Details about the Win10 Pro disappearing group policies

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Remember how I warned about “unanswered questions” in Windows 10 — how the great unknown is a major reason for not upgrading? Well, we just got one a
[See the full post at: Details about the Win10 Pro disappearing group policies]

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This is the opening salvo to kill the Pro license. Microsoft is pushing hard to get everyone on the enterprise monthly subscription gravy train. They did the same thing with Office OEM licenses, requiring a Microsoft account to activate.

It wouldnt surprise me if in another year or two they just kill Pro completely.

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Thanks Woody;

M$FT’s boorish, unethical, deceptive behavior these last months has confirmed my decision to stay with Win7/8.l only as long as needed to learn Linux and move everything off Windows.

“From the very beginning, we designed Windows 10 with two straightforward privacy principles in mind:

Windows 10 collects information so the product will work better for you.

You are in control with the ability to determine what information is collected.”

Terry Myerson

(as quoted in your Windows 10 and privacy: Whom should you trust? article 29 Sept 2015)

JF

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Welcome to the wonderful world of Windows as as (dis)Service, where every day is an adventure and principles are people who run schools … I know,it’s a different spelling, but phonetically it’s the same sound … Gotta have some fun before Malwaresoft takes that away too.

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Hi Woody, and fellow readers.
I’ve been reading this blog on and off for the last few months after finding various articles from it in various net searches.

I was seriously considering updating the few machines here that run Windows 8.1 to 10, and then reverting, to get Windows 10 for my hardware. What has held me back since the initial offer is the reduced control I have over my machine. I could stomach deferred updates in Win10 pro, since I can still instal them when I want to, even if I can’t avoid them completely, but the telemetry not being completely controllable has been one thing that I am not keen on. Yes Windows 7/8.1 have it, but it can completely be disabled/removed if you so wish, and that is not possible on 10.

With this removal of settings from WIn10 pro, I have decided that I am not getting my hardware an entitlement to update at all. This lack of control I speak of above is becoming more and more a reality, and I refuse to update because I don’t want to give MS the satisfaction of having one more activation that they can gloat about.

I have 6 years or so to work out a plan to move away from Windows going forward.

Thanks for this blog, its a great read, and so are the discussions.

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Since most of my serious work on my desktop computer does not involve internet access, I turn off that access until I need it, and then disable the connection again afterward. I know this does not stop all of the spying that MS is doing, but it should help prevent some of the ads, etc., I would expect. What do you think?

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Can you still change the settings by editing the registry? I know that Home editions have always honored at least some group policy settings even though they’ve never had gpedit.msc.

Separately, does anyone have experience running Windows 10 with Windows Firewall in default-deny mode? Does it work, or do telemetry and ad-downloading services add exceptions for themselves? I’ve run Windows 7 in default-deny mode for a while with the help of Windows Firewall Notifier, but I’ve generally allowed Microsoft services through.

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Again, I can’t recommend SOLUS enough. All of us reading this site are probably hardcore Windows users since the dark ages, we are used to things doing A when we click “Do A”. Windows 10 is not that system anymore, it’s like a marriage gone bad. We need to see other people, and by other people I mean anyone but you. Do yourself a favour, pop SOLUS on a usb stick using Rufus and teach yourself something. Far too long have you been a slave. SOLUS makes linux easy, Ikey said users won’t need the terminal, Ikey is not a liar. You like youtube you like facebook instagram and sometimes you like to write a document or two without being afraid ton CLICK ON EMAIL ATTACHMENTS or anything fishy that steals and encrypts your holiday pics from Acapulco as well as those pics you took when your kids were small. Windows 10, 8 and 7 will sabotage your memories. Linux wont.

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MS really has no concept that small businesses are still businesses, do they. You would the small claims suit they lost might have given them a bit of a clue, but evidently not. I wonder how many lawsuits might pop up… or how many people will lose their jobs from using non-work-approved apps that the operating system installed on its own.

Wonder if I can weasel some Enterprise keys from my friend in IT at work for my not-yet-bumped-up Home installs… (no, I’m not serious about that, wouldn’t want to get him in trouble)

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I tried flipping some of the Registry settings, and they did nothing.

Don’t know about Firewall…

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I really don’t know. Anybody out there have an idea?

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Martin Brinkman over on his website has an article on this too and boy the recent change in Win10 Pro has raised h*** over there. I can’t recall seeing that many negative responses to something MS did; 177 and counting.

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Yep, even the reg keys are now ineffective. It is now MS’s way or no way.

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@ Woody – I can’t get to read your article on Infoworld, all I get is a nice tiny white pixel smack in the middle of my screen, wazzup?

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How’s this?

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3101947/microsoft-windows/more-forced-advertising-creeps-into-windows-10-pro.html

You may have to unblock ads, or change browsers. I hope not, but….

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Woody, with all due respect, knowing your background and your work using windows all these years. AND your affection towards Windows 10. You are also very much behind everyone that hates Windows 10. Now I don’t know if you are friend or foe? The negative aspects of Windows 10 keep piling up, and you report them and also critisize where appropriate. But then you also recommend Windows 10, to an extent unknown to the common computer user. Seems like you are playing for both teams. Which results in very confusing articles.

