More Windows 10 Shenanigins

[Enough!Participant @enough]

I was presented with the following Windows Update to my Win-8.1 installation today:

Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3044374)
Update type: Important
More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3044374

If you go to the More Information link it seems to be an "Upgrade" to Windows-10 that they are trying to slide past unwary users – again. Presumably anyone who has automatic updates turned on gets upgraded automatically.

Even Microsoft's own definition states:

– An update ensures you have the most recent features and security improvements for your current version of Windows.

– An upgrade moves your PC from a previous version of Windows—such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1—to Windows 10.

Not the first time they've tried this …. it's why I always check.

Apple is as bad. A few months ago they bought out a version of ios specifically tailored for iPad but stated that you didn't have to use that path – you could keep on using the original ios stream (which I chose). Since then though all the upgrades would also convert me to the IOSipad version – complete with Apple taking over (apparently) the screen graphics. And it nags me to death as only Apple can if I don't comply.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

are we supposed to be sorry for you forced to be a slave to an American monopolist company (albeit a choice of 2) or to be surprised at such antics especially as one of said companies has been indicted in several courts for such activities

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I would go for the upgrade to W10 if it is free.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 17:30:08:

.
[…] the IOSipad version – complete with Apple taking over (apparently) the screen graphics. […]

.

Can you elaborate upon that one, please

… I find lots of irritations with iPadOS 13, but was unaware of that ^^^

MichaelG.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Old Mart …. no thanks. Tried it twice and didn't like it. Nor do I want to end up in a subscription model.

Michael … I don't recall the details other than that there is some app installed that takes away your option of setting your own screen background in favour of a horrible red/orange one that is demanded by the app. I'll see if I can dig up where I got that from. If you're using iPadOS and aren't aware of it, maybe I got hold of the wrong end of the stick. What other irritations have you noticed.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:19:01

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by old mart on 15/06/2020 18:05:57:

I would go for the upgrade to W10 if it is free.

I agree. Update if free although I doubt it very much. Although it is not compulsory to upgrade. Cannot blame any vendor for trying to get ppl to use the latest software. As with all programs ppl need to read all the info available to know what they are getting or not as the case may be. Must be a nightmare to write software to cover all the bases. W7 & 8.1 are so far out of date now that they are not good for much apart from running old programs. No system updates for them and many manufacturers do not make hardware compatible with them. Some of the anti virus companies are now saying that their software will not be available to W7 users. I have found replacements for all of my old programs. Also upgraded any accessories that were getting very long in the tooth. I have never figured out what the problem of running W10 is. Always been a great program for me, my family & friends. Maybe the people that get problems are the ones that never update their hardware.

regards

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

My PC updated today W10 and now after a few minutes of use a get a Blue screen stating that "Critical Struture Corruption" has occured and that it needs to gather the information and reboot

After speaking to my son (a professional computer programmer) he helped me install a microsoft program called Show Hide (WUSHOWHIDE) can be downloaded from the MS downloads area

It allows you to interagate the updates and decide if you want them or not

If not you simply select hide and it removes it from the update but more importantly flags it for any future update that come along and doesnt try to Re Install it

After I removed the 3 new updates with this program all is now back to normal

Simply google MS Show Hide

Regards

Trevor

Edited By Trevorh on 15/06/2020 18:53:50

[Roger ClarkParticipant @rogerclark]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

Old Mart …. no thanks. Tried it twice and didn't like it. Nor do I want to end up in a subscription model.

Don't quite understand what you mean by subscription model? Windows 10 tends to be free and is much more secure through it's regular updates and certainly seems to run fine on my year 2006 computer. Only hardware upgrade I've had to do was the graphics card as a third party app wouldn't run. My 2007 Office runs fine on it and I'll not be going for the Office 360 subscription.

Roger

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

Michael … I don't recall the details other than that there is some app installed that takes away your option of setting your own screen background in favour of a horrible red/orange one that is demanded by the app. I'll see if I can dig up where I got that from. If you're using iPadOS and aren't aware of it, maybe I got hold of the wrong end of the stick. What other irritations have you noticed.

.

