Computer questions you'd be embarrassed to ask any where else!

Thanks folks for all the replies. Im not tech savvy so I wouldnt know the limitations of free software hence the reason for asking if there was something available that suited me.

I've used pdfgear a few times and its not bad at all. Earlier today I was messing about and I discovered that Microsoft Edge can open and edit (add text) PDFs. Seems to be a wee bit handier to use than PDFgear.

I must get a browse through the list posted by Norrie Rugger Head.

A PDF can have text area boxes, it depends on how it was created.

Libreoffice can open a PDF as drawing, which allows you put text boxes on it, but this is different from text entry boxes.

I see online that Libre Writer is too basic to handle PDFs so the workaround is to use Draw. But you can create PDF forms in Writer. If thats the question. There is a difference in creating your own forms, and editing someone else's.

You can create forms (Word Forms) in Word also. These are different to PDF forms.

Too often people create things in PDF then expect others to be able to edit it. PDF is primarily an output/publishing format. So it looks the same on someone iPad and their Android Tablet etc. Not that everyone can edit it.

I started out messing with pdfs in Google Docs. Works for basic pdfs but anything complex gets wrecked in the conversation when you download as a pdf. I tried a few of the free editors but always ran into some kind of limitation with the ones I used. In the end I got a copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro + Adobe Illustrator. They are worth "acquiring". For everything else I find Googles free online offering of tools + Libreoffice does the job.

Hi. My laptop is pushing on a bit now at 10 yrs old. If I purchase a new one how will I get some programs i use onto the new one. I'm thinking of Sage micropay professional payroll and sage line 50 accounts. I don't have any installation disks from way back for these.

TIA

HD

Love this idea! When I was starting out, I felt lost with so many tech terms and concepts. I remember struggling with basic things like setting up my first email or understanding what a browser was. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just ask here! We’ve all been there, and there’s no judgment.

It'll happen to youuuuu 👉👉👉

Excuse any of the tech terms that I mightn't get right. So last night I moved a few items (PDFs, photos etc) from a desktop PC to a USB stick with the intention of putting them on a different PC. However I discovered that the USB stick was formatted on someone elsses computer and now I have lost the items. Is there any way of finding them again on the first PC? Is there a temporary folder that they may be in by any chance?

Try this first…

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recover-lost-or-deleted-files-7bf065bf-f1ea-0a78-c1cf-7dcf51cc8bfc#:~:text=Right%2Dclick%20the%20file%20or%20folder%2C%20and%20then%20select%20Restore,if%20both%20types%20are%20available.

If no good maybe someone could post a third-party file recovery utility. When you delete a file it's not immediately deleted, just marked for deletion until the space is needed.

Never cut and paste when moving files between drives, always use copy and paste.

By any chance is your computer linked to the cloud? (That little place in cyber space that can back up all your files ?) it was possibly set up when you first had the computer and you’ve forgotten about it since.

Have you tried recovering from the PC side (not the USB)? SourSessions suggested the Recycle bin earlier but I dont see a reply to say that didnt work.

Recycle bin is not listed on normal File Explorer folders, so click on windows search box (bottom left of screen - beside the windows logo) and type Recycle, then click on Recycle Bin …. should bring up an file explorer folder of all your deleted (moved?) stuff …. click on the files to restore them to prev folder