slipperylobster

I do this quite a bit. Nowadays, I archive all my programs on an external hard drive. If you bought these programs, they might be protected. The majority of my programs are "portable". They can run off a USB storage device. Most everything you use day to day is available as portable. That way you just plug it in your new machine and you are already set to go.

Drivers are the most important, but there are plenty of free Driver programs that will help you download drivers. Your new computer should come with an operating system and a driver cd. Over here, the operating system might be pirated... you will want an antivirus program to scan and remove the viruses.

As far as mirroring your hard drive, you need "Migration" software... you cannot just mirror your hard drive operating system and then boot it up on another computer. The drivers must be installed.

For the future, get yourself a USB flash drive (they are cheap) to put portable programs and file onto. Get one with enough storage space.

One last thing... I can boot up off a USB flash drive using Linux Lucid Puppy. The operating system loads into RAM and runs fast. If you are just using a browser and listening to music/watching videos....it is just fine. I bring mine to the store when I buy a computer and plug it in to see how the computer works. When I bring it home, I put windows on one partition, and documents/photos/videos etc on a second partition.

Seems somebody on this forum is misquoting by adding paragraphs to my post.. Much better you place your comments in a separate "box"

Yup. Thai's educated to barrister level have told me the same thing.

Barrister level lol. They don't have barristers in Thailand do they? Are they wealthy Thai people that have told you this or just people who happen to have a law degree? And were they talking about themselves or stating an opinion on why Thai girls from poor backgrounds marry Westerners?

Perhaps you meant to type barista?

King's Counsel.

Didn't see anything about King's Counsel but found this online. "Lawyers who wish to obtain the title barrister-at-law which entitles the holder to take further examinations to become a judge or a public prosecutor, may take a further one year course offered by the Thai Bar Association".

I'd always assumed they followed the American example for some reason.

I still think it's an odd thing to say, though. "Educated to barrister level". As opposed to "doctor level"..."qualified teacher level"?

I enjoyed reading the above, as it reminded me of how one nephew here had failed to show up at school.....for a year! The mom found out and went to the high school to make things right. The boy got a diploma the same day, and is now "going to the university". I expect a doctorate degree ...or possible Bar ister level. I don't know how much that is going to cost.

My wife did attend a University but was not allowed to be a nurse, as an exhobitant sum of money was demanded, which she could not pay. Her degree was earned, but did not provide for her in the least. Perhaps her experience was not the norm.

I have been with my Thai wife for just over 13 years and she never talks about if I am rich or poor as long as I provide enough for her and family she is happy she also has her own bank account in the UK where we spend half the year and she gets her monthly allowance and usually spends it prudently she knows all the bargain shops and supermarkets in the UK and also normally saves a reasonable amount for returning to Thailand with her own saved spending money, Thais are not stupid they know if a farang is rich or poor same as anyone does in any country how many houses do you own and how many cars have you got and how many people work for you in your business.

You got a good one. Same as me.

You deserve her. as you appreciate what she does for you. There are many men that come here and get the worst....because that is what they are looking for. It only surprises me that they complain.

Less abusive? Wow ... It sure feels good to get a pat on the back. I need to stop reading the newspapers and start believing what I read here.

I do not wish to see Naga Balls. I prefer women.

Tell them you cannot give an allowance, but they can stop over for a good bumping once or twice a week, it they call first and bring free beer.

Starbucks need to get over themselves and extract their head from their collective corporate arse.

The only humorous thing Starbucks is hearing Americans rave on about how good the coffee is. Most of the world wouldn't even degrease their car engines with the stuff.

Oh, if only that were the case. It's hard to have a meeting abroad without being dragged into a starbucks. Asians love it. Apparently it is catching on in Europe (how, I have no idea). Unfortunately, foreigners seem to love that crap coffee as much as Americans, and, in many cases, are willing to pay more for it....go figure.

No need to figure....the numbers speak for themselves. Adios black, muddy euro-cafe !

Ice.... colder than a witches tit

Fish might be ugly, but those guys are just plain fugly.

