As many of you know I have made my living from the bleeding edge of technology. However sometimes there is just too much blood to wade through.
Windows 10 is such a too bloody situation. Like all recent MS products it was released into the wild before it was finished so the MS customers could find all the problems that it would cause. There have already been numerous updates to fix problems BUT invariably these updates break something else...
You only have to read the constant moaning and groaning on this community about how the latest W10 broke DAX or SSDR Or CAT to realize that W10 is still a long way from being a stable production system.
One of the annoyances of W10 is that if you are using W7 or * it constantly bugs you to upgrade to W10 with annoying regular pop ups.
Before I left for France a couple of weeks ago I made the mistake of clicking on the W10 upgrade button on one of my production machines figuring it would harmlessly download a copy of W10 that I could install on a test machine in the far distant future. Then I forgot about it and left for Paris
BIG MISTAKE
Imagine my dismay when I remoted into that machine and saw a big splash display install W10 NOW
There was no way to kill the install process....if you rebooted, it would,automatically insta W10. Disaster in the making. The last thing I needed was a production Maxine encumbered with an unstable bug filled OS. At least not before 2017 or 2018.
Fortunately I found this wonderful utility that not only killed the unwanted install, killed the annoying update to W10 pop ups, even removed,the entire 3G of W10 install crap and warned you if W10 and MS were trying to sneak in again.
The program is called GWX control Panel
http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to avoid spilling their blood dealing with W10 until it works 100%.
Windows 10 is such a too bloody situation. Like all recent MS products it was released into the wild before it was finished so the MS customers could find all the problems that it would cause. There have already been numerous updates to fix problems BUT invariably these updates break something else...
You only have to read the constant moaning and groaning on this community about how the latest W10 broke DAX or SSDR Or CAT to realize that W10 is still a long way from being a stable production system.
One of the annoyances of W10 is that if you are using W7 or * it constantly bugs you to upgrade to W10 with annoying regular pop ups.
Before I left for France a couple of weeks ago I made the mistake of clicking on the W10 upgrade button on one of my production machines figuring it would harmlessly download a copy of W10 that I could install on a test machine in the far distant future. Then I forgot about it and left for Paris
BIG MISTAKE
Imagine my dismay when I remoted into that machine and saw a big splash display install W10 NOW
There was no way to kill the install process....if you rebooted, it would,automatically insta W10. Disaster in the making. The last thing I needed was a production Maxine encumbered with an unstable bug filled OS. At least not before 2017 or 2018.
Fortunately I found this wonderful utility that not only killed the unwanted install, killed the annoying update to W10 pop ups, even removed,the entire 3G of W10 install crap and warned you if W10 and MS were trying to sneak in again.
The program is called GWX control Panel
http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to avoid spilling their blood dealing with W10 until it works 100%.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Posted 3 years ago
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Totally different experience. Windows 10 has been the most stable and downward compatible version of Windows since at least XP. It is much better than Vista, 7, 8 or even 8.1.
I have had ZERO issues with windows 10.
I think a lot has to do with the hardware. My personal experience in a Asus UX31e has been a nightmare. I am on Howard's boat. I'll wait until you guys iron out all the bugs and jump on it sometime in 2017 :)
Why 'jump on it' at all? When win7 is end of lifed, yeah vendors will cease supporting their product on that platform. That would provide a justification to upgrade.
While I agree it is unnecessary as a platform for FRS, turning off updates means it will never leave the crippled state it is in. Sort of like never advancing ssdr beyond version 0.92. Is turning off updates really sort of biting one's nose to spite their face? A better, perhaps, alternative is spend $60 and install a stable Win 7 over it until support ends for win 7.
While I agree it is unnecessary as a platform for FRS, turning off updates means it will never leave the crippled state it is in. Sort of like never advancing ssdr beyond version 0.92. Is turning off updates really sort of biting one's nose to spite their face? A better, perhaps, alternative is spend $60 and install a stable Win 7 over it until support ends for win 7.
Thanks Howard! This util has also been recommended by Steve Gibson
(@sggrc) on Security Now; For some of us win10 is not what we want..
win7 is all that we need...
I did the latest extensive update of windows 10 and had the DAX failure. I hate, I mean hate, the rigorous routine of completely eliminating SmartSDR for a new reload. I wish the hell Flex would come up with routine to wipe out the whole damned program for a fresh reload. Be that as it may, I loaded in the software and have Windows 10 back before the large upgrade and everything is working fine.
