Ah the memories, often associated in my mind with dial up internet.
I cannot remember Windows 3.1 but I certainly can remember Windows 95, which had a semi manual system for defragging your computer. I suppose I used to do it every few months, and with another system check, which I no longer remember. What is defragging? The proper word would be defragmentation, so it is correcting when everything is fragmented. It pulls together bits and pieces on your hard drive into a more orderly manner, hopefully to improve your computer's performance.
I think we moved on to Windows 98 but certainly not Windows ME, which was and is known to be less stable than previous versions of Windows. The next was Windows XP and then Windows 10, which is what I am now using and have for a very long time.
I am being nagged by Microsoft to upgrade to Windows 11, and I guess I will have to bite the bullet at some point and change over.
Now defragging happens automatically and you don't know what your computer is doing in the background, as it looks after itself.
Here is a nice clip of what you saw when you were defragging back in the 90s. I used to find it quite mesmerising and strangely relaxing.
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Ah yes, I remember the defrag - had to do it often! I started work just prior to Windows 3.1 - so have seen all permutations. Windows 11 isn't that scary.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I have done it now, and the world hasn't broken.
DeleteI remember this process! My husband worked in IT for decades and keeps my machine running on Windows 10 while it looks like an earlier version (7?) for my ease of use. Lately he successfully stripped away unwanted elements of 11 and still considers switching to a Linux Mint operating system.
ReplyDeleteThe tech speak goes over my head, of course. Today he rattled off something and I, looking thoughtful, replied, "I know that guy."
lol
Those Cinderella potatoes are yummy and I plan to eat one later this evening. :) Be well!
Most interesting Darla. I've always worked out tech for myself but some people online over the years have been so helpful.
DeleteOur first computer was an Amstrad…. Worst buy ever , A year or so later Apple 1992 ..have been an Appler ever since. Easy peasy
ReplyDeleteHad to use a Microsoft one for work but by then they had sorted themselves out or perhaps made them more understandable .I am grateful that I was early adopter of computers and technology .
I too am pleased to get in early with the internet. I remember Amstrad, and I think we were looking at a Commodore 64 then.
DeleteRemember the sound of the dial up? It makes me stop to think about what other sounds no longer apply to our world. The sound of a coffee percolator. The television test pattern when the station went off the air.
ReplyDeleteDebby, the sound and the relief when it connected. Yes, coffee percolators. In addition to the tv shutting down, here God Save the Queen was played, and we should stand, which we did to walk over to the tv to turn it off.
DeleteI miss defragging, I enjoyed watching the process. I know, I'm weird.
ReplyDeleteThere, there Jackie. Enlarge the clip to full screen and put in on repeat.
DeleteOkay, I remember the term but not actually doing it. Looks like a video game:)
ReplyDeleteSandra, yes, a little like an auto Tetris.
DeleteI thought that defragging was something that gay men did in public conveniences. Obviously, I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteClearly YP. You are mixing it with defagging, which was tried on men after were caught.
DeleteI was never very technically skilled but now much less so. And I certainly do not know what the computer is doing in the foreground, let alone in the background. Perhaps it is an early sign of Modern Dementia.
ReplyDeleteHels, as a user of IRC, you were cutting edge. Fortunately computers now work quite reliably....mostly.
DeleteI'm so glad I don't have to do defragging any more. But then there's cache emptying..
ReplyDeleteBoud, I should do that, and empty the recycling bin. I should...
DeleteI did like window 10.
ReplyDeleteDora, 10 works well for me.
DeleteI just turn it on and hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteFun60, I must check if you eventually sorted out the order problem in one of Tube Line exploration lists.
DeleteI was a latecomer to the internet, and when I finally went online it was the library computer, which by that time, (early 21st century) dialup was passe, at least as far as public libraries were concerned. It was years before the pandemic forced me to go buy my own computer.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I can only say be grateful for what you did not experience.
DeleteI remember defragging.
ReplyDeleteNot fun Linda?
DeleteI remember defragging and watching the screen. I remember windows 98 and XP as being the best. I'm on Windows 10 now and will switch to 11 only when I have to. I remember Hating dial-up, yes with a capital H.
ReplyDeleteRiver, a comment below has triggered me to update to Windows 11. I have nothing on tomorrow morning, so I will give it a crack then, and of course post about it.
