OK, mrsw upgraded from Windows 8 to 10. Arggggh!

[markw]

About a year and a half go, wifey bought a HP laptop with windows 8. No problem. I loaded drivers form our two HP printers without a glitch.

So, last week she took MS up on their free upgrade to windows 10. Now, the fun begins.

She was able to get her data restored and most of her apps reinstalled. So far, so good.

then, she asks me to reinstall the NP printers. No problem. Put in a disc and follow the instructions. What could possibly go wrong, right? WRONG!!!

I have the printers disconnected, as per HP' directions and pit the disc in. It whirrs and clicks, I answer a few prompts and all goes well. ...until they tell me to connect the printer. It's prepared as their instructions say.

So, I plug it in and immediately get a message "unrecognized device in USB port". WTF? It's a HP laptop and an HP printer. Plus, I installed this same printer under Windows 8 with no problem.

Next up: an hour and a half with HP tech support. In all honesty, they were great.

He downloaded an app so he could "drive" my computer and pokes around "at the "C: prompt, which I haven't seen in years, and runs some diagnostics which takes up mot of that time.

He found the culprit: a file tha MS included as part of the upgrade, which contains the printer drivers, was incorrect. He asked if we upgraded to Windows 10, I said "yes, why do you ask?"

He said it's a known bug with the MS upgrade, not with a machine that came with native W10.

He downloaded a file and had me redo the install, which took all of there minutes this time. He printed a few pages to be sure it worked. He then had me print a page as well.

I gottta say, this was the best experience with a customer service rep that I've ever had.

Kudos to HP. A pox on Microsoft.

Now, what I dread is having to reinstall our other printer on this machine when we get back to Jersey.

 

[herbu]

Now, what I dread is having to reinstall our other printer on this machine when we get back to Jersey.

Easy solution... Don't go back to Jersey.

 

[markw]

Easy solution... Don't go back to Jersey.

We're working on that. We've been here since before Christmas but I gotta go back next week for some tests. Then, we expect to be back here early April for another few months.

Now, when our house sells...

 

[TLS Guy]

About a year and a half go, wifey bought a HP laptop with windows 8. No problem. I loaded drivers form our two HP printers without a glitch.

So, last week she took MS up on their free upgrade to windows 10. Now, the fun begins.

She was able to get her data restored and most of her apps reinstalled. So far, so good.

then, she asks me to reinstall the NP printers. No problem. Put in a disc and follow the instructions. What could possibly go wrong, right? WRONG!!!

I have the printers disconnected, as per HP' directions and pit the disc in. It whirrs and clicks, I answer a few prompts and all goes well. ...until they tell me to connect the printer. It's prepared as their instructions say.

So, I plug it in and immediately get a message "unrecognized device in USB port". WTF? It's a HP laptop and an HP printer. Plus, I installed this same printer under Windows 8 with no problem.

Next up: an hour and a half with HP tech support. In all honesty, they were great.

He downloaded an app so he could "drive" my computer and pokes around "at the "C: prompt, which I haven't seen in years, and runs some diagnostics which takes up mot of that time.

He found the culprit: a file tha MS included as part of the upgrade, which contains the printer drivers, was incorrect. He asked if we upgraded to Windows 10, I said "yes, why do you ask?"

He said it's a known bug with the MS upgrade, not with a machine that came with native W10.

He downloaded a file and had me redo the install, which took all of there minutes this time. He printed a few pages to be sure it worked. He then had me print a page as well.

I gottta say, this was the best experience with a customer service rep that I've ever had.

Kudos to HP. A pox on Microsoft.

Now, what I dread is having to reinstall our other printer on this machine when we get back to Jersey.

I have to say that my experience with Windows 10 has been good. I upgraded my HTPC in the fall and it found the drivers for the HP no problem. However I bought a new laptop with Windows 10 loaded. It would not find the drivers for the same printer, and that part had to be manual. I think that is the only problem I had.

