Windows 10 icon pop up

Technology Technology: Chat / Discussions
161

The thing about Windows and its hitherto regular updates to later versions is that when a new version comes out (eg, W10) you find that some of your software or hardware (an old scanner for example) is not compatible.

Then, on the other hand, if you keep an old version (eg, XP) you find that some recent software or hardware is not compatible with that!

Yes, I know it’s the responsibility of manufacturers to update drivers and so on, but it occurs to me that if Microsoft just had one version of Windows these problems might not occur. Yes, updates are necessary, but why not keep just one version of Windows?

Actually, as I understand it, they have announced that W10 will be the last version of Windows, so perhaps that will be a good thing.

162

It looks like Microsoft’s goal is to only have one OS that gets upgrades and updates. This being much like other manufacturer’s systems. Microsoft has always been a bit unique in providing support for a few different operating systems, all at the same time.

It’s starting to look now as if they aren’t prepared to do this any more. If/when the support of multiple operating systems stops, I suppose we get the choice that other major players give. Adapt or change the platform.

We’ve all got so used to Microsoft giving a choice of supported operating systems that it’s difficult to get used to the idea that they might not do so in future.

163

:lol:

164

This is (has been) all part of the global scam JBR. If you truly appraise the situation, can you honestly say that each successive version of Windows OS that you have had has offered any significant specific benefits to previous versions?

By continually changing the OS (for no good reason), it means other software manufacturers software stops working or at least becomes instable, which then requires those manufacturers to develop new versions that are compatible with the new Windows OS. Then YOU the mug punter have to buy that new version. All these companies are inter-linked, all part of the great controlling collective, call it what you will, the Illuminati, the Ruling Elite, doesn’t matter.

I remember vividly when Windows launched a new OS years ago and the world was just becoming aware of broadband services instead of the old dial up modems. Now how do you get millions of people to signup to monthly payment contracts for broadband when they were previously dialing up for free?

Windows released the OS so full of holes and hackable gaps that it needed to put out a complete Service Pack. SP2.
It made that Service Pack so huge in size (at the time) that it was pretty much impossible to download it over a dial-up modem. So you were effectively stuck unless you could get your hands on an SP2 CD to install.

Cue the broadband white knight to sweep in and solve all that. People signed up in their droves and were then able to swiftly download the service pack over their super fast (at the time) broadband connection.

Nicely done it was, all timed to perfection. Now millions were paying monthly subs for broadband.

All imho of course.

165

Dial up free, when was that then?

166

Well, yes and no.

XP was good, but Vista was crap.
Windows 7 was good, but Windows 8 was crap.

So you could say that they made some improvements…

…alternating with regressions!

167

Yes but when you say “good” and “Bad” what you really mean I suspect is that all the “normal” stuff either worked and was easy to use, or it wasn’t.

So I ask again, tell me one thing that Windows 7 gave you, that you used frequently that was not available in the previous Windows version you had. If you need to think for any length of time about that then I think my point is made. Microsoft just keep releasing new versions for THEIR own benefit, not ours.

168

If I remember correctly, Vista was slow and I kept having problems with some operations. W7 was much better.

I suspect that they brought out W7 as so many people were complaining about Vista and, presumably, sales were dropping. I believe the same thing happened when someone had the bright idea of W8. I remember reading reports about how much the OS was disliked, although I have never used it personally.

I don’t doubt that MS bring out new versions of Windows for the reasons you have explained, but they certainly make mistakes and misjudge what their customers really want.

169

IIRC, dial-up was literally that - a service using ordinary telephone lines subject to the same charges - in the UK, in 1993, those charges would be the line rental plus charges, which I recall as 1p a minute (evenings and weekends). Download speed was a nominal 28 kbps but my downloads were usually 4 Kbps or less, so a 4 Mb file would take well over an hour, if uninterrupted. Frequent line breaks meant that several attempts were required for each download, so an album of 10 individual songs could take a day or more to complete and cost more than the CD … :shock:

170

I think Realist is partially right in saying that successive operating systems don’t give a user any more than say, Windows 95 did. In this, it was possible to create and edit documents, edit photos, create graphics and even play games. Why bring out Windows 98? It wasn’t too much different to Windows 95.

On the other hand, it was a step towards Windows XP and Windows 7 64-bit …and Windows 7 is so much better than Windows 95 was. I think many would agree on that. The richness of graphics, program interfaces and speed of operations. People tend to like all this.

Better and more capable hardware has dictated the progression of operating systems quite a bit. The architecture of older operating systems couldn’t make the best of what newer hardware was capable of. Software chasing hardware chasing software. It happens and I’d say that we, as well as the software and hardware suppliers/manufacturers, have benefited from the progress.

True there are cases where things go wrong and the whole blinkin’ lot seems useless but generally speaking, the overall experience of computing and Internet usage is much better now than it was 20 years ago. Perhaps seemingly pointless incremental progression has been necessary for this to be the case. Not possible to suddenly jump from Windows 95 to Windows 7. It had to be progressed towards.