Jim, K6QE
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Jim
What you really are saying is that you wish that MS had its act together so that each and every update to W10 did not break things yet again.
Life is too short to be wasted on debugging MS products.
What you really are saying is that you wish that MS had its act together so that each and every update to W10 did not break things yet again.
Life is too short to be wasted on debugging MS products.
I don't like running someone else's utility to do what I need... who knows what else they may be changing., do you??
To properly disable the Windows 10 upgrade as recommended by microsoft I would advise reading the following article:
To properly disable the Windows 10 upgrade as recommended by microsoft I would advise reading the following article:
Ref: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080351
Computer Configuration
To block the upgrade by using Computer Configuration, follow these steps
Click Computer Configuration.
Click Policies.
Click Administrative Templates.
Click Windows Components.
Click Windows Update.
Double-click Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update.
Click Enable.
Policy path
Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Windows Update Policy
Setting: Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update
Windows registry
Important Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
To suppress this offer through the registry, specify the following registry value:
Subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate DWORD value: DisableOSUpgrade = 1
(Edited)
I kind of trust that unknown engineer more than Microsoft after all the sneaky stuff they have been doing with Windows 10.
I guess working in the IT security field for the last 20 years has made me overly paranoid, but then again I have not been part of a company that's had a large data breach, nor have I had any viruses on my local network either.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Most of us that have no issues with Windows 10 don't say anything because we have nothing to say.
About 67 million last count... http://www.windowscentral.com/report-windows-10-now-installed-67-million-pcs
Sept 2015 count >over 100 million
Keep in mind, you can't buy a PC without Windows being preinstalled. And, yeah, to most consumers, Solitaire and Facebook, they don't care because it is an appliance to them. It is not a statement of good taste.
I just love it when people say they have not had problems with something, inferring it must be okay or others are doing something wrong. Should the same argument apply to drinking and driving?
The people who have the problems are paradoxically the most computer savvy. People who do not have problems tend to be in either controlled environments or do not stress their OS at all.
The people who have the problems are paradoxically the most computer savvy. People who do not have problems tend to be in either controlled environments or do not stress their OS at all.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Are these analogies accurate or just another example of emotively reaching for a solution that really is another example of the "Illusory Correlation" logical fallacy?
There are so many moving parts that it would be far to simple to "play dumb about computers" (perhaps assigning the management of your machines to the cleaning staff?) as when the non-savvy are in charge there are less Win10 problems....
The clear likely hypothesis that does come out what we're seeing with Win10 and SmartSDR perhaps something completely different.
It would seem with Win10 the default result is a breakdown except for select instances where the planets align just right.
73
Steve K9ZW
Come on Guy ... I'll use your logic. My theory are those that have the most problems with Windows 10 have downloaded the most porn.
Hardly a Microsoft issue ...
Hardly a Microsoft issue ...
over 30 years experience in the PC industry, 20 years IT security... from my professional opinion this statement is completely false "The people who have the problems are paradoxically the most computer savvy. People who do not have problems tend to be in either controlled environments or do not stress their OS at all."
I find most that have issues have little knowledge about the OS they are working with be it Windows, MAC, Linux, HPUX, Solaris, etc.....
AS they say on MNF "Come on man"
I find most that have issues have little knowledge about the OS they are working with be it Windows, MAC, Linux, HPUX, Solaris, etc.....
AS they say on MNF "Come on man"
(Edited)
Dude Andy was simply stating his personal experience don't you have something better to do?
As far as Flex win 10 has been perfect for me but ive had other Win10 issues.
Andy thank you for your input!!!!!!!!!!!!
As far as Flex win 10 has been perfect for me but ive had other Win10 issues.
Andy thank you for your input!!!!!!!!!!!!
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
@Dave
I built my first computer back in 1958. While I no longer claim to be a competent programmer I tend to agree with Guy's analysis as being one of many likely causes for negative reports.
I built my first computer back in 1958. While I no longer claim to be a competent programmer I tend to agree with Guy's analysis as being one of many likely causes for negative reports.
