Windows 11 becomes increasingly more annoying with Recall stuff baked into Finder. I suppose the extended support of NT 6.4 kernel (Windows 10 derivatives) should be enough time to fully transition to Linux, outside of some production stuff like Adobe.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2024-10-14, 03:30:

outside of some production stuff like Adobe.

I got Photoshop CC 2021 to run on wine a few months ago, which is a pretty recent version that can open most .psd files. Maybe wine will improve more in the near future and we can use modern releases of that, too.

Adobe has a lot more than Photoshop. Anyway, Windows 10 has support until 2027 at least and probably even more on server branch.

I might switch to Linux by the time Windows 10 gets too old and unsupported for desktop use.

Nothing about Windows 11 looks appealing to me and I kept using Windows 7 well into the Windows 10 era before jumping in.

As I have a lot of different computers and use cases the OSes are a mixed bag for me:
- my main rig is capable of Windows 11 but still running on 10 and the increased telemetry pushes me rather to Linux. I actually have a Gentoo already on a second disk. It's more work then the Debian I play around with as well, but I get my feet wet for the retro machines. Future Windows will only be running in VMs, but only if absolutely needed.
- My wifes E3-1275 v2 runs still strong on Windows 10, but will probably switch to Debian when the support ends
- My server project with 2 x X5675 and 192 GB RAM is already on Debian, but will be switching to Gentoo and be the compiler station for the retro machines I switch to Gentoo.
- My dual P III machines are partially on Gentoo already and some are on various old Windows versions, as they also act as recovery stations for various drives (tapes, JAZ, ZIP, etc.)
- One Dual P III is on Windows NT to build a retro workstation with old proffessional graphic cards.
- Thin clients are on DOS/Win98 (the older ones) or Gentoo (the newer ones)
- the old PCs are of course on DOS and/or Win98

So, yes: Microsoft pushes me really hard to leave their eco system.
Especcially that web-centric approach does not sit well with me. I rather keep my data in my own hands and if I want to store them offsite, I can encrypt them before putting them into the cloud.
Don't tell me that "if you don't have something to hide, you can show your data". If I use the toilet, I also still close the door. That's called privacy.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2024-10-17, 01:15:

Windows 10 has support until 2027 at least and probably even more on server branch.

Doesn't support end in October 2025?

I have a question to those who have upgraded, suppose I have Win10 with local accounts and get to upgrade from a flash drive, will it keep those accounts, or will it force to use a Microsoft Account instead?

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/10/how-t … pported-or-not/

The official system requirements for Windows 11 haven't changed, but Microsoft has made changes that will keep even unsupported installations from running on some older PCs. Changes to the kernel, compiler, and scheduler in Windows 11 24H2 mean that the update has dropped support for older 64-bit CPUs that don't support SSE 4.2 instructions.

For Intel PCs, SSE 4.2 was introduced in 2008's first-generation Core CPUs; older Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad CPUs and 64-bit Pentium D and Celeron D CPUs won't run the 24H2 update. For AMD, SSE 4.2 was introduced in its Bulldozer architecture in 2011, eliminating older Athlon, Sempron, and Phenom models. None of these CPUs could run Windows 10 or Windows 11 very well; now they won't run Windows 11 at all.
....
Microsoft has published a bypass for those who really want to install Windows 11 on hardware that at least supports Secure Boot and some kind of TPM. It requires a trip to the Registry Editor, so tread lightly and ensure your important data is backed up.
....
since the launch of Windows 11, an open source tool called Rufus has added features that automate some of the install tricks we outline below, and it can remove the Microsoft Account requirement for Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 22H2.
....
One thing you probably don’t want to do on an unsupported system is enable the memory integrity security feature. Older processors take a larger performance hit from enabling this feature than newer ones do, as Gordon Ung has demonstrated in his thorough testing at PCWorld. Microsoft has been enabling it by default more widely in the upcoming 22H2 version of Windows 11, so if you notice abnormally slow performance on an older PC that was running Windows 10 just fine, check to see whether that feature is enabled.

