* Posts by cheshS80

11 publicly visible posts • joined 25 Jan 2015

Free Windows 10 upgrade: Time is running out – should you do it?

cheshS80
FAIL

Déjà vu

Well I have tried it & abused it right from the first preview build, there is nothing here in build 14393 to compel me to upgrade from Windows 7, whilst M$ engineers are to be mildly congratulated for managing to implement a start menu and floating App windows (although not as competently as the 3rd party developers have done in Windows 8) and for the addition of extra desktops (which were always possible in Windows 7 if you knew how ). I find it jarringly unsuitable for desktop work.

I should probably congratulate the M$ Marketing Department for creating a new way to extract more money from people by re-naming what is basically Windows 8.2 to Windows 10 - couldn't get the XP Users to buy Win 8 - Don't want Win 7 to become the new XP so lets give it away to a Win 7 Home and Premium users.

I see Shades of the old XP - Longhorn (circa 2004) debate where the following story ran :-

(http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002075.html)

"Microsoft has slammed its XP operating system admitting to hardware developers in Seattle that the company has failed to deliver by not "thinking through end-to-end scenarios.""

"The software giant's apparent gaffe appears to be a reverse strategy to switch the spotlight onto new capabilities available only through its Longhorn OS, due for release late next year."

A microsoft spokesman said :-

"We put things together not really thinking through the end-to-end scenarios and this is why at times we have failed to deliver."

"The next decade will bring about a new wave of innovation in the technology industry through the increased security, greater reliability and faster performance enabled by 64-bit computing and continued advances in Windows," Gates said.

"'Longhorn' and the new x64-bit versions of Windows are the best foundation for a new generation of faster, more powerful hardware and software that expands the possibilities for computing and transforms the way we work and play."

M$ then unveiled it's next generation blueprint for the modern-day PC, saying it's goal was to get the ubiquitous device "much closer to the utility of a mobile phone." In light of this and ever mindful of gains made by Apple's compact PCs, M$ said it's hardware vision for the future was to develop the "ultraportable" PC that would end perceptions of computers as large, inert machines that need to sit on a desk.Instead the company said the smaller breed of computer will hit the mainstream in 2008, and concentrate on providing the consumer with an instantly usable, always connected, 7-inch wide screen PC.

I think if you substitute Windows 8 for XP and Windows 10 for Longhorn in the above - M$ might get away with using that speech again. Albeit 7 years past the target date of 2008.

Most normal consumers (not Techies), I talk to who have actually purchased a new PC (with Win10 installed) comment that "It's all right I suppose, but the Photo/Music/ Video/Mail/Browser Apps are terrible, I prefer my Android/iPad apps they are easier to use" - makes you wonder if they regret the purchase, they normally don't admit it, saying they needed it to run MSOffice or other obscure program and their Scanner / Printer. These are the normal consumers who wouldn't normally use shareware / programs downloaded off the Interwebs

What's trending in the Insider Feedback Hub - "Please make a Pokemon Go App" - Give me strength , no wonder M$ never listen to feedback

Microsoft shifts Windows 7 and 8.1 fixes to 'rollup' bundles

cheshS80
Meh

Found it - KB 3156417

I just found this lurking in Recommended Updates :- KB 3156417 - The May 2016 update rollup package for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 - Which acccording to M$

This update package fixes the issues that are documented in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

KB3155039 Error 1326 when you change domain account password in Windows

KB3155218 Memory leak occurs in the Lsass.exe process after you install security update 3067505 in Windows.

No mention of the dreaded KB 3035583 or it's friends - I'll wait and see

Windows 10 Free Zone (We need an Icon for that)

Yahoo! is! up! for! sale! – so! how! much! will! you! bid!?

cheshS80
Joke

$4 and Two packets of chips

I thought I might buy it and asset strip out all the good bits .... Oh wait ..........!!

Don't want to upgrade to Windows 10? You'll download it WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT

cheshS80
Stop

Stopping the b*gger dead

Who will rid me of this turbulent upgrade?

After I found a couple of my PC's had mysteriously downloaded 6 Gigs of Win 10 rubbish this despite having updates set to "Download and let me decide when to install" - So I did a bit of digging , This is what I found.

