Windows 10?

[Rick Danger]

Microsoft Update released seven Optional Updates for Windows 8.1 today.

Much to my surprise, not only were details available, but none of them had anything to do with Windows 10. They were minor fixes, some security related. After reviewing each, I opted to install four. The other three I judged to be not applicable to my system.

I will still run GWX Control Panel to scan my system after the updates have been installed.

Also, I posted a full rundown on Microsoft's security related updates for November on the "Technology versus Privacy" thread: http://vintage-erotica-forum.com/sho...2&postcount=49

[Faceman675]

Originally Posted by DTravel

One of the claimed "features" of Win10 is that it will check for and disable "unsanctioned" (i.e. unregistered or pirated) software.

Thanks. I guess I will be one of those people with windows 7 holding my breath and praying my computer doesn't die on me The 3 pieces of software I don't want to lose would cost over $1000 for me to replace. I am ok with how windows 7 works. It's problems don't seem to affect the way I use the computer.

Wondering if anyone has first hand knowledge of trying to run pirated software on Windows 10?

[Rick Danger]

Just in time for your Holiday online shopping, a tricky trojan has mutated to include compromising Windows 10 and the Edge browser......http://vintage-erotica-forum.com/sho...6&postcount=50

[Rick Danger]

Just picked this up from my Inbox moments ago, from our friends on the Patch Management mailing list.

So, let's say you've either bought a new Windows 10 machine or have "bitten the bullet" and taken the free upgrade. You've setup the defaults the way you like them, and removed any Windows apps that you don't want. Everything is fine and you're sipping the Redmond tea.............

Except now you've received the new Windows 10 Version 1511 update released yesterday. Surprise, surprise. All your settings have been reset to their defaults, and apps that you've removed have been reinstalled.

Certainly annoying if you're sitting home with one, two, maybe three machines to manage. But IT professionals who are just now trying to address rolling out Windows 10 across dozens, if not hundreds of computers are NOT happy tonight. An update that breaks what isn't broken. What a novel idea!

And remember: if you're running Windows 10 Home or Pro, or anything less than Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB), you had no choice other than to take this update.

Like we used to say in the old neighborhood, "Sorry Bro, you've just been CLOWNED!"

RE: [patchmanagement] Windows 10 1511 pdf default
Thursday, November 19, 2015 7:36 PM

From: "Alan Mayer" <ammayer@butlerrec.coop>
To: "Patch Management Mailing List" <patchmanagement@listserv.patchmanagement.org>

Upgrading to 1511 changes default programs for everything like browser and images and reinstalls all of the Windows apps you've previously uninstalled. Not sure how to remedy this without using group policy for default programs and start up scripts to uninstall Windows apps. I'm under the impression anything other than LTSB is going to be a nightmare to manage.

-------- Original message --------
From: Donald Elam <DonaldElam@daes.com>
Date: 11/19/2015 6:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: Patch Management Mailing List <patchmanagement@listserv.patchmanagement.org>
Subject: [patchmanagement] Windows 10 1511 pdf default

On two computers I’ve upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 10 1511, the default program for pdf files changed to Edge. Has anyone else seen this?

Thanks.

Je Suis Paris

[m100]

and if that doesn't scream that they have an ulterior motive for wanting those default options and apps to remain in place i don't know what does.

[Rick Danger]

Predictable. Microsoft is bending over backwards to fix Windows 10 in order to appeal to enterprise customers. For the rest of us, we get ........

Forbes.com / Tech

Nov 18, 2015 @ 12:10 PM 89,910 views
Windows 10 Big Improvement Will Anger Users
Gordon Kelly, Contributor

Last week’s massive Windows 10 ‘Threshold 2’ update is living up to its name. For some the positive changes have renewed faith in the controversial operating system, for others new problems it introduced have seen them swear off the platform for good. And now a single Threshold 2 feature is causing both reactions…

Continuing the welcome trend of Microsoft delivering on its promises, Threshold 2 (which brings Windows 10 up to version ‘1511’) has introduced flexible and powerful new ways to take control over how Windows 10 receives and installs updates.

