Microsoft Class Action Lawsuit and Microsoft sets stage for massive Windows 10 upgrade strategy

THE TITLE OF THREAD WILL ALL WAYS REFERENCE THE LAST POST

Windows 10's growth is very slow -- Windows 7 and 8.x users reluctant to switch

It’s that time of the month again when NetMarketShare releases its desktop operating system usage share figures and we get to see how well (or not) the various flavors of Microsoft’s operating system are doing. In October, Windows 10 gained usage share, while all other versions of Windows lost share. That’s to be expected of course.

However, it’s far from great news for Microsoft as Windows 10’s growth once again slowed. Making the new OS free to upgraders, and advertising it heavily still doesn’t seem enough to get people to make the switch. No wonder Microsoft has started using bullyboy tactics.

SEE ALSO: Windows 10's growth slows dramatically

In October, Windows 10 went from 6.63 percent to 7.94 percent, an increase of 1.31 percentage points. In the previous month it grew by 1.42 percentage points, so you can see the rate slowly tailing off.

Windows 7 remains the undisputed king of operating systems. Last month it started on 56.53 percent and dropped just 0.82 percentage points to 55.71 percent.

You might have expected Windows 8.x users to be the group keenest to switch to Windows 10, but actually they turn out to be surprisingly loyal to the tiled OS.

In September, Windows 8 had 2.6 percent, and Windows 8.1 was on 10.72 percent. In October, those figures didn't change much at all. Windows 8 was on 2.54 percent, and Windows 8.1 on 10.68 percent. In total, Windows 8.x dropped a minuscule 0.10 percentage points in the month.

XP users still show no signs of going anywhere. In October the ancient OS dropped 0.53 percentage points. It currently has 11.68 percent of the market.

While Windows 10 is gaining share, it’s doing so at a very slow rate. What does Microsoft have to do to get people to make the switch? A big update to the new OS is due this month, will that make it more appealing? We shall find out in December.

http://betanews.com/2015/11/01/wind...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10
ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10CLICK HERE

http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156601

 

this seems pretty consistant with other releases. i hung on to xp for quite awhile before i took to 7.

 

Scraping their skin off with a blunt potato peeler and yanking the fingernails out Gestapo style might do the trick.

 

Windows 10 growth stalls during October
Windows 10--7.94%-------Windows XP-11.68%----Windows 7-55.71%

Windows XP market share declining less than Win 8.x or 7

2 Nov 2015 at 08:02, Simon Sharwood

If it's the first Monday of the month, then it's time for our monthly look at desktop operating system market share data from StatCounter and Netmarketshare.

This month the news is mixed for the main player, Microsoft, because while Windows 10's market share is growing its rate of growth is slowing.

StatCounter has Redmond's latest effort at bang on nine per cent market share, up from 7.64 per cent in September. That's a nice 1.36 per cent jump, but that's less than Windows 10 scored between August's 5.38 per cent and September's 7.64 per cent.

Netmarketshare has a similar tale to tell with Windows 10 up from 6.63 per cent market share to 7.94 per cent. That's a 1.31 increase over the previous month's market share, but the August-to-September jump was 1.42 per cent.

Little wonder Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to get people to upgrade to Windows 10, by fair means and foul.
read more
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/11/02/windows_market_share_october_2015/

MY ADVICE TO YOU IF YOU DO NOT WANT
WINDOWS 10 UPGRADE AND YOU HAVE WINDOES-7 OR 8.1
DO NOT AGREE TO WINDOWS 10 EULA

THAT IS A WAY TO STOP THE UPGRADE IF YOU DO NOT WANT WINDOWS 10
SOME HOW MAKE A COPY OF YOU NOT AGREEING TO THE EULA
IN CASE WINDOWS 10 INSTALLS,THAT WILL BE YOUR PROOF OF NOT AGREEING TO WINDOWS 10 EULA

MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A IMAGE OF YOUR SYSTEM IF YOU DO INSTALL
WINDOWS 10 IN CASE YOU WANT TO RETURN BACK TO YOUR OLD SYSTEM

 

At this point in time, I don't believe that Water Boarding or Gestapo Tactics would convince me to convert... Each time I play with Win 10, I become more ambivalent... Like watching my mother-in-law drive over a cliff.. .... in my new Cadillac!