I've been messing about with Windows since or before V3.0 and I don't think that 10 is going to turn out to be that much of a problem for anyone. In fact, in the configuration i have it right now, it's far more stable than was W7. I've been running it 24/7 without a lockup for at least two weeks, which is a 2-yr record for this system. Under Win7 and my first upgrade to 10, I could never get more than a few days without a system freeze. I will admit to being scared to let it do any further updates, at least until SSDR 1.6 comes out, at which time I'll uninstall that, do the W10 updates and reinstall and hope for the best.
The most amazing thing is that people accept that level of instability. Better keep the think off the network - I know I set my W10Pro machine to delay updates as long as possible, but they don't pay attention to that. Anyhow, I'm going to try the software, and hope Microsoft doesn't uninstall it.
And once Window's 10 is installed, it keeps doing updates, some of which will kill already installed apps that it feels are incompatible.
Windows 10 is like herpes. It's the gift that keeps on giving. :)
Windows 10 is like herpes. It's the gift that keeps on giving. :)
It won't do updates if you don't reboot the computer, which I've been able to avoid for the past 2 weeks.
Wow Steve. I honestly don't think I could add anything to that. That was good.
I do think the issue has more to do with one's expectations, as I've said in the past, Microsoft brought managed expectations to an all time low, i.e. after about 12 hrs either you'd have to reboot or the system would for you, It was, and is, a consumer product. Yes, there are commercial products Server 2K3, Server 2K8, Server 2K8R2, 2K12 etc. Historic problems with drivers, pretty much consistently changing API. The fact that some people use Windows strictly to do their facebook page or use IE whatever the number is now, yes, those folks are probably all happy campers. When you start to deviate from that, wha whoa. Mac is far more 'stable' if for no other reason Apple controls the entire chain, Apple MoBo, Apple devices, etc.
In my professional experience, when you deal with writing software for or administering systems that run 5 9's Consumer Windows is a tragic mistake. That doesn't mean it's all Microsoft's fault.
I don't think there is any point to do comparative anatomy over this.
I do think the issue has more to do with one's expectations, as I've said in the past, Microsoft brought managed expectations to an all time low, i.e. after about 12 hrs either you'd have to reboot or the system would for you, It was, and is, a consumer product. Yes, there are commercial products Server 2K3, Server 2K8, Server 2K8R2, 2K12 etc. Historic problems with drivers, pretty much consistently changing API. The fact that some people use Windows strictly to do their facebook page or use IE whatever the number is now, yes, those folks are probably all happy campers. When you start to deviate from that, wha whoa. Mac is far more 'stable' if for no other reason Apple controls the entire chain, Apple MoBo, Apple devices, etc.
In my professional experience, when you deal with writing software for or administering systems that run 5 9's Consumer Windows is a tragic mistake. That doesn't mean it's all Microsoft's fault.
I don't think there is any point to do comparative anatomy over this.
Rick, you're living on borrowed time. Eventually you're going to have to boot your computer. It's like sitting at the bar and thinking that you'll never have to pee.
Plus, I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to boot the thing for you at some point. Resistance is futile.
Walt, thanks. Yeah, I agree that power users have most of the problems because we expose the OS to more failure points. Nevertheless, even casual users get hit sometimes when their favorite app stops working because of an incompatibility.
If you remember, several years ago Bill Gates himself was hauled before a congressional committee investigating antitrust because it wasn't possible to remove Explorer from Windows without bricking the system. If they don't investigate Microsoft over Windows 10 improprieties, then it's only because Microsoft made a lot of campaign contributions.
Plus, I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to boot the thing for you at some point. Resistance is futile.
Walt, thanks. Yeah, I agree that power users have most of the problems because we expose the OS to more failure points. Nevertheless, even casual users get hit sometimes when their favorite app stops working because of an incompatibility.
If you remember, several years ago Bill Gates himself was hauled before a congressional committee investigating antitrust because it wasn't possible to remove Explorer from Windows without bricking the system. If they don't investigate Microsoft over Windows 10 improprieties, then it's only because Microsoft made a lot of campaign contributions.
Ya know what? At this point I say someone who volunteers to be a Windows user....they get what they get.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
To no one in particular.
When faced with the choice of riding the roller coaster or just warning other riders about why they shouldn't ...
I usually ride.
I prefer the view from the roller coaster, to the view of the roller coaster.
