WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

On my 2 computers (home & tablet) I use Windows 7 Pro. I've used it for years and like everything about it. I know Windows will not be supporting this system after the end of the year. My wife has Windows 10 which I don't like at all.

 

Any suggestions of what you like and why. Looks like I'll have to setup another system pretty soon.

[Lorelei Longshot, SASS #44256 Life]

I also liked Windows 7 better than Windows 10, but was forced to start using 10 when I got a new desktop.  I knew how to do everything in 7, and it seemed much easier to use than 10. Now  I just flounder around sometimes, sometimes find what I need, and other times, just give up.

[Tyrel Cody]

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/make-windows-10-like-windows-7

[Pat Riot]

I now have Windows 10. I do not like it but I have to deal with it. I am still learning it.

 

I really wish there was a to get back at these Windows people for their Easter Egg Hunt mentality. I think that they think that we think it;s fun to try and discover how to use their crap. That is what I mean by "Easter Egg Hunt".

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

The problem is I am now getting messages like "you browser is unsupported, upgrade to get current ........." Also sever messages about my security systems will no longer support Windows 7. I am going to continue using Windows 7 until I absolutely have to change!

[Rex M Rugers #6621]

When I bought this computer , with Windows 10 installed , I was switching from a Windows XP. With my computer talents , the learning curve has been so steep that I am not to the second level yet , and I have had it over 4 years. Just not a real computer kind of guy.

Anyway , I can turn it on and browse here amongst folks with similar interests. And get E-mail.

Rex 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

MAC  

[Joke 'um]

Got a new Windows 10 machine about 2 years ago.  I got so frustrated that I was actually on my way to the trash bin with it one day.  Finally put the old computer in the bottom of a box and the box on a high shelf under other boxes.  Since I'm real lazy, I had to use the Windows 10 device.

What I have found, since then, is that I rarely have to interact with the Windows system at all.  I no longer spend time in File Managers or the rest of the operating system.  Whether I'm avoiding using the system or just don't need to, I haven't figured out.  

Used to like stick shift and open windows.  Now I'm a CVT and A/C kinda guy.  Still get where I'm going. 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

Windows 7 support will end on January 14, 2020. It'll still work afterwards but you'll be increasingly vulnerable to attack, plus nobody will offer software that works on it. What I hate most about Windows 10 is its intrusiveness and how it collects data on its users. Believe it or not the mainland Chinese version doesn't do that, as the government there forced Microsoft to remove the data mining feature from the software. So yes, the Communists actually did more for consumer rights than our own government did.

[bgavin]

There is no compelling reason to move beyond Win7 unless you have specific software packages that force the issue.

Lacerte tax preparation is one of those who force this.
Win7 and newer uses the fundamentally same core, unlike WinXP which does not.

Net-Framework will continue working on Win7 for quite awhile.
"Unsupported" means Microsoft will no longer be issuing their never-ending security exposure problems with Win7.

You are far better off using an internet condom:  SandboxIE for your browsing.
This is far more effective than antivirus products.
Think of it as the difference between preventing an STD vs treating an STD you just caught.
The way to win.. is to not play.

I've been in the game 45 years now... the vast majority of infected machines are from user stupidity.
Opening unknown emails, surfing to "HotNakedChicksR-Us", etc is the way to get infected.

I place SandboxIE with all my clients, my wife and myself.

I own all the Microsoft operating systems because I have to support them all.
Win7 is the only one I like.
The rest are bloated and highly invasive of your machine and personal life.

[Ramblin Gambler]

Windows 10 aint as good as 7, but it beats the pants off of 8.  If you're having to buy an OS right now for a new computer, I'd recommend going ahead and getting windows 10 because whatever they come out with next will likely be terrible.  Windows operating systems are like star trek movies.  Every other one is absolutely terrible. 

 

If you're talking about reloading an old computer, then find another windows 7 install and run it till the wheels fall off.  

 

For those programs that require newer operating systems, I would use virtual machines.  In fact, that might be why I'm relatively happy with windows 10.  I run all of my picky programs in virtual machines. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

MAC 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

37 minutes ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

Windows 10 aint as good as 7, but it beats the pants off of 8.  If you're having to buy an OS right now for a new computer, I'd recommend going ahead and getting windows 10 because whatever they come out with next will likely be terrible.  Windows operating systems are like star trek movies.  Every other one is absolutely terrible.

