The world of Humphs & MFW-Services

It really amazes me that people will call you at all hours just because you run a shop. I know I have a couple of phone numbers that are public and that's fair enough that people use them - that's why I have them lol. Getting missed calls is also a factor of life - sometimes you are dealing with a customer, unable to get to the phone in time (call of nature, making a coffee, whatever) - but I have answer phones so people can leave a message and I'll ring them back. However, I got a missed call the other Sunday at 00:36 - yup, just after half-past midnight! And again this morning at 02.26! Do customers really think that you will answer the phone at that time of day. My shop is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm (yes I am normally here before I open) - and I do keep an eye on any emails or messages left outside these times. BUT there is no way I would even think about answer the phone at that time of day - that's just someone 'extracting the wee wee'! I kno...

Wow, it seems as if it's been months since I posted something. YUP, it has been😁 There has been so much going on, my little brain hasn't been thinking straight, but now I think I can find a bit of time to put some words down. So what has been going on? After something like 7 months or so, I finally managed to sell the Cottage (my late parents house). The first buyer 'dropped' out, and then another buyer was found (nice young couple) and they did everything when needed and didn't cause any of the problems, their conveyancer on the other hand - better not say anything about them. Microsoft have just released that they are going to extend the ESU (Extended Security Updates) system for Windows 10 until October 2027, so this means that if you have signed up for it, you will still receive security related updates for your Windows 10 PCs - No more feature updates, but that's not really a problem, and to be honest it wouldn't surprise me if this time next year they...

Hang on, there is no need to Panic! Yes, from today (at time of writing/14th October 2025), Microsoft will no longer support security/feature updates for Windows 10.......  But they will, well sort of. The Extended Security Update (ESU) is a option that we have to extended the security updates for another year (well, until 13th October 2026). And depending on where you live, this may even be free! According to Microsoft, this will keep your Windows 10 updated with any security patches but will not make any feature updates. To enrol in the ESU, go to settings, Update & Security and you should see an Enrol Now option, click on that and follow the instruction. Once enrolled, your Windows 10 will continue to get any security updates/patches until 13th October 2026. What happens after then, well that is something only Microsoft know - they might continue the updates but at a charge who knows? The thing to remember is that your PC will not stop working even if you don't sign up for t...

Yes, you did read the heading right. There has been a few issues over the past few weeks that a couple of updates for Windows 11 can cause an issue with your SSD (or possibly HDD) having a bit of a hissy-fit and causing crashes/blue-screens etc., and in some cases data corruption or loss! You need to check to see if you have update KB5063878 or KB5062660 (Preview) and if you have either of these, then uninstall them! Once you have uninstalled them, you also need to pause Windows updates because if you don't, the update will be downloaded and installed again. JayzTwoCents on Youtube has done a couple of videos about this, and they are worth a watch. Video - 19th August  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlY2QjP_-9s) Video - 30th August  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFIUu_7LIc) If you are running Windows 10, then as far as I can find out, you are safe from the update(s) that are causing this issue. One of the possible causes of the issue is if you are trying to copy large am...

The answer to this, is yes and no! Officially Microsoft is stopping support for Windows 10 on 14th October this year (2025), and have been telling people to upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new PC/Laptop for a while - whilst this is good for retailers that sell new PC/Laptops, it really isn't good for the environment! There are probably millions of PCs that are perfect in other aspects, but because they don't meet the requirements of Windows 11, they are meant to consigned to the bin, and I for one am not going to tell my customers that the perfectly good PC is now no longer usable! Just because Microsoft are no longer going to support Windows 10 with security updates etc., it doesn't mean that the PC is going to stop overnight (think of a Model T Ford - not been built by Ford for many many years, but put fuel in it and you can still drive it!) So what options do we all have (if we have a Windows 10 PC): Do nothing - not really recommended as the PC will become open to securi...

The ramblings from my mad mind have been lacking for past few months due to things going on in my life, and these things meant my mind was (and still is to be honest) taken up with other things. A quick bit of background: My Mum was diagnosed with Lung Cancer back in August/September 2024 (not going to get into the ins & outs of smoking here - but smoking DOES NOT guarantee you will get cancer!). She had been ill for quite a while before the 'official diagnosis' and looking back we now know what was causing it. Forward to Christmas 2024, and whilst having good days and bad ones, it wasn't too bad for her. But after Christmas, things started to get worse for her, and we ended up having to have a hospital bed put in the sitting room of her little cottage and get carers involved (there is another story there, but that one isn't going to be aired other than to say that the teams of carers we got for mum we brilliant). On Saturday 22nd February 2025, myself and my wife (...