There's a little bit of a rant here...okay, there's a lotta bit of a rant here! IMHO, Windows 11 should run on any PC that was high-performance or business class when it came with Windows 10 Pro installed. I'm confident saying that, because when I build or buy a PC, I pretty much get everything top of the line for the time. The fact that the next version of Windows says it can't run on ANY of my computers is ludicrous!
Two of my machines are high-performance and one is a Dell business class. ALL came with Windows 10 Pro and all had better than average or highest specifications at the time. My laptop has, I think 4 cores (not on it at the moment). It's an i7. The PC Health Check app that M$ has you download says I have multi-core Intel CPU (OK), 32GB RAM (OK), 512GB SSD (OK), TPM 2.0 (OK). But then it says my CPU is not compatible with Windows 11! When I looked in the compatibility list, my CPU is listed with a foot-note that says something about release.
I have yet to run that app on my main PC, which has an Intel Core i9 Extreme ($1,000+), but as of when Windows Update was telling you to upgrade, it said my PC wasn't eligible. This is completely ridiculous. I don't even like Windows 11. In fact, I hate it! But as we fast approach the EOL for Windows 10 updates, I have to start planning. I will NOT buy (or upgrade) a PC just to run Windows 11.
My wife bought an ASUS laptop about a year ago with Windows 11 on it. My Windows 10 machines ALL run circles around her Windows 11 PC. She complains about how slow it is. I have to say how disappointed I am at an ASUS with decent specs choking on Windows 11 that came pre-installed. To add insult to injury, when we took it out of "S" mode, it ran even worse, forcing me to do a factory restore just to get back to where we were.
Microshaft really screwed the pooch here. There are several applications that I use that require Windows or I would just switch to Linux. The applications I mention cannot run on an emulator. I'm looking into the possibility of changing the CPU in my laptop, but honestly, not even sure I can do that with the current BIOS.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 07:39 AMThere's a little bit of a rant here...okay, there's a lotta bit of a rant here! IMHO, Windows 11 should run on any PC that was high-performance or business class when it came with Windows 10 Pro installed. I'm confident saying that, because when I build or buy a PC, I pretty much get everything top of the line for the time. The fact that the next version of Windows says it can't run on ANY of my computers is ludicrous!
Two of my machines are high-performance and one is a Dell business class. ALL came with Windows 10 Pro and all had better than average or highest specifications at the time. My laptop has, I think 4 cores (not on it at the moment). It's an i7. The PC Health Check app that M$ has you download says I have multi-core Intel CPU (OK), 32GB RAM (OK), 512GB SSD (OK), TPM 2.0 (OK). But then it says my CPU is not compatible with Windows 11! When I looked in the compatibility list, my CPU is listed with a foot-note that says something about release.
I have yet to run that app on my main PC, which has an Intel Core i9 Extreme ($1,000+), but as of when Windows Update was telling you to upgrade, it said my PC wasn't eligible. This is completely ridiculous. I don't even like Windows 11. In fact, I hate it! But as we fast approach the EOL for Windows 10 updates, I have to start planning. I will NOT buy (or upgrade) a PC just to run Windows 11.
My wife bought an ASUS laptop about a year ago with Windows 11 on it. My Windows 10 machines ALL run circles around her Windows 11 PC. She complains about how slow it is. I have to say how disappointed I am at an ASUS with decent specs choking on Windows 11 that came pre-installed. To add insult to injury, when we took it out of "S" mode, it ran even worse, forcing me to do a factory restore just to get back to where we were.
Microshaft really screwed the pooch here. There are several applications that I use that require Windows or I would just switch to Linux. The applications I mention cannot run on an emulator. I'm looking into the possibility of changing the CPU in my laptop, but honestly, not even sure I can do that with the current BIOS.
Come to the "Open" side, Luke.
Seriously, Linux does not have this kind of stupidity. It's totally insane to require standard 2030 equipment here in 2025. Microsoft has been doing that for nearly the entire run of Windows.
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 08:58 AMCome to the "Open" side, Luke.
As I said, were it not for specific applications I need, I would! My video editing software is the reason I have the i9 PC. Not available under Linux and they have no plans for it. I've been using Vegas Pro for 15 years now so it's hard to switch.
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 08:58 AMSeriously, Linux does not have this kind of stupidity. It's totally insane to require standard 2030 equipment here in 2025. Microsoft has been doing that for nearly the entire run of Windows.
Ironically, I've never had this issue before. Every PC I have had has run the next version of Windows, and sometimes past that. The debugging PC I have here at work originally had Windows 7 on it. It's an Intel i3. It has Windows 10 Pro on it, and while it's a bit slow (mainly due to low RAM), it works fine.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 07:39 AMThere's a little bit of a rant here...okay, there's a lotta bit of a rant here! IMHO, Windows 11 should run on any PC that was high-performance or business class when it came with Windows 10 Pro installed. I'm confident saying that, because when I build or buy a PC, I pretty much get everything top of the line for the time. The fact that the next version of Windows says it can't run on ANY of my computers is ludicrous!
Two of my machines are high-performance and one is a Dell business class. ALL came with Windows 10 Pro and all had better than average or highest specifications at the time. My laptop has, I think 4 cores (not on it at the moment). It's an i7. The PC Health Check app that M$ has you download says I have multi-core Intel CPU (OK), 32GB RAM (OK), 512GB SSD (OK), TPM 2.0 (OK). But then it says my CPU is not compatible with Windows 11! When I looked in the compatibility list, my CPU is listed with a foot-note that says something about release.
I have yet to run that app on my main PC, which has an Intel Core i9 Extreme ($1,000+), but as of when Windows Update was telling you to upgrade, it said my PC wasn't eligible. This is completely ridiculous. I don't even like Windows 11. In fact, I hate it! But as we fast approach the EOL for Windows 10 updates, I have to start planning. I will NOT buy (or upgrade) a PC just to run Windows 11.
My wife bought an ASUS laptop about a year ago with Windows 11 on it. My Windows 10 machines ALL run circles around her Windows 11 PC. She complains about how slow it is. I have to say how disappointed I am at an ASUS with decent specs choking on Windows 11 that came pre-installed. To add insult to injury, when we took it out of "S" mode, it ran even worse, forcing me to do a factory restore just to get back to where we were.
Microshaft really screwed the pooch here. There are several applications that I use that require Windows or I would just switch to Linux. The applications I mention cannot run on an emulator. I'm looking into the possibility of changing the CPU in my laptop, but honestly, not even sure I can do that with the current BIOS.
There's something specific in the BIOS that needs to be there/needs to be turned on in order for Windows 11 to be allowed. I can't think of what that is right at the moment.
Edit: UEFI Secure Boot capible and Trusted Platform Module.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 20, 2025, 10:33 AMThere's something specific in the BIOS that needs to be there/needs to be turned on in order for Windows 11 to be allowed. I can't think of what that is right at the moment.
Edit: UEFI Secure Boot capible and Trusted Platform Module.
Their checker program isn't complaining about my BIOS or TPM module.. On the laptop it's complaining about my CPU, which is a high-performance CPU.