 

WoW! Want to beat Microsoft's Windows 10-8.1 AND 7 security defenses? Poke some 32-bit software

Compatibility tool 'hampers EMET anti-malware protections'

Two chaps claim to have discovered how to trivially circumvent Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) using Redmond's own compatibility tools.

A report [PDF] by the duo at Duo Security describes how the Windows on Windows (WoW64) environment can be abused to bypass builtin security tools.

WoW64 allows 32-bit applications to run on 64-bit Windows installations. At its core, it works by trapping system calls made by code running in 32-bit mode, and jumping to 64-bit long mode before letting Windows handle the call. By taking advantage of the mode changes, we're told, it is possible to smuggle malicious code past EMET's barriers, which ordinarily do a good job of blocking vulnerability exploits.

READ MORE
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/11/03/32bit_software_to_beat_emet/

Google's VP of design rips into Windows 10 on Twitter
http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/03/matias-duarte-windows-10/

Microsoft will kill off Windows 7 preinstalls on Halloween 2016
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...l-off-windows-7-preinstalls-on-halloween-2016

 

Dell and HP tech support staff are telling customers to ditch Windows 10

The words 'technical' and 'support' don't seem to apply here

A NUMBER OF OEMs have been caught discouraging the use of Microsoft Windows 10, and in some cases persuading customers to roll back to Windows 8.1.

READ MORE
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...aff-are-telling-customers-to-ditch-windows-10

Microsoft confirms Windows 10 is harvesting more data than ever

MICROSOFT HAS ADMITTED that Windows 10 is collecting more data than any of its predecessors, and there's not much you can do about it.

In an interview with PC World, Microsoft corporate vice president Joe Belfiore defended the collection of what the company refers to as "basic telemetry", explaining that it is a necessary part of improving Windows' functionality.

Windows has always collected information like this. Every blue screen of death creates an error report which is uploaded to Microsoft. But so much more is collected now and, yes, this does mean that search terms that you enter into Windows as well as anonymous machine gibberish is going up to the cloud.

Microsoft has said that personal information is seldom taken and that when it is, there is an opt-out. However, the firm added that "in the cases where we've not provided options, we feel that those things have to do with the health of the system, and are not personal information or are not related to privacy".

READ MORE
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...-windows-10-is-harvesting-more-data-than-ever

Microsoft Services Agreement Published: June 4, 2015
Effective: August 1, 2015
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/

WATCH
Windows 10: Privacy Agreement ALERT!
THINK ABOUT IT YOU MIGHT GO TO JAIL
JUST BY USING WINDOWS 10


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKXShHAmtCY

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10
ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10
CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156601

 

How to Install Windows 10 for Free on any Windows, Linux, or OS X PC

We have written a lot about how you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, if you’re currently running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Maybe you’re not ready to make that step and commit without trying the new operating system (OS) first. Or maybe you don’t qualify for the free upgrade, but would like to play with Windows 10 anyhow.

Here we compile the ways you can try Windows 10, whether you have a Windows, Linux, or Mac computer.

Check & Prepare Your Hardware
Before you dive into the details, lets make sure you computer is compatible with Windows 10.

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster
• RAM: 1 GB (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
• Free hard disk space: 16 GB
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

If you would like to dual boot Windows 10 next to your current operating system, you will need a separate partition on your system drive or a separate drive to install the new OS on — this can be an external drive. For the dual boot option, we recommend at least 30 GB of space, especially if you would like to test software under Windows 10.

For managing Windows partitions, we recommend EaseUS Partition Master. The tool will guide you through the steps needed to slice off available space from a drive in use, which you can then allocate to a new drive partition. It’s highly recommended that you prepare a backup of your data before you do this.

Finally, you might need a USB flash drive with at least 3 GB of space.

Download Windows 10 Installation Files
You have two options for obtaining Windows 10 installation files. If you qualify for the free upgrade, you can download a Windows 10 ISO image. Otherwise, you can download the 90 day evaluation copy for Windows 10 Enterprise.

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
From your Windows machine, you can run Microsoft’s Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to upgrade directly or download installation files. Note that you can use these installation media only on computers that qualify for the free upgrade to Windows 10!

