Posts by Andy Non

TalkTalk plays 'no legal obligation' card on encryption – fails to think of the children (read: its customers)

Re: As I observed elsewhere in this illustrious mag

Someone nailed this in another thread:

"I am not legally required to close and lock my door; but if I'm burgled, then I'm at least partly responsible."

Nuf said.

Joining the illuminati? Just how bright can a smart bulb really be?

Burglar deterent?

@ $200 any self respecting burglar will just nick the bulbs too.

Windows 10 out, users happy, PCs upgraded, my work here is done – says Microsoft OS chief

Light fuse and

retire to a safe distance.

At last, UK customers are buying PCs again

I've just ordered a new high-spec desktop, though I doubt it will be included in the figures as I bought it via Amazon.co.uk direct from a small manufacturer China... and it doesn't have Windows pre-installed on it. (Soon to have Linux Mint installed on it.)

Microsoft offers to PAY YOU to trade in your old computer for a Windows 10 device

Re: MS are idiots

@petur

My dual-boot laptop continued to work for several weeks allowing me to boot into either Linux mint or Windows 10 as required; until one day immediately after Windows 10 did some automatic updates, from that point on it was Windows 10 only. No grub menu, straight into Windows 10 every time. I suspect that particular batch of updates contained "updates" for the firmware specific to my make/model of computer and at the same time Windows 10 re-enabled all the UEFI secure boot stuff etc. So just because Windows 10 doesn't trash your dual-boot immediately doesn't mean it won't do so at some point in the future if/when it gets around to "updating" your particular firmware.

Re: How long do I need to run MS Win 10 ?

See my post above, you *may* find it problematic installing Linux on a machine that has previously had Windows 10 on it. Something of a lottery of which manufacturers have locked down the UEFI settings and if Windows 10 has meddled with the firmware. Hence, the next computer I'm buying (direct from China) has Ubuntu pre-installed and I'm going to put Linux Mint on it. This may be a new and prosperous market for the smaller manufacturers who are prepared to sell Linux kit. This is what I'm considering:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eggsnow-Aluminum-Fanless-Haswell-Computer/dp/B00XKMJO3Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1445091026&sr=8-5&keywords=linux+desktop

Re: MS are idiots

AC said "I aim to make a killing next year converting Win 10 machines to Linux when the demands for payment switches on."

After Windows 10 trashed my dual-boot laptop I've got two concerns about buying any hardware that's had Windows 10 on it (with a view to installing Linux) :

1. I gather that not all manufacturers are allowing access to disable the UEFI settings and are forcing the computer to allow only secure boot from a pre-defined OS specified in a database embedded in the firmware, which may make installing another OS problematic.

2. Windows 10 messes with the firmware making the bootup process look for C:\Windows\something.exe (this latest bit of MS nastiness was talked about on El Reg a few weeks ago). Since installing Linux Mint to the aforementioned laptop, bootup fails and hangs after a few seconds (there is no drive C: ) so I need to do a soft reboot (Ctrl, Alt, Del) to get it to boot into Linux.

Do you think these problems are surmountable? They look like a strategy to force hardware to be Microsoft Windows only. i.e. deliberately aimed at blocking (or making it difficult) to install Linux on ex-Windows 10 hardware. Thoughts?

Re: NRA

Likewise my Linux Mint laptop. I've already got my next new computer in sight, and it doesn't come with Windows pre-installed on it.

Microsoft now awfully pushy with Windows 10 on Win 7, 8 PCs – Reg readers hit back

Re: Probably laziness on my part ..

Be careful with dual-boot and Windows 10. I upgraded my dual-boot Windows 8.1 / Linux Mint laptop to Windows 10 / Linux Mint. Everything worked fine for several weeks and I could boot into either OS as required via the grub menu. Great I thought, then one day, Windows 10 did several automatic updates and destroyed the dual-boot, making it Windows 10 only. It also re-enabled all the UEFI secure boot stuff. Long story short I ended up reinstalling Linux Mint and and giving it the entire hard drive, getting rid of Windows 10 completely. One of the Windows 10 updates had even messed with the firmware, presumably making it look for C:\Windows\something.exe (I'd heard about that new bit of nastiness on El Reg a few weeks ago), so now a cold bootup fails and hangs after a few seconds (there is no drive C: now) and I have to do a Ctrl, Alt, Del to soft boot it into Linux Mint.

So not content with pushing Windows 7 and 8 users to 10, they are now actively trashing dual-boot computers and making them Windows 10 only.

