Windows 11

[Bubble99]

If it's like the installation media for Windows 10 Home, it's a USB drive that has to phone home to Microsoft and download the bit that doesn't fit on the thumbdrive. Kinda like game CDs these days, merely a steam license key.

I want the era where the internet was not necessary to play games or install software to come back! Thankfully many of my favorite apps, games, and OSs are stored on physical media, or on stored, old PCs. Sadly I lack the collection of PC/XTs and early Sculley-era Macs. I was stupid enough to toss them all. I do still have my Plex server full of stuff from Dot and the Kangaroo to the entire first season of Hogan's Heroes.

Even the brand new HP Envy laptop that mom got for Christmas needed the Internet to 'finish' installing Windows 11. It refused to go anywhere without being connected to wifi first. It's a sad era when you can't even buy a freaking computer and use it without being online.

You should go to Japan the culture is very different there as they love bying CDs and DVDs.

When it comes to PC games,computer software, movies , TV shows and music they love physical media.

The US has gone to digital downloads and streaming now. As people hate physical media in the US but yet record players are making a come back for some strange reason.

 

[nickdalzell1]

That's ironic given how in the 80s Japan was so far ahead of us technologically and the best stereo equipment was from Japan. Also some of the best cars.

Either way the joke's on the media companies. I still buy fifty-cent VHS movies at Goodwill and DVDs and Blu-Rays. I recently got the entire series of Mama's Family which is not available on digital. There's a ton of shows that would be forever lost if we all went streaming only. Shows like The Powers of Matthew Star or Johnny Sokko's Flying Robot

 

[c0ppo]

Anyone tried this?

Files App - Download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

Introducing Files, the ultimate file manager for Windows. With its sleek and intuitive design, navigating through your files and documents has never been easier. Files features tabs for easy switching between different folders, a column layout for quick file browsing, and dual pane support for...

www.microsoft.com

I've stumbled upon it by accident. It's open source, and completely free. You can build your own from github, or simply install it via MS Store.

That is what Windows Explorer should look like. App supports tabs, dual pane, file tagging, and looks really great. Actually, it looks like Elementary OS file explorer, maybe even better than that one.

It has an option to completely replace WE, and I'm using it as a complete replacement at the moment.

 

[grmlin]

I f***** hate the Windows updates. HOW IS THIS such a mess.

Despite the fact that I suspended the patch from yesterday and put the laptop to deep sleep Windows 11 thought: "you know what, screw you and your preferences. I'll kill all your programs and update myself anyway."

GOD, I can't wait to get rid of Windows. It annoys me so much

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

...

GOD, I can't wait to get rid of Windows. It annoys me so much

Welcome to the Dark Side of macOS and Linux...

 

[grmlin]

Welcome to the Dark Side of macOS and Linux...

It's not like I don't know better. I know MacOS annoys me, too. But the amount of glitches, bugs, inconsistencies and lack of polish in Windows really killed it for me over the past two years.
It still makes me sad Linux didn't work for me at work though

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

It's not like I don't know better. I know MacOS annoys me, too. But the amount of glitches, bugs, inconsistencies and lack of polish in Windows really killed it for me over the past two years.
It still makes me sad Linux didn't work for me at work though

Well, the only solution for you is building your own OS. At least than you know the glitches are yours

 

[c0ppo]

I f***** hate the Windows updates. HOW IS THIS such a mess.

Despite the fact that I suspended the patch from yesterday and put the laptop to deep sleep Windows 11 thought: "you know what, screw you and your preferences. I'll kill all your programs and update myself anyway."

GOD, I can't wait to get rid of Windows. It annoys me so much

Sometimes I don't log into my Windows for month or two. And when I do, I usually have to quickly use office or Affinity apps. Every time I do that, booom - update time. And it takes 30mins+. Sometimes even hours. With multiple restarts.

Lately every Wednesday I turn on my windows just so it can do it's updates.

