WIN10 on new Laptop.

For those that liked the XP style interface - take a look at Linux Mint, 'MATE' edition. Rock solid, easy to understand, runs great on older hardware too... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMHjUqRfmC8

They have emailed me, i found the email on the old PC as I went bed. It did not take them 24 hrs!

They tell me I am who I am and the term they used was. 'Right on' your email addy has been verified. I did not know Microsoft ruled my world!

I am invited to reset my password, but, I have a password but no way to get a Microsoft Acct. My heads hurting already.

Clive

Hi Clive,

I think you've got entangled with different accounts and passwords, the confusion being partly down to changes the new operating system (W10), and partly down to changes made to Skype, which is now a Microsoft service.

Breaking it down:

1. You need a W10 account (or accounts) that let you log on to your Aspire. A new machine comes with an admin account and password that lets you create new user accounts. These accounts are all local to your computer and the machine will work whether or not you are connected to the Internet. You control the account names and the passwords.
2. In my opinion, one of the obnoxious features of W10 is the way it implies during setup that users also need a 'Microsoft Live Account'. Actually it's only needed if you want to use one of the Microsoft Cloud Services.
3. Previously Skype was a separate service with it's own account and password mechanism. Not a Skype user myself, but I think this method of accessing Skype still works. Now that Skype is owned by Microsoft, it seems that they are integrating it as one of their Cloud Services, for which you will need a Microsoft Live Account.

What I think has happened to you is that you created an unnecessary Microsoft Live Account (because W10 'told' you to), got that wrong somehow, and in passing derailed Skype.

One reason that account confusion takes time to sort out is the security aspect. You don't really want Microsoft resetting or deleting accounts just because people ring out of the blue and tell them to. If Microsoft weren't checking, naughty people would be able to delete or access your account .

As a Linux-lover myself I can highly recommend it. Going linux is a very good way of avoiding a whole raft of Microsoft disadvantages. But changing to an entirely new operating system isn't a good way of fixing a few password problems! Converting to linux means learning a whole set of new tricks, and, as John Stevenson points out, some software only works with Microsoft. Another objection is that installing linux on a brand new laptop may be itself problematic: the machine may have unsupported hardware, and some makers seem to positively enjoy making it difficult to install anything other than Windows. The linux community are rather good at sorting these issues out, but it may take them a year or two!

If I were you I'd spend time exploring W10 whilst waiting for your Live Account to so sorted out. Fixing that may mend Skype too. If it doesn't, it's back to Microsoft to sort out the Skype password problem.

By the way, it's good practice to have a little book of account details and passwords carefully hidden away. As most people have multiple passwords, it's easy to get them confused, especially when something changes.

OOPS! Crossed with Clive, who posted while I was typing.

Cheers,

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 13/12/2016 10:33:30

No problem to re-format the disk and install something like this: Windows 7 pro plenty of other vendors out there.

Alternatively install Linux Mint as others have advised. It will install alongside Windows 10 (or any other version) giving you the choice of operating systems on switch on.

I have three computers each set up to dual boot Linux/Windows and very rarely use Windows now, mainly for updating my GPS.

Russell

P.S. It seems to me that the main ideas behind W 10 are for MS to take control of your computer, push advertising, and sell Apps.

Edited By Russell Eberhardt on 13/12/2016 11:11:11

Clive,

I too, feel your pain as I went through something similar when I bought my wife (at her request) a Microsoft Surface computer (a couple of years ago). We ended up thoroughly confused and with two different accounts on the computer with different access rights. It was easier to leave them as set up than attempt to change them.

As SillyOldDuffer points out, Microsoft use the word "account" for so many different things that it is almost impossible to know which account they are referring to, unless you are really up on the semantics.

