FOR TSE ---> There are few things more annoying and discouraging than writing something ... getting it just the way you want it ... and then losing it. I have been there more than once -- and it doesn't get any more delightful with practice. Not even a little bit. My sympathies. Srsly.

That auto-shut down / update thing from Windows seriously ought to get them sued. I know what you're talking about there, too, and I shut that damn thing down the moment I found out about it. With my computer on almost constantly (and sometimes overnight) I could just SEE myself in the kitchen, in the bathroom, out walking with the dogs, etc. when that 15 minute count-down began -- and I wouldn't know a thing about it.

I don't know how much grace it gives you -- but I seem to recall something between 1 and 6 hours before the notice comes up again ... and you go through the whole shitty process once more.

The arrogance of it just took my breath away when it happened to me. These guzbuckers are going to take it upon themselves to shut down my computer so their updates can install ... and they don't give one diddly squat what I might be in the middle of at the time. I mean it. I felt like I'd been hijacked -- and I was every bit as mad as you were tonight -- even though I didn't lose anything to them in the process.

I passionately hate "updates" of any kind to begin with -- and I won't auto-allow them ever if I can help it.

I am so sorry. And no kidding ... I'd help you hang the bastards.

(P.S. TYVM for the plug at the end. That was very kind. I thought about you when I wrote that piece -- about busted relationships and disrupted finances starting around Oct 5 ... and picking up the pieces to start again in the New Year. "Reorganizing." That's not much fun either.)