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Yes, it has come to this: Windows 10 haters against Windows 10 lovers. It’s not a united windows user front anymore. Steve Jobs is laughing in his grave, we slowly implode..

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This right here is what its all about. Even Woody doesnt know what will happen. Nobody knows. All we know is that we will get ads, ads galore. The “windows useful tips” sites will all be about how to avoid ads from now on..to eternity.

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Woody,

A little off-topic for this thread, but, speaking of Win 10, I notice your latest Win 10 for Dummies book is available for pre-order on Amazon. Does this latest version include what a “dummy” like me needs to know about the Win 10 Anniversary version? I bought your initial W10 book from a year ago in anticipation of making the Win 10 plunge which I never did. But, I can’t procrastinate much longer and will need the latest info when courage and funds align.

Your books are the greatest. Couldn’t survive without them!

Thanks!

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I unplug the ethernet cable.

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You wrote: “They’re installed in separate “consumer experience” steps, dribbled out slowly, under complete control by Microsoft. One morning you’ll wake up to a Candy Crush Soda Saga tile on your Start screen.”

I turn on the two computers each morning expecting to get to work on MY priorities. In order to do so I need (would it be better these days to say “struggle”) to screen out distractions. If these j**** want to shove this stuff in my face at 7:15 AM then to h*** with them.

They are so backward, so 20th century, it isn’t funny.

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I’ve been thinking that perhaps it might be a good thing to have a play with a Linux Distro. To get the feel of it and see which programmes/software I use can still be available. Several of you have spoken about different ones and I’ve gone and had a look at the links etc. Solus has been spoken about on these comments……… and also Mint is another that seems v. window-user-friendly…. but when reading about Mint I found that their website had been hacked with a security breach….. including replacing the download link for Mint with one that had a malicious tool. Now that to me didn’t sound good. Also what would be the best/easiest way to do this….. remembering that although I’m moderately savvy……… I’m certainly not brilliant. Would using it in a VM situation be an easy/good idea. I would welcome
any and all thoughts and suggestions on this.
A few months ago someone left a link to their website/blog which helped readers to make a decision about Linux. I can’t find that link so if you know of that too it would be great.
Thanks again Woody for this marvelous opportunity to learn and exchange ideas. LT

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Thanks, works now. I did encounter this a while back and promptly disabled the ad blocker for the site. Dunno what happened this time.

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Woody, do you know if there will be any way to avoid updating to this new version of windows? My laptop only works with win 10, so I’m sort of stuck with it…

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I have used Ubuntu for many years, and also have experience with other distress. Unfortunately Windows is still useful for some things, i.e gaming.

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This is the last straw for me. I’ve been a Microsoft O/S user since the early 1980s, going back to DOS days, and machines with 5.25″ floppy drives and no hard drives. I used to make fun of the Religion of St. Mac, but I’m about to convert. Too many wasted hours trying to get Windows 7 updates to come through on five computers in my household; too much frustration seeing Microsoft’s own anti-virus software stop updating its virus definitions. As my Windows 7 machines become obsolete, do I really want to “upgrade” to an operating system that diminishes my control and stuffs advertising down my throat? No thanks.

Windows as a “service”? What kind of joke is that?

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You can delay the update, if you have Win10 Pro. Start > Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options click Defer Upgrades.

That’s supposed to put you on the Current Branch for Business, which won’t be updated for a while.

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Thanks.

Yep, that’s the second edition of “Windows 10 All-In-One For Dummies” and should be out in September. Definitely has all the goodies about Win10 Anniversary Update.

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I try to give an honest, balanced view – and let people decide for themselves what’s right for them.

I don’t really consider myself to be for or against Win10. I might be delusional, but I use Win10 all day, every day.

(Although I hate what Microsoft’s doing with it – but that’s another story altogether.)

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Or at least until Malwaresoft decides to turn that off, too.

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But the “service” isn’t for you.

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Having Windows 10 home x86 on an old HP G60 I have managed to get the OS as I want it over the last couple of weeks, with a lot of research/ third party utility apps and registry edits and lots of portable programs (no installer)
Thing is, I now realise that I have wasted my time in doing so. Once this Anniversary upgrade is done, I will need to do this all over again or at least check settings.
Fortunately, I have a LXDE installation on another SSD so, if I get frustrated at windows 10, I can just swap the SSD out and still be able to use my programs albeit via emulation.

With regards to adverts, surely a third party firewall rule will block adverts?

Just wonder how long it will be until microsoft drop support for 32bit devices capable of 64bit operation…cash cow in the waiting?

nothing would surprise me..

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Take a browse over to bleepingcomputer.com, the Linux/Unix forum. Lots of good folks there can answer lots of questions.

I’m long time “no Windows on my desktop” person, depending on exactly what you need to do you can do completely without Windows. It all boils down to the applications.

Ubuntu and Mint are good starting distributions. Yes running them in a VM is a good way to start, you can also run them “live” from a USB or CD.

