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Thanks to all of you for helping me to get the GWX Control Panel. Boy, is it simple to use and the darn Windows 10 Icon on the Task Bar is finally GONE!!! I have upgraded twice to Win 10 and hated it, both times. The first time was not to long, after Win 10 became available. The 2nd time was about 2 to 3 months later and I still, did NOT like Win 10. I am very happy with my Win 7 Pro 64Bit operating system. As I am writing this, I just got my notice that there is a Windows Update ready. I haven’t had that notice in weeks. So, GWX CP must be working. :^_^:

I had failed updates with both the Home version and the Pro version. The only reason you’re less likely to hear problems about the Pro version is because fewer people use it.

Indeed, as soon as ‘updates/ugrades/service releases’ result in the OS no longer running the same software the original release could, or that software becoming ‘incompatible’, it’s no longer the same OS, regardless of what it’s called. Expect to see a whole raft of software that runs today becoming ‘incompatible’ over the next 4-5years, including currently-supported versions of MS Office.

I agree with you. I also, am very concern about those who have limited downloads available. Now, the Torrent method may be the best for them, but, I personally don’t like the idea of sharing my Broadband with strangers. I have only used the Torrent method a couple of times and didn’t like it.

I may be wrong, but, in all of my readings about “bad” installations of Win 10 – It seems as though, it happens to the Home versions of previous Windows. The Pro versions, don’t seem to have much problems, at all, in the upgrading process. Yes, there will be an issue, usually with component drivers, but overall, the upgrade goes pretty well. It is also, my understanding that Win 10 will be the “last” OS from Microsoft. Of course, in 10 years Win 10 will not be the same OS, as it is now. Win 10 has been planned to be an ongoing OS, with upgrades all the time. This is not different than Chrome Browser, always being called Chrome Browser! Yet, there are earlier and later versions of Chrome Browser. Firefox has done the same thing. Facebook doesn’t have a named upgrade, either. Maybe, it is time, to stop numbering or naming the upgrades to Windows.

Windows in the past, has made some pretty dumb moves, in the OS. I am thinking of Win Millennium, then the wonderful Vista and who can forget Win 8. I read one reason MS decided on Windows be an ongoing OS, due to component developers being able to upgrade their products and not have as many problems with the OS, as they have had in the past. I don’t know if, this is true or not, but, it does seem logical.

I am still using Win 7 Pro. I have upgraded to Win 10 twice now and have been completely dissatisfied. I feel that Win 10 is NOT ready for prime time, yet. I personally feel, all of this FREE upgrade, for a year, is to use as many “Beta Testers” to get Win 10, up to snuff! In fact, MS is still using First Users in the new updates, before they are released to the public. So, Win 10 is and will be an ongoing process. One of my biggest concerns, is the usage of Torrent type method of updating everyone! This is not good, in my book, especially, for the limited internet users!!! This can be an expensive process for them, with every update.

Bob, it sounds like you may have done a clean install, which would do what you describe. Can you do a restore?

Bob, is right. I simply upgraded to Win 10 and lost all of my programs and Casual Games!!! It was not a Clean Install, either. However, I did Go Back to Win 7 Pro, without any real issues, becaus I back up Win 7 pro. Except, I really did lose ALL of my Casual Games and had to re-install them. I am very savvy, when it comes to computers.

I will probably re-install Win 10, but, several months in the future, when most of the “bugs” have been worked out and corrected. This always happens with a new Windows Operating System, when Windows upgrades.

I haven’t had any problems with Outlook 2013/2015 crashing, when a Windows Secret email is downloading to my PC. I just had, other issues with Outlook 2013/2015. I am now, using Thunderbird, which is similar to Outlook, without the bloat.

Great thread! I would just like to give my input, about Thunderbird. I too, got tired of Outlook, which I got with MS Office 2013. My main complaint, was when I would click on a link, in an email … It seems as though, Outlook was going through IE, then to my default browser, Chrome. What made me suspect, this action, the amount of IE Temporary Files, being more than Chrome.

