windoze 10

W10 just showed me its roots...

Trying to copy files off an SD card it threw an error 'Invalid MS-DOS Function'...

Reinserted the card and all was OK.

Neil

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'Invalid MS-DOS Function' = ‘still limping along’

MichaelG.

Yesterday my laptop (Win 10 HE) informed me that my ISP data limit had been reached well before the planned date

Being a bit conservative with my downloads it has become apparent that background Windows updates have chewed away many many Gigabytes of my data allowance that I have paid for.

I have not consented to or given permission to Microsoft to use my account for their updates but it appears that the decision to mess with my computer and use my data allowance is no longer under my control, just at the whim of Microsoft.

What was most galling was that the 'update' actually removed the programs that I purchased the HP laptop for; tracking and controlling ROV;s.

* Danny M *

You probably did give permission by activating W10... but there's a 'metered connection' setting for automatic updates, have you enabled it? You can do that and then go to MacDonalds for a veggie burger and to download the latest updates...

The latest update shouldn't be more than 2.5 gig.

Neil

Another way is to go to 'Updates' and alter the download time to a point in the day (2am!) when the machine is always switched off. Then updates will only get done if they're started manually.

Not a good long term solution though: if a computer is connected to the internet, it's best to keep its operating system up-to-date. And because that involves lots of sizeable updates, a bigger data limit may be necessary...

Linux and Mac are better at controlling updates than Windows; worth looking at if either runs the software you need. Android is becoming popular for controlling stuff like ROVs for the same reason, may be worth checking what's available. There isn't a best platform for all things computer. Plenty of circumstances where Windows isn't a good choice and vice versa.

Dave

As I already said, I don't use Win-10, but it's my understanding that with the Home Edition, regular "Important" updates are ultimately non-optional. You can delay them by various means but they will eventually be installed.

Are there are any other readers who have given up on the Windows/Linux thing?

I used various versions of DOS/Windows almost since its inception, because the companies I worked for insisted on it. As a result, we had to get used to all its peculiarities (slowness, BSOD, etc). None of them was perfect, but we learned to get along with it, because it was a tool - our concerns were getting the work done, not playing with the tools.

Close to the end of my working career, I worked in Sakhalin, and the company used XP, but with very high security settings (thumbprint readers, etc). My company machine failed one day (software) at site in the far north of the island, and all I could get out of our Russian support group was 'bring it into the office and we'll take a look" The only way to get to the office was a 16 hour ride on a narrow gauge railway the length of the island. I had my own laptop with me, and used that until the company decided that I couldn't do that, it was insecure (probably was, but in the interests of getting the job done...)

After that, I swore I would never use Windows again, and switched to Linux Mint, and have been using it since its inception. Like many people who make this change, I couldn't imagine going back to the Microsoft hell.

It does seem to me that many people seem to be literally frightened of Linux, and many claim they can't handle the learning curve, and that it is 'for nerds only' . Many times they seem to be people who bemoan the end of XP - but as mentioned in this thread, Linux Mint has an XP-like interface (but better). As for the nerd aspect, that was true up to maybe ten years ago - nowadays the installation and set-up of almost all dialects of Linux is easy and much quicker than Windows - you can even try most of them out on a USB stick without making a full installation, so if you don't like it, you don't have to keep it. As someone mentioned in this thread, installations and updates in Linux are under the users control (you choose, not Microsoft), and they are quick.

I can appreciate that someone who has either paid for an older Windows version, or struggled to get the newer versions to do what they want, will be reluctant to change. I can go with the argument that you need to run old software, and there isn't a Linux equivalent, but I say that there is tons of Linux software out there - take a look, you might find something better than what you have been using. Why persist with something which gives you problems when there is an alternative you can try? If it still worries, you can do a dual install - Linux alongside your Windows. This is all well documented on the Internet.

No doubt this will trigger the usual 'Windows to the death, and everyone else is wrong' supporters - good luck to you!

Windows made My floppy drive unusable, driver is obsolete, no other available. Have ordered a newer floppy drive and NO I am not a Luddite.

My latest W10 update has added a new item that I've not seen before when you ShiftKey+Right Mouse Button in an empty space in a folder in the "file explorer"....

