Building a better idiot

[jadesfire]

Okay. I'm told that backing up my LJ is easy, that all I need to do is download and run lj-archive and that's it's easy and more or less idiot proof. You know what happens when someone does that? The world comes up with a better idiot.

I understand the principle, and I am not an idiot, but I honestly cannot get the wretched thing to run. I can get to the website, I can click the 'download' button. I then get a list of about 5 things that I *could* download. If someone could then explain to me in words of one syallable how I "install and launch" after that I would be eternally grateful. Literally assume that I need step-by-step instructions. At this point, I am beyond being patronised - I just need someone to help me!

ETA: Huge thanks to everyone who chipped in to help my brain out. I need to install stuff, so it's going on my home computer, but I shall report back soon! Much appreciated, folks. I knew you'd know.

I do have an Insanejournal under this name now and have already found most of you MWAHAHAHAHAH*cough* but I'll be clinging to LJ until the bitter end. Assuming I can back the damn thing up.

Moving swiftly on, please to be filling out the poll below if you would like a postcard from Morocco. Please also note that comments to this post are not screened - use the textbox (which IS screened) or email me on jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com if I don't have your address. I've put a 'no, thanks!' option in there, since I'm liable to send them to everyone whose address I have in a fit of enthusiasm, and thought I should give you the option to back out.


[Poll #1326862]

ETA: bironic! I see what you did there :P Alternatively, it might be "Auriga, Cetus, Centaurus, Cancer, Scutum, Eridanus" + point of origin. Guess what I'm researching at the moment...

---

How's everyone's Wednesday? Going okay so far?

Comments

[becky-h.livejournal.com]

My period showed up! I am amazingly energetic, unanxious, and even downright motivated and perky. Isn't it funny how that happens? *cough*. Seriously, I'm about to get the kids up and ready for school, kick them out and get busy cleaning in preparation for turning my life upside down for another foster dog. Ah, life.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well colour me surprised at that kind of co-incidence ;) Life indeed, but at least one dog's going to a good home. Do you have plans to get out at all today? There's so much to do at home right now that I keep watching the clock for the end of the day...

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Wednesdays are a thing of pure Evil. NOTHING so far is working.

Oh, and got your email with the betaing, will get to you on the weekend I think, my workdays are a bit crammed with, well, work at the moment...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ugh. It's rotten when that happens.

But having things to do at work is good! so much better than being bored :)

Glad the email arrived, but remember if you email me at the weekend you won't get a reply for at least a week...

[unfeathered]

Well, when someone comes and explains it all to you, I'll have a got at it too. I haven't even dared go to look yet...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. I can download stuff, but it's what to do with it next that trips me up. There's something called 'LJ Sec' that transfers your content to something like insanejournal, except that they recommend using LJ Archive to save everything first :S I'm going round in circles here!

ETA: xparrot is making a stab at explaining it to me here (http://jadesfire2808.livejournal.com/320019.html?thread=3686675#t3686675)...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I installed lj-archive a while back, so I don't know the exact process, but I think that from this page (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280&package_id=157384&release_id=403625) you want the ljArchive-0.9.7.exe file. If you click on it, a download should start; save it to your desktop, then click and run it (provided you have Windows).

Except that you might need the .NET framework - if when you run the exe it says something of the sort, download & install this first (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en). You might need to restart your computer, but it doesn't screw anything up; it's just a Windows add-on.

If you got anymore questions, just ask! (I might take a bit to respond but I'll be around...)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*sigh* It's going to have to wait til tomorrow, then. I get buggy messages when I try to run the ljArchive.exe file, and the .NET one can't be installed without admin privileges, which I don't have on this machine and I'm out tonight, so tomorrow it is.

Thanks, though. It will work now, I think. I just need a computer that I'm in charge of!

[stackcats.livejournal.com]

*Pokes Wednesday* it hasn't really started yet, but it looks sunny outside and I'm meeting friend, so... *Pats Wednesday encouragingly*

I have no idea how to do the back up thingy, I'm afraid :0(

Oh, and postcard! Everyone loves postcards, I'll put my address in the box :0) I was thinking the other day it'd be nice to go to Morocco. Hope you have a good time!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

That does sound encouraging, defintely. We have some light snow and a completely overcast sky, which is less fun but liveable.

Hopefully when I'm on my own computer, I can follow xparrot's advice above and get sorted. Will report back.

I'm so looking forward to it! Three days!

[ladyamarra.livejournal.com]

Sick with a cold, but otherwise alright.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Still? Ugh, you poor thing.

