Windows 10?

[Greenman]

I read Computeractive and WebUser magazine and this week's issue(and last month for CActive) both said that Microsoft were hiding something from people-I've not read that article yet but it sounds like they aren't telling you something - it was a complete turnaround that they released it for free, but ONLY for Windows 7, 8 & 8.1 users and then you had to register your interest first, sort of booking the download in advance. It was demonstrated on the BBC News by reporter Rory Cellan-Jones and it seems to me to be an amalgam of both the old Windows and the new one(the one with those panels for touchscreen) I might also add on the front of the magazine it tells you how(inside) how to revert back to Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 if you have just upgraded to 10. I'd wait until any problems or updates have gone out before considering Windows 10.

[sandhunter]

So I got an e-mail from MS this morning letting me know that I could expect my free upgrade in a matter of days or a couple of weeks, this was kind of funny, since I canceled that update a week ago.

[Misrule]

Just wondering... do the old executables like sol.exe, spider.exe, etc work under Win10. I'd much prefer to play solitaire locally than have anything to do with a MS app that wants an internet connection.

[Rick Danger]

Originally Posted by Misrule

Just wondering... do the old executables like sol.exe, spider.exe, etc work under Win10.

I can't answer specifically if those executables (I take it they're games) will or will not be overwritten by the Windows 10 upgrade. But everything I've read basically says that Windows 10 will either delete or replace older applications that are also part of Windows 10.

If you can, copy the files to a USB and go to your local Microsoft Store and ask them to try them out.

My next post will offer you no reassurance that Windows 10 won't overwrite your favorite games.....

[Rick Danger]

Microsoft is getting dinged for overwriting user preferences during the Windows 10 update.... apparently without allowing the customers to opt out.

Why Mozilla calls this Windows 10 feature 'very disturbing'
By David Goldman @DavidGoldmanCNN

Reviews of Windows 10 have been glowing, but one prominent tech CEO is giving it a big thumbs down.

Upgrading to Windows 10 using "express settings" will automatically make Microsoft Edge your PC's default Web browser, even if you used a different browser when your PC was running Windows 7 or Windows 8. You can make Mozilla Firefox, Google (GOOGL, Tech30) Chrome, Apple (AAPL, Tech30) Safari or another app your default browser in Windows 10, but it's not as easy or intuitive to do that as it was in previous versions of Windows.

In an open letter to Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) CEO Satya Nadella, Mozilla chief Chris Beard called that new browser experience "very disturbing."

"The update experience appears to have been designed to throw away the choice your customers have made about the Internet experience they want, and replace it with the Internet experience Microsoft wants them to have," Beard wrote.

In previous versions of Windows, browsers would prompt you to make them the default app for Web browsing. If you clicked "Use this as my default browser," the browser would automatically change your PC settings. You didn't need to do anything else.

In Windows 10, browsers will still prompt you to make them the default browser. But then you'll have to manually change your settings.

According to Sean Hollister's ongoing blog on Gizmodo and his Windows 10 experience:

The other thing that’s pissing me off is the way Windows 10 tries to push its own new applications. When I started my upgrade, there was a settings screen that asked me whether I wanted to use the new Photos, Movies and TV, and the Microsoft Edge browser. I said yes. What I (stupidly) didn’t realize is that Microsoft was going to make them into my default applications for all kinds of tasks. Every image I open launched in Photos instead of Irfanview, and I can’t say it’s an improvement.

If you don’t check those boxes when you’re setting up Windows 10, though, it still doesn’t respect your previous defaults for those choices, I discovered. It’ll pop up a dialog. Are you sure you want to keep using Google Chrome instead of switching to Microsoft Edge?

[Rick Danger]

I found this post on Microsoft's own Twitter feed.........



And we're still using HOSTS files in TCP/IP. Really ? Long before the widespread advent of DNS servers, writing and maintaining HOSTS files was a ritual. Did this for years.

If you are looking for your HOSTS file in Windows, look under:

%SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

The funny thing is the use of a HOSTS file is a major security vulnerability. The file may be modified by a virus, adware, or trojans to redirect connections from the intended destination to sites hosting malicious or unwanted content. The Mydoom.B worm blocked users from visiting sites about computer security and antivirus software and also compromised access to the Windows Update website.

But it is still part of Windows, including Windows 10. Make a copy of it so that if something weird starts happening with your connectivity you can check to see if the HOSTS file (which is plain text) has been altered without your knowledge.

[EsotericKnave]

Windows 10 is spying on almost everything you do

Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the services – however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer’s private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement.

[DTravel]

Only "almost everything"?

As for the Hosts file, I made major changes to mine years ago to block spam, adware and misc nasties using this site: http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

[9876543210]

Misrule,

Originally Posted by Misrule

Just wondering... do the old executables like sol.exe, spider.exe, etc work under Win10. I'd much prefer to play solitaire locally than have anything to do with a MS app that wants an internet connection.

I can answer that one since I play all of them once in a while.

The short answer is no. They do not come natively with Win 10. It seems that there are no games which come with Win 10. MS now want you to go to their new "store" to get such things. You are supposed to first "register" with MS to acquire the "free" newer versions of these games.

I did that when I installed Win 10 the first time. Registered (under an assumed name and forgot it) and then downloaded the newer versions. They were nice, flashier, but basically the same thing. The only real difference I remember was with Mahjong which had many more games than earlier versions. That was kind of interesting but not worth the Win 10 upgrade.

Now, I reinstalled Win 10 a couple of days ago and did a web search for the games your referring to. Surprisingly, I found a page which had all of the Win 8.1 games as a download. So I did just that. Played a couple of them and they seemed to work just fine.

So if you do upgrade, do a web search for the games and you should be able to find them. Don't remember the wording I used but it was probably something like "Solitaire on Win 10". If you really can't find it let us know in here and I'll see if I can find the link.

Good luck.

[9876543210]

Rick Danger,

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

I can't answer specifically if those executables (I take it they're games) will or will not be overwritten by the Windows 10 upgrade. But everything I've read basically says that Windows 10 will either delete or replace older applications that are also part of Windows 10.

If you can, copy the files to a USB and go to your local Microsoft Store and ask them to try them out.

The second time I installed Win 10, I installed it on a 60 Gb SSD which had Win 7 on it and most of the software I use all of the time. Those games were on the Win 7 install.

All of them were overwritten and none were available when Win 10 finished installing. I had to go find them elsewhere on the web (or go to the Win 10 store to acquire the updated versions).

Actually, come to think of it, I tried to go to the MS store and couldn't get in for some reason. That was on the 29th so they were probably too busy.