I Was Forced To Install Windows 10

[Mindmaster]

That's what I did. See post 21.

.

Some of the Windows 10 features are a lot better than the previous incarnations. It's also worth nothing that Windows 10 also keeps "two versions" of the control panel settings and if you can't operate the Windows 10 way you can just use the older versions of the tools and they still work.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Just to be clear, the upgrade is free.

.

I thought Micro$oft ended the free migration some months ago. Good to know they rescinded that hard limit.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Re: Antiviruses

Windows 10 needs nothing but the default (provided) virus scanner and something to protect the internet (Malwarebytes is probably the best here...). Microsoft REALLY upgraded the internal security and there is really no effective difference between a commercial antivirus and the included at this point. It does really good scanning, but I still recommend Malwarebytes for heuristic (detection by exploit method not byte scanning), rootkit detection, and web protection.

If you're on Windows 7/8 then nothing is really better than Avast, but Avast doesn't play well with Malwarebytes and I do not consider Malwarebytes optional software. (Nothing does what it does as well and with the small amount of resources it uses.)

Agreed. Another benefit to built-in anti-virus? It's built in. You don't need to add yet another service running in the background, stealing your cycles.

Over the decades, I've tried all the free, and most of the paid anti-virus packages. They all have turned into Bloat-Ware Subscription Scams that don't do any better than what's built in already.

Two of the worst offenders, I now consider to be Malware: Norton and McAffee. Avoid those like you would a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman.

 

[Wu Wei]

Happened yesterday. Even though I was quite comfortable with Win 7 and didn't want to make the change, as of Jan 14 Microsoft will no longer support 7. So they forced my hand. Fortunately, I was able to scrap all the tiles on the Start menu and change it back to the Win 7 format. I lost my Outlook Express E-Mail host, and subsequently elected to use The Win 10 Mail system, which, while a bit strange, should be alright. So everything is going well except for one thing, which I'm hoping someone here can help me with. The letter size in both the horizontal Operation/Tab bar and drop-down Bookmark List is quite small. Anyone know how to enlarge it?

​

View attachment 36032​

Thanks.
.

Change the font or font size in the message list

 

[Skwim]

Re: Antiviruses

Windows 10 needs nothing but the default (provided) virus scanner and something to protect the internet (Malwarebytes is probably the best here...). Microsoft REALLY upgraded the internal security and there is really no effective difference between a commercial antivirus and the included at this point. It does really good scanning, but I still recommend Malwarebytes for heuristic (detection by exploit method not byte scanning), rootkit detection, and web protection.

I've been thinking about getting either Kaspersky Free Antivirus or Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

Both get top ratings for free antivirus programs.

.

 

[Skwim]

I thought Micro$oft ended the free migration some months ago. Good to know they rescinded that hard limit.

Yes it is. And good for me.

.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Linux has some great word-processors, i think open office and libre office are better than word and they will read word files.

Unfortunately, Word is crap at converting document layout and formats when going from Libra to Word.

 

[ChristineM]

Libre is available on Windows, so not a reason to switch your operating system.

Disliking windows is the reason, libre is just there to make it easier

 

[ChristineM]

Unfortunately, Word is crap at converting document layout and formats when going from Libra to Word.

That's word for ya!!!

 

[Mindmaster]

I've been thinking about getting either Kaspersky Free Antivirus or Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

Both get top ratings for free antivirus programs.

.

Kaspersky isn't trustworthy and hasn't been for awhile. Bitdefender is a good product which I've used many times, however still completely unnecessary as it does nothing that the default Windows protect wouldn't do. You still need an internet protection product and bitdefender doesn't do it, Malwarebytes is _really_ good at doing what it does. I can't speak to the internet protection offered by the more extensive (paid) version of Bitdefender, but there is a reason I keep recommending Malwarebytes. A) it's cheap b) I've pulled so many viruses off computers that other products missed or ignored that I can't even count them. Microsoft really did a great job with the included antivirus -- it's lightweight, fast, accurate, and free. (It's good enough to use full time... Especially if you're using Firefox or Chrome/Brave (personally what I use) in addition.) Bitdefender and Microsoft's solution do exactly the same thing "byte scanning" so they will product identical results. That's the reason I recommend another product and just not another AV -- Mal detects METHODS used to infect and file modifications, etc... It also knows infected websites, etc. Paid versions of products all tend to do that too, but Mal is what I use professionally to deal with virus problems and it ALWAYS works.

