Microsoft is giving Windows 10 a big upgrade.

[IronLionZion]

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/29/technology/windows-10-anniversary-update/index.html

The free "anniversary update" on August 2 will give users a slew of updated tools for browsing, gaming and security.
-- Microsoft Edge: The browser will be updated to use less memory and power. There will also be better features for people with disabilities, such as a high-contrast mode and screen readers. And for the first time ever, users can also use biometrics through Windows Hello to authentic their identities on certain websites.
-- Xbox One: Buy a game once and play it on a console or Windows 10 computer with shared game progress. Students can also save $300 if they buy an Xbox One and a Surface together before August 14. Strategically, Microsoft has timed its new smaller Xbox One S to launch in August, starting at $300.
-- Cortana: The virtual assistant is getting smarter, according to Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30), with features that help the program save, recall and synchronize data across devices, including, for the first time, the Xbox.
-- Windows Defender: Users will have the ability to schedule automatic and periodic anti-malware scans of their computers, and receive reports about threats.

Microsoft says Windows 10 is the company's most successful version of Windows and it now runs on more than 350 million devices.
A free upgrade to Windows 10 is still available for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices until July 29.
The new version got its first huge update a few months after launching last year.

Windows 10 is the end of the line for the operating system. Microsoft has no plans to build a "Windows 11."
That's actually a good thing because users will get steady upgrades like this instead of waiting years for a new version.

[840high]

1. 10 came with my

new PC. I miss 7.

[Paka]

32. I hate Windows 10

I was told my motherboard was going out so I bought a new computer with Windows 10. After two weeks of trying to get used to it I was ready to throw it out the window. I took my old notebook in, had Acer do the repairs and sold the new notebook at a loss just to get rid of it. I'm back now with Windows 7 and a happy camper.

I hated the flashy new apps and they way they tried to force you to initiate them. It was like my computer was possessed. I'll stick with Windows 7 as long as I can and go to Linux when I need to change. I swore I would give up internet before I would use Windows 10. Even the visual appearance of the main screen was offensive to me.

[MohRokTah]

2. Windows 10 is the best operating system I have ever used.

I've been using various operating systems for more than 35 years.

[edhopper]

13. agreed

Been using Windows since Win 98.
This is the best.

[Snarkoleptic]

16. I also like Win10, but there are a lot of privacy tweaks that need to be done.

The update was free, but if you use free software, there's a good chance YOU are the product.

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/windows-10-doesnt-offer-much-privacy-by-default-heres-how-to-fix-it/

[pinboy3niner]

23. Thanks for the link

I've held off on installing Windows 10 until just before the free upgrade deadline and I planned to search first for info on setting my preferences for a custom install that would eliminate a lot of the junk. Looks like this will fill the bill.

[edhopper]

59. Yes

the privacy settings are important.

People don't take the relatively short time it takes for these precautions.

In all aspects of computer use, not just Windows OS.

[bhikkhu]

17. I still like Ubuntu better, but Windows 10 is pretty close

I don't mind using it at work now, hardly notice the difference between the two. That's a big change from previous windows systems.

I switched to Ubuntu years ago when my constantly crashing ME computer finally caught a fatal virus and microsoft wanted $179 to relicense the recovered operating system. I switched to the free Ubuntu and it worked far better than windows ever did.

[MohRokTah]

29. Ubuntu is good, but my 77 year old mother would never be able to use it.

Windows 10 she uses like a dream.

[killbotfactory]

33. Agreed.

Been switching between linux and windows for the past ten years due to getting frustrated with their varying unique annoyances, but windows 10 has been rock solid.

[Orrex]

80. It ground my son's laptop to a standstill and would likely cause mine to explode

Though it works fine on the desktop PC we bought recently that came with it installed.

[NightWatcher]

3. And they'll cram it down your PC like it or not.

[csziggy]

7. Just get GRC's Never10

It will clear out all the Windows 10 crap that tries to force it onto your computer.

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

It's an executable that does not install anything. Run it once and it will clean out the junk. You can run it again anytime you want.

When the news that Microsoft was installing Win10 without specific permission, I found Never10 and haven't gotten a single reminder since.

