This very odd statement is from Microsoft MSFT 108,22 +1,32 +1,23% Marketing chief Chris Capossela. “We do worry when people are running an operating system that’s 10 years old that the next printer they buy isn’t going to work well, or they buy a new game, they buy Fallout 4, a very popular game, and it doesn’t work on a bunch of older machines,” Capossela stated. “And so, as we are pushing our ISV [Independent Software Vendor] and hardware partners to build great new stuff that takes advantage of Windows 10 that obviously makes the old stuff really bad and not to…
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So, was doing some more housekeeping on the school laptop, mainly cleaning it up from some experimenting with XBMC/Kodi in the last couple weeks. I am actually going to be doing more with XBMC/Kodi on a different system once I add a video card which support HDMI and likely will cost more than I paid for the computer (only paid $25 for the computer from a local eWaste Re-seller and put another $53 into for 2 GB of RAM). Anyway, I noticed I had updates waiting to be installed. This time, I carefully looked at the list and what do…
So Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 7 and 8.1 users are being targeted to be automatically update to Windows 10 via the Windows Update utility. While this has been happening since September and in October Microsoft called this an ‘accident’, now they are admitting that their plan is to get every Windows 7 and 8.1 PC (that can run Windows 10) on to Windows 10. Right now the Windows 10 Update is only an optional update, but in ‘early 2016’ it will become a recommended update. For those user who have their update settings to automatically download and install recommended updates, they are going to…
Okay, maybe not ‘watching you’, but they are spying on you. Seems that Microsoft MSFT 108,22 +1,32 +1,23% was not content with just spying on Windows 10 users. They have pushed through some ‘Telemetry’ updates on Windows 7 and 8.1 which allow Windows to collect and send data back to Microsoft. Keep in mind if you have opted-out of previous ‘feedback/telemetry’ programs with Microsoft, these updates undo all that (including user privacy settings in the Windows hosts file). …(the updates) all add “customer experience and diagnostic telemetry” to Windows 7 and Windows 8. This is shorthand for monitoring how you use Windows…
This registry script works for Windows Vista and newer and adds a ‘Take ownership’ (Administrator) option to the context (right-click) menu in Windows (File) Explorer. Very useful for removing crap Microsoft has sneaked onto your computer such as the Get Windows 10 (aka GWX) propaganda as well as Windows 10 itself. You can run this script on files and/or folders which will give the Administrator ownership privileges to be able to delete said files and/or folders. Installation is simple, download and open the zip file then run the Take Ownership - Install.reg file. You will be presented with a couple prompts accept…
Okay, this is getting out-of-hand. All the Get Windows 10 propaganda (App in Windows 8.1, System Tray Icon and in Windows 10) that Microsoft MSFT 108,22 +1,32 +1,23% is bombarding Windows 7 and 8.1 users is bad enough. However, even if you declined the upgrade to Windows 10 and in some cases even if you removed the Windows 10 upgrade offer KB3035583, Windows 10 may already be on your computer…just waiting for you to (accidentally) install it. Yes, you read that right! Microsoft has taken it upon itself for those users in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 who are running Windows Updates…
Most people who were running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 before Windows 10 was released this past July who didn’t want it removed (and also hid) KB3035583 from their Windows Updates. But, what about people who bought a new Windows 8.1 computer or reinstalled Windows 7/8.1 AFTER Windows 10 was released? I ran into this scenario last week after a couple family members purchased new Windows 8.1 PCs (yes, you can still get Windows 8.1 PC’s) and the machines download and installed KB3035583. I thought this would be a simple fix, remove and hide KB3035583 and all would be well. As it turns…
If you have no interest in updating your Windows 7 SP1 or 8.1 machine to Windows 10, you can remove the upgrade offer icon that is sitting in the system tray on your taskbar. The process is fairly simple, but does require you to restart the machine to complete: Windows 7 SP1 : Hold down the Windows Logo Key and Press R. In the run box enter appwiz.cpl and press enter to bring up the Programs and Features control panel Windows 8.1: Hold down the Windows Logo Key and Press X, then select Programs and Features at the top of the menu. In the left column…
For some odd reason after certain Windows Updates, I will find a Homegroup or Network icon on my desktop after rebooting. Normally to remove unwanted icons, one would simply drag it to the recycle bin or right-click and delete. Doesn’t work for this pesky icon. Removing it is quite simple though: Go to your Windows Desktop (Windows Key + D) Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize On the Personalization screen left side click Change Desktop Icons You may notice Network (even though the Homegroup or Network icon is on your desktop) is not checked, put a check in the box and click…
Windows 10 launched on July 29th and has already been downloaded over 14 million times. But why? MicrosoftMSFT -0.36%’s decision to make Windows 10 freeplays a big part (especially given warnings to wait) but it is also just the tip of the iceberg. So let’s weigh up the main differences between Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows 8. There are a large number of pros but also some significant cons, including a few potential deal breakers. via Forbes > Gordon Kelly