Windows 10 Announced

[Arizona Hot]

Does anyone here use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?

I have two big features in Windows 10 that I love it for when compared to Windows 7. These two features are Virtual Desktops and the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Virtual Desktops
This is a feature that allows you to have multiple workspaces to help keep your windows organised.
For instance, if you have loads of windows open and want to get a fresh screen without moving and reordering all your windows around, you can just open up a new desktop.

What are some of your favorite things about Windows 10 that you see as an actual improvement and simply could not exist in Windows Vista or Windows 7?

I’ve done a bit or research on this. It looks like the update mechanism is having issues connecting to the servers.

1)make sure you don’t have proxy connections turned on. Use the following steps to ensure this isn’t the case;
a. Press Windows + R, type inetcpl.cpl.
b. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN settings.
c. Uncheck the box next to “proxy server for your LAN”.
d. Click OK to save and close the window.

How do I fix Error 0x80d05001 while installing updates on Windows 10?

[Shades]

Does anyone here use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)?

-Arizona Hot (January 02, 2018, 04:45 PM)

Not me. Currently I manage 8 (non-virtual) Linux servers, 1 FreeBSD server and 3 Windows servers (and at least 20 Windows workstations and a set of MacBook Pro machines). One of the Windows servers I use as daily driver and I use Putty and/or SmarTTY on Windows to manage the non-Windows machines.  If I have a task for a Linux machine, I'll use a Linux machine to do it with.

WSL has no other real use than for a developer who wants to keep all his/her development on one single machine. Nothing wrong with that, but I like to use the PC's I have at my disposal to do stuff. Because one machine is doing one thing, another computer can be instructed to do other/different stuff. I like to think I am more effective that way.

Still, if WSL works for you, then great. To me it is a solution in search of a problem.

Virtual Desktops are also mentioned in the Quora question. VDs can be used effectively if you only have one screen at your disposal. But once I got a second monitor, I never looked back at VDs. Not even once. Swapping between VDs can and will break your concentration. And you will always encounter one tool missing in your currently open VD and if you need to swap between VDs because of that...meh, the second monitor made me much more productive. Again, that is something I like to think. Never actually measured this.

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

Microsoft ditches Windows 10 S in favor of new ‘S Mode’

[tomos]

Microsoft ditches Windows 10 S in favor of new ‘S Mode’

-Arizona Hot (February 04, 2018, 02:21 AM)

sounds like a bit of a mess

Microsoft is planning a new “S Mode” for Windows 10 Home, Enterprise, and Pro.

This S Mode will essentially lock down any copy of Windows 10 so it can only run apps from the Microsoft Store, and does exactly what the dedicated Windows 10 S operating system was built to do. Thurrott reports that 60 percent of Windows 10 S users have remained on the operating system, instead of switching to Windows 10 Pro free of charge. 60 percent of those who do switch reportedly do so within the first 24 hours of owning a Windows 10 S device, and if they don’t switch in a week then 83 percent stick with 10 S.
"Windows 10 Home will get the new S Mode"

While it’s surprising that Windows users are happy sticking to just Microsoft Store apps, it’s clear the company’s new strategy will mean even more users could receive devices with S Mode enabled. Microsoft is reportedly planning to allow Windows 10 Home users to disable the S Mode free of charge, but Windows 10 Pro customers with S Mode enabled on their device will be forced to pay $49 to get access to a full version of Windows 10 Pro.

It’s a risky strategy that will need to be explained clearly from both Microsoft and its various PC partners to avoid consumer confusion. While the Home versions appear to have a free switch path, the charge for the Pro versions could irritate consumers who opt for more premium devices. It all depends whether OEMs ship devices with S Mode enabled.

Sort-of off-topic:
wonder if successful would we get windows phones again (I like mine but the lack of apps can be a pain)

[Shades]

Sort-of off-topic:
wonder if successful would we get windows phones again (I like mine but the lack of apps can be a pain)

-tomos (February 04, 2018, 04:58 AM)

Here is to hoping. After being exposed to Android for a while now, I would be more than happy to get a new Windows phone again.

