Windows 11

[exoticSpice]

I think 100% Win 11 is dumbed down and half-baked than Windows 10. At least Windows 10 had a funtioning taskbar, context menu and file explorer.

The context menus when you right click and the File explorer are VERY dumbed down in Win 11.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Are you a tinkerer or an "open the shrinkwrap and use it out of the box" type of person? I thought you were a tinkerer, but when you say that Win 11 is better in every way, I have to wonder. As a tinkerer myself, I have more control to bend Win 10 to my will than with Win 11. I don't incessantly tweak, just get it to where it suits my needs and then I move on with life.

You've said a few times that Win 10 is half-baked and idiot-proof and I have yet to see some specific examples of how Win 10 does those things but Win 11 doesn't.

OK here's a few:

Windows 10:

1. nags you endlessly about updates and eventually force-restarts whether you like it or not

2. Closes apps (mainly UWP apps) for no good reason. Mail app constantly gets closed out if I have other things running even though the system can obviously handle it. No way to stop that behavior

3. Start menu a cluttered mess of live tiles. Can't figure out if it's Windows 8 or not

4. A lot of options can't be changed in 10 without going to control panel. Try to give your PC a static IP address via Settings, and it claims the settings are invalid. Do the same via Control Panel->Network and sharing center->adapter settings and it works. Almost like the basic settings doesn't favor the user messing with IP settings (idiot proofing)

5. dumbed down error messages ("can't connect to this network" "That didn't work" and so on. More idiot proofing)

As for the half baked parts:

1. Unplug laptop and it locks the screen for no reason. I didn't tell it to lock the screen I just unplugged it! Today at work it did this, I unplugged it to use software for writing firmware to speed controllers, and it instantly locked. This is not the first time it's done this either. Probably the third time this week. There are no power options or sleep options set to do this.

2. Internet issues via wifi. Always saying there's no internet when there is, or vice versa. This bug has been a thing since the infamous Vista 'unidentified network local acces only' bug. Often you get other errors in the browser such as 'ERR DNS PROBE' or 'DNS PROBE DETECTED NO INTERNET'. I have no means to totally disable DNS probing. It's random and super annoying.

3. Relies more on using both control panel and settings than Windows 11.

Just a few obvious ones. Windows 10 is infuriating to use. Has been since 2015.

Yes, I tinker, but mostly it's to un-flatten the UI or sideload APKs of old Android apps on my phone, or sideloading old apps onto Windows. Windows 11's UI is good enough that I don't need to tinker with it. Windows 10 I feel like paying for WindowBlinds and making it look like Windows 7.

Anyone who prefers the Windows 10 taskbar and start menu that is an amalgamation of Live Tiles and regular program groups needs help. I never liked the Start menu since Windows 95, preferring the Program Manager. Windows 11 feels more like program manager. No more nested menus, or busy live tiles wasting CPU resources.

 

[exoticSpice]

Honestly all Apple has do is release a theming manager and that will make it so we can unflatten the UI.

Microsoft it may be hard with all the baggage they have.

 

[exoticSpice]

then seeing modern WWDC with Tim just feels wrong.

Yep. I much prefer to look forward to Craig at WWDC.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Yep. I much prefer to look forward to Craig at WWDC.

I sorta miss Scott Forstall at WWDC.

Honestly all Apple has do is release a theming manager and that will make it so we can unflatten the UI.

That would mean admitting that iOS 7 and Yosemite+ was a mistake, and Apple can't let that happen (have they ever admitted to mistakes vs. trying to justify them ala Antennagate conference?)

Also, a theme manager would have to be more than skin deep (icons, etc) I would love to see the fun apps return with the detail and animations they once had, back when my iPhone 3GS would literally become a radio, calculator, calendar, or notepad. The old slide to unlock lock screen was perhaps the best example of accessibilty in that the young to the elderly could use it. Today the swipe gestures eliminate the ability of older people to use an iPhone, when Apple was once the hallmark of accessibility to all.

I can only sorta get close to that era by sideloading APKs of very old Android apps onto my S20 FE. At least with Android, it's possible.

 

[exoticSpice]

have they ever admitted to mistakes vs. trying to justify them ala Antennagate conference?)

Multiple times after Ive had left. Getting ridding of butterfly switchs, stopped thinning devices and dropped the touch bar and borught back ports.