Medical Mafia...

Something is rotten in the State of Denmark - sorry couldn't resist.

Alas poor Urick.........

A Filipina can come to Thailand and get a visa exempt stamp. She can then travel to laos or cambodia for a tourist visa.

You better check the Philippine Immigration Website, as their immigration people at the airport (best fly out of Angeles) will pull her aside and ask for documentation. By all means, fly with her. Tiger airlines is only 3000 baht one way...sometimes less

I do remember my girl needed signed and notarized affidavits from me saying that I was financially responsible for her, and provide a notarized statement of residence and phone number. The hardest part was getting her passport. That takes a minimum of 2 to 3 months.

Do not do the Overseas Contract Working permit....but I do believe you need clearance from that office. It is located on Clark Field, near the airport (I love Angeles city)

Anyone help with this ?

I plan on bringing my girlfriend to come to Thailand from the Philippines, and live with me.

Whats the Visa situation for her ?

What is your Visa? If you are on a retirement extension and got married she would also get a one year extension based with no other requirements

Otherwise it's 30 visa exempted stamps or tourist visas and tourist visas are not easy to get in the Philippines.

You should also be aware that filipinas are required to register before leaving the country to work, so she should expect to be challenged by Philippines immigration when she leaves about the reason she is leaving the country. You should definitely travel with her the first time she comes to Thailand.

She can get tourists visa in laos or cambodia...just like many of us do.

As in so many other countries, fast-food like KFC and McDonalds have been enthusiastically embraced in Thailand.

Nonsense. Thailand had fried chicken and many other fried foods long before KFC ever got here and very few Thais eat hamburgers more than once every blue moon. The great majority of Thai people love Thai food and only eat Western food occasionally. It is not the West that is making more Thais overweight. It is much less physical work, a lot more meat and relative affluence.

It mainly concerns school children and bad eating habits. I suggest a visit to a 7/11 just before school, and after. Try one across the street from a high school. You will begin to understand. Its the western crapola thats doing it. Same in western societies. Western food is crap.

As in so many other countries, fast-food like KFC and McDonalds have been enthusiastically embraced in Thailand.

Nonsense. Thailand had fried chicken and many other fried foods long before KFC ever got here and very few Thais eat hamburgers more than once every blue moon. The great majority of Thai people love Thai food and only eat Western food occasionally. It is not the West that is making more Thais overweight. It is much less physical work, a lot more meat and relative affluence.

Your logic is flawed.

1. As far as affluence....I suppose you much live in one of the few wealthy enclaves of Bangkok. I see only people working for less than 15000 baht a month and owing more than that in credit. A possible few exceptions. Thailand simply is not affluent !

2. Although working can burn some calories....(Running an hour burns 300 to 400), I just do not see where this fits in to the equation. A two piece fried chicken dinner negates that. What kind of work..? Agricultural jobs are not that popular..true. Their jobs are like western jobs now... service related. Westerners are fat.....no doubt. Look at your friends. Fatter than Thais. but it is equally out. Obviously, Western food contains vast amounts of calories, chemicals, additives, and processed grains (empty calories). Far worse than the tradional Thai food.

3. Wait outside a school and look what kids eat.... They are literally lined up at 7/11 early in the morning and after school..chowing down on western crap...sugar, candy, soda, processed western garbage.

If you look at Asian children now, you will see they are much fatter (and taller). This is due to the Western Diet.

No.

you put up a good argument.!

Food for your thoughts: This should be more than obvious !

The uptake of both processed food and fast food is being accelerated by 'cultural cringe': Many younger Thais are rejecting certain aspects of traditional Thai life as being decidedly 'un-cool' and old-fashioned, choosing instead to embrace available aspects of western culture/lifestyle. The implications of this include changes to earlier patterns of diet and exercise.