I know this business class Dell at work isn't eligible. It came with Windows 7 originally. I will see what it says about that PC, just out of curiosity...
Dell_Optiplex_390_02.jpg
So, you can see here this PC fails immediately for the Secure Boot, TPM Module and CPU. As I said, I didn't expect it to pass having originally come with Windows 7 and such an older machine (6 years?).
Dell_Optiplex_390_03.jpg
RAM, HD and cores passes.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 12:17 PMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 20, 2025, 10:33 AMThere's something specific in the BIOS that needs to be there/needs to be turned on in order for Windows 11 to be allowed. I can't think of what that is right at the moment.
Edit: UEFI Secure Boot capible and Trusted Platform Module.
Their checker program isn't complaining about my BIOS or TPM module.. On the laptop it's complaining about my CPU, which is a high-performance CPU.
I know this business class Dell at work isn't eligible. It came with Windows 7 originally. I will see what it says about that PC, just out of curiosity...
Dell_Optiplex_390_02.jpg
So, you can see here this PC fails immediately for the Secure Boot, TPM Module and CPU. As I said, I didn't expect it to pass having originally come with Windows 7 and such an older machine (6 years?).
Dell_Optiplex_390_03.jpg
RAM, HD and cores passes.
My Dell gaming laptop isn't supported either. Little bit of a pain.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 20, 2025, 03:09 PMMy Dell gaming laptop isn't supported either. Little bit of a pain.
I haven't confirmed it yet, nor have I seen this mentioned by Micro$oft, but one of the YouTube PC gurus says that once Windows 10 support stops that you can still pay a yearly fee for updates. I'm really starting to think about that route, though I do need to confirm it. Seems odd nobody else has mentioned this option. Last polling I saw, there were still more Windows 10 PCs in use than Windows 11. That says something right there.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 09:11 AMQuote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 08:58 AMCome to the "Open" side, Luke.
As I said, were it not for specific applications I need, I would! My video editing software is the reason I have the i9 PC. Not available under Linux and they have no plans for it. I've been using Vegas Pro for 15 years now so it's hard to switch.
I know almost nothing about Vegas Pro, except what I just found in the
wine (WINdows Emulator) compatibility page (https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3467 (https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3467).) According to that page, version 14 of Vegas Pro has a Platinum rating (Applications which install and run flawlessly on an out-of-the-box Wine installation) when run under the latest version of
wine. So, if you are using an older version of Vegas Pro, then it should work perfectly.
If you need the latest version of Vegas Pro, then you could try using Virtual Box and running under Windows 10.
Alternatively, there is the Open Source video editing
OpenShot (https://www.openshot.org/ (https://www.openshot.org/)) program. That is a pretty heavy hitting video editor. I used
Open Shot for my videos in college, and they passed the requirements for my courses. I do understand that it can be difficult to change programs, when you are used to one, but it may be worth the effort rather than continuing to pay tribute to Micro$oft - not to mention MS requiring greater, and greater, hardware specs all the time.
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 04:01 PMAccording to that page, version 14 of Vegas Pro has a Platinum rating (Applications which install and run flawlessly on an out-of-the-box Wine installation) when run under the latest version of wine. So, if you are using an older version of Vegas Pro, then it should work perfectly.
I'm running Version 22, which makes very careful use of multi-core CPUs like mine in rendering.
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 04:01 PMI do understand that it can be difficult to change programs, when you are used to one, but it may be worth the effort rather than continuing to pay tribute to Micro$oft - not to mention MS requiring greater, and greater, hardware specs all the time.
It's not just the learning a new program, I have spent significant time saving presets for various functions and settings so that I don't have to tweak things every time I do a video. If I showed you what I mean, I think you would appreciate the automation. When I drop a video onto a specific track, there's a preset that crops, sizes and / or positions it on the screen without me having to do those things manually. Not to mention that this is commercial software, so I have a significant investment in it.
Now, don't take that as your information not being useful. I am learning a valuable lesson here. It seems that I need to reconsider my future options. I need to reconsider whether I want to keep
upgrading my software, or just switch to free stuff once and for all. It seems the latter is looking like a long-term plan. I think I got too dependent on Windows after all these years and now I'm starting to have
buyer's remorse. This is why I only upgrade my office software every 5 or 6 years or so. I try to maximize the time I get from the software I pay for.
I think I should start by creating a list of all the software I use and see what's compatible with Linux and what requires Windows and go from there. Something things are utilities for various hardware. Some utilities, like X-CTU are available for Linux. Others, not so much. I need to weigh my options.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 04:16 PMIt's not just the learning a new program, I have spent significant time saving presets for various functions and settings so that I don't have to tweak things every time I do a video. If I showed you what I mean, I think you would appreciate the automation. When I drop a video onto a specific track, there's a preset that crops, sizes and / or positions it on the screen without me having to do those things manually. Not to mention that this is commercial software, so I have a significant investment in it.
Not so much - I have many programs set up exactly the way I want, and I like it that way. So, no I can appreciate the automation without you even needing to show me that stuff. I can easily concede that for you. ;)
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 04:16 PMNow, don't take that as your information not being useful. I am learning a valuable lesson here. It seems that I need to reconsider my future options. I need to reconsider whether I want to keep upgrading my software, or just switch to free stuff once and for all. It seems the latter is looking like a long-term plan. I think I got too dependent on Windows after all these years and now I'm starting to have buyer's remorse. This is why I only upgrade my office software every 5 or 6 years or so. I try to maximize the time I get from the software I pay for.
I think I should start by creating a list of all the software I use and see what's compatible with Linux and what requires Windows and go from there. Something things are utilities for various hardware. Some utilities, like X-CTU are available for Linux. Others, not so much. I need to weigh my options.
I actually use Microsoft Office 2000 as my primary office suite (and no, it's not because MSO 2K was my first office suite, far from it - the first was for MS-DOS - or was it TRS-DOS? :o .) I just like the way it fits plus (like you mentioned) all of
my customizations for it.
That said, there are many Open Source programs that I like, and use. Actually, in spite of using MSO 2K, I have, and often use, Libre Office, too. I really don't normally need any high-powered programs, but there are just so many Open Source programs available.
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 04:37 PMActually, in spite of using MSO 2K, I have, and often use, Libre Office, too. I really don't normally need any high-powered programs, but there are just so many Open Source programs available.
I've upgraded Office over the years due to issues with other applications. Outlook was the main reason for the upgrades, since I use it for my domain email.
By the way, I am on the laptop now, which is an HP Z Book 17 G4. Here's what the PC Health Check app says about it.
HP_Z-Book_17_G4_01.jpg
Despite my CPU having 4 cores with 2 indexes per core (8 logical processors), it isn't supported!!! This is a 7th generation Core i7!
HP_Z-Book_17_G4_02.jpg
Everything else is fine. It's so stupid that this high-performance laptop can't run Windows 11!
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 04:56 PM...
Despite my CPU having 4 cores with 2 indexes per core (8 logical processors), it isn't supported!!! This is a 7th generation Core i7!