Thanks for that

The two biggest irritations are :

1. The U.K. keyboard, on which I frequently manage to inadvertently undo something that I have just typed … and which is also inconsistent in its behaviour with the ? key
2. If you have a look at my recent Albums, you will see that my photos are now named with Hex gibberish instead of the simple numbers that were allocated in previous iOS versions. [the odd exceptions are ones that I have uploaded from the Mac]

MichaelG.

.

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=52817

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 15/06/2020 19:35:06

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Over the Weekend the Wife’s laptop running W8.1 installed auto updates.

Switched it on today and saw the message pictured below., which meant nothing to my limited PC knowledge.

Sure enough no access to files so tried logging out then back in a few times nothing changed, out of desperation I uninstalled the last two updates and all is fine now.

Having missed out on the original W10 freebie we would like to be given that offer.

 

Edited By V8Eng on 15/06/2020 20:02:42

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Posted by V8Eng on 15/06/2020 19:48:11:

Having missed out on the original W10 freebie we would like to be given that offer

Although Microsoft officially ended their free upgrade offer several years ago, it's very widely reported in the computer press and online that, in practice, upgrading of a legitimate W7 or W8 installation is still free.

You need to download the official Microsoft upgrade tool and go from there. There's lots of information and advice on the web, to be found with Google.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

.

Michael … I don't recall the details other than that there is some app installed that takes away your option of setting your own screen background in favour of a horrible red/orange one that is demanded by the app. I'll see if I can dig up where I got that from. If you're using iPadOS and aren't aware of it, maybe I got hold of the wrong end of the stick. What other irritations have you noticed.

.

Wallpaper is selectable in “Settings” … many of the standard options are pretty gross, but mine is dark grey overlaid with a grid of lighter grey dots. This works fine, or you can opt to use one of your own pictures.

Just remembered another irritation :

3. The sound ‘Bark’ is no longer an option for the Alarm Clock… but fortunately, existing Alarms have retained it, so I just re-program one of them.

MichaelG.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by Clive Brown 1 on 15/06/2020 20:52:47:

Posted by V8Eng on 15/06/2020 19:48:11:

Having missed out on the original W10 freebie we would like to be given that offer

Although Microsoft officially ended their free upgrade offer several years ago, it's very widely reported in the computer press and online that, in practice, upgrading of a legitimate W7 or W8 installation is still free.

You need to download the official Microsoft upgrade tool and go from there. There's lots of information and advice on the web, to be found with Google.

 

Yes had couple of goes and last Few times it failed at the upgrade tool stage as the address bar showed connecting to MS then just returned to the homepage.

Have to admit that my personal computing uses Apple gear these days so the Win stuff tends to be for the Wife’s limited computer usage.

Edited By V8Eng on 15/06/2020 21:57:27

Edited By V8Eng on 15/06/2020 21:59:26

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 15/06/2020 21:29:01:

Wallpaper is selectable in “Settings” … many of the standard options are pretty gross, but mine is dark grey overlaid with a grid of lighter grey dots. This works fine, or you can opt to use one of your own pictures.

Thanks, Michael looks like I was a bit off there. As long as I can use my own wallpaper and not one of those ghastly (to me) Apple versions.

I hadn't thought before but I have a spare, somewhat earlier, iPad Mini (Mini is what I mainly use these days as far as iPads go). So I'm going to let it update and see what I think.

My other hang-up is what happened a couple of years ago after a major IOS update. More than half my (mostly free) apps stopped working and more than half of those were never updated. What I gained in the OS update didn't nearly compensate for what I lost in the apps.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Rockingdodge on 15/06/2020 18:57:51:

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

Old Mart …. no thanks. Tried it twice and didn't like it. Nor do I want to end up in a subscription model.

Don't quite understand what you mean by subscription model? Windows 10 tends to be free and is much more secure …..

….. or so MS tells you ….

But, if you're happy in the belief that MS is altruistic enough to update everyone to the latest OS (one of their major sources of revenue historically – but who's counting) for nothing then more power to you. My belief (I'm not the only one) is that, when they have enough users they will switch to a subscription model. It's the modern way and gives a far, far greater return. Moreover it may not be as simple as "we send you a bill once a year". It may well be "you give us your Bank-AC/credit card number and we'll take care of the rest – every month or the thing stops working".