I started looking around, tried Pegasus, didn’t like it. Knew about Thunderbird and simply thought, I would give it a try. It was easy to install and I could have selected Importing my Outlook Address Book, but, I really didn’t have any. My email is mainly used for, Medical, Political and Computer information. Why? Email has been replaced by Social Media! It took a little bit, for the learning curve. I feel quite comfortable with Thunderbird, now, even though, I still have a lot more to learn.

To clarify one point, Thunderbird has always been an Open Source program. The talk of Thunderbird, not being improved by Mozilla Open Source Group, is because Thunderbird is extremely stable. I like the similarities of Thunderbird to Outlook. It looks like another Open Source Group is willing to take on Thunderbird, to continually improve the program.

I too, like that my email is downloaded to my PC and I have limited my email server, to only keep the emails for 14 days. Now, that may seem like quite a bit of time, but, have you ever had your PC crash??? It’s nice to be able to retrieve some of your emails. 14 days, gives you enough time, to take care of the PC crash and reinstall the OS and programs, you need.

One of my biggest complaints about Outlook was — How long it took, to open up a link in my Chrome Browser — That is no longer a problem, with Thunderbird. I also, LOVE the Junk Button! Thunderbird is really learning what I want and what I consider JUNK. Thunderbird also, has a Pop-Up notice, when new email comes in. For some, that can be annoying, but, I find it useful. I can see what is coming in and if, I really, need to stop what I am doing, to get an important email. I am quite impressed with the Pop-Up Notice for email — It doesn’t just tell you that there is new email — The notice, gives you the “title” and author, of said emails.

Try this … You stated that you just re-installed Windows 7, a few weeks ago. Windows has a bad habit of setting EVERYTHING to Default settings!!! As others have told you, there are lots of places to check, to get Windows 7, back to your personal settings.

Go to Power Options, in the Control Panel. Look at the left side of the screen, it is there that you will see the settings for “Choose when to turn off the display” and “Change when the computer sleeps.” Set both of those to Never. Then you need to check under Personalization … At the bottom right of your screen, you will see Screensaver, click on that to make sure at the settings are not on Blank, with 20 minutes as the time setting.

It is not uncommon for the Screensaver setting, to turn your Monitor into a blank screen, after 20 mins. Also, please do check out what your Power Plan settings are at … I have found that 20 mins., seems to be a common issue with Windows XP and Windows 7. If, you are using an older Off Lease computer, like I am, I have a Dell Optiplex 960, running Windows 7 Pro 64Bit. I always, MUST check out my BIOS settings, to make sure that the BIOS power settings are NOT conflicting with my Windows 7 Pro settings. Why, I told you that … It is normal for Off Lease computers, to be working like an office computer, where the BIOS settings will turn off the Monitor or even the computer, when nothing is being used. Offices want to save, everywhere they can. You may have not purchased an Off Lease computer, but, none the less, you may have purchased a computer that is meant for the Office. They are different.

Now, should you have built your own computer, I would question the Display or Graphic Card. Graphic cards can go out, slowly, by simply doing crazy things. No different, then when you need to replace the CMOS battery, when your computer will not keep time. Yes, I have built my own computers, in the past, in fact, I have built 12 of them for Hubby, family, friends and me. I do not pretend to be an expert, but, I really am a geek, at heart. I am also, self-taught and 71 years old, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother. I thank the stars daily, that I love my computer, because it keeps me young and mentally alert.

I hope that I have helped you and that your problem is finally resolved. :D:

bodger99 – I also, use Windows XP SP3 and love it. I too, have had this issue of strange things, not of my settings or choosing, change when I boot up. It wasn’t just my Desktop settings, but, things like ‘double click’ to open a page, when I have used ‘single click’ for opening pages, since I was a Windows 98SE user. Then, I began to notice, when I would do a Windows Update, it was then, that I would have ‘troubles’. Not bad ones, just very, very annoying ones!

