How are people finding Windows 10?

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

I'll admit to not following the whole thread but surely the best answer to the "old programs not running on new OS" problem is to adopt the two computer strategy. One computer isolated from the internet running the old programs that are more than good enough for the jobs we need them to do and one on the internet running the latest OS the get the bug fixes, security stuff and compatibility with the current versions of websites we use.

These days basic computers powerful enough to run the internet stuff are relatively cheap and good quality older computers to run our working programs will last for many years. Most of us are quite happy using machine tools of some vintage, I'm 61 and one of my machines is older than I am, so seems logical to take the same view when it comes to working computers. Only time you need a super duper computer on t'net is if you a re into interactive games and heavy duty film streaming.

Reflecting on my last upgrade cycle about 3 years back I'd have saved a fortune going two machine. OK it was Apple kit but principle is the same. Went from G4 Power PC desktop and 17" laptop to Intel MacPro 5.1 and 17" laptop to Mavericks OS via Snow Leopard. Over £2,500 for the computers and monitor over £1,500 for software updates to gain pretty much nothing in terms of what I actually do. 20-20 hindsight says less than £1,000 would have got a Mac Mini and new monitor and been just as effective. Now the iPads have got more oomph stuff and flogging off the new gear.

The one machine does all idea seems to have run its course.

Clive.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

The one machine does all idea seems to have run its course

A bit like lathes.

You CAN use one machine for doing everything, but having other stuff makes life a bit easier.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Clive, a friend of mine was wiped out by a virus many years ago so ended up running the two computer system. One for work and other important stuff and another for email and surfing the net etc. Long story short though is that having to buy Mac laptops for both of his Kids at Uni he now Runs a Mac laptop himself!

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Clive Foster on 04/01/2016 10:31:57:

I'll admit to not following the whole thread but surely the best answer to the "old programs not running on new OS" problem is to adopt the two computer strategy. One computer isolated from the internet running the old programs that are more than good enough for the jobs we need them to do and one on the internet running the latest OS the get the bug fixes, security stuff and compatibility with the current versions of websites we use.

Yes, "horses for courses". The computer running my little cnc mill in the workshop runs Win XP for Mach3 and Ubuntu for LinuxCNC with no internet connection and no system updates. Gcode files are transferred to it from one of my office machines by usb stick.

Russell.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

**LINK**

For info.

MichaelG.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

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As an update, I am generally pleased with Windows 10, except for one really annoying problem. I have a Hotmail email address for a local charitable effort in our village, and I can receive emails but I cannot send, . When I try to compose, I get the above on-screen message, and the "open this in a few window" thing doesn't work. It seems many people are reporting clashes between Outlook and Windows 10, and I have tried some of the suggested cures, but to no avail. I'd be grateful for any ideas.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

…and, as an update to the update, I seem to have cracked it. What you do is go to command prompt, right click, and select "Run as administrator." At the prompt, type "sfc /scannow" (note that there is a space before the forward slash), then go get a coffee (or, if you get as frustrated as me, a stiff whisky) while the system sorts itself out. Then re-start and, miracle of miracles, everything works. This information courtesy of several nerdy forums.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

A word of warning to anybody who has Sprut Cam as their CAM software Do Not Upload Windows 10. I did and after a month or so it has become completely unstable and will not run. Sprut being a Russian company are on holiday for Christmas for about 20 days. (Gregorian Christmas, Orthodox Christmas and the news year all roll into one long holiday. I cannot re-load Windows 8 so I am stuffed until a fix is found.

Bob Rodgerson

[Martin NewboldParticipant @martinnewbold]

Upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 . The install was not installing so decided to download the Mediacreation Tool. This worked well and seemed to install ok.

This Windows 10 seems to be more akin to Windows NT in architecture . This cant be a bad thing.Everything was Ok until Updates started coming out . Our laptop was ok and installed these ok. another desktop would not

I tried all the knowlege based articles and gave up. Microsoft's Updates then started working again with no reason for the previous failure.

Since then everything seems ok and working without hitch

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by Martin Newbold on 06/01/2016 19:08:55:

This Windows 10 seems to be more akin to Windows NT in architecture . This cant be a bad thing.Everything was Ok until Updates started coming out . Our laptop was ok and installed these ok. another desktop would not

Most versions of windows seem to be NTBased.

**LINK**

It's rather ironic that the vast majority of windows users are still using windows 7 and many that have switched to windows 10 have chosen to download third part software to make it look and act more like windows XP!?

**LINK**

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

I like Windows 10, it works well on my machine, although I have lost a couple of minor functions along the way. DO NOT upgrade to W10 without doing a full trawl on compatibility first! The upgrade itself was very slick.

The last horrible version of WIndows in my opinion was Vista, that whole saga was a disgrace.

DOS 4.0 was a dog too.

[Martin NewboldParticipant @martinnewbold]

Have to agree Vic ,I rather like Windows 10 now as its much more stable. My only issues is it keeps nagging me to upgrade to Office which i am quite happy with the 10 version i have bought. It also does not run power management on a hp laptop correctly which turns the display of when its plugged in . Have now been told that this slider is backwards.

In my opinion its worth the upgrade so go for it download Mediacreation tool it should check compatibility for you

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

The point is can I get my money back because I only purchased WIN 7 recently and it will be useless if I go WIN10?

Looking round Curries today showed all the PC's and Laptops with WIN 10 so we will have no option if you buy new.