...
Everything else is fine. It's so stupid that this high-performance laptop can't run Windows 11!
Of course not - Micro$oft wants you to have to purchase a 64-core CPU with 32 indexes per core - even though they don't exist yet. And by the time those CPUs are introduced MS will think that those are BADLY out of date. :o
It's enough to make a guy want to go back to using nothing but MS-DOS. ::)
Quote from: granz on Jun 20, 2025, 05:51 PMQuote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 04:56 PM...
Despite my CPU having 4 cores with 2 indexes per core (8 logical processors), it isn't supported!!! This is a 7th generation Core i7!
...
Everything else is fine. It's so stupid that this high-performance laptop can't run Windows 11!
Of course not - Micro$oft wants you to have to purchase a 64-core CPU with 32 indexes per core - even though they don't exist yet. And by the time those CPUs are introduced MS will think that those are BADLY out of date. :o
It's enough to make a guy want to go back to using nothing but MS-DOS. ::)
Stupid.... They're making crap WAAAAY TOO HARD..... Had to get my mom's laptop redone by a shop cause HDD protected. WIndows Pin UNKOWN.... so ANYthing mom might have left for me, is gone without seeing it....
So, this is weird. Before, the System Health Check said my CPU wasn't supported, but everything else was in the green. Now, it says the CPU is good, but the TPM is not (but it was before). Here's the check for the main machine...
Alienware_01.jpg
I think the TPM must have gotten disabled when I had to restore my PC. Not sure what happened, but this PC may in fact support Windows 11.
Alienware_02.jpg
As shown, this CPU has 18 cores with 2 threads / core, showing up as 36 logical processors in Windows 10.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 08:10 PMSo, this is weird. Before, the System Health Check said my CPU wasn't supported, but everything else was in the green. Now, it says the CPU is good, but the TPM is not (but it was before). Here's the check for the main machine...
Alienware_01.jpg
I think the TPM must have gotten disabled when I had to restore my PC. Not sure what happened, but this PC may in fact support Windows 11.
Alienware_02.jpg
As shown, this CPU has 18 cores with 2 threads / core, showing up as 36 logical processors in Windows 10.
Too weird. :o
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 20, 2025, 08:10 PMSo, this is weird. Before, the System Health Check said my CPU wasn't supported, but everything else was in the green. Now, it says the CPU is good, but the TPM is not (but it was before). Here's the check for the main machine...
Alienware_01.jpg
I think the TPM must have gotten disabled when I had to restore my PC. Not sure what happened, but this PC may in fact support Windows 11.
Alienware_02.jpg
As shown, this CPU has 18 cores with 2 threads / core, showing up as 36 logical processors in Windows 10.
Mine did that to me too.
I don't know if this may help, but:
(I have not watched this, but the title reminded me of the troubles that you have been having.)
Quote from: granz on Jun 22, 2025, 06:15 AMI don't know if this may help, but:
(I have not watched this, but the title reminded me of the troubles that you have been having.)
I managed to fix mine from the BIOS menu.
Updating my desktop to Windows 11 now. My Acer Nitro 5 already has 11 on it.
Still no interest in Windows. All of my needs for Windows are trivial, and are met by running Windows 7 under Virtual Box. Although, I do have one of my netbooks (an Acer One, Bachelorette Number 3, as seen in my RetroChallenge 2023 thread - https://zappbots.altervista.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=458,) running Windows XP. ;D That is just for fun.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 22, 2025, 01:09 PMUpdating my desktop to Windows 11 now. My Acer Nitro 5 already has 11 on it.
What are the specs of that machine (Acer Nitro)? What version of Windows did it come with? Hard to believe my laptop CPU isn't supported.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 22, 2025, 10:35 PMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 22, 2025, 01:09 PMUpdating my desktop to Windows 11 now. My Acer Nitro 5 already has 11 on it.
What are the specs of that machine (Acer Nitro)? What version of Windows did it come with? Hard to believe my laptop CPU isn't supported.
It came with Windows 10
Windows 11 23H2
11 gen Intel i7-11800H @2.3 Ghz
16 Gb RAM
Intel UHD & Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU (4Gb VRAM)
I had to uninstall TurboLANN to get Windows to update to 11...... Update the software automatically? NNNNOOOOOO!!! Take me to link NOT from Asus ver? YYYEEEEESSSS!! Free? NNNNNOOOOOO!!! Asus have latest ver? NNNOOOOOOOO!!! Get pissed off and uninstall it?? OH YEAH!!.....
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 23, 2025, 12:29 AMIt came with Windows 10, Windows 11 23H2, 11 gen Intel i7-11800H @2.3 Ghz, 16 Gb RAM, Intel UHD & Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU (4Gb VRAM)
Yeah, that's a newer i7 and a newer GRFX card than what I have in my laptop. I watched the video that granz posted and I am going to try and go that route with the laptop. The only thing I am waiting for is to see if there is a way to install fresh, instead of over Windows 10. I never liked doing an actual
upgrade. But I am not sure how the installation media I have works yet.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 23, 2025, 07:40 AMI never liked doing an actual upgrade. But I am not sure how the installation media I have works yet.
I've always had better luck with a clean install, rather than upgrading over an older version.
Quote from: granz on Jun 23, 2025, 08:06 AMI've always had better luck with a clean install, rather than upgrading over an older version.
Same, but in the past I had purchased the media, so I knew I could do that. Using the installation media from the M$ website, I'm not clear on what it will do on an
empty PC.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 23, 2025, 08:25 AMQuote from: granz on Jun 23, 2025, 08:06 AMI've always had better luck with a clean install, rather than upgrading over an older version.
Same, but in the past I had purchased the media, so I knew I could do that. Using the installation media from the M$ website, I'm not clear on what it will do on an empty PC.
I hope it goes well for you. But, if not, my invitation to the
Open Side still stands. :D
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jun 23, 2025, 07:40 AMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Jun 23, 2025, 12:29 AMIt came with Windows 10, Windows 11 23H2, 11 gen Intel i7-11800H @2.3 Ghz, 16 Gb RAM, Intel UHD & Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU (4Gb VRAM)
Yeah, that's a newer i7 and a newer GRFX card than what I have in my laptop. I watched the video that granz posted and I am going to try and go that route with the laptop. The only thing I am waiting for is to see if there is a way to install fresh, instead of over Windows 10. I never liked doing an actual upgrade. But I am not sure how the installation media I have works yet.
If its anything like 10 i got its onAflash drive..
I think what I'm going to do on the laptop is pull both the SSD and the secondary HD out. They're both 5+ years old and should be replaced anyway. This way, if I can't get Windows 11 installed on it, I can still go back to my original drives until I sort it out.
Okay, so I've decided to update the main PC (Former Gaming / Video Editing PC) to Windows 11. There's no getting around it until I finally make the break from a few applications that only run on Windows.
The Dell PC (Development PC) will be converted to Linux. I'll be refamiliarizing myself with Linux using my Raspberry Pi computer.
As for my laptop; I'm undecided. It will not support Windows 11, but I don't know if I want to put Linux on it. I mean, what choice do I really have?