Dug out by ComputerWorld, it found Windows 10 1511 now lets users distinguish between ‘Updates’ (patches), and ‘Upgrades’ (new Windows 10 versions) and choose exactly how long they want to defer each – up to a maximum of eight months. The same threat remains in place that security updates will be stopped if users try to delay updates and upgrades longer than this, but given the time periods involved that shouldn’t lead to too much mutiny.

Windows 10 'Threshold 2' changes improve upgrade control - for some...



For many this is the number one thing they wanted from Windows 10: granular control of the features Microsoft pushes out through Windows Update.

It also represents the fulfillment of a statement from Microsoft Corporate Vice President Jim Alkove in September where he stated: “We’ve heard that feedback from enterprise customers so we’re actively working on how we provide them with information about what’s changing and what new capabilities and new value they’re getting.”

And here is where you spot the problem: Enterprise customers.

In fairness Threshold 2 has expanded upon Alkove’s promise, delivering the new controls to Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education owners. But everyday consumers have again been left out in the cold. Consequently those Windows editions which already had most control now have more and no concessions have been made to mainstream Windows 10 Home users, a group which has been incredibly vocal in its frustration. By now this verges on taunting.

So should we be surprised? Probably not and here’s why…

Back in January Alkove openly published a blog post confirming mainstream consumers on Windows 10 had a valuable role to play as guinea pigs for businesses:

“By the time Current branch for Business [Windows 10] machines are updated, the changes will have been validated by millions of Insiders, consumers and customers’ internal test processes for several months, allowing updates to be deployed with this increased assurance of validation,” he explained.

With such a promise to business users it seems unlikely that the ongoing improvements Microsoft is delivering to the Window 10 update process will ever find themselves in consumers’ hands. Consequently the number one complaint about Windows 10 will likely never be fixed and the fact Threshold 2, the biggest Windows 10 update so far, actually widens the gap between the haves and have nots only emphasizes that.

Needless to say there two obvious workarounds: 1. Pay the $199 asking price for Windows 10 Pro instead of taking the free upgrade offer to Windows 10 Home (normally $119). 2. Stick with Windows 7 or Windows 8 and apply pressure to Microsoft by continuing to grind Windows 10’s impressive early momentum to a halt.

The latter may sound smarter, but Microsoft is already one step ahead and refusing to upgrade will soon become a lot harder to do…

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

I said VERY EARLY ON in this thread that for me Xbox integration and Windows Phone integration were not features of Windows 10 that remotely interested me.

At the beginning of this week I posted one review of Microsoft's first release of Windows Mobile 10 (Build 10581). The reviewer, Andrew Orlowski stated it was ".......a surprisingly amateurish experience" and went further to state "...with code of this quality, the company should seriously consider whether it needs to be developing a Mobile version of Windows at all."

In a follow up posting, I reported that Microsoft's attempts to port Android apps over to Windows Mobile 10 had been derailed, perhaps permanently.

And now this, news of the reviews of the new Lumina 950. Shockingly, Redmond has released this product at $600 US, a price on a par with top line Apple and Samsung devices.

I had assumed with their weak marketshare (2.6%), poor first release of Windows Mobile 10, and lack of a robust, competitive app portfolio that Microsoft would price the new Lumina aggressively to help spur sales, at least in the short term. Instead, they have hung a premium price tag on what is clearly a substandard product.

Many of us have questioned Microsoft's technology and marketing direction during the course of this thread. To be blunt, the release of the Lumina 950 at this price, the lack of supporting apps and services, and the poor performance and feature set of Windows Mobile 10 Build 10581 adds up to an amazing strategic blunder.

Maybe I'm too old or just too stupid to understand the deep thinking at work here. But who would pay $600 for what is a "basic" smartphone experience (and I'm being charitable here)? How can anyone in their right mind release this kind of a mess going into the all-important Christmas retail season? In the face of immensely popular products like the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, who would buy this as a gift for a friend or loved one?

I AM TRULY AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.

Tech Insider
Microsoft's new smartphone sounds like a dud
Steve Kovach
Nov. 20, 2015, 11:56 AM 577


The Lumia 950

Microsoft hasn't given up on making smartphones, but critics don't recommend the company's latest effort.