 

[Mindmaster]

Agreed. Another benefit to built-in anti-virus? It's built in. You don't need to add yet another service running in the background, stealing your cycles.

Over the decades, I've tried all the free, and most of the paid anti-virus packages. They all have turned into Bloat-Ware Subscription Scams that don't do any better than what's built in already.

Two of the worst offenders, I now consider to be Malware: Norton and McAffee. Avoid those like you would a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman.

McAffee: (warning 4 letter words, but still funny... NSFW)

It's not really that it's built in or not, but that it's good, low resources, and updates with the computer automatically. Symantec/Norton is a pig and the worst product next to that one.

 

[Trailblazer]

From my experience - of having had one Windows 7 PC for a long time without any upgrades whatsoever, and not having any problems (anti-virus installed) - they do nothing. That is, they might be beneficial, but if one is less than reckless as to what one consumes on the internet, then they are mostly not that necessary.

Thanks, that puts my mind at ease because I have three computers running Win7 and I do not plan to upgrade to Win10. Two of those computers are laptops that have been getting the Win7 updates but one of those computers is a desktop I have not used in about four years, so it has not gotten any updates. Do you suggest I turn it on and run all the updates I can get before January 14 when they will no longer be available? That is what I had planned to do if it is even possible. A computer guru I am not.

If anyone here might help me out and answer that last question it would be much appreciated.

 

[Polymath257]

Linux runs just fine in about 10-20gb forever. It's probably more useful in a virtual machine than any other way. If you have Windows 10 pro you can do that without any additional software, but you can always run something like VirtualBox if you don't wanna pay. All my linux "machines" just run on a beefy server I got secondhand from ebay on the vmware's free server edition. I can neither manage to fill the 96gb of ram or peg the 32 cores no matter what I do, but I've tried.

You also can mount your Windows drives through the VirtualBox software as it bridges them. So all your data can be available to both "sessions". Anyway, there is no reason to really install Linux to your desktop as it runs just as fast in the virtual machine environment. I'm using most of my Linux boxes through a network and a virtual console and personally I don't really see the point of installing it locally even then.

I try not to use windows unless forced. So I generally either put windows into a virtualbox or have a smallish partition that I boot into every few months. I prefer to use the Linux environment in my day to day life. I also don't do games, though.

 

[Mindmaster]

I try not to use windows unless forced. So I generally either put windows into a virtualbox or have a smallish partition that I boot into every few months. I prefer to use the Linux environment in my day to day life. I also don't do games, though.

I game on console only these days because keeping up with the hardware is far easier. $400 every few years to be up to date is far easier than $1200+ every two years. Also, the computer/console gap is really closing... Expect the newer Xbox and Playstations to come with full mouse and keyboard support. (Xbox already has this to some degree, but the game support is lackluster. It still will work with the entire UI and any of the included Xbox Apps.)

Windows 10 works like a dog in VM so I don't really get the point, but if you're that far in it's pretty much a "why bother". I could use any desktop I want because I don't game on this machine at all, but that being said Windows is great for the "set it and forget it" type need and that's what I need on this ultrabook on roids.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Nice discussion. Kindly continue. Mindmaster, lead.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Unfortunately, Word is crap at converting document layout and formats when going from Libra to Word.

Yeah, but Libre Office is pretty good at reading Native Word format documents-- at least, for me, it has always been.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I game on console only these days because keeping up with the hardware is far easier. $400 every few years to be up to date is far easier than $1200+ every two years. Also, the computer/console gap is really closing... Expect the newer Xbox and Playstations to come with full mouse and keyboard support. (Xbox already has this to some degree, but the game support is lackluster. It still will work with the entire UI and any of the included Xbox Apps.)

Windows 10 works like a dog in VM so I don't really get the point, but if you're that far in it's pretty much a "why bother". I could use any desktop I want because I don't game on this machine at all, but that being said Windows is great for the "set it and forget it" type need and that's what I need on this ultrabook on roids.

Yeah... I hear you-- but. Controllers. They were explicitly designed by gremlins, to kill human beings, by driving them insane.

