1232. AI Lesson 1

 I have been using AI (Copilot) for over a month now on projects I have. It is time to review AI:

Latest project: Repair improperly installed shower drain

Details or project: Built-in tile shower drain was installed in a 4/14" hole. The strainer (Grate) was not at floor level, but approximately 3/4" below it. A second shower was installed correctly at floor level. So, how do you redesign the installation to get it at floor level instead of the current recessed one that harbors filth and requires you to step around it?

It became apparent that the grate was NOT installed to the upmost part of a drain system (barrel) and instead jerry-rigged to install to the middle part of the system (clamping ring). Why? Because it's barrel was longer than 3/4 inches and no barrels were available from any drain that was 3/4 inches max. Hence, just bugger up the thread on the middle section to disallow a replacement in the first place and use sheet metal screws to hold grate there when its 1/4-40 machine screws (standard) should have been used.

I asked AI and it answered order the original product model number and replace the barrel with the adjustable barrel. Well, first its adjustable barrel might go up and down as desired, but its minimum adjustment was still not satisfactory to meet the requirements I gave it. Not knowing that initially a struck out and asked AI to find it. AI will always take a positive route despite none being available! It could NOT find it and suggested replacing just the barrel from another model for the 2" PVS pipe connection. Well, that was hopeless and AI hovered in a corner sweating. Then indicated model (call it #2) replaces the original (call it model #1) and just order it. Well, Model #2 was not designed the same and NOT compatible with Model #1 design. It obviously ignored that it would fit in a 4 1/4" hole with it's Clamping unit's flange of 5 1/2".  

Now I'm not lying in that I used AI over 4-5 hours already chasing an impossible solution. All it did was repeat what I told him and relisted the requirements and current status and incorrect responses it provided and why they didn't work. After another 4-5 hours playing it's game, I threw up my hands and told it quit leading me on. Note: Leading me own is how it always encouraged me and always apologized and then proceeded in it ridiculous alternatives. At one point it indicated that the grate that was attached 3/4 down the drain was really attached to something like tabs on an adjustable barrel to raise/lower it AND attached with same crews to hold grate. Now how could that happen! The grate was attached to the fixed top of the middle section, thus stuck there 3/4' down. With just two screws (each side of grate) it could be fixed there and moveable upward! I thought I had to prove my innocence as in a court! At one point he said four screw ere required, then backed down to two again. I had completely shot the floor out its idea. Kind of humorous, isn't it? But consider humor if life depended on it!

Well, it wasn't finished yet, but yielded to me and finally indicate nothing out there was available to repair it and proceeded with replacing the entire drain, meaning new hole > 4 1/4" (nothing existed in as small as the 1999 installation) . That's when I told it I wanted the jerry-rig a design to do what I want and considered just cementing a pipe, with now only 1 15/16" outside diameter into the middle clamping right section and cap it with a standoff grate. He "smiled" and said how ingenious I was and of course he could help me. Ha-Ha. Without any help from AI I told him a 1 1/2" PVC pipe had an outside diameter so close it was vey similar to the barrel size from the original product. I would install this into the clamping ring section and stick a standoff grate on it, but needed to know if there were any under 3/4" to 13/16" out there. "Sure, plenty" it wiggled out of the corner and stood up on it's podium again. Well within an hour I disproved that and it concurred! That design wouldn't work. Any other suggestions AI? None! Well how about I fabricate a piece of PVC 1/2" thick to cement onto the middle clamping section and attached the grate onto that.  Now he ONLY pictured a disc cut out of a PVC sheet with a bore hole for the water. The extent of this solution was rejection. That would have allowed only 1 1/2" diameter of the 4" grate from functioning. Whew! I was already into the second day of this nonsense. And I didn't even tell you about using a Heli-Coil kit to plug and recreate 1/4-20 machine screw threads that iit also imbedded into its discussion. By the way, would you not assumed that a Heli-Coil kit was a PLUMBING tool? Wrong. Try automotive. I won't get into that discussion yet. For now just keep in mid that it mentioned cutting from a PVC sheet - expensive unless a scrap. Which it in turn came up with more solutions intelligently suggesting using HDSE plastic instead. What are those. It could have led with plastic cutting boards. I found a $7.50 one 12" x 16" that I could cut 4" off and surrender the other 12 x 12 to my wife for the kitchen. But did I have a design for the piece to raise 3/4"? I put AI to sleep and designed a unit.