As in so many other countries, fast-food like KFC and McDonalds have been enthusiastically embraced in Thailand. Unlike in the West, however, fast foods are generally not cheaper or more convenient than the local fare ... demand appears to be driven more by its western cachet. Thais have not traditionally eaten things like ice cream, chocolate, and cakes/pastries. They have, however, had access to an extensive array of snack and convenience-type foods, most of which are based on staples like banana, rice, coconut, bean or tarot. Many children now however would be embarrassed to be seen with anything wrapped in a banana leaf, choosing instead products that are highly-processed, advertised on TV and wrapped in colorful foil or plastic. Further, where once water or coconut juice were seen as the beverages of choice, now flavoured (sweetened) milk and soft drinks like Coca-Cola are 'de rigeur'.^5,6

^{source> http://www.burning-bison.com/obesity.htm}

I live in Isaan , where to my eye , sense of smell and taste , the food is excremental , I cannot eat it . They say here that people eat six times a day , because their meals are so lacking in nutrition .

I say to my wife and her family , " It is what you eat that kills you ". As most of them die from stomach or liver disease , I believe that is true .

The reality is right in front of us. How many obese people do you see here..compared to Western Countries?

***My personal opinion regarding the USA and this whole procedure... First off to spend $160 with no guarantee of getting what you have paid for is some racquet if y ou ask me. Must be a great business to accept deposits or payments in full from your customers for services/products but then turn around and say, oh by the way there is no guarantee that I'll show up and do the work/service or send you the product that you have paid for.

Actually, you did your homework and the workers in the Embassy deserve to get paid. It is not a free service, nor should it be, especially for the amount of work that goes into handling the cases. I believe most countries require payment in advance, with no guarantee of approval as well. Thailand charges 1000 baht for each entry and 1800 baht for an extension. A double entry with extensions on each entry (as well as expenses to leave Thailand for each of the entries) would cost more for just six months !!!!

Did they really do anything to deserve and earn the fee charged? Do you know the internal procedures that the Embassy/Consulate does to approve/investigate every single application prior to meeting? Remember, regarding the USA visa, the decision is made at the time of that appointment, so you know before leaving that window. So all work on every application is done prior to the in-person appointment date which is probably why it is 45+ days from the submission of your application. But really, what "work" is actually done on each application? Seriously? Key in a persons name in a database on a computer, while you go to another window and enter the same name in another database and another, taking all but 5 minutes maybe. Really?

Anybody can feed you a line of BS to justify the cost or fee associated with just about anything and make it sound and appear plausible right on down to the wage of the employee or the cost of the electricity to run the US Embassy which are all what used to be considered "the cost of doing business"...However nowadays governments, corporations and companies have gotten away with sliding those costs and fees down to the end-user or customer from charging a fee to pay with a credit card (which in most cases is a violation of Merchant agreements as its called "credit card suppression"), charging you to pay your bill or use a live person. It is us, the customer or consumer these days that are getting the shit end of the stick and we just accept it as thats the way it is. In most cases we have to, like situations like this, however in others, I personally won't stand for it and I make sure that I make good in other ways. It's my money and time.

I am YeaBiGgiEs and I have spoken on this day!

no reason for this to bother you....you will not get free visas anywere that I know of anyways.

Have the police check out the video cameras at the ATM's.... if in fact they do exist.

Why do you ask us? Ask HER, and ask HER PARENTS if they expect anything and how much that would be.

If the parents quote an unreasonable amount, turn the issue around and say: "In my country it is customary that the parents of a woman who's already been married twice before pay the future husband a token of gratitude for taking her off their hands a third time. And by the way, my fee is exactly double of what you have just quoted me. So, when can I expect the money?"

If I were you, I also would inquire about the demise of her previous farang husband. If she claims, "he fell off the condo balcony" or "my first Thai husband didn't like him", run as fast as you can!

I suppose you could find out how much number 1 and number 2 husband paid. Frankly..you might be the only Farang in Thailand willing to be number 3 husband and still pay sin sot.

OP....probably best to start out by having this discussion with your fiancee. Have you asked her how she feels about it?

Feels about what? Not paying sin sot? What in the world do you think she is going to say?..."No thank you, I love you even without the money?"