All of which Apple believed to be the future but then went back on due to basically admitting they were failures.

Antennagate conference

That was primarily Steve's ego.

 

[exoticSpice]

Today the swipe gestures eliminate the ability of older people to use an iPhone, when Apple was once the hallmark of accessibility to all.

Accessibility is still the best on Apple's OS when compared to all other OS.

Also, a theme manager would have to be more than skin deep (icons, etc) I would love to see the fun apps return with the detail and animations they once had, back when my iPhone 3GS would literally become a radio, calculator, calendar, or notepad. The old slide to unlock lock screen was perhaps the best example of accessibilty in that the young to the elderly could use it. Today the swipe gestures eliminate the ability of older people to use an iPhone, when Apple was once the hallmark of accessibility to all.

Agree.

 

[Ethosik]

Windows 11 is just driving me crazy. I wish there was a way to access Xbox Game Pass Games on Steam because the Xbox app is just a joke. Last week it was fine one day and broken the next. Typical with Microsoft it seems. I get 5 different error codes, I have researched and performed every step everyone has mentioned. I have tried everything other than re-installing Windows 11. It also takes 20 minutes for the download to actually appear and in the other screen shot the Choose What To Install never finishes loading

 

[diamond.g]

Windows 11 is just driving me crazy. I wish there was a way to access Xbox Game Pass Games on Steam because the Xbox app is just a joke. Last week it was fine one day and broken the next. Typical with Microsoft it seems. I get 5 different error codes, I have researched and performed every step everyone has mentioned. I have tried everything other than re-installing Windows 11. It also takes 20 minutes for the download to actually appear and in the other screen shot the Choose What To Install never finishes loading

Unless you are wanting to play the single player campaign Halo Infinite is free on steam.

 

[Ethosik]

Unless you are wanting to play the single player campaign Halo Infinite is free on steam.

It’s not just halo it’s everything. And yes I’m only interested in the campaign.

 

[diamond.g]

It’s not just halo it’s everything. And yes I’m only interested in the campaign.

Ah that is a bummer. I dunno what to say as to why your store instance is broken.

 

[Ethosik]

Ah that is a bummer. I dunno what to say as to why your store instance is broken.

I might just buy it on Steam at this point. Short of reinstalling I have tried everything else, even made a separate account on the computer.

 

[Ethosik]

I am now getting a store error. At this point, I don't know what to do. This shouldn't be that difficult to re-install an app and get it working again but it seems just typical Microsoft to make this extremely difficult. At this point, I am either at the point of re-installing 11 or re-installing 10. While I prefer the look and multi-monitor support on Windows 11, its just an absolute mess.

Quick question for some people - does installing Windows still spread files across multiple drives? I have two NVMe drives and four SATA drives connected. Should I disconnect every one of them except the drive I want Windows on?

 

[nickdalzell1]

With any Store/Internet-related issues I end up disabling IPV6, and setting a static IP, and in the worst case scenario, set the mode to 802.11A/B instead of the later versions.

I just got a new laptop for work to finally replace that old Windows 10 mess, that runs Windows 11. It initially had problems with wifi either outright disconnecting despite a decent signal or it acting like there's 'no internet' and that broke apps such as the Store, Mail, any UWP app. Edge would work fine (though you'd get a lot of 'broken image' placeholders on some sites).

I disabled IPV6, set a static IP, and set the mode to 802.11A/B and it never disconnected after that. I know MS hates anyone turning IPV6 off but all it ever caused me were massive internet/wifi issues, high ping, and DHCP servers going offline. I don't even know what the point of IPV6 or 'Wifi 6' even is. Better to stick to what has worked wonders for over a decade.

Personally I'm extremely happy I can use OneDrive properly, and Edge no longer gives the 'ERR_DNS_PROBE_STARTED' or 'ERR_DNSPROBE_FINISHED' business. Also loving the simpler, less cluttered Start menu. It's the modern Program Manager I've wanted for a long time, everything one click away. A little taste of home at work (my home laptop also runs Win11)

Everyone in this thread seems to hate the right click context menu. What's wrong with it? It has the same things the old Windows 10 one did, but IMO easier to look at font size/types of icons. I seem to love what everyone online hates, that included TouchWiz, and Windows 98SE, and I usually hate what everyone else loves, including Windows XP, Vista, and 10. Perhaps the devs are making a UI that folks like myself want? I can't tell.