Yes. I took the existing grate and traced it onto paper. Then drew a circle just beyond the last grate holes, about 5/16" from it's circumference except for the two screw attachment holes that were more inward to allow a screw hole (Heli-Coil would be used after all to create 1/3-20 threaded holes). Did you ever try to fin those bugger screws somewhere? Forget it. Just get them from a new grate from Lowes and enjoy the sparkle of the new grate too over the cruddy old one that took punishment in it 3/4 recessed hole.

I immediately went to the shop, found a 1/2" piece of particle board and went at it. Took the outcome to the shower, dropped it and grate into hole and patted myself on the back. Perfect fit. Now all I need to do if cut a similar one out of the cutting board piece. The prototype wasn't a "finished" product and I knew I needed smaller jigsaw blade to make the cuts. AI did help me narrow down to them, but initially overbid its hand again and gave me a choice of 7. All but one/two would work in my jigsaw which he relented on. But, they are on order.

My purpose was not to lecture on the design of the unit I and building, but to point out that AI did NOT employ intelligence in designing solution. I only tried, and tried, etc. over and over possibilities that in all cases "now this will definitely work". A waste if you don't recognize its limitations. In other words this AI is NOT going to replace people! It already falls short of helping people! This AI will constantly lead you in circles generating tons of words and repeating itself forever and as I gave you example about stuck to its guns re the 3/4" grate attachment to both a fixed unit and a desired moveable one without realizing truth, facts. physics. This is at least the third project I fought my way through AI conversations to end up disappointed with how it performed. It is way to hung up on its repeating of facts and generation of fact lists the user tells it. I screamed constantly "I already know that, do you?" so often. Yet it ignored and plowed on with its agenda and foolishness. One must know its limitations. I would say they are NOT to provide you with the best solution, only one that may have been correct for someone else in the data it has available to it. If you quest to to design something, you aren't going to fin AI any more helpful in creating the design. It can research materials, similar part, etc which is useful, but, the design will have to one you create from all the smoke and mirrors thrown at you.

This is Lesson 1. I expect to become more focused in following lessons. Ha. I'll probably get AI to evaluate itself and generate a post to put here explaining it's capably, limitations, and warnings. I'd love to chat about other experiences. I started working with AI back in 1974.

1231. Yahoo Calendar Event Title icon/emoji/color indicators

The latest Yahoo Calendar removed the ability to include ICONs relative to Event Type easily. Before, for an event you could select the type, like Doctor, Birthday, etc. I selected a color for many indicating importance. You still can specify the type, but the colors cannot be selected that went along with the type.

A new ay exists. When you type up the Event Title, precede it by Windows Key + period (W+. shortcut) and you'll be able to pick whatever you want to display on your calendar to highlight the event type you use.  E.g., I choose Green circle for garden activities, Red Circle for important events like doctor/dentist appointments or finance/tax information. You many have to locate the icon (emoji) you want, but after the first use it pops up in a recently used table for selection next time, simplifying the new method.

1230. Tracfone Cheapest Refill Order Instructions

 Every year I must refill my Tracfone Service for another year. Finding the refill to order is nearly impossible on its Website.

Basically, I do not need any more minutes, data byes, nor text messages. Simply need just another year service. That $49.99 plan needs a trick to find on the Website and then has misleading description of pricing.

On the Website, chose Refill and then Add On option. It will then present a screen to select some add on, like DB, minutes, text. Text is cheapest at $5. Last year I was told I could the Add-On plan where I could select a year and then add on Text. This year I was told I could just order a year plan. My plan according to Tracfone mobile's dashboard is "Tracfone Paygo for Android" It was called something else when I ordered it though! Anyways, After selecting Add On to get to the screen, you are presented with a box indicating that you can order a refill and even set it up for auto refill. Clicking that "might" get you to correct refill of an additional year only. Because I was told last year I MUST also include another add on, like Text, it can be done by scrolling down to bottom before selecting refill submission. I did so and now a screen came up with pricing. But instead of displaying ONE-TIME price, it said price/mo! This is incorrect.

So, like last year, I called them and got in line for a representative after painful argument with its automated call response dialog until it finally transferred me to a Rep in about 15 minutes. The Rep told me , "NO, you do not have to add on anything except the additional year". Contrary to last year where I paid an additional $5. Fine, do it and I was done.

