Medlin Software, Dennis

Easiest upgrade is with a new machine. You have your prior machine as a backup. I’ve installed new versions one current machine, but I have a separate machine as a backup at all times.

While not likely strange in history, times seem strange now that I am more enlightened. States where I would likely have domiciled, while in mobile retirement - best tax and health care options for my planned situation, have made law changes which I do not agree with and would have caused me to leave their state. Enough so that if I have to pass through, I will spend as little as possible in those places. Not exactly thrilled with CA politics either, but as a CA lifer, it is a system I know and understand, and have been through some luck, and a little (now un)common sense, have benefited enough to leave our kids with a generous legacy (via home appreciation).

Maybe more accurately "trying" to leave CA/NY. Breaking nexus is a long road once established in either. Many years ago, I was trying to get approval to print a NYS payroll form. Went a test print, with fake data, as required. Somehow, NYS interpreted it (it was sent to their forms approval office) as being actual data and dunned me for a couple of years. Thankfully the employee names were things like "Test Data" and "John Q Public", so they eventually let it go. I am sure I am "on their list" since one of my replies was similar to "come get me, I have no nexus in NYS, and had, at that time, not been in NYS since '75 when I was a child". I can only logically assume the person in the form approval office forgot to set some sort of flag when they ran the forms through their scanner and the data "slipped" into the live data stream. Instead of trying to add a fee on delivered items, states should be a bit more forceful with delivery vehicle registration. Blue vans with MN, WY, TN, etc. plates have no business making deliveries in CA, for example. The last mile vans, at least here, belong to someone who contracts with the shipper to make the last mile delivery (similar to how many driving the white trucks do).

1a. TEST your backup to prove it has all the information you intend, and to prove you can successfully restore. If you do not prove you can properly restore, then backing up is likely a waste of time. ESPECIALLY if you are not self managing your backup (selecting files and folders manually). Backup assistants usually default to saving certain folders, which may or may not contain all the information you want to backup. If I had a $20 (inflation) for every customer who thought they had a solid backup, or had received something useful from their computer tech...

In all seriousness, if one has any concerns about updating their OS, it would be better to do a fresh install on another machine (or obtain a preinstall on a new machine), then move over your apps and data. Doing this will reduce the risk of issues exponentially! I have been using computers since just before there were consumer available models. I am still learning things which I would think are not issues. My recent, which I think I posted on this BBS (age related reference) was a built into Windows reinstall of Windows, and how it offered no options NOT to wipe out the "program files" folders. So while not falling into "line" for installation of the software I license to others (I force install into a root folder), I had ignored this option for most apps I use, and suffered because of my complacency.

I did not notice I dropped something where it should not have been in an engine rebuild. Broke in fine, practiced fine. But during the race, on a hairpin at over 80mph, when the engine froze, the mistake came to light. Thankfully there was good run off area.

Cruise ships feed 60v to each prong, power strips would cause issues.

I just got a notice today about something missing from a Ty20 paper return. Maybe they are catching up a little? Of course it is a return with a refund, since a balance owed would likely have been processed a bit more timely. Or maybe I should have filed it one day late as it would likely have been opened sooner.

Cruise lines generally allow power strips, as long as they do NOT have surge protectors. I have not looked at the science behind the restriction.

DC is probably cleaner and more stable for the devices, but that is beyond any recent knowledge for me.

Try a different protector. They do wear out. Also, use a quality protector, maybe not a power strip for "$9.99" (if that is the case). The power "wart". It is generally an AC/DC converter, going from AC to what seems now to usually be 19v DC. DC is likely better for the equipment, and probably mirrors (close enough) what the battery pack provides as nominal voltage. Also makes it VERY easy to support US and EUR power sources without altering the actual product. In many cases, they provide a simple wall adapter as the wart can manage the different incoming power. For instance, in our RV, I added a TV. Since I want to be able to run it off battery, and I know how the power wart functions, I cut off the wart, and wired the TV directly into a step up converter. Did the same for a dehumidifier which runs when we are home. The benefit is the items run off the 12v system, so battery, but if plugged into AC or running the gen, they still run. To go off the ledge, since the ladies in our family like to use their hair irons and dryers, even when not plugged in, and their pod coffee maker, I upgraded to LFP batteries and installed a quality inverter. so they can power up even when we have no AC connection and cannot run the generator. Of course, these things are built in to high dollar RV's, but we don;t have a long enough space at home to keep one of those monsters.

Probable failed/damaged battery; thermal runaway (can think of it as being like a short). Tech is much better now than a design which is likely 7+ years old.

Could be true for some android phones depending on their batt chemistry and bms. The last time I used an android daily, there was an app which limited max charge to 80% so there was no issue with leaving connected even for old chemistry. (Nothing against android at all. I elected to change because it is very difficult to get a truly unlocked android and set it up for two line / two carrier use.)