Windows 10 might be a perfectly good OS but my system is running fine as it is with Windows 7 Pro. Next computer build I will go with the best OS at that point for the software I need and the hardware I have, but I hate trying to upgrade a system that does not have problems.

[OnlinePoker]

24. Free upgrade ends this month

After that pay a lot. Windows 7 will be supported until 2020 and by then you'll probably need a new system anyway so will get whatever system exists at that point.

[BlueStateLib]

39. Thanks

[napkinz]

82. will Windows 8.1 be supported until 2020?

[OnlinePoker]

87. Extended support will end in 2023. n/t

[napkinz]

88. thanks Onlinepoker

by then I will most likely have gotten a new computer, so I'll get whatever Windows version it comes with; for now I think I'm going to decline the upgrade to Windows 10.

[msongs]

4. and when will the ads start appearing all over the computer in trade for our "free" windows?

tried 10 on my laptop and its fine enough. but everything free comes with strings so to speak. expecting the strings with 10 will be ads we cannot block or get rid of. then again adblockplus takes care of most ads so it might be able to block the 10 ads (if they appear)

[Chan790]

45. The strings in this case are of another nature.

Microsoft will save billions if they can find a way to force the premature end of Win7/8. The idea was/is to make it so the only WinOS is Win10. I suspect that by the end of July, we're going to see a means deployed to kill "anti-upgrade software" like Never10 and the free update period extended slightly so they can forcibly-upgrade everybody that has resisted with the use of such software. At that time, expect them to remove the "you can revert!" protocol from Win10.

Microsoft is giving away Win10 because they explicitly want to kill all previous version of their OS now, well before the end of their support period, because they feel it will save them money to not have to support this many different versions of Windows (or as the software industry and media has jokingly named this concept "MS Borg will be cheaper for MS.&quot , as will having the OS set-up to update constantly to address security concerns, code-fixes, implementations of new features, etc. rather than coming out with a new version every 3-5 years...Win 10 could be thought of as Win Final. This switch to this kind of "liveware" (I don't know a better name for organically improving software that updates constantly and repairs itself.) will also save them money.

It's why they're so desperate to force everybody on Win7/8 to upgrade. They see their previous OS as money pits they want to burn to the ground and force users out of. They tried being "nice" with the free upgrade, now they're going to resort to digital arson to force the non-adopters over too.

[seabeckind]

50. They will never see the folly in that idea.

The people making the decision are as far removed from their actual base as our politicians are from the people.

Couple months ago when I was renting a car, the clerk was using an XP machine with a monochrome monitor and a dot matrix printer. Had no internet, no communications of any kind.

Booted directly into the specialized software.

And this was a local office for the #2 car rental in the country.

Upgrading in the real world is a harrowing experience.

The systems people at MSFT never see the real world.

[Travis_0004]

52. If they are not on the internet, then they don't care about windows upgrades

Without an internet, you are pretty well protected from any security flaws that may arise, and they are likely not upgrading their system now. It will run fine until they decide to replace it.


Also, are you sure they were running XP? If they had their own software, they typically run Linux on something specialized like that.

[seabeckind]

54. Missing the point.

If that machine breaks they would be forced to replace it and if the replacement isn't compatible with their proprietary software they have to alter it also. Not to mention trying to find a driver for an old dot matrix printer.

And then they run into the snag of having different sites running different software in a different environment. It becomes a support nightmare.

The installed base of Linux in the real world end user environment is miniscule. That's also true of Apple. Both require a higher level of user sophistication that isn't usually present.

Had your car worked on lately in a smaller shop? Take a peek at the service dept screen. BTW, did you notice the plastic cover over the keyboard that fits only that keyboard?

And yes, I was certain they were running XP. I'm still running XP on a couple of machines because they lack the hardware to upgrade. XP also has the drivers for my best photo/graphics printer. The later versions of Windows do not.

[Travis_0004]

55. Businessess need to plan for these things

If they have a license for XP, they can transfer it to the new machine,

What does a plastic keyboard cover have to do with anything? Of course its designed to fit that keyboard. If it was designed to fit another one, it would fit the current one very well.