Whats even worse, MacOS annoys me as well. And Linux really lacks 3rd party apps

 

[grmlin]

Sometimes I don't log into my Windows for month or two. And when I do, I usually have to quickly use office or Affinity apps. Every time I do that, booom - update time. And it takes 30mins+. Sometimes even hours. With multiple restarts.

Lately every Wednesday I turn on my windows just so it can do it's updates.

Whats even worse, MacOS annoys me as well. And Linux really lacks 3rd party apps

I used Macs for work for many years before I switched to Windows early 2020. I didn't rant as much about MacOS in all these years as I did in the last two years about Windows. And it's not even close.
Don't get me wrong, I switched for a reason. The 2019 15" MBP I got for work was a total disaster and Apple managed to scare me away, but I learned my lessen lol

 

[Bubble99]

I f***** hate the Windows updates. HOW IS THIS such a mess.

Despite the fact that I suspended the patch from yesterday and put the laptop to deep sleep Windows 11 thought: "you know what, screw you and your preferences. I'll kill all your programs and update myself anyway."

GOD, I can't wait to get rid of Windows. It annoys me so much.

If you really want Windows and do not want to do any updates buy Windows enterprise or Windows server. You will not be babied like Microsoft and Apple that think youngsters are too stupid to even know what file manager is and you need a master or phd to work with cables and physical media these days. And the Gods of the cloud and syncing will save the frustration of not having to take computer science class on how to transfer files the old way.

Well there was article here even in a computer science class young people did not know how to use the file manager. So you may not even learn any thing in computer science class today but the iOS way.

That me make some thing very clear to you that you do not own Windows OS you pay Microsoft money and they give you permission to use the OS.

If you want that kind of control you are going to have to switch to Linux. It just in the 90s Microsoft allowed you to mess with system registry, mess with system files and do side loading and install themes.

Remember this

They just did things different in the 90s.

If Microsoft made windows from ground up today it would be just as lock down as iOS and iPadOS.

There is reason Apple does not allow you to bring up file manger and go out side of your limited home folder that not even proper home folder. And does not allow you to mess with config files like the system registry and system settings. And download themes and change config likes to your likely.

Anyways Microsoft switched the businesses model after Steve Ballmer to service model. That is why Windows vista and Windows 7 was so clean with out Microsoft shoving down Xbox, OneDrive, Microsoft office, Office 365, Microsoft account so on.

Microsoft is service business model now. I think in the next 4 or 5 years you will pay monthly to use windows and will not be able to buy it that is what most companies are doing today just look at Photoshop.

The 90s and 2000s way of doings things are gone.

The OS and software are like smartphones and Tablets now days getting there ideas from iOS.

And the only reason you can do any thing with windows today is the legacy code going back to the 90s. If Microsoft was making windows from the ground up today it would be just as lock down as iOS.

Even MacOS is getting more lock done these days. I remember before here at Macrumors people would post themes and now Apple had made next to impossible with out almost hacking the system.

​

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

...

There is reason Apple does not allow you to bring up file manger and go out side of your limited home folder that not even proper home folder. And does not allow you to mess with config files like the system registry and system settings. And download themes and change config likes to your likely.

...

It is simple to show the Library and hidden files in macOS.
It is simple to go to the folders above, and even enter the /System and /Library folders, and all the other ones like /var and /usr.
It is simple to edit config files, system settings and the like.
In fact it is usually easier to do these things on macOS than even on Windows 95/98.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Since moving to Linux, the only use for Windows I have is the one game Linux refuses to run still, MS Flight Simulator 2020. I do keep that Windows install offline though since the game doesn't require it (the way I got it configured, filling up the SSD Windows drive to capacity with 'rolling cache') so neither Steam nor the game nor Windows ever updates.

In Linux, I did a lot more to keep updates disabled, including routing all requests to Steam updates to 127.0.0.1, disabling the boot strapper, and using offline mode 24/7. There's a crappy UI change that messed up the UI of Steam in the Windows side, where it removes the achievements category in library completely and only shows it when online. In Linux, the client is a few versions older and retains that category and the ability to earn achievements OFFLINE. I can still bring that client online (it will complain endlessly about 'fatal errors' but runs anyway) for like two games that seem to stop working offline after 6 months, claiming some 'steam login error you do not have a license to play this game'.