Quote from: Chris Savage on Jul 15, 2025, 10:28 PMOkay, so I've decided to update the main PC (Former Gaming / Video Editing PC) to Windows 11. There's no getting around it until I finally make the break from a few applications that only run on Windows.
The Dell PC (Development PC) will be converted to Linux. I'll be refamiliarizing myself with Linux using my Raspberry Pi computer.
As for my laptop; I'm undecided. It will not support Windows 11, but I don't know if I want to put Linux on it. I mean, what choice do I really have?
I have a Dell gaming laptop that also will NOT support Win 11, so will have to figure out when it comes what todo.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Jul 16, 2025, 01:15 AMI have a Dell gaming laptop that also will NOT support Win 11, so will have to figure out when it comes what todo.
The main thing I used my laptop for was music...as in, composing music. When I sold my musical keyboard a few years ago, I started just using it at work for personal stuff, backing up my music and movie collections, etc.
The problem is that, about 6 months ago my wife bought me a new keyboard. She missed me playing. I hadn't quite gotten it set up since the house still needs some work. But once the house is done I had planned to start playing again. This was one of the motivations for giving up PC gaming. My music software is Windows only. So you can see my conundrum. I have a lot of music backed up in the Windows software I was using. I have Cakewalk Sonar and Magix Music Maker. Both are Windows only. It really sucks to be tied to an O/S like this.
WINDOZE.jpg
Or NOT let you upgrade from the previous version of Windows that came with your PC?!?
Quote from: Chris Savage on Aug 17, 2025, 07:54 PMWINDOZE.jpg
Or NOT let you upgrade from the previous version of Windows that came with your PC?!?
It would be nice.
Hack-A-Day just published this article about Windows Virtualization The Hard(ware) Way (https://hackaday.com/2025/08/21/linux-fu-windows-virtualization-the-hardware-way (https://hackaday.com/2025/08/21/linux-fu-windows-virtualization-the-hardware-way).) I don't know if it would work in your specific usage case, but it may be worth looking into this.
Quote from: granz on Aug 21, 2025, 03:41 PMHack-A-Day just published this article about Windows Virtualization The Hard(ware) Way I don't know if it would work in your specific usage case, but it may be worth looking into this.
You just reminded me that, when I worked at Parallax I had VMWare on my main PC and had several versions of Windows and Linux installed to test Parallax software compatibility and for tech support reasons. I think I mentioned somewhere on here that I did install DOS Box on that i3 here at work and was able to run, "Music Base 2" from my DOS applications page. I had forgotten how colorful my old applications were. :-[
And, yet another Windows 11 article in H-a-D: https://hackaday.com/2025/09/18/think-you-need-a-new-pc-for-windows-11-think-again/
[Sean] from Action Retro does a bit of surgery on Windows 11 to make it work on a twenty year old Sun work station. I did not see exactly what he cut out, but the article that H-a-D points out may give you enough to do your own surgery. Although, at some point you need to realize that Microsoft is trying to kill you. :o
I've been watching many of the channels (YouTube) that describe the various things you can do to install Windows 11 on machines that currently run Windows 10, but some have mentioned what I have also seen from M$, which is that if your PC is not considered compatible and you use a hack / workaround to install it, there's no guarantee it will work in the future after patches / updates. I can't depend on that kind of uncertainty, so I have resigned myself to simply move those PCs to Linux.
My main PC can be upgraded, and although I hate Windows 11, I will make the change for the software that requires it. For the other PCs I will simply use Linux and try to find more open-source / cross-platform apps to do some things.
For those that read my message and wonder why I use the word, "hate", it's because M$ has made so many changes that you can't undo without hacks, and some that you're simply stuck with. Many of their improvements have bugs that I doubt they will ever fix. I know about these bugs because we use Windows 11 at work.
One of my most used apps is notepad. Notepad on Windows 11 has been upgraded (broken) to support multiple tabs and reload your previous documents. When I open notepad, I don't want it opening everything I previously worked on! Half the time those documents no longer exist or are on media not currently connected. I will open it and get like 6 tabs that now have to close.
I often use M$ paint for two purposes. One is to resize images, often to post on here. When I use the Windows 10 version it works perfect! But at work when I do the exact same thing, I have to click out of and back into the size value window to change it, even though it's already highlighted!!! And it's not consistent! It may work randomly and not work randomly. I can't count on just being able to tab into the dimensions and type.
At home when I want to do complex file operations I use the context menu. I right-click on most everything, since that gives you all the options for what you're doing. On Windows 11 they've moved all the stuff I use into a sub menu, and you have to right-click, then select "Show more options". Just plain annoying.
The bottom line is that I am a power user and Windows 11 is intended for noobs, NOT power users.
I agree Chris! I have installed a suite of programs from Star Dock as "hacks" to Windows 11. I also use Directory Opus as a replacement to the Windows Explorer. I positively hate the start menu. It only shows Microsoft products in the pinned section and most of them aren't even installed on my computer! I use a replacement start menu called Start 11 where I can customize it to my heart's content. I've also hacked the content menu to remove the "Show other options" and list everything. I'm sure a future update will undo this. I've also heard some rumors about Windows 12 is going to be a subscription service. If this comes to be I'll become a Linux only user. It's bad enough that my wife gets the Office subscription. I tried to get her to switch to Libre Office but M$ Office is what she uses at work and is comfortable with.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 08:38 AMMy main PC can be upgraded, and although I hate Windows 11, I will make the change for the software that requires it. For the other PCs I will simply use Linux and try to find more open-source / cross-platform apps to do some things.
You may want to look into running Windows 11 inside VirtualBox on a Linux system - that is what I have.
https://blogs.oracle.com/virtualization/post/install-microsoft-windows-11-on-virtualbox
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 08:38 AMFor those that read my message and wonder why I use the word, "hate", it's because M$ has made so many changes that you can't undo without hacks, and some that you're simply stuck with. Many of their improvements have bugs that I doubt they will ever fix. I know about these bugs because we use Windows 11 at work.
No wondering at all. I fully understand, and agree.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 08:38 AMI often use M$ paint for two purposes. One is to resize images, often to post on here. When I use the Windows 10 version it works perfect! But at work when I do the exact same thing, I have to click out of and back into the size value window to change it, even though it's already highlighted!!! And it's not consistent! It may work randomly and not work randomly. I can't count on just being able to tab into the dimensions and type.
Look into KolourPaint (https://apps.kde.org/kolourpaint/ (https://apps.kde.org/kolourpaint/).) That is like MSPaint on steroids. I use that very often, and it does everything that Paint did, plus much more.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 08:38 AMThe bottom line is that I am a power user and Windows 11 is intended for noobs, NOT power users.
Likewise.
Granz, I know you're trying to help (with regards to Windows 11) and I appreciate it. It's the principle of the thing. I should be able to run my OS without having to wall it off behind a VM. I should be able to get updates without it breaking things. And I should be able to use the apps that I have always used without them now being buggy and useless.