I visited an old colleague in Port Alberni in October and he insisted I upgrade him to 10 while I was there. Fortunately it all went smoothly. He loves it.

I have to say that Windows 10 has wonderful decoders.

So two of my three computers now run 10. The audio workstation built in 2002 runs XP. It has to as the Firefix 800 is only compatible with that operating system

RME hve just announced their second version of the Fireface 800 and it runs Windows 10. I can update WaveLab for little money.

I think I will replace the guts of the workstation, but the Fireface 800 2 and update WaveLab to Windows 10. The unit still works fine, and is actually fast on operation. I think I have done well to get 14 years out of a computer, and it has earned its retirement.

 

[j_garcia]

I had to have a server upgraded to Server 2012 which uses the W10 style interface. This was required because the new version of my software only works on 2012 and SQL 2012, so I have to do a bunch of testing in regards to this. Since we are in the process of moving corporate to W10, I haven't encountered a lot of things peripherally that don't work yet, but it is also not a workstation so I don't have as much time running other applications on it. I find the interface to be a bit more cumbersome, but I do like some things about it after poking around and getting used to it. Some things became more steps to do the same thing, while others became easier, so tradeoffs. After a while, we all figure out how to "bypass" or easily get to the things we need most often anyway, so it's just a learning game now

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Easy solution... Don't go back to Jersey.

This is a perfect answer and it reminds me of the logic my buddy used the other night.

Two of my mountain biking buddies have not been riding much after they moved away a couple of years ago. One was in town and road with me on Wednesday. He had gained a few lbs since I had last seen him and it showed on the bike.

Later that night we were sharing pictures with our 3rd buddy and he said he was so jealous. He then said, good thing I wasn't there because I am so fat I can't see my Richard.

My other buddy just smiled and said "get a mirror"...

 

[herbu]

He then said, good thing I wasn't there because I am so fat I can't see my Richard.

A fat man was in the locker room with his buddy. The buddy said, "Man, you're fat! When was the last time you saw your johnson?"

The man said, "A long time".

Buddy said, "Why don't you diet?".

Man said, "Why? What color is it now?".

 

[markw]

Well, since my thread on Microsoft has, fittingly morphed into penis jokes, here's another.

Bob goes to the doctor about a problem. He's assigned a female doctor and is a bit concerned.

He says, Doc, I'm a bit embarrassed because my problem concerns my manhood. I'm afraid you'll laugh at me."

"Not to worry. I'm a professional. In over twenty years, I've never laughed at a patient."

"Okay then," said Bob, and he proceeded to drop his trousers, revealing the smallest male part the nurse had ever seen. In length and width, it was almost identical to a AAA battery.

Unable to control herself, the nurse tried to stop a giggle, but it just came out. Feeling very badly that she had laughed at the man's part, she composed herself as well as she could. "I am so sorry," she said, "I don't know what came over me. On my honor as a doctor and a lady, I promise that won't happen again. Now, tell me, what seems to be the problem?"

"It's swollen," Bob replied

 

[haraldo]

I went quite immediately to windows 10 enterprise as soon as I could, main reason was that computer came bundled with win 8.1, which I don't like...

One really important difference between windows 10 and earlier versions is that you now really only do have one client platform covering all platforms from Raspberry pi to any computer and also hololens... if it's better, more stable... probably not, but it's more an advantage to Microsoft than to the users probably. I'm not really sure if you get that extra... Microsoft by the way do have a platform now where they can roll out releases much more quickly.

Whenever you do an app you actually just request what features are available on the h/w platform you run, from phone capabilities, touchscreen, multi touch, to gps, gyro, motion sensors or other sensors that you may have in hololens, and app can / may adjust accordingly

One thing that you should be aware of is that one you go to Windows 10, the new releases that come out will be forced upon you and you don't have a choice whether to upgrade or not. You can delay to a certain point in time but not for long. This also means that there may be room for compatibility issues with applications and platforms that for some reason may be compatible with whatever new version that comes.