 

[Ethosik]

Well I broke down and just reinstalled Windows 10. I did end up disconnecting all my drives except my primary NVMe one which was a hassle because I had to take the GPU out to remove my secondary NVMe. After half a day, I already miss the multi-monitor support Windows 11 brought but at least the store is functional and I got Halo and other games installed finally.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I've always gamed via Steam (although I do have a Game Pass, and am currently looking for alternatives but came up empty) so maybe I'm lost there but they run fine here. I have tried to find certain games via the Store but most of the ones I want are either Xbox only or unavailable somehow. I for example can't get Forza Horizon 5 on my PC, but it works on my Xbox. Same for many other titles, including FNAF:Security Breach. Seems the 'Xbox' support for PC is extremely limited. Almost to the point of being utterly useless. I'm planning on a used Xbox console for my living room so I can enjoy my Game Pass and my original One is pretty much full on HDD space after installing Horizon 5 onto it, and that console is in my bedroom for sleepless nights.

 

[diamond.g]

I've always gamed via Steam (although I do have a Game Pass, and am currently looking for alternatives but came up empty) so maybe I'm lost there but they run fine here. I have tried to find certain games via the Store but most of the ones I want are either Xbox only or unavailable somehow. I for example can't get Forza Horizon 5 on my PC, but it works on my Xbox. Same for many other titles, including FNAF:Security Breach. Seems the 'Xbox' support for PC is extremely limited. Almost to the point of being utterly useless. I'm planning on a used Xbox console for my living room so I can enjoy my Game Pass and my original One is pretty much full on HDD space after installing Horizon 5 onto it, and that console is in my bedroom for sleepless nights.

Do you have the $10 GamePass or the $15 dollar GamePass?

 

[nickdalzell1]

I'm on a free trial. They called it Game Pass Ultimate if that helps.

 

[diamond.g]

I'm on a free trial. They called it Game Pass Ultimate if that helps.

Odd maybe the free trial doesn’t include the pc side as well as the Xbox side. GP Ultimate for sure has the PC and xCloud though.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I think that certain games depend on having an Xbox to play them even if the listing shows up on the PC version of the app. There were tons of games but very few downloadable for PC; only a handful of games compared with what's possible on a One Series X.

 

[grmlin]

Do you use the Xbox app on PC or the store. If a game is part of Game Pass PC it should be there. Ultimate is GP Xbox+Live Gold and GP PC

 

[nickdalzell1]

Do I need to use the Xbox app to get the games or the Store? I tried Xbox app and it just had a lot of games listed 'Xbox only'.

 

[diamond.g]

Do I need to use the Xbox app to get the games or the Store? I tried Xbox app and it just had a lot of games listed 'Xbox only'.

The xbox app on your windows pc should have a "tab" on the left called game pass, where it should only show gamepass pc games (of which there are 471 of them listed). Do you have a screen grab of it showing xbox console only games?

 

[nickdalzell1]

I haven't checked it since February when I purchased the PC that came with the trial. I hope they updated it. I'll let you know the results soon. Before it just seemed the list of PC Game Pass titles weren't much. None of the big names were there. No Forza, no Security Breach, etc. Either they were buy only or not available for PC.

EDIT: I just got it to load. Unfortunately a lot of titles just don't exist for PC via Game Pass. Titles such as Five Nights at Freddy's:Security Breach, GTA V, Bully, and more. All of those games are available on my Xbox One, but the HDD is already full. I don't want to remove anything and I will simply just get a used console somewhere for the living room.

I can find FNAF games, but they're all buy only. No PC Game pass support.

 

[diamond.g]

I haven't checked it since February when I purchased the PC that came with the trial. I hope they updated it. I'll let you know the results soon. Before it just seemed the list of PC Game Pass titles weren't much. None of the big names were there. No Forza, no Security Breach, etc. Either they were buy only or not available for PC.

EDIT: I just got it to load. Unfortunately a lot of titles just don't exist for PC via Game Pass. Titles such as Five Nights at Freddy's:Security Breach, GTA V, Bully, and more. All of those games are available on my Xbox One, but the HDD is already full. I don't want to remove anything and I will simply just get a used console somewhere for the living room.

I can find FNAF games, but they're all buy only. No PC Game pass support.

Ah. Yeah the list of games for pc vs console isn’t 1 to 1. Did you check the xcloud section to see if they are there?