The reviews are in for the Lumia 950, the first Windows Phone to run the new Windows 10 operating system, and critics were far from kind. No one recommends buying the Lumia 950 over other devices.

The Lumia 950 goes on sale this week for $600, the same price range as other top-tier devices like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S6. But even though it can do some nifty tricks like connect to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor and run sort of like a traditional desktop PC, reviewers agree that it doesn't have what it takes to compete.

Here's what reviewers are saying:

Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal complained about the Lumia 950's poor app selection, saying most popular apps either aren't available or haven't been updated in years. For example, Instagram is still in its "beta" phase and doesn't let you upload videos.

Dan Seifert of The Verge criticized the new Windows 10 operating system. He says it's very similar to the last version, Windows Phone 8.1 and "feels like a work in progress."

Peter Bright of Ars Technica had problems with the new "Hello" feature, which lets you unlock the Lumia after it scans your iris. Bright says he had difficulty getting Hello to work when wearing glasses. And the WSJ's Stern said the feature didn't work well in low light.

Those complaints were pretty consistent across all the early reviews. There's no compelling reason to buy Microsoft's newest phone, the reviewers say.

For what it's worth, one reviewer seemed to like the Lumia 950, but he was writing for Microsoft's own blog. So you might want to take what he says with a grain of salt. Still, the writer isn't a professional tech critic. He's a longtime fan of Windows Phones, and it seems like the Lumia 950 was designed for the small sliver of the population that's still dedicated to the platform.


The Lumia 950 can connect to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor

There were some other positives: Reviewers generally saw a lot of potential in Continuum, the feature that lets you dock your Lumia with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor and run PC-like programs on the desktop. It hints at a future where you might not need a full PC for a lot of tasks. But for now, the hardware of the phone isn't powerful enough to run many PC programs. Critics also said the camera held up well against the excellent cameras in the iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S6, and Nexus 6P.

But for most people, the Lumia 950 won't be the best option. It simply doesn't have the useful apps and services the iPhone and Android devices have. The Lumia, and other Windows Phones, are only good for people narrowly focused on using phones for the basics.

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

Originally Posted by Faceman675

This may have already been addressed but has anyone had trouble with software compatibility? I have a few photo editing programs that are less than registrable ( sounds so much nicer than pirated ). I use these quite a bit and am concerned if I upgrade from 7 to 10 will they be functional? I have never done an upgrade before will I need to reload all the programs when I upgrade to 10?

Originally Posted by DTravel

One of the claimed "features" of Win10 is that it will check for and disable "unsanctioned" (i.e. unregistered or pirated) software.

I don't have a direct answer to this question. Here is my research and my opinion.

I had stated previously that one reason why I cancelled upgrading to Windows 10 was that I concerned with the lack of information concerning hardware and software compatibility. As Mr. A435843 observed it was apparent that Microsoft was pushing off compatibility testing of Windows 10 to those in the "Insider" program and those who elected to take the upgrade starting back on July 29th. In my experience, this hardly meets the rigorous criteria for compatibility testing that had been the practice in years-gone-by.

It was widely reported in August that some games would not run under Windows 10. But apparently this has less to do with piracy and more to do with the older software protection schemes used by these games. From one article on the Tech Insider website:

One issue has already arisen: games using aging protection software ("SecuROM" and "SafeDisc" software) won't run on Windows 10. As PC gaming website Rock, Paper, Shotgun points out, this means hundreds of older games simply won't function on Windows 10. It's a calculated tradeoff Microsoft is making for the safety of the whole Windows 10 user base, rather than catering to a relatively niche group of folks looking to play older games.