[rant]
Really, some UI steps that Google puts into Android are an abomination. And is it really that difficult for Google to remove 1 device from your list of approved devices? Instead you must eliminate all devices and re-register each device one by one....ff-ing amazing job, Google! I wonder how many people are bothered enough to do this. But it would be a safe assumption to state that most people just say: 'F... this' and don't do anything. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of your "security".

Seriously, the person(s) who thought this to be a good UI design, deserve to be taken behind the shed (and their final thought to be: "Aha, so that is how a functional UI works on the device that is putting this bullet in my head").

[/rant]

[Shades]

another new development is rising on the Windows 10 front....

http://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/151582/exclusive-windows-10-s-dead-long-live-s-mode

What would the S stand for?
Simple?
Simpleton?
Scandal?
Scoundrel?
Segregated?
"Special"?
Stupid?
Stinker?
Skool? (tibe error made on purpose)
Semi-functional?
Silly?
Sad?
Shoddy?
Shifty?
Shady?
Sinful?
Sorry?
Sorrow?
Suffer?
Sickening?
Somber?
Substandard?
Synthetic?
Slumped?
Startling?
Stirring?
Spanking?

If you managed to read this far, you will have grokked by now that I'm not a fan.

[wraith808]

Store would seem the likely answer.

[rgdot]

Windows Switch (to Linux) 

[IainB]

@Shades:

...Here is to hoping. After being exposed to Android for a while now, I would be more than happy to get a new Windows phone again.

[rant]
Really, some UI steps that Google puts into Android are an abomination. And is it really that difficult for Google to remove 1 device from your list of approved devices? Instead you must eliminate all devices and re-register each device one by one....ff-ing amazing job, Google! I wonder how many people are bothered enough to do this. But it would be a safe assumption to state that most people just say: 'F... this' and don't do anything. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of your "security".

Seriously, the person(s) who thought this to be a good UI design, deserve to be taken behind the shed (and their final thought to be: "Aha, so that is how a functional UI works on the device that is putting this bullet in my head").
[/rant]

-Shades (February 04, 2018, 08:49 AM)

Yes, quite agree. Couldn't have put it much better if I had tried.   

[4wd]

[rant]Really, some UI steps that Google puts into Android are an abomination. And is it really that difficult for Google to remove 1 device from your list of approved devices? ...

-Shades (February 04, 2018, 08:49 AM)

Is this the same as logging into your account, selecting Sign in & security -> Device activity & notifications -> Recently used devices (a relative term) -> Review devices -> select a device and click Remove ?

Or do you mean removing a device from 2-Step Verification exclusion (ie. Trusted device) where you only have a choice of Revoke All (FWIW, I don't have any on any of my Google accounts) ?

Or is this some other area of your Google account?

[Shades]

It sounds like the last option, yet to my understanding I do not have 2FA activated. And I didn't get 2FA-like messages after re-approving my set of 3 devices. As I am not into the cloud, there is only a small amount of re-approving, so it didn't take too much of my time, but long enough to boil up a rant.

But for someone who has a lot of devices registered, that would become a major pain in the neck. Not that the manner is wrong, I can see some sense in that when you enable 2FA, it might be best to start all over with the administration of the devices. Still, I think the programmer(s) made it easy for themselves by just offering their favorite option, and not a more common sense option with per device enable/disable 2FA...as most more advanced users have been accustomed to for years in Windows, Linux and Mac.

The kids at Google seem to apply the concept of "lazy loading" to "lazy coding" (yes, these are not the same, but somehow it sounds right).

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

What’s Coming in Windows 10’s Redstone 4 Update, Available March 2018

"Redstone 4 is coming! Redstone 4 is coming! Prepare! Prepare!"  No mention of S-mode, but it's still a big change and and a heavy install for Windows 10. Much more description of the Update.

