Windows 10 Grrrrr!

[jean]

I have ignored all the pop-ups but suddently yesterday I started to get one telling me that the upgrade was all prepared and would I please restart my computer so that it could be installed?

I'm trying to ignore that too, but the latest pop-up only offers me the options 'start upgrade now' and 'scedule for later'. How can I tell them I don't want it at all?

[gurnemanz]

Same here - I have Windows7 and it works perfectly well for everything I want to do - I don't want the faff of learning the new system, nor to experience the difficulties caused by downloading it that other people have described. It's almost certain that support will stop at some time, but by then I'll probably need a new computer anyway, so will sort out how to "adapt" to 10 then.

I was also quite happy with 7 but despite suspicions about Microsofts's motives I took the upgrade when offered, largely on the basis that it is usually advisable to have the most up-to-date version of any software ... and it was "free". I have read a lot about people having problems with 10 but for me it has been quite painless. It works almost exactly the same as 7, apart from the start menu being a bit different, with no "new system" to learn.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

How can I tell them I don't want it at all?

AFAIK, we can't! (I'd be delighted if anyone knows if this is wrong.) It seems to be "keep cancelling the scheduled updates until the date of the free upgrade offer passes." And then start shielding ourselves from the barrage of "Why not upgrade to Windows10 now: Special Limited Offer, just for you" begin to arrive.

Seriously - does anybody know if there is any way that I can contact Microsoft and let them know that their annoying self-promotion is driving me to consider replacing Windows with an Apple system?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was also quite happy with 7 but despite suspicions about Microsofts's motives I took the upgrade when offered, largely on the basis that it is usually advisable to have the most up-to-date version of any software ... and it was "free". I have read a lot about people having problems with 10 but for me it has been quite painless. It works almost exactly the same as 7, apart from the start menu being a bit different, with no "new system" to learn.

Thank you for this, gurnie - most reassuring if I miss "cancelling" an Installation offering. I just have so much on this 'puter, that I'm convinced that one of the programmes will trip up the installation process and give all my money ("all"? ) to Boris Yeltsin. I'd rather stay with 7 and wait for the new computer (and "Windows 12" by then) and transfer the software etc to that.

They make it LOOK very different, don't they - all those screen shots, and promises that I won't have to do this, that, or the other any more. Most off-putting - I'd be more confident if they told me "Windows 10 - it's just got different icons".

[Anastasius]

......I'd be more confident if they told me "Windows 10 - it's just got different icons".

Or 'But some of your dearly loved programs will no longer work. And neither will that elderly printer because neither we nor the printer manufacturer can be bothered to re-write the drivers needed to support it on W10'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Or 'But some of your dearly loved programs will no longer work. And neither will that elderly printer because neither we nor the printer manufacturer can be bothered to re-write the drivers needed to support it on W10'

DING!!

Now that's exactly the sort of thing I fear and wish to avoid: 7 works perfectly well for me; nothing that's supposed to make me go weak at the knees in the descriptions of 10 suggest that it would be worth my while "fixing" something that isn't broke(n).

[MrGongGong]

I would suggest that (and they aren't the retail branch of Amnesty International as some might imagine!)
that the fruit option will give you less hassle

It's relatively easy to run "obsolete" Windows programs on one (without dual boot etc) and it will be more reliable and give you less hassle. You don't need to use their horrible software either.
All technology fails eventually though so keep up the letter cutting skills

[Dave2002]

I have heard also that MS are downloading/installing all/most of Win 10 on machines running earlier versions in the background to avoid problems with their servers. If you really don't want Win 10, then perhaps you shouldn't connect to the Internet at all.

I don't know if this really is a problem for PC/Win users. Perhaps most will be happy enough with Win 10, and/or also not have any software compatibility problems. In the Apple world I run several versions of OS X, and I'm not rushing to change. I still use AppleWorks - the last version of Mac OS X which ran that was Snow Leopard. El Capitan (or Yosemite) is needed for some of the latest software, for example Photoshop Elements 14 and Premiere Elements 14. El Capitan does most of the things that Mountain Lion does, but the Spotlight search tool is a pain (at least I find it so), so I'm not rushing to upgrade my MacBook.