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Many thanks for your reply Mer….. I’ll head over there and take a look……. have already started looking…… had another good look at Mint and also Zorin…. the interface looks similar and possibly not too difficult…….. guess its the applications/programmes that may be the stumbling blocks……… but all a challenge and something different to the continual barnstorming that MS have
been indulging in… LT

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Does MS’s hide updates tool work to remove this from the update list?

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Current versions of Quicken won’t install under Linux/Wine, and I really don’t want to try going back to the 2012 versions that do work. I figure it could entail re-entering 4 years of increasingly complicated finances…

Starting to think of an offline Win 7/Quicken box while exploring the few Linux money programs around.

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@LizzyTish

Here’s another. Broken out by which Win Version ur switching from.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-linux-distro-first-time-switchers-windows-mac/

JF

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M$FT Privacy rules and Service Agreements changing soon.

Maybe we should tighten our seat belts a bit.

Privacy changes 2 August. Service 15 Sept.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/faq.aspx

“…On August 2, 2016, we will publish additional updates with the same objectives. None of the changes will represent a change in policy or practice for Microsoft. These changes will be summarized on the Change History page available at https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/Updates. Additional information about our ongoing commitment to protecting your privacy is available at https://privacy.microsoft.com.

These changes will take effect on August 2, 2016. If you continue to use our products or services on or after that date, you are agreeing to the updated terms of the Microsoft Privacy Statement.”

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Here is a thought. Just think, with all hte changes and new releases you have great fodder for new editions. An added benefit is with MS removing features, you will have less to revise.

Now lets see what MS offers as paid add-ons that will be worth purchasing.

I have your first edition and really liked it – the Book, not the OS.

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Lizzyfish:

I have mainly used 2 distros – Ubuntu and LXLE (derived from Ubuntu, as well as tested Linux Mint (also Ubuntu based) in both desktop flavors – Cinnamon and Mate.

I tried Linux distros as far back as Ubuntu 7, but never actually installed it on a machine. I have grown very accustomed to Ubuntu since version 12.04 LTS when I rescued my wife’s Vista laptop when all the ports died. I loaded the Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (long term support) live CD and everything worked. I liiked it for its Unity desktop launcher bar on the left, however others hate the Unity desktop. My wife has been using Ubuntu since 2010 in the 32 bit version. She is a websurfer, email user and some brief office programs user. In 6 years I have never had to “fix” and issue with her old AMD laptop.

I recently installed LXLE, a light-weight version of Lubuntu (lightweight Ubuntu) on an old AMD Athlon2 box. IT is a beautiful desktop and fast. I actually like is more than Ubuntu for a desktop as it has the newer version 5 of LibreOffice. I have also had some issue with its adding and updating software AMD video drivers, but it may be more a function of the too-old AMD video chips. I intend to try it on an Intel based machine.

I have found though the Linux forums associated with each distro that older AMD machines can be picky, but it is more of an issue if the video card or chipset is AMD than the processor itself. Never the less, I have successfully addressed what issues may have surfaced on the desktop box. Interestingly, my AMD laptop and netboock have not had the same problems.

What is great about the various Linux flavors is they usually offer the OS in a “live” *.iso image so you can actually test the hardware on your machine with out touching any of the existing install as it does NOT write to the HDD unless you tell it to install. My last test of the newest Linux Mint 18 – Cinnamon actually loaded ALL the scanner/fax/and printer drivers for my old HP3050 AIO laserprinter – AND they WORKED!!! Even Win7 needed tweaking for that one at first until they released true 64-bit drivers.

For me, I would recommend sticking with a popular distro that has a easy to use track record and a very robust support forums and userbase. Linux Mint and Ubuntu fit that. If you have spare machines and like to tinker and learn Linux there are many more to try. Have fun and good lick.

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I feel as if the “servicing” MS is offering Windows 7 users is similar to how that term is used on a farm…

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Nope, this comes along for the ride when you upgrade to Win10 Anniversary Update. If you don’t want the Anniversary Update, you can delay it for a few months (don’t know exactly how long) using the technique I mentioned earlier.

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“The apps aren’t installed when you upgrade. They’re installed in separate “consumer experience” steps, dribbled out slowly, under complete control by Microsoft. One morning you’ll wake up to a Candy Crush Soda Saga tile on your Start screen.” — Woody

I already have ! Candy Crush Soda, exactly ! That happened in the few hours I had W10 Home installed (through upgrade from W7), for the sole purpose of grabbing the digital entitlement, then running back fast to W7. Also, I saw a tile for a French FM radio. In spite of the fact that I use English-language editions of Windows.

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We can only pray that those of us who have been unable to even get the updates because of the “never-ending search for updates” will not be affected by any changes which MS may wish to make before the next Black Tuesday, which will be August 9th.

If that occurs, there will be no recourse for any of us who are “waiting”. Could that possibly ever occur?

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Naw. There are lots of smart (and sneaky!) people who are working on it.

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Welcome to the brave new world of consumers so addled by distractions that they cannot think straight, i.e., welcome to Orwell.