"Open Linux shell here..."

And it does as well...so I can ls -l, ps -ef, grep, awk etc in my windows folders from a command line

So I did the extremely long update to W10, since when the sound has stopped working, there is a little red X by the speaker symbol in the bottom right hand corner. Went on Google and it seems this is a common problem. The suggested solution is to open device manager, scroll down to the sound systems tab and click on Realtek. Mine no longer has a sound systems tab, so I'm a bit snookered. Any ideas?The computer is a Dell Inspiron 15 5000 series.

Whilst I am on, the machine is set up with a dual boot, Linux or W10. If I just switch it on and leave it it defaults to Linux. This is normally what I want, but when doing updates to W10 it repeatedly reboots, and of course if I left it to it's own devices it would boot into Linux, so I have to sit next to it and select W10 every time it reboots. There must be a way to change the pecking order.

On my PC, you click the little Window icon bottom left, and scroll down through the list to "Windows System", clicking this gives you a drop-down from which you select "Control Panel" which opens in it's own window and offers "Hardware And Sound" as an option. One of the folders there is called "Manage Sound Devices" - You should be able to select the default you need from there. I don't think Device Manager exists anymore..

I think the Boot Priority changes that you need, to resolve the Windows/Linux issue will have to be changed from the BIOS menu, and I'm not sure how to access that on your machine. I'm sure there'll be something on the 'net.

Just realised that Device Manager is present in the Devices & Printers section of the Hardware and Sound page.. sorry!

Good luck, hope this helps..

Theeis an aspect I have never seen addressed on the forum. I have run PC-DOS, MS-DOS and every flavour of Windows up to W7 quite satisfactorily.

However I am doubtful of W10, which I have on my everyday laptop and it's a pain and nowhere as useful as W7. I installed W10 following the free offer some years ago as it seemed like a good idea at the time.

But I have never seen anybody say that Linux will run MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-Project or most important MS-Outlook on it. Anybody who thinks that there is any alternative to these Microsoft products is not running these to their full potential. My Word files are typically 1.5GB in size taking advantage of all the file splitting and combining functions which I would be reluctant to lose.

Additionally I need to run Photoshop and InDesign as well as Inventor and NotaBene.

All on the same machine with 6-core processor, 4 hard discs and NAS (Synology Drive).

Should anyone be able to assure me that Linux, of any origin, will run all these with at least the MS programs loaded at the same time I'll give it a go.

I'm holding my breath.

Jerry

Don't hold your breath Jerry, you are locked in. For you there is no alternative to Microsoft. Must be busy driving that lot fully, but if it's essential, you have to put up with Microsoft's disadvantages: continual security challenges, license costs, clumsy upgrade system, lack of control, privacy issues and slight unreliability.

Dancing to Microsoft's tune isn't to everyone's taste. It includes the need for loyal Win7 supporters to convert to Windows 10. Like it or not Windows 7 is far from future proof - it's 4 years out of mainstream support and the last functional update was in 2011. Sooner or later an attempt to install new hardware or a software upgrade will fail, and in the meantime security holes are left open.

Linux isn't a Windows clone or an attempt to copy Microsoft. (This can cause culture shock if a new user expects it to look and behave exactly like Windows!) Though wine does a fairly good job running Windows applications, Linux is never likely to run all Windows programs transparently. Nor does any other platform. In part this is because Microsoft choose not to release the technical details needed to build a fully effective Windows emulator.

Linux has no trouble with multiprocessors, NAS and multiple disk drives, it's only the lack of high-end proprietary software that disappoints. Otherwise Linux has loads of advantages. But Linux goodies are no good if it won't run the software you need. For that reason, although Linux is preferred in Duffer Mansion, I keep Windows 10 and iMac on tap as well. The latter run in a kind of restricted mode, in particular nothing security sensitive is done on Windows.

Horses for courses, but Linux is certainly worth a look if anyone is fed up with Windows. If it does what you need, Linux is free. Apple is also an alternative. Apple and Linux have a common ancestry. Apple is more user-friendly than Linux and is far more likely to have versions of Windows software. Like Linux, Apple has intrinsically strong security. The main disadvantage is cost - the hardware is pricey.

Dave