When Microsoft introduced Windows 8, they seemed to be trying to compete with Mac and adopted a " you don't need a manual for a Mac, we'll do the same" attitude. In my view, what they should have done was provide a document detailing where experienced Windows users would find the usual controls etc. Eventually, they had to relent and reinstate the Windows Desktop (which was there, but you had to look for it). I felt, at the time, that if I was running a business using Windows XP, there would be no way I'd have upgraded without Microsoft providing a significant training package for my staff. I suspect they lost a lot of business as a result.

I was so disgusted with their apparently cavalier attitude to customers (you will use it how we want you to use it, rather than how you want to use it) that I gradually started doing more and more in Ubuntu (Linux). I can boot into either Windows, or Ubuntu and I'm currently finding my way around Oracle's VirtualBox, which allows me to run Windows programs inside Ubuntu (in a Windows session). I'm just starting with my Windows TurboCad and Finale Guitar (music software) inside the VitrtualBox and am finding they run Ok (so far). It's not for the faint-hearted, but can be made to work with a little perseverance.

Don't give up. There are other ways to skin your cat (so to speak).

Regards Tom

With a new computer (late 2016 vintage), I have been told by the internet community that you cannot downgrade from W10 Home to W7. It is possible if W10 Pro is pre-installed. If upgrading to W10 Pro from Home edition, the downgrade to W7 option is not possible.

I also asked if it was possible to reformat the disk and install W7, but was told that Might not work because some of the new drivers would not be compatible with W7.

I'm sure there are ways around the problem, but I don't know nearly enough about computers to try. I like the sound of Classic Shell so will have a look at that.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Computers use a foreign language as far as I can see. Having said that our new computer with win8 installed uprated itself to win10. Not so bad until all the unwanted extras started downloading. I took the bull by the horns and cleared everything out, then re-installed win 8. Now works fine, lost a few bits, old photos, addresses etc. but no great probs.

If you have a fairly new model of home computer, it is quite likely that drivers are simply not available for W7. That's because it's not worth the manufacturers developing drivers for and supporting both W7 and W10 in that market and new peripheral devices have come along since they stopped developing W7. I came to grief when my previous employers insisted on buying me a crappy home laptop (only available with W8) and trying to install W7 on it. As there weren't any W7 drivers available, many of the peripherals wouldn't work. Luckily this was the trigger to jettison the noddy laptop and get a "real" one with W7 pro. That was a fiasco and I've moved on since then....

I have been using W10 on several machines for the last 12-18 months and it's fine. Much better than W8 by a looooong way.

Bear in mind that products like Virtualbox and Crossover for running Windows apps in Linux don't tend to support sophisticated programs such as modern 3D CAD. I guess they need to access the graphics etc at a low level that isn't possible on a virtual machine. So the likes of Fusion 360, Solidworks, Geomagic etc won't run or even install. Without wishing to start a fire, although it sounds as if Turbocad works in a VM, it doesn't quite cut it for me.

Once you get past this stumbling block, you won't look back. And you can sign in with a 4 digit pin number with W10 if you prefer it to a password.

Murray

I think it's highly unlikely that current hardware producers have dropped Window-7 from their list of supported OS's already. They've never done it that quickly before. If for no other reason than this

Right, here we go, I have now got a Skype set up but then found I have to pay a sub. to get it to run @1.8 P a min.

The set up was easy and totally unlike yesterday but they still wanted a verification as to who I was so had to give another one of my email addies.

Then, as i started the lap top it wanted to upgrade the software and 1 ,5 hrs later it shut down and re-booted. Now i have been poking around and I see I have Word, 365 is it?, I can have a freebie for a month and then subscribe. it looks as if i will not subscribe and will try to load my Word 97.

No asking for a Microsoft acct. number today, yet! Quite bluntly some of the functions are bizzare, opening but have no function and saying , 'Not Synced'. try as I might I cannot sync.anything particularly the email system.

It looks now as if i will be visiting one of the Grandsons who seem to have far more ability than I do on comuters.

Clive.

As others have said, get rid of Windows in favour of Linux.