So once you're on the win10 bandwagon, you will follow it, there are no users in the world anymore that runs the version of windows 10 that was released last summer, unless they've been in a cave without Internet access.

I'm having quite a lot of issues though with display drivers more or less permanently crashing, it comes from the fact that the new Dell xps 15 uses usb for driving the display, whenewer you use external monitors. This is not a win10 issue but a trouble with the Dell provided driver. It's just not good enough.

Onde particularly annoying feature is that whenever I hook up two monitors, it always sees the right one as the main monitor, and I have to change that...every day... I want the left to be the main...

Having a full 4K resolution on the laptop and something like 2560x1440 external monitors is a recipe for permanent annoyance as whenever you hook/unhook external monitor you need to do a lot of rescale settings, in fact so many that it's quicker and much easier to do a reboot... yes: every time I hook/unhook external monitor I have to reboot or the scaling will be wrong on the 4K internal display, some artifacts so small that you just cannot see them... or it will be way too big on the 2560x1440 external monitors. Maybe this would improve if I got two 4k external monitors but I'm just not getting that... So Microsoft still have quite a lot of work to do I reckon...

I installed iCloud with made outlook 2016 corrupt and there is a problem now with some core system files... probably not a Microsoft problem, but maybe something really bad with iCloud for windows, had to do lots of reinstalling and it's more or less ok, but not quite...
System file checker reports errors, but is unable to fix them, goodonya

Win10 is good, but the total package is not there yet... many of those things stated above would probably not be any better with win 8 or 8.1 ... but honestly, I expect these things not to be there in the year 2016...

I think it's really many good things about win10 though with the unified windows platform and universal programming platform that makes it possible for developers to create one app that covers all Microsoft client platforms, so in the long run we as consumers will probably be better off...

Although the unified windows platform is not really unified, it's NOT..... the server guys are not involved in the UWP, so they're kind of blowing their own horn, so unified windows platform apps is not going to work on windows server... so long for a unified windows platform

I was using linux until recently (elementary os), but had to go to windows because of strategy with where I'm working... many of the stability issues you just don't have with any linux distro but there are some other issues though, there seem to be no free lunches...

However, I'm more confident in Mr Torvalds than Mr. Nadella

But I'm thinking of getting a mac instead now...

 

[haraldo]

But Mark, I gotta say, the support you got.... wah !!!!!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Well, since my thread on Microsoft has, fittingly morphed into penis jokes, here's another.

They pretty much all do once I get involved.....

 

[GO-NAD!]

Still rockin' Windows 7.

 

[Rickster71]

Still rockin' Windows 7.

Hey, if it's not broke.....
My everyday driver still runs XP... for work Win 7.
Many enterprise users and government is still run XP; Microsoft still supplies them updates and support.
The thing is, if it works for your needs, that's what counts.

One point that gets lost with 'Upgraditis', the belief that upgrading gear, hardware, software and anything else will bring better results, enhance creativity, yield more success and money, and will lead to experiencing happiness.
Normally, none of those results are achieved.

I haven't had a virus in over ten years on the XP machine. A few years ago I thought I got one and it turned out to be a drive failure. I replaced it with an SSD and XP boots in about 20 seconds.
It's a Dell XPS and it won't die.

 

[haraldo]

Hey, if it's not broke.....
My everyday driver still runs XP... for work Win 7.
Many enterprise users and government is still run XP; Microsoft still supplies them updates and support.
The thing is, if it works for your needs, that's what counts.

One point that gets lost with 'Upgraditis', the belief that upgrading gear, hardware, software and anything else will bring better results, enhance creativity, yield more success and money, and will lead to experiencing happiness.
Normally, none of those results are achieved.

I haven't had a virus in over ten years on the XP machine. A few years ago I thought I got one and it turned out to be a drive failure. I replaced it with an SSD and XP boots in about 20 seconds.
It's a Dell XPS and it won't die.