Download the appropriate version for your machine, i.e. for a 32-bit or 64-bit architecture. Launch the EXE file you downloaded, select Create installation media for another PC, and click Next. Choose your Language, Edition (same as your current Windows edition), Architecture, and when you’re done click Next.

RREAD MORE
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/can-install-windows-10-free/

Is Windows 10 telemetry a threat to your personal privacy?
Microsoft has built an entirely new telemetry system for its 'Windows as a Service' engineering model. In Windows 10, you can dial data collection back almost to zero, but you can't turn it off completely. Here's why.

READ MORE
http://www.zdnet.com/article/is-win...eat-to-your-personal-privacy/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

 

Surprise Microsoft to Force Windows 10 Download by Default

If you've deliberately avoided upgrading to Windows 10 up until now, you may need to re-check your Windows Update settings. Two forthcoming changes to Windows Update means Windows 10 could install by default without users realizing.

Unlike with previous systems, Microsoft is treating Windows 10 as literally being an update to Windows 7 and 8 in the same way as ordinary bug fixes and feature additions. That's how it was previously possible to "pre-register" for the free upgrade and have it installed automatically on launch date without having to specifically search out a download.

Until now, Windows 10 was treated as a special case among the other Windows Update downloads. This treatment meant it would only install where a user had specifically asked for it, rather than being part of any automatic updates. (A few users have found it installing unexpectedly, but this appears to have been a bug.)

Windows 10 To Be 'Recommended' Update
Recently, Microsoft classified Windows 10 as an "Optional update". This means that any users who have Windows set to automatically install any and all updates from Microsoft will get Windows 10 in the near future. The only ways to stop this are to switch to different download settings in Windows Update, or to manually go into Windows Update, find Windows 10 in the list and deselect it.

Even more dramatically, Microsoft says that early next year it will switch the classification to "Recommended." This puts it in the same category as those updates which bring major new features or particularly important security updates. (Source: windows.com)

What makes this so significant is that the default setting in Windows Update is to install all "Recommended updates." That means millions of users who have never even thought of changing the update settings - including those with little interest or knowledge of technical issues - may find they get Windows 10 unexpectedly. (Source: forbes.com)

Users Have 31 Days To Undo Windows 10 Upgrade
Microsoft says that in this situation, the new system will start installing automatically, but users will get a clear on-screen prompt asking them if they want to continue with the upgrade or cancel it. However, it appears that even if users say no, this process could repeat every month as Windows goes through a new batch of recommended updates.

Again, the only real solution for users with no immediate interest in Windows 10 is to change their Windows Update settings to install only those updates the user has manually and specifically selected. That could make it more likely people miss out on genuinely important updates to their existing Windows system.

Those users who do upgrade to Windows 10, whether intentionally or without realizing what is happening, will have 30 days to return to Windows 7 or 8 without losing any documents, programs or settings - unless of course, a disk image backup is made of the current operating system; in that case, users can revert at any time past 31 day deadline.

read more

http://www.infopackets.com/news/9712/microsoft-force-windows-10-download-default

 

How to download Windows 10 with the November Update and create your own installation media

Microsoft pushed out its first major Windows 10 update earlier today, but if you’re not currently seeing it, be patient. These things take a while to make their way to all users.

If you’ve been holding off upgrading a Windows 7 or 8.x PC, waiting for the November Update (aka Threshold 2) to arrive, now is the time to take action. The easiest way to upgrade is by using Microsoft’s free media creation tool which now offers Build 10586 (which is the current version you’ll get after installing the November Update).

To get started, go here, and choose the download tool you need -- there are 32 and 64-bit versions available.

Save and run the file. You’ll be offered two choices. You can upgrade the PC you’re on to Windows 10 or create installation media for another PC.

If you select the latter option, you can choose to write the installation media to either a USB flash drive or ISO file for burning to DVD later.

Windows 10 is several gigabytes in size, so will take a while to complete depending on the speed of your internet connection.

http://betanews.com/2015/11/12/how-...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

 

Microsoft promises Windows 10 auto updates are for our own good

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE INQUIRER exclusively revealed that Microsoft had been quietly downloading Windows 10 onto Windows 7 and Windows 8-powered computers, shoving an unwanted 6GB file onto some users PCs.