My experience is batt failure when using a knock off replacement, or early lion batts. On both cases, it was likely thermal runaway, which is the internal bms failing to prevent overheating. Charger and power incoming should never cause an issue with the batt as the bms should be the batt manager. I looked into building my own system for our rv, same as people also do for off grid. The key was always the bms. For prebuilt batts, the off grid experts (who post tear downs) always key on the bms. The cells themselves are only made in a couple of places and the concern is first or second quality, and volt matching. (CATL is the biggest and arguably best tech at present.) For a laptop, secondary monitoring is tougher. But, the surface line has charge limits, with the current being the new norm of 80%. This setting is before the bms as far as I know so it serves as a second safety

Tech and chemical makeup is evolving fast. 1. Not always true. Surface machines, for example, have a mode which is designed for constant plug in. It is a hardware/software setting which stops power from reaching the BMS at certain levels (such as 5-% or 80%). It was originally called Kiosk Mode. Same thing for anyone using a battery backup - they do not get turned off. 2. LFP batteries can and should be regularly 100% charged. At least a couple times a month is best for the BMS. There is little degradation to be saved bu the old 20-80% "rule" and the BMS cannot stay accurately calibrated if not at 100% on a regular basis. 3. Always true. Not so much a physical cooling pad or fan, but use the software settings to actively cool and/or passive cool with a lower CPU load. 4. To me, silly. Why? The advantage of a laptop is to have a built in battery backup. Degradation is most current batteries is as much calendar as it is usage. Where I am coming from is someone who uses portable computers exclusively. Also rely on LFP batts for our RV. Our Tesla also has the LFP formula. LFO is the easiest on the user, just charge as often as desired, and use it. Not all batts are LFP, so you do need to know what the chemistry of your batts are, and act accordingly (Tesla has many non LFP models, which should follow the 20-80% "rule"). Companies like Battleborn (RV and similar battery supplier) are a GREAT resource. Our RV has LFP batts, which are always kept at 100% when parked. It is our "lifeboat". After roughly 18 months from manufacturer, they have lost less than 3% capacity, which can be contributed to calendar effect. Granted, I have the ability to keep them at the ideal voltage through an external BMS, but it can be safely done (the always at 100%).

Such as a web site with an email or chat link creating nexus. The key is the profit possible, cost of investigating, and odds of collection. It seems like it is the same as a low dollar warrant. Unless big enough, they will not try to extradite. But if the process is automated (ala spam) there is a fair chance enough will choose to pay to make it profitable.

Just using common sense, a term like "joint and several responsibility" comes to mind. Separate letters also make it easier for the collector to claim both parties knew (less chance of successfully claiming innocence). IOW, follow the money, the collector wants to preserve best chance of getting paid, and is not sure who has the deepest pockets.

Remember, is is not the people of the tax jurisdiction making the rules. It is the folks whose livelihoods depends on being parochial and complicated. This, no common form, and the caee of some, forcing use of certain products which likely pay fees to the agency involved.

Not sure a 500 purchase every half decade is a reason to close. Can find cheaper on sale. The big issue, hardware, is very likely security related (secure boot and the like) and candidly, likely means the current computer is not as safe as something more reasonably current. TPM hardware was available at least a decade ago IIRC.

I paper file my ca return (second year ptet) because the consumer level software I use does not have this form. No real issue, other than a longer wait for a small refund. I would rather efile of course, but the benefit of the ptet is worth it, and I did not even look for a different offering which has the form for efile. however, if I were paying for prep, I would likely expect efile, especially if I had not planned correctly and was getting a significant refund.

I have been using open office for many years, and was a user of "as-easy-as" before that. W10 is no longer safe to use after the end of support data mentioned in the OP. Why? No more security updates. Those here manage data which must be kept secure, and after the above date, no one can consider W10 secure, period. If your machine runs W10, it should runs W11 as well. Whether or not your machine is secure is another matter (hardware security, software security, physical security).

Tom, could be, I have no idea. For me, I cannot continue to provide reasonable support for my own software, after a few years. Since it is accounting/payroll software, it should be kept current. But, I get folks who write and ask for support for decades old versions, which I have not used myself in decades. I even get requests for help with my DOS based versions from the 80's and 90's. While I have yet to simply say no, my policy is no support unless a current version (meaning within a year or two old). Just imagine, digging up an old version for me to reinstall, some time to get familiar again, then deal with whatever the issue is. No one would pay for my time to do so, even if I offered paid support. Those who have care of PII of others, this is a non issue. Common sense and liability means you cannot afford to use an outdated OS, fail to keep current, etc. For most here, a PII case would be end of business, and maybe bankruptcy (depending on insurance coverage). The IRS has something to say in their rules for those who are subject to IRS rules. Whether or not your existing hardware is reasonably safe is a more personal decision. Anything reasonably modern can run W11, and likely W12. The issue is whether or not the machine has the current security stuff (bitlocker, secure boot, etc.). MS is likely done with major Windows changes - since they merged all users into essentially what was their former NT path (all the "users" stuff).

Until the EOS date, sticking with 10 is a valid option. After the EOS date, it is negligent (and likely indefensible) for those managing data for others to keep using 10.

Always good to monitor EOS dates. Win 10 to 11 is the first one I am good saying to just update rather than buying a new box with the new os preinstalled. But, I still go on a 3 year new box cycle, so my backup/old box is no more than 6 years old. Box is a loose term. I swapped to surface pro tablets as they are good portable, stationary, and can be well secured.

There are many ways to account for the desired amount. The obvious are a second phone line, amount of upgraded internet, etc. For the harder to disseminate items, something similar to how home daycare providers calculate seems reasonable. Works well for me, especially with a relatively small pct of sq ft I use. Easy as well as I am already tracking home costs for another purpose.