A word of caution for everybody in the US, but particularly PC users

[cactuswatcher]

Last night I switched on my computer and got yet another blurb for Windows 10 come up. This one was more insistent than the rest saying my computer was scheduled for update to Windows 10 on Monday. I don't need or want an upgrade on this old computer (one of the last sold with Windows 7). It took a little doing to find my way into the screen where I could cancel the "upgrade."

The thing is I don't know how many Windows 7 and 8 computers that Microsoft suddenly decided to change to Windows 10 at the same time without their owners requesting it. It could be millions. It could be a more reasonable number. I don't think it was a fluke that the notice of the upgrade came on a Friday night with the upgrade supposed to come on a holiday. I wouldn't be surprised if the Internet is a giant mess Monday and Tuesday morning when perhaps millions of computers in the US are trying to download the exact same thing from Microsoft. Maybe when the computers come on the owners will have the option to say no again. But the number of people who decide 'why the heck not' could be enough to create a huge mess.

Comments

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

While I'd say I'm happy that I have a MAC, it has similar issues. It keeps wanting to update me to the latest OS X operating system, El Capitan, which will slow my computer down to a crawl, because I don't have enough RAM to run it. Didn't have a choice and had to update to Yosemite, because, I couldn't do Turbo Tax without it.
I think there's a conspiracy between Apple and software developers designed to force endusers to get the latest and greatest MAC.

Anyhow back to Windows? Yes, this is a problem. My workplace has decided to update from Windows 7 to Windows 10, which is crippling my computer at work. Programs keep shutting down without warning, the computer is crawling, and its hard to work. I've called and talked to the helpdesk five times now, no relief. It takes forever to shut it down and forever to bring it back up. And I don't even think it's been updated to Windows 10 yet.

Windows 10 is a problem -- because Microsoft tried to do the touchscreen for PC's that weren't meant for touch screen. What you have to do is go into the settings and turn off the touch device. They are insisting on updating to it -- because it has security devices and updates and protections that the previous one doesn't have. I had a long discussion with an IT guy at work about this once.

Personally, I think they should wait to update to the one that came out after it...which is better. Windows is odd that way --- Windows 7 was good, Windows Vista was a nightmare, Windows XP wasn't bad, Windows ME had major issues.

But the problem with updating, is you often need a whole new computer for the new operating system, or it will slow your computer down because it doesn't have enough memory or RAM for the new system to operate.

I think the whole thing is headache inducing. I've been debating buying a new Mac, but I really don't want to. It's means dragging the old one into the crowded Apple Store, getting the new one, having them switch everything on the old one to the new one. Also I can't say I like the MAC much better than the PC I have at work. The PC is actually easier to use and find things in from a spreadsheet and writing perspective, but the MAC doesn't get viruses, and is better for internet and photos.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Windows 8 was a mess, because of the touch screen business. They had the thing boot up in a clunky screen filled with giant icons (fine only for mobile devices) and it took some digging to get back to the old Windows screen that most people prefer. Windows 10 has definitely improved on the interface over that (they updated the XBOX 1, which also runs Windows several months ago). But, as you say, with an older computer Windows 10 is just going to slow things down unnecessarily.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Ah, I keep confusing Windows 8 with Windows 10. My workplace wisely waited until Windows 10, to upgrade again. They weren't touching Windows 8 with a ten-foot pole. (Gotta give them credit for that.)

My work computer probably needs to be updated again. The last time was about three years ago.

It's said, technology is so disposable.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine alerted me to this several months ago, so I wasn't too surprised when suddenly it's shown up in the general press in just the last week. The popup window hasn't appeared on my (Windows 7 Pro) machine yet, but apparently the nasty bit is, according to the newspaper article, the "X" in the upper corner that normally closes the window without doing anything instead arranges you for a future update. It is then apparently a bear to stop said update from occurring.

This machine I have now is only about a year old, I held on to my two beloved Win XP machines as long as possible before getting this one exclusively for online use, and the XP machines are now offline but still regularly used.

I had the new machine custom built for me, and insisted on Win 7 as the OS, which was still available although Microsoft was already well into Win 8 by then.

Win 7 isn't bad, but frankly I still prefer XP. I have no interest in touchscreen machines-- I do a lot of work with photos, audio and video, and all the software on the old machines does exactly what I need, so why would I want to spend the money to "upgrade"?

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Internet is a giant mess Monday and Tuesday morning when perhaps millions of computers in the US are trying to download the exact same thing from Microsoft.

I have no proof of this other than some unconfirmed internet rumors, but I suspect that Microsoft has been downloading Win 10 as part of the normal Windows Update feature over the last few months, so all the code for Win 10 might already be there on your machine, and simply needs to be activated.

If this is the case, there would be no crush of downloads, only a short file to start the activation procedure.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

You may be correct. Since I stopped the switch I've been getting some complaining from the system that it can't do "normal" updates which now seems to include Windows 10!

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Oh, joy. I just dug deeper, and Microsoft wants to force Windows 10 on everyone. But to actually use it you have to agree not to sue them for any reason, but go to arbitration. Just nonsense. I know legislation is in the works to make that kind of contract illegal going forward, and that may be Microsoft's real interest in switching everyone now.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I should add I don't think Microsoft is expecting trouble, just wanting to cover their asses in case the worst happens.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

It is a bit of a puzzle to me why they are so adamant on pushing the newest OS this way-- it's behavior really quite unprecedented in the industry outside of the criminal element, i.e., the malware / adware people.

They had to know that it would provoke a furious reaction among users (and it has), so what is behind it?

With the caveat that I only trust internet info sources so far, even normally reputable ones such as CNET, I was struck by one response I found that, while listing a large number of Wndows Update downloads that relate to the Win 10 "update", a number of them were referred to as "telemetry".

That is-- progrms that run in the background that return user information to Microsoft. These aren't remotely new, and when you click on acceptance of most license agreements, you agree to the collection of usage data that supposedly the company utilizes to make future improvements in the product. These collections are not supposed to go so far as to collect personal data or become keyloggers that literally read back anything you type.

But they could. If I wanted to be paranoid (not always a bad thing, truthfully), I'd look at the recent snafu between Apple and the US regarding unlocking Apple's encrypted files and use of those by terrorists or criminals. Apple wouldn't back down.

Perhaps Microsoft has decided to be more, shall we say, flexible in this regard? And extensive "telemetry" built into the core of Win 10 might help along those lines?

"I'm not paranoid-- they are all spies!!"

-- famous line from the film "The President's Analyst"

( And he was right, BTW )

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

It's no secret Windows 10 has all kinds of ways for Microsoft to track what you are doing if you don't carefully turn it all off. OneDisk(TM) is just an easy way for them to scan everything you do. The list of things on your phone, pad or computer they want to be able scan all the time is staggering: your location, your Photos, voice stuff as you record with your devices, key-loggers, what you click on. It can all be turned off, which is no doubt how they stay legal. But there is so much of it that you are never sure you got it all. Reports say that some of the updates have turned things back on without reporting it to the user.

I have one computer that has Windows 10. It runs fine. But I never use that one connected to the net.

It may be all for the purposes of advertising, but if Microsoft has it someone worse could break in and use it all.