Yes-- I used to own a couple of xboxes-- and their controllers? Were designed from the very pit of hell itself, in my opinion. All controllers are-- I've played around with playstations, nintendos and what-not in stores and at friend's houses. All are horrific torture implements.

So consoles are Right Out for me, and I game about as much as I do anything on PC these days, what with having an Old School Retail job, where everything is hand written transactions. Seriously-- we have 4 part forms. But it's absolutely zero stress, and I'm near retirement, so...

I have been using Windoze since Win 3.11 days. Ironically? I have ever only paid for 2 copies in all the preceding decades... all other legit copies I have either traded for, or they came included with some computer part purchase deal. (I've been building my own PC's since 1982, so.. )

The sole exceptions are 2: My previous box, I ordered one custom-built, as I had some serious store credit piled up, and the current Alienware laptop (inheritance money spent wisely).

I expect this will be my last computer (hopefully) as if my Family Tradition continues? By the time this machine wears out beyond my ability to repair? (all innards are replaceable, especially the "rapid wear" hard drives-- all 3 of which are solid state now) I'll likely be beyond the ability to use a computer anyway, as Alzheimer's runs in the family... both sides... so that's how I'll go, most likely. Or a comet-strike. I always thought a nice comet strike would also be a kewel way to Exit Stage Left. Everyone (who survives) will be talking about it for decades.

So. It's Windows for me. (what did I actually pay for? A copy of Win2000, when WinNT was still common, and many PC's were still running 95/98 .. or <shudder> ME. The other purchase was Win7-- I upgraded it to Pro.).

 

[Mock Turtle]

Thanks, that puts my mind at ease because I have three computers running Win7 and I do not plan to upgrade to Win10. Two of those computers are laptops that have been getting the Win7 updates but one of those computers is a desktop I have not used in about four years, so it has not gotten any updates. Do you suggest I turn it on and run all the updates I can get before January 14 when they will no longer be available? That is what I had planned to do if it is even possible. A computer guru I am not.

If anyone here might help me out and answer that last question it would be much appreciated.

As a choice, I would usually update as required - so all relevant updates. Which is what I think most would recommend. I got fed up of the incessant and annoying drive for all Windows 7 users to update to Windows 10 (even though it was free to do so) since I was perfectly happy with 7 - and have been - whilst 10 has confirmed some of my fears. XP was the previous good incarnation in my view and just as stable.

So best to update whilst available.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Re: Antiviruses

Windows 10 needs nothing but the default (provided) virus scanner and something to protect the internet (Malwarebytes is probably the best here...). Microsoft REALLY upgraded the internal security and there is really no effective difference between a commercial antivirus and the included at this point. It does really good scanning, but I still recommend Malwarebytes for heuristic (detection by exploit method not byte scanning), rootkit detection, and web protection.

If you're on Windows 7/8 then nothing is really better than Avast, but Avast doesn't play well with Malwarebytes and I do not consider Malwarebytes optional software. (Nothing does what it does as well and with the small amount of resources it uses.)

I'm afraid I'm one of the idiots who is (reasonably) happy with Norton - have used it for well over a decade - since I can tame it and it seems to do the job for me - no malware ever, although plenty seen. I have it on silent mode all day. I can understand the venom many feel towards it though. Many of the other anti-viruses do not seem to come out that well in various tests from what I have seen although, since I am not looking for a new one, I rarely bother to check these days.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I've never had it lock up at least not enough for me to complain -- that's to say it's maybe happened once or twice since I've started using it. (Which is since release, basically.) Anyway, I've been using Windows since 3.11 and 10 is far more stable than anything else they've released -- it's also faster in every category than any previous version.

Stability is generally contingent on hardware on Windows 10 not the operating system itself. Questionable hardware will generally work fine in light use, but as soon as you start loading the system it'll freak out.

The lock-ups - had one coincidentally the day I wrote that - have amounted to about 4 - 6 in a year, such that a hard power down was the only option. It could be conflicts somewhere - like Radeon nagging me to update when it then fails to do so or something else but as I said, have never had any such on previous Windows 7 machines - some being updated as required and another having no Windows updates. I've been using Windows from 95 - 98SE was OK, XP was fine, and 7 was the best in my view, although I am using 10 now mainly - configured as 7 of course.