Microsoft has yet to explain itself, but after a long time battling to get a response from the company, this week we were able to speak to Jeremy Korst, general manager of Microsoft's Windows and Devices team, about the issue, and we put some of the points that have been raised during the 'updategate' saga to him.

First off, we asked why Windows Updates for consumers and businesses had different levels of granular flexibility.

"The capabilities we're delivering in Windows update for business are really for organisations with multiple sets of devices," he said. "In Windows Update for individuals you can set you preferences as to what time of day your updates are installed, so it does give you the ability to manage."

Korst explains that Microsoft is trying to be more responsive to the everyman who wants a product that 'just works' and doesn't care about individual updates.

"You've got two sets of users, one is the average user who wants to make sure they've got the most secure and always up to date version of Windows, and the feedback we get is that people want that to be as simple and seamless as possible.

"Then there's a set of customers like you and I who want more information. We've heard that feedback and we are starting to give more information about what's coming in the latest updates so if a particular developer or IT pro or tech enthusiast needs that information then they can get it."

We then talked about the main 'updategate' itself, the issue of large downloads in the background without permission. We asked why this was being done, and what about people who either don't want the download, or didn't ask for it. The answer was surprising.

"The best place for those kinds of issues is Terry (Myerson)'s blog. User feedback we've had is that users who have come from Windows 7 or Windows 8 are 'very satisfied' with the upgrade process. We've got a lot of feedback around customers who want us to make it easier, so we're trying to facilitate that."

We pointed out that the average 70-something silver surfer was unlikely to be a regular patron of Terry Myerson's blog. He defended: "The thing is - the user is still in control. You still have to accept the upgrade when prompted to go through the process, and even then you have 31 days, your entire first month to revert back if for whatever reason you're not happy.

"We've tried to respect that with settings like those for people with low bandwidth who have a setting available so Windows does not do the automatic download."

It seems that a lot of what has happened around 'updategate' has been the result of a road to hell paved with good intentions. "The reason behind the blog is to make everything as transparent and front footed as possible. And then conversations like this help communicate it. But it is our intent to be transparent and that's why we're having this conversation now.

"We think that the idea of reserving Windows 10 and having it download in the background is good customer experience."

We're still reeling from the idea that everyone should read Terry Myerson's blog is his defence. And yet when we come to the question of user privacy, Korst mentions it again.

"I think Terry covered this in his blog as well. Any data that we do collect is purely for enabling the customer experience. But part two is putting the user in control in terms of what data is collected, so while information collected that Cortana may use, or that an auto-complete may use, is about choices over whether information is used and collected. We think we earn trust by being transparent over the data being collected. It's one of the core pillars of more personal computing.

"Our other responsibility is then to deliver a spectacular product so that when a customer does agree to allow that information to be used, it creates a great customer experience in return."

Finally, we ask how why so much of Windows 10 is not optional and even reinstalls itself if you try to uninstall it. "We hear customers asking us for a great music experience, a great mail experience or whatever, but we think the apps that we have included with Windows provide the best possible experience for that.

"Of course, users are free to use third-party apps as much as they want, we're all about choice."

Overall, we're left with the feeling that Microsoft is still massively missing the point. The company line appears to be 'if we're offering you this great product, why wouldn't you want it?' and yet a perfectly reasonable response is 'because we don't' or 'because we want it on our terms' and most importantly, 'because we don't want to plan our computing around Terry Myerson's effing blog.

We were, however, assured that our feedback would be taken to Windows HQ, where doubtless one day they will invite us to lunch and then spit in our hamburgers. Still, we tried, and we'll keep trying.

The INQUIRER first uncovered the fact that Windows 7 and 8 computers were automatically downloading Windows 10 'just in case' back in September. Later it emerged that an error, coupled with some slightly dubious auto-ticking of boxes in Windows Update, was causing the upgrade to happen, to all intents and purposes, automatically.

News of the unwanted downloads spread around the world after an INQUIRER reader, Mike Wallace, pointed out to us that, despite not having 'reserved' a copy of Windows 10, he had found that the ~BT folder, which has been the home of images of the new operating system since before rollout began, had appeared on his system. He had no plans to upgrade and had not put in a reservation request.