DeleteI also remember 98 had screen savers and you could select your preferred design and watch it, I liked the one with pipes building and joining themselves and every once in a while a join would be a teapot or a jug or something. I really miss screen savers.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the pipes. I had totally forgotten.
DeleteI certainly remember defragging, sometimes it took a long time. Interesting to watch everything get put back into place. I had 98, Me, and all of them as time went on and they became available. I now have Windows 11 on my laptop and Windows 10 on my desktop computer which I hardly ever use these days.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I've avoided a laptop, except in the early 2000 teen years. The machine was crap.
DeleteThe Golfer did all that…..still does. He uses the ‘big computer’ I’m quite happy now with phone and IPad.
ReplyDeleteI did sometimes sit and watch all the blue and white bits get shuffled around and put back where they belonged.
Debby mentioned the dial up sound…..not being able to use the phone was part of those days. And watching the little world spin in the corner of the screen
Cathy, I thought desktops now did all that behind the scenes. I did try and it was indicated it was unnecessary.
DeleteWe ended up getting a second phone line, so when Telstra cable became available, it was a no brainer.
DeleteThat hypnotic mosaic of shifting blocks in Windows 95 defragmenter felt oddly reassuring, as though you could actually watch order being restored to the quiet chaos inside your machine.
ReplyDeleteRoentare, it is a pity we can't defrag our brains.
DeleteI don't remember defragging but I do remember when my son was about 12 years old (he is in his forties now) all the lettering falling gracefully off the screen because of a bug.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so funny, Thelma, although I am sure it wasn't at the time.
DeleteI don't remember ever seeing that - it's quite soothing, really.
ReplyDeleteJB, I agree, quite soothing.
DeleteA flashback to the terrors of the past. I truly wish they would quit making so many changes in operating systems. If it is not broken, don't fix it. I have a Windows 10 machine setting here I should get rid of.
ReplyDeleteTP, a desktop machine to get rid of, I guess. I'm sure a laptop is fine for working with photos, but a tablet or phone are hopeless.
DeleteMy desktop is an 8 or 9 year old Mac, that is due for replacement this year. The PC was my second computer in the office.
DeleteWatching the computer defrag was almost hypnotic!
ReplyDeleteBob, it was, and also quite pointless. Although, perhaps it did give us an understanding of how hard disk drives worked.
DeleteNostalgic ... I very well remember defraging ... and I how I was told why it's necessary to do it, in order to make the system faster.
ReplyDeletePradeep, yes that was the reason, although I never noticed any difference.
DeleteWe have always had a Mac so this is all foreign to me, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteShe says, with not a grain of smugness in her statement.
DeleteOh wow, I haven't thought of this in a long time! I used to defrag my old Hewlett-Packard computer now and then. It IS weirdly mesmerizing.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed mesmerising and relaxing, Steve.
DeleteI definitely remember Windows 98 and the dial up internet had that awful tone it use to do when it connected, so glad we are on fibre now which is way faster.
ReplyDeleteI have Chromebook now, but I remember the defragging decades ago with Windows.
ReplyDeleteLinda, it is nice to remember it and know we don't have to do it now.
DeleteI remember it well tapping my fingers in frustration on the desk, waiting and waiting. Transition to Windows 11 is quite seamless Andrew, It's so similar to 10.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WWW, you've convinced me. I will upgrade to 11 tomorrow morning.
DeleteHá processos que devemos conhecer sobre o funcionamento dos computadores para obtermos deles o melhor funcionamento.
ReplyDeleteAbraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Thanks for your comment, Juvenal. Now we don't need to know so much to just use a computer.
DeleteI had never touched the inside of a computer that was Rick's business, but when he died I had to learn to clean his computer and difragging his and mine. I don't know how I managed but it worked. I hate updates they always make things complicated and I hate new Window too. I didn't want to change from Window 10 to 11 and then I had to do it. Don't remember exactly why.
ReplyDeleteIngrid, at least you became a competent computer user, without having to know what happens in the background.
DeleteDe Fragging! Walk down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteAn idiot-proof Chromebook suits me!
DeleteIsn't it indeed Cloudia. Not all memories are good though, facing the blue screen of death, as I once did. I should look at Chromebook.
Delete