I recently installed windows 11 on a computer that had an unsupported Ryzen 1756b CPU. When doing the build, I had grabbed an old NVMe that an old build on it that had gone through the full Win7->Win8->Win8.1->Win10->Win 11 upgrade cycle and had been used by my oldest son since he was wee little. He needed more storage last year, so this 500GB NVMe had been sitting on a shelf for a bit. I put the NVMe in the Ryzen, it booted into recovery and it allowed me to request a clean build. It installed version 23H2 without issue, which I later upgraded to the version 24H2 preview. It does complain about the secure boot in the event log and my old Win 7 license key couldn't be used to activate windows though. I used to be a Microsoft trainer in 2010, and that certification allowed me to download some reusable keys from technet. According to Microsoft, the keys are still good with windows 11, but.... in order to use them, I have to install windows 10 first and then upgrade to Win 11, which is problematic with the Ryzen 1756b CPU. They can no longer directly activate a clean Windows 11 build.

I grabbed a grey market key from an online reseller for $10 to activate the windows 11 install.

MrFlibble wrote on 2024-10-17, 11:05:

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2024-10-17, 01:15:

Windows 10 has support until 2027 at least and probably even more on server branch.

Doesn't support end in October 2025?

It does. There are various LTSC branches and Server 2019, which will get support until 2029 or later. There will be ways to get those patches onto a Win10 22H2, I'm sure, even if it needs to be done manually.

MrFlibble wrote on 2024-10-17, 11:05:

I have a question to those who have upgraded, suppose I have Win10 with local accounts and get to upgrade from a flash drive, will it keep those accounts, or will it force to use a Microsoft Account instead?

I haven't tried specifically Win10-->Win11, but all previous in-place upgrades always kept local accounts for me. There are ways to bypass the attempted force of a Microsoft account.

To bypass the hardware checks:
I just add a batch file "bypass.cmd" with the following to the root of the CD and then boot from it. When you are at the desktop press F10, go to the CD drive letter and run the batch file. Haven't tested with 24H2 yet.

@ECHO OFF REM USE WHILE BOOTING FROM ISO REM 1. Place batch file in root of ISO using AnyBurn REM 2. At install screen press shi […]
Show full quote

@ECHO OFF
REM USE WHILE BOOTING FROM ISO
REM 1. Place batch file in root of ISO using AnyBurn
REM 2. At install screen press shift+F10
REM 3. Type in "D:\bypass.cmd"
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v ByPassTPMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassRAMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassStorageCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassCPUCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
setup

For a local account:

For Pro operating systems all you have to do is click through setup, add to domain and add to workgroup. No tricks needed.

For Home last I tested (I never use home so testing is rare for me)

WINDOWS 11 HOME For Windows 11 Home when you get to the screen where it asks to setup your account you'll still need to: 1. Pul […]
Show full quote

WINDOWS 11 HOME
For Windows 11 Home when you get to the screen where it asks to setup your account you'll still need to:
1. Pull the cable
or

2.netsh interface show interface
netsh interface set interface name="INTERFACE NAME" admin=DISABLED

3. Click the back arrow.
4. Create your local account

UNTESTED
taskkill /F /IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe

or

Shift+F10

Type OOBE\BYPASSNRO in the command prompt

https://www.techspot.com/news/105134-windows- … igital-ssd.html

I guess it's good that I didn't upgrade.

I feel like I need to stop using Microsoft software (not just Windows) for stability, not just the usual corporate dystopia. Everything has slowly gone downhill since they laid off their QA department. I'm going to get another SSD to screw with Linux on my main desktop, which is probably also considered suicidal behavior (especially with the weird BIOS bugs that motherboard has).

douglar wrote on 2024-10-17, 12:25:

For Intel PCs, SSE 4.2 was introduced in 2008's first-generation Core CPUs; older Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad CPUs and 64-bit Pentium D and Celeron D CPUs won't run the 24H2 update. For AMD, SSE 4.2 was introduced in its Bulldozer architecture in 2011, eliminating older Athlon, Sempron, and Phenom models. None of these CPUs could run Windows 10 or Windows 11 very well; now they won't run Windows 11 at all.

Interesting. My Core 2 Quad system handles Windows 11 like a champ. Windows 10 on there is also just as quick as 7.

Is there an alternative long-term? Linux doesn't click with me unless for specific tasks.

UCyborg wrote on 2024-11-04, 22:16:

Is there an alternative long-term? Linux doesn't click with me unless for specific tasks.

It's a question that people have been asking for at least 15 years. Before that I haven't been following "the scene", but I can only assume it's been asked then too (less frequently, since the Windows ecosystem was less entrenched).
And they either moved to Linux or stuck with Windows. Because, guess what, there is nothing wrong with Windows.