73, Jay - NO5J
When faced with the choice of riding the roller coaster or just warning other riders about why they shouldn't ...
I usually ride.
I prefer the view from the roller coaster, to the view of the roller coaster.
73, Jay - NO5J
I experimented to upgrade to Win10 from Win8.1 with my new core i7 6700.
I have DAX warning as many says. I tried to clean up Flex install and re-installed, but still it comes up. Another issue I noticed is; I cannot install Spe's TERM_2K_USB - it complains it cannot find FTD2XX.dll. I tried the latest FTDI driver, however the situation does not change. It implies me that I might have problem with RS232c <-> USB, hence CAT, although I have not tried any other RS232c<->USB.
Any experiences, fixes for FTDI driver is appreciated.
It is only a beginning of the painful journey, but it seemingly takes sometime to replace Win8.1 at my shack.
73 de JI1BNU
Ken Yamada
I have DAX warning as many says. I tried to clean up Flex install and re-installed, but still it comes up. Another issue I noticed is; I cannot install Spe's TERM_2K_USB - it complains it cannot find FTD2XX.dll. I tried the latest FTDI driver, however the situation does not change. It implies me that I might have problem with RS232c <-> USB, hence CAT, although I have not tried any other RS232c<->USB.
Any experiences, fixes for FTDI driver is appreciated.
It is only a beginning of the painful journey, but it seemingly takes sometime to replace Win8.1 at my shack.
73 de JI1BNU
Ken Yamada
Hey Ken,
Please check:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm
for theFTDI driver. I see FTD2XX.dll is provided per the release notes.
No device here using this device so I do not know for certain this will be the fix you seek.
Best of Luck...
Tim
Please check:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm
for theFTDI driver. I see FTD2XX.dll is provided per the release notes.
No device here using this device so I do not know for certain this will be the fix you seek.
Best of Luck...
Tim
It is interesting to see the Relates Conversations that pop up at the bottom of this thread...
I really wanted Windows 10 to work. I don't like bashing Microsoft and I wanted to give them a chance. After the nonsense of win8, a tablet OS that doesn't make sense in the desktop I thought Microsoft had lost it giving in on the tablet pressure from Apple and Android. I was very glad to read how they were finally listening to users and 8.1 was a glimpse into a bit of hope. In all fairness 8.1 is a very good OS, it is just a horrible gui. I will never understand a company that will through all their customer base down the drain and completely revamp an os environment that was so familiar to so many.
The idea of win10, going back to what we all like in win7 and some of the improvements of 8.1 made sense. One OS for phone, tablet and pc sounded awesome. I bought into the whole thing.
I bought a Windows phone. I bought a Windows tablet and I upgraded my best laptop to win10 technical preview.
The phone on win phone os worked ok, until I wanted to use some apps. There weren't there. Neither my banking or cellphone apps were available. Many others where just not close to the level of refinement. I had to go back to angels as main phone and leave this add my secondary phone.
The tablet failed to update to win10 and it took me 3 months to get it back to win8 to make it usable. There wasn't a roll back option. The touch screen didn't work the device kept rebooting endlessly... I finally found a thread were a guy uploaded an image of win8 for the hp tablet and that allowed me to recover the device.
I bought the office365 $99 yearly deal, office in 15 devices, 4 household users, 1tb of onedrive, 60mins Skype a month.
Awesome until you try to use it.
Try any of these features with crappy Internet anywhere outside north america.
And the final straw, I made the mistake of taking the win10 laptop on a business trip. I tried installing a Bluetooth mouse, that sent me on a downward spiral of suffering. At 80% battery the os shutdown. And on reboot it failed to load the os, i spent hours going through the win10 recovery that ultimately only gave me the option of a new install of win10. I was in the middle of the Maldives, business trip with a laptop with no bluetooth mouse and now with no office. With bad Internet I couldn't load 365 again, it times out. A laptop that on win7 had 150 days of standby couldn't even go into sleep mode because on win10 it will not come back from sleep. I had to keep it connected to the outlet constantly. Power management in win10 is awful.
My fault for trusting windows 10.
But I gave it another chance. Back home, had a day long meeting and decided to take this laptop to the meeting. I load all the documents i need, i connect a usb 3 thumb drive to the laptop and Windows 10 crashes again.
I am now very happy with win7 back into the laptop.
