Installed, updated and activated - now what. Problems faced by an 8.1 user

I hope that your friend is more capable than my late father was at the same age.

He couldn't watch DVDs on his own, because he never mastered the concept of switching inputs on his flat panel TV from the cable box to the player.

If he accidentally switched the input, that often was a problem.

It since occurred to me that he retired (from IMB) in 1984, and had never used a GUI in his working life. "Intuitively obvious" still requires some learning.

I once did him a favor of clearing the call list from his cordless phone system. He told me that it was a mistake, as that was the data source he used to call people. (He'd just scroll through the list until he found the person he wished to call.) The system was programmed with the numbers, but he couldn't recall how to use the "phone book" menu.

As far as I know, he didn't suffer from any form of dementia. He was just old.

I think that your friend might benefit from an in person visit. I hope that a one-time setup of the PC would enable her to use it, maybe with an occasional phone call for support.

bobkn​

I do not think that what you mentioned about your father is related to age.
I have seen many young people, specially women, that don't know how to use the cel phone book.
My mother has a college degree. I once gave her a computer. She was never curious to the point of turning it on. My nephew gave her a tablet. Almost same thing.
But she had a hand made cooking recipes book very organized.
My father (same age) used to be very interested in technological equipment. He was an engineer.

What I'm trying to say is that some people (like us) love tech, others don't. Those who don't can be very good in other fields.

Megahertz said:

bobkn​

I do not think that what you mentioned about your father is related to age.
I have seen many young people, specially women, that don't know how to use the cel phone book.
My mother has a college degree. I once gave her a computer. She was never curious to the point of turning it on. My nephew gave her a tablet. Almost same thing.
But she had a hand made cooking recipes book very organized.
My father (same age) used to be very interested in technological equipment. He was an engineer.

What I'm trying to say is that some people (like us) love tech, others don't. Those who don't can be very good in other fields.

Click to expand...

Sure. But my dad was a retired engineering manager. He used to repair the family TV. Of course, the repair was swapping out vacuum tubes.

I presume that he might have learned how to use the cordless phone better when he was younger.

A lot of "ability" depends on interest. I am barely capable of using Facebook. My SmartPhone is a phone and a camera - no idea what most of the other things in it do. How people manage to type so fast using two thumbs is to me amazing. I avoid emailing if at all possible - too difficult.
Each to his own.
BTW - My OP is more or less solved - thanks for the suggestions!