Clive

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Been like that for a while with W8. You could (can) only get W8 on most home computers. Generally, if W7 is available it's because it's a professional ("enterprise&quot machine and professional users simply wouldn't touch W8. And if you insist on trying to "downgrade" a home machine to W7, you'll find many drivers simply not available. Now you are being pushed into W10 but at least it's better than W8 in my experience. Couldn't have been worse…

IIRC, Vista, 7 and subsequent variants developed from NT, whereas the 95/ME/XP etc branch was killed off. Similar thing happened with Intel Pentium processors which branched back from the mobile (M) technology when the power consumption of the mainstream Pentiums started to become unsustainable.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Microsoft reveals details of Windows 10 usage tracking

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

My Windows 7 Pro workstation was updated to Windows 10 Home a few months ago. I've just spent 90 minutes this afternoon watching it doing another major upgrade to Windows 10 Pro version 1511. I think I did 5 reboots.

I guess that the upgrade from the Professional version of Windows 7 has only just become available with the result that this particular machine has had to do a full upgrade twice. The good news is that it all worked!

Apart from the time taken, the only negative so far is that Microsoft re-offered Cortana again. (I'd disabled it for privacy reasons.) I nearly went into rant mode after jumping to the conclusion that all my other privacy settings had been unset too. Fortunately this turned out to be paranoia – the latest upgrade respected my privacy settings. Hurrah!

I also took an anti-virus upgrade from Avast that tried to convert me to Chrome, tried to get me to reject my choice of search engine (DuckDuckGo) and then tried to load an Adware plug-in into Firefox. You have to be careful what you load – even reputable providers need to make money somehow. Whilst I don't have a problem with advertising as such, I am very concerned about the way that tracking and other technologies are misused.

Dave

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Had a very bad experience with Avast about 3 years ago. It bricked one of the boys' PCs after a rogue "update" and of course there was no way for me to "unupdate" it, as AVs are so deeply rooted into the system.

I went on the support forum asking for help or even acknowledgement of the problem (I was by no means the only one) but they just ignored my pleas. Finally after a couple of weeks of stubborn silence and no fix I gave up and did a complete reinstall. Not massively impressed at their professionalism or lack of it and obviously I haven't been near them since.

[Martin NewboldParticipant @martinnewbold]

Had a very bad problem with kaspersky. I only installed it after not being able to find Norton in my local newsagent chain. This was possibly the worst move. It soon became apparent my machine was infected despite having this software on it. I tried to telephone kaspersky support and had a Russian man laughing at me and asking me to download software to repair my machine. I did this and to my amazement realized he had taken control of my machine and was in my documents directories. I cut the telephone line immediately. I wrote to kaspersky by email telling them I would no longer use their software. Then a year later a n email came saying they had taken £47 from my account. This was reversed by bank but took some time to track the company to a property in Scotland . Which they no longer occupy . The money was returned . But have learned they are uncontactable again . You have been warned!

Martin

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Has anyone added a Virtual Machine to their Win 10 installation so as to run an earlier OS? Any problems?

[VicParticipant @vic]

I wonder if you can remove Win 10 from this and replace it with something else?

**LINK**

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I find Win 7 just find and have also installed GWX from this site…

http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

If I connected to Microsoft's computers, uploaded a load of data and altered settings, I would be classed a an evil hacker. Microsoft however, are free to do this to my computer if I run Windows10. I do run w10 but only to keep it up to date until Judgement Day(which will come when enough people have been bullied into accepting the upgrade). I then swop hard drives and run Linux Ubuntu to use the Internet.

I have older machines running old versions of Windows so I can use Office, Photoshop, CAD programs and loads of other stuff, without having to pay for the latest versions. (comes from living in Yorkshire). These are not set up to use the Internet. This might seem paranoid, but Microsoft remotely mucking about with MY computer, really gets up my nose.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by KWIL on 15/04/2016 20:20:08:

Has anyone added a Virtual Machine to their Win 10 installation so as to run an earlier OS? Any problems?

Virtualbox is available for Windows 10 and is free. I haven't used it on W10 but run the Linux version to run Windows XP for certain old programs and it works very well.

Russell.

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

For my six penny worth – I've recently heard first hand that Windows 10 was to rolled out on a multinational companies system but the IT guys found so many security problems due to all and sundary could have access to files etc. A corporate modification is underway to make it more secure.

On that basis I won't be upgrading for sometime. Just like when XP was first released. I still think XP professional take some beating.

John

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

If you buy a new "home" laptop, you are pretty much forced to take W8 or W10. New machines simply aren't available with anything else and even if you think you could install W7 or earlier yourself, you'll be disappointed, as there aren't going to be drivers for any of the peripheral devices. You could build your own desktop which would give you a bit more flexibility but I suspect you would struggle to find drivers to work with the older OSs too.

I just go with it. I have several W10 laptops now and they work fine. From an i3 / 4GB / Intel HD5000 to an i7 / 16GB with graphics card and by and large they work as you'd hope. W10 seems to be almost the same as W8 with an interface somewhere between W7 and W8.

The main difference is the groovy interface but at least it's better than W8. And they have renamed "programs" as "apps". Wooo! And are trying to get you to find programs in the "app store" (ie pay for them). Most of the settings are probably in the same place but camouflaged behind the groovy new interface. That can be frustrating.

You either go with Microsoft or Apple or Linux or combination of these. I've got better things to do with my time than rebel endlessly. It's what's out there and if you can't write your own OS(!!), why not just swallow it and get on with life? It isn't a giant conspiracy….

Murray

[Author]

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