No roses under the Pink Moon for me today. I wasn’t going to post today, but I decided to simply complain.
I have almost finished migrating 14 new Silicon Mac Minis with M2 processors from 14 three-year-old Silicone Mac Minis with M1 processors. Apple’s Migration Assistant is flawless, so as far as users who think they won’t get fooled again are concerned, the new Mac Mini the same as the old Mac Mini, just a whole lot faster. One staff member was surprised to learn she had a new computer almost a week after I changed out her computers.
Of course, when you migrate to a new computer, you have to log back into all the applications that require authentication. I had no problem with Adobe apps. I had to upgrade to AutoCAD 2025 because AutoCAD 2024 isn’t compatible with the M2 processor. But then there’s Microsoft Office 365…
Microsft taunting me with a Windows reflecting on the wall.
I have Microsoft Office 365 Business for the office. When I set up the M1 Mac Minis three years ago, with the help of a Microsoft tech, I turned off the requirement to use the Microsoft Authenticator app in my Office 365 dashboard because Authenticator app didn’t work. It’s useless. Three years later, I discovered they snuck it back in. When I tried to log into Office 365, it required me to scan a QR code that took me to a scam page on the QR reader that wanted a credit card number. Grrrr! I had no option to choose “Text me a code!” for example. I was livid, to say the least. I found where some of the Authenticator settings had been turned back on in the Office 365 dashboard, probably by updates. But I still didn’t have it turned off.
I had a Microsft tech call me. When I answered, he asked how I was doing. I told him I was really pissed, frustrated, super cranky, fed up with dealing with stupid Microsoft products, and never wanted to be asked to authenticate anything with Microsoft Authenticator ever again! He got me straight to the hidden pages that allowed me to delete MS Authenticator and use “Text me a code.” for authentication instead.
Enough complaining. Now for some owl news:
Walter and Willa watching for Nora Owl, waiting to be fed.
Osric Owl was hooting up a storm nearby. We went to investigate. It was a distraction tactic…
Osric’s tatic worked. While we were looking for him, Nora brought Walter and Willa dinner. It was dark and hard to focus, so we never saw what she brought them.
In the first two photos she tearing up dinner for the owlets. In the third photo she is giving us a stren look. She was probably thinking about how Osric’s tactic was no longer working, since he had moved to the top of the tree north of us, and was still hooting up a storm, but there we were gawking at her.
Osric kept hooting and hooting until Nora finished feeding the kids. Then they both flew off.
Walter and Willa happy to have full tummies.
The sunset was coluding with Orsic to distract us so Nora could go in for the feed.
Off Center & Not Even 
Might be for the reason of the full moon: I feel a connection between the need for calls for feeding the owlets and solving the problems with a call.
Could be. Thanks, Heidi.
Oh, these wowls…. (and wails……)
They are Oh so. Thanks, Shey.
very welcome
In advance, a migration to a new computer is always a scary business. But personally, I never encountered any problems with all the Apple/Macintosh computers in the past. Okay, there were of course occasionally some issues with software applications. And yes, I hate calling help desks for advice because it always takes hours to get a solution if you’re lucky…
Your new set up looks very impressive!
Thanks, Herman. The tech support was quick. The tech called me about 10 minutes after I requested he call. Since he knew exactly where the hidden pages were to delete Authenticator, we were done in less than five minutes. The interesting thing is, I never call Apple tech support unless I have a hardware issue I can’t solve.
The app that’s a real problem to get installed and authenticated is ESRI’s ArcGIS which is Windows only. I had to buy the latest version for a contract last year. I was on the phone with a tech for over two hours getting the software installed and authenticated on a laptop computer. I generally use QGIS, available for all platforms, which is free, and in many ways better than ArcGIS. It’s super easy to install and update. I’ve never had a problem with it.
I am so pleased to hear that someone like you, who knows what they are doing, has techie issues…. The only time I get upset is with the bloody computer. For me it’s like learning chinese and russian together!!! Glad you got it sorted. I often wonder who these techie types are – changing things constantly….OK enough of that as my blood pressure shoots up just thinking about it!:).
The photographs of the owls and owlets are fabulous – nothing less and the sunset image is like a painting…
Oh! Janet. You should hear me cursing at idiotic applications, and stupid, unnecessary changes developers are always making to applications and websites. Laurie doesn’t understand how yelling at the computer makes things better. But it makes me feel better.
There are multiple issues with constant changes to apps and websites. Security being the biggest issue. Developers have to constantly make changes to stay ahead of the hackers, and cyber criminals. However, most of those changes are usually done in the background and we don’t necessarily see those changes in websites, but we do with the software updates that happen quite often these days.
Changes are made based on user feedback. Major updates usually have a lot of changes due to suggestions by users. We change apps that we develop in the office as our users request changes and as law, policy and rule changes necessitate changes, also. Otherwise, we leave apps looking the same and working the same, while keeping security up-to-date in the background.