If the keyboard breaks, you buy a new keyboard, and you buy a new plastic cover.

Drivers for dot matrix printers do exist on windows 10. Most dot matrix printers will emulate a Epson, and those drivers can be found.

And linux is more popular than you would think for specialized applications. You won't see an office worker using it, for for a POS sale terminal, its extremely common. Lowes for one has it on every POS terminal, and I would guess that a very high percentage of large retailers are running linux in POS systems.

[shenmue]

5. Wow

[chillfactor]

6. I have Windows 10.....

it came with my new laptop....once I found my way around I really like Windows 10. I had 7 before and I like 10 much better.

[Frustratedlady]

8. It is OK except that the page scroll keeps disappearing and I have to move the mouse

to get it back on. It also slowed opening pages due to the ads. Maybe it is AOL that is doing that, I don't know, but it is aggravating.

[chillfactor]

9. I do not have that problem....

and I do not do AOL.....it is some messed up.....my friend has AOL and she is always having AOL problems with her new laptop.....so maybe AOL is your problem.

[REP]

11. AOL still exists?

Wow, that's a name from the past!

[mythology]

20. AOL owns Huffington Post and as of last year Verizon bought AOL for 4.4 billion dollars

So yes, it does very much still exist. It moved from dial up to being an advertising business mostly.

[REP]

34. I didn't know it still functioned as an ISP

Insert joke here about it barely functioning as an ISP 20 years ago.

[chillfactor]

27. agreed....

and it really has worn out its welcome....

[aidbo]

30. I remember they used to send me drink coasters in the mail. About 1 every 3 days...

[TransitJohn]

37. I use AOL on my WebTV

[Frustratedlady]

28. I've been wanting to change, but there are so many people to notify, it is hardly worth it.

If that is the problem, I'll have to bite the bullet and just DO IT~

[OhZone]

10. #never10

I'm gonna use Win7 as long as possible, then go to linux. I don't like spyware.

[SheilaT]

12. Oh, good. I've been refusing to update my laptop, Windows 8

and my laptop, Windows 7, because I have huge distrust of installing a new operating system on top of an old one, and I'm willing to wait until my next computer purchase for Windows 10. I've also seen enough complaints about the earliest versions to be happy to wait until they get it right.

[Chakab]

15. The upgrading process is also an incredible pain in the ass. I had to do a system recovery and

return my laptop to the factory settings to get the upgrade to Windows 10 to work after three failed attempts. In the end, I used about 13 gigs of bandwidth from downloading the upgrade over and over again.

[SheilaT]

18. I had an interesting discussion with one of the Geek Squad techs

(best money I ever spent), and while he didn't directly disparage Windows 10, it was clear he didn't think it was anywhere near the best thing since sliced bread, and gave me good direct instructions about how to avoid it. Somehow Windows 10 started trying to pin me down to a specific update date. I was told to keep on postponing it. If it at some point refused to keep postponing and insisted on downloading, let it do so. At the end there'd be a thing to click on saying I was accepting the upgrade. At that point, click on the don't accept, and Windows would uninstall itself. And if all else failed, I could then bring my computer to Best Buy and the wonderful people in Geek Squad would fix it all.

I will say that whatever it is I pay for Geek Squad is absolutely the best money I have ever spent. I often spend hours on line with them. A week ago I brought my desk top to them because of a problem with sound. They've had it for a week, finally fixed the problem. No additional cost to me.

I love the Geek Squad.

[Chakab]

21. I actually don't use the computer that I upraded to Windows 10 on a regular basis. The only reason

that I did it was to see whether or not it was worth it for my primary computer.

It wasn't. If I only had one computer, I would have done what you did and waited until the bugs are ironed out. There are always tons of problems when Microsoft releases a new OS.

[SheilaT]

26. Since I do have two computers I do have choices.

Although at this point none of my choices involve Windows 10

[roody]

53. I agree; love Geek Squad.

[happynewyear]

14. Still using XP Pro

The best operating system ever IMO.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. I have an old Dell Latitude that simply will not die n/t

The only reason I got a newer laptop was because the newest version of Quickbooks Pro wouldn't run on anything earlier than 7 and it had a relatively tiny hard drive. I got a refurbed Latitude with a warranty.

