So despite saying Windows 10 would be the last iteration, Microsoft have announced that it will cease in 2025 >:(. The new Windows 11 will require a more powerful computer than my perfectly good, basic Lenovo, so it looks like I will need to get a replacement :(. Not a happy bunny tonight!
What ! I have only been on Windows 10 for about 18 months. Prior to that I was running windows 7 with a windows 98 emulator.
Is the upgrade compulsory? Why can't you continue to use your existing machine?
My main laptop is still running Windows 8.1 - I'm quite happy with that.
I have an Acer netbook from 2008 running Windows XP - that still works, although some websites are now unavailable because of security or certificates or something.
Our work computer is running Windows 8 I think, with some mods to make it look like Windows 7 (I hated the Windows 8 interface!) and that's still working quite happily. I generally hold off on any of these software upgrades until they've worked out the inevitable bugs, so a good 5-10 years is usually enough...!
I bought a refurbished PC and installed Linux. After last summer's massive update to Windows 10 buggered everything up on my laptop, I resolved to finish with Microsoft forever. I'm so happy I made the switch.
If Win 10 is going to be updated for another 4 years, it hardly feels necessary to worry about upgrading now.
If you are still running earlier versions of windows I would be somewhat worried about lack of patches, having current anti-virus and the ability to access modern websites. You will be running something that is pretty vulnerable to modern malware.
Quote from: Poggle on 24 June 2021, 08:00:17 PM
I bought a refurbished PC and installed Linux. After last summer's massive update to Windows 10 buggered everything up on my laptop, I resolved to finish with Microsoft forever. I'm so happy I made the switch.
Not running Windows is also a good option
Quote from: fred. on 24 June 2021, 08:01:38 PM
If Win 10 is going to be updated for another 4 years, it hardly feels necessary to worry about upgrading now.
If you are still running earlier versions of windows I would be somewhat worried about lack of patches, having current anti-virus and the ability to access modern websites. You will be running something that is pretty vulnerable to modern malware.
XP would be pretty safe nowadays because it just ain't worth it to develop malware for it. ;D
But in all earnest, Linux all the way, preferably on a Raspberry Pi4.
@Leon, if the Windows feel is what you need there is a Linux that looks like XP/7/10.... and with Office365 and google docs there are no compatibility issues.
I only need Windows for gaming :-[
No hurry to replace yet, but as others have said, not being able to access certain websites and security issues are the main concern. I'll certainly check out Linux though.
Oh, well...... :)
I may be able to avoid Windows 10 altogether, then. :-bd
I'll keep this PC running on 8.1 until it dies......There's nothing on it that's super precious, or not backed up on two separate external hard drives...Was expecting to eventually be forced to go to 10, when a new PC became necessary.
While we're talking about computers....I'm a bit bemused as to how the forum managed to 'bookmark itself' recently.........99.999999999999% certain that I didn't do that......I suppose I must have done, though. :-\
But quite happy to leave it 'bookmarked'......There's only 'here' and my main email site that I constantly visit.
Cheers - Phil. :)
It will only be bookmarked on your box Phil. Supprised you are not still on Win 3.1 ! Not had any problems with Windows 10, or 8. The old Toshiba may hit them though.
Not sure why anyone is surprised. Microsoft (and Google with Android and Apple with IOS and the Linux community) are always "improving" their software and dropping support for old versions. The first three companies are "for profit" . In most cases the need for CPU power/RAM/Storage increases. One driver is to plug security issues but IMHO [IT background] that's a bit overdone for ordinary folk providing that they have a security suite (like Norton, bitdefender, Avast etc etc) , keep offline/cloud backups of the important stuff and use an encrypted app/VPN when doing things like online banking. [In urban areas, make sure you change your routers default passwords as well or your neighbours may connect].
I find Windows 10 very usable and with its reset and refresh options is much easier to get your machine back working if it does get hacked or your hard drive dies. Windows was DOS when I started and I've followed it through since in alternate versions except when a few weeks on Vista was enough already.
Its the learning curve as versions progress that is probably the biggest issue. Linux and its variants are great to keep an old and now less powerful machine in use but you might need a bit of web searching to solve any tecky learning curve there.
A lot depends on what your machine is used for. if its just documents, spreadsheets and a bit of web browsing, you might find a chromebook is all you need. Linux would be fine and has implementations that appear Windows like.
If windows 11 does bring in android apps, then I will definitely upgrade as that reduces the learning curve/confusion on apps as I switch from desktop to phone to tablet.
One reason for upgrading sooner rather than later is that initially the upgrade will be free, whereas if you leave the upgrade until later it might require a paid upgrade. Having said that I have just run the upgrade check on my PC, a top of the line one bought less than 2 years ago that FAR exceeds the various hardware requirements. I was surprised to find that my PC did not fulfil the requirements for the upgrade. I eventually tracked this down to not having TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 turned on. This is a chip that may or may not be present on your motherboard and from what I can see there is a fair chance that it wont be, but that Microsoft have decided in their wisdom(!?) that it should be a requirement for Windows 11. Apparently if it is present it needs to be enabled in the BIOS and I haven't plucked up the energy to go ferreting around to see if it is there. So for the moment I am happy to stick with Windows 10, but God I hate Microsopft.
A couple of observations fomr previous (ahem) "upgrades".
Your Hardware:
Your PC may meet the required spec for Windows 11.
That's no guarantee that Windows 11 won't be a massive resource hog, and run far slower than windows 10 on the same hardware.
It's not compulsory:
Like WRG rules updates (Or Warhammer for anybody aged between 22 and 45).
There is a new version out, it's not necessarily better, and there's no immediate penalty if you stick with your current version.
Just checked my superfast 18 month old PC and guess what?
