Windows 10... hate it

[the86d]

Many applications are Windows only, especially specialized business applications.

Buy an overpriced Mac, then buy Windows too, then specialized software, is a bit pricey when you can just buy a windows PC for under $1000 (might be about $500-$700 now for most people's requirements, including Windows). You'd be suprised to learn how many businesses have done this because they wanted to look trendy with Macs and wasted THOUSANDS of dollars. Make sure to use an SSD.

[sigstroker]

I don't use WinX. I have one computer (of MANY) that is a WinX machine. It is used strictly for experimenting with WinX and how to disable various problems with it. So far, I've learned how to:

Get RID of Cortana, not just disable through windows.

How did you get rid of that spyware? Everything I've read on it says it cannot be done. Even if you delete all traces, it just gets reinstalled the next time Windows does an update.

[sigstroker]

They said support for Win XP would end in 2014. You could still get updates for embedded versions through 4/2019 and they could be installed on regular XP.

Also, MS released a security patch for Win XP last month, fancy that. And MS is offering paid support for Win 7 to volume license customers on a per machine basis beyond 2020. Those updates will probably find a way to regular users.

Good OSes die hard. They can pry Win 7 from my cold dead hands, or give me something better than this tile OS crap that comes with bloatware extraordinaire and the jankiest update system ever

I would use XP till the end of time if I could. But I can't even find browsers that work. Firefox won't work, other than an old version that won't work with many webpages. It's only going to get worse over time as HTML8 or 9 comes out and everyone starts using it.

[FeuerFrei]

I would use XP till the end of time if I could. But I can't even find browsers that work. Firefox won't work, other than an old version that won't work with many webpages. It's only going to get worse over time as HTML8 or 9 comes out and everyone starts using it.

You are well primed to delve into Linux Mint or Ubuntu for a modern secure OS on an old machine.

If you need a desk/laptop machine for www surfing/banking that's secure and stable, the live cd version of the Linux OS is the try before you install it version. Gives you a chance to see if it's good for you without changing anything you have currently.

Even dual booting to either OS win/linux on the same dive is easy. Keep both and there's nothing to give up.

[SkyHawk]

I would use XP till the end of time if I could. But I can't even find browsers that work. Firefox won't work, other than an old version that won't work with many webpages. It's only going to get worse over time as HTML8 or 9 comes out and everyone starts using it.

If you like XP you will like Win 7, which should still have a few good years left before you start running in to the same problems.

[sonofeugene]

I would use XP till the end of time if I could. But I can't even find browsers that work. Firefox won't work, other than an old version that won't work with many webpages. It's only going to get worse over time as HTML8 or 9 comes out and everyone starts using it.

As someone else mentioned, switch to Windows 7. I was a big fan of XP Pro and was nervous as hell when the company I worked for switched to Windows 7. I was pleasantly surprised. Very user friendly and very stable.

I was similarly worried about the switch to Windows 10 but other than finding other ways to do things, it's been very stable and reliable as well. Plus it's the only operating system I can use to run the latest Solidworks.

[MrFancyPants]

I find Win10 to be incredibly unstable and it appears to have built-in viruses by design. For example, there is something called 'windows telemetry' that tries to run all the time. There is also 'windows problem reporting' that I constantly have to kill using task manager. This is on the work machine. Home, personal machine, still running XP Pro SP3. And I love being freed from the tyranny of perpetual updates.

Windows 10 is no less stable than Windows 7. Actually for me it's more stable. Built in viruses? That's ludicrous and if that were the case, Microsoft would have been sued out of existence by now.

The only issues I've seen people have with Windows 10 are due to non technical people not knowing what they're doing, or just being unwilling and unable to adapt to changes and advances in technology. You just have to learn how to use it and tweak it to your liking.

The only thing you gain by being "freed from the tyranny of perpetual updates" is a highly insecure system. Every OS in existence has perpetual updates, because there will always be hackers finding new ways to exploit systems. Windows XP has more holes than a cheese grater, even fully patched. It's been exploited to death. It's one of the least secure OSes you can run.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[the86d]

...Windows XP has more holes than a cheese grater, even fully patched. It's been exploited to death. It's one of the least secure OSes you can run.

NOT as bad as Dells SHIPPING with Windows 2000, and the default filesystem was FAT32, so a UNC to the machine's default C$ share gave FC to everything on the drive as I recall, with no authentication.

[lewdogg21]

I had to help my in-laws yesterday and it's maddening to know what you need to do but you can't find the right "folder" or how to navigate to it to start. Windows X needs to be put down like a rabid down and go back to the WIn 7 / 8 start menu.

Signed,
Guy who hates doing in-law IT.

[NYT]

scary that so many of you are still on XP. that OS died for several reasons with security being at the top. win 7 is fine to migrate from but laughable that some would revert back from 10 to 7 on purpose. 10 is far more stable and requires far less reboots than 7 as a whole.

if youre having problems with 10, your issues are with software or drivers that you are running. not the OS.

many of the complaints here are about cortana and telemetry, all of these can be switched off simply. cortana and telemetry are designed to increase functionality and performance.

i disable both as a default but still recommend to basic users that they keep them enabled as it will help them in the long run once they start to understand how to use the tools.

if you feel you must disable:

https://www.askvg.com/guide-best-privacy-settings-for-windows-10/

I had to help my in-laws yesterday and it's maddening to know what you need to do but you can't find the right "folder" or how to navigate to it to start. Windows X needs to be put down like a rabid down and go back to the WIn 7 / 8 start menu.

Signed,
Guy who hates doing in-law IT.

win 10 just requires you to learn windows and get accustomed to using the search functionality. it almost wholly relies on search these days and then customizing.

once you understand how everything is laid out, its actually far more efficient than 7.

[freedom-lover]

Every OS in existence has perpetual updates, because there will always be hackers finding new ways to exploit systems.

Because MS is either mediocre or is malicious and/or hired incompetent developers to write code.

[Bill Bored]

Because MS is either mediocre or is malicious and/or hired incompetent developers to write code.

the more genius pakis they hire the worse it will get

[MrFancyPants]

Because MS is either mediocre or is malicious and/or hired incompetent developers to write code.

I suppose by that logic, Apple and Linux developers are also incompetent, since their OSes also require regular patches and updates. Patching is just a fact of life for applications and OSes. Apple and Linux systems get hacked as well, same as Windows.

Side note, if MS developers were mediocre and/or incompetent, MS wouldn't have the largest market share of desktop and server OS installations by a huge margin.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[freedom-lover]

MS has a larger market share because mediocrity is less expense.

I used to think that computers were a noble thing, now I despise them. The internet has become useless as every website I try to visit doesn't work well because they are so bloated with embedded videos and advertising. You can't see the content that caused you to want to visit the website. I try to use programs like MS Office and every day I am subjected to the tyranny of an endless update cycle and multiple reboots. Similar to the cable TV evolution - it used to be a good idea, but now every hour (of crappy reality TV) has 1/2 hour of commercials. No thanks.

[Dragunov]

How did you get rid of that spyware? Everything I've read on it says it cannot be done. Even if you delete all traces, it just gets reinstalled the next time Windows does an update.

Easy. Don't allow it to update. Your choices with WinX are:

1. Fast, trim, stable, reliable, private but possibly vulnerable.

OR

2. Crappy, fat, spyware laden, invasive, bloated, but up to date mess..... That's STILL vulnerable.

I'll take door number one if I have to use WinX

Getting rid of the spyware, Cortana, and Edge, can be a bit complicated, depending on how you do it, and you'll need a program called "Unlocker".

Getting rid of Updates, is fairly easy.