I would think that running Windows XP is a hazard, for one reason, security!
So is the following official statement from Microsoft not really true:
After 12 years, support for Windows XP ended April 8, 2014. There will be no more security updates or technical support for the Windows XP operating system.

I got a legacy XPS too, probably newer than yours it's a XPS-1645 laptrop from 2010.03 that now have taken the role as a server (running windows 10). unfortunately I can't run linux on it now, though... due to some NAS compatibility issues...

 

[Rickster71]

I would think that running Windows XP is a hazard, for one reason, security!
So is the following official statement from Microsoft not really true:
After 12 years, support for Windows XP ended April 8, 2014. There will be no more security updates or technical support for the Windows XP operating system.

I got a legacy XPS too, probably newer than yours it's a XPS-1645 laptrop from 2010.03 that now have taken the role as a server (running windows 10). unfortunately I can't run linux on it now, though... due to some NAS compatibility issues...

I think it's true to an extent, along with a healthy dose of scare tactics. I understand, mine is anecdotal evidence. Hey it works for me. Though they still support government and enterprise users.

As XP's use has dwindled so have the number of people that hack it. That's also how Apple gets to look good with their reputation for fewer hacks/malware. The reality is, they have a tiny market share, which equates to fewer hacks.

 

[TLS Guy]

I think it's true to an extent, along with a healthy dose of scare tactics. I understand, mine is anecdotal evidence. Hey it works for me. Though they still support government and enterprise users.

As XP's use has dwindled so have the number of people that hack it. That's also how Apple gets to look good with their reputation for fewer hacks/malware. The reality is, they have a tiny market share, which equates to fewer hacks.

Rick, I would stop using XP now for any banking or commercial transactions.

I found XP is very insecure, and unless you a great expert you just don't know the risk you are running.

I was running XP on a Dell Latitiude I had had for six years. I got one virus and got over it.

How ever I found out quite by accident my DNS router settings were changed. All my Internet traffic was going though a rogue server. This despite using the best spyware programs.

I shut down and ordered a Windows 10 latitude immediately.

My son who is a very advanced and senior software engineer went through my old computer with a fine tooth comb. It was full of very subtle Malaware I never knew I had. The computer still worked well and fast.

He had to go though all my executable files I wanted to transfer so as not to compromise my new computer.

Rick my advice is to stop using XP immediately for ANY work involving the Internet, and now. You are just asking for trouble. Internet criminals are just mitosing fast ready to clean you out.

This is why updates to Windows 10 are not optional.

I have taken my audio workstation off line. RME have just come out with only their second version of Firewire 800. I'm going to rebuild my workstation, go to Windows 10 and get the new Firewire 800-2 and upgrade WaveLab to Windows 10 version.

By the way Windows 10 I have on my HTPC is one of the best decoders around. Picture and audio are significantly improved with native Windows 10 decoding then with Adobe Flash.

I would urge anyone still using XP to stop now. I learned the hard way.

 

[Swerd]

I am reading this thread with interest. I use Windows 7 and MS Office 2010 now on my home computer. It works well, except for the daily messages I get from the MS Evil Empire HQ urging that I install Windows 10 now.

At work, I use a system where I was recently switched from Office 2010 to Office 2013 with all the Cloud bells & whistles. It was the typical partial disaster. I am mostly up and running, but not completely. It took the IT guys several days to sort it out.

At home, I'm on my own, no IT support. So I'm waiting to install Windows 10, reluctantly. Ultimately I will, but I dread the unanticipated land mines ahead.

 

[Rickster71]

Rick, I would stop using XP now for any banking or commercial transactions.

I found XP is very insecure, and unless you a great expert you just don't know the risk you are running.

I was running XP on a Dell Latitiude I had had for six years. I got one virus and got over it.

How ever I found out quite by accident my DNS router settings were changed. All my Internet traffic was going though a rogue server. This despite using the best spyware programs.

I shut down and ordered a Windows 10 latitude immediately.