I kick myself for letting myself become dependent on Windows to run software. Even when I was focused on Parallax products, the only software available for the longest time was Windows only. The few cross platform apps that were later developed were third party and some are no longer supported. I think as I moved forward I will stick with things that are cross platform.
So for now I only need to get by for a few years until I find some Linux software that does what I need to do.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 11:07 AMGranz, I know you're trying to help (with regards to Windows 11) and I appreciate it. It's the principle of the thing. I should be able to run my OS without having to wall it off behind a VM. I should be able to get updates without it breaking things. And I should be able to use the apps that I have always used without them now being buggy and useless.
I fully understand, and agree. Part of what drove me away from Microsoft was, first of all, starting with the infamous "you're all a bunch of thieves" letter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists), and then going to their (ironic) outright theft of many different programs (I.E. https://grantster.com/2012/06/07/the-stacker-conspiracy/ (https://grantster.com/2012/06/07/the-stacker-conspiracy/).) Finally, with the introduction of Windows XP, they started "illegally" tracking user's info, including notifying Microsoft of every DVD movie that the user played on their computer. Each subsequent version of Windows had more, and more, "phone home" routines. Microsoft firmly believes that they, and they alone, know what the computer should be doing. The user, no matter how much they know nor how long they have been using computers, is
TOO FRICKEN STUPID to know what they want. It up to "Mommy Microsoft" to tell them what they want, and how to do it.[/rant]
So, yes I hate Microsoft (and by extension Windows - at least beyond Win 9X) also. Windows should work properly
without causing the most confusion/stress possible to the user.
One thing I noticed just in the last few days is that, up until then, every few days I would boot Windows 10 PCs at home / work, I was reminded that Windows 10 support is ending and that they were going to help me find a new PC. Your only options were, "Let's get started" or "Remind me later". No way to STOP the full screen take-over, right when I am in the middle of something.
NOW, it says that, while Windows 10 support is ending, I can "Enroll now" to get extended support, which I assume means I have to pay for it. I know for a fact, based on previous versions of Windows, that if not for these PCs being declared not compatible with Windows 11, they would have force upgraded me by now! That's how I ended up with Windows 8 when it came out. I kept saying NO and uninstalling the KB update that caused it, but one day it didn't ask. It just ran while I wasn't in front of the PC. I was PISSED!!!
I may have mentioned this story before, but...
Several years ago, our church was doing outreach movies for the community. Our pastor had hooked his Windows computer up to a projector, and was playing the DVD under Windows. In the middle of the movie, Windows started an update, and it could not be stopped, paused or delayed. Windows stopped the movie and started the updates (estimated time was well past the time for our outreach.) >:(
Thankfully, I had my Linux-based laptop, and was able to take the DVD from Pastor's computer, load it into mine, plug in the projector and continue the movie for the community.
Quote from: granz on Sep 19, 2025, 06:08 PMThankfully, I had my Linux-based laptop, and was able to take the DVD from Pastor's computer, load it into mine, plug in the projector and continue the movie for the community.
Sounds like a sign. I think the Father prefers Linux for reliability.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 20, 2025, 01:18 AMSounds like a sign. I think the Father prefers Linux for reliability.
Hah, funny. Though, Linux is very definitely more reliable.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 11:07 AMGranz, I know you're trying to help (with regards to Windows 11) and I appreciate it. It's the principle of the thing. I should be able to run my OS without having to wall it off behind a VM. I should be able to get updates without it breaking things. And I should be able to use the apps that I have always used without them now being buggy and useless.
I kick myself for letting myself become dependent on Windows to run software. Even when I was focused on Parallax products, the only software available for the longest time was Windows only. The few cross platform apps that were later developed were third party and some are no longer supported. I think as I moved forward I will stick with things that are cross platform.
So for now I only need to get by for a few years until I find some Linux software that does what I need to do.
I agree, though it don't help that there's soo much software that don't support Linux... Like my Red Dragon keyboard software and SteelSeries COD: Black Ops II mouse software... both are going to be used with my Gizmo Project. So, I'll have to use a VM Windows to control them on there.
Quote from: granz on Sep 19, 2025, 11:46 AMQuote from: Chris Savage on Sep 19, 2025, 11:07 AMGranz, I know you're trying to help (with regards to Windows 11) and I appreciate it. It's the principle of the thing. I should be able to run my OS without having to wall it off behind a VM. I should be able to get updates without it breaking things. And I should be able to use the apps that I have always used without them now being buggy and useless.
I fully understand, and agree. Part of what drove me away from Microsoft was, first of all, starting with the infamous "you're all a bunch of thieves" letter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists), and then going to their (ironic) outright theft of many different programs (I.E. https://grantster.com/2012/06/07/the-stacker-conspiracy/ (https://grantster.com/2012/06/07/the-stacker-conspiracy/).) Finally, with the introduction of Windows XP, they started "illegally" tracking user's info, including notifying Microsoft of every DVD movie that the user played on their computer. Each subsequent version of Windows had more, and more, "phone home" routines. Microsoft firmly believes that they, and they alone, know what the computer should be doing. The user, no matter how much they know nor how long they have been using computers, is TOO FRICKEN STUPID to know what they want. It up to "Mommy Microsoft" to tell them what they want, and how to do it.[/rant]
So, yes I hate Microsoft (and by extension Windows - at least beyond Win 9X) also. Windows should work properly without causing the most confusion/stress possible to the user.
I saw something about that on Facebook, but then again, look at the source... but it was saying some stuff about 11 or whatever ver, sending info on litterally everything you do on it back to MS. if that's true or not, idk, the source is Fakebook...
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Sep 20, 2025, 12:52 PMI saw something about that on Facebook, but then again, look at the source... but it was saying some stuff about 11 or whatever ver, sending info on litterally everything you do on it back to MS. if that's true or not, idk, the source is Fakebook...
I would believe it, "Fakebook" or not. When XP came out, researchers discovered nineteen "phone home" routines within Windows. Each successive version has had more, and more, of those "phone home" routines. by the time Windows 8 came out, most security techs had quit counting, and just switched to *nix (unix, Linux, etc.) or some other OS for their own usage, and only used MS products where necessary for work.
Quote from: granz on Sep 20, 2025, 07:46 PMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Sep 20, 2025, 12:52 PMI saw something about that on Facebook, but then again, look at the source... but it was saying some stuff about 11 or whatever ver, sending info on litterally everything you do on it back to MS. if that's true or not, idk, the source is Fakebook...
I would believe it, "Fakebook" or not. When XP came out, researchers discovered nineteen "phone home" routines within Windows. Each successive version has had more, and more, of those "phone home" routines. by the time Windows 8 came out, most security techs had quit counting, and just switched to *nix (unix, Linux, etc.) or some other OS for their own usage, and only used MS products where necessary for work.
Not surprised. I call it Fakebook or Jokebook, both apply... Cause Fake crap all over n Facebook is litterally just a joke anymore... and obviously not the HaHa funny...
Quote from: granz on Sep 20, 2025, 07:46 PMby the time Windows 8 came out, most security techs had quit counting, and just switched to *nix (unix, Linux, etc.) or some other OS for their own usage, and only used MS products where necessary for work.