This is just my experience. I really wanted windows 10 to work. It just hasn't yet for me.... Maybe some day.
The idea of win10, going back to what we all like in win7 and some of the improvements of 8.1 made sense. One OS for phone, tablet and pc sounded awesome. I bought into the whole thing.
I bought a Windows phone. I bought a Windows tablet and I upgraded my best laptop to win10 technical preview.
The phone on win phone os worked ok, until I wanted to use some apps. There weren't there. Neither my banking or cellphone apps were available. Many others where just not close to the level of refinement. I had to go back to angels as main phone and leave this add my secondary phone.
The tablet failed to update to win10 and it took me 3 months to get it back to win8 to make it usable. There wasn't a roll back option. The touch screen didn't work the device kept rebooting endlessly... I finally found a thread were a guy uploaded an image of win8 for the hp tablet and that allowed me to recover the device.
I bought the office365 $99 yearly deal, office in 15 devices, 4 household users, 1tb of onedrive, 60mins Skype a month.
Awesome until you try to use it.
Try any of these features with crappy Internet anywhere outside north america.
And the final straw, I made the mistake of taking the win10 laptop on a business trip. I tried installing a Bluetooth mouse, that sent me on a downward spiral of suffering. At 80% battery the os shutdown. And on reboot it failed to load the os, i spent hours going through the win10 recovery that ultimately only gave me the option of a new install of win10. I was in the middle of the Maldives, business trip with a laptop with no bluetooth mouse and now with no office. With bad Internet I couldn't load 365 again, it times out. A laptop that on win7 had 150 days of standby couldn't even go into sleep mode because on win10 it will not come back from sleep. I had to keep it connected to the outlet constantly. Power management in win10 is awful.
My fault for trusting windows 10.
But I gave it another chance. Back home, had a day long meeting and decided to take this laptop to the meeting. I load all the documents i need, i connect a usb 3 thumb drive to the laptop and Windows 10 crashes again.
I am now very happy with win7 back into the laptop.
This is just my experience. I really wanted windows 10 to work. It just hasn't yet for me.... Maybe some day.
Sal, months ago the tech world was abuzz with news Microsoft ceded the mobile market. Perhaps it was Gartner or Forester but I do recall the headline that, and I am pretty sure the verb was ceded, the mobile market. If it's any consultation, they do have the desktop market.
I was writing with my cell phone and had a few typos in there.... I wish we had more time to edit a post. Anyway...
I really was looking forward to one OS where my apps will work the same on different platforms. Opening SmartSDR in any of my devices sounded fantastic.
I use office all the time, it is my main productivity tool. I have to write reports, review documentation and go over many spreadsheets daily. From time to time I use powerpoint and once in a blue moon some of the others. Every other piece of software I use in the PC, from movie/photo editing to programming to gaming is for my personal use.
There are a couple of things that Microsoft has done over the years where I really wanted them to succeed. One was Sharepoint and the other Windows 10. The idea of Sharepoint was great. A web based environment where I can collaborate with colleagues. Another monumental mess. Even today, 10 years later, sharing a Sharepoint folder is a total pain. Luckily Dropbox came along and provided a very friendly, easy to use platform, to share documents across devices. I can easily see when I file has been modified or a new files has been added, I can then access it in any of my connected computers. To add a user all I need is their email.
It is so clean and simple that I even use it for all my ham needs. My logging programs backup automatically into Dropbox, which allows me to use the same logging program in several computers without having to import or export anything. I just download everything there and it is automatically available in all the connected devices.
My personal experience with Windows 10 was explained in the previous post....
All of my desktop computers are built by me. I put together PCs that serve me well and stand the pass of time quite well. Good power supplies, powerful video cards and plenty of memory are must have ingredients in my builds.
For Windows 10 I decided to test it in the one computer that had no personally added hardware, to avoid adding complexity to the upgrade, the Asus ZenBook UX31E laptop. A very good looking Core i7, 8GB laptop that wasn't cheap when I bought it and has worked flawlessly for several years.
If it fails on that I have no hope that it will work on any of my main work PCs.
I really was looking forward to one OS where my apps will work the same on different platforms. Opening SmartSDR in any of my devices sounded fantastic.