I got thinking about the types of Updates and the one common Update, that was consistent, was the Windows Malware Software Removal Tool. I began to wonder, why on Earth would I really NEED to use this tool, when I had several already, at my disposal? I became suspicious, that the Malware Software Removal Update, was my problem. Looking for malware software, involves checking the Registry. All you have to do, is change one number in a Registry string and it affects many things. Plus, how many times has a Windows Warning popped up, saying that this program, does NOT have a ‘valid certificate’ or something similar? Doesn’t mean that the program isn’t safe or secure, but, for some reason it didn’t get or renew the Windows Certificate. Also, look how long it takes Windows to send out Update Patches, for their massive coded software???!!!

Bottom line, I do NOT update any of the Malware Software Removal Tools, for the month or anything. Since, I stopped updating the Tools, I haven’t had any annoying issues, with my computer. Not sure, if, that will help, but, I do know it has helped me, greatly.

Ray,

Win XP is a ‘Plug N Play” operating system, meaning that XP actively hunts for devices within your computer & wants to install the drivers to those devices when installing. A lot of the time, XP is wrong in it’s selection of drivers, ok? But, XP still installs these drivers, therefore conflicts arise & cause complete havoc with your computer, like wanting to go into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is the computer’s way of telling you something is wrong & it protects itself, so you can fix it. Just a reminder, when doing troubleshooting in Safe Mode, only the most basic of computer components will work. CD ROMS or DVD ROMS will NOT work in Safe Mode.

I believe what is happening now, is that your Device Manager is ‘overloaded’ with an excessive amount of devices listed & they are ‘conflicting’ with each other. One question, did you install the device drivers for your Dell? As I stated earlier, WinXP does tend to ‘find’ it’s own solutions to device drivers & sometimes XP is wrong, ok? Sounds strange, but installing a new HD & your OS is basically the same, as building your own computer from scratch. One of the most important points, when installing an OS from scratch, is to remember after the install, to make sure that all of the devices on your computer have their own drivers installed. Dell has a “Recovery CD”, if you still have that CD find the ‘drivers’ & install them. If, you did use your Recovery CD, XP still tries to find ‘certified drivers’ & will list them in Device Manager. Believe me, this can be frustrating getting this issue resolved. Been there, done that. But, when you learn how to troubleshoot this issue, it honestly is well worth it.

If, you didn’t use the Dell Recovery CD, then go to the Dell website, type in your Service Tag Number & download all of the device drivers for your computer model. If, possible download drivers onto floppy disks, if the amount is less than 1.4MB. I know…Floppy Disks???!!! This old standby come in mighty handy when trying to troubleshoot in Safe Mode, since only the Floppy Disk works in Safe Mode, ok? If, you don’t have any old Floppy Disks around or the size of the download is too large, than put them on a CD, so you can install the drivers meant for your computer. Trust me, it can be done, I have repaired Dells for family & friends, & that is the first place I go for device drivers, since most have lost their Dell Recovery CD. You can also find out what kind of memory you will need to try & upgrade it. You might not be able to upgrade your memory, many times older motherboards have memory limits. So, if you want to know for sure, check that out at Dell’s website.

If, you have never ‘messed’ with Device Manager, it can be scary. However, in my experience “Nothing ventured, Nothing gained.” My feeling is, so you screwed up, you can always re-format your HD & start from scratch. In all honesty, that is how I learned to troubleshoot Windows Operating Systems installs. I can’t tell you how many times, I installed & re-formatted my HD with Win 95, but it was this frustration that taught me how to troubleshoot installing operating systems. Yes, Win XP is more complicated than win 95, but basic installation troubleshooting is very similar. It was Win 95 that taught me well.

Look at your Device Manager in Safe Mode. Check all of the categories by clicking on the + sign. When you see a whole list of devices, especially those that look really strange to you, remove them. Sometimes, you have to remove every device listed in the category, to make headway. Especially look at Network Adapters, Display Adapters, Sound, video & game controllers & Monitors. System Devices also, is a culprit, but that is a really tough one to correct, unless you have ‘fixed’ the other categories.

Not sure, if I have helped you, but I really do think this is what is happening to your computer, at this point in time.

Mickey aka MmeMoxie