Which is my current philosophy. I'll use it on
one machine for what I
need it for, and my other PCs will be Linux.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 22, 2025, 12:11 AMWhich is my current philosophy. I'll use it on one machine for what I need it for, and my other PCs will be Linux.
Yes, well right now, I do have the VirtualBox VM with Windows 7. But I also have that old Acer netbook with Windows XP. In addition, just a week, or so, ago, I picked up a Microsoft Surface with Windows 10 from one of my eWaste sites. I had thought about loading it with Linux (and still might,) but after seeing this, I might leave it with Win-10 for helping friends troubleshoot their Windows systems.
I removed the 512GB SSD and the 1TB mechanical drive from my laptop yesterday. Prior to that I had created an installer on a 16GB USB drive. So now the old laptop has Ubuntu Pro on it. This weekend the Alienware Desktop PC will be upgraded (downgraded?) to Windows 11 Pro (hopefully) and everything will just take some time to get tweaked again after all the changes.
A buddy is coming over tomorrow afternoon to help me move the benches around to facilitate the rearrangement of everything, and then I can get back to projects once again.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 10, 2025, 01:01 PMSo now the old laptop has Ubuntu Pro on it.
Just out of curiosity, what made you decide on Ubuntu?
Well, I think of Debian as more geared toward power users (not me). I think of Mint and (I don't remember the other one) as being more for beginners. Ubuntu has always been considered the general all-around Linux for those who have some experience.
Now I'm curious...which one would you have recommended?
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 13, 2025, 12:34 PMWell, I think of Debian as more geared toward power users (not me). I think of Mint and (I don't remember the other one) as being more for beginners. Ubuntu has always been considers the general all-around Linux for those who have some experience.
Now I'm curious...which one would you have recommended?
I always figured, that they was all pretty much the same thing other than name... Kinda like Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird... but then, I've never really used it.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 13, 2025, 12:34 PMNow I'm curious...which one would you have recommended?
I recently saw an article which described several different distros (distributions) of Linux, but have not been able to locate the article again - still looking.
Many years ago (~2012), Jeff (OldBitCollector) recommended Linux Mint to me. He said that Mint is the distro that he recommends to his clients who have no (or very little) experience with Linux, or are tech neophytes. Several of his clients are senior citizens, and Mint is the distro that works best for most of his clients.
Long before that (in the mid 1990s) I tried Slackware; I got it installed and running, but still did not adopt it as my daily driver. Since then I have run Debian, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, DSL, Fedora (the free version of Red Hat - even took a course in Red Hat,) Kali, Puppy and several others. My first daily driver distribution was Caldera OpenLinux (about 2000), unfortunately that was abandoned shortly after I started using it all the time. The distro that I keep on my main computers is Linux Mint (except for Raspberry Pi systems, those usually get some Raspberry Pi distro - which is Debian, and of course Mint descends from Debian, so it's relatively easy to switch to, and from, Mint.) So, since about 2012, I have been running Mint pretty much exclusively. I do use wine (Windows Emulator) for some Windows programs that I like, and I have Oracle Virtual Box with Windows 7 (and 2000, 98SE, 95, MS-DOS and CP/M 2.2 VMs) for when I want to do stuff with those OSs.
When I had clients (or people now) ask me about switching to Linux, I most often recommend Mint - especially if they are not real familiar with Linux, or a major IT person (and even then, I often recommend Mint.)
Well, I still haven't gotten those benches rearranged upstairs so I can start working on Raspberry Pi stuff again, but once I do, I need to go back and see what I was running on the older Raspberry Pi systems. I honestly don't remember. I haven't used them since I worked at Parallax. The great thing with this laptop is I was really just trying to get Windows OFF from it and get a new SSD drive into it. I feel like I have been liberated from the shackles on it and can do do pretty much whatever I want now. If I have Debian on ANY of the R-Pi models, I would considering putting that on there.
Moving the discussion back to Windows, I ran into an interesting problem that has frustrated me and irritated me greatly. It has also paused my move to Windows 11 on my Alienware. Let me explain (for those interested):
My wife had a really OLD laptop. It was so painfully slow that I suggested she get a new one. We purchased an ASUS laptop from Best Buy. I thought it had reasonable specs for Windows 11 and ASUS is a good brand. I believe it is an i5 with 12GB RAM. Now, mind you, I NEVER put less than 16GB on any PC since Windows 7 because of resources, but so many of the laptops I saw on Best Buy seemed to have 8GB or 12GB of RAM, so naturally I thought Windows 11 must make better use of resources. I WAS WRONG!!! This computer is almost as slow as her 10 year old laptop!!!
It takes more than a minute to boot. Once booted it sometimes lags logging in. Once you're logged in, you can't really DO anything for another minute or two. It drove me nuts, because she has often asked me to help her with her bookwork on this machine. Because she didn't own Office and the default mode of this machine was S-Mode, we installed a free office application found on the Microsoft Store (WPS Office).
Not only was it slow, but after a few months, the software required her to login to made edits to existing documents, which was an immediate red flag to me. After a while (a year or so) the login changed and didn't seem to want to allow her to login at all! So I bought her a desk top from Amazon. A refurbished Dell i7 with 32GB and an SSD. She could not believe the difference in performance! I told her, now you know what I have.
I'm getting to the issue...please be patient. ;) I decided to subscribe to Microsoft 365 since I was tired of buying per PC licenses for Office and having them be out of date. This meant having to install it first on my newer Laptop and then invite her to the "Family Group". This worked out okay, but then we booted her laptop to install it there. My intention was to synchronize her bookwork folder across both PCs as I had done way back in the past when I got my first laptop.
Immediately the new desktop started adding folder and copying documents and photos, etc from the laptop, even though we specified setting it up as a new PC. It turns out (and this is where I am pissed) that if you're using the same Microsoft account on more than one PC, Windows 11 tries to synchronize them all!!! Prior to this, you would have to manually set up which things were synchronized. What a mess it was trying to not only STOP that, but clean up the mess afterward. To make matters worse, Microsoft 365 WILL NOT install on her laptop! Gives me some kind of signature error no matter how I try to do it.
So, now I need to factory restore the laptop, make sure it's NOT in S-Mode and then try again. But on top of that, I need to first figure out how to stop the computers from trying to sync. I don't know if she's going to need another Microsoft account or what, but I know I am not doing anything with Windows 11 on my desktop until I solve this issue.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 15, 2025, 09:16 AMIf I have Debian on ANY of the R-Pi models, I would considering putting that on there.
The first OS on the Raspberry Pi was actually Debian. This was actually customized by the RPi Foundation, and became Raspbian, which then became Raspberry Pi OS. So, if you have an original Pi (1), then you may have actual Debian (although pretty well outdated.) But anything newer will be Raspbian, or RPi OS - although all of them are descendants of Debian (as is Ubuntu, and Mint.)
The newer laptop is there solely for getting back into music production. It came with Windows 11. Then while doing research, I came across this video.