And yes, W10 is still available free (or was a few weeks ago – I doubt that's changed) and certainly is for those that avail themselves of the "update" that I mentioned at the start of this thread.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Now I’m just wondering if my tasteful grey wallpaper was carried over from an earlier version of iOS

**LINK**

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad997d908e/ipados

… could someone please check that it is on the standard iPadOS list ?

MichaelG.

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

Posted by Bandersnatch on 16/06/2020 01:43:43:

Posted by Rockingdodge on 15/06/2020 18:57:51:

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

Old Mart …. no thanks. Tried it twice and didn't like it. Nor do I want to end up in a subscription model.

Don't quite understand what you mean by subscription model? Windows 10 tends to be free and is much more secure …..

 

….. or so MS tells you ….

But, if you're happy in the belief that MS is altruistic enough to update everyone to the latest OS (one of their major sources of revenue historically – but who's counting) for nothing then more power to you. My belief (I'm not the only one) is that, when they have enough users they will switch to a subscription model. It's the modern way and gives a far, far greater return. Moreover it may not be as simple as "we send you a bill once a year". It may well be "you give us your Bank-AC/credit card number and we'll take care of the rest – every month or the thing stops working".

And yes, W10 is still available free (or was a few weeks ago – I doubt that's changed) and certainly is for those that avail themselves of the "update" that I mentioned at the start of this thread.

Have you a source or a link to this ? It seems very very unlikely

 

 

Edited By Gerard O'Toole on 16/06/2020 07:52:29

Edited By Gerard O’Toole on 16/06/2020 07:53:09

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 16/06/2020 07:02:47:

Now I’m just wondering if my tasteful grey wallpaper was carried over from an earlier version of iOS

**LINK**

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad997d908e/ipados

… could someone please check that it is on the standard iPadOS list ?

MichaelG.

Good morning Michael.

I have an old iPad which cannot be updated beyond: iOS 9.3.5 and a wallpaper fitting your description can be selected on that.

I also have a much later iPad running something called: iPad OS 13.5.1 (after several updates) the available wallpapers on that are mainly very lively! Your grey does not seem to be there at all.

I think wallpapers carry over because the seashore I have used since new does not seem to feature in the current range.

Hope that makes sense and helps to answer your question.

Edited By V8Eng on 16/06/2020 09:20:35

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by V8Eng on 16/06/2020 09:16:51:

 

Good morning Michael.

I have an old iPad which cannot be updated beyond: iOS 9.3.5 and a wallpaper fitting your description can be selected on that.

I also have a much later iPad running something called: iPad OS 13.5.1 (after several updates) the available wallpapers on that are mainly very lively! Your grey does not seem to be there at all.

I think wallpapers carry over because the seashore I have used since new does not seem to feature in the current range.

Hope that makes sense and helps to answer your question.

 

.

Thanks … Yes, it confirms my suspicion

MichaelG.

.

.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 16/06/2020 09:51:42

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

Posted by old mart on 15/06/2020 18:05:57:

I would go for the upgrade to W10 if it is free.

+1 to upgrade – Windows 7, 8 etc are no longer supported for secirity and viruses etc, you PC and personal information will be at risk if you do not keep up to date !!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

The mind is boggled :

**LINK**

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNi8VN2pw2Ya_xCV8eFgzEZmiXDy1-GwhXbqFtvXoH3HypF10as9puV8FdoVZpOZA?key=WkZjQTIxQTM5a01oZkNUYTE2ZllKTVJKZk1CMTR3

MichaelG.

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

Posted by Gerard O'Toole on 16/06/2020 07:33:04:

Posted by Bandersnatch on 16/06/2020 01:43:43:

Posted by Rockingdodge on 15/06/2020 18:57:51:

Posted by Bandersnatch on 15/06/2020 18:15:21:

Old Mart …. no thanks. Tried it twice and didn't like it. Nor do I want to end up in a subscription model.

Don't quite understand what you mean by subscription model? Windows 10 tends to be free and is much more secure …..

….. or so MS tells you ….