 

When Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 they said that it was going to be the last PC-OS they released, and that they'd simply continue to update it in the years ahead. I guess they already assumed that the PC is a dead platform.

[bgavin]

I run VMware in my lab, with a ton of specialized VMs as you mention above.
Each is kept in a ghost image for easy save and restore if the image gets bunged up.

I'm stuck with Win81 on my inherited laptop, so I make do.
I've disabled as much bloat as possible without crippling the machine.
The UAC nanny cannot be turned off without severely limiting the machine.
This sux.

When I was still employed, every other Windows version was written by a different team.
Think "Odd" and "Even"... or "Odd" and "More Odd" which also applies...
#1 did 1-3-5, #2 did 2-4-6.
 

[Matthew Duncan]

DOS 6.22

[Utah Bob #35998]

You can get used to anything.

 

[Sedalia Dave]

LINUX Mint. 

[Cliff Hanger #3720LR]

I was forced to get a new macine some time back.

It was loaded with Windows 7 Pro.

The problem is, the software I run most was writen in 1994 and then was bought out by Corel Draw so be discontinued.

It run on all Windows up to XP.

Windows 7 will not run it.

 

SO I loaded Virtual Box. https://www.virtualbox.org/

I can now open Virtual Box and Choose which Windows version I want so I can run the software of my choosing.

 

Virtual Box is free open source software.

I did need help from a freid to set it up the first tiem.

 

It does have some quarks.

I can run more than 1 operating system but I have to remember I can only save in the current Virtual Box program.

Once I close the Virtual Box, I can then save all work preformed in the none Virtual Box programs.

 

 

 

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

2 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

You can get used to anything.

 

Except bleeding from an artery.

 

That was one of my dad's sayings.

[Pat Riot]

“Vulnerable to attack”...If Windows didn’t suck so bad no one would want to attack it!

[Go West]

In the Win 10 set up, I opted out or deleted much of the portions I didn't like and installed Brave and Firefox browsers. I use Brave for most surfing since it has pretty strong ad-blockers and Firefox for the sites that dislike to work well with Brave. I also use DuckDuckGo for the search engine for both. 

[Ramblin Gambler]

19 hours ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

When Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 they said that it was going to be the last PC-OS they released, and that they'd simply continue to update it in the years ahead. I guess they already assumed that the PC is a dead platform.

 

19 hours ago, bgavin said:

When I was still employed, every other Windows version was written by a different team.
Think "Odd" and "Even"... or "Odd" and "More Odd" which also applies...
#1 did 1-3-5, #2 did 2-4-6.
 

 

Interesting.  i guess this explains why the first major update to windows 10 broke everything. 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

19 hours ago, bgavin said:

When I was still employed, every other Windows version was written by a different team.
Think "Odd" and "Even"... or "Odd" and "More Odd" which also applies...
#1 did 1-3-5, #2 did 2-4-6.

 

Sounds like they need to fire the team that came up with Windows ME, Vista and 8, and keep the guys who did 98, XP and 7. Dunno who's responsible for 10.

[bgavin]

Windows, Apple, and Android are under attack for the money.  Not because they suck.

Every bit of malware leads back to somebody getting paid for it.
Every redirect to a porn site pays the malware author a penny, or whatever amount is negotiated.

It is all about the money.
The typical ransomware such as Cryptowall, et al, starts out with a $700 ransom demand for the first 3 days, then $1500 for the second 3 days, then you are on your own.

It is pointless to pay the ransom, because it is highly unlikely you will get the unlock key for your payment.
It is also highly probable that another malware will remain on your machine.

Tough love:  those who do not back up vital data are doomed to cry big tears.
Those at risk (newspapers, etc) are well advised to have a standalone system, preferably a virtual machine, exclusively for their public facing side.
Keep the art machines, Photoshop, business, etc on machines that never access the internet for browsing purposes or email.