*sends honey, lemon and sympathy*

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>I can get to the website, I can click the 'download' button. I then get a list of about 5 things that I *could* download. If someone could then explain to me in words of one syallable how I "install and launch" after that I would be eternally grateful.<<

Okay. I did it yesterday so I'll try and see what I can come up with.

The first thing you have to do is this: Log in into your LJ account and go to this site:

http://www.livejournal.com/settings/?c=OldEncoding

Switch user to the journal/community you want to check.

Look at the box "auto-convert older entries from". If it says "None", you have to chose "Western European (Windows)" from the pull-down menu. You need to do this or LJ Archive won't be able to backup your journal or community.

Click "save".

Then go to this site:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ljarchive/

Then I did the following: I clicked on "download" in the green box and then this site came up:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280

Then I clicked the blue "download"-link which brought me to this site:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280&package_id=157384&release_id=403625

It lists 5 different download-posibilities and I chose the fourth from the top, the one with the extention ".exe" because it should work with "any architecture" (I had no clue what "architecture" means but just though that, if it works with "any", well ...) .

A window popped up, asking about where to save the file. Chose any place you want. I downloaded it right onto my desktop but it's up to you where you want to save the file.

And now comes the "install and launch"-process.

Double-click the ".exe"-file (wherever you've put it), you get a window "Welcome to the ljarchive setup wizard". Click "next". Wait. Click "I agree". Wait. Click "install". Wait. De-check the "show readme"-box, leave the "run LJArchive"-box checked. Click "finish".


The next window says: "Welcome to the ljArchive. To create a new journal archive select the menu item File/New Archive". Do exactly that. Click on "file" (upper left corner) and click on "new archive". The next window asks you where to save the ljarchive. Select the place where you want to store your cope. I chose desktop (I can always put it elsewhere later). Click "next". The next window wants your LJ-login and your password. Type it in. Make sure that the "download comments"-box is checked. Click "next". Wait. Click "finish". Wait. Wait. Wait.

It needs some time to download the whole content of your LJ plus the comments. Get a cup of coffee meanwhile. As soon as the process is finished, it shows you a page of your LJ and from there on you're able to work with that by using the toolbar of the window.

If the download process doesn't start immediately, wait or try it again. It's sometimes pretty busy.

Hope this helps. :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! That's just the kind of guide I was looking for, that actually talks me through the steps I need. I can get as far as the .exe file, but when I try to go further, I get bugs and can't fix them without being able to DL something else. Which I need admin privileges for. Which I don't have on this machine. It'll just have to wait til I get home *sigh*

But THANK YOU! That is exactly what I needed :D

[morgynleri]

Today's better than yesterday - my car's not broken now. I've got to go water my former roommate's plants, and finish getting boxes of stuff out of my mom's car just as soon as I figure out where I'm putting them. There isn't a whole lot of space to do that, but I'll figure it out. Boxes stacked to the ceiling.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Not-broken is a good state for a car. Hope the fixing wasn't too painful :S

I hate unpacking and packing stuff. Rearranging, I can do, but the packing is always just *waves hands*

Good luck!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I used my dad's (PC) laptop and the step-by-step guide here, but I spent all evening updating Windows software (first an XP service pack, then the .NET thing linked in that post) before it would work. But once I had done that, the download and installation went off with out a hitch. Oh, and of the downloads, I chose the one with the ".exe" extension.

I'm about to take the dogs for a walk for one last bit of me-time before things get crazy around here. :) We're having our first sunny day in about a week! ::shoos some your way::

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks. I'll get it to work if it kills me. Or the computer. Only one can live! ;)

Me-time sounds like just the ticket, and I'll take all the sunshine you've got to spare *basks* Take care!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

After a few hiccups I got LJ archive to work for me. Phew.

Now I suppose I better update my website with all my December fic (a bit of a daunting prospect actually) and then I have all that archived too. I'm very glad that I've got that website, and have had since I started writing fanfic, as it's saved me from completely losing my stuff a few times. I should probably make a nice new all singing and all dancing one, but I really can't be arsed. It does its job and that's what matters.

I've taken the big step to actually admit I'm physically falling apart and have been signed off sick for a week. I feel a bit guilty (hey, nurse here - we always feel guilty when we're off sick) but I need the time to recover from struggling in all over Christmas and New year when my asthma was bad. Asthma has now settled but I can't work through the side effects of the painkillers I've got to take for my strained cough muscles. Doc has put 'acute exacerbation of asthma' on the sick note which sounds a lot better than strained intercostal muscles. Apart from being achey, intermittently drowsy and a bit more not-on-the-planet than usual (thank you codeine) I'm ok. Can't do my cleaning as it hurts too much (good excuse, hey? *g*) and haven't been able to take my christmas tree down for the same reason. The ex can do that when he visits tomorrow.