But, if you're happy in the belief that MS is altruistic enough to update everyone to the latest OS (one of their major sources of revenue historically – but who's counting) for nothing then more power to you. My belief (I'm not the only one) is that, when they have enough users they will switch to a subscription model. It's the modern way and gives a far, far greater return. Moreover it may not be as simple as "we send you a bill once a year". It may well be "you give us your Bank-AC/credit card number and we'll take care of the rest – every month or the thing stops working".

And yes, W10 is still available free (or was a few weeks ago – I doubt that's changed) and certainly is for those that avail themselves of the "update" that I mentioned at the start of this thread.

Have you a source or a link to this ? It seems very very unlikely

Edited By Gerard O'Toole on 16/06/2020 07:52:29

Edited By Gerard O'Toole on 16/06/2020 07:53:09

AFAIK there is NO subscription fees for W10, if you splashed out on a 'new' 'puter it would come with W10 pre-installed, no subscriptions anywhere to be seen.

That however is NOT the case for software such as Word or Excel, in order to keep up to date with the lastest version MS have migrated to Microsoft 365 which is subscription based.

Like ALL software these days it VERY quickly becomes out of date or superceeded.

I feel like that when the grandchildren come round, they all have the latest 'gadgets' and gizmos and keep telling me that I'm 'old' . . . . guess it's how it has always been.

Now where's that VHS tape gone ??

Steve

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

If you want a Windows computer today it will run Windows 10 (or 8.1 until 2023)

I’m sorry but – End of!

In this interconnected world you can no longer access the internet with Windows XP (introduced nearly 20 years ago) and expect all websites to work for you. Chrome no longer supports Win XP completely and Firefox is perhaps the way to go. If you go for Win7 (2009) the same thing happens with the version of Internet Explorer that is installed – but you can at least still update that, but no further versions are planned. There are many Anti-Virus solutions that are the same.

Thinking you have paid for software and want to continue to use it is incorrect as it is all licenced under whatever terms the creators choose to apply – If you disagree your only option is to cease using the software and delete all copies. Anyway if you want to continue to use old software what happens if a breakdown means replacement hardware? If drivers for computer hardware, scanners, printers etc are not available then you either replace your software or stop using it.

Windows is no longer a major revenue earner for Microsoft – most of its sales are with hardware and the PC market is not strong. Industry analysts have written that Microsoft have been trying to move to a cloud based model, and offering free upgrades to Win10 must lessen their support costs for elderly hardware and old versions of Windows.

The subscription model means that every user has to pay for their software as long as they use it. The advantage to you is when you no longer need to use it you stop paying and to the company they get paid for every copy in use. No more ripping off software or installing it at home so ‘I can work more easily there’ but not deleting it when you retire or change jobs. Support costs for the vendor are probably less as every version in use is the same.

Quoting Steve – “That however is NOT the case for software such as Word or Excel, in order to keep up to date with the lastest version MS have migrated to Microsoft 365 which is subscription based”

You can buy a lifetime licence for the home version of Office 2019 for about £200 from a retailer in the UK – or for £60 you can get a 1 year subscription for 1 user on up to 5 devices and for £80 you can get a similar subscription for up to 6 users . As new versions of Office are out most years you can save money with either choice depending on how often you wish to update.

Leaded petrol became illegal on Jan 1 2000 which is about the time that copies of WinXP began to be trialled in major organisations (I worked for one then; retail sales began in 2001) Would you expect to continue to run a car on leaded fuel as a practical proposition today? While many classic car enthusiasts do so and similarly many people still take pictures with cameras that use film, mainstream users of both would not dream of doing so.

For a computer to be used as a tool anything that is not kept up to date may have issues. If the payment model to do that is not to your taste I am sorry, but I suspect that the vast majority of users will dictate the decision to the rest of us. In the early days of large computers much software was used on a subscription basis and in these days of easy online and electronic payments I predict it will probably return to that.

There are alternatives to Windows of course, but I think that Apple’s business model will not be too dissimilar in time and Linux needs to be kept up to date in just the same way as Windows, although the costs are basically zero.

 

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 16/06/2020 10:55:11

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Steve Neighbour on 16/06/2020 10:04:49:

AFAIK there is NO subscription fees for W10, if you splashed out on a 'new' 'puter it would come with W10 pre-installed, no subscriptions anywhere to be seen.

No one said there "is". You need to read what I wrote.

[Author]

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