He told us: "The symptoms are repeated failed 'Upgrade to Windows 10' in the WU update history and a huge 3.5GB to 6GB hidden folder labelled '$Windows.~BT'. I thought Microsoft [said] this 'upgrade' was optional. If so, why is it being pushed out to so many computers where it wasn't reserved, and why does it try to install over and over again?

"I know of two instances where people on metered connections went over their data cap for August because of this unwanted download. My own internet (slow DSL) was crawling for a week or so until I discovered this problem. In fact, that's what led me to it. Not only does it download, it tries to install every time the computer is booted."

We asked Microsoft to comment, multiple times, on whether it was downloading Windows 10 anyway as it rushes to build on the 75 million machines with the new OS installed in its first month, putting it in fourth place behind Window 7, 8.1 and the erstwhile XP.

Microsoft told us at the time: "For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.

"When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.”

In other words, if you are patching via Patch Tuesday, as you should of course be, then you are going to get a big hefty folder on your hard drive ready so you can update to Windows 10 on demand. Or not. Your Call.

If you want to avoid this happening, an ex-HP employee has designed an app to give users of Windows 7 and 8 control over if and when they wish to upgrade to Windows 10.

Win10WiWi (Windows 10, When I Want It) reclaims storage taken up with unwanted upgrade files, removes and hides the Windows Updates causing the actions to be triggered and ensures that no telemetry data is being recorded, all with a few button clicks. What's particularly neat, however, is that designer Yves Gattegno has also ensured that the process is reversible, allowing users to update to Windows 10 in the same few clicks.

Win10WiWi is available now free of charge from the SysStreaming website.

http://win10wiwi.com/

Automatic downloads isn't the only criticism Windows 10 has faced. The operating system was also blasted after it emerged that "suggested apps" were starting to appear on the locksreen and start menus, while changing away from default programs such as Microsoft Edge produced a 'nag screen' inviting, nay begging, users to reconsider. µ

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...ading-windows-10-to-your-machine-just-in-case

 

Has Windows 10 November Update (Threshold 2) reset your privacy settings and default apps?

Has Windows 10 November Update (Threshold 2) reset your privacy settings and default apps?

Windows 10 has caused greater privacy concerns than any previous version of the operating system. You may well have spent some time tweaking settings so that you are in control of your privacy and limit the tracking that Windows 10 is able to do, but if you have installed the latest big update you may well have to do it all again.

In addition to resetting their privacy settings to their defaults, many people have reported that installing Windows 10's November Update has wiped out any personalization of default apps. This is just the latest in a series of slip-ups which sees Microsoft upsetting Windows 10 users. So how do you know if your settings have been changed?

Head to Settings and click Privacy. In the General section check through the various privacy options, and disable any settings that have magically re-enabled themselves. There are a couple of ways to change default app settings, but first off all head to System in Settings and move to the Default apps section. Here you can see the default apps for a few key file types, and reset any which have been changed in the background.

You will notice that the number of file types you can tweak here is rather limited. If you find that a particular file is opening in the wrong app, hold down the Shift key while you right click the file and select Open With from the menu. You can then click the More Apps link, check the Always open this app... box and select the app you want to use.

It might seem silly that you should have to go through all of this for a second time if you have already spent time customizing things to your liking, but in many ways this is very much in keeping with the launch of Windows 10.

Did you find that your customizations had been reset?

http://betanews.com/2015/11/14/has-...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

 

Microsoft updates Privacy Statement, addressing concerns from critics

Windows 10 isn't the only Redmond-based product that got a big update in the past few weeks. Microsoft recently revised its global Privacy Statement, with a few minor changes and some significant additions aimed at cooling overheated privacy concerns. Here are the details.

The current version of the statement has a "last updated" date of October 2015, and based on archived pages was posted to Microsoft's website in mid-October. A close comparison of the October statement with its July 2015 predecessor reveals some noteworthy additions and a few changes.

Some of the revisions are routine, intended to accommodate changes in services, like the renaming of Xbox Music to Groove and the retirement of some MSN apps. There's a fix for at least one typo and some simple wording changes.

In addition, the new statement includes multiple sections that distinguish between personal Microsoft accounts and "work or school" accounts, where an organization controls access to services and may impose its own rules.

