Replies

Anonymous wrote:

As a maintainer, my favorite “new” feature is the monthly cumulative update.

But even that is almost not true any more when the updates are starting to blow out into the 4GB+ range because of Microsoft’s insistence to bake things like Copilot into the OS, rather than let people add it via the Store IF they want it. (And yes, fellow IT admin here.)

No matter where you go, there you are.

Microsoft asks me far too frequently for my feedback during my daily IT admin work. And I always tell them just what I think. If they don’t like the answer, it’s not my fault, they asked.

No matter where you go, there you are.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

Or, if you download the ISO, you can use Rufus to create a bootable image on a USB stick, and Rufus gives you the option to turn off a lot of options during install, such as the online account, automatically declines privacy options, TPM requirements, etc.

No matter where you go, there you are.

2 users thanked author for this post.

PL1, Mr. Austin

Geo wrote:

I use the free  Google ” Results About You.”   It cleans some of it up.                                      https://myactivity.google.com/results-about-you

Yes, that was the one I used, but apparently it doesn’t work for ingested groups like this.

No matter where you go, there you are.

In the early pre-dawn days of the Internet (before it was called that) I was a member of a Usenet discussion group rec.arts.***

Of course, in those days, we didn’t have to worry too much about leaving your personal information out there, or about doxing. So way back when, my signature included my physical street address.

Now, 30+ years later, I ran a Google privacy check and discovered that the full archive of those rec.arts.* groups has been ingested into Google Groups, and there, all these decades later, is my personal address. Now, it turns out, this was my teenage to college home, and these days I have, after some globetrotting and living overseas, returned to living back in the same address from all those years ago after my mother retired to aged care.

Naturally, in today’s environment of datamining etc, that is not ideal. But, while Google was quite happy to point out to me that my personally identifiable information is out there ON ONE OF ITS MANAGED SERVICES, they were also unwilling to scrub my address from those entries. Nice one. <sigh> The internet never forgets…

No matter where you go, there you are.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Lars220, Steve, Still Anonymous

The same thing applies to the Microsoft Purview Extension, which is going to be quite a problem for corporate users, as this is part of the DLP policies in our office. When that stops working in Chrome and Edge, it’s a problem.

At home I use Firefox, but at work, we use Chrome and Edge.

No matter where you go, there you are.

I used to use Bitdefender’s built-in Password wallet (stored locally and encrypted), but they discontinued it in favour or a separate Password Manager that required an extra subscription fee, AND it was sync’d to the cloud. As this was a downgrade in functionality from what I paid for via my included security suite, I switched to an offline alternative.

Now, I use a separate local password manager that does not sync to the cloud (as once one of those is hacked, like Lastpass, you’re screwed), and I use very complex passwords generated randomly (I use Gibson Research’s password generator page https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm).

No matter where you go, there you are.

I use a service-neutral device to bundle all my services (Australia’s free-to-air TV channels all have online streaming options that are free to use), so I can just search for the show on my Google Chromecast, and it’ll fire up the show based on which TV network’s streaming service has it. I still have an antenna for sometimes going to live TV (latest news, etc), but I’m increasingly unsubscribing the paid for streaming services, as they ramp up the cost. Just not worth it.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Zathras wrote:

PerthMike wrote:

I’ve just pushed a few of these blocks out through GPO registry items, as all our corporate users were getting them.

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Notifications\ Settings\Windows.SystemToast.Suggested\Enabled = 0 (DWORD)

Put that in a Group policy wizard for users, and it blocks these “Suggestions”…

I similarly blocked Backup notifications (no need for users to worry about backups on the domain).

If only Microsoft made these easily available via ADMX definitions but nooooooo.

Now, if only Google didn’t pull these same Microsoft tactics by recently silently rolling out Chrome apps onto all our desktops (Gmail, Google Drive, Youtube, etc.). Might want to check your Control Panel/Programs list to see what got silently installed on your PC recently.

Turning the suggested notifications off in ‘Notifications & Actions -> Get notifications from these senders’ does the same thing.  It sets or takes away that registry entry.

I’m curious, on a machine that doesn’t have the Suggested entry yet, if setting that key will block the notifications when it gets installed.  Or will Microsoft just remove the set key so the suggested notifications will come thru.

Not sure, I’ve resorted to using Group Policy on our domain to force-set these registry keys, so Microsoft CAN’T reset them.

No matter where you go, there you are.

I’ve just pushed a few of these blocks out through GPO registry items, as all our corporate users were getting them.

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Notifications\ Settings\Windows.SystemToast.Suggested\Enabled = 0 (DWORD)

Put that in a Group policy wizard for users, and it blocks these “Suggestions”…

I similarly blocked Backup notifications (no need for users to worry about backups on the domain).

If only Microsoft made these easily available via ADMX definitions but nooooooo.

Now, if only Google didn’t pull these same Microsoft tactics by recently silently rolling out Chrome apps onto all our desktops (Gmail, Google Drive, Youtube, etc.). Might want to check your Control Panel/Programs list to see what got silently installed on your PC recently.

No matter where you go, there you are.

2 users thanked author for this post.

WUBRINY, windbg

You Americans are so weird with your obsession of that stuff.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Thankfully here in Australia, the government finally got off its butt and has started outright banning the damn things. Of course, this was only after lots of kids got hooked on them…

So now you can only get them if you get a prescription from your GP as a quit smoking aid. Shops selling them will be prosecuted, as will people importing them.

“Under Australian law, it is illegal to buy, possess or use liquid nicotine for vaping without a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner.”

 

No matter where you go, there you are.

You can also STILL activate Windows 10 (Pro) directly with your old Windows 7 key. Recently had to rebuild my OS due to some corruption, and Windows 10 22H2 still directly accepted the W7 key. Probably because this motherboard used to run Windows 7 until a couple of years ago, but it’s nice to know I didn’t have to rebuild 7 first and then upgrade to W10.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Desktop for life, with a big screen (or two, when I need it). I have my main desktop PC for my limited gaming and flight simming, but mostly to give my eyes more ease when browsing, etc. I also prefer a big keyboard and trackball. Secondly, I have a separate low-power mini PC for 24-hour usage purposes, and an older Dell desktop as a HTPC.

My work-supplied device is a Dell notebook, so I can work from home when it’s called for, but for all my personal needs, the bigger the screen and box, the better.

Not happy where Windows is heading, currently running W10 22H2, and I fervently hope Windows 12 appears before 10 expires, and hopefully it overcomes all the problems with W11. Otherwise, like I did for Windows 7, I’ll stick with that OS past its Use By date, simply because Windows 11 is just not acceptable.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Wow, that Server 2016 patch is a full cumulative update, a massive 1.5GB file.

No matter where you go, there you are.