Realistically, there aren't any long-term alternatives outside of Linux. FreeBSD is too niche, Haiku is too small, MacOS is proprietary and tied to Apple hardware. Even within Linux your best bet is only commercially backed up stuff: Fedora (Red Hat) or Arch (Valve).

Another option is too strip down Windows 11 installation of any suspicious elements and probably update manually, which is a hassle. Windows 10 extended kernel probably won't happen and will be a low hanging fruit for scammers.

The Serpent Rider wrote on 2024-11-05, 08:01:

Realistically, there aren't any long-term alternatives outside of Linux. FreeBSD is too niche, Haiku is too small, MacOS is proprietary and tied to Apple hardware. Even within Linux your best bet is only commercially backed up stuff: Fedora (Red Hat) or Arch (Valve).

Another option is too strip down Windows 11 installation of any suspicious elements and probably update manually, which is a hassle. Windows 10 extended kernel probably won't happen and will be a low hanging fruit for scammers.

There's also AROS, a free implementation of Amiga OS. It looks a bit niche, but on a closer look it's not that bad. Kitty approves it! 😉
It even has a "seamless-mode" in which it can integrate x68k applications from real AmigaOS running in UAE. Like Win-OS/2 on OS/2, if we will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDiXhjSIfs

As for MacOS vs Windows 11 vs Linux.. None is really great anymore, I think.
They all have their flaws. It's like having to choose between diseases.
In these days, they often make you wish back Atari TOS or Windows 98SE.
Or an user-"unfriendly" Unix OS like Solaris.

MacOS used to be the least of an headache ("just works"), I think, but 15.1 will start to require signed applications.
Versions released in recent years will search local pictures for anything inappropiate, too?

Windows 11 has a bland GUI and control panels are confusing/illogical.
It also has CoPilot and takes screnshots without asking ?
Reminds me of the story about these cracked games in Japan (?) that did take webcam snapshots of the users, so they could be publicly denounced? 😉
On the good side, Windows 11 has an ARM version, too. So it can run on Mx Macs via Parallels Desktop (24h2 claims to be improved here).
Windows 10 had an ARM version, too, but it was dropped?

Linux. I'm using Raspbian for years and its desktop is very unstable.
It often freezes or crashes. The file manager won't update, often, so F5/reload has to be pressed.
It also has bad memory managment, memory usage increases over time, but even if applications are closed the memory isn't being given back/freed again.
Memory fragmentation or memory leakage issues?
Linux distribution can't properly upgrade, either. Doing so results in corrupted applications and settings.
Edit: The supplied Samba doesn't remember passwords, at least not via dialog in file manager. So many bugs..

Edit: There's also BSD. OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD etc.

I don't see any successful alternatives to Windows, unless they are backed by someone big enough, like recent Valve direct support to Arch.

There's also AROS, a free implementation of Amiga OS. It looks a bit niche

Not only niche (primarily Amiga crowd), but also very small. There's also ReactOS, but it's a joke even after decades of development.

I use Linux exclusively in a professional context. I see RHEL and Ubuntu used a lot in the non statistically representative subset of datacenter use cases that I interact with.

As for home use, excluding retro use cases, almost all of what I need and want to do I can do in Linux (I use a variety of distros), but I do use modern Windows (currently 10) on my daily driver for roughly three reasons :

a) the occasional modern and less modern Windows games that I play

b) the basic image processing I do as part of my amateur photography hobby

c) various other Windows application that I use, including some probably quite dated ones

For a), I could probably try Wine/Proton if I wanted to. Have not cared to try it yet.

For b), while RawTherapee can run natively under Linux, as can GIMP, I have doubts about some of the other software I use. Additionally, I have concerns about how/if color management works for applications running under Wine/Proton.

For c), I would really need to try, but I suspect that most of what I use would work under Wine, but I would need to test it all .

Someday, I suspect that my modern Windows use cases will get relegated to one or more VMs with GPU passthrough, if needed.

One Windows 10 version is supported up to 2032 i think, i use Window 10 as long as possible and then moving to newer Windows or back to Linux on my newer Machine.

One Windows 10 version is supported up to 2032 i think

Yes, but it's the same situation with Windows 7 derivatives, with Windows Embedded POSReady 7 getting updates just recently (up to October 2024). And while you can still patch Windows 7 with upcoming Windows Server security updates - software support is limited. Latest Steam beta apparently stopped working on Windows 7 and extended Firefox support support will end soon too. Professional software like Adobe has dropped Windows 7 long time ago, for example. And you bet there won't be any new drivers after October 2025 for Windows 10.