[BLACKFOOT SASS #11947]

When I was first forced to go to Windows 10 I thought it was about the worst possible system that one could imagine. 

After using it a few years my opinion has not changed.

Blackfoot

[bgavin]

The Win10 user interface is the part you hate.
The underlying operating system that runs the file system and hardware is solid and far more reliable than WinXP (which I loved).

Microsoft's insistence on integrating the nanny (user account control) into every section of the user interface is highly problematic.
Disabling UAC under Win7 did not cripple the machine, but doing it under Win10 totally cripples it. 
None of the apps will work.

Microsoft bundles endless amounts of advertising tracking and invasive baloney into the Win10 user interface.
Their insistence on using the Metro interface is another blunder.
Nobody runs Windows on their phone, so making your desktop look like a pseudo-phone is just plain stupid.

You can switch your network interface to "metered" mode to avoid MS sending you endless version upgrades to Win10.
This does not slow the stream of "security" updates every time the rat gets smarter than the mouse trap.

Build 18362 is the 7th major release of Win10.  It was originally fraught with bugs and withdrawn, but was released again as of May 2019.

[Capt. James H. Callahan]

2 hours ago, BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 said:

When I was first forced to go to Windows 10 I thought it was about the worst possible system that one could imagine. 

After using it a few years my opinion has not changed.

Blackfoot

We bought a new desktop a couple years ago with 10, DW and I both hated it. We had 7 copied off one of our laptops and replaced it. Does ANYBODY like 10??????

JHC

[Capt. James H. Callahan]

On 9/10/2019 at 9:16 PM, Utah Bob #35998 said:

You can get used to anything.

 

I dunno. I quit a job about 3 years ago, partly because their software was enough to make you lose your religion. A body can only take so much.

JHC

[Sixgun Sheridan]

3 hours ago, bgavin said:

Microsoft bundles endless amounts of advertising tracking and invasive baloney into the Win10 user interface.

 

Like I said, the Chinese government forced Microsoft to remove that feature on copies sold on the mainland. I only wish our own government had that kind of guts. Unfortunately I'm sure they're in bed with Microsoft like they are with everyone else.

[bgavin]

This afternoon I did a Win10 in-place upgrade for a client being forced off Win7.
She is a tax preparer, and her Lacerte (Inuit-owned) pro tax packages will not run on Win7 after the end of the year.
There is no compelling reason for this, other than perhaps a bribe to force users off Win7?

I was surprised at how well it handled the upgrade.
One nice thing is most modern mainstream machines have a working Windows serial number in the BIOS or UEFI.
Install Win10 without a serial number at the first screen, and it will pick up the internal serial without your intervention.

Some caveats: 
Uninstall all anti-virus, Malwarebytes, SandboxIE, etc.
Remove the machine from a domain is attached, and reset the domain account.
Clean the disk, delete all checkpoints except the most recent.

[Ramblin Gambler]

On 9/12/2019 at 12:03 PM, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

Like I said, the Chinese government forced Microsoft to remove that feature on copies sold on the mainland. I only wish our own government had that kind of guts. Unfortunately I'm sure they're in bed with Microsoft like they are with everyone else.

 

Don't you mean the COPY they sold to china?  I thought the chinese only bought 1 copy an pirated the rest. 

[bgavin]

BTW, I just saw a notice from SandboxIE:  it is now "freeware" instead of subscription.

I'm a lifetime paid subscription, but free is good also.
This is *WELL* worth the time to install and learn to use it.

[Rye Miles #13621]

On 9/11/2019 at 7:38 AM, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

“Vulnerable to attack”...If Windows didn’t suck so bad no one would want to attack it!

Actually it's more vulnerable to attack because the majority of this country and probably the world use PC's. There's only about 20% using Mac.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

On 9/12/2019 at 6:20 PM, bgavin said:

I was surprised at how well it handled the upgrade.
One nice thing is most modern mainstream machines have a working Windows serial number in the BIOS or UEFI.
Install Win10 without a serial number at the first screen, and it will pick up the internal serial without your intervention.

Some caveats: 

Remove the machine from a domain is attached, and reset the domain account.
Clean the disk, delete all checkpoints except the most recent.

I don't know what any of that means.