 

[Bubble99]

It is simple to show the Library and hidden files in macOS.
It is simple to go to the folders above, and even enter the /System and /Library folders, and all the other ones like /var and /usr.
It is simple to edit config files, system settings and the like.
In fact it is usually easier to do these things on macOS than even on Windows 95/98.

MacOS yes. iPadOS no.

Windows have this hidden but you can turn it on. Even Linux hides this but you can turn it on.

Really what Microsoft and Apple should do is when you buy a new Windows computer or Apple computer you are administer but not a root user. And you get a warning and password pop up when messing with system files, config files, registry and installing apps and themes. Than the silly windows UAC prompt. Warrning what you are doing may damage your computer and stop you from booting into windows do you want to continue? The software your installing may be virus do your what to continue? Not those silly prompts that a non IT people do not understand. And Microsoft and Apple not wanting to scare people with such prompts. You should be very scared if you don’t know what your doing.

Make a free app store with no money that Microsoft or Apple will make. As of now the App store is bad, Apple and Microsoft takes a cut so many software makers and game developers will not post there. If it was free with no restriction many would post it there.

And 95% of the users can get apps there and get themes there at the app store.

One of reason for Microsoft and Apple moving away from themes, sound effects, mouse cursors, screen savers is all those nasty websites with the word free ( yes free had malware at the website as most things that are free have malware) not to say many malware themes when installing. If you are installing any thing with word free with windows make sure you do your home work. As windows have large user base and bad actors try to exploit this at all cost.

I know lot of power users, IT people and tinkerers love this but this is not some thing your granma, kids or your average person to play with of going out side of your home folder, messing with system files, config files, registry.

Android allows way more freedom of side loading, installing themes and playing around with settings than iPadOS but way more malware on Android . And Apple like most politicians and society today is all about collectivism safety than individualism of personal responsibility. Where conservatives and liberals really do look at the word very different.

So I don’t think Apple or Microsoft will have middle ground they will move every way to a lock down system if they had any say and the operating system was being built today from the ground up would be very lock down. They hate side loading but not for reason they talk about.

They are pushing AI , cloud, internet of things, talking to your computer, syncing and apple store, mobile device over desktop computer. Computers today are not like computers in the 90s.

I already see the culture difference of boomers vs zoomers on the definition of word computer. Many people under age of 26 scratching their head saying you built a big desktop computer and used CDs , DVDs, floppy, USB stick and not cloud syncing and streaming? How could you live in torture with out synching to transfer files? Oh and you gone to store to buy games and software and mess with themes, sound effects, mouse cursors, screen savers. I get every thing done on my iPhone, iPadOS and may be a laptop.

So yes I already see the culture difference of boomers vs zoomers. And in 10 years this may all be in the history books and computers be really different than today.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

I'm sorry, I don't consider iPads and other tablets proper computers. They are digital devices. They are not designed, nor should they be, to be programmable in the way that a proper computer is. I think of them as enhanced calculators. Nobody wants to really fiddle with the internals of their calculator, just to do what they need. Tablets are the same.

 

[sracer]

I f***** hate the Windows updates. HOW IS THIS such a mess.

Despite the fact that I suspended the patch from yesterday and put the laptop to deep sleep Windows 11 thought: "you know what, screw you and your preferences. I'll kill all your programs and update myself anyway."

GOD, I can't wait to get rid of Windows. It annoys me so much

That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

If you want full and total control over updates, WUB (Windows Update Blocker) is your friend. I know that having said that, there will be a parade of people claiming that you need to install every update (especially security updates) ASAP.

WUB is great for putting you in full control over exactly when (of if) a Windows Update takes place.

There are about half a dozen things I tweak on my Windows systems that make them enjoyable to use. I'm on a slow but steady departure from Mac OS, and I thought that I'd need to go to Linux, but now the target destination is Windows. (10 for the foreseeable future)

I'm sorry, I don't consider iPads and other tablets proper computers. They are digital devices. They are not designed, nor should they be, to be programmable in the way that a proper computer is. I think of them as enhanced calculators. Nobody wants to really fiddle with the internals of their calculator, just to do what they need. Tablets are the same.