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Woody:

Thank you for the assurance that such an event will never occur. That helps so much, and is sincerely appreciated.

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Many thanks JF and Bill C for your replies…. much appreciated…. I’ve already downloaded Virtual Box and an ISO of Zorin (they speak about it as being the closest to Win7) after spending a lot of time looking at comments and such… today hopefully I will install and start having a play. I’m v. tempted with Mint and Ubuntu.. and of course it’s playing with them that gets you familiar with them and also being able to see if your favourite programmes are going to work as well. I play with graphics (PSPX8) and I think that it would be a more serious learning thing if one had to move away to another graphics programme. Of course there are other things like email clients too…. but one thing at a time!! Again many thanks for your help and advice. Onwards and upwards… LT

PS.. I really feel now is the time to think about other OS’s as MS is not about listening to their customers…….. but about their DIVINE PLAN! LT

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Maybe it’s time to put to work that extra Z: partition I set apart on my system disk last year. It has been laying around empty, but the idea was : why not experiment with dual-boot some day ?

Although I’ve just read the Linux-switching thread at Makeuseof linked by Joe Friday, and I came out, as always, with mixed feelings.

There’s one point which Linux apologists don’t seem to deny : the amount of available application software bears no resemblance to the Windows universe.

Linuxers always say : we have a piece of software to do that. I don’t want one piece of software. I want ten of them, hundreds of them to do the same thing, so I can chose, experiment, find what suits me best and keep abreast of new ideas.

Linuxers always say : oooh ! but we have hundreds of “distros”, you can pick your own. I don’t care about “distros”. What gets the job done is application software.

Right now, I deliberately starve myself of a large part of the current digital innovation, because I refuse the trade-in between new services and privacy that comes with the cloud.

With Linux, you can easily browse the Web. Granted. How good is that if you lose to the cloud the privacy you didn’t want to abandon to Microsoft ?

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Clairvaux…… I’m sort of in the same boat as you are when wondering about apps/programmes whatever with Linux. But I believe that one can with a plugin called Wine.. adapt/install software to use in a Linux distro…. I’m in the middle of trying out Mint Cinnamon…. and will keep you posted if you like.
Basically I was wanting a particular graphics programme and found a link to how to for PS…. so think it would be similar for PSPX8 that I really want to use. But like yourself I’m not too keen on the cloud and all it generates….. and would want to keep things firmly locked up in my own computer.
I’m trying all this out with VirtualBox by Oracle….. even tho’ there is a VM included in Win7. before I go ahead with dual boot.
In case you’d like to follow up here’s the link
for that PS install: http://www.webupd8.org/2011/01/how-to-install-photoshop-cs4-in-ubuntu.html LT

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@Clairvaux;

“With Linux, you can easily browse the Web. Granted. How good is that if you lose to the cloud the privacy you didn’t want to abandon to Microsoft?”

I wasn’t aware Linux forces one into the cloud, ala Chrome.

I don’t want that either.

Please elucidate.

JF

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@Bill C. I read your post the other day and thought about a laptop that had developed a major problem shortly after a Windows Update session. It seemed as if the video was causing a hard BSOD very soon after the Windows desktop appeared. I put it off to the side for a couple months but recently tried restoring the laptop to an earlier image. Now I could see the video problem developing even before the Windows logon screen appeared, followed almost immediately by a BSOD. Safe mode’s VGA, however, had no problem at all. So now I thought maybe it was because I had been doing a jury-rig of the CMOS battery, digging under the keyboard after dismantling parts of the laptop; did I jiggle the video card loose perhaps? Off to the side went the laptop again because I needed to concentrate on preventing Windows10 from invading my other computers.

That’s when I saw your post about rescuing your wife’s Vista laptop. Hmmm. Maybe I ought to try that. What did I have to lose? I’ve got a bunch of different Linux distros on DVDs that I had been experimenting with, why not just run one and see what happens.

Well, it worked!!! No video problems at all. In fact, I wound up clobbering the Windows partition altogether and installed Linux Mint Cinnamon in its place. Thanks to you, Bill C, this very nice laptop has been saved from the scrap heap and I’m one more step away from Microsnot, heading toward Linux.

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@Lizzytish, instead of trying to get PhotoShop to run in Linux, why not try the *free* “gimp” program?

As far as finding Linux replacements for other Windows software, do a search for “Windows software Linux equivalent”. Here’s one site that pops up …

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

You do, however, have to be aware of how up-to-date these sites are (or aren’t).

I am also just starting with Mint Cinnamon. Check out this page …

10 things to do first in Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/mint-cinnamon-first

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I suppose the relative quiet here on this issue is because everybody is either too stunned to say anything anymore, or so numbed out by the constant stream of similar stories that have accompanied Win 10 from its introduction that by now the only reaction to it all is to run and hide even as far as *nix.
Wait a minute! Who’s system is it?! I pick, choose, and pay for the hardware on my PC, I pay for the software that runs on it, I choose and pay for the applications that help me to get my job done. This has been the premise of an open PC platform that the world was “sold” to. And now that promise is being undermined, or is outright being broken by one of the entities that made it… the Windows side of the Wintel equation. The implied promise of compatible platform of hardware and software was that we as consumers are free to choose how we configure and use *our* PCs. Early on in the “PC revolution” the explicit promise was that the computers on our desktops were ours, and that it was us, and not some white fracked IT priests in remote Data Centers, in control how and when we could use it. And now Microsoft is telling us that it’s not us, but they are who determine when and what downloads and runs on our hardware?