I use office all the time, it is my main productivity tool. I have to write reports, review documentation and go over many spreadsheets daily. From time to time I use powerpoint and once in a blue moon some of the others. Every other piece of software I use in the PC, from movie/photo editing to programming to gaming is for my personal use.
There are a couple of things that Microsoft has done over the years where I really wanted them to succeed. One was Sharepoint and the other Windows 10. The idea of Sharepoint was great. A web based environment where I can collaborate with colleagues. Another monumental mess. Even today, 10 years later, sharing a Sharepoint folder is a total pain. Luckily Dropbox came along and provided a very friendly, easy to use platform, to share documents across devices. I can easily see when I file has been modified or a new files has been added, I can then access it in any of my connected computers. To add a user all I need is their email.
It is so clean and simple that I even use it for all my ham needs. My logging programs backup automatically into Dropbox, which allows me to use the same logging program in several computers without having to import or export anything. I just download everything there and it is automatically available in all the connected devices.
My personal experience with Windows 10 was explained in the previous post....
All of my desktop computers are built by me. I put together PCs that serve me well and stand the pass of time quite well. Good power supplies, powerful video cards and plenty of memory are must have ingredients in my builds.
For Windows 10 I decided to test it in the one computer that had no personally added hardware, to avoid adding complexity to the upgrade, the Asus ZenBook UX31E laptop. A very good looking Core i7, 8GB laptop that wasn't cheap when I bought it and has worked flawlessly for several years.
If it fails on that I have no hope that it will work on any of my main work PCs.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
I guess the W10 download I removed counts in the100MM
For all those who are reporting no issues good luck to you
For the rest who have issues this utility may help
BTW. I usually am one of the guys building or testing the new roller coasters so I don't have time to ride or watch.
For all those who are reporting no issues good luck to you
For the rest who have issues this utility may help
BTW. I usually am one of the guys building or testing the new roller coasters so I don't have time to ride or watch.
Hello, Howard!
Thank you so much for the info on thwarting auto-downloads. Fortunately I make regular images of the drive, so every time Windows screwed up my computer with a new update, rather than trying to fight removing SmartSDR (which I hate to do with a passion) I just reimaged my hard drive. The new software works wonderfully and my computer "thinks" it's up to date now. Sure glad you are part of the group, you have been an enormous help to me over the years. Best regards and Merry Christmas!
Jim, K6QE
Just curious, all those that have issues with windows 10 upgrade did any of you look through the error logs and cleanup any issues prior to the upgrade? Windows in general is a very forgiving OS, it allows programs not well written to continue to work even though they throw errors....
Just curious..
Just curious..
Unlike some others, I haven't had a problem with Windows 10 - yet. DAX has remained running, and I've only had to reset the radio once - which isn't a windows issue.
But I'm going to bring this topic back to Amateur Radio and flex here shortly, so bear with.
But my fear, based on my sideline of computer support since the mid 90s, and large scale Windows support, is that Windows updates break things. I wasn't an actual computer guy, but as the person in charge of a suite of conference rooms and auditoriums, I ended up supporting them since the regular IT guys didn't handle the suits too well.
And the day after patch Tuesday - or when the IT guys handed it out - was almost always a nightmare. While the base users, like Office Suite users. didn't have problems all that often, the machines that got a little more complicated - with codecs, and sound and video drivers, and programs that did more "stuff" were hit by problems most every update.
But one thing I wouldn't put up with, was the notion that somehow it was my fault that a codec was removed, or a a setting changed. Yesterday the machine worked, today I have 50 angry 6 and 7 figure guys wondering why their DVD doesn't work any more.
Now here is the issue I have with Windows 10 updates, and it brings it right back to Amateur Radio.
Given that in Windows 10 you have no choice except to accept the updates, and it has already been proven that updates are following in the tradition of bollixing things up, it presents a problem for emergency work.
If we get a big snowstorm or flooding here, I might turn on my radio and it doesn't work any more. And my biggest defense against updates borking my computer was to manually install them at a time when I can handle fixing the inevitible update issues.
A magnificent radio is at the mercy of an operating system that is going to fail.
Which is why although I much prefer SmartSDR, I'll be learning DogPark's rig control offering as well.
But I'm going to bring this topic back to Amateur Radio and flex here shortly, so bear with.