I prefer the term, "digital appliances" but I agree.

 

[nickdalzell1]

If you want full and total control over updates, WUB (Windows Update Blocker) is your friend. I know that having said that, there will be a parade of people claiming that you need to install every update (especially security updates) ASAP.

I never understood the many who post FUD saying 'YoU'lL gEt hAcKeD' but I bet most don't understand that SOME of us out there are smarter than they think and know how to avoid sketchy websites or weak passwords and use security software, and don't need our computer tools trying to protect us from ourselves. It's like they get totally butthurt over one person existing who wants to have their own judgement! It's like grammar nazis who can't live in a world where folks end sentences with prepositions...

 

[Bubble99]

That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

If you want full and total control over updates, WUB (Windows Update Blocker) is your friend. I know that having said that, there will be a parade of people claiming that you need to install every update (especially security updates) ASAP.

WUB is great for putting you in full control over exactly when (of if) a Windows Update takes place.

There are about half a dozen things I tweak on my Windows systems that make them enjoyable to use. I'm on a slow but steady departure from Mac OS, and I thought that I'd need to go to Linux, but now the target destination is Windows. (10 for the foreseeable future)


I prefer the term, "digital appliances" but I agree.

Installing programs, messing with registry or doing hacks to change the way OS looks and trying to circumvent Microsoft is not feasible despite what Cris Titus says and does. As there is no guarantee Microsoft will come out with update to stop it.

Microsoft started forcing updates because lot of businesses are still running Windows XP and very much so in Asia and Europe have old systems still in use. China is known for installing illegal copies of windows. If you try to install windows from dark web, torrent or file hosting web site it probably got malware.

The hacking, ransomware and virus are wreaking havoc on businesses, government and unities in post soviet block. Hack even in the US schools, businesses and utilities and government places are getting it. It costing money and effecting infrastructure so Microsoft is forcing their hand. Windows 10 will be supported to 2025 than Microsoft will have to make a choice to force everyone to Windows 11 or support them to 2030.

There are post in other threads of ATM running windows XP and US navy still using floppy disk. This is a disaster that can happen.

They have been warnings of power station, networks and communication are going to get hit. The US last year in the south the pipe lines got hacked. The FBI last year got hacked. Many schools and government buildings got hacked last year.

To make better worse.

Intel issues advisory for 16 new firmware vulnerabilities

Intel says it has discovered no less than 16 new BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities that allow malicious actors to perform escalation of privilege and denial of service attacks on...

www.techspot.com

Some thing needs to be done.

Intel says it has discovered no less than 16 new BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities that allow malicious actors to perform escalation of privilege and denial of service attacks on affected systems. That means they can be leveraged to bypass many operating system protections as well as traditional endpoint security solutions, allowing hackers to extract sensitive information or lock it with ransomware.

​

 

[sracer]

Installing programs, messing with registry or doing hacks to change the way OS looks and trying to circumvent Microsoft is not feasible despite what Cris Titus says and does. As there is no guarantee Microsoft will come out with update to stop it.

Microsoft started forcing updates because lot of businesses are still running Windows XP and very much so in Asia and Europe have old systems still in use. China is known for installing illegal copies of windows. If you try to install windows from dark web, torrent or file hosting web site it probably got malware.

The hacking, ransomware and virus are wreaking havoc on businesses, government and unities in post soviet block. Hack even in the US schools, businesses and utilities and government places are getting it. It costing money and effecting infrastructure so Microsoft is forcing their hand. Windows 10 will be supported to 2025 than Microsoft will have to make a choice to force everyone to Windows 11 or support them to 2030.

There are post in other threads of ATM running windows XP and US navy still using floppy disk. This is a disaster that can happen.

They have been warnings of power station, networks and communication are going to get hit. The US last year in the south the pipe lines got hacked. The FBI last year got hacked. Many schools and government buildings got hacked last year.