Windows 8 and 10? Well, each operating system that Microsoft has ever brought out has had to run the gauntlet (I remember XP being particularly vilified in various forums).

Windows 10 may not be seen as a move forwards but I think it is and may be seen so by many a few years down the line. Worth noting is that it has been done on the back of Windows 8 . Another incremental step necessary in the general move forwards. I always thought it was quite brave of Microsoft to break the mould of their 20 year old interface.

Microsoft bringing out large service packs to drive the need for faster internet connections? No conspiracies there in my opinion.

171

When Windows was conceived, I was using DOS. I had my menus and split hard drives. I could play my games and do my writing.
I did not realy need Windows. The thing that attracted me to it was the flight simulator.
So I have seen most versions come and go. I now wait with eager anticipation to see what comes next.
P.S. I have tried 10 but gone back to 8.

172

Windows 8 was an attempt to produce an operating system that was suitable for both computers and phones/tablets. I think that’s where Microsoft made a mistake.

I, and I’m sure many other people, were happy with the traditional desktop. It worked and it was easy to use. Why, on a large screen that does not have touch operation, do you want big squares most of which are of no interest - just what MS think we want? Wouldn’t it have been better to create two different OSs; one for computers and one for phones?

Windows 10 was better in that respect in that the traditional desktop could be easily restored, as I have done.

173

I’m trying to install Windows 10 on my older Windows 7 laptop but when I click on the Windows GWX logo all I get is a white box with the words ‘please wait’ which disappears after a few seconds…then nothing !..any ideas mart or anyone ?

174

It’s telling you that you’re better off with W7. Good advice.

175

W7 is no longer supported by Microsoft and so is susceptible to problems

176

I was joking.

However, I’m surprised that MS only supports W8 and W10 now. They’re becoming a bit of a pain in the arse, especially since there are many individuals and companies out there still using XP.

I have never paid to ‘upgrade’, as used to be the norm. If I bought a new computer (and it didn’t have W8 or Vista) I’d be happy to have the OS I got.

On the plus side, you don’t have to pay to upgrade from W7 to W10. Have you thought about contacting MS?

177

Have you ever tried to block the upgrade on this computer? I ask because I know that some of us (including me) blocked the upgrade initially but had a change of mind later. The result in my case was that, although the folders containing the files were there, they were in fact empty.

The files for the upgrade download silently in the background automatically (unless you take measures to stop them). It might be worth looking to see if you have the necessary folders with the upgrade files in them. These folders are: $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS. They should be gigabytes big. It will be necessary to un-hide hidden files and folders in order to see $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS (Control Panel > Folder Options).

The trouble is that variables occur such as, what updates are downloaded/installed, whether the upgrade has ever been blocked etc.

In my case I had to go around a very long route but now, Microsoft allows you to use a Windows 7 or 8 key to do a clean installation Windows 10. I ultimately went for the clean installation because I think you end up with a cleaner and therefore more trouble-free system. That’s a matter of preference though.

Since Microsoft wants everyone to upgrade to Windows 10, they have brought out comprehensive instructions that they hope will cover all eventualities. I’ve read them and I think they do.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If it was me, I’d click the ‘Upgrade now’ button and see what happens …but not before I’d backed up all files (documents photos etc). Preferably make a disk image of the entire system so that if things were to go pear-shaped, there is a way back better than using Microsoft’s own 30 day roll-back option. Success can’t be guaranteed.

The main thing to have if going for a clean installation is the Windows 7 key number.

However, if you are able to install the upgrade without going down the ‘clean installation’ route (called an ‘in-place’ upgrade), the key won’t be needed.

One thing that might be considered good (or creepy depending on how you look at it :)) is that if you do an in-place upgrade reasonably successfully and subsequently decide to do a clean installation because it is thought better, you won’t have to enter a key number (just skip that stage when asked for it).

The reason being that Microsoft will have profiled your computer on their servers. When you come to reinstall or install the OS afresh, the servers will know the computer qualifies for a Windows 10 installation.

These things can be a bit long-winded to describe. Sorry

178

Thank you mart you are very kind.
I have done a Windows Repair from Tweaking.com which is supposed to re-install any missed W7 updates etc. but I shall look at the files you suggest, and I’ll bet that you are right !

179

I haven’t been able to locate the files that you mention mart…to be honest I don’t quite know how or where to look :blush:
That Tweaking.com caused a few problems and what with that and further problems with spybot and spyhunter and AVG finding a virus … and Firefox now has problems even after a supposedly clean install, I am ready to chuck the old laptop in the bin ! :twisted:

180

The fact that a given piece of software goes out of support does not mean it suddenly manifests itself with all manner of problems. A lot of software goes on working just fine for many many years after going out of support.

Windows 7 works just fine. I see no reason at all to progress beyond it until such time as the powers that be, engineer everything else such that Windows 7 stops working for all general usage.

I’d be interested to hear what people are specifically going to make use of in Windows 10 that they didn’t have in 7.