My son who is a very advanced and senior software engineer went through my old computer with a fine tooth comb. It was full of very subtle Malaware I never knew I had. The computer still worked well and fast.

He had to go though all my executable files I wanted to transfer so as not to compromise my new computer.

Rick my advice is to stop using XP immediately for ANY work involving the Internet, and now. You are just asking for trouble. Internet criminals are just mitosing fast ready to clean you out.

This is why updates to Windows 10 are not optional.

I have taken my audio workstation off line. RME have just come out with only their second version of Firewire 800. I'm going to rebuild my workstation, go to Windows 10 and get the new Firewire 800-2 and upgrade WaveLab to Windows 10 version.

By the way Windows 10 I have on my HTPC is one of the best decoders around. Picture and audio are significantly improved with native Windows 10 decoding then with Adobe Flash.

I would urge anyone still using XP to stop now. I learned the hard way.

Thanks Doc good info.
A big part of my delay is, I'd be moving my Win-7 work pc and it would become my everyday user.
Much of my work software isn't (so far) fully compatible with Win-10 on a new pc.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am reading this thread with interest. I use Windows 7 and MS Office 2010 now on my home computer. It works well, except for the daily messages I get from the MS Evil Empire HQ urging that I install Windows 10 now.

At work, I use a system where I was recently switched from Office 2010 to Office 2013 with all the Cloud bells & whistles. It was the typical partial disaster. I am mostly up and running, but not completely. It took the IT guys several days to sort it out.

At home, I'm on my own, no IT support. So I'm waiting to install Windows 10, reluctantly. Ultimately I will, but I dread the unanticipated land mines ahead.

I would not approach this with dread. It takes a while and you need to pay attention and follow instructions.

The HTPC migrated to Windows 10 with no major issues. The only problem was Arc Soft. This is no longer supported. The program worked but caused severe instability and warnings. On research I found this was a known issue, so I had to delete it, which was a pity as I liked it.

Apart from that it was all gain. I have to look for another program. It seems no home theater program is ideal and most it seems downright bad. However I did not use that program often, as a BD player is best to play discs. I'm hoping that VLC media player will come up with a version that plays BDs.

I do use VLC media player for DVDs out of our region. I use Sly Soft DVD anywhere to strip the region codes, and then VLC plays the discs fine.

Migrating some of my XP programs to the Windows 10 computer was more of a challenge. My son got it accomplished remotely via Team Viewer. Modern laptops do not have disc drives because they are too small. So we used the drive in the HTPC over my network. All of my useful engineering programs had updates for Windows 10. All of them now are enhanced. I did not loose any data or programs. I did gain functionality.

While I was in Port Alberni last October, an ex partner, in fact the guy responsible for bringing us to North America twisted my arm to upgrade him to Windows 10. I got that accomplished and did not loose any of his functionality.

I do note that unlike other updates firms have got ahead of the curve and have come out with Windows 10 versions. With other versions the software has been slow to come. RME have now just introduced their first update to the RME Fireface 800 in 14 years! WaveLab did not update usually until the next version of Windows was almost upon them. I am not sure they even did make versions for all the versions of Windows. However they were ready for Windows 10 right away.

I think that Microsoft saying that this will be their last operating system is a big deal.

So I would encourage upgrade. For me this is by far the best version of Windows ever. I only had one computer on Vista and it was awful. I skipped Windows 8 and 8.1.

For AV use I would encourage people to upgrade for sure. The improved quality over Adobe Flash is very noticeable. I think the days of Adobe Flash are numbered now Windows 10 is here.

The PQ and SQ from the BPO site and BBC UK via VPN, especially iPlayer downloads, are just staggering, and far beyond anything from Comcast or Direct TV.

 

[haraldo]

One very important tip, that is supported by many experts... and also security standards like ISO 27001. It goes with any operating system

Take away administrator rights for the everyday user that you're using
It gives you some hazzles but you're much more secure