But several sections of the new Privacy Statement are clearly intended to answer critics who insist that the company is "spying" on users.

The new document is, by necessity, even longer than its predecessors. Here's a summary of what's inside.

Content
The Content section adds two examples to emphasize that personal data is only collected in connection with the provision of online services you request,

READ MORE
http://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...essing-concerns-from-critics/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

Microsoft's New Privacy Policy - #Xboxone #Xbone #Microsoft #Micro$oft Published on Nov 1,


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICXoaVuNQ-A

 

Windows 10 Upgrade Now Works with Windows 7, 8 Keys

Microsoft has followed through on a promise to make Windows 10 upgrades easier. Users of Windows 7 and 8.1 will no longer need to install the new system twice in order to perform a 'clean install'.

The fact that Windows 7 and 8.1 users could upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge for the first year of the Windows 10's release was perhaps the most noteworthy part of the changes to come. It's also a clear sign that Microsoft believes that the nature of software buying will not be the same as it was once was.

Activated Upgrade a Multi-Step Process
The big problem was that Microsoft made the process of upgrading to Windows 10 overly complicated. Originally, Windows 7 and 8.1 users had to upgrade from within the desktop environment in order to qualify for the free upgrade. Anyone that attempted to clean install from the get-go would not be allowed to activate their free upgrade to Windows 10.

But now, all that has changed.

Windows 7, 8 Users can use Product Key to Upgrade
The first major public update to Windows 10 (known as the Fall Update) has fixed that problem. Users upgrading to Windows 10 from now on will be able to simply provide the product key from Windows 7 or 8.1 and go straight to installing an activated copy of Windows 10. That means it's possible to do a clean install of Windows 10 (which involves formatting the hard drive) from the get-go. (Source: ndtv.com)

If you've already upgraded to Windows 10 and it has not yet activated, that may also now be a lot simpler. Users can simply type in "Activation" from the Start menu, launch the Activation app, then enter in their Windows 7 or 8.1 product key for immediate activation - though it may not work for everyone. In that case you may need to call Microsoft and get a proper activation code.

In either case, look out for the phrase "digital entitlement." This indicates that Microsoft has accepted your computer is a legitimate Windows machine and thus eligible for both upgrade and activation. (Source: theverge.com)

http://www.infopackets.com/news/9722/windows-10-upgrade-now-works-windows-7-8-keys

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10
ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10

CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156602

 

Microsoft pulls the Windows 10 November Update

Here’s an interesting story for the weekend -- it seems as if Microsoft has pulled the recently released November Update (aka Threshold 2) from both the Media Creation Tool and Windows Update.

That means if you don’t currently have the update on your Windows 10 device, you won’t be able to download it directly now.

The Media Creation Tool currently serves up Build 10240, rather than Build 10586 (the build which includes the November Update). A newly added line of text says simply: "These downloads cannot be used to update Windows 10 PCs to the November update (Version 1511)".

Similarly, if you try and install things via Windows Update you’ll receive the same build.

There’s no word from Microsoft as to why the November Update has been pulled, and with it being a weekend we likely won’t hear anything until Monday.

It could be an error with the build, or a technical problem with the servers. Either way, it’s a very strange situation. We’ll update this post once we hear back from Microsoft.

http://betanews.com/2015/11/21/micr...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

Microsoft yanks latest Windows 10 release from its download server
Without explanation, Microsoft has removed the just-released November update (version 1511) from the download page it offers to the general public. The media creation tool now downloads the initial release of Windows 10 instead. [Update: Microsoft tries to explain.]
read more
http://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...ase-from-its-download-server/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

 

curious,no problems with my update.gonna have to keep an eye on this.

 

Microsoft makes first major Windows 10 patch a Windows Update exclusive
By Martin Brinkmann on November 22, 2015 in Windows - Last Update: November 22, 2015 15

Microsoft changed two days ago how the first major patch for its Windows 10 operating system is delivered to systems running it.

Previously, users were able to download the patch via Windows Update, or by using the company's own Media Creation Tool, the latter allowing users to create an ISO image of the new version.

That option is gone, apparently as the Media Creation Tool downloads the Windows 10 RTM version now to the system with no option to include the update as well in the release.