I could see how some degree of that could be justified. For example, Microsoft saying “we give you our software for free in exchange for you giving use some information which we could then monetize”. This is the kind of bargain we make with Google. But the difference here is that we knew from the start what that bargain was with Google. Microsoft, on the other hand, is forcing us into a much more extensive trade-off (even Google has not gone as far as installing apps on its platform to “enhance our experience” on it) after the fact of having us already on board on their platform under a different “deal”.

Maybe, but how will Microsoft be able to make the same argument to someone who has payed for the OS?

Switching to a different computing platform in response to this state of affairs is to acquiesce to what ultimately is Microsoft’s bait&switch. It’s been an about face so fundamental that there “should be a law” against it. Who’s system is sitting on your desktop? Yours, or theirs?

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+1

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Nobody does things by forcing people nowadays.

Bleeding-edge applications are in the cloud, which by itself is a far more radical threat to privacy that Windows’ antics.

So what’s the point of having a privacy-friendly operating system, if a) you don’t have the tons of legacy, boring XP-style applications Windows has, b) you need to go to the cloud to take advantage of software innovations… exactly like under Windows ?

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+1

Exactly: Bait and Switch.

M$FT apparently regards stubborn Win7/8.1 users as obstacles to the new business plan.

Simply Collateral Damage of the Win10 juggernaut.

“…most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution.” A. Huxley Brave New World

Time for a “soma holiday”?

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Well, so far, Win10 adoption is only at 20%.

That’s a sizable chunk, but far from overwhelming. XP is still at 10%.

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Need more Win10 upgrades, need more speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXh1tW16V-8

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So, is it quite safe now to say that at least one bit of the encrypted information that goes to MS servers about user habits, is what policies they disable and such?

If the above statement is true, then we should expect many more actions like this one in the near future. Even more so now that the free “everyone rush and get one copy”, “oh we have windows start menu back”, “get it even if you don’t want it” luring period is over.

There’s two ways of forcing MS to change this attitude. Law (which costs a lot and not everyone has access to it) and non-adoption.

I will go with the second one until no one on this planet writes a single bit of code for Win7.

My computer will be “vulnerable” you say? I prefer that a million times, than giving away all my personal information to a company that can take whatever actions they like based on that info they gather, without my consent.

Hopefully until then, someone really smart will see the momentum building, and will come up with a great idea that will give us a real alternative.

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Microsoft collects a great deal of “telemetry” (read: snooping) about all Win7, 8.1 and 10 machines. We have some details about the Win10 data, but very little about anything else.

Once upon a time, turning off the Customer Experience Improvement Program would shut off the data collection. Now, that doesn’t seem likely.

Put simply: We don’t know, and Microsoft isn’t saying.

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So, Microsoft can fill up a device’s storage until there’s no room left for user data, at their whim? And with whatever sort of spyware they want to foist upon us? Is that what their latest bid for the World’s Worst Consumer Company is all about? Not to mention the damages they’ve already done to small businesses.

Does losing one or two high-profile lawsuits only make Microsoft double-down and behave even worse?

So, it appears that not only does Microsoft not want consumer business. Now they don’t even want small to medium sized businesses’ business.

I seriously doubt that you can’t use well-known methods to remove the new unwanted Store Apps as they arrive. And the tips and ads on the Lock Scrreen can be opted-out with a setting or two.

Even built-in MS Store Apps can be removed as late as Version 1511. Is this ability also disabled in the Anniversary Update?

CCleaner (and maybe other PC cleanup programs) can remove ANY MS Store App completely and permanently as of Version 1511. Will these utilities no longer be able to remove the PUPs from the MS Store as it arrives? (Or are they PUAs — Potentially Unwanted Apps?)

And third-party anti-spyware programs — will they be able to identify MS’s own Apps as adware or PUPs?

It’s getting to be like cleaning up the browser and the storage media — clean the MS Store every week or so and (so far) everything will be alright.

At least for now…

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I don’t know what all this talk about Linux forcing you into the Cloud is all about.

I run Ubuntu 16.04 on a laptop without ANY Cloud-dependent Apps.

I have a photo editor (in fact, several), several video players, screen capture in pictures and sound and video, EMail (yes, this is Cloud dependent), local storage and backups of data and system, documents and financial documents creation, editing and storage.

I have PDF editing, creation, re-paging, signing and conversions. All for free (try that in Windows or Mac!).

None of the new Snaps on my system, but lots of small utilities and AppIndicators. Scripts and yes, a few Command-Line programs I prefer over GUI counterparts.

So what’s all this here about Linux being Cloud dependent?

ChromeOS is Cloud dependent, but it’s barely Linux. And Android is the same — Linux in origins only.