Here's Rock, Paper, Shotgun's explanation:

Games which used these forms of DRM range from "Crimson Skies" to "Grand Theft Auto 3," "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004" to the original "The Sims." Yet despite this change coming in Windows 10, blame can’t likely be placed at Microsoft’s feet. For one, SafeDisc is notoriously insecure and Microsoft’s decision to block it from their new operating system will likely protect more users than it hurts.

http://www.techinsider.io/why-window...d-games-2015-8

Another feature of Windows 10 designed to prevent certain software programs from running is called Device Guard. However, this feature is aimed at enterprise users, and apparently is NOT a feature of Windows 10 Home. It would allow IT management the ability to establish their own approved list of software applications. The aim here is not necessarily to suppress unlicensed software but to prevent sophisticated malware attacks:

Malware and exploits have a distinct advantage: they always get the first move. Traditional antimalware and security tools are reactive and based on detecting and blocking known threats. A threat can't be known, however, until it exists and affects something or someone first. It's a poor model for defense. Microsoft proposes to change that with Device Guard.

There are already controls in place within Windows that make determinations about whether or not an application can be trusted and should be allowed to execute. The Achilles heel of that approach is that some rootkits and exploits are capable of compromising Windows at the kernel level—below where those decisions are made. That means the malware itself can alter, override, or circumvent those decisions and execute anyway.

Device Guard takes the protection to a new level. It uses technology embedded at the hardware level, combined with virtualization, to separate the decision-making process from the Windows operating system. Microsoft's Chris Hallum explained in a blog post that this isolation prevents malware and exploits from executing, even in the event that the attacker has full access to the system. "This gives it a significant advantage over traditional anti-virus and app control technologies like AppLocker, Bit9, and others that are subject to tampering by an administrator or malware."

and

In essence, Device Guard seems to offer a sort of whitelisting capability. IT organizations will have significant control and the ability to customize the apps that are allowed to execute. Device Guard can be configured to simply allow all applications signed by a specific trusted vendor, or IT organizations can authorize each individual signed app. No matter how Device Guard is set up, the premise is that only the applications pre-approved to execute will be allowed to run on a system protected with Device Guard.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/...-device-guard/

That is NOT to say that blocking of "unsigned" or pirated software may not be part of the current feature set of Windows 10. The past few years have seen a tightening of operating system and firmware controls out of security concerns. For example, under the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) standard which has supplanted the traditional BIOS firmware on new PCs there is a feature called UEFI Secure Boot. Essentially, UEFI Secure Boot can prevent "unsigned" drivers or OS loaders from being loaded and run. This was meant to prevent low level malware from being executed as part of the boot process, where traditional anti-malware products could not detect, let alone combat them. But early on Linux vendors were complaining that it effectively blocked their products from running on PCs, favoring Microsoft Windows. Currently Secure Boot is supported by Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, and a number of Linux distributions including Fedora (since version 18), openSUSE (since version 12.3), and Ubuntu (since version 12.04.2). As of June 2015, FreeBSD support is in a planning stage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unifie...ware_Interface

The bottom line here is that with ANY operating system update you run the risk of older software products, whether licensed or unlicensed, not being able to run under the new environment. Reinstallation of the application(s) is within the realm of possibility. From what I've read of the Windows 10 upgrade process, I would fully expect to have to reinstall third party applications. The only way you can be assured of compatibility is (1) the software vendor states the application(s) are Windows 10 compatible, and/or (2) you conduct your own compatibility testing. The only sure step is retaining your current operating environment and NOT upgrading.

Since you have not named the applications in question, I'm afraid you can only rely on your own research to answer this question.

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

When PCWorld.com (which reads more like a Microsoft internal marketing publication than an objective technology journal) complains about a decision out of Redmond, you know it can't be good.

Microsoft is so busy trying to figure out new and creative ways to shaft it's customers, it had to invent something new. Taking a valuable Windows 10 deployment tool out of the mix, especially one that one of it's own executives recommended is idiotic.

Like I said. Maybe I'm too old, too stupid, or still under the cloud from the excellent san'gria I had last night. But if you are trying to mend fences and convince customers to get onboard with your strategic vision, is this how you'd go about doing it? I just don't get it.

I can't believe these dumbkopfs have jobs!

Microsoft removes standalone download of November Windows 10 update
If you want the November update for Windows 10, you can no longer use the Media Creation Tool to get it—Windows Update is the only option.