The edited "Download Windows 10" page highlights the fact:
These downloads cannot be used to update Windows 10 PCs to the November update (Version 1511).

Microsoft highlighted the tool previously as an option to install the update on systems if Windows Update would not pick up the update (anymore).

Update:
Microsoft MVP Greg Carmack assumes that the update was pulled because of an activation issues.

This may have to do with a major glitch also reported here that on Clean Installs the media was reading embedded Windows 8 keys to only activate the embedded version, even on PC's that also had a Digital Entitlement to Pro version. Since the version menu was then hidden, there was no way to install Professional without a workaround[..]

Update End
This leaves Windows Update as the only option for home users to upgrade Windows 10 to the latest version available.
In addition to making the change, Microsoft switched from making the update available to all to a staged roll-out.

read more
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/11/22/microsoft-makes-windows-10-version-1511-a-windows-update-exclusive/

The Page File Guide for Windows 10, 8.1 And 7
GO HERE
http://forums.afterdawn.com/threads/the-page-file-guide-for-windows-10-8-1-and-7.759520/

please do not post in this thread as it misleads THE TITLE of this thread

 

Microsoft restores Windows 10 November Update media; explains why it was pulled [Update]

Microsoft watchers will be glad to know that the November update that was previously pulled from availability via ISOs and the Media Creation Tool has now been reinstated.

In what has been a confusing couples of days, Microsoft first pulled the November Update from the Media Creation tool used to download ISOs last Saturday. According to a statement released by Microsoft, the company had planned to stagger the update over time and, as such, was prioritizing Windows Update as the vector for propagating the November Update.

In a statement issued today, however, the company has backtracked on those plans, instead chalking the whole fiasco up to a bug that affected the privacy settings of some users:

Recently we learned of an issue that could have impacted an extremely small number of people who had already installed Windows 10 and applied the November update. Once these customers installed the November update, a few of their settings preferences may have inadvertently not been retained. For these customers, we will restore their settings over the coming days and we apologize for the inconvenience. We worked to resolve the issue as quickly as possible - it will not impact future installs of the November update, which is available today.

Thus, it seems that the update is once again available via the Media Creation Tool. For those customers who downloaded the update files before the problem was discovered, Microsoft has promised to reset their settings in the coming days.

The bug in question related to the following four settings, which, if turned off by the user, were set to their default 'on' setting after applying the update:

• Let apps use my advertising ID
• Turn on SmartScreen Filter for web content
• Let apps run in the background
• Sync with devices

While Microsoft's decision to pull the whole update due to a small bug affecting only a handful of people, and the resulting miscommunication in earlier statements issued by the company, do seem bizarre, Windows 10 has been under fire recently, due to privacy concerns. It stands to reason, therefore, that the company shut down the update in order to minimize any further damage.

All in all, the company could certainly have done with more transparent communication, as their official statements seem to contradict one another, and user reports. Given the criticism Microsoft has received in regards to privacy in Windows 10, one would hope that the company would strive to quell users' fears, not ignite them further with incoherent and conflicting information.

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...ember-update-media-explains-why-it-was-pulled

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10

ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10
CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156602

please do not post in this thread as it misleads THE TITLE of this thread

 

Windows 10 uninstalling user programs without permission

Windows 10 is a decent operating system, but it’s very much a work in progress, and one that’s definitely not without problems. It has some very rough edges (which are slowly being addressed), various annoying bugs (ditto), and of course, it spies on users.

The November Update (aka Threshold 2) fixed some issues (if you were able to get it) but also caused some new problems too. We reported previously how it had reset privacy settings and default apps for some users, but worse than that it appears the update has been uninstalling some third party desktop programs without asking.

As reported by Ghacks, the only notification that a program has been removed comes after it has been uninstalled -- there’s no prior warning -- and although the reason for the removal is cited as "incompatibility", the software in question appears to work without problems once reinstalled.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft pulls the Windows 10 November Update [Updated]

System information tool Speccy was the program that Windows 10 removed for Ghacks, but it’s by no means the only piece of software that has been affected. Two threads on Reddit (see here and here) mention CPU-Z, SmartFTP, and AMD Catalyst Control Center as programs that Windows 10 has automatically removed.