Conclusion, going to a Rep and indicating you want the same plan but only an additional year worked this year and a breeze. However, as I mentioned above, the same plan clicking the box for the refill "might" work.

Ordering now sems to be clear (I ope next year is the same). And, you can't beat a $49.99 + tax plan for an entire year (about $55.91 or  the equivalent of $4.66/mo). Tracfone service has been flawless, never presenting a problem.

1229. Again. Remove Onedrive from Microsoft WORD and Excel.

Every time you turn around , you find the Onedrive app or a folder on your Windows system! This time it was my wife's PC. The default library went to folder Onedrive which was removed at least once before.  Changing the settings (options) for the default library AND unchecking autosave features and those associated with using the cloud did not work. AI was kind enough to give a last resort oiton using a Registry hack which finally ended the miseries again:

First move everything un folder Onedrive elsewhere and delete Onedrive.

Perform Regedit as follows:

 Go to HKEY_Current_User\SOftware]Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Internet

Create new DWORD-32 key called OnlineStorage and set it to 1.

If you still have Onedrive active you can try to make it disappear under Add or Remove Programs via windows Start. That never cleared every function for me and it embeds itself again. I may have a post that gives other details for making it disappear 

1228. Told to Deregister Kindle HD and now can't Re-register it

 My Old (2013) Kindle Fire HD 7 could not get to the App Store (Network Unreachable) when Network was working fine. Finally called Amazon for assistance. That was a BIG mistake.

After the rep transferred me to the Digital Dept which did not pick up, she decided to "help" herself. First, her accent was so bad and her pronouncement of English words and letters were so poor I knew this was going to be a long day. As a matter of fact, over an hour with her was painful. It took her 6-7 times to understand the serial number I gave her that I spelled out a character/number at a time with an English word to help her comprehend. She never got it and I told her to look it up on in my account!

Repeatably she had me reboot the Kindle (the 40-sec cold start), restart the network, etc. Everything I had already performed several times before calling. She had no clue how to resolve the issue or even diagnose it. I did the hold the power for 40 secs and cold started at least 4-5 times as per her instructions. The last straw was her instruction to Deregister the device and Register it again. This completely cleared it off my account and not ever to be seen because I was unable to Register it again! We spent at lest 20-30 minutes trying to now fix that, all unsuccessful. I appeased her for well over an hour already before I told her it is time for a manager.

A supervisor (Starling) got on the line from the Digital Escalation Dept (1/24/26 ~ 2:55 pm CST). Obviously not her manager, but in a department that handles escalation for the Digital reps. This man spoke clearly in understandable English and raised points that were logical, but incorrect. For example, the device is old is the reason it wouldn't Register and that probably protocols were different inhibiting the register. He followed up with there is no way to Register this device and their were many other incidents like this. He offered me a 15% discount off a NEW Kindle Tablet which would be go to 20% with a return of this device. Before the Deregister, I had a fully functioning Kindle except for getting to the App Store. Now I had a  dead Kindle that I couldn't register and therefor NO functionality! He proceeded to continue his "lack" of technical expertise on me, who by the way, worked in technology for over 25 years in operating system design and support, networking, etc. He finally told me he had no other options than the discount and no other escalation that I could do! It was plain to him that I would never be able to Register this device again. I took the discount and another 5% on my Amazon account and said adios.

But my persistence got the best of me again and my technological skills kicked in in high gear. While talking to him, we did verify that I was at the current operating system (I already had all this written down before calling Amazon). He replied to that with there is a manual way to restore the device, but the operating system downloaded would be the same and provide no solution. It was hopeless!. NOT! I simply did a Factory Reset of the Kindle HD and it restored, granted with any changes in settings needing to be reentered. However, it booted and asked me to Register again (this must have been at least the sixth time I went through this sequence and each time required me to change the Account password (see next problem below re WhatsApp inhibiting this). But for the moment, I was back up and running on the old Kindle HD.

So, now it couldn't get to my Amazon Account with all the password changes made. Turned out that my Account was assigned the new setting defaulting to use the WhatsApp for security between Amazon and my mobile phone that was assigned to get second level CODES for signing in. I had to install the WhatsApp onto my Android mobile phone. Fortunately I didn't need to initialize it and sign in. It was now the way to get a CODE rather than SMS Text. Fortunately, the CODE was presented in the notification message appearing on my phone that was targeted for WhatsApp. Nice security! But I was able to use the CODE to sign in. After which, I disabled WhatsApp security notification (NOY Easy - forget Googling or using AI for help in this area. They sent me to instructions that didn't come close to working. It took some time on Amazon Help to find the proper page to allow me to disable WhatsApp requirement and give me options for 2nd level security via SMS.

