Wonky Word and disappearing SuperDuper!

[Sooz]

I've been using MS Word for Mac, version 14.7.2 from 2011 (correction, I initially had noted it was from 2001) and I'm starting to get the spinning beach ball of death. It will often not even open, not Save until the beach ball has done it's thing for a minute or so, and it will NOT quit even when I do command-option-esc--but eventually it does or I have to restart my iMac.

If someone could please direct me to where I can purchase an upgrade so things will work much better (something easy for me to stick on my computer), that would be much appreciated! Would an upgrade for Word be a problem for some of my old documents?

Here's the popup box what I get when I try to find SuperDuper!  I have/had a separate external HD for SD! on my desktop, but that doesn't even show up.
Thanks in advance!
Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

    Spinning Pizzas vs Word

• What version 14.7.2 the latest one that can be used on your Mac?
• If not, why have you not updated it?
• Do you have the original install files?

    External volumes not showing up

• How old is that drive?
• Does it show in Disk Utility?
• Have you tried unplugging and replugging it?

How long since you swapped the external drives? I try to do that every couple of weeks. External drives wear out/break just like internal drives (Solid State models will eventually end up corrupted also). We/I recommend having at least two types of backups, which you are doing. But we/I also recommend having two removable drives for each type. That's four drives total. But they can be used in a device that holds two drives at once like these "toaster" models.

Note these "enclosures" can hold either 3.5 or 2.5 inch drives at the same time. However, if you have the super small, individual drives with builtin enclosures, just buy another pair and alternate one pair at whatever interval you want.

[Sooz]

Thanks, Jim!

I have no clue about the latest version of Word that can be used on my iMac. It always worked before so I didn't think anything about updating it. I have no idea where the original install files are.

No, SuperDuper! does not show up in Disk Utility.  In fact, here's something new I guess, the external drive for SD! is now blinking. I have no idea how old the drive it....do you not know me & how skilled I am with these things? LOL!!

I guess it's as old as my last post about where to buy the external drives (I haven't done a search about that yet). I've never swapped the external drives.  I'm clueless y'know. 

I'm going to try unplugging and replugging the external volumes.
Uh oh it just stopped blinking and there is no light.

Thanks!!!
Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

Are your external drives 'self-contained' boxes?

WOW!! I tried to open a page at "JustAnswer.com" and heard my fans start revving up. Activity Monitor showed the site was using 105% energy even though the site was not loading. Canceled that site and everything is back to the quiet, normal whispering... May try later.

According to a 3 year old post at Microsoft, an old version of Office 365 (16.16...?) can run on 10.11. It appears that can be still be downloaded. That may be the easiest plan as a re-install can usually correct spinning pizzas.

Let me do some more checking and see who else offers some useful insights!

[Xairbusdriver]

Another thought on the spinning piazzs; how much free space do you have on the internal drive? The easiest way to see might be to just open Disk Utility and select each drive that show up there and note the Used & Free numbers for all of them. Might be useful here, also.

[Sooz]

Hi, Jim,

I have two enclosures (self contained) but they don't look like the fancy ones you pictured for me.

I'm including screenshots of my drives.

What's the best site for downloading the old version of Office? The app store under the apple?
How did my SD! disappear? 

Y'know, I've often wished I could sing well (not American Idol or anything like that), but now I really wold have liked to have a brain that's more primed toward technology.

BTW, when did the beach ball become a pizza?

Thanks!!
Smiles,
Sooz

[Sooz]

Ok, this is VERY odd! Am I in the Twilight Zone??
The icon for SD! just appeared on my desktop!
 

[Xairbusdriver]

The images I displayed were not meant to look like yours. They are merely images of a type of 'enclosure' that allows you you drop a bare drive into the 'toaster' slot just like a piece of bread. Self-contained enclosures are usually ab bit cheaper and offer a bit more protection for the drives.

The point is, you should have at least two drives for your bootable backups (SD). And two other drives for Time machine. You just have one set plugged in at a time. Then, every week (for example) you un-plug the current set and plug in the second set. The boxes I showed are just another way to do that; pop out the current set, drop in the other set.

I doubt the App Store will have an older version of Office 365/Word for Mac. Let's tackle one problem at a time.

The icon for SD! just appeared on my desktop!

Did you un-plug / re-plug them as I asked? The "disappearing" drive can have at least two causes; 1. the cable connectors may be wearing out / corroding. 2. The usb hardware (in the computer or the enclosure) could be failing. Unplugging often helps the plugs make better contact or wear off any corrosion.

[Sooz]

Hi again, Jim,

I guess I never knew I had to change out my two drives that are bootable backups. One is for Time Machine (which is also on my iMac), and the other is for SD! and they run quietly in the background...and have been there constantly. They are both plugged in to a 4-port thingy that I bought, that is plugged into the back of my iMac.  I did use one of the 2 empty ports (4 ports total) to charge my Ring video doorbell battery, and I did notice some wonkiness.  I do like the toaster enclosure--they're very cute!

I know I've said it before and I'll say it again, you and your lady -- and the other kind folks who have taken me by the hand and helped me) are welcome at my table, as a way for me to thank you with food (that's the Italian way!)!

Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

you and your lady -- and the other kind folks who have taken me by the hand and helped me) are welcome at my table, as a way for me to thank you with food (that's the Italian way!)!

Sure, you tell me that right after I finish lunch...

You don't absolutely, positively have to have backups of your backups of your backups...  of your backups. It's just that hard drives have become so inexpensive, at least compared to even a few years ago. A hard drive that is corrupted is not what you want to learn when it is needed because the computers drive just died.

Also, remember a Time Machine backup is not a "bootable" backup. it is simply a backup of almost every file or app you have ever created or installed. It allows you to retrieve that file or app. It is really not designed to replace the entire contents of your computers drive. That kind of job is why we recommend SD (or Carbon Copy Cloner).

You may even be able to retrieve a copy of Word for Mac. I would like to hear from others at TS that may have done this. If that is not possible you should still be able to install one of the older versions of Office 365, which would then provide you with Word and several other apps in that suite. According to the link below, it will run on your current OS.

Please read all the posts at this Microsoft user support page and report let us know of any questions about what is discussed there.

[Sooz]

Thanks again, Jim.  Sorry you just had lunch, but there's always dinner, or tomorrow!

I forgot to note that yes, indeed, I did unplug things as you suggested. Maybe it was the connection/wires/moonphase. 

Thanks for the link...and the compliment that you figure I'll be able to understand what is discussed there, and have questions!   

Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

Let's monitor the situation for a few days and see if the "fix" works.

[Sooz]

So far, so good!    

Thank you again!
Smiles,
Sooz