Devs ask Microsoft for real .NET universal apps: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

I had a play around with Qt a while ago, seems halfway decent. I've been asked many times over the years that I've developed applications for Windows in various versions of .Net if I do a version of my software for Mac, Android or Linux. Sorry, Windows only. Potential customers are disappointed and I've lost sales too. A cross platform development tool sounds (on face value) like a good idea. Can't help wondering if too many compromises would need to be made though and if you'd hit different glass ceilings for functionality with each operating system? Very few of my more sophisticated .Net applications ever managed with just the core .Net libraries and invariably needed extra functionality by API calls to the OS, which again makes the software OS dependent.

It's GOBBLE TIME: Dell set for EMC offer today

Not had much luck trying to buy from Dell.

Maybe not directly related to the article, but I've never had much success trying to buy from Dell:

First tried many years ago and had a technical query about something. Sent an email to their support dept and got a ten page reply back from what they called a "robot" giving various answers to my technical question; none of the answers actually related to my question. I thought at the time that if this was a reflection on their pre-sales support I dread to think what their post-sales support was like. I bought a computer from elsewhere.

Some years later I was in the market for another PC so tried Dell again. I spent ages specifying a desktop computer to meet my needs only to hit a wall "Sorry, UK delivery only." Attempted to order the same kit via Dell here in France but couldn't get Windows in British English nor a UK keyboard. I bought a computer from elsewhere.

Many years later (the other day) I tried again. I'm now in the market for a Linux computer. Typed in "Linux desktop" on Dell's site search and got a page full of Windows desktop computers. Duh. So I will be buying from... elsewhere.

Maybe I'm an exception, a difficult customer. Or maybe others experience similar problems and that is why Dell is facing "consolidation" with another company.

PC shipments slump in Q3, thanks to free Windows 10

Re: Windows 10 didn't prevent me from buying a new PC in Q3

NUC? Can you elaborate please. I'm in the market for a new PC to put Linux on.

Re: buying a new computer with Linux pre-installed

I agree it is potentially a good cost saving strategy, buying a common off the shelf Windows 8.1/10 computer with the intention of overwriting it with Linux on day one; but this strategy may become more and more of a gamble, depending on which manufacturers and models impose (or already have imposed) the locked down secure boot features; effectively making the hardware Windows only or problematic under Linux. Manufacturers don't go out of their way to advertise that their models are Linux compatible (or not). There is also a gamble that relevant drivers for Linux may not be available for newer hardware models. At least by buying one with Linux (probably Ubuntu) pre-installed I will be confident Linux Mint can be installed on it.

Re: buying a new computer with Linux pre-installed

I'm currently considering one of the mini desktop computers in this range:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eggsnow-Aluminum-Fanless-Haswell-Computer/dp/B00XKMJO3Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1444381912&sr=8-4&keywords=linux+desktop

Seems like a nice bit of kit, but not made up my mind yet.

No more Windows computers for me.

I had been planning on buying a new Windows PC and making it dual-boot with Linux Mint, retaining the flexibility of using either OS as required, but after the problems I had at the weekend with a Windows 10 update trashing an older dual-boot laptop * I'm now looking at buying a new computer with Linux pre-installed and not Windows.

* Windows 10 and Linux had been happily cohabiting for several weeks with a choice of OS at bootup until an automatic Windows 10 update deleted the dual-boot, reinstated all the UEFI stuff and made the computer Windows 10 bootup only, effectively destroying the Linux bootup.

HP creates laptop for SITH LORDS

Re: I'd like a Klingon version

I've got a Romulan version laptop, but have never been able to find it.

Ad-slinging rootkit nasty permanently drills into Android mobes, tabs

Another day, and more Android malware...

with no chance of the hardware suppliers offering any updates or patches. This is making me paranoid. I only have a (no brand) android tablet and only use it for Kindle and playing music MP3s and a few games but it will remain in flight mode until I need to download another book; then back into flight mode again.

Android is getting like my old XP computer, it still works and it is great to use, but I don't dare go anywhere near the internet with it! Kinda sucks if you are using an Android phone though!

Surface Book: Microsoft to turn unsuccessful tab into unsuccessful laptop

Re: I wonder how well this would run Linux?

@TheVogon,

No. See my detailed post above.

Re: I wonder how well this would run Linux?

I don't know if it is an offence or not, but it was certainly offensive. It was originally an 8.1 laptop and I'd set it up to dual boot with Linux Mint. Both Windows and Linux had cohabited without problems. Even the Windows 10 update didn't mess up the dual-boot. It is only after several weeks after a number of Windows 10 automatic updates that it trashed the laptop. To be specific, after the updates had finished, the laptop would only reboot into Windows. It completely skipped the grub menu offering a choice of booting into Linux or Windows. I repeatedly tried rebooting but it went straight into Windows 10 every time. I was sure Windows was doing a full shutdown too (not that hybrid shutdown) as it I was being prompted for the hardware level power on password.