To make better worse.

Intel issues advisory for 16 new firmware vulnerabilities

Intel says it has discovered no less than 16 new BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities that allow malicious actors to perform escalation of privilege and denial of service attacks on...

www.techspot.com

Some thing needs to be done.

Intel says it has discovered no less than 16 new BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities that allow malicious actors to perform escalation of privilege and denial of service attacks on affected systems. That means they can be leveraged to bypass many operating system protections as well as traditional endpoint security solutions, allowing hackers to extract sensitive information or lock it with ransomware.

​

No amount of nanny-safeguarding will protect a system from someone who blindly clicks on a hyperlink in an email.

If you want to stay current with updates, please continue to do so. I have no desire or inclination to convince you or anyone else to do otherwise. But for those who feel otherwise, they can take my post as encouragement that they aren't alone.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I say if someone watches porn, or takes one too many visits to ThePirateBay or uses Torrents then they have more to worry about than any security software or software update is going to provide. I bet this accounts for a good 75% of attacks. That and maybe weak passwords or post-its attached to the monitor with passwords on them at work, or like my parents, keeping them on a printout in easy access to anyone who might break into their home.

Or worse, trusting a company such as LastPass never succumbing to a data breach.

Stop trying to treat everyone like an idiot. If someone screws up and gets hacked, that issue is on them. They brought it upon themselves. If people had the incentive to even learn how the PC or Internet works like I did during the XT days and CP/M era, this would be less of an issue to begin with. Common sense and knowledge will always succeed where even the strictest security policy or software will fail.

I still think it's weird that a chainsaw says 'warning do not hold wrong end of chainsaw' on it. I mean if you're that incompetent then you got no one to blame but yourself. If you chop your arm or hand off because you touched the saw end while it was running, it's not the company's fault you're a moron!

The idiot proofing in this world really depresses me. Why are we not just letting natural selection take care of the problem? Is there some new 'idiot rights movement' that I'm unaware of?

 

[Bubble99]

I say if someone watches porn, or takes one too many visits to ThePirateBay or uses Torrents then they have more to worry about than any security software or software update is going to provide. I bet this accounts for a good 75% of attacks. That and maybe weak passwords or post-its attached to the monitor with passwords on them at work, or like my parents, keeping them on a printout in easy access to anyone who might break into their home.

Or worse, trusting a company such as LastPass never succumbing to a data breach.

Stop trying to treat everyone like an idiot. If someone screws up and gets hacked, that issue is on them. They brought it upon themselves. If people had the incentive to even learn how the PC or Internet works like I did during the XT days and CP/M era, this would be less of an issue to begin with. Common sense and knowledge will always succeed where even the strictest security policy or software will fail.

I still think it's weird that a chainsaw says 'warning do not hold wrong end of chainsaw' on it. I mean if you're that incompetent then you got no one to blame but yourself. If you chop your arm or hand off because you touched the saw end while it was running, it's not the company's fault you're a moron!

The idiot proofing in this world really depresses me. Why are we not just letting natural selection take care of the problem? Is there some new 'idiot rights movement' that I'm unaware of?

Well times of changed.

In the late 90s and 2000s it was virus, adware, spyware, browser highjacking, pop ups and such. Now we still have spyware and virus and such but the businesses model as switched to ransomware more money in it.

You are surfing the internet and it says please update your flash, install codec, download this to play the video ( never download any thing to play video at such website saying you need it to play the video), you won XBR, we have information on you, we got your picture so on. This is all called social engineering to get non tech IT person to click yes and ban they got ransomware. Same thing with email social engineering and bad actors trying to fake a website to look like real website. No anti virus program will stop this or OS.

Now when comes to hackers and pro ransomware many of them are now targeting governments, businesses, schools and utilities that have weak IT departments and many of them running old software and old windows.

Would a hacker come after me or you and spend all that time and get little money or go after governments, businesses and schools and get more money.