Anyway, I change the password one more time to a secure one and tested it successfully. NOW I had a working Amazon account again (wife was ready to shoot me -- highly dependent on downloading books and shopping of course), plus an old Kindle HD that was back to normal. I recall some email years ago re the APP STORE not working or supported on this old device and the need to get to the Store via a Windows Website. I was back to being happy - of course, because the wife was happy. 4-5 hours wasted on the Amazon problems.

What Amazon could have done better? 

1. Could have pointed out that the APP was permanently unreachable form this old device as per a previous email. 

2. Could have put out a proper message when trying to get to the APP -- NOT Network Unreachable, but APP Store no longer available for this old device. 

3. Could have informed the representatives that Deregistering certain Kindle devices would result in Reregistering issues.

4. Could have just told me to try doing a Factory Reset. By the way, the operating system that was loaded WAS the most current on and the one I was on beforehand.

5. Should not have repeatedly forced me to keep changing passwords to Amazon account (part of Register dialog BEFORE it actually works!

6. Do NOT default to WhatsApp for notification security; instead let people know it is a new option, but keep the level of security they had before they select this new option.

7. Make technology experts available

8. Train supervisors on CORRECT solutions rather that their assumed solutions.

9. If an Amazon rep is neglectful, as these two were, and destroyed the device beyond any use as they did before I found the solution myself, then fully replace the device with a like device. The correct replacement would have been a $59.99 Fire Tablet. Don't demand a maximum 15% discount that the representative destroyed!

10. Provide correct WhatsApp Help documentation - it's an OPTION only, how to disable it if becomes enabled, do NOT default to using it, and a very clear way how to get to the documentation without a 15 minute search to find it.

1227: Cannot manage TV Guide from Android/Windows Chrome for Fire TV YouTube TV

 Interesting and frustrating experience trying to find a way to manage (e.g., reorganize TV guide list like selecting channels to See/Hide for YouTube TV App on a Fire TV or Samsung Smart TV. I could install the Android YouTube TV app and Chrome is my Windows browser, both giving me the capability for management. But any change don on Chrome was NOT pushed to the TV. The Android also had it's own problems.

There are two locations (HOME and PLAYBACK) for each device. HOME is the base and should be your ZipCode or General ZipCode. PLAYBACK location is dynamic and "Pushed" from the Android to other Google devices with YouTube TV installed. If the PLAYBACK isn't the same as another, the push will be ignored. In my case, say TV is set to my location, as is the Android, then all should be good. But my Chrome was the Generic location, call it GL for the general city zip Code determine by a Geo-Location method, whereas, the other two used a precise location (my location within the general zip Code which we will call PL). A pair match is required for synchronization. 

If Chrome has GL and TV has PL, this mismatch will prevent synchronization and handshake rejecting changes made on Chrome YouTube TV. In their terms, Chrome can never PUSH it's PLAYBACK to another device. But then, how do you get Chrome to get a PLAYBACK of PL since its geo-location can only recognize GL? 

To change the CHROME PLAYBACK to PL you have to PUSH it from your phone (Android or other) which uses GPS to determine it's precise location PL. The trick is to bring up YouTube TV on both, using the same Google Account ID (an email) on each. Then on Chrome you go to Locations (Profile > Location > find PLAYBACK > Hit the UPDATE (this will get PL from Android via Google and update Chrome Playback from GL to PL. 

Now with PL in Chrome go to your  TV and check its locations on YouTube TV (Profile>Location>Playback and ensure the same as on Chrome, i.e., both PL. A match means you will be able to make changes on Chrome and see the results on TV too.

You do NOT want to troubleshoot the mismatch issue with a YouTube  TV rep that does NOT realize a match is required! After days, I posed the question of mismatch and they were surprised. But they could then tell me how to get PLAYBACK onto Chrome after many issues with Data and Cache errors cluttering up the ball game. The many, many attempts were painful. Should you run into issues, details of my pain list could help. Just respond with a comment here and I'll try to get you on track.