I have been experimenting with making my own mocha using different coffees along with my Green and Blacks hot choc. Funny how a shot of baileys adds that little bit extra... This is an ongoing project btw and not one I've only been doing today!

I got a nice new set of headphones and the Season 2 boxset of NCIS through the post. I'm now waiting on Season 1. I also read the Dresden Files graphic novel 'Welcome to the Jungle' that I got for Christmas. The artwork is really good and I've love some icons from it *glares at LJ for only having 107 icons*. I've booked my accommodation for October's Whitby Goth weekend (a nice B&B for a change, not a cottage and I'm really looking forward to the breakfasts) and bought the tickets for April.

Eldest nephew is going with me to Whitby in April as his birthday and christmas pressie, the next step in me trying to turn him to the dark side. *g* He's already a sci-fi and fantasty geek so we'll have plenty to talk about and he's met some of my goth mates already and seemed to get on fine with them. I just hope that people don't think he's *mine* as we both looked uncannily alike aged 11 (I was a tomboy). We'll have to work out what to call each other as I'm not sure he'll be wanting to call me 'aunty' - we've avoided this so far by not calling each other anything when we're in person. I've also only got a few more days of looking after his rats left - he's back in Liverpool on the 11th - which my gerbils will be very happy about as they've been jealous. Owen rat is such a cutie, and bears a remarkable resemblance to his namesake (barring the red eyes).

And that's my Wednesday (and half the rest of the month besides).

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Sorting out a website for my fic is definitely a plan for 2009. It's a post-Morocco job, although the archiving is definitely a pre-Morocco one!

Codeine and Baileys? *raises eyebrow* Well, you're the nurse... ;) I think taking time to get yourself better is just what you need - no matter how you did the damage, if you're hurting, you're not going to get better by putting strain on yourself.

Sounds like you've got a good year planned! I also have some fandom thinking to do. I've got some folks over in Due South, a few more in NCIS, some more in Merlin and I'm still sitting in SGA without even having seen the Doctor Who Christmas Special! *fails at fanning* Ah well, I'll get myself sorted eventually. At which point I shall surprise everyone by jumping back into Criminal Minds ;)

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

joined ij aswell - same name - but where do I find this archiving thing?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

There are some links in the threads above this one. Depending on whether you're using windows or Mac, you'll need different programmes. LJ Archive is just that - it saves your journal to your computer. LJ Sec is a tool for transferring everything to your IJ.

I recommend Pat's instructions here (http://jadesfire2808.livejournal.com/320019.html?thread=3690003#t3690003) on how to download and run LJ Archive if you're using windows. If you're on a Mac, you'll need a different link, sorry :S

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh postcard! :)

ack 10 min left on library computer. off to look at your thing....

[jpgr.livejournal.com]

I gave you my address because I can't remember if you already have it. (or kept it)

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Bah! I fail at polls this morning.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. I think I still have it, don't worry :)

[becky-h.livejournal.com]

My period showed up! I am amazingly energetic, unanxious, and even downright motivated and perky. Isn't it funny how that happens? *cough*. Seriously, I'm about to get the kids up and ready for school, kick them out and get busy cleaning in preparation for turning my life upside down for another foster dog. Ah, life.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well colour me surprised at that kind of co-incidence ;) Life indeed, but at least one dog's going to a good home. Do you have plans to get out at all today? There's so much to do at home right now that I keep watching the clock for the end of the day...

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Wednesdays are a thing of pure Evil. NOTHING so far is working.

Oh, and got your email with the betaing, will get to you on the weekend I think, my workdays are a bit crammed with, well, work at the moment...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ugh. It's rotten when that happens.

But having things to do at work is good! so much better than being bored :)

Glad the email arrived, but remember if you email me at the weekend you won't get a reply for at least a week...

[unfeathered]

Well, when someone comes and explains it all to you, I'll have a got at it too. I haven't even dared go to look yet...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. I can download stuff, but it's what to do with it next that trips me up. There's something called 'LJ Sec' that transfers your content to something like insanejournal, except that they recommend using LJ Archive to save everything first :S I'm going round in circles here!