Windows 10 Announced

What’s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)

Says nice things about Windows Defender and Malwarebytes, but still has it's heart set on Avira.

[Deozaan]

We hope you’re no longer using the HomeGroup feature on your home network, as it’s now been disabled. Microsoft encourages you to use modern solutions like OneDrive file sharing, or the Windows 10 Share functionality for folders and printers.

-https://www.howtogeek.com/340688/whats-coming-in-windows-10s-redstone-4-update-available-march-2018/

HomeGroup is being disabled? Then what am I supposed to use to allow my computers to communicate with each other?

Just a couple weeks ago I was trying to play a LAN game on two devices on the same network and they just couldn't see each other until I had them both join a HomeGroup. How is OneDrive going to help me with that?

[Shades]

In my network with a dedicated router (& firewall) PC, a few switches and a total of 45 PC's (Linux, Windows and FreeBSD, 70% is bare metal, the remainder is virtual) there is no problem hooking up PC's for LAN gaming. or anything else for that matter. 

Was it an old(er) game that you were using for the LAN gaming? I remember old(er) games having options for LAN gaming, using a serial connection, by using IPX/SPX and also the TCP/IP protocol. There are ways to transfer IPX traffic over the TCP/IP protocol, but that is all from yesteryear. Still, by using HomeGroup, you might have enabled the IPX traffic to travel over TCP/IP. On the other hand, new(er) games only use TCP/IP anymore.

Homegroup has always been disabled in my network, Onedrive file sharing implies the cloud, which for most is not their own LAN, which makes it practically forbidden in my network. Windows (10) file sharing wizards aren't needed or used either. Linux PCs communicate just fine using Samba. Network printing and scanning, it all working pretty much out of the box. Are you sure your network is configured ok? No double NAT going on anywhere?

To do networking well, it requires a fair amount of studying. It is an interesting field in the world of computing and if you choose to become a network specialist, you can (usually) make very nice sums of money.

Be that as it may, most people can't or won't spent time on networking basics and rely on wizards and automated systems like HomeGroup to do the work for them. It is my personal (and perhaps not so humble) opinion that you shouldn't rely on these automatic systems and figure it out for yourself. Yes, it is a headache in the short run, but you'll benefit from it later.

[Deozaan]

Was it an old(er) game that you were using for the LAN gaming? I remember old(er) games having options for LAN gaming, using a serial connection, by using IPX/SPX and also the TCP/IP protocol. There are ways to transfer IPX traffic over the TCP/IP protocol, but that is all from yesteryear. Still, by using HomeGroup, you might have enabled the IPX traffic to travel over TCP/IP. On the other hand, new(er) games only use TCP/IP anymore.

Homegroup has always been disabled in my network, Onedrive file sharing implies the cloud, which for most is not their own LAN, which makes it practically forbidden in my network. Windows (10) file sharing wizards aren't needed or used either. Linux PCs communicate just fine using Samba. Network printing and scanning, it all working pretty much out of the box. Are you sure your network is configured ok? No double NAT going on anywhere?

-Shades (February 06, 2018, 09:14 AM)

It was a bit of an old game, but not that old (2009). And it was at a friend's house, so I had no control over, nor admin access to, the network.

[4wd]

It sounds like the last option, yet to my understanding I do not have 2FA activated. And I didn't get 2FA-like messages after re-approving my set of 3 devices.

-Shades (February 05, 2018, 06:31 PM)

I think that's why, 2FA reduced the number of aggravations I had when using Google, eg. I'd get account lockouts on non-2FA accounts because I happened to access Gmail via Thunderbird from a different location.

Going to 2FA stopped that happening since each app now gets its own password.  The only way I can see to remove a device from the account is as I mentioned above under Sign in & Security or I do it from the device by removing the Google account.

