The Password is . . .

The other day I got one of those flashing warning signs on my Norton Utilities icon. “Computer at risk; renew subscription.” Dang, I just subscribed in June; how could this be?

So I clicked around to renew my subscription and they wanted my Product Key numbers. Which, of course, I never bothered to write down when I downloaded the program. Shoot. Now what?

Well, they had live chat on tech support and this great guy lead me thru the whole process. And, very nicely suggested I write down my product key numbers, which I did, albeit on a scrap of paper.

This came after another issue with a different software program where I couldn’t remember my user name or password. I’m still waiting for their email to tell me my stuff so I can log in.

Now, maybe you don’t have these issues. Maybe you remember all of your user names and associated passwords to the numerous programs you have. Not me. No, the ‘organizational whiz’ was at a loss on this one.

Then I was on the phone with my dear childhood friend, Caroline Fyffe. Her advice: write down all your user names, passwords and product keys on one piece of paper and keep it in a file.

Ah yes, the old paper filing system! How could I have forgotten? I used to go into people’s offices and set up paper filing systems – but that was 20 years ago. Now everything I have is electronic – phone numbers, emails, addresses, calendars . . . everything.

I even have a great gadget that backs up my entire computer – not an external hard drive, but a gizmo that even copies all software programs. I thought I had it covered. I was mistaken.

So, the paper file has been started. I don’t even know how many programs, blogs, etc. I’m even connected to, but I’ll eventually find all of them and write them down and maybe even make a copy of my paper. Thanks Caroline, for reminding me that the simple ideas are often the best ones.