I upgraded (?) to Windows 10
 

Microsoft kept nagging me, and personally I think doing little annoying things to get me to upgrade to Windows 10.

I did three days ago.

Most things work o.k. but Cortona will not speak to me and she refuses to work at all. I can't get the new Mahjong game to work and the old one is gone, and it was such a stress reliever as was the old solitaire. I miss them profoundly.

I have to type in "Bing" to get my questions taken to the right place and I have found that I just wish I had stayed with my old friend, Windows 7....but I will get used to it. I am told you can learn to hang if you hang long enough.

A computer guru friend of mine once told me years ago, "If you like the way you computer is now, then don't upgrade."

Sounds like you will need to download new versions of your favorite games (and other programs) that will run on widows 10. Also, next time you are on Bing, search for how to make Bing your default search engine.

Hang in there, gg. Be persistent. Take some time to explore various options and settings. You will grow to like it...and you will be able to do anything and play any game you like. Honest! :)

Gracie,

Did the same thing a couple of months ago, I may be able to help, send me a PM, and we can take on the phone.

VT

I tried it and went back to W 7. W 10 could not bring my contacts to the email app. Cortona or whatever that is, would not talk to me or find answers to my problems with W 10, it also does not include my favorite online checkers game. W 10 also has difficulty accepting that I use an old version of Office (2003 which meets all of my needs along with Outlook) I will keep W 7 and use my I Pad for lots more things now.

Outlook 2003....does Microsoft even support that anymore?

My go-to site for solitare and mahjong - as well as lots of other games: 247 Games

I will switch the Windows 10 when this computer takes a crap and I buy a new one.

In what way is Hotmail not working? You using a client? Outlook or what not? Are you in IE? Firefox?

Oh, and "Edge" is terrible and could be your issue. It is best to NOT have Edge as your default internet portal.

I agree with the comment on EDGE, I found Internet Explorer, in ALL APS, Windows Accessories.

Simple solutions to "Edge"


1. Download Firefox/Chrome or what ever...upon install it will ask if you want to make it your default browser.

2. If you already have them - do a search of the computer for "default" and the first option will be "Default Apps" pic that one. On "Web browser" you can select from pre-installed applications (anything but Edge and ignore Microsoft's "recommendation")
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http://tinypic.com/r/mr7mv9/9

That's what I said before they switched it for me right while I was in the middle of something. They did tell us to either switch or we will do it for you eventually I guess they got tired of me declining to switch.

I've only had it a few days but haven't seen much difference between it and 8.1 with Classic Shell, except I liked the display of 8.1 better 'cause it was prettier.

Most of us IT guys never stayed with 8.1 because it was so terrible (worse than 7 32bit)...but, if you make your backround just a nice solid black the "pretty" will never bother you again (and speed up your system slightly).

I'm not the worse or the best when it comes to computers. Its my way of saying I know enough to get myself into trouble but not enough to get myself out.

Its my understanding that windows 7 will be maintained until 2020. By then if not before I will need/ a new or want a new computer.

The confusion demonstrated on this thread convinces me that I don't want to risk an upgrade that is only going to confuse me more

Windows keeps sending me messages to upgrade now or at a scheduled future time . I keep sending a message "back that says "close window"

Rubicon, be not afraid. 10 is not hard at all to use it is just different. I like you am not the best or the worst when it comes to computers. I updated my wife's computer to Windows 10. There were issues but it was only time that was needed to get the computer up to snuff. The real answer to ending all updating problems is Apple. My phones and tablets are Samsung Android because of familiarity and comfort but mainly $$Price$$. The main desktop computer is a Mac. I almost returned it 5 years ago because I was struggling with accepting the price difference. Mac $1700, Dell $750. My wife convinced me to keep the Mac, between you and I maybe I should listen to her more often. Mac provides all updates immediately and although lengthy very simple to install with zero anxiety. Bada Bing Bada Boom Done!

I upgraded (?) to Windows 10
 

What Nucky said.

My sentiments exactly.
To me a user friendly upgrade should not involve having to learn where the day to day high use personal and basic controls are located....or how to find them again...etc.