But my fear, based on my sideline of computer support since the mid 90s, and large scale Windows support, is that Windows updates break things. I wasn't an actual computer guy, but as the person in charge of a suite of conference rooms and auditoriums, I ended up supporting them since the regular IT guys didn't handle the suits too well.
And the day after patch Tuesday - or when the IT guys handed it out - was almost always a nightmare. While the base users, like Office Suite users. didn't have problems all that often, the machines that got a little more complicated - with codecs, and sound and video drivers, and programs that did more "stuff" were hit by problems most every update.
But one thing I wouldn't put up with, was the notion that somehow it was my fault that a codec was removed, or a a setting changed. Yesterday the machine worked, today I have 50 angry 6 and 7 figure guys wondering why their DVD doesn't work any more.
Now here is the issue I have with Windows 10 updates, and it brings it right back to Amateur Radio.
Given that in Windows 10 you have no choice except to accept the updates, and it has already been proven that updates are following in the tradition of bollixing things up, it presents a problem for emergency work.
If we get a big snowstorm or flooding here, I might turn on my radio and it doesn't work any more. And my biggest defense against updates borking my computer was to manually install them at a time when I can handle fixing the inevitible update issues.
A magnificent radio is at the mercy of an operating system that is going to fail.
Which is why although I much prefer SmartSDR, I'll be learning DogPark's rig control offering as well.
That's why my emergency rig is a Viking Ranger and Hammarlund HQ-170 receiver.
Just kidding ... I have a cell phone for that.
Just kidding ... I have a cell phone for that.
(Edited)
Or, get a Maestro which doesn't run Win10 and connect it directly to the radio and keep it off the internet.
Speaking of that, why couldn't one get a Win10 setup running on a pc and do the same (direct to radio). Maybe a spare pc. That way Win10 update couldn't kill things so easy.
Just a thought.
James
WD5GWY
Speaking of that, why couldn't one get a Win10 setup running on a pc and do the same (direct to radio). Maybe a spare pc. That way Win10 update couldn't kill things so easy.
Just a thought.
James
WD5GWY
Referring back to the original post.
Howard thanks for the heads up on the GWX control Panel.
That Win 10 update business was driving me nuts.
All of my machines but one are Win 7.
I will take a different approach and say I am not interested in Win 10 at this point in time.
Win 7 has been wonderful, my flex and all toys play well in it.
Maybe some day I will give W10 a try just not today.
In the mean time that annoying W10 upgrade window opening every flippin time I open a browser had to go!!!
Thanks again Howard, that made my day OM.
Howard thanks for the heads up on the GWX control Panel.
That Win 10 update business was driving me nuts.
All of my machines but one are Win 7.
I will take a different approach and say I am not interested in Win 10 at this point in time.
Win 7 has been wonderful, my flex and all toys play well in it.
Maybe some day I will give W10 a try just not today.
In the mean time that annoying W10 upgrade window opening every flippin time I open a browser had to go!!!
Thanks again Howard, that made my day OM.
Well, the Maestro looks like a fine piece of kit, but I like my dual 27 inch monitors.
My plan is to keep Windows 7 on my Mac via bootcamp, and to continue to experiment with the Windows 10 machine separately.
By the way, going between the two machines has not been any problem at all. But MS have downloaded the W10 OS to my Mac - I just have to hope they don't decide to install it without my permission. Or I accidentally do something to enable it. Already there is a blank window popping up when I log in, and when trying to get rid of it, it has tried to install W10 several times now. So I let it alone.
We really should not have to fight with our computers like this.
My plan is to keep Windows 7 on my Mac via bootcamp, and to continue to experiment with the Windows 10 machine separately.
By the way, going between the two machines has not been any problem at all. But MS have downloaded the W10 OS to my Mac - I just have to hope they don't decide to install it without my permission. Or I accidentally do something to enable it. Already there is a blank window popping up when I log in, and when trying to get rid of it, it has tried to install W10 several times now. So I let it alone.
We really should not have to fight with our computers like this.
Guy G4DWV/4X1LT
EA4GLI - 8P9EH - Salvador
I have even created symbolic links for the AppData folder on a separate hard drive. This is a PC I built 6 years ago with one of the original SSD drives, barely 60GB, and it is a nightmare now. The PC has 5 additional drives, but the OS is in the original SSD. I will probably end up with a new install of windows 7 on a newer 250GB SSD.
David Warnberg