As I said above, I have no Trusted devices on the accounts so there's nothing I can revoke access for.

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

The latest monthly Win 10 Update.

[Stoic Joker]

Really, some UI steps that Google puts into Android are an abomination.

-Shades (February 04, 2018, 08:49 AM)

+1,000 - God I miss my Windows phone!!

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

Here’s the Windows 10 on ARM limitations list that Microsoft wants to keep secret

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

Patch Tuesday drops the mandatory antivirus requirement after all

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

Microsoft tries forcing Mail users to open links in Edge, and people are freaking out

Windows 10 Announced

Microsoft releases two new Windows 10 previews with High Efficiency Image File format

[Arizona Hot]

Windows 10 Announced

While browsing USA Today today I got this popup. I didn't call the number and closed Chrome after getting a screenshot.  I use Incognito Mode. While trying to use Feedback Hub, Windows 10 restarted so it is unlikely that anything that might still be left is still there. I chatted with MS Support and that isn't their number.

[Deozaan]

While browsing USA Today today I got this popup. I didn't call the number and closed Chrome after getting a screenshot.  I use Incognito Mode. While trying to use Feedback Hub, Windows 10 restarted so it is unlikely that anything that might still be left is still there. I chatted with MS Support and that isn't their number.

-Arizona Hot (April 04, 2018, 07:03 PM)

That has nothing to do with Microsoft or Windows 10. It likely has more to do with USA Today or whatever other site(s) you may have been browsing at the time. It's just a scam.

[Shades]

There are a few grammar mistakes in the screenshot of that message. As a non-native speaker/writer of English, I may not assume my English is great. But I like to think it is good enough to spot the bad grammar in places. Bad English is almost always a sign of a scam.

Also, you must call Microsoft, because of a Google Chrome critical error? Without an error code? If you expect any help from the provided telephone number or the real telephone number without an error code or at least a concise note regarding the nature of the error, dream on.

Most of the remaining content is just spreading panic in the mind of the user with generic terms...

Separately, each of the above statements should have triggered your bullsh.t detector. In combination it almost becomes funny, at least for people proficient in reading error messages.

Granted, that is not a skill mastered by most users. And that is where the creators of the message bank on. However, if I can already spot the bad grammar, a native speaker of English would certainly spot them, likely even more. Bad English in error messages created by an organization as Google (which employs geniuses in every shape and form)? Really?

Even if you don't have a brain "wired" for computers, just your skill in English should already have been enough to identify this message as a scam.

[Arizona Hot]

I did think it sounded phony, and I got some more information from a member of the community when I posted a question on Feedback Hub. The reply is given below for anyone like me who hasn't encountered this before.

Question has a reply: Red popup virus screen while browsing
Microsoft Community <[email protected]>   Yesterday, 6:21 PM
Microsoft Community   Your question has a reply   Hi, <name deleted>
Bruce Hagen has replied to your question Red popup virus screen while browsing
It's a common scam that has been around for a few years now. Click the X to close the window. You should then see a box at the bottom, Do not allow this site to create new messages. Check it and then close that window and finally the popup.
If that doesn't work, for Edge, follow the instructions by Scott_Ki here:
https://answers.micr...55-bf90-d8a7405ee199 
For all other browsers, use the Task Manager to exit the browser. Reboot and see if the pop-up goes away.
How to Use the New Task Manager.
http://www.wikihow.c...Windows-Task-Manager 
If the problem persists, for any browser:
Remove Tech Support Scam pop-up (Call For Support Scam)
http://malwaretips.c...support-scam-popups/ 
Please read:
PSA: Tech Support Scams Pop-Ups on the Rise
https://blog.malware...pop-ups-on-the-rise/ 
Breaking down a notably sophisticated tech support scam M.O.
https://blogs.techne...ch-support-scam-m-o/ 
For more information, see this post by GreginMich
https://answers.micr...91d11ad194#LastReply