So, it looks like I should be creating a second Microsoft Account and then adding it to the family group for my two Windows 11 PCs. This avoids having to deal with default sync settings. I'll be checking these settings on the laptop tonight and backing up the Alienware PC to upgrade this weekend.
Yesterday saw me getting my media PC completely backed up. My biggest concern is backing up Outlook 2019, which I use for domain email. I hope 365 will import it properly. I have like 6 email accounts across the domains. I'm installing a secondary HD replacement today. I may not get to the Windows 11 install until Wednesday. We'll see how things go.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 20, 2025, 01:15 PMYesterday saw me getting my media PC completely backed up. My biggest concern is backing up Outlook 2019, which I use for domain email. I hope 365 will import it properly. I have like 6 email accounts across the domains. I'm installing a secondary HD replacement today. I may not get to the Windows 11 install until Wednesday. We'll see how things go.
Good luck.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Oct 20, 2025, 09:57 PMGood luck.
I wish I could say that's what I had. As
luck goes, it was anything
but good. So, here's the rundown...
I had previously created a boot disk to install Windows 11 Pro. So I plugged it in, went to the boot menu and selected that drive. Windows 11 setup started, but then said, the PC is
not compatible. It said I did not have TPM 2.0, though the health tool said I did. Somehow it was disabled, so I tried to enable it, but the option was grayed out in the BIOS. Yay.. ::)
After 15 minutes of messing around with it, it turns out that Secure Boot needs to be enabled for the TPM to be enabled. Okay, fine. So, now the PC won't boot at all. More monkeying around and I got it to boot into Windows 10, but it would
not boot from the USB drive. A Google search indicated that, well of
course it won't boot from the USB. It's secure and will only boot from the legitimate media. ::)
So, now I'm going in circles. I can't boot from the USB drive when Secure boot is enabled, but with it off, the installer won't continue, complaining that my PC isn't up to Windows 11 specs. Now I'm livid. >:( I ran a computer shop for many years. I've NEVER had issues like this! It's frustrating! I tried clearing the TPM module, unclear what would be erased. I tried several things. Finally, by some miracle, it booted from the USB drive with TPM and Secure boot enabled. :o
But, now I was unable to do what many videos said I could do, and which I have done on every version of Windows in the past, which is remove the partition from the HD and redo it for a fresh boot. It would
not remove or format any of the C drive! I could only carry out partitioning and formatting on the USB drive or the D (secondary) hard drive. Granz may find this interesting. After trying for 30 minutes to remove the existing partitions from the SSD, I finally got frustrated enough to create a bootable Ubuntu disk from my ISO and use Linux to boot and remove the partitions.
After all of that, I
finally got Windows 11 to install. I had to use Linux to install Windows 11. What an insult to M$. :-[ How embarrassing. I went to bed having finally gotten Windows installed, but now I need to begin the tedious task of reinstalling all my software and getting things back to the way I like them, insomuch as can be done on Windows 11.
I will also say this...
forcing you to use a Windows account to install and then trying to synchronize
all computers on that account is absolutely
ridiculous! By default, Windows 11 tried to backup your Downloads, Documents, Photos, Music and Videos and synchronize them with every PC using that M$ account. The result is chaos! :-\
Applications that you have installed will sometimes create folders in the Documents folder. For example, Visual Studio creates a folder where it stores your projects and other information. The Parallax Propeller Tool creates a folder where it stores code and libraries. These are automatically copied to your other PCs, whether or not they have these applications installed. It makes no sense! I had to manually turn all that off on the desktop
and the laptop, then erase all the nonsense.
You can't choose the individual folders you want to sync. Your choices are only the main user folders listed above and every subfolder within them. What a joke! Not a great beginning to an O/S I would rather have
not been forced to install. Because I worked on this until ~3AM, I got into work late and am very groggy today. :(
I'm sorry to hear about all of your troubles with Windows 11, but it makes me glad that I ditched Windows years ago.
Quote from: granz on Oct 21, 2025, 11:54 AMI'm sorry to hear about all of your troubles with Windows 11, but it makes me glad that I ditched Windows years ago.
I thought you would also appreciate the part where I had to use Linux to finally get Windows 11 installed.
What a nightmare. This is the LAST M$ O/S I ever use. Once we're
required to
upgrade again, I will finally be fully invested in Linux. As it is, I have decided to change the old laptop to Debian, rather than Ubuntu.
Quote from: https://web.archive.org/web/20021210082641/http://www.sjsu.edu:80/depts/english/2001.htmKirk's mind raced as he quickly assessed his situation:
the shields were down, the warp drive and impulse
engines were dead, life support was failing fast, and
the Enterprise was plummeting out of control toward
the surface of Epsilon VI and, as Scotty and Spock
searched frantically through the manuals trying to find
a way to save them all, Kirk vowed, as he stared at
the solid blue image filling the main view screen, that
never again would he allow a Microsoft operating
system to control his ship.
Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/)
2001 winner in Science Fiction
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 21, 2025, 11:44 AMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Oct 20, 2025, 09:57 PMGood luck.
I wish I could say that's what I had. As luck goes, it was anything but good. So, here's the rundown...
I had previously created a boot disk to install Windows 11 Pro. So I plugged it in, went to the boot menu and selected that drive. Windows 11 setup started, but then said, the PC is not compatible. It said I did not have TPM 2.0, though the health tool said I did. Somehow it was disabled, so I tried to enable it, but the option was grayed out in the BIOS. Yay.. ::)
After 15 minutes of messing around with it, it turns out that Secure Boot needs to be enabled for the TPM to be enabled. Okay, fine. So, now the PC won't boot at all. More monkeying around and I got it to boot into Windows 10, but it would not boot from the USB drive. A Google search indicated that, well of course it won't boot from the USB. It's secure and will only boot from the legitimate media. ::)
So, now I'm going in circles. I can't boot from the USB drive when Secure boot is enabled, but with it off, the installer won't continue, complaining that my PC isn't up to Windows 11 specs. Now I'm livid. >:( I ran a computer shop for many years. I've NEVER had issues like this! It's frustrating! I tried clearing the TPM module, unclear what would be erased. I tried several things. Finally, by some miracle, it booted from the USB drive with TPM and Secure boot enabled. :o
But, now I was unable to do what many videos said I could do, and which I have done on every version of Windows in the past, which is remove the partition from the HD and redo it for a fresh boot. It would not remove or format any of the C drive! I could only carry out partitioning and formatting on the USB drive or the D (secondary) hard drive. Granz may find this interesting. After trying for 30 minutes to remove the existing partitions from the SSD, I finally got frustrated enough to create a bootable Ubuntu disk from my ISO and use Linux to boot and remove the partitions.
After all of that, I finally got Windows 11 to install. I had to use Linux to install Windows 11. What an insult to M$. :-[ How embarrassing. I went to bed having finally gotten Windows installed, but now I need to begin the tedious task of reinstalling all my software and getting things back to the way I like them, insomuch as can be done on Windows 11.