[LongtimeAZDem]

36. XP was the last Microsoft OS that will run my legacy software

I have synthesizers, radios, and a host of other gear whose software cannot be run on 7 or later. Forget 10; that won't even run Solitaire.

Eventually, I will have to go completely to Linux for the legacy stuff, though device drivers can be a bear.

[Angleae]

41. You're not alone.

Although I do have Win7 on a 2nd hard drive, I haven't used it since March.

[ansible]

94. I have several older software that won't even work with anything past XP

Still have a dedicated laptop with it, it's a good OS

[Marie Marie]

19. "windows 10 is the end of the line for the os."

I'll believe that when 5 years have passed and there is no new Windows 12. (sure, they can skip calling it Windows 11). Seems I've heard this before on previous systems.

[seabeckind]

58. That could prove to be a good thing if it's true.

If there are still some old rebels at MSFT who haven't been shuffled off because they didn't buy in to the handhelds are the answer to every question (what was the question, again?)

we might see a spinoff into a separate organization doing a hybrid OS designed specifically for the PC paradigm (as opposed to the handheld). Like I am doing right now.

Much like how the old personal computer came into being.

And then MSFT will be fighting it out with the iPhone/Android crowd.

And leave me alone.

[PSPS]

25. "Microsoft says Windows 10 is the company's most successful version of Windows"

Microsoft says Windows 10 is the company's most successful version of Windows and it now runs on more than 350 million devices.

That's only because:

1. All new computers sold at brick-and-mortar stores after 7/30/15 could have only Windows 10; and,
2. Microsoft has been tricking naive users into upgrading their computers to Windows 10 automatically.

If you have to use Windows 10, there are two things to do:

1. Go into Privacy settings and turn everything off (otherwise, everything you do in the computer is sent to Microsoft) and,

2. Install Anti-Beacon (https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/) to disable some additional spyware Microsoft has built into Windows 10

Even after doing this, though, Windows 10 isn't suitable for use in any environment subject to HIPAA because of its lax security. For example, even after turning everything off in Privacy as described above, Microsoft will silently turn some of them back on. Anti-Beacon blocks only some, not all, of these nefarious actions.

All new machines we install are still procured with Windows 7, which is still available in the OEM channel (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) In the serious business environment, Windows 10 is very poorly received. That's why the OEM channel will continue to sell and support it. We're preparing all of our clients for a post-Microsoft world. Microsoft currently says the end of life for Windows 7 is 1/14/20. It's possible that Microsoft will provide a version of Windows 10 without all of their spyware between now and then. It wouldn't be the first time they discovered that the tail can't wag the dog.

[tammywammy]

31. I have Windows 10 on my home laptop

I don't mind it. It came with Windows 8.1 and I upgraded a while ago. I like it. I have a touchscreen laptop and two touchscreen monitors at home.

[CanonRay]

35. Damn Windows 10 crashed my computer

I had to wipe the disk and start over with 7. Still catching up. Fuck their upgrade

[drm604]

38. Windows is becoming too intrusive.

When the time comes for a new Windows machine (I need windows for work purposes) I'll probably get a cheap Windows machine for work use, and use my Linux box for personal use.

[napkinz]

40. Is there any downside to just sticking with 8.1 and not upgrading to Windows 10?

first, let me say I'm no not very computer literate.

So keeping it simple, can anyone tell me, do I lose anything by NOT upgrading to 10? Is there any downside to staying with 8.1.?

And if a Windows 12 were to come out in a few years, having skipped the upgrade to 10, would I be able to upgrade from 8.1 to a 12?

thank you

[hobbit709]

43. If it's working, why fix it?

Hell, I know someone with an ancient Compaq laptop with Windows 95 on it. She uses it as a word processor and it works just fine for what she does with it.

[seabeckind]

48. I just dusted off an old Vista laptop

that my wife used for her limited function needs.

Hadn't been turned on in over a year and I thought about upgrading. Didn't work.

