.

Against Ed's wishes, I called our local tech. He said it was highly likely the transfer would be a disaster. I put him on with Ed, and the final decision was, ta da, a new computer. So Ed and I went to Staples and bought a new HP and, because Ed wants to restore the old HP, we had to get new peripherals -- keyboard, mouse, monitor. Now the old computer will be taken back to Windows 8.1 and it will be mine, and the new computer will be Windows 10, and that will be Ed's and that is okay with me, because the old system was working just fine and we won't be getting in each other's way.

Meanwhile a Staples tech is performing this miracle and I am using Ed's top of the line laptop, a Toshiba, and it sucks. Just looking at the screen, it will jump to a different program. You don't even have to touch this sucker for it to go ape. I am amazed I have gotten this far. Better quit while I'm ahead. I sure hope we can get the computer home by tomorrow.

love and xx, Teal