Nick Mediati
PCWorld
November 22, 2015 11:11 AM



If you wanted to upgrade a PC to the latest release of Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool (MCT), prepare to jump through some more hoops. On Saturday, ZDNet’s Ed Bott reported that Microsoft recently removed the downloadable version of the November update for Windows 10, replacing it instead with the build of Windows 10 it released back in July.

Microsoft responded to Bott’s story to explain that the November Update’s removal was intentional, and that the company “decided that future installs should be through Windows Update.”

To make matters worse, if you upgrade a Windows 7 or 8.1 PC to Windows 10 today using the Build 10240 Media Creation Tool, you might not be able to get the November update for another month. As BetaNews points out, Microsoft’s FAQ for the November update states the following:

If it’s been less than 31 days since you upgraded to Windows 10, you won’t get the November update straight away; this will allow you to go back to your previous version of Windows if you choose. After the 31 days have passed, your PC will automatically download the November update.”

In addition, According to Bott, Microsoft made the change with no warning beyond a single line on the download page that says, “These downloads cannot be used to update Windows 10 PCs to the November update (Version 1511).” In other words, if you downloaded the MCT after the switch to the older Windows 10 build, didn’t read the fine print, and expected the November update, you’re going to be in for a surprise.

Why this matters: For most typical users, this isn’t going to be a huge deal, seeing as most average users likely aren’t going to touch the MCT. But if you’re a more advanced user who wants to create a bootable Windows 10 installer—or if you just don’t want to wait for updates to appear in Windows Update—you’re not going to like this change. At all.

It’s especially obnoxious considering Microsoft executive Gabe Aul actually took to Twitter a couple weeks ago to recommend using the MCT to bypass Windows Update, as Bott pointed out in his report.

Hopefully, the Windows team will come to its senses and reverse its decision because with Microsoft’s new Media Creation Tool policy, everyone loses.

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

Originally Posted by Faceman675

This may have already been addressed but has anyone had trouble with software compatibility? I have a few photo editing programs that are less than registrable ( sounds so much nicer than pirated ). I use these quite a bit and am concerned if I upgrade from 7 to 10 will they be functional? I have never done an upgrade before will I need to reload all the programs when I upgrade to 10?

Found this article on the "How-To-Geek" website. Please note that just as I stated in my first post on this subject the author of this article recommends that you contact the software company or developer that supplied your software to address the question of Windows 10 compatibility.

I have a close friend who is a fan of the Boso View Express (BVE) train simulator. It required retro installing DLL files to get it to run under Windows 7. He never upgraded to Windows 8, and I assume he's in no tearing hurry to go to Windows 10. There is an openBVE product that uses different graphics support and 3-D rendering, which may be able to run on Windows 10. I'm trying to research this for him.

I have some "moldy-oldie" graphics editing software that I've been running since Windows XP. I prefer it to the newer editions of the product, and it runs fine for me under Windows 8.1. I'm in no hurry to lose it via a Windows 10 "upgrade".

Also, Microsoft informed we a few years ago that Microsoft Office XP would not run under Windows 8.1. I was able to install it, and it ran perfectly fine. However, attempts to install Office service packs repeatedly failed. It is likely that the registry keys that the service packs needed to reference in order for the installs to run were not created when Office XP was installed under Windows 8. I don't use Office XP any longer so I have not investigated this further.

I hope this article helps.....

Is Windows 10 Backwards Compatible With Your Existing Software?

Microsoft’s Windows 10 seems like a big change. The version number alone is a big leap from Windows 7, and most of the default apps are new-style “universal apps,” not traditional desktop apps.

But, if you depend on traditional Windows desktop applications, you shouldn’t worry. Don’t let Windows 10’s new look fool you — if an application ran on Windows 7, it should also run on Windows 10.
Under the Hood, It’s Similar to Windows 7 and 8

Yes, Windows 10 can run traditional Windows desktop applications. Windows 10 is very similar to Windows 8 under the hood, and Windows 8 was very similar to Windows 7. There are no huge application security model or driver architecture changes, as there were when moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista, or Windows XP to Windows 7.

In other words, if it runs on Windows 7 or 8, it’s almost guaranteed to run on Windows 10.

Yes, Windows 10 includes a whole new application model, but traditional Windows desktop applications run side-by-side with those new applications.