So I'll use it as a driver for my audio system. Converted all my old vinyls to digital and the PC is easier to use than the other digital handlers.

[napkinz]

57. another member said "security updates" is a benefit to upgrading to 10

am I more at risk if I stick with 8.1?

[hobbit709]

65. The MS security updates only put a band-aid around the edges

of the big gaping hole in their OS caused by their browser being a part of the OS instead of separate.
Technically10 is no more secure than any previous versions of Windows, no matter what they want you to believe.
Good old Outlook used to have the default setting to automatically open attachments. It took them 10 years to fix that. You could change the
setting to not open and along would come an update that reset it without asking or telling you it did so.

I use maybe 10% of their updates and never have a problem. Of course I refuse to use IE for starters.
If you have a decent antivirus program and a good antimalware problem, along with good browsing habits, you shouldn't have a problem.
I don't and I hit lots of sites that could be questionable, but I don't ignore a warning if my Malwarebytes pops up either.

[napkinz]

66. "If you have a decent antivirus program and a good antimalware program"

yes I have both (and I don't use IE either, and I only click on sites that say they are Norton safe)

thank you for the information, hobbit709

[IronLionZion]

44. Security updates

That's the main benefit are lots of security stuff behind the scenes.

I noticed better performance after I upgraded to 10 and I like the interface better too.

MS claims 10 is the last version, but if they do roll out 12 or something in a few years they will probably restrict who can upgrade for free and make you buy it.

[seabeckind]

47. Security. Nice idea.

Too bad Bill dropped out before taking those classes.

We might have ended up with an OS that kept system stuff separate from people stuff.

Instead of putting up artificial barriers and then spending all their efforts in plugging holes.

[napkinz]

56. so there are greater security risks if I stick with 8.1 and don't upgrade to 10?

[seabeckind]

60. 10 was an improvement over 8.1

If you headed down that path.

[napkinz]

61. the computer came with 8.1

I'm confused. Some members are very pleased with Windows 10; others hate it.

I have until July 29 to decide and I don't know what to do.

[seabeckind]

63. 8 was a big shift from 7.

Hazarding a guess, I would bet those who hate 10 would have hated 8 for the same reasons.

7 is more like the old PC mode -- keyboard, mouse, etc.

the 8 to 10 is more like the smart phone/tablet mode.

10 fixed many of the early problems in the newer environment.

[hobbit709]

42. Their "free" upgrade is worth exactly what you paid for it.

[seabeckind]

46. Win 10 is an excellent example of a corporation deaf to its customers

It can't decide if it's a cell phone, a tablet, a desktop or a laptop.

And so it decides to be all at the same time. And the reason most likely is because there was no coordination between the projects.

And in the end its primary purpose comes out... A system that sells stuff.

[Scuba]

49. If they'd just fix it so I could once again scan from my all-in-one HP I'd be happy.

[IronLionZion]

51. HP might have updated drivers on their site

[sofa king]

62. I expect a stealth migration.

Back in the 90s Microsoft pushed Windows 95c onto new buyers, which was really a (very unstable beta) version of Windows 98.

Now, they can just devour the underpinnings of Windows 7 by replacing it with Windows 10 code through automatic updates and retaining the 7 version number in name only.

Most users will be unaware that they've been secretly migrated to WinOS and may even retain some legal rights that the rest of us have surrendered, but Microsoft will be able to remotely treat it as a sub-variant of Windows 10. And reap telemetry, which is where the money seems to be these days.

[seabeckind]

64. You have more confidence than me.

I don't think the MSFT people can pull it off.

I think they'll just let 7 die by attrition. Just keep patching and kludging until a certain point and then not bother with any more investment.

[seabeckind]

67. I think the cloud bandwagon is the part I found most distressing.

It's like everything in the computer world is pushing me onto their clouds.

I like having a much more solid surface under me.

I will fight the IMAP mail system until they take POP3 from my dying hands.

No, I don't want to put all my photos on some system that could end up in Bangladesh. I like it where I can hold it and know where it goes because I take it there.

I will never, ever store my financial information on my phone or my PC. It is in volatile memory while I use it and it goes away when I'm done. My phone doesn't know where I live.