ETA: xparrot is making a stab at explaining it to me here (http://jadesfire2808.livejournal.com/320019.html?thread=3686675#t3686675)...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I installed lj-archive a while back, so I don't know the exact process, but I think that from this page (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280&package_id=157384&release_id=403625) you want the ljArchive-0.9.7.exe file. If you click on it, a download should start; save it to your desktop, then click and run it (provided you have Windows).

Except that you might need the .NET framework - if when you run the exe it says something of the sort, download & install this first (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en). You might need to restart your computer, but it doesn't screw anything up; it's just a Windows add-on.

If you got anymore questions, just ask! (I might take a bit to respond but I'll be around...)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*sigh* It's going to have to wait til tomorrow, then. I get buggy messages when I try to run the ljArchive.exe file, and the .NET one can't be installed without admin privileges, which I don't have on this machine and I'm out tonight, so tomorrow it is.

Thanks, though. It will work now, I think. I just need a computer that I'm in charge of!

[stackcats.livejournal.com]

*Pokes Wednesday* it hasn't really started yet, but it looks sunny outside and I'm meeting friend, so... *Pats Wednesday encouragingly*

I have no idea how to do the back up thingy, I'm afraid :0(

Oh, and postcard! Everyone loves postcards, I'll put my address in the box :0) I was thinking the other day it'd be nice to go to Morocco. Hope you have a good time!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

That does sound encouraging, defintely. We have some light snow and a completely overcast sky, which is less fun but liveable.

Hopefully when I'm on my own computer, I can follow xparrot's advice above and get sorted. Will report back.

I'm so looking forward to it! Three days!

[ladyamarra.livejournal.com]

Sick with a cold, but otherwise alright.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Still? Ugh, you poor thing.

*sends honey, lemon and sympathy*

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>I can get to the website, I can click the 'download' button. I then get a list of about 5 things that I *could* download. If someone could then explain to me in words of one syallable how I "install and launch" after that I would be eternally grateful.<<

Okay. I did it yesterday so I'll try and see what I can come up with.

The first thing you have to do is this: Log in into your LJ account and go to this site:

http://www.livejournal.com/settings/?c=OldEncoding

Switch user to the journal/community you want to check.

Look at the box "auto-convert older entries from". If it says "None", you have to chose "Western European (Windows)" from the pull-down menu. You need to do this or LJ Archive won't be able to backup your journal or community.

Click "save".

Then go to this site:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ljarchive/

Then I did the following: I clicked on "download" in the green box and then this site came up:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280

Then I clicked the blue "download"-link which brought me to this site:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=143280&package_id=157384&release_id=403625

It lists 5 different download-posibilities and I chose the fourth from the top, the one with the extention ".exe" because it should work with "any architecture" (I had no clue what "architecture" means but just though that, if it works with "any", well ...) .

A window popped up, asking about where to save the file. Chose any place you want. I downloaded it right onto my desktop but it's up to you where you want to save the file.

And now comes the "install and launch"-process.

Double-click the ".exe"-file (wherever you've put it), you get a window "Welcome to the ljarchive setup wizard". Click "next". Wait. Click "I agree". Wait. Click "install". Wait. De-check the "show readme"-box, leave the "run LJArchive"-box checked. Click "finish".


The next window says: "Welcome to the ljArchive. To create a new journal archive select the menu item File/New Archive". Do exactly that. Click on "file" (upper left corner) and click on "new archive". The next window asks you where to save the ljarchive. Select the place where you want to store your cope. I chose desktop (I can always put it elsewhere later). Click "next". The next window wants your LJ-login and your password. Type it in. Make sure that the "download comments"-box is checked. Click "next". Wait. Click "finish". Wait. Wait. Wait.

It needs some time to download the whole content of your LJ plus the comments. Get a cup of coffee meanwhile. As soon as the process is finished, it shows you a page of your LJ and from there on you're able to work with that by using the toolbar of the window.

If the download process doesn't start immediately, wait or try it again. It's sometimes pretty busy.

Hope this helps. :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! That's just the kind of guide I was looking for, that actually talks me through the steps I need. I can get as far as the .exe file, but when I try to go further, I get bugs and can't fix them without being able to DL something else. Which I need admin privileges for. Which I don't have on this machine. It'll just have to wait til I get home *sigh*

But THANK YOU! That is exactly what I needed :D

[morgynleri]

Today's better than yesterday - my car's not broken now. I've got to go water my former roommate's plants, and finish getting boxes of stuff out of my mom's car just as soon as I figure out where I'm putting them. There isn't a whole lot of space to do that, but I'll figure it out. Boxes stacked to the ceiling.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Not-broken is a good state for a car. Hope the fixing wasn't too painful :S

I hate unpacking and packing stuff. Rearranging, I can do, but the packing is always just *waves hands*

Good luck!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I used my dad's (PC) laptop and the step-by-step guide here, but I spent all evening updating Windows software (first an XP service pack, then the .NET thing linked in that post) before it would work. But once I had done that, the download and installation went off with out a hitch. Oh, and of the downloads, I chose the one with the ".exe" extension.