Oh, and did I mention I don’t use a touchscreen display?

(Sorry about the duplication of this comment. My email address came out as a typo twice.)

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

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Re;

@rc primak

Your post
https://www.askwoody.com/2016/details-about-the-win10-pro-disappearing-group-policies/comment-page-2/#comment-94460

Thanks rc for that info. I am about to install Ubuntu 16-04 LTS.

I was surprised at the cloud assertion also.

“We don’t need no stinking cloud”.

Apologies to Alfonso Bedoya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdZKCh6RsU

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Hi folks, first time I’ve ever made a post anywhere… I have 2 things to share, so here goes:

1st: Regards Linux… when Win8 came out, it was a wakeup call for me. So I started looking around. I’ve spent 3 years & dualbooted using a separate HDD for each OS (setting one as primary boot & interrupting with F12 to select the other). This may sound tiresome, but I found it’s better than the Win bootloader being lost if you dualboot on one HDD & decide to stick with Windows.

I have settled on LinuxMint 18 Cinnamon 64-bit.

One important thing I learned was that by default Mint doesn’t include recommended packages when you install from Software Manager… I installed Asunder (as I had on Ubuntu & others) but I couldn’t select FLAC as it was a missing codec. Looking into it I found it’s just a script in a text file that says not to. Various sites suggest ways around it, but I prefer just flipping the script to the opposite value (akin to flipping a reg key value from 0 to 1 etc). I’m very cautious & learning as I go, I have written a walk-thru guide for relatives & friends to help them skip thru the stumbling blocks I’ve been thru so they can hit the ground running. I’ll paste it below…

Note: I always recommend having only the target HDD & optical drive connected to motherboard so they can’t install on the wrong HDD. Then reconnect the other HDDs when completely finished etc. Here’s the guide:

Installing LinuxMint Cinnamon 18 64-bit

Boot to DVD, when Desktop loads make sure internet is connected & NumLock is On.

Double-click Install Linux Mint icon, check Third Party box, don’t select automatic log-in.

Once completed, DVD will eject, remove & close tray, then hit Enter.

Once restarted, uncheck show at startup in the welcome screen & close it. Check NumLock still On.

Open File Manager (Files), click on Edit > Preferences > Behaviour, check box Click twice with a pause in between to rename items.

To match the other folders, set Downloads folder View > Arrange Items > By Name & not in Reverse Order.

Click on the shield next to the Time at bottom right of screen, it should open the update utility, select Don’t break my computer!, if it asks about local mirrors say Yes & set both Sarah & Xenial to the desired local mirrors as they are closer & faster.
Click on the Update the cache button, & then get all available updates.

Open Terminal, copy & paste the following:

sudo sed -i ‘s/false/true/g’ /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00recommends

Enter, then type your password, then Enter again. Now Mint can install recommended packages.

Restart, open Software Manager, click on Fonts icon, double-click on ttf-mscorefonts-installer & install.

Then use the search box (top right) to find & install the following:

evolution (Outlook equivalent)
skype
asunder (CD ripper)
scribus (Publisher equivalent)
fbreader (eBook reader)
goldendict (Dictionary)
gnucash (Business Accounting)
homebank (Personal Accounting)
openshot (Video Editor)
audacity (Audio Editor)
darktable (Lightroom equivalent)
inkscape (Vector Graphics Editor)
handbrake (Video Transcoder)
uget (Download Manager)

Then restart PC, open Preferred Applications & set your preferred email client.

I also add Google’s Chrome browser (not Chromium) as my preferred web browser.

Launch Firefox, go to: http://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html?platform=linux

Select & install the 64bit.deb (for Debian/Ubuntu).

Restart PC, launch Google Chrome, make default browser, wait to load & then close, wait then open it again (trust me, it’s better this way!).

Now go into Google Chrome settings & set it to Show Home button & to Use system title bars &
borders.

Configure other Apps. as desired, like LibreOffice default saving as M$ Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

HP printers are plug-n-play via USB (drivers pre-installed & auto setup when turned on)

Open Firewall Configuration & turn it on

Hope sharing this helps..?

2nd: Regards Deactivation of MS licences… I can confirm this does happen.

On a dualboot Win7 & Mint18 desktop, disabling the network adaptor within Windows (so no need to unplug LAN or turn off modem) to boot Win7 keeping it offline & booting Mint18 online.
Seemed to make sense to me, well… the following day I booted Win7, opened an Office 2007 program & got an activation popup, hardware change need to reactivate etc, I hit cancel & most buttons in ribbon are greyed out… closing the program, re-enabling the network adaptor allowing Win7 online & then re-opening it & all’s well.
There’s no problem when modem is off or LAN unplugged (so far anyway?)… only when network adaptor is disabled.

Hope this info is useful..?