Other thing is word free. Look at this way of bad actor yes download free music, download free app, download free utility program, download free software, download free screen saver, download free themes. If it has the word free you better do your home work that it is legit free and safe to download and install. And the website is safe.

Other thing is bad actors using free legit software but hosting some where at their own website. That is why you download from the official website.

Other thing is old days ActiveX and flash had security vulnerabilities and if it was not patched going to a website you can get malware. Same with bad scripts and bad macros.

Does a hammer, chain saw and ax kill people? No? But you would not give it to a kid or some one who has mental problems. I don’t like that Microsoft and Apple are saying nope, I'm your Mom and Dad you only allowed to use OS and can do this but you cannot do that.

But the problem is to they start teaching basic computer security in high school my hands and your hands will be tied by Apple and Microsoft. And you still got business running old software and old windows like XP and 7 that is not supported. Not to say third word countries that still could be running windows 98 and 2000.

And businesses that cannot upgrade because of money, software will not work and not to say all the money going into training the staff on how to use new software. It shocking that ATM are running windows XP but they are running it.


Other problem is as software, hardware and OS get more complex and boated more security vulnerabilities are coming up.

If you go to https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/

Yes there almost vulnerabilities every weak now, not every month but every weak. If this continues in 10 or 20 years there will be vulnerabilities every day than by 2050 the vulnerabilities will be higher than they can patch it if thing continuing like this.

Just look intel CPU the vulnerabilities that been going on this is well not new.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

One does not even need to go to a bad website to get infected.
Staff from our Federal Government were sent emails last year that were infected. They did not even have to open the suspicious emails. Just viewing the email title (and how can you avoid that?) in Outlook was enough to infect them.

Sadly, Windows, by design, is insecure.
Security is partly achieved by layers of protection (Defender, etc) added on top, but it is still vastly easier to infect Windows than macOS/Linux.
Windows will have to be completely rewritten, from the bootloader up, to become more secure. Apple have done this twice with their operating systems (first with OSX then more recently with Catalina/Big Sur/Monterey). It is up to Microsoft to bite the bullet and do the same. Which they won't until world-wide class action suits force them to.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Just for kicks I tried to install Windows 11 on 'unsupported' hardware, and it's been fun. An old Acer Aspire M "Ultrabook" with a Core i5 and 2GB RAM, and old spinner HDD. Did the registry hack during setup once it claims 'this PC can't run Windows 11' (oh yeah?) where you go back a step where your product key is, hit SHIFT+F10, type 'regedit.exe' and hit enter, then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE-->SOFTWARE-->SETUP and create a new key called 'LabConfig', then create new DWORD 32-bit values called "BypassTPMCheck", "BypassCPUCheck" and "BypassSecureBootCheck" then set those all to '1' and exit. try to progress, it works.

Thing actually installed and activated successfully. The Acer laptop works quite well actually for a system made in 2013 during Windows 8's run. I was really impressed that all the drivers were discovered and installed properly.

I got a similarly specced Toshiba Satellite from 2012 I want to play with next. Apparently unused product keys dating back to my dead Windows 7 systems works.

 

[derekamoss]

Is anyone else running Windows Insider. The latest beta build alleviates a lot of the problems from launch and finally they are addressing tablet mode and reintroducing swipe gestures.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I still have an insider build (it shows 'evaluation copy' despite being activated) on my gaming rig, for the one game I can't make run in Linux. I haven't booted into it since December 2021 but it never goes online anymore. Each time I had it on the internet Flight Simulator insisted on downloading yet another goofy 160GB update which takes a couple of days. Never again.

Ironically enough, on Linux, I can completely disable Steam and Steam-based game updates entirely and keep the client online if needed. Thought it would be hard but it was easy, create/edit HOSTS, redirect all the Steam update servers to localhost. Also setting all the Steam config files to read-only, or editing the individual game manifest files to fool them into thinking they're on their latest version.

 

[grmlin]

I simply can't believe that the stupid taskbar is still in it's buggiest state since when I started using Windows. It's ridiculous that they can't fix this mess.

Also UI scaling still bugging out all the time, which is so annoying.

I hate using Windows at this point