I went into the computer settings and discovered that all the UEFI settings had been enabled again. I tried turning them off then rebooted the computer again... straight into Windows. Checked the UEFI settings and they'd been turned on AGAIN. I was getting rather *annoyed* by this stage so disable the UEFI settings again and reinstalled Linux Mint from scratch, giving it the entire hard drive and blowing Windows 10 off the hard drive. I wasn't going to be bullied into using Windows 10 as my sole OS. From a few searches, it appears I'm not alone in experiencing Windows 10 trashing dual-boot and grub. Apparently it may be possible to reinstall grub and to regain access to the lost Linux boot, but I'm not prepared to play games with Microsoft only for them to do the same thing again at some point.

Anyway, the laptop now runs Linux Mint exclusively. Curious side effect now though; I have to reboot the laptop TWICE. The first (cold boot) fails after a few seconds and the laptop hangs. Then I do a soft reboot (Ctrl, Alt, Del) and it boots into Linux. I'd hazard a guess that the Windows update has messed with the firmware telling to look for Windows 10 on bootup... I read something about that a while ago on El Reg about the firmware being made to run a particular EXE on C:\Windows\somewhere that in turn was able to turn the UEFI stuff back on again etc. It of course now fails as there is no longer a drive C:

It is bloody annoying. I was quite happy to let Linux Mint and Windows 10 coexist on the same machine and to use each as required, Microsoft has forced the issue by taking complete control of the laptop, and that is NOT ACCEPTABLE. So, now Windows 10 is gone.

I had also been looking into buying a new Windows computer to make dual-boot with Linux Mint. In view of what has happened I will definitely not buy another Windows computer, instead I'll look into computers that are either guaranteed to work with Linux or come pre-installed with it.

It doesn't bode well for people wanting to install Linux on Windows 10 computers going forward.

Re: I wonder how well this would run Linux?

The UEFI monkey-business seems to be standard with Windows 10. A Windows 10 automatic update trashed my dual-boot Windows 10 / Linux Mint laptop this weekend, re-enabled UEFI, deleted grub and the dual boot and made it Windows 10 only. It also messed with the firmware making it insist on finding Windows 10 on bootup. Screw you Microsoft.

So no, I wouldn't bank on being able to install Linux on anything that comes with Windows 10 on it.

Worker drones don't need PCs says Microsoft, give 'em phones instead

"We want to put Windows 10 in your pocket," said Panos Panay, Microsoft's VP of Surface computing.

So Microsoft can spy on the contents of our pockets too?

US Cyber Command floats $460m contract to outsource most of itself

So far, US Cyber Command has received quotes for handling the contracts from Russia, China and North Korea.

'One Windows' crunch time: Microsoft tempts with glittery new devices

No thanks.

Microsoft have shot themselves in the feet so often lately they no longer have any legs left to stand on. I want nothing more from them... and I've earned my livelihood for more than thirty years by writing Windows application software. No more. The end. Goodbye and thanks for all the fish.

If you wanted Windows 10, it looks like you've already installed it

Re: A plague of pox on Microsoft.

@Smooth Newt

I refuse to be bullied by Microsoft into using Windows 10. It would have been nice to have continued to have the choice of operating system and use either Windows or Linux as relevant; but after this incident I'm going 100% Linux. I'm going to rewrite my remaining Windows applications to run on Linux.

I had been planning to buy another Windows computer and make it dual-boot with Linux; but with Microsoft up to such nasty games that is no longer a consideration. I'll need to buy a computer guaranteed to work with Linux, and that may mean buying one with Linux pre-installed instead of Windows.

Microsoft have lost my "market share" of Windows 10 now, and for ever.

A plague of pox on Microsoft.

Several weeks ago I upgraded my dual boot Linux Mint / Windows 8.1 laptop to Windows 10. Both Linux and Windows 10 have coexisted happily since, with a grub menu allowing choice of operating system at bootup. I don't use Windows 10 very often, but on Saturday booted into it and allowed it to catch up on its updates. Big mistake. The computer now always boots into Windows 10. Windows 10 has deleted grub and re-enabled all the UEFI secure boot settings in the computers configuration.

A quick internet search reveals that a number of people have similarly been hit with this problem. Whether this is a deliberate ham-fisted approach by Microsoft to force Windows 10 on computer users or malicious behaviour / incompetence by Microsoft is open to debate.