G

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Thanks Greynad for taking the time to give the low-down on how to get going with Linux – I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon yesterday and have been looking around and your guide is going to be sooooooo useful
to say the least. Last night was trying to sort the share files bit with Win7 and although not complete yet….. have learnt a bit about the OS. Some of the terminology ie. Control Panel = Terminal (in Linux)
and where you can find it! lol…….. all a new ball game….. but fun. Basically was trying to get to files on Win7 to see if any of my fav. programmes in Download.. (.exe) would work. One thing at a time. But must say do like Mint ……. the installation was seamless… it connected up with the wifi and internet without me having to do anything…… whereas the night before I tried out Zorin but couldn’t/wouldn’t connect with wifi….. and was driving me nuts…….. so thought to try another distro…
Also the interface is far nicer and smoother…
Must add a big thank you to those who’ve added a bit of their knowledge and experience to this saga. Not sure, but think I find the Linux forums
a bit confusing as they are prone to talking code and such…….. me I just want a dummies explanation…. and I’m fine……. .where as with the other (codes etc.) I’m not exactly out of my depth………. but feel I would rather not poke too much under the hood! Gently… gently!
Big thanks again Woody for allowing all this chat about another OS……maybe we can encourage you to venture forth and give us chapter & verse on Linux too!!! LT

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Many thanks owburp for suggesting ‘Gimp’…. I will have a look at it and see what it’s like…….. but must admit (like with Windows) I’ve been using PSP for over 15 years I guess………. and I have become so familiar with it and how it works etc.. Even PS (older version) on my machine I’ve never felt comfortable with it. Also I have a group where I send my ‘mists'(psp graphics) and would need to continue that way for them…. although png files behave the same as psp images. But there are always ways around things…… so we will see what lies ahead and go from there. The other thing is the email client. When MS first a few years ago decided to axe Outlook Express/Windows Mail those who dabbled in graphics were really sidelined and had to come up with ideas to overcome all this. Which they did and still do…. so I’m hoping that the email client I use can still be used in Linux….. fingers crossed and all that…….. many thanks for your encouragement and also the links which I’ll be visiting next! LT

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Please don’t attribute to me things I have not said. I did not say Linux was “cloud dependent”. I did not say Linux “forces you into the cloud”.

I’m very happy that you’re very happy with Linux. I still stand by what I wrote.

If anything, it’s this sort of attitude which (added to many other things) keeps many people away from Linux : it’s a cult.

We’re surrounded enough with various cults. I don’t care for another one. This is technology, for God’s sake.

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I apologize for anything I posted which makes it seem as if I am some sort of fanboi.

Linux just works for me, and I do not find that to do anything interesting or productive, that I have to connect to the Cloud in any way.

In fact, I can use Windows if needed or desired, or if that’s where I am at the time. I dual-boot Windows 10 Pro with Ubuntu Linux 16.04. I own a Windows 10 Pro tablet and use it when and where a full PC is unnecessary or impractical.

I just wanted to paint a picture of how Linux is perfectly useful without becoming Cloud dependent.

Nothing more.

In fact, I don’t know of any tablets which run pure Linux right out of the box. The last two Linux Tablet projects failed to get enough funding to go into production.

That’s where Linux is falling behind — in the mobile market.

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Guaranteed I’d never think of you as a fanboi…

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@greynad, that’s one terrific post!! You have a few items that were not mentioned in the “10 things to do first in Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon” page that I came across the other day. Was your info helpful? DARN TOOTIN’!! I’ve just spent the last couple of hours tweaking a number of things just using a couple of your tips as a starting point. I have a third laptop to install Mint Cinnamon 18 on — it’s the one that I was using to test Win10 with — and I will follow your guide in doing so (after I wipe Win10 off the drive).

As Lizzytish did, I too will add my big thanks to Woody for allowing this rather off-Windows topic to appear here.

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In re;
https://www.askwoody.com/2016/details-about-the-win10-pro-disappearing-group-policies/comment-page-2/#comment-94175

Crossover
https://www.codeweavers.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CrossOver_(software)

[Deal] Run Windows Software and Games on Linux With CrossOver 15 (66% Off)
https://itsfoss.com/deal-run-windows-software-and-games-on-linux-with-crossover-15-66-off/

“What gets the job done is application software.”

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“Microsoft is very good at spreading its own fear, uncertainty, and doubt.”

Not nearly as good as you.

This doesn’t apply to users.

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I’m not sure I understand. The lack of Group Policy settings applies to Pro users who are savvy enough to run GPEdit.

See, i.a., https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/4wgsov (warning: highly NSFW)

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Decker’s post: “TIP: On all Windows desktop editions, users can directly enable and disable Windows 10 tips, tricks, and suggestions and Windows Store suggestions.”

No GPO required.

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Yes, those are the same settings we’ve had since Win10 RTM – the settings disable ads on the lock screen (Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, turn “Get run facts, tips and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen” off), and ads on the Start menu (Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions, then slide Off “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows” or “Show me tips about Windows”).

They don’t disable, e.g., advertising tiles for Candy Crush Soda Saga. Details in my article http://www.infoworld.com/article/3101947/microsoft-windows/more-forced-advertising-creeps-into-windows-10-pro.html

(I should mention that I still don’t have details on what, precisely, the Spotlight setting will enable.)

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Fun facts, not run facts. (What were you snorting before writing that one?)