It is perfectly possible that some Win users would have preferred versions of Windows for similar reasons. One option might be to run a virtual system, and run diferent versions of Windows on top of that, though it might still be necessary to "freeze" images of each to prevent them updating themselves. To make that work one would ideally need a large machine. I could do that on one of my iMacs which I upgraded to 16 Gbytes,, and I could use Bootcamp to run different Windows versions - if I had them. I could also use Parallels or other virtualisation software or run (boot) from disk images.

However, I recently noticed that I've even managed to use most of the 16 Gbytes of memory in a session, so running multiple OSs might require an even bigger machine than mine - perhaps 64 Gbytes and upwards. I got close to the memory limit just running El Capitan (OS X) - not with any virtual systems. Of course going over the limit should not cause anything to fail, as the virtual memory system in OS X would simply swap in-core data out to external storage - disc or SSD. The same would happen with other OSs - Linux or Windows - any recent flavour.

It is presumably possible to run multi boot systems on PCs (i.e. non Apple hardware), either for Linux or Win versions, though a large machine might be needed, and many users might find it too complicated and not worth the bother.

Many Win users might find that the simplest option is to let MS upgrade to Win 10 while it's still free. OTOH don't do it if you're sure it'll give you problems (compatibility, loss of functionality etc.).

[Dave2002]

It's relatively easy to run "obsolete" Windows programs on one (without dual boot etc) and it will be more reliable and give you less hassle.

Are you running virtualisation software, or do you just mean that there are near equivalent software products to run in place of the "obsolete" Win programs - assuming you don't use multi-boot options?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

OTOH don't do it if you're sure it'll give you problems (compatibility, loss of functionality etc.).

My attitude is NOT to download 10 until I'm sure it won't cause any problems, Dave.

(Specifically - is SIBELIUS6 compatible?)

Otherwise, I'm increasingly drawn to to MrGG's option - but that's a decision that will take considerable time doing the financial sums over.

[johnb]

I see no reason what-so-ever to "update" my desktop PC from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Windows 7 will be supported for security fixes, etc until 2020.

The only reasons to "upgrade" an existing computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10 are if you have a specific problem that Windows 10 solves or if you are a must-have-the-latest-technology junkie.

It is a different matter when buying a new PC or laptop. Windows 7 PCs and laptops are still easily available (though not through the likes of PCWorld, etc) as there has been a strong demand for W7 from businesses. However, Microsoft are not going to support Windows 7 on computers with the latest Intel processors, starting with Intel Skylake (launched August 2015). This, in effect, will force people (businesses especially) to abandon Windows 7 when they change their hardware.

[MrGongGong]

Are you running virtualisation software, or do you just mean that there are near equivalent software products to run in place of the "obsolete" Win programs - assuming you don't use multi-boot options?

I used to do the multi boot thing but it didn't support the firewire sound card I used to use all the time

I use this for a couple of things I like that only work on Windows (2008 version of Coagula for example that is great but doesn't look like it's going to be updated)

http://winebottler.kronenberg.org

There are also equivalent products which are compatible (Open Office etc etc) with Windows ones if you need.

[jean]

They have given me a choice of time for the download, and say that once scheduled, the day/time cannot be changed. I have not chosen. Their first suggested day/time was today at 12, but I did not confirm this.

If I just do nothing, will they go away? Or will they install it anyway?

[Dave2002]

If I just do nothing, will they go away? Or will they install it anyway?

Most of it might be there already. Would give you a quick install if that is the case.

Don't know what happens if you ignore it, or say no to it.

[jean]

This has just been recommended to me as a possible solution (but I haven't time to try it just now):

Many people are annoyed with Microsoft’s aggressive promotion of Windows 10. Not only is the “update now” utility being installed as an “important” update, all signs are that things are going to get worse. Microsoft appears to be downloading Windows 10 on the assumption that you want it.

That’s a bad assumption, very bad.

Through a variety of means – an application installed automatically, Windows Update performing those updates automatically, Windows 10 being downloaded automatically, the installation process being initiated automatically – Microsoft has been virtually ramming Windows 10 down your throat, whether you want it or not.

The fact that it’s a good operating system is being lost in the negative reaction to confiscating people’s ability to choose.

GWX Control Panel can block Windows 10 and give the choice back to you.