I'm about to take the dogs for a walk for one last bit of me-time before things get crazy around here. :) We're having our first sunny day in about a week! ::shoos some your way::

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks. I'll get it to work if it kills me. Or the computer. Only one can live! ;)

Me-time sounds like just the ticket, and I'll take all the sunshine you've got to spare *basks* Take care!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

After a few hiccups I got LJ archive to work for me. Phew.

Now I suppose I better update my website with all my December fic (a bit of a daunting prospect actually) and then I have all that archived too. I'm very glad that I've got that website, and have had since I started writing fanfic, as it's saved me from completely losing my stuff a few times. I should probably make a nice new all singing and all dancing one, but I really can't be arsed. It does its job and that's what matters.

I've taken the big step to actually admit I'm physically falling apart and have been signed off sick for a week. I feel a bit guilty (hey, nurse here - we always feel guilty when we're off sick) but I need the time to recover from struggling in all over Christmas and New year when my asthma was bad. Asthma has now settled but I can't work through the side effects of the painkillers I've got to take for my strained cough muscles. Doc has put 'acute exacerbation of asthma' on the sick note which sounds a lot better than strained intercostal muscles. Apart from being achey, intermittently drowsy and a bit more not-on-the-planet than usual (thank you codeine) I'm ok. Can't do my cleaning as it hurts too much (good excuse, hey? *g*) and haven't been able to take my christmas tree down for the same reason. The ex can do that when he visits tomorrow.

I have been experimenting with making my own mocha using different coffees along with my Green and Blacks hot choc. Funny how a shot of baileys adds that little bit extra... This is an ongoing project btw and not one I've only been doing today!

I got a nice new set of headphones and the Season 2 boxset of NCIS through the post. I'm now waiting on Season 1. I also read the Dresden Files graphic novel 'Welcome to the Jungle' that I got for Christmas. The artwork is really good and I've love some icons from it *glares at LJ for only having 107 icons*. I've booked my accommodation for October's Whitby Goth weekend (a nice B&B for a change, not a cottage and I'm really looking forward to the breakfasts) and bought the tickets for April.

Eldest nephew is going with me to Whitby in April as his birthday and christmas pressie, the next step in me trying to turn him to the dark side. *g* He's already a sci-fi and fantasty geek so we'll have plenty to talk about and he's met some of my goth mates already and seemed to get on fine with them. I just hope that people don't think he's *mine* as we both looked uncannily alike aged 11 (I was a tomboy). We'll have to work out what to call each other as I'm not sure he'll be wanting to call me 'aunty' - we've avoided this so far by not calling each other anything when we're in person. I've also only got a few more days of looking after his rats left - he's back in Liverpool on the 11th - which my gerbils will be very happy about as they've been jealous. Owen rat is such a cutie, and bears a remarkable resemblance to his namesake (barring the red eyes).

And that's my Wednesday (and half the rest of the month besides).

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Sorting out a website for my fic is definitely a plan for 2009. It's a post-Morocco job, although the archiving is definitely a pre-Morocco one!

Codeine and Baileys? *raises eyebrow* Well, you're the nurse... ;) I think taking time to get yourself better is just what you need - no matter how you did the damage, if you're hurting, you're not going to get better by putting strain on yourself.

Sounds like you've got a good year planned! I also have some fandom thinking to do. I've got some folks over in Due South, a few more in NCIS, some more in Merlin and I'm still sitting in SGA without even having seen the Doctor Who Christmas Special! *fails at fanning* Ah well, I'll get myself sorted eventually. At which point I shall surprise everyone by jumping back into Criminal Minds ;)

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

joined ij aswell - same name - but where do I find this archiving thing?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

There are some links in the threads above this one. Depending on whether you're using windows or Mac, you'll need different programmes. LJ Archive is just that - it saves your journal to your computer. LJ Sec is a tool for transferring everything to your IJ.

I recommend Pat's instructions here (http://jadesfire2808.livejournal.com/320019.html?thread=3690003#t3690003) on how to download and run LJ Archive if you're using windows. If you're on a Mac, you'll need a different link, sorry :S