Why do you think “Windows Store suggestions” would not include Candy Crush Soda Saga?

All advertising can be turned off by the user. What’s forced about that?

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“Here’s the caveat many people seem to be missing: Individual end users of the Anniversary Update of Windows 10 Pro are still be able to shut off these apps and settings if they choose by changing the settings on their own machines, as far as I can tell. I just did this myself on the Windows 10 Anniversary build 14393 (RTM) that I am running on a couple of devices.”

http://www.zdnet.com/article/administrators-can-no-longer-shut-off-certain-apps-content-with-windows-10-pro-anniversary-update/

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I saw that from Mary Jo – but I can’t find the setting in 1607 that turns off the crap app tiles. See https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/23/seeing-extra-apps-turn-them-off/ .

Mary Jo was not clear on which setting(s) she used, whether the crap app tiles were turned off – and whether Microsoft had confirmed that they won’t be stuck on her machine, in the future. As noted in http://www.infoworld.com/article/3101947/microsoft-windows/more-forced-advertising-creeps-into-windows-10-pro.html

The apps aren’t installed when you upgrade. They’re installed in separate “consumer experience” steps, dribbled out slowly, under complete control by Microsoft.

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OOOOOPS. Typo. You got me.

To me, “Windows Store Suggestions” would be Start menu entries for “Suggested apps”.

See, for example, the TechNet quote “For example, users are able to select personal photos for the lock screen as opposed to the images provided by Microsoft, or turn off tips, tricks, or suggestions as they use Windows.” That doesn’t seem to include crap tile apps.

The documentation on all of this is clear as mud.

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So I ran an experiment. My current clean-as-can-be fresh installed Win10 Pro machine has these tiles on the Start menu: MS Solitaire, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Pandora, Asphalt 8, Age of Empires Castle Siege, FarmVille 2, Minecraft, Twitter, and Get Office. I clicked on Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions, turned off “Get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows.” None of the tiles went away. Rebooted. All of the tiles are still there.

I have no idea what Mary Jo did, or what Decker was promising when she said, “On all Windows desktop editions, users can directly enable and disable Windows 10 tips, tricks, and suggestions and Windows Store suggestions. For example, users are able to select personal photos for the lock screen as opposed to the images provided by Microsoft, or turn off tips, tricks, or suggestions as they use Windows.”

I don’t see any setting that will turn off the crap tiles. There used to be a setting in GPEdit to turn them off, but in the Anniversary Update, it doesn’t work with Pro.

If I’m wrong, I’d sure like to see a pointer to what’s right!

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This page shows a black screen on Firefox and white screen on IE. I experimented with a few settings and discovered I had to turn off Anti-Banner in Kaspersky. I can view other infoworld articles ok.

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Interesting!

Oh, I just loooooooove ad blockers.

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ok woody here we go…you want to get rid of crap tiles here’s how to do it…download w10privacy in english…it is a german program…it will not only disable spying features but will also uninstall most of the crap tiles…not just turn them off…next download “destroy windows spying” and proceed to destroy and uninstall tiles etc…this takes out a couple of others as well…lastly download “ccleaner”and go to the uninstaller page on its interface and uninstall any left over existing win 10 crap tiles etc. …it will even uninstall the windows store…ive successfully done this now not only with 1511 but also with new au edition 1607 on 20 different computers now with NO problems and have a very speedy responsive windows 10 experience with none of the crap…everyone who ive done this for is also well pleased…enjoy

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Okay, but I was hoping to do this all with the Win10 interface.

Care to post some links?

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microsoft is going to make doing so with its interface increasingly more difficult…it is after all trying to drum up more revenue…i was under no illusions about win 10 being “free”…no such a thing as a free ride or free lunch…thats why i searched for easy to implement solutions to what i know is going to be a long term problem with this form of advertising…microsoft will make it more difficult to defeat and the third party softwares will continue to make better mouse traps…thanks for reading…robb

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Here are the links as I find them:

http://www.winprivacy.de/english-home/

http://dws.wzor.net/

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

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Thanks!

I know Ccleaner, although I don’t use it.

It looks like DWS was last updated eight months ago. It’s on WZor’s Russian site. It’s accompanied by what claims to be the source code.

It looks like W10Privacy is bundled with a PDF converter, and has been flagged (perhaps incorrectly) as a virus.

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One additional caveat I have found as I played with these: Whereas W10Privacy gives you control of what and whether you make changes, DWS just dives in and starts changing things, including adding all sorts of entries to Windows Firewall. There is no warning to create a restore point before you start or any other kind of warning. If you try it out, make sure you create a restore point first!

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Why not just using PowerShell as documented officially?

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+4thOn3rd Very well stated. “Who’s system is it?” That’s what this is all about, and it’s too huge to ignore. We live in sci-fi world now, and the reality of it is that things are going to turn out bad if we let our computers be remote controlled.

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[I, Woody, wanted to vouch here for “b”‘s intelligence, knowledge, experience and sincerity. I just think, on the topic of crapapp tiles, Microsoft has hoodwinked him. ]

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