While I can understand Windows 10 flagging up potential problematic software and offering to uninstall it, removing the offending program without user input is clearly very wrong. It’s possible this is a bug (we still haven’t received a clear indication why Microsoft has made the November Update much harder to get hold off), but if so it needs to be fixed ASAP.

Amazon rightly received a lot of negative press when, without a word, it deleted books it felt weren’t properly licensed from customers’ Kindles back in 2009 and the situation here is similar, although arguably even less excusable.

It’s one thing for Microsoft to force updates on Windows 10 users, but another to choose what programs are and aren’t allowed on the host system.

What's your view on this latest Windows 10 problem?

[Update] I reached out to Microsoft for an official statement and... there isn't one. Microsoft has declined to comment on this story, which means it isn't a bug, and Windows 10 can and will remove third-party programs from your PC or tablet if it decides to, and without asking you first. Ouch

http://betanews.com/2015/11/24/wind...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN.



Windows 10’s broken fall update removes user-installed applications without asking first
Ever since Microsoft declared that Windows 10 would automatically install updates and upgrades by default, the company’s response to user concerns and fears about hardware compatibility and software issues has essentially been “trust us.” The company still allows Windows 10 Professional and Enterprise users to defer and delay certain upgrades, and there are software tools that anyone can download to block certain driver updates, but these have been exceptions to the new general rule.

READ MORE
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...ign=Feed:+ziffdavis/extremetech+(Extremetech)

 

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US right wades into communist Windows

A US conservative news site has waded into Windows for being as communist as Marx.

Breitbard.com is the right wing organ of Andrew Breitbart and the article was penned by the former Toryograph journalists Milo Yiannopoulos. He is the hack who came out in support of the sexist Gamergate campaign calling the other side “an army of sociopathic feminist programmers and campaigners, abetted by achingly politically correct American tech blogger”.

Yiannopoulos claims that Windows 10 is alien to conservative values and “should make every patriotic American of sound mind and sound values think twice”.

According to Yiannopoulos, HP and Dell would love to offer Windows 7 machines, and their customers would love to buy them, but Microsoft “isn’t a big fan of conservative’s beloved free market approach”.

Obviously he does not like the idea that Microsoft is collecting information. After all no true conservative would choose to trust Microsoft. Yiannopoulos concludes that Windows 10 contains built in communism.

Windows 10 has a standard feature that employs a peer-to-peer scheme to share updates across users. It borrows your processing power and network bandwidth to assist when updates are released.

“Why is one of the largest software companies on earth designing their software update process around Karl Marx’s command to take “from each according to their means, to each according to their needs?” Like several of the features in this article, it can be turned off, but think of your wives, husbands, and parents; how many of them would ever tinker with their OS settings?” he moaned.

Another sign that Windows 10 is part of a communist plot is that social media friends are able to sign into your network anytime they are in range, without your permission.

“Conservatives by nature have large and diverse groups of friends. Why would Microsoft arbitrarily decide that we trust all of our friends enough to let them into our private networks automatically?”

He insists that this is Hillary Clinton’s “It takes a village” style thinking.

“I value my private property, including my network. It’s why I have my Wi-Fi network locked down and a front door on my house,” he railed.

Then it appears that something happened to Yiannopoulos’s rant mode which suddenly shifts from the subject to a general attack against anyone who does not really believe in the daftness peddled by the US Neo-cons.

According to Yiannopoulos “typical progressive authoritarian liberal is using his laptop to write an autobiography about how mommy and daddy were mean to him” while “Conservatives are using computers to better their situations.”

Getting back to Windows 10, apparently that means that Windows 10 is for these lily livered liberals because there are numerous bugs such as hard to find apps, disappearing menu text, hanging browsers, and a litany of other problems.

“It is hard to claim to support free market and free expression principles when your OS fails to perform basic tasks reliably.”

So what is the operating choice for god-fearing, gun loving, jeesus worshiping neo-cons? Apparently it is Windows 7 or… wait for it Yiannopoulos thinks it is time to reclaim the Apple from the hipsters. Quite why a control freak outfit like Apple, who insists on a uniform, provides an alternative religion, censors everything would appeal to the the fair-right… oh no hang on I get it now.

http://www.techeye.net/business/us-right-wades-into-communist-windows