Sorta like when Firefox upgrades, the new improved application is not discernable to the way one uses it or where the information is located.

If it ain't broke as the saying goes....and for me I have decided Windows 7 is 100% sufficient.

If you don't like Windows 10 you have 30 days to go back to 7. That's what my husband did. He couldn't understand Windows 10 at all and claimed it "installed itself". It lost his Solitaire and messed up his "500" game, among other annoying things.

We have two system: a Windows 7 laptop that I use for work (for ssh sessions into linux clusters for software development and office productivity apps) and my wife has an iMac. The laptop will never be upgraded by my IT department beyond Windows 7 security patches. My wife's iMac is trivial to upgrade, either major or minor releases of the OS. We always keep it at the latest release of the OS. I believe there are few people who would go back to a Windows box after using a Mac. If there was a software package that is not natively available for the Mac OS you can always run a Windows emulator.

I suspect that those instances where Win10 "installed itself" were times when either the user responded to the notice that there were updates to install and just clicked OK. Microsoft at some point put the Win10 upgrade in the list of updates, so if you have the system set to install updates automatically, or just click OK when notified, you just upgraded to 10. That's why I always set mine to notify me when updates are available, but let me choose what and when to install them.

Like others, I upgraded to 10 and went back to 7, mostly because some of my drivers wouldn't play nice with 10. I waited until after the first patches came out in November and upgraded in January. One of the things I didn't like at first was the tiles, but I have now moved the links to frequently used programs to the tiles and deleted a lot of tiles I didn't like/use. It is easier to click on Start and select the program I want to use while in another program instead of minimizing it to get to the desktop and selecting the second program.

If you right click on the start icon, it brings up a menu where you will find your Control Panel and other control links, so they are there, just accessed in a different way.

Google Solitaire for Win10 or other programs you think are lost in the upgrade. There are ways to bring these back.

Hope this helps.

http://tinypic.com/r/1zqad87/9LOL, thus the reason why Apple is a VERY small percentage of systems in business. Even lower at the server level.

That, and the reason that MOST people overspend by over 100% than what they need to on a system. You can get a GREAT laptop for $400 +/-. Max it out at 16GB of memory for another $50.00 and an SSD for another $200...done. So, for about $650.00 you get an awesome system MUCH faster than most new $1000+ retail systems. Then, you get Office 365 for $10 a month that includes all the online storage you will ever need as well as Office.

The "computer guys" will claim otherwise...but, most have NO IDEA what they are talking about (the same people get a Z06 and think because they have a car they can drive fast (safely))...pathetic really.


http://oi68.tinypic.com/1zqad87.jpg

I'm sure they have not supported Office 2003 and Outlook for years but that does not matter because they still work and are good enough for my very basic needs.

I agree that is the case for 99% of the home computer users...but, new is new right? Oh wait, it is much easier to change fonts now....


All you need to open any file from a newer system is the Compatibility Pack

Speed is hardly ever an issue for most users around here, people who do video editing notwithstanding. Buying more hardware than is needed is a common mistake, such as 16 Gbytes of memory instead of 4 or 8 GBytes. People who need a lot of memory know they need a lot of memory, everyone else doesn't. Paying for more internet bandwidth than they need is another mistake. Remember folks, any advice you get on this forum is worth exactly what you paid for it ;-)

Biker1 - Booting your computer is important for everyone. SSD is not just speed, it is stability. How many folks in TV do you suppose drop their laptop off of their lap? I have shot systems off of my car seat - both with HDD and SSD...SSD, I keep working. HDD I go to recover my data more often than not.

In your scenario, why not just use bare minimums everywhere? That said, hang out at BestBuy or some of the other computer stores and see what they are "selling"...more than often the total is well into $1200+ for a Windows based systems, with far less "Speed" than my example from CDW. (selling on "Smoke and Fears"). The memory also helps for the MANY who use their systems for NetFlix and VideoPhone (from there ISP's here are a nightmare).

As you know, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Most often, the weakest link is the consumer.

I have an SSD in my laptop and it speeds up rebooting but I hardly ever reboot - maybe every other month.