I will also say this...forcing you to use a Windows account to install and then trying to synchronize all computers on that account is absolutely ridiculous! By default, Windows 11 tried to backup your Downloads, Documents, Photos, Music and Videos and synchronize them with every PC using that M$ account. The result is chaos! :-\
Applications that you have installed will sometimes create folders in the Documents folder. For example, Visual Studio creates a folder where it stores your projects and other information. The Parallax Propeller Tool creates a folder where it stores code and libraries. These are automatically copied to your other PCs, whether or not they have these applications installed. It makes no sense! I had to manually turn all that off on the desktop and the laptop, then erase all the nonsense.
You can't choose the individual folders you want to sync. Your choices are only the main user folders listed above and every subfolder within them. What a joke! Not a great beginning to an O/S I would rather have not been forced to install. Because I worked on this until ~3AM, I got into work late and am very groggy today. :(
I think DAMN.... sums it up... Tech is not what it used to be..
Quote from: granz on Oct 21, 2025, 09:19 PMBulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/)
2001 winner in Science Fiction
That was both insightful, and profound. Believe me when I say, this is my last version of Windows. When we're finally forced to move to 12, I am going to already be 100% invested in Linux.
So, last night saw me restoring data from backups and installing some of my applications. I didn't get very far since I didn't want to risk anything bad happening while restoring data. It's sad that I feel like I have to be cautious like that, based on previous experience with Windows 10. Hopefully within the rest of this week things will have returned somewhat to normal. Well, as normal as one can be while using a Windows O/S.
This weekend I have help coming over to move the benches where they need to be and the development machine (the one I had all the issues with) will be ready to setup in the workshop. Then I can finally get back to being productive, just in time for winter (indoor projects).
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 22, 2025, 09:50 AMQuote from: granz on Oct 21, 2025, 09:19 PMBulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/)
2001 winner in Science Fiction
That was both insightful, and profound. Believe me when I say, this is my last version of Windows. When we're finally forced to move to 12, I am going to already be 100% invested in Linux.
I hoped that this would give you a bit of a smile. :)
Quote from: granz on Oct 21, 2025, 11:54 AMI'm sorry to hear about all of your troubles with Windows 11, but it makes me glad that I ditched Windows years ago.
Between you and a coworker, I am slowly discovering apps that clearly compete with the apps that I use requiring Windows. I haven't tried some yet, but that's the purpose of having the old laptop set up with Debian (yes, I am switching out Ubuntu).
Last night I was working on my Windows 11 Desktop, trying to get apps re-installed after mostly restoring documents. At one point I noticed a graphical glitch in an application and first thought, well perhaps I didn't install the graphics card drivers (which I didn't). But the generic ones in Windows are usually sufficient as long as you're not gaming. I just happened to pull up the device manager, and that is when I sank into my chair. :-[
There were at least 45 components that indicated they didn't have the drivers installed. For a 6-year old PC I was sure Windows 11 would have the necessary drivers for my Alienware motherboard. I was wrong. After a bunch of hoops getting the support assistant installed from the Dell website, it only identified one driver (motherboard) and the installation failed. :(
I did eventually get that driver pack installed via a different route, and it did fix most of the issues, however there is still one component that is not fully solved.
OUCH! It seems to me that it is nothing short of amazing that Microsoft can stay in business with this kind of garbage. They seem to want to support only absolutely brand spanking new computers, and the couple hundred million PCs already out there can rot. >:(
Quote from: granz on Oct 23, 2025, 03:51 PMOUCH! It seems to me that it is nothing short of amazing that Microsoft can stay in business with this kind of garbage. They seem to want to support only absolutely brand spanking new computers, and the couple hundred million PCs already out there can rot. >:(
I just saw an advertisement from Best Buy about M$ not supporting Windows 10 and how you can go into Best Buy and they will help you get a new PC. Well,
of course they will!
"Sure, we'll take your money!" ;D
Quote from: granz on Oct 23, 2025, 04:51 PM"Sure, we'll take your money!" ;D
flat,750x,075,f-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.jpg
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 15, 2025, 09:16 AMImmediately the new desktop started adding folder and copying documents and photos, etc from the laptop, even though we specified setting it up as a new PC. It turns out (and this is where I am pissed) that if you're using the same Microsoft account on more than one PC, Windows 11 tries to synchronize them all!!! Prior to this, you would have to manually set up which things were synchronized. What a mess it was trying to not only STOP that, but clean up the mess afterward.
This seemed relevant somehow.
6f86bc4f4a6ceba6.jpg
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 21, 2025, 11:44 AMI wish I could say that's what I had. As luck goes, it was anything but good.
This too!
LinuxInSpace.jpg
Quote from: Chris Savage on Oct 26, 2025, 02:23 AMQuote from: Chris Savage on Oct 21, 2025, 11:44 AMI wish I could say that's what I had. As luck goes, it was anything but good.
This too!
LinuxInSpace.jpg
Ok both of those are funny, and the first one is true. Lol
As I have been restoring my documents and installing newer version of apps on Windows 11, I have noted a great many bugs and performance issues that leave me very disheartened about Windows 11. And the bugs occur in so many of their flagship apps like Microsoft 365. It's really made restoring some of my data tedious and a nightmare. Especially when it comes to Outlook.
For years I was able to simply import my Outlook .pst file into the next version of Outlook. This time around it was very convoluted, took me several hours to accomplish, and left me wondering if it was even worth it. It would not import my files directly into 365, but rather had me import them into "Classic" Outlook (pre-installed) and then ported them from there. But it took several tries to get everything and created numerous copies / clones of folders, not to mention errors during the import.
The interface frequently glitches in such a way that buttons and other graphical elements look like squares and you can't tell what that button is when that happens. Also, no matter which account / folder I am in, the taskbar icon says the name of a random folder and never updates. This also happens with the newer tabbed Microsoft Explorer. No matter which tab I am working with, the taskbar icon seems to be a random one from the list of tabs.
And, yet another Hack-A-Day article on how to fix Micro$oft's screwups:
Automatically Remove AI Features From Windows 11 (https://hackaday.com/2025/12/18/automatically-remove-ai-features-from-windows-11/.)
It seems that there are more articles on how to fix M$ stupidity than any previous version of any other M$ product.
Quote from: granz on Dec 19, 2025, 08:40 AMIt seems that there are more articles on how to fix M$ stupidity than any previous version of any other M$ product.
Whenever I go into a business and the service person is complaining and apologizing to me for their computer being slow and / or crashing / hanging up, I always ask if it's running Windows. I always get a firm, YES, at which I reply, I understand. Take your time. There's nothing you can do about those issues.
They always appreciate the understanding and patience. I tell them, I ran a computer shop for many years. I'm used to it.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Dec 19, 2025, 09:59 AMWhenever I go into a business and the service person is complaining and apologizing to me for their computer being slow and / or crashing / hanging up, I always ask if it's running Windows.
When I get to this kind of situation, I tell them that I am (was) in IT, and ask them: "do you know what people in my field call this?" They will say,"no." Then I tell them that "we call it job security." It usually brings a smile to their face, and eases the tension a bit.