I use, as do others, Mint which itself is based on Ubuntu. I use Firefox & Thunderbird for browsing & email, Libre Office for letters and simple spreadsheets. Initially I used an old version of Paint Shop Pro via Wine, but now I use The Gimp - a sort of Photoshop equivalent. And DOSemu to run an old DOS based database.

For CAD I use DesignCad Pro 2000 again via Wine. I do have Design Cad Pro 3D v 17.2 which more or less runs via Wine, and I understand that Design Cad Pro 3D v 24 will also run via Wine. But anyway, these programs could also be run via Virtual Box & XP if required.

Skype does work via Linux, but for some reason has trouble connecting when the other person answers, and incoming calls aren't that good either, but if a pre-arranged call can be made, it's absolutely fine.

Finally, with Mint, upgrades are done on the fly if you want, when you want.

Yes it will take a bit of time to get it up and running successfully, but once done it will simply work, and work, and work... The biggest danger is that you will forget what you have done to get it working, it's that reliable.

Go on, give it a try, you know you want to.

Peter G. Shaw

Following problems with a recent update Microsoft have said;

"Some customers using Windows 10 have reported difficulties connecting to the internet,"

"As a first step, we recommend customers restart their PCs.

"If this does not resolve the problem, visit our website for further support."

Right, your internet connection is broken so visit our website -Doh!

Russell.

Better still install LibreOffice, a complete office package compatible with MS Office and totally free. Available for Windows, MAC, and Linux.

Russell.

You misunderstand the situation. Windows 7 development has stopped and you can't even get OEM machines with Windows Pro installed now. So why would an OEM have W7 drivers developed for a new home laptop that only runs W10? Short answer is, they won't. Any new peripheral devices requiring drivers will get them in W10 flavours only.

It's possible that you may find drivers for the new devices out there that work with your homebrew W7 installation, most likely ones that were developed for W8, possibly some generic W10 ones but it's trial and error, with no guarantee they won't be wiped out by some subsequent update.

Murray:

Please google "Virtualbox accelerated graphics" before posting.

Regards, John.

(ps. I do use Virtualbox; I need it to fill in a time sheet that runs only on an old, incompatible version Explorer, so I have an XP virtual machine solely for this task - everything else, including software for a client - runs on Linux)

(pps - the software that I develop actually runs on the graphics chip; I have used Amazons offering to run "graphics chip based" software on their virtual machine offerings. The only constant is change...)

...and this might tell you something about the future of Linux and Windows:

https://news.microsoft.com/2016/11/16/microsoft-contributes-to-open-ecosystem-by-joining-linux-foundation-and-welcoming-google-to-the-net-community/

For anyone curious to try a version of Linux (and there are lots!) take a look at Distrowatch (and put the fun back in computing as they say):

https://distrowatch.com/

Edited By Frances IoM on 13/12/2016 21:20:44

It would be nice if someone could ask a question about Windows (or Linux ... or Mac) without having it turned into a Windows/Linux/Mac peeing contest every single time.

Paul R,

After many years of seeing what Microsoft has done and said about Linux, I for one remain very suspicious about Microsoft's motives.

Bandersnatch,

I changed to Linux when Microsoft withdrew support for XP. Since then I have watched with sheer disbelief Microsoft's shenanigans over Windows 8 & 10. Do you wonder that I for one will extol Linux over Windows? Or Apple too for that matter. I want to do what I want with MY computer, when I want, and without any interference from Microsoft or Apple.

To put it another way. You, presumably, have a car. Let's say it's a normal run-of-the-mill car and it's fitted with tyres by the ABC company. What would you think, when the tyres wear out, if the manufacturer said that you had fit the same tyres again when there are perfectly good and maybe even better tyres available? Well, I know what I would say, and the second word would begin with o and end with f! That is how I look at both Microsoft and Apple.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw

.

+1

A generous interpretation might be:

"keep your friends close but your enemies closer" ...

MichaelG.