I have no idea how many people drop their laptops from their laps. I suspect very few - seems like a large number of people use tablets on their laps.

For the vast majority of users around here, the bare minimums are probably more than adequate. You can buy a pretty nice laptop from Dell with an SSD for $550. You can also get a Intel Celeron processor based system with harddrive for $250 that will probably satisfy most people's needs. You can get a 13"Apple MacBook Air (which only have SSDs) for $759 - a much better choice, in my opinion. It costs a few more bucks but well worth it in terms of less hassles for the average user. All of those system would have 4 GBytes of memory.

I have 4 GBytes on my Windows laptop for work and it handles everything I throw at it without issue, and I do stream Netflix. Memory is one of the most misunderstood parts of a computer. Accept for providing additional cache for I/O, having more memory than you need provides little or no value. It is typical for people to suggest more memory than is needed.

I rarely hear of anyone having issues with their internet and most of my friends know I write software for a computer manufacturer.

I crunch HUGE numbers. Anyone playing with SQL or even large Excel needs memory (as I presume you know). As you also know the SSD limits the system memory you need - but memory is cheap. My SSD (and I have done the Pepsi Challange - Samsung is much faster than PNY or Kenniston - probably due to their "Magician" software that also makes converting from HDD to SSD a snap for even the most novice of users).

I have first hand seen many systems "lag" from memory - but, more often than not they have 900 Windows open that they dont notice are open.

I did shop BestBuy the other day looking for a simple cable. Not only did they not know what the simple cable was (DVI) - there was not a system there for under $1000+ that was not a Chrome Book...and you know what the salesmen were saying (and they are not even on commission!!!)

I crunch huge numbers also but I use real computers with 8000 E5-2690v4 processors ;-). And they don't run Windows ;-) And I don't play with stuff as I have real work to do ;-)

The average user around here only needs a minimal system unless they spend a lot of time doing video work or other content creation. The people doing content creation by and large know what they need. Most people not doing content creation are probably better off with a tablet. And they don't need 16 GBytes of memory.

The competence of Best Buy employees is unknown to me as I don't shop there.

You and I are not typical shoppers for IT in TV....Try working in healthcare...most clinics want to spend $5000 and need to spend $30k....or they budget $150k.....and need to spend $30k....as you know, the "salesman" will try to get them to spend till it hurts :Screen_of_Death:

I agree.

I believe the average user in The Villages would be well advised to forget about a laptop or desktop computer and use a tablet as they will minimize their costs and hassle. This way, they cannot be easily misled during the buying process if they go the Best Buy route (with the exception of being talked into an extended warranty).

Some people like sitting at a desk and viewing a large screen rather than being hunched over a tablet, that's why they like a desktop computer.

That is what I am at...two monitors rotated to "Portrait" plus a third connection to the TV. Plus, being as I am hard wired I get the actual speed of my internet as opposed to all the WiFi conflicts in the area..laptop at home? No thanks...

My laptop is connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If you travel for work, as I do, you need a laptop. Desktop, no thanks.

While I use cat5 to my router, WiFi delivers the nominal bandwidth of our internet connection, both download and upload, to our wireless connected devices.

Not hard to replicate all of your documents and configs...as you know. I never never never store critical information on my work laptop - plus, if it is lost it costs about $100,000.00+ in fines and printing/postage. Data is NEVER secure on a laptop...if stolen, it is out there. Passwords are 20 seconds or less. Adobe has some awesome encription these days, but Microsoft and the many variations of SQL - bleh.

If I had a consultant who had PHI (or other of my business information) on a laptop, no matter how "secure" they thought, think or claim it was - well, they would no longer be my consultant. Seen systems disappear from parking lots to airports to taxi's...then, data is out there for who knows who to do what with. Corporate espionage is not just for targeted companies. SOx and HIPAA is a bitch eh??


Edit: Unless you are running RSA)

Been using a laptop for work since 1995. Never had an issue.

We must play in VASTLY different levels of data...this is part of the reason I dont mess with SOx at all...


Stolen laptops lead to important HIPAA settlements | HHS.gov

I am just careful.