It appears there are ways to reinstall the grub file and regain access to the lost Linux Mint boot, but if Microsoft is going to have an ongoing strategy of trying to squash alternative operating systems from computers, then I'm bailing completely. I'm not prepared to have to mess around fighting Microsoft to run the operating system of my choice; so I've nuked the laptop and put a fresh installation of Linux Mint on it, letting it take the entire hard drive. Bye bye Windows 10.

As a footnote I now have to reboot the computer twice, the first (cold boot) fails and the machine hangs, so I have to do a second soft boot (CTRL, Alt, Del) then it boots into Linux. I suspect Microsoft update has also messed around with the firmware, forcing it to look for Windows 10 first, which now fails of course.

A plague of a thousand poxes on you Microsoft.

WATERPROOF iPhone 6Ss? Old news. Check out the OTHER 7 SECRET FEATURES

iHelp!

iCan't swim!

SIX MILLION fingerprints of US govt workers nicked in cyber-heist

As a security precaution:

All government employees are being asked to urgently change their fingerprints.

iOS 9 security blooper lets you BYPASS PINs, eye up photos, contacts

Software testing

Apple: "Yes, we've heard of it."

Hello? HELLO? Major Skype outage hits folk WORLDWIDE

Re: It's a bloody disgrace

If you pay nothing you can't complain. I have a paid account and use Skype to make international calls to people who only have land-lines. The calls are dirt cheap too and the credit doesn't expire if you don't use it by a set time. The uptime has been impressive; this is the first time Skype has failed in all the years I've been using it, so can't complain. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come or that the outage lasts much longer.

Still down

12 hours+ and still down. Emphasis definitely on the "major" outage. Would love to know the cause, wonder if Microsoft will eventually elaborate.

It's down in France too.

I was beginning to think something serious was happening as Skype has spent all morning offline and trying to connect. Just glad Microsoft haven't "retired" Skype for Linux, which was my main concern.

CHEAT! Volkswagen chief 'deeply sorry' over diesel emission test dodge

It could be called both fraud and engine optimization.

I gather the computer changes the engine management at tick-over so it is less polluting and adjusts it for better performance when the car is moving. I came across this phenomenon with the UK MOT many years ago when I had a Rover. The guy doing the MOT said that it would fail the new emissions check which was supposed to be done at tick-over so he pushed down the accelerator and took a good (low emission) reading then. He explained that to pass the emissions test for the MOT (legitimately) the engine would need to be retuned before the test, then retuned AGAIN afterwards to work properly when being driven! Me = gob smacked. Kinda made sense though and the VW thing sounds very similar except the "cheating" was incorporated into the engine management software.

My parents don't know I'm in SEO. They think I play piano in a brothel

Re: Oh dear.

Not only are the SEO emails spam, but they "work" by spamming forums, facebook and everywhere else they can post a link to the site they are trying to promote. Much of the temporary boost in popularity in the site being promoted quickly fades as the site admins clean the spam from their sites. I spent time working as a moderator on a large internet forum and my first job of the day was to clean out all the new fake accounts, posts and links created by these bloody SEO companies. SEO == scum.

Spam filter

I only have one spam filter set for emails from my website's contact form: "SEO". That word is enough to delete the email on the server without downloading it.

Microsoft starts to fix Start Menu in new Windows 10 preview

Re: 2 words for you MS...

Microsoft should simply have bought the business that provides Classic Shell and incorporated it into Windows 10. Job done.

WIN a 6TB Western Digital Black hard drive with El Reg

The team saying to the designer "We admire your ingenuity, but feel there will be customer resistance to indicating the battery charge level by how far the breasts are sagging."

The latest in mal-wear.

We've had a product endorsement from seven of nine.

And with the matching panties, we'll have somewhere to store the battery.

The wearer's range should be somewhat improved when we make a version that doesn't run on mains electricity.

You press the left nipple to select the required feature then the right nipple to run it. Double press both nipples to remove the bra.

I've isolated the problem; it keeps downloading Windows 10.

Great for jogging in with the bounce cancelling technology.

If I get an email it alerts me by making my nipples tingle.

Perfect if you are breast feeding a little Android.

If you are pulled over by a traffic cop, it auto-inflates.

(Terminator 3 reference)

I love getting my hands on new technology.

To make a payment at the supermarket I just have to bend over the card reader.

It conceals the nipple guns perfectly.

Microsoft to splurge $75m on computer training for kids

Re: Girls only again ?

You will be allowed to play with your penis but not in class again, OK.