It won't run Windows 11.
Something to file under (worry about in 2025 if I am still alive then).
Quote from: jimduncanuk on 25 June 2021, 02:47:34 PM
Just checked my superfast 18 month old PC and guess what?
It won't run Windows 11.
Something to file under (worry about in 2025 if I am still alive then).
Just tweaked the BIOS and now it CAN run Windows 11. Oh joy!
However my old old PC, 9 years old, which just runs Windows 10 and no more will fail to run Windows 11. Shame.
I remember a mate being a Windows 95 beta tester... :o
Quote from: Lord Speedy of Leighton on 25 June 2021, 07:20:44 PM
I remember a mate being a Windows 95 beta tester... :o
Yeah, we did all that many years ago. We also designed and produced their first mail server software.
Windows 10 was still a free upgrade a year ago, they just wanted people to use it.
BRING BACK DOS 6.0 and 3.5 " floppy disks. !!!!!
Quote from: Orcs on 25 June 2021, 08:26:18 PM
Windows 10 was still a free upgrade a year ago, they just wanted people to use it.
BRING BACK DOS 6.0 and 3.5 " floppy disks. !!!!!
No we need paper tape and punch cards. Tape - 1/2" reel to reel.
Quote from: Orcs on 25 June 2021, 08:26:18 PM
BRING BACK DOS 6.0 and 3.5 " floppy disks. !!!!!
I have a shrink-wrapped copy of DOS 6.2 - manual, 3.5" disks, licence - sitting on a bookshelf somewhere. Grabbed it when they were emptying the storage cupboards at work.
I also have (opened) copies of Windows 3.0 and 3.1.
And Doom v.1.666. And a Compuserve "sign-up" disk.
Don't know why I keep these things? Certainly don't have anything with a disk drive to run them on.
Doom is awesome!
Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 26 June 2021, 05:36:16 AM
No we need paper tape and punch cards. Tape - 1/2" reel to reel.
Say what you like about punched cards.
You could drop them and not worry about a cracked screen.
But as they found out at the Oxford computer in Rectory Road in the 60s, it doesn't like a bag of crisps and a bottle of Newcastle Brown.
They also make good book marks
Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 26 June 2021, 10:39:45 AM
They also make good book marks
Good for writing shopping list on too.
My supply has long since run out.
Quote from: Ithoriel on 26 June 2021, 10:46:26 AM
Good for writing shopping list on too.
My supply has long since run out.
I still have a punched card metal tray which I keep tools in.
After the 31st Dec 2024 apocalypse we won't be needing Windows 11, we will be lucky to still have windows!! :o
Quote from: Dave Fielder on 29 June 2021, 01:25:08 PM
After the 31st Dec 2024 apocalypse we won't be needing Windows 11, we will be lucky to still have windows!! :o
Um...which one is this? No Google answer! :o
Only threw out Ma's stockpile of cans for 'The Millennium Bug' last year! :o ;D
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 30 June 2021, 03:25:49 AM
Um...which one is this? No Google answer! :o
Only threw out Ma's stockpile of cans for 'The Millennium Bug' last year! :o ;D
That (if I remember correctly) is when your 32 bit clock runs out of "seconds past 00:00 Jan 1st 1970".
Most* computer clocks now hold a 64 bit number, and that covers us for the next half-trillion years.
* You'll find out on the day, but anything installed in the last 10 years ought to be 64 bit.
There was an issue with one of the government's "right to remain" type documents, which should run for ten years, expiring on 31st Dec 2024 instead because of this, iirc.
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 30 June 2021, 08:31:40 AM
Most* computer clocks now hold a 64 bit number, and that covers us for the next half-trillion years.
Thats good news, as I will still only be halfway down my lead mountain by then :)
Quote from: KeithS on 25 June 2021, 12:40:56 PMOne reason for upgrading sooner rather than later is that initially the upgrade will be free, whereas if you leave the upgrade until later it might require a paid upgrade. Having said that I have just run the upgrade check on my PC, a top of the line one bought less than 2 years ago that FAR exceeds the various hardware requirements. I was surprised to find that my PC did not fulfil the requirements for the upgrade. I eventually tracked this down to not having TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 turned on. This is a chip that may or may not be present on your motherboard and from what I can see there is a fair chance that it wont be, but that Microsoft have decided in their wisdom(!?) that it should be a requirement for Windows 11. Apparently if it is present it needs to be enabled in the BIOS and I haven't plucked up the energy to go ferreting around to see if it is there. So for the moment I am happy to stick with Windows 10, but God I hate Microsopft.
All might not be lost, although the requirement is for a TPM chip, most modern PCs can emulate the chip in BIOS/firmware so you probably just need to turn the BIOS emulation on rather than install a new chip.
I don't understand these effing things and doubt I ever will. I may well just abandon the whole bloody thing and stick to reading books. And yes, my 18 month old Lenovo runs on windows 10 and yes there always seems to be a problem with my microsoft account no matter how many times I have rectified it and changed my password.
Rules for using Microsoft products.
1. Avoid upgrading or installing any Microsoft product if at all possible.
2. Ask Yourself "Does it add anything that I actually want to do?"
If Yes, check that product is at least 18 months past its official release date. If its not see rule 1
If No see rule 1
3. Once you have installed the 18 month old Microsoft Software accept that one of its "New Features" that you have no need for and never will have a need for. will Totally F**K Up your system at some point in the first month of use and you will spend an entire evening sorting your system out. If you do not want this see rule 1
4 Be aware that there is a 95% chance that on the occurrence of rule 3 you will wish you had never installed/upgraded the Microsoft product. and you realize that you should have obeyed Rule 1
:)
Well at least I've steered clear of the Edge. Much prefer Bono.