Diary Of An ADI - A Driving Instructor's Blog

Windows 7 RC To Expire

16/02/2010

Anyone who installed the Release Candidate for Windows 7 should have known that it would eventually expire – Microsoft told you that when you downloaded it.

Well, the counter has now started… Windows 7 RC will begin to shutdown without saving your work every 2 hours starting March 1st. Here is the email Microsoft has sent out:

It’s time to upgrade from the Windows 7 Release Candidate
While most people who tested Windows 7 have now moved to the final version, some are still running the Release Candidate. If you haven’t moved yet, it’s time to replace the RC.

Starting on March 1, 2010 your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Your work will not be saved during the shutdown.

The Windows 7 RC will fully expire on June 1, 2010. Your PC running the Windows 7 RC will continue shutting down every two hours and your files won’t be saved during shutdown. In addition, your wallpaper will change to a solid black background with a persistent message on your desktop. You’ll also get periodic notifications that Windows isn’t genuine. That means your PC may no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads requiring genuine Windows validation.

To avoid interruption, please reinstall a prior version of Windows or move to Windows 7. In either case, you’ll need to do a custom (clean) install to replace the RC. As with any clean installation, you’ll need to back up your data then reinstall your applications and restore the data. For more details about replacing the RC, see the Knowledge Base article KB 971767 . For more information, visit the Window 7 Forum .

Thanks again for helping us test Windows 7.

The Windows 7 Team

I’m sure this will result in plenty of complaints from the idiots of this world. When I first installed it and was looking around for information I was amazed at the number of people who had shifted their entire lives over to Windows 7 – even though it was trial software and would expire at some stage. Microsoft was quite clear on that.

I used my time with RC1 to do exactly what it was intended for – to make sure I knew how to use it and what problems I might find. To date, only my G4010 scanner has been an issue, and I knew that while I was using W7 RC1.

I purchased the proper version of W7 as soon as it became available.

AA Franchise Fees

13/02/2010

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ADI

This is an old post. Note that the AA periodically updates its franchise options, and there several variations available.

EDIT: 19/8/2019: This has started to get a few hits recently. It seems the AA has changed its franchise options. I will update this very old article when I get more information.

Just to keep the balance with the previous post about another school, you can read up on this on the AA’s website.

The AA’s full franchise costs about £230 a week, and this falls by about £5 a year as a loyalty bonus up to 10 years (edit (2022): there is no longer a loyalty bonus). Franchisees pay between £20-40 for each pupil who the AA passes on to them, although this is waived or reduced for certain pupils (e.g. those who are only doing Pass Plus, or for new pupils who have a test booked imminently and whom the instructor agrees to take on).

There are two franchise-free weeks every year around the end of December, though apparently (since 2015) you can now take these anytime you want.

The AA also has a car-only option (no AA livery and no access to pupils), which costs about £120 a week.

Vehicle are now (since 2015) replaced annually and there is a mileage cap.

From what I now understand, Ford Fiestas are the preferred vehicle although the Focus is still available for an additional weekly fee on top of the standard franchise.

The AA used to have a reputation for being the best value franchise option available, but the prices are beginning to look quite high these days. One instructor told me that increases in the franchise fee outstrip the loyalty bonus (edit (2022): there is no loyalty bonus anymore), so even long serving instructors gradually pay more year on year. I’m also told that vehicle specifications regularly change without warning – someone somewhere is probably saving money, but not the ADI. Remember this is what I’ve heard and cannot vouch for it.

BSM Franchise Fees

13/02/2010

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ADI, News

EDIT 28/6/2012: This is an old story. I understand that now BSM is run by The AA, franchise prices are similar to those of The AA Driving School. Lesson prices with PDIs are also not charged at full rate.

I get a lot of hits on this search term (i.e. “BSM franchise fees”). Take a look at this link to BSM’s website.

The top BSM franchise (fixed fee) is was very expensive (in my opinion) – from what I last heard it is something it used to be between £330-380 a week! However, if the website is anywhere near accurate, BSM is virtually guaranteeing pupils, plus you get 3 fee-free weeks after a year, and an annual discount (not sure how much) on the weekly fee.

They also used to do a variable fee franchise, which is based on the number of hours you do. The more you work, the more you pay. I don’t have a clue what the figures are for this one.

Finally, they used to do an Associate Franchise – this is where you get the car but find your own work. It costs £160 a week, and includes free CPD (which I assume must also be included in those other franchise options).

Your best bet is to phone them on the number they give: 0845 851 9688 – better to get the correct information from the horse’s mouth, and not a pile of twisted hearsay from people who are guessing or who have axes to grind with BSM. It’s not like you are committing to joining them or anything.

Windows 7: GodMode

12/02/2010

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I found this handy little tip.

In Windows 7, if you create a new folder (anywhere, but I did mine in the root of the C drive), and then rename it as:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

You get a single folder which contains direct links to all Windows 7’s features in a single place.

If you right-click the new folder icon, then choose Send To, and Desktop (create shortcut) you’ll have a handy link on your desktop to all those Windows system apps.

You can read more on cnet and ZDNet.

Another 2010 Test Pass

11/02/2010

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Well done to ECT on getting just 3 driver faults this morning. She’s another I taught from beginner.

She’s had a bit of a rough ride on this, having had a test cancelled just before Christmas and another one just afterwards (both due to snow and freezing conditions). After the last conducted test she had to go and see her GP about nerves. He prescribed beta-blockers – and they really did the job. She was calm and smiling right from the moment I picked her up (compare last time, with the stoney face and nervous driving/stalling). We had a great hour and a half, with everything going right and being carried out smoothly.

She’s getting her car at the weekend – so good luck, and enjoy your driving, Liz.