[napkinz]

68. if you upgrade to Windows 10, all your pictures are automatically saved in the cloud?

the upgrade does it without your permission?

[seabeckind]

69. Not forces. More like velvet chains...

Let us do it for you cause we love you and we want to make your life much simpler.

Enhance your experiences.

And to help even more, we'll share that information with our "partners" so they can help you too.

Just a personal rant by a luddite, pay no attention to me.

[napkinz]

71. I've put off upgrading to 10 (and I get an upgrade alert practically every day)

I'm very confused. Some members say 10 is great; others hate it and say they went back to 8.1 or 7.

[IronLionZion]

76. People can have different opinions on the same thing

it's beneficial to do some research on the features first.

[seabeckind]

77. Not heard anyone say they went back from 10 to 8.

Like I said, the basic operating paradigm changed after 7.

7 is the last of the PC-based environments. 8 started the handheld/tablet string.

MSFT has this idea that they can make one size fit all because they think it saves staff overhead.

It doesn't. But they're business types and so they don't listen to scientists, analysts or people.

BTW, you can turn off the nagware also. They are a result of some updates that were done. If you uninstall the updates, the nagware goes away. (KB3035583, KB3123862, KB2952664)

[IronLionZion]

70. automatically syncs documents to onedrive.

I turned that off. But it is on by default. And it takes a lot of bandwidth.

I like having more control, so I use an external hard drive to back up documents.

[napkinz]

72. I have 8.1 and I get an alert in the corner of the screen every so often suggesting I save

everything to the cloud. I just ignore the alert and it disappears after a few seconds. I don't want to save to the cloud. I like having control too. (I save everything on back-up device).

Windows 10 doesn't "force" you to save it all to the cloud?

[IronLionZion]

74. You can turn it off in the settings, or choose which folders to sync

I highly recommend doing that before any of your files get uploaded.

[napkinz]

78. I'm confused

Every day I get the pop-up box saying I have until July 29 to upgrade and it asks me if I would like to upgrade now.

First, if I click yes to the upgrade, won't the upgrade start immediately?

Second, is it WHILE the pics are being transferred from 8.1 to 10 that they are also sent to the cloud, or AFTER they are transferred from 8.1 to 10, that is, AFTER the upgrade is complete, they are sent to the cloud?

[IronLionZion]

86. after the upgrade is complete

go into the settings for onedrive and change the automatic sync, or just turn onedrive off completely like I did.

[napkinz]

89. when I click on settings, a box pops up that says ...

Style
General Settings
Start Button
Menu
User Interface

I clicked on each of the above, and get lots of choices (with little boxes that have check marks in some and not others) but nothing that says onedrive. Am I looking in the wrong place?

EDIT: I just reread what you wrote. So, AFTER the upgrade, I'll see onedrive as a choice?

[IronLionZion]

90. This guide might help

https://support.office.com/en-US/article/Turn-off-or-uninstall-OneDrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/onedrive-will-work-windows-10/

[napkinz]

91. thank you, IronlionZion

We're all quite computer illiterate here. Thanks for the information, the links, and your patience

[IronLionZion]

92. No problem. Hope it helps!

[napkinz]

93. just when you think you're done with Windows, they pull you back in!

[seabeckind]

75. You can turn that off.

I run in local mode.

[seabeckind]

73. I use thumbnails at selected points

Then roll them onto DVDs.

The critical documents are dedicated to certain machines. Ie, I do my banking on a single machine. My wife uses a different one and I don't sync.

I use sneakernet to sync other stuff.

[PowerToThePeople]

79. Any idea what the post jul 29 pricing will be?

Holding off on upgrading many win7 systems as it still works well.

[Odin2005]

81. I quite like Win10, much easier to use than the clusterfuck that was Win8.

[napkinz]

83. I have 8.1 ... I'm hesitant about upgrading to 10

Did Windows 10 automatically send all your pics and files to the cloud?

[Odin2005]

84. I like that part, keeps my stuff backed up in case of a computer crash.

[napkinz]

85. I use a back-up drive/device

I don't trust the cloud. As another member said, I want to be in control.