I must take issue with snidely's item #2 re automatic Windows updates. A few years back there was a real problem with some HP computers that had AMD processors. This may have been the update for SP3, but my memory can't say for sure. The machines went into an endless reboot loop. My desktop was one of the affected ones, as was my friend's. There was finally a "fix" issued by HP which we were able to employ. My HP laptop, also with an AMD processor, although a different one, was not affected at all. I have also had minor problems with some of the .Net updates, so I always install those separately from other updates. Just my experiences, so one does learn from those not to just blithely set automatic updates. Obviously snidely is not a mother, or he would know that 13 year olds can be very sensitive and sometimes overly dramatic. This has nothing to do with good parenting, so he would best keep remarks about such to himself. I am a great grandmother as well as a former school teacher (12, 13, 14 year olds), so I have seen it all.

I have a Mac, but assume this would work on a MS system as well. I keep two documents called MISC open at the bottom of my computer. One is a word processing document and the other is a draw program document. (I use the free Libre Office suite.) Whenever I have a long email I first compose it in Word and then copy and paste. It's also handy when I post the same reply in many places on Facebook. The drawing program is handy when I want to copy and paste an image from the web. Amd either is also handy for copying and pasting text from the web, as well. I also can relate to spending considerable time composing an email only to lose it. Not fun!

You run down the battery by unplugging from the power and using it strictly from the battery. That's how a laptop is supposed to be used, you unplug it and carry it to your bedroom or recliner etc. During this time it is using the battery power. In your case just unplug it and use it in place running from the battery to drain it down. It will depend on the quality of the replacement battery as to how well it holds up. I got mine from a battery supply store on eBay matching exactly what was on my existing battery. Since your laptop was used your battery could be a replacement. You can remove the battery from the laptop and just plug the laptop into the power leaving the battery out of the equation. Mine are that way I don't know anything about yours to give you instructions. You can try going to Google and search for the exact model of it and quite possibly find good information about your laptop.

Yes, the whole "Vista is a horrible monster" thing was way overblown. It wasn't MS's finest moment, but led to a lot of ill considered piling on. SnidelyWhiplash wrote : >>"kbarb, in that other conversation, . . . . If you want to guide that person through a conversion to Linux or a Windows upgrade, please go ahead." That desire was never expressed, neither for nor against - the person wasn't asking for any help installing an OS. The point you're trying to distract from with that sarcastic remark, is your blanket statement that any computer (hardware) with Vista (OS) isn't worth resuscitating and destined for the trash bin. It's just tendentious bad advice, for reasons afore stated. SnidelyWhiplash wrote : >>"15 year old . . . car with bald tires . . . . you'd say "Stop trying to deal with that junker and get something more reliable". Is calling the car a junker offensive?" Your analogy there is extremely exaggerated and hyperbolic, so not in useful support of your argument. Nevertheless, despite attempting to persuade someone towards what you think is a more promising direction, Yes, - saying something like that using derogatory words to someone who liked their car would be insensitive - the exact point we're trying to make. There are a myriad more considerate ways of wording things. And as mikie_gw has noted, we're getting way off track here as the OP's question is about Google Docs security and office type software suites.