Then there are WordPress developers who I am convinced make unnecessary changes to 1) justify their existence, and 2) annoy users.
Thank you so much Timothy for this explanation which I can actually understand.
I find that yelling at the computer does help. I think my Irish neighbour gets a kick out of it:)
I have a 22 year old helper who is a little wiz kid. Don’t know what I would do without her.
It’s great how the young people handle tech.
Nothing like a happy owlet with a full tummy, unless it is a happy kitty with a full tummy. 🙂
Thanks, Lavinia.
Go ahead and vent, Tim. Things like that are just part of why I find changing computers absolutely abhorrent.
Your photos of the owlets are amazing. I love that atmospheric one of the moon too. Hugs.
I’ve not migrated Windows computers in years, so I can’t say what it’s like now. I assume Microsoft has a migration assistant that works pretty well theses days. But then again, maybe not. Migrations are fraught with danger no matter who’s migrating. Thanks, Teagan.
So frustrating this computer business. However, that said, gotta give the tech credit for calling back and fixing said issues lickety-split!
Love the owl shots. Smart of Osric but I can imagine Nora giving him shit for moving closer to the family 😀
That first shot is stunning!
I will give Microsoft credit for having quick tech support turnaround on the business account. Osric is a guy after all. Thanks, Dale.
Ya gots no choice, Tim. It is a fact!
And yeah, Osric is…
We low life earthlings gots to surrender or die!
Troof!
Yelling at the computer is therapeutic, and sometimes when dealing with migrations, apps, techs, etc. if nothing else they are there to listen…when nobody else seems to be listening at all.
True. Thanks, Bruce.
Great pics Tim. I especially like the first moon shot and owls peeking out. You have a lot of computers and tech!
Thanks, Brad.
Way too much migration going on and bleh on Microsoft! I admire your patience [among so many other things!]
I’ll take the Owls and Sunset!
Not much patience, yesterday. A staff member who worked from home yesterdays asked another staff member how things were in the office yesterday. She said quiet, which was true since most of our staff were in the field or working from home. But I told her if she would have been in during the wee hours of the morning, she would have heard a lot of cursing of Microsoft. I will take owls and sunsets any day over Microsoft. Thanks, Marina.
I’m sure you would too!!!!
I love how Osic and Nora work as a parental unit! As for Microsoft Office 365, don’t get me started. I HATE the subscription model and all the annoying features that just take up harddrive space and get in my way.
Another staff member was testing a Copilot feature in the Microsoft Edge browser. I downloaded Edge, but when I opened it there was so much glom and flashing ads and annoying gifs, I could not find the copilot page he had up. The Edge start page was like a circus. I set the landing page to DuckDuckGo, but there was still all kinds of glom all around the edges. Maybe that’s why the call it the Edge browser. I got out of it and I won’t be going back. Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Tim. I use an ad blocker for all my internet devices, and I want no part of a Microsoft browser.
I have ad blockers, also. When a site complains that I have ad blocker, I simply don’t go to that site.When Google tries to block me from YouTube for having ad blocker, I simply use the DuckDuckGo player for YouTube videos. After awhile I go back to regular YouTube and it doesn’t block me for a long time.
I do the same thing in both instances.
So glad you posted so I could commiserate with you, Tim. oh ugh, just looking at all of those minis on your table put my stomach in knots and then the Authentication thing. TG you got somebody who cut to the chase and you got it off. I HATE THOSE!!!!
Otherwise, those sweet owls needed to be shot today. They didn’t give two hoots about your troubles but look like they are enjoying being in the limelight.. so cute❣️💕
I migrated the last one this morning. All went well, No MS Authenticator. Thanks, Cindy.
Yes, to that.. come over when your done.. i need help.. 🥹😉
I would if you were closer.
awww that is so sweet of you. I could send you numbers to these fools.. lol.. sounds like you have a knack.. 😂
I think the only Knack I have is “My Sharona!” and “La Llorona!”
😂😂 love it❣️
Love the owls, Tim!
Osric is quite the looker. I can see what Nora sees in him.
OH Yuck on the tech stuff. Seems you have proven again that the squeaky wheel gets the oil! xo
Osric is a handsome devil. Thanks, Resa.
Yes, and welcome!
Wonderful owl photos … if I’m going to get cranky guaranteed it will be my computer! I can’t imagine you cranky …
Thanks, Julie. I be plenty cranky.
Ha ha
I went through a migration late last year and it absolutely sucked. I still have my old computer running alongside my new one in case I have forgotten something. Not that I am for the most part completely up on the new one, I do like the superior performance but the time cost is ridiculous. Are you sure they were not distracting you to go after one of those tasty cats?
I don’t have the luxury of leaving old running with the new. So far no issues besides Microsoft. Fortunately the owls are 1/4 down the ditch bank away from tasty kitties. Thanks, Brian.