Of course, it is also good for me now I’m back in the groove!

Spatial Awareness

10/02/2010

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ADI, General

When you are a driving instructor, one of the big problems you have to try and overcome with many of your pupils is their lack of awareness of what is around them. We teach them to look in the mirrors, but do they actually see what is in them? Unfortunately, they often do not, and you have to develop this basic skill to the best of your ability.

In learners, lack of awareness can partly manifest itself as changing lanes without looking (especially on roundabouts), or pulling out in front of traffic that is obviously coming straight at you (again, especially on roundabouts). For these reasons, an instructor has to be fully focused at all times to prevent dangerous bad decisions.

But passing the driving test is absolutely no guarantee that someone is going to drive safely or legally. It is definitely no guarantee that a new driver has the required awareness of what is going on around them – particularly behind them.

I saw two incidents today which illustrate this. The first was in Ruddington village, where the main street is a notorious bottleneck, especially where someone parks a 4×4 on yellow lines near to the Post Office, and also outside Grices Electrical – where parking on one side forces the road to a single lane. If traffic heading into Ruddington outside Grices keeps coming through (and it doesn’t have right of way since the parking is on its side), then the build up of traffic trying to get out blocks the road outside the Post Office, and everyone gets gridlocked. And this is exactly what happened today when some idiot outside Grices kept flashing traffic through, oblivious to the chaos forming behind them.

The second incident was tonight, when I was going to pick up my last pupil for a 7pm lesson. Traffic was heavy because of at least two problems on major roads out of the city, and much of it was taking a detour along Bath Street towards the A52 at Trent Bridge. As a result, traffic was at a standstill down Bath Street and on to Huntingdon Street. Now, there is a small roundabout near Huntingdon Street and traffic was already backed up on to that – preventing vehicles going the other way from getting into St Anns. But this didn’t stop a silver VW Polo ( reg no. W331 OCH ) flashing another car on to the roundabout to block it, when that other car couldn’t go anywhere anyway – and neither could the Polo and those behind it now that the roundabout was blocked!

How these people manage to get their licences is beyond me. Goodness knows how they fare in normal life if they are as stupid as they seem to be behind the wheel!

Texting Whilst Driving 2010 – #1

09/02/2010

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I was driving through Clifton (a housing estate) this afternoon, following a black SmartCar (the sports one – reg no. P053 JWN ).

Along Southchurch Drive it was driving quite normally, but outside the shops near the Southchurch flats it slowed right down and then proceeded to drive slowly and erratically as it went left at the roundabout on to Farnborough Road. I moved into the bus lane (which is not in operation at this time), but was wary of this car because it went half into the bus lane, then moved out again… and continued to weave until it came to the traffic lights. Even here, it stayed in the right-hand lane, but moved partly over into the bus lane, coming to a stop at the junction in the right-hand lane again.

I didn’t pay it much more attention, until I glanced at the driver and she was texting. She was so intent on the text that she missed the lights change to green. As she turned right on to the A453 she saw me looking at her and she stayed behind me then. I turned off to go towards West Bridgford, but she carried on and judging by the way she moved to the left lane afterwards she was still texting!

These people deserve lifetime driving bans.

ToolStop Online Shop

09/02/2010

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Recently, I’ve been getting annoyed with online suppliers.

To start with, postage costs are becoming a joke – you can buy something which costs less than £5.00, and then get stung for postage of £6.50 or more.

Then there is the delivery time – online ordering used to be famous for being quick. But not any more. You can order from Amazon and other places, then find yourself waiting for two weeks for something that is actually in stock. If it isn’t in stock, you can wait several times longer.

What makes all this worse is communication. To be fair to Amazon, they do keep you informed – but I ordered something on 28 December from another retailer and I had to chase it up on 20 January, because it hadn’t arrived (and the website said it was in stock) and I had heard nothing from the supplier. They told me that they were waiting for it to come back in stock and it would be delivered to them “next Wednesday” (i.e. 27 January) and they’d ship it then. On 3 February (the next Wednesday) I chased it again – this time to be told it would be another 3-4 weeks.

Now, I don’t mind waiting if I know what is happening, but having to chase it all the time is just not on. When you combine lead time and postage costs, then factor in sheer ignorance, online ordering is becoming less and less of an attractive option all the time.

So it is pleasing to announce that something I ordered on Sunday was shipped on Monday and delivered this morning (Tuesday) before 9.30am. They sent an automatic confirmation of my order (which is standard) and a shipping email (sent by a human being).

The company is called ToolStop, and they sell tools and accessories.I would recommend them to anyone.

First Pass Of 2010

08/02/2010

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I mentioned in a previous post how a run of 14 passes last summer can suddenly turn upside down – particularly if a pupil who turns into a ‘serial failer’ through nerves takes their test several times in fairly rapid succession. It feels so much the worse when pupils who you’d have as dead certs to pass lose it on the day and make mistakes (a couple of weeks ago a pupil who never stalls – and hasn’t stalled since – decided to do it repeatedly on her test).

Anyway, it feels like I’m back in the groove again – well done to JH, who passed this afternoon with just 2 driver faults. I taught him from scratch (they’re the most satisfying), and he is one of several pupils who’ve had their tests cancelled more than once during the snow. So I’m now on a 50% pass rate for 2010!

BSM To Close Offices…?

04/02/2010

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ADI

Or to put it another way: “BSM making redundancies?”

I keep hearing these rumours, but nothing concrete has been forthcoming. Similar to the “Red has gone bust” rumours that are flying around, I guess.

I wonder if some of the visitors from the BSM Instructor Academy could enlighten me so I can publish it? All in the highest level of confidence, of course.