"Windows 10 Automatically Downloading On Windows 7 And Windows 8", as is reported here

this was despite disabling GWX , hiding the updates and doing other suggested Registry Hacks

It seems that a KB Update (KB3012973 - Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro) is the culprit, I can't find any info on M$ Site regarding it, but it was there.

I also noticed that there were two entries in "View Installed updates" that said :-

Upgrade to Windows 10 (No KB Number) - Failed - (Recommended)

M$ are crafty bastards !!! - But dig deeper and there is an M$ solution, although I'm not sure I trust them further than I can throw them

It is entitled - How to manage Windows 10 notification and upgrade options -

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080351

So what can you do to stop the upgrade ?

First :- What you need is

for Win 7 - KB3065987 installed (may already be installed but best to check) - Note This article describes an update that contains some improvements to Windows Update Client in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. This update is incompatible with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) servers without the hardening update 2938066.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3065987

and for Win 8.1 - KB3065988 (may already be installed but best to check) Note - This article describes an update that contains some improvements to Windows Update Client in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2. This update has a prerequisite.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3065988

Second :-

Open up your registry editor using the Start Menu search or by pressing WIN + R and typing regedit and hitting enter, and then navigate down to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

You will probably have to create the "WindowsUpdate" key on the left-hand side, which you can do by right-clicking the Windows node.

Click on that new key, and then create a new 32-bit DWORD called DisableOSUpgrade on the right-hand side, and give it a value of 1.

So only time will tell if this has killed the beast for good !!

About time M$ came clean and issued that as a formal statement rather than the BS line of :-

"we help customers prepare their devices for Windows 10 by downloading the files necessary for future installation. This results in a better upgrade experience and ensures the customer’s device has the latest software.”

Feel like you're being herded onto Windows 10? Well, you should

cheshS80
Unhappy

Re: In tune with users - Downgrade info

Depends on the size of his client base

Whilst I agree major manufacturers will provide downgrade rights to an earlier OS on new kit and even ship PC's with Win 8.1 or Win 7 pre-installed instead of 10

The fact remains that the ordinary user and some SMB's won't have that right .

http://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077440/will-windows-10-ship-with-downgrade-options-to-windows-7.htm/pgno/0/1

While businesses with Pro licenses have extraordinary flexibility when it comes to upgrading and downgrading, all other Windows consumer users and some SMB customers are faced with limited options.

For one year, Microsoft is allowing consumers and some businesses with systems running Genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 a free upgrade to Windows 10. But when we asked: Once you upgrade for free to Windows 10, is it possible to downgrade back to Windows 8 or 7 without having to buy a new OS license? Microsoft said those who upgrade to Windows 10 for free will have one month to revert back to the old OS on their device.

Published JULY 15, 2015

cheshS80
Childcatcher

Re: In tune with users - Downgrade info

From Techradar-Pro and a few other sites :-

Quote - What if you downloaded Windows 10 on July 29 and have buyer's remorse after trying out the operating system?

Like most purchases, Microsoft is giving you a 30-day purchase window to decide if Windows 10 is right for you. If you find out that you didn't like Windows 10, you can simply rollback to whatever version of Windows that was on your system before you decided to dive head-first into Microsoft's new world.

The rollback feature isn't new, and Microsoft had provided this option in early preview builds of Windows 10 to testers in the Windows Insider program.

However, the most recent Build 10240 release, which is believed to be the Windows 10 release sent to manufacturers, or the RTM build, comes with language stating that you have a month to downgrade. Preview builds did not have this time stipulation.

"This option is only available for a month after you upgrade to Windows 10," Microsoft warns on Build 10240.- End Quote

That will add to the train wreck that's a coming , when Joe Public realizes what is happening and has no way back - Worst marketing practice ever - trap them while they are not looking , Joe Public won't read the EULA anyway

Microsoft sprints to finish, emits possible Windows 10 RC build

cheshS80
Thumb Down

RTM / RC - WTF !!

If this (Build 10240) is RTM then "choose deity" help us - Windows feedback still crashes every so often, start thingy still has of tiles with blank icons, still has tiles listed under "0-9" that do nothing , still can't remove some "Modern Apps" , others take ages to load and or crash.