Windows RT is Gone
Microsoft has even killed off Windows RT, so even Microsoft’s Surface 3 can now run traditional desktop applications, although the Surface 2 couldn’t.

All Windows laptops and tablets 8 inches or larger in size have access to the full Windows desktop. Windows 10 devices under 8 inches in size run “Windows Mobile,” and don’t have a desktop. This is a bit different from Windows 8, where there were 7-inch tablets with a full Windows desktop. But, if you’re looking at a 7.9-inch Windows tablet, you probably don’t want to run desktop apps on it anyway.

Compatibility Modes
It can be quite annoying when you try to install a driver or other software on Windows 7 just to find out it isn’t compatible with the new OS. Today we look at using the Program Compatibility Assistant, and troubleshooting compatibility issues so programs install successfully. [Read Article]

Like Windows 7, Windows 10 does have “compatibility mode” options that trick applications into thinking they’re running on older versions of Windows. Many older Windows desktop programs will run fine when using this mode, even if they wouldn’t otherwise.

Windows 10 will automatically enable compatibility options if it detects an application that needs them, but you can also enable these compatibility options by right-clicking an application’s .exe file or shortcut, selecting Properties, clicking the Compatibility tab, and selecting a version of Windows the program worked properly on. If you’re not sure what the problem is, the “compatibility troubleshooter” can walk you through choosing optimal settings.

What Won’t Run
A few things that did work in previous versions of Windows won’t work properly on Windows 10.

Any application or hardware that requires an old driver will be a problem. If you depend on an application that interfaces with a Windows XP-era hardware device and the manufacturer has never provided a driver that works on Windows 7, you’re likely in trouble. On the other hand, if there is a driver that does work on Windows 7, your hardware should continue working properly on Windows 10.

Any application that only worked on Windows XP and broke in the upgrade to Windows 7 also won’t work on Windows 10 — don’t expect it to. The Professional versions of Windows 10 don’t offer the “XP Mode” feature Microsoft offered in Windows 7. If you absolutely do depend on Windows XP software that doesn’t run properly on Windows 7 or newer versions of Windows, you can set up your own Windows XP virtual machine.

16-bit applications — that is, any application left over from the Windows 3.1 era — also won’t work on 64-bit versions of Windows 10. If you had a 32-bit version of Windows 7, they would run on that. If you do depend on ancient 16-bit applications, be sure you install the 32-bit version of Windows 10. This is just like with Windows 7 — 16-bit applications wouldn’t run on 64-bit versions of Windows 7, either. Try to run a 16-bit application on the 64-bit version of Windows 10 and you’ll see a “This app can’t run on your PC” message.

How to Find Out if an Application is Compatible
Microsoft offers an Upgrade Advisor that scans your system and informs you if it finds any applications or hardware devices that won’t work properly on Windows 10. This is built into the new “Get Windows 10” application that’s been rolled out to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users via Windows Update. Click the “Get Windows 10” icon in your system tray and go through the process.

If you have important applications that you use for business purposes or anything else irreplaceable, you should consider contacting the developer or company that produced them and asking if the applications will be compatible with Windows 10. These applications should be if they were compatible with Windows 7 and 8.

If you really depend on these applications, you might want to hold off upgrading for a few weeks and see if other people with the applications say they work properly on Windows 10. You don’t necessarily have to upgrade on the first day Windows 10 is available — the free upgrade offer lasts an entire year.

Windows 10 does remove compatibility with some features built into Windows. Windows Media Center, built into Windows 7 and a paid download for Windows 8 , is no longer available. Traditional desktop versions of the Hearts, Solitaire, and Minesweeper games are no longer included, but modern replacements for Solitaire and Minesweeper are. DVD playback is no longer built in, but you can just install VLC. Desktop gadgets are gone, but those were never properly secure anyway.

Chris Hoffman is a technology writer and all-around computer geek. He's as at home using the Linux terminal as he is digging into the Windows registry. Connect with him on Google+.

Published 06/19/15

http://www.howtogeek.com/219782/is-w...ting-software/

Je Suis Paris