The EULA/Setup screens almost hide the "don't use default Apps for Music , Photo , Video" during setup. It also suggests that you need to be logged on with your registered account to obtain updates and to check the store regularly for them.

So it's still a mess , M$ have not listened to feedback, except the bits they wanted to hear, looking through the feedback a majority of the complaints remain unaddressed or half kludged.

As a flagship product, the only way they could get this on to PC's running OS's < 8.1 is by using the free upgrade tactic.

It is Windows 8.2 at best and will be a nightmare to support

We tried using Windows 10 for real work and ... oh, the horror

cheshS80
Stop

Build 10166 is out - and it's not good for me so far

Just downloaded and installed build 10166 - No new features supposedly , just Bug Fixes - Only thing I have found so far is that normal Win32 Programs take 2 - 3 times longer to load - many crash to a black screen when changing window focus.

MS Flight Sim X takes ages to load and now crashes when selecting menu items or on shut down.

Chrome takes 2 - 3 times longer to load. Edge is as poor as ever

Other than that same old rubbish , Tiles you can't get rid of (Apps that can't be uninstalled) - High CPU Usage and background Network usage when it's sitting idle, guess it's calling the mothership a lot in it's spare time.

Not impressed with this build so far at all - Oh you can buy MS WiFi minutes from the store if you live in Seattle (I think that's a feature).

cheshS80
FAIL

Re: Marketing and politics triumph over engineering and common sense... again

I'm waiting for the release of the following New Store Apps

1. Windows 7 Theme Pack (includes Classic XP shell) - $10

2. Tile remover Pack - $10

3. Windows Media Pack (including TV Tuner & DVD add-on) - $15

4. In App Advert Blocker Pack - $25

5. Aero Theme Pack - $10

6. Font Fixer (reduce TIFKAM Fonts to 12pt) - $10

7. Classic Calculator - $5

8. App remover - $20

9. Cloud cleaner - $10

10. Classic Icon Pack - $5

I'm sure there are many more that M$ could create (raise cash from) lets face it it's their code gathering dust somewhere.

Yes I've used this Tech Preview since release day and No - M$ are not listening to insiders they are only taking the path they want - they have ignored the major gripes that don't fit with their way. The builds have been stable for me as long as you use it as is and don't want to :- Use Chrome , Load Nvidia drivers , Run older software, all this has been done on a brand new box, freshly built from new parts - ASUS H81M - Haswell G3240 - 4Gb Ram. (Dual booting with 8.1)

Even MS Flight Simulator X - didn't run properly with out a workaround, which has to be performed every time its started (switch from full screen to windowed mode and back again (Cntrl-Enter)).

Windows 10 began with some potential , but comparing it directly with Windows 8.1u1 , it is no faster at running software , or with benchmarks, it is certainly no better looking. Compared to Windows 8.1u1 (of which I am no great fan) it is clunkier and at best half developed - designed by committee and marketed by money men with no grasp on the real user world.

I await the roll out and the chaos that will follow. Hopefully people will realize that they will only have 30 days to revert back to their previous OS after the upgrade occurs, else it's Cinderella time for your previous OS Key

Microsoft hints at faster release cadence for Windows 10 previews

cheshS80
Unhappy

Better ??

Boy does Microsoft needs to significantly up its game before Windows 10 is fully released, but all the signs are the features are mostly set in stone, aside from a handful of adjustments. like more flat icons and monochrome screens to save battery on tablets

Ultimately, Windows 10 feels like an apology for Windows 8, When the best you can say about a new operating system is that it isn’t as bad as its predecessor

SURPRISE! Microsoft pops open Windows 10 Preview build early

cheshS80
FAIL

Re: Be fair

I like how they addressed the issue of the "Fisher Price" colored pop ups / outs, of Search / PC settings / Network / Notifications etc - by turning everything in those areas Monochrome and the making the flat folder icons more gaudy - The marketing team have to stop going to the design meetings. Build 9226 is the worst attempt yet at "fixing" - still they can claim to be listening to feedback and keep the faith in the TIFKAM Club

Rather than this continual abysmal graphic makeover , how about adding really useful things like S.M.A.R